This is a submission for the KendoReact Free Components Challenge.
What I Built
KendoPuzzle - An interactive puzzle game that transforms learning KendoReact components into an engaging gaming experience!
Instead of boring documentation or static examples, I created 10 unique puzzles where each one showcases a different KendoReact component in action. Players progress through increasingly challenging puzzles, learning how each component works through hands-on interaction.
Problems it solves:
- Makes component libraries more approachable for developers
- Provides interactive learning instead of passive documentation reading
- Demonstrates real-world usage patterns for KendoReact components
- Offers a memorable way to explore UI component capabilities
- Creates an engaging onboarding experience for new KendoReact users
- Each puzzle includes educational sections that explain the featured component's capabilities, props, and use cases, with direct links to official documentation.
Demo
Live Demo: https://kendopuzzle-23733.web.app
Fully responsive: works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
Key Features:
- 10 progressive puzzles with auto-advancement
- Educational component showcase with collapsible documentation
- Victory screen with confetti celebration
- Clean, minimal UI focused on learning
- Progress tracking throughout the journey
Repository: https://github.com/Xammuel/kendopuzzle
Screenshots: (limited to avoid spoiling puzzles)
KendoReact Components Used
- Button
- DatePicker
- MultiSelect
- Input
- Slider
- ColorPalette
- ContextMenu
- Card
- CardHeader
- CardTitle
- CardBody
- CardActions
- Rating
- ProgressBar
- Chip
[Optional: Code Smarter, Not Harder prize category] AI Coding Assistant Usage
This entire project was built collaboratively with the KendoReact AI Coding Assistant, which proved invaluable for creating an engaging puzzle experience that balances challenge with accessibility.
Critical Challenge: Puzzle Difficulty Calibration
One of the most complex and unforeseen problems of building KendoPuzzle was gauging appropriate difficulty levels for each puzzle. As the developer who knows all the solutions, it's nearly impossible to objectively assess whether a puzzle is too easy, too hard, or just right for first-time users.
How the KendoReact AI Coding Assistant Solved This:
Puzzle Complexity Analysis
- The AI assistant helped analyze each puzzle's cognitive load by breaking down the steps required for completion
- Provided objective feedback on puzzle mechanics without solution bias
- Suggested difficulty progression patterns across the 10 puzzles
User Experience Simulation
- AI assistant simulated first-time user interactions, identifying potential confusion points
- Helped refine puzzle instructions and hint systems
- Suggested optimal timing for auto-advancement between puzzles (settled on 2 seconds)
Component Integration Difficulty Assessment
- Evaluated which KendoReact components would be most intuitive for puzzle interactions
- Recommended component combinations that enhance rather than complicate the user experience
- Helped balance educational value with gameplay flow
Accessibility & Usability Optimization
- AI assistant identified potential barriers in puzzle completion
- Suggested responsive design improvements for different screen sizes
- Recommended keyboard navigation and accessibility enhancements
The KendoReact AI Coding Assistant was essential for creating puzzles that are engaging without being frustrating - something nearly impossible to achieve as a solo developer with inherent solution knowledge. The AI provided the crucial "fresh eyes" perspective needed for proper difficulty calibration and user experience optimisation.
Top comments (1)
wooah! 🔥