Mini Job Tracker with Firebase, built using Cursor

• Install Node (LTS), Git, and Cursor
• Create a Firebase account and open Firebase Console

node -v
npm -v
git --version

A simple rule: ask Cursor for a plan and file list first, then implement in small steps, run locally, and commit.

Prompt 1 (plan):
You are helping me build a Mini Job Tracker using React (Vite) + Firebase Auth + Firestore + Firebase Hosting.
Generate a step-by-step plan and the file list you will touch. Keep it beginner-friendly.

Prompt 2 (auth):
Implement email/password auth with Firebase. Include login, signup, logout, and clean auth state handling.

Prompt 3 (CRUD):
Implement Firestore CRUD for job applications for the current user. Include loading, empty, and error states.

Prompt 4 (rules):
Write Firestore rules so users can only read/write their own documents in a collection called applications.
Explain common permission errors and how to fix them.

Prompt 5 (deploy):
Give Firebase Hosting deployment steps for a Vite React app. Include build folder and SPA routing notes.

• Firebase Console: create project, add a web app
• Enable Authentication: Email/Password
• Create Firestore database

Firebase web config is not a secret. Do not put private keys or service account JSON in the client.

// Example: src/firebase.ts
// Initialize Firebase app, auth, and firestore here.
// Use the web config from Firebase Console -> Project settings -> Your apps.

Collection: applications

// Document fields (suggested)
userId: string
company: string
role: string
status: "Applied" | "Interview" | "Offer" | "Rejected"
link: string (optional)
notes: string (optional)
createdAt: timestamp
updatedAt: timestamp

Most permission errors happen when userId is missing or not set to the signed-in user.

// Firestore rules (baseline)
rules_version = '2';
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /applications/{docId} {
      allow read, write: if request.auth != null
        && resource.data.userId == request.auth.uid;
      allow create: if request.auth != null
        && request.resource.data.userId == request.auth.uid;
    }
  }
}

This is a baseline. In a live workshop we also cover validation rules and safer update patterns.

# Install and login
npm i -g firebase-tools
firebase login

# In your project folder
npm run build
firebase init hosting
firebase deploy

MVP scope worksheet

Problem (1 line):
Target user (1 line):
MVP features (max 3):
Non-goals (max 5):
User flow (5 steps):
Trade-offs (3):

README template

# Mini Job Tracker

Deployed link:

## What this does
- Login
- Add job application
- List and update status

## How to run locally
npm install
npm run dev

Manual test checklist

- Signup works
- Login works
- Add application works
- Only my data is visible
- Status update works
- Refresh does not break the app
- Deployed link loads and login works

Commit message examples

init: create vite app
chore: add firebase config and init
auth: add login, signup, logout
jobs: add create application form
jobs: list and update status
rules: restrict applications by user
deploy: configure firebase hosting

Interview walkthrough script

1) What I built (MVP scope)
2) Why these features first
3) What trade-offs I accepted
4) How I used AI and how I verified output
5) How I deployed and what I would improve next