Building a User Management App with Svelte and SvelteKit as a Home Task for redacted company name

Introduction

Hey there! In this blog post, I'm excited to share my journey of building a user management application using Svelte and SvelteKit. This was a solution to a home task, given to me during the hiring process to a great company. It was my first time working with these frameworks, and I couldn't wait to dive in and see what I could create. Let's explore the development process together and discover the amazing features of Svelte and SvelteKit.

Starting with a Blank Canvas

When I began the project, I found myself facing a blank canvas. I wasn't given a specific design, but was asked to make it look good, this gave me the freedom to explore and get creative. However, I also wanted the application to have a polished and professional look. That's when I got the idea to take some inspiration from the Redacted Company Name website.

Embracing the Redacted Company Name's Design

The Redacted Company Name website had a sleek and modern design that caught my eye. I thought it would be a great starting point for my user management application. By taking inspiration from their design, I aimed to create a cohesive and visually appealing experience.

I carefully analyzed the color scheme, typography, and overall layout of the Redacted Company Name website. I then incorporated similar design elements into my application. This approach not only saved me time in coming up with a design from scratch but also ensured that the application had a professional and consistent look and feel.

Learning Svelte: A Breath of Fresh Air

As a developer who had experience with other frontend frameworks, I was eager to explore Svelte's unique approach. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I grasped the concepts and syntax. The component-based architecture felt intuitive, and the reactivity system simplified state management.

Implementing state and reactivity in Svelte was a breeze. I loved how I could declaratively define state variables and watch for changes effortlessly. This simplicity allowed me to focus on building the actual functionality of the application without getting bogged down by complex state management patterns.

Bringing Life to the Application with Svelte Animations

One aspect that truly impressed me about Svelte was its built-in animation capabilities. Adding subtle animations and transitions to elements on the page was incredibly easy. With just a few lines of code, I could bring life to the user interface and enhance the overall user experience. The animations made the application feel more dynamic and engaging.

Development Process

With my inspiration in mind and armed with the knowledge of Svelte and SvelteKit, I embarked on the development process. I followed the steps outlined in the project's README, but I also took the opportunity to add my personal touch. I iterated on the design, fine-tuned the user interactions, and added extra features to make the application stand out.

Key Features of the Application

The user management application I built using Svelte and SvelteKit boasts several noteworthy features:

1. User List: The application presents a paginated list of users, allowing users to browse through the data effortlessly. I added smooth animations when transitioning between pages and loading data, enhancing the overall user experience.

2. User Details: Clicking on a user's entry in the list reveals a detailed view of their information. I paid attention to the layout and typography to ensure the details were easy to read and visually appealing.

3. Responsive Design: The application is fully responsive, adapting seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices. Whether accessed from a desktop, tablet, or mobile device, users can enjoy a consistent and optimized experience.

4. Customized Styling: Taking inspiration from the Redacted Company Name website, I implemented a design that aligns with their aesthetics. This gave the application a polished and professional appearance.

Architecture

Moving off the API

During the development process, I initially relied on the API provided by Redacted Company Name to fetch user data for my application. However, I wanted to share this project with others and make it more accessible. To achieve this, I decided to generate my own dataset and host it in a PostgreSQL database, using the new vercel storage. This transition allowed me to have complete control over the data and ensured that the application could be easily deployed and accessed by anyone. I chose Vercel as my hosting provider, leveraging their seamless integration with PostgreSQL databases. This shift not only provided me with a realistic production environment but also empowered me to showcase the application with confidence.

Conclusion

Building the user management application with Svelte and SvelteKit was an exhilarating experience. The simplicity and elegance of Svelte's reactive approach to state management impressed me from the start. Taking inspiration from the Redacted Company Name website allowed me to create a visually appealing and professional-looking application.

If you're a frontend developer looking for a framework that offers a refreshing and enjoyable development experience, I highly recommend giving Svelte and SvelteKit a try. The intuitive syntax, powerful state management, and built-in animation capabilities make building web applications a joy. I can't wait to continue exploring the possibilities and creating more exciting projects with Svelte and SvelteKit.