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Ramp·Frontend Engineer·Take-home Assignment·Intermediate

IntermediatePrefer not to say
May 2026Remote

Summary

Ramp frontend interview had me building a mini Wordle clone in React, fetching the target word from an API and wiring up per-letter color feedback with a 6-guess limit. The unit tests were provided and mocking the endpoint was part of the deal, so you couldn't really fake your way through it.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Build a simplified Wordle game in React where the target word is fetched from a given HTTP endpoint. The game should handle user input, show per-letter feedback (correct position, present but misplaced, or absent), and stop on a win or after 6 attempts. Your implementation must pass provided unit tests that mock the API.

API & IntegrationsTechnical Trade-offsSystem Design
Author's notes

The fetch part was fine, useEffect on mount, nothing wild.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying requirements and test expectations, then outline a component architecture that separates data fetching, game state, and UI rendering. Emphasize testability by designing pure functions for feedback logic and mocking the API in tests. Walk through the implementation step-by-step, highlighting edge cases and trade-offs.

Pro tip: Mention that you'll extract the feedback algorithm into a pure function and test it independently—this shows you understand separation of concerns and makes the unit tests trivial to write. Also, discuss how you'd handle API failures gracefully, as this is a common production concern.

1. Clarify requirements and test expectations

Ask about the API response format, error handling, and what the unit tests mock. Confirm the rules: 6 attempts, feedback colors, and win/loss conditions.

2. Design component and state architecture

Propose a main Game component that manages state (target word, guesses, current input, game status) and child components for the board and keyboard. Use hooks like useState and useEffect for fetching and game logic.

3. Implement core game logic with pure functions

Write a pure function to compute letter feedback (correct, present, absent) handling duplicate letters correctly. This function can be unit tested in isolation and reused across guesses.

4. Integrate API fetching and error handling

Use fetch or axios to get the target word on mount, with loading and error states. Ensure the game doesn't start until the word is fetched, and handle network failures gracefully.

5. Ensure testability and pass provided tests

Mock the API in tests, simulate user input, and verify feedback and game termination. Structure code so that logic is decoupled from rendering, making tests straightforward.

Key Points to Mention

  • Separation of concerns: pure functions for feedback logic, custom hooks for state management, and presentational components.
  • Handling duplicate letters in feedback calculation (e.g., using a frequency map or two-pass algorithm).
  • API integration: fetching on mount, loading/error states, and mocking in tests with tools like Jest and React Testing Library.
  • Game state management: tracking guesses, current input, remaining attempts, and win/loss conditions.
  • Testability: designing components and functions that are easy to test in isolation, and using dependency injection for the API call.
  • Edge cases: invalid words, empty input, rapid submissions, and ensuring the game stops correctly after win or 6 attempts.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.