## Technical Interview Guide: Building an App Like Google Local Offers
This guide explores the technical aspects of building an app like Google Local Offers, which sends push notifications for discounts when you’re near a store. It’s designed to help you strategize the development process and ace technical interviews for product manager roles.
Introduction
A successful product manager understands both market needs and the technical aspects of bringing a product to life. This guide focuses on a common technical interview question for PMs: **what are the technical components needed to create an app like Google Local Offers?**
Applying the System Design Framework
The System Design framework provides a structured approach to planning technical components, workflow, storage, interfaces, and risk considerations. Here’s how to apply it to this scenario:
1. User Story Mapping:
- Identify user stories like “As a user, I want to receive notifications for discounts when I’m near a store.”
2. Defining Components:
- Break down the app into components:
- Geolocation service
- Push notification service
- Offer management system
- Mobile app
3. Workflow Analysis:
- Describe how these components interact:
- App detects user’s location
- Queries offer management system
- Sends relevant push notifications
4. Local Storage Needs:
- Determine what data needs local storage:
- User preferences
- Cached offers
5. Interfaces:
- Outline APIs for system interactions:
- Fetching nearby offers
- Push notification service
6. Risk Analysis:
- Identify risks:
- Privacy concerns
- Data security
- Balancing notification relevance and frequency
Hypothetical Examples
- When a user enters a shopping mall, the app triggers an API call to fetch offers based on location and preferences.
- A limited number of offers are stored locally for faster future notifications.
Facts Check
- Review technical limitations of push notifications, geolocation accuracy, and local storage on various devices.
Communication Tips
- Explain complex technical systems in a way that’s easily understood by all stakeholders.
- Emphasize practicality and scalability.
- Listen carefully to feedback and be ready to iterate on your design plan.
Conclusion
Developing a technical product like Google Local Offers requires understanding both user needs and system capabilities. By applying the System Design framework, you can lay out a clear and comprehensive technical roadmap, a crucial skill for product managers. This structured approach will not only help you ace interviews but also excel in real-world product development scenarios.