Start by clarifying requirements and constraints with the interviewer, then outline a minimal viable game (e.g., 5-letter word, 6 guesses) before coding. Build incrementally, testing each piece, and narrate your thought process while being open to feedback and trade-offs.
Pro tip: Treat the interviewer as a collaborator: ask for their input on ambiguous decisions and adapt your plan based on their feedback, demonstrating adaptability and teamwork.
Ask questions to define the game scope: word length, number of guesses, feedback mechanism (e.g., color-coded letters), and any constraints (e.g., no external libraries).
Sketch a high-level plan: data structures (word list, game state), components (input, grid, keyboard), and state management (e.g., React state or vanilla JS).
Code the game logic first: word selection, guess validation, and feedback generation (correct letter/position, correct letter/wrong position, absent).
Create the UI components and connect them to the game logic, ensuring the interface updates correctly with each guess.
Test edge cases (e.g., duplicate letters, invalid words) and discuss potential improvements or trade-offs (e.g., performance, accessibility).
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.