JS Challenge

The goal of this challenge is to build a search interface based on the Coveo REST API. Complete instructions: Coveo Front End Challenge

I've decided to use Angular 2 to take up the challenge. Here's is the final result

What are my goals with this challenge?

Things I expect to learn

• TypeScript
• Angular 2
• Coveo REST Search API
• Heroku

Things that I know but that need to be refreshed

• Node.js
• GitHub

Things that seems cool

• Angular Material - Material Design components for Angular 2 apps
• Coveo JavaScript Search Framework

References used to reach my goals

Angular 2

• QuickStart guide
• Tour of Heroes tutorial
• CodeSchool - Accelerating Through Angular 2

Coveo

• JavaScript Search Framework packaging
• Coveo Query Syntax Reference
• Invoking the REST Search API

Angular Material

• Getting Started Guide

JavaScript

• Observer Design Pattern

Pitfalls / Time consuming issues

TypeScript

• I had to refresh my general knowledge regarding ES2015.
• I didn't have the reflex to type everything when coding JavaScript.

Angular 2

• Troubles passing values between components (parents, childrens, and siblings).
• I wasn't familiar with the Observer Design Pattern and I had to learn the basics if I wanted to use it over the Promise Pattern.
• I decided to upgrade Angular 2.0.0-rc.7 to Angular 2.0.0 final.
• I found many examples regarding Angular 2 but most them are for previous versions.
• I still have unresolved issues with Routing to pass and use parameters with Coveo REST Search API

Angular Material

• I still have unresolved issues for importing the library.

Coveo REST Search API

• I had troubles moving from a GET to a POST request with Angular 2 and RxJS Observer.

Coveo JavaScript Search Framework

• I had conflicts with my routing and the \q? parameters appended to my URL.

Github

• I am used to work with SVN... configuring WebStorm was not hard but I had unexpected results. I have decided to use GitHub Desktop.

Heroku

• I had issues for packaging my application with package.json (dependencies vs devDependencies)
• Deploy from GitHub
• I had issues with the port used by lite-server. I had to create the config file /bs-config.js at the root of my project.

module.exports = { "port": process.env.PORT };

Unit tests

I've decided to build small unit tests regarding the Coveo REST Search API and my challenge. Here's is the source code

Framework and libraries

• Mocha test framework
• Chai BDD / TDD assertion library
• Nightmare browser automation library

Authors and Contributors

Louis-Guillaume Carrier-Bédard (@lgcarrier)