QUIZ: 5 - MEAN Stack - Quiz

Aim: MongoDB, ExpressJS, Angular 2 and NodeJS (M.E.A.N).

To build a program that execute customized-quiz: "memorization", "flashcard", "true/false", "multiple choice questions") everything is controlled totally by a Graphic User Interface.

The structure is a full "3-tier Architecture" with a MVC's model.

Goal: learn how to create - dynamically or statically - object (button, radio, form, etc.) and how to handle them.

Technologies

As we start with the same problem (quiz), all application of the series show about the same things. However, the goal is to focus on the use of technologies.

Execution

1. Execute "npm install" to install dependencies. Attention: my computer with 12 GB of RAM is not enough to install the dependencies: the installation's process stops before the end and we have a "node_modules/.staging" folder instead of dependencies' folders. It installs perfectly with a machine with 16 GB of RAM. Why? No Idea ...
2. No need to start a database server: we are using an online MongoDB: "mLab"
3. Enter "npm run build" to compile TypeScript's files and run the server ...

Open a browser and enter: "localhost:3000" or "localhost:3000/add" or "localhost:3000/play" (we are using Routing, so, not really a Single Page Application - with its advantages and its disadvantages - anymore. Routing offers more possibilities ...)

UI

Build New Quiz: Add General Information

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Build New Quiz: Setup Proposed Answers

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Play Quiz: Give Answers

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Play Quiz: Check Answers

Limitation

We need to manage lifecycle of each connection: each user should have his (her) own test so they could "play" at the same time (which, with this version, we could not do it). However, it should be easy to fix: create class/object for each user and put them into a sort of pool.

Evolution

• It's better to use "online" database (mLab, Firebase, AWS, etc.) as a datasource. So, we don't need to run the database (MongoDB in this case) before to be able to used the application. To develope and Mobile App, the "online" database is crucial!
• Short term (very easy but need time): have selection of quizzes, mix them, complete CRUD operations. Use Angular and/or ReactJS for the view.
• Long term: add tests into a global structure (we could use the Dewey Decimal Classification) so we could have all sort of data about each subject (mostly for personal use so we could centralize all acknowledge in a same place):
  • documents
  • tests
  • videos
  • etc.

Author

• Dinh HUYNH - All Rights Reserved!
• dinh.hu19@yahoo.com