Djavaweb Coding Test

RecipeBuddy

SwiftUI + MVVM
Goal

Build a small iPhone app named RecipeBuddy that lets users browse recipes, view details, save favorites, and optionally plan a weekly menu with a shopping list. Focus on SwiftUI, MVVM, async/await, Codable, state management, persistence, clean code, and basic UX.

Tech constraints
  • Xcode 15+ and iOS 17+
  • Use SwiftUI, MVVM, and async/await
  • No paid APIs (use the bundled JSON below
  • Optional third-party packages via SPM only (explain choices in README)

Requirements by level

Level 1

Core (required, 60 pts)

Scoring guide:
list/detail 20, search 10, favorites 10, states 10, structure 10.

  • Home list: load recipes from bundled recipes.json; show thumbnail, title, tags, and estimated time.
  • Detail screen: show image, ingredients, and step-by-step method; allow checking ingredients as obtained (UI state only is fine).
  • Search and empty states: search by title or ingredient (debounced); display friendly empty/error states.
  • Favorites (persisted): toggle favorite in list and detail; persist across launches (UserDefaults or SwiftData/Core Data).
  • Architecture and state: MVVM with a Repository protocol; use async/await; avoid doing IO directly in the View.

Level 2

Plus (nice to have, 25 pts)

Scoring guide:
sort/filter 10, offline-first 10, tests 5

  • Sort and filter: sort by time (asc/desc) and filter by tags (multi-select chips).
  • Offline-first: default to bundled JSON. Add a data-source switch to load from a remote JSON URL (e.g., GitHub raw). On failure, gracefully fall back to bundled data.
  • Testing and caching: unit tests for JSON decoding and one ViewModel; basic image caching (URLCache/NSCache).

Level 3

Pro (differentiator, 10 pts)

Scoring guide:
meal plan + shopping list 8, share sheet 2.

  • Meal plan and shopping list: let users add recipes to “This Week’s Plan”; generate a consolidated shopping list that merges duplicate ingredients and quantities.
  • Share: share the shopping list via the system share sheet.

Bonus

Craftsmanship (up to 5 pts)

  • Accessibility (Dynamic Type, VoiceOver labels)
  • Simple analytics/logging hooks for iteration
  • Clean dependency injection for repository/service layer

Sample data

place as recipes.json in the app bundle
				
					[
  {
    "id": "r1",
    "title": "Garlic Lemon Chicken",
    "tags": ["quick", "protein"],
    "minutes": 25,
    "image": "https://picsum.photos/seed/r1/600/400",
    "ingredients": [
      { "name": "Chicken breast", "quantity": "300 g" },
      { "name": "Garlic", "quantity": "3 cloves" },
      { "name": "Lemon", "quantity": "1 pc" },
      { "name": "Olive oil", "quantity": "2 tbsp" },
      { "name": "Salt", "quantity": "to taste" },
      { "name": "Pepper", "quantity": "to taste" }
    ],
    "steps": [
      "Marinate chicken with garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper.",
      "Pan sear with olive oil until cooked through.",
      "Rest 2 minutes, slice, and serve."
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "r2",
    "title": "Veggie Pasta Primavera",
    "tags": ["vegetarian", "family"],
    "minutes": 30,
    "image": "https://picsum.photos/seed/r2/600/400",
    "ingredients": [
      { "name": "Pasta", "quantity": "200 g" },
      { "name": "Broccoli", "quantity": "1 cup" },
      { "name": "Bell pepper", "quantity": "1 pc" },
      { "name": "Cherry tomatoes", "quantity": "10 pcs" },
      { "name": "Parmesan", "quantity": "30 g" }
    ],
    "steps": [
      "Boil pasta until al dente.",
      "Sauté veggies lightly, season well.",
      "Combine pasta and veggies, finish with parmesan."
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "r3",
    "title": "Overnight Oats",
    "tags": ["breakfast", "quick"],
    "minutes": 10,
    "image": "https://picsum.photos/seed/r3/600/400",
    "ingredients": [
      { "name": "Rolled oats", "quantity": "1/2 cup" },
      { "name": "Milk", "quantity": "1/2 cup" },
      { "name": "Yogurt", "quantity": "1/4 cup" },
      { "name": "Honey", "quantity": "1 tbsp" },
      { "name": "Berries", "quantity": "1/3 cup" }
    ],
    "steps": [
      "Mix oats, milk, yogurt, honey in a jar.",
      "Refrigerate overnight.",
      "Top with berries before serving."
    ]
  }
]

Deliverables

  • Xcode project: SwiftUI, MVVM, iPhone-only is fine; runs on iOS 17+ with no extra setup
  • README.md: how to run, architecture and trade-offs, what you completed (Level 1/2/3/Bonus), what you would add with more time
  • Short demo video (max 5 minutes): show search, detail, favorites, and any Level 2/3 features
  • Optional: TestFlight link and unit test results/coverage screenshot

Evaluation rubric

(100 pts)

  • Level 1 — Core: 60
  • Level 2 — Plus: 25
  • Level 3 — Pro: 10
  • Bonus — Craftsmanship: 5

Qualitative checks

  • Clarity of naming and code readability
  • Separation of concerns (View vs ViewModel vs Repository)
  • UX polish and informative empty/error states
  • Basic performance and absence of obvious crashes

Disqualifiers

  • The app does not build/run
  • Hard-coded secrets/paths that break the build
  • Plagiarism or using code you cannot explain (we will ask follow-ups)
Submission Form​
  • Submit via the Djavaweb Submission form below (upload ZIP + video link)
  • File name: RecipeBuddy_YourName.zip; include your GitHub/GitLab link if hosted
  • Deadline: 24 hours after you receive the brief

Additionally, please include a short video (2-5 minutes) explaining your app. The video should demonstrate key features (e.g., browsing recipes, adding favorites, optional meal planning), explain your architecture (e.g., SwiftUI + MVVM implementation), and highlight how you handled the requirements and any challenges. Record using screen recording tools like Loom or QuickTime, upload to YouTube (set as unlisted for privacy), and provide the link in the submission form.

If your file is larger than 20MB, please upload it to Google Drive and share the link below.