I appeared for the first round of the Kickdrum interview, which lasted approximately 30–45 minutes. The round was entirely focused on practical coding, with one interviewer present. I was given an existing online repository containing both frontend and backend code and was asked to develop a REST API endpoint using Node.js and Express.js to retrieve specific data from the database (MySQL/PostgreSQL). The requirement was explained at a basic level, so I had to explore the repository, refer to its README and documentation, understand the existing project structure and database schema, and implement the endpoint along with its business logic. The interviewer also asked questions about my approach and the logic behind my implementation while I was coding. Google and external documentation were allowed, and although the frontend was discussed, no frontend modifications were required. The task was quite challenging because of the unfamiliar codebase, understanding the existing database structure, and the time constraint. Unfortunately, I couldn't complete the endpoint within the allotted time and therefore couldn't reach the testing stage. The interviewer maintained a professional and neutral approach throughout the round. Overall, it was a practical, codebase-oriented interview that tested my ability to understand an existing project and implement backend functionality rather than focusing on theoretical questions or resume-based discussions.