Interview Mentor – Java Backend

Smart AI-Powered Interview & Learning Platform

This is the backend service of Interview Mentor, a modern platform designed to help candidates prepare for software engineering interviews through AI-driven mock interviews, structured learning, peer-to-peer sessions, and competitive challenges.

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🚀 Features

• AI-Powered Mock Interviews with real-time feedback
• Live Peer Interview Sessions via WebSockets
• Structured Learning Modules with AI tutoring
• Skill Assessments & Performance Tracking
• 1v1 Coding Contests and Logic Battles
• Role-Based Access for Learners, Admins, and Curators
• Secure Authentication using Spring Security & JWT

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🛠 Tech Stack (Backend)

Tool	Purpose
Java (Spring Boot)	Core backend framework
MySQL	Relational database for persistent storage
WebSocket (STOMP)	Real-time communication (interviews, contests)
Spring Security	Authentication & Authorization
JWT	Token-based security
Gemini API	AI interviewer & tutor integration
Docker	Containerization
NGINX	Reverse proxy and routing
GitHub Actions	CI/CD pipeline

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🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Java 21
• MariaDB/MySQL
• Gemini API Key

Environment Setup

1. Copy the environment template:

   cp env.example .env

2. Configure your environment variables in .env:

   # AI Configuration
   GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_api_key_here
   
   # Database Configuration
   DATABASE_URL=jdbc:mariadb://localhost:3306/interview_mentor?allowPublicKeyRetrieval=true&useSSL=false
   DATABASE_USERNAME=root
   DATABASE_PASSWORD=admin
   
   # JWT Configuration
   JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret_here

3. Get your Gemini API Key:

   • Visit Google AI Studio
   • Create a new API key
   • Add it to your .env file

4. Start the application:

   ./mvnw spring-boot:run

Development Notes

• The .env file is ignored by git to keep sensitive data secure
• Each developer should have their own .env file with their specific configuration
• Default values are provided in application.properties as fallbacks