First Project After Graduation

Hello everyone,

I'm pleased to share my first-ever post on my personal website. Join me as I delve into the journey of my initial project post-graduation, a venture that nearly engulfed me. The satisfaction of crafting something from scratch and overcoming obstacles is truly unparalleled.

The Purpose Behind this Website

Before refining this website, I spent my days applying for jobs while pondering potential website features. Built on a heavily modified Gatsby theme, it caters precisely to my requirements. As I acquaint myself with GraphQL, I chose not to rush into a headless CMS integration.

My objective was simple: a platform to display my GitHub projects and share insights gained along the way. Unlike platforms with limitations, my personal website provides more control over content and SEO.

The Journey Unfolds

Dreams of becoming a full-stack web developer during my university days often overwhelmed me due to the vast tech stack. This immobilized me in a cycle of procrastination. To break free, I decided to embark on creating my website.

Skills acquired in 2019, encompassing HTML, CSS, Sass, React, Bootstrap, and vanilla JavaScript, laid a foundation. This facilitated crafting multi-page applications, unlike typical modern single-page applications with React.

Enter Gatsby JS—a React-based framework promising speed, security, and scalability. It became the canvas for my website. Even though the initial setup was manageable, customising pages demanded more effort. Navigating the documentation, I mastered leveraging theme node modules and creating my own pages such as photography portfolio.

Culmination: Domain and Hosting

Framework set, the final steps involved domain acquisition and hosting. Opting for Netlify, I secured the domain and leveraged its hosting benefits, especially its current free offering.

Lessons Learned

The first step is pivotal. Intrinsic motivation is the only fuel that you need for silent perseverance. Self-discipline for personal projects is important to achieve completion. Utilizing Agile Kanban, I orchestrated tasks and scheduled them in 1 week sprints, resulting in a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a launchpad for further growth.

Thank you for accompanying me on this journey. With renewed determination, I'm set to explore, innovate, and elevate this project.