Knocked this out in about 35 minutes which surprised me a bit.
Start by clarifying requirements and constraints, then outline a component architecture that separates concerns: input handling, message state, and streaming logic. Focus on the streaming implementation using fetch with ReadableStream or EventSource, and discuss trade-offs like error handling, performance, and UX details such as auto-scroll and loading indicators.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of real-world streaming challenges: mention handling partial chunks, aborting requests, and ensuring the UI remains responsive. Also, reference the provided video to align with expected visual behavior, showing attention to detail.
Ask about expected message format, streaming protocol (e.g., SSE, WebSockets), error handling, and any design constraints from the reference video. Confirm whether to use a specific framework or vanilla JS.
Outline a simple component structure: a ChatContainer managing state, an InputBox for user input, and a MessageList rendering messages. Emphasize separation of concerns and reusability.
Describe how to consume a streaming API using fetch with ReadableStream or EventSource, parsing chunks and updating the UI incrementally. Mention handling backpressure and cancellation.
Discuss auto-scrolling to the latest message, showing a loading indicator, disabling input during streaming, and gracefully handling network errors or aborts.
Compare the implementation against the reference video, ensuring visual and behavioral alignment. Suggest potential optimizations like debouncing or virtualized lists for long conversations.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.