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Start by clarifying the requirements: what spreadsheet behaviors are needed, which keyboard shortcuts, and how the template is structured. Then outline a high-level architecture that separates concerns: a keyboard event handler, a command dispatcher, a spreadsheet state manager, and a rendering layer. Discuss trade-offs such as using a library vs. building from scratch, and how to ensure performance and accessibility.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of browser inconsistencies in keyboard events (e.g., key vs. code, modifier keys) and propose a normalization layer. Also, mention the importance of preventing default browser actions for shortcuts like Ctrl+S to avoid conflicts.
Ask questions to understand the template format, required shortcuts, expected behaviors (e.g., navigation, editing, formatting), and any constraints like browser support or performance targets.
Propose a modular design: a keyboard listener that captures events, a command registry mapping shortcuts to actions, a state manager for spreadsheet data, and a view layer that updates the UI reactively.
Detail how to normalize keyboard events across browsers, handle modifier keys, and prevent default actions. Discuss debouncing or throttling for rapid key presses.
Explain how to update the spreadsheet state (e.g., active cell, selection, data changes) and efficiently re-render only the affected parts of the UI, possibly using a virtual DOM or direct DOM manipulation.
Discuss handling conflicts with browser shortcuts, accessibility (keyboard navigation for all users), and performance optimizations. Compare building from scratch vs. using existing libraries.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.