CA Monk - Blog Application Assignment

Welcome to the CA Monk Blog Application assignment! This project tests your ability to build a modern React application with state management, styling, and component libraries.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18 or higher)
• Git
• React.js knowledge
• Familiarity with TanStack Query, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui.

Setup Instructions

1. Fork the repository

   • Click Fork on GitHub to create a copy in your account.
   • Clone your forked repository:

     git clone <your-forked-repo-url>
     cd camonk-interview

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Install required libraries for the assignment , ie, TanStack Query, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui

4. Start the JSON Server (Backend API)

   npm run server

   The API will run on http://localhost:3001

5. Start the Development Server (in a new terminal)

   npm run dev

   The app will run on http://localhost:5173

Assignment Tasks

You are required to build a blog application with the following features:

Required Technologies

• ✅ TanStack Query - For server state management and data fetching
  • 📚 Documentation
• ✅ Tailwind CSS - For styling
  • 📚 Documentation
• ✅ shadcn/ui - For UI components
  • 📚 Documentation

UI Reference

Here's a reference design for the blog application layout:

Left Panel: Blog list view showing blog cards with category, title, and description
Right Panel: Blog detail view displaying cover image, full content

UI IMAGE -

Note: This is just a reference design. Your implementation does not have to look exactly like this.

For the blog content, use plain text — no need to use HTML-formatted text.

Tasks to Complete

1. Get All Blogs

• Create a component to display all blogs using GET /blogs
• Use TanStack Query for data fetching
• Handle loading and error states

2. Get Blog by ID

• Implement single blog view using GET /blogs/:id
• Use TanStack Query for data fetching

3. Create a New Blog

• Build a form to create a new blog using POST /blogs
• Invalidate queries after successful creation

Organize your components in a suitable file structure within the src/ directory.

API Endpoints

The JSON Server provides the following endpoints:

Method	Endpoint	Description
GET	/blogs	Get all blogs
GET	/blogs/:id	Get a specific blog by ID
POST	/blogs	Create a new blog

Evaluation Criteria

Your submission will be evaluated on:

• ✅ Correct implementation of TanStack Query hooks
• ✅ Proper use of Tailwind CSS for styling
• ✅ Integration of shadcn/ui components
• ✅ Code organization and structure
• ✅ Error handling and loading states
• ✅ Responsive design []
• ✅ User experience and UI polish

Sample Blog Object

{
  "id": 1,
  "title": "Future of Fintech",
  "category": ["FINANCE", "TECH"],
  "description": "Exploring how AI and blockchain are reshaping financial services",
  "date": "2026-01-11T09:12:45.120Z",
  "coverImage": "https://images.pexels.com/photos/6801648/pexels-photo-6801648.jpeg",
  "content": "Full blog content..."
}

description: A short summary of the blog
content: The full content of the blog

Tips

• Set up TanStack Query's QueryClientProvider in your app root
• Configure Tailwind CSS properly in your config files
• Use shadcn components like Card, Button, Input, etc.
• Handle loading states with skeletons
• Implement proper error boundaries
• Consider using React Router for navigation (optional)

Submission

Once you've completed the assignment:

1. Ensure all tasks are working correctly
2. Commit your changes with clear commit messages
3. Push your changes to your forked repository
4. Share the link to your forked repository for review in the Google Form provided

FAQ

Do I need to deploy the code?
No. Simply work on your forked repository, commit and push your changes, and share the repository link via the Google Form.

Is it mandatory to use TypeScript and TanStack Query?
Yes, using both TypeScript and TanStack Query is compulsory for this assignment.

Is using JSON Server mandatory, or can I create my own server?
Using JSON Server is mandatory. Please use the provided JSON Server setup rather than creating your own backend.

What should I use for styling?
Use Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui for styling. You are expected to install, configure, and use both Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui components in your implementation.

What are the main things you will evaluate?
We will mainly look at:

• Correct use of the required technologies (TypeScript, TanStack Query, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui)
• Code quality and structure
• UI/UX, including responsiveness and overall experience

What happens after I submit the assignment?
If you are shortlisted, you will receive an email about the next round. The next round will be a task-based session focused on your coding skills and React knowledge.

Will my solution be used commercially?
No. This assignment is only for the hiring process and will not be used commercially.

Have more questions?
If you have any additional doubts, feel free to reach out at: developer@camonk.com.

Good luck! 🚀