Introducing PeerSwap

Jul 25, 2025

Colab Squad

The Fastest Way to Prove You’re a Cracked Engineer!

Companies don’t just want code, they want proof you can drop into a live repo, ship under pressure, collaborate in public, and handle reviews. That’s real engineering!

PeerSwap is a live-fire code swap that gives you that proof, even without being into their codebases.

What PeerSwap Is (and why it works)

You hand your project to a teammate and take theirs. You both ship features in unfamiliar territory - with docs, deadlines, and PR reviews, like a real team does. What you’ll develop experience on:

🧭 Reading messy, unfamiliar code

🧩 Delivering features with partial context

🌐 Collaborating async with people you’ve never met

🔁 Taking feedback and shipping improvements fast

How it works?

You post your repo+ challenge, swap assignments, work on a feature branch, submit a PR and Handoff + Review - Simple!

Alongside your code, you must create a challenge README where you outline the objectives and tasks your peers need to complete.

Preflight Checklist (ship-ready repos)

✅ Stable main (WIP on a feature branch)

✅ Installs cleanly (no dependency blockers)

✅ Code Swap Manual in root (setup, scripts, env, where to start)

✅ Challenge README (objectives, tasks, constraints, danger zones)

✅ API/Data notes (endpoints, known issues)

Preparing for Peer Code Swap

Before sharing your codebase with your peers, make sure to:

1. Push a stable version of your app to the main or master branch. If you’re working on something incomplete, save it on a separate branch so you can continue later.
2. Ensure there are no dependency errors or roadblocks that could affect your peers' ability to work on the project.
3. Provide clear instructions for getting started with your app, including any necessary documentation. Name this file “Code Swap Manual.”

# Task Name

## Overview
Welcome to the Peer Code Swap challenge! Below are the details of the codebase and the tasks you need to complete.

## Codebase Overview
- **App Name:** To-Do App
- **Primary Functionality:** Manage tasks (CRUD functionality)
- **Key Technologies:** React, Node.js, Express, MongoDB

## Objectives 👉 Add Your Feature to implement
- Improve an existing feature and implement a new one.

## Tasks 👉 Add Your Feature to implement
1. **Enhance the Task List UI:**
   - Modify the `TaskList` component to display the creation date of each task.

2. **Add a "Mark as Complete" Feature:**
   - Implement a checkbox in the `TaskItem` component.
   - Mark the task as complete when the checkbox is clicked.
   - Update the task status in the backend.

## Important Notes
- The backend APIs are already functional for CRUD operations.
- Focus on the frontend for this task.
- Do not modify the API structure or existing database schema.

Installing Peer Code

Once you’ve received a peer’s codebase:

1. Follow the instructions in the Code Swap Manual.
2. Clone the repository and create a new branch with the format swe_cs_<yourname>.
3. Ensure all your work stays in this branch.

## Setting Up the Codebase
1. Clone the repository:
   ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/username/todo-app.git
   cd todo-app

## Install dependencies for both frontend and backend:
cd frontend
npm install

cd ../backend
npm install

## API Details
Base URL: http://localhost:5000
Endpoints:

GET /api/tasks: Fetch all tasks.
POST /api/tasks: Create a new task (body: { name: "task name" }).

Known Issues: None. The app is stable and ready for further development.

Working in the Code Swap Phase

1. Review the codebase and schedule a standup with your peer to clarify any questions about the tasks.
2. Ensure you have all the necessary information to accomplish the tasks.
3. Avoid danger zones—areas of the codebase that are out of scope or could hinder progress.
4. Keep all your work confined to a single branch.
5. Commit as frequently as needed, but ensure your work remains manageable and does not overwhelm the project.

Submitting the Code Back to Peers

1. Ensure all your changes are committed and pushed to the remote repository.
2. Provide a clear explanation of your changes in one of the following formats:
• A Loom video.
• A detailed README document.
3. Create a Pull Request (PR) in the Git repository.

Accessing Your Original Code And Evaluation

After receiving your original codebase back:

1. Review the documentation or explainer provided by your peer.
2. Approve the PR programmatically if everything is perfect!
3. Upon completion you will presented with a common task on the task-board and will have to review your peers based on that.

This is what your task card should look like!

How this doc helps?

1. Maps to Real Job Descriptions (receipts >>> claims)

When you apply for jobs, You’ll see lines like:

1. “Contribute features within an existing React/Node codebase”
2. “Navigate unfamiliar code and deliver against partial specs; experience with code review expected.”
3. “Add endpoints without breaking contracts; write tests; document changes; Git workflow required.”

This is what it means → If you can ship in someone else’s repo, you pass an unspoken interview filter.

2. Create a credible proof(Resumes and Linkedin)

You can mention the following under your projects:

✅ Worked and deployed external repos

🛠️ Opened PR with tests, demo, clear review notes; merged after feedback

⚡️ Collaborated async; shipped in 48 hours

Stack: React, Node/Express, MongoDB, GitHub PRs, Jest <insert yours>

Link the PR / issue / Loom. Recruiters click.

Let us know what you think!