Build a GraphQL Federation Schema for an E-Commerce Platform
Overview
What this challenge is about.
Implement User and Cart subgraphs for an e-commerce platform, run a federated query, and earn your verifiable certificate.
The scenario
The platform (around USD 90M revenue, around 4.5M monthly active users) is migrating off a BFF (Backend-for-Frontend) pattern that has accumulated 14k lines of duplicated request-shaping code.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Design a 5-subgraph Apollo Federation v2 schema and prove the federated router serves a real cart-checkout query end-to-end.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Design a federated GraphQL schema across multiple bounded contexts
- Use Apollo Federation v2 directives correctly (@key, @requires, @provides)
- Implement subgraphs with Apollo Server in Node.js
- Reason about query planning and N+1 risks in federated graphs
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
API Design and GraphQL
Master · Software Engineering
Strong alignment
This challenge maps to API Design and GraphQL at the Master level. It sharpens the same practical skills your coursework expects — but in a real industry context with actual constraints and deliverables.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
- Graphql
Apply graphql to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Graphql Federation
Apply graphql federation to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Api Design
Design RESTful and GraphQL APIs that are intuitive, consistent, and well-documented.
- Typescript
Write type-safe code that scales across large codebases and teams.
- Schema Design
Apply schema design to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Node Js
Apply node js to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
Careers
Career paths this challenge builds toward
Completing this challenge demonstrates skills that transfer directly to these roles: