Full-Stack Developer Interview Prep Book
A structured, multi-file preparation guide for the React.js / Node.js Full-Stack Developer role at TCS (3+ years experience).
Every concept follows the same pattern:
Definition → Explanation → Code Example → Real-World Use → Likely Interview Questions
📂 Directory Layout
prepNote/
├── README.md ← you are here
├── MAIN.md ← original outline
├── PREP_BOOK.md ← single-file version
│
├── 01-javascript/
│ ├── 01-closures.md
│ ├── 02-hoisting.md
│ ├── 03-scope.md
│ ├── 04-this-keyword.md
│ ├── 05-prototype.md
│ ├── 06-equality.md
│ ├── 07-event-handling.md
│ ├── 08-array-methods.md
│ ├── 09-promises.md
│ └── 10-debounce-throttle.md
│
├── 02-react/
│ ├── 01-functional-components.md
│ ├── 02-props-vs-state.md
│ ├── 03-useeffect.md
│ ├── 04-usememo-usecallback.md
│ ├── 05-useref.md
│ ├── 06-controlled-uncontrolled.md
│ ├── 07-context-api.md
│ ├── 08-custom-hooks.md
│ ├── 09-virtual-dom-reconciliation.md
│ ├── 10-performance-optimization.md
│ └── 11-redux-toolkit.md
│
├── 03-nodejs/
│ ├── 01-event-loop.md
│ ├── 02-async-await.md
│ ├── 03-middleware.md
│ ├── 04-jwt-auth.md
│ ├── 05-rest-best-practices.md
│ ├── 06-mvc-architecture.md
│ ├── 07-error-handling.md
│ ├── 08-file-upload-s3.md
│ ├── 09-pagination.md
│ └── 10-rate-limiting.md
│
├── 04-express-nestjs/
│ ├── 01-express-vs-nestjs.md
│ ├── 02-dependency-injection.md
│ ├── 03-dtos-validation.md
│ ├── 04-guards-middleware-interceptors.md
│ └── 05-swagger.md
│
├── 05-mongodb/
│ ├── 01-mongoose-schemas.md
│ ├── 02-indexing.md
│ ├── 03-aggregation.md
│ ├── 04-populate-vs-lookup.md
│ └── 05-sql-vs-nosql.md
│
├── 06-machine-coding/
│ ├── 01-frontend-tasks.md
│ └── 02-backend-tasks.md
│
├── 07-system-design/
│ ├── 01-authentication.md
│ ├── 02-scalable-apis.md
│ ├── 03-caching.md
│ ├── 04-monolith-vs-microservices.md
│ └── 05-api-security.md
│
├── 08-hr-behavioral/
│ ├── 01-self-introduction.md
│ └── 02-common-questions.md
│
├── 09-revision-sheet.md ← night-before cheat sheet
└── 10-appendix.md ← documents + questions to ask🎯 How to Use
One week out
- Read all of
01-javascript/,02-react/, and03-nodejs/. - Type out every code example by hand — don't copy-paste.
Two days out
- Read
04-express-nestjs/and05-mongodb/. - Walk through
06-machine-coding/exercises with a timer.
One day out
- Skim
07-system-design/. - Practice
08-hr-behavioral/01-self-introduction.mdout loud, recorded.
The morning of
- Read only
09-revision-sheet.md. - Pack everything from
10-appendix.md.
🧭 Reading Order (recommended)
| Order | Folder | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01-javascript/ |
Foundation — every other topic builds on this |
| 2 | 02-react/ |
Frontend round |
| 3 | 03-nodejs/ |
Backend round |
| 4 | 04-express-nestjs/ |
Architecture round |
| 5 | 05-mongodb/ |
Data round |
| 6 | 06-machine-coding/ |
Practical / hands-on round |
| 7 | 07-system-design/ |
Mid-level architecture round |
| 8 | 08-hr-behavioral/ |
HR round |
| 9 | 09-revision-sheet.md |
Final revision |
| 10 | 10-appendix.md |
Logistics |
✅ Topic Coverage Matrix
| Category | Files | Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript | 10 | Closures, hoisting, scope, this, prototypes, equality, events, array methods, Promises, debounce/throttle |
| React | 11 | Components, props/state, all major hooks, controlled forms, Context, custom hooks, VDOM, performance, Redux Toolkit |
| Node.js | 10 | Event loop, async, middleware, JWT, REST, MVC, errors, S3 uploads, pagination, rate limiting |
| NestJS | 5 | Express vs NestJS, DI, DTOs, guards/interceptors, Swagger |
| MongoDB | 5 | Schemas, indexing, aggregation, populate/lookup, SQL vs NoSQL |
| Machine coding | 2 | Frontend (search/pagination/forms/tables), Backend (JWT CRUD) |
| System design | 5 | Auth, scaling, caching, monolith vs micro, security |
| HR | 2 | Self-intro, common questions |
| Reference | 2 | Revision sheet, appendix |
Final note: You already have hands-on production exposure with the exact stack TCS wants — MERN, NestJS, AWS S3, Swagger. Lead with specific stories and numbers from your work. Textbook answers everyone has; your projects are your differentiator.
Good luck — go own it.