Crafting My Personal Manifesto: A Two-Year Journey to Build a Simple Website
Embarking on a web development project can sometimes feel unexpectedly prolonged — and mine took two years. Not due to technical complexity, but because of personal growth, focus, and persistence. Today, I’m proud to share the result of that effort: a minimalist, handcrafted website that truly reflects my voice.
A Reflection on the Process
This project wasn’t driven by innovation for its own sake or by the constraints of modern tech stacks. Instead, it was a visceral attempt to create something for myself, an authentic space where I can be seen and heard without the usual clutter of analytics, SEO, or heavy frameworks.
Throughout the years, I worked with various companies that praised innovation, only to falter when faced with genuine questions or focused development. Frustration grew, and I realized I needed something different — a project born from my own vision, not corporate expectations.
Building for Me, With Simplicity
The design philosophy was straightforward: avoid unnecessary complexity and do my best with familiar tools. The result? A clean, lean website utilizing a basic React.js setup combined with Markdown — no CSS frameworks, no tracking pixels, and no intrusive SEO tactics. Just a barebones platform that prioritizes authenticity over bells and whistles.
Key Features and Technical Highlights
- Custom Styled Markdown: Tailored to create a unique reading experience without the overhead of bulky editors.
- Procedural Backgrounds: Generating dynamic visuals on the fly, initially CPU-intensive, with potential plans to harness webGPU for smoother rendering.
- Theme Awareness: Implementing a seamless theme switcher was a challenge, especially ensuring compatibility across WebKit browsers. I welcome suggestions on how to improve theme detection and consistency.
- Embedded PDF Viewer: Leveraging pdf.js to render documents, with ongoing efforts to modify styles for a cohesive look across platforms.
- Easter Egg & Hidden Surprises: There’s a secret element lurking on the site — if you find it, I’d love to hear your thoughts or humorous roasts.
- Commit-Based Posts: Journal entries are stored as commits, hinting at a future exploration of a more structured CMS.
- Motion Effects: Currently, there’s quite a bit of movement — I’m contemplating adding a “low chaos” mode to improve accessibility for sensitive visitors.
A Work in Progress
While the site still experiences glitches and continues to evolve
