Celebrating the Journey: Building a Personal Website from Scratch in Two Years

Creating a simple yet meaningful website took me two years—not because of technical hurdles, but due to the personal journey involved. I’m genuinely proud of what I’ve achieved.

A Personal Reflection

This wasn’t about leveraging the latest frameworks or complex tech stacks. Instead, it was about building something authentic for myself. After years of collaborating with organizations that claimed to value innovation—only to fall short when faced with genuine questions or focused efforts—I found myself exhausted and looking for a different path.

So, I decided to craft a site that truly represents who I am—a handcrafted platform for my authentic voice and presence.

Behind the Scenes

The website (visit here) is intentionally simple. I aimed to push my boundaries without overcomplicating things:

• Tech Stack: Basic React.js combined with markdown. No CSS frameworks, no analytics, no trackers—just a clean, straightforward setup. This decision aligns with my desire to keep things authentic and unencumbered by unnecessary code.

• Features & Elements:

• Customized markdown styling for a tailored look.
• Procedural background generation, initially CPU-based, with plans to harness WebGPU for smoother performance.
• Theme-aware design, though making everything seamlessly adapt across browsers like WebKit has been a challenge. I’d welcome insights on improving theme switching.
• Embedded PDF viewer powered by pdf.js. Looking for tips to customize styles more robustly across platforms to better match the site’s aesthetic.
• An Easter egg—a little secret hidden within the site, which might lead you down an interesting rabbit hole. Feedback or playful roasts welcome!
• Posts are formatted as commits, opening possibilities for future integration with a CMS.
• An abundance of motion effects—though I recognize that it might be overwhelming. A “low chaos” mode is on my radar for accessibility.

This Is a Work in Progress

The journey is ongoing—there are still glitches and design adjustments to be made. But the site is live, and I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

If this project evoked any feelings or thoughts in you, I’d love to hear them—no pressure. Feel free to explore the site at ujjwalvivek.com.

Discover More

Curious about how this project came together? Check out the detailed