Launching a Personal Website After Two Years of Development: A Reflection on Crafting Simplicity

Creating a website from scratch can sometimes be a daunting journey—not because of technical complexity, but due to internal challenges and the demands of perfecting a personal vision. After dedicating two years to this project, I am proud to share what I’ve built, not as a tech marvel, but as a testament to perseverance and intentional design.

A Personal Quest for Authentic Expression

For years, I worked within corporate environments that promised innovation but often fell short when it came to meaningful progress or asking the hard questions. This journey left me feeling frustrated and often nauseous. Eventually, I realized I needed to create something solely for myself—a platform that truly reflects who I am and what I want to communicate.

The Heart of the Project: Simplicity and Self-Expression

My website (view here) is intentionally stripped-back in terms of technology. It’s built using straightforward tools, aiming for a clean, distraction-free experience. The goal was to move outside my comfort zone and craft something meaningful without relying on heavy frameworks or intrusive analytics.

Technical Foundations

• Core Technologies: A minimal setup using plain ReactJS combined with Markdown.
• Design Approach: No CSS frameworks, no third-party trackers, no SEO optimization—just pure, unadulterated craftsmanship.

• Additional Features:

  • Customized Markdown styling for seamless content presentation.
  • Procedurally generated backgrounds, currently CPU-based, with potential plans to leverage WebGPU for better performance.
  • Theme aware: Implemented a theme switcher, although cross-browser compatibility, especially with WebKit, posed some challenges.
  • Embedded PDF viewer using pdf.js, with ongoing efforts to style the viewer for visual consistency across browsers.
  • A hidden Easter egg—a little tease for visitors. Feedback or playful roasts are welcome.
  • Post updates tracked through commit-like entries, hinting at the possibility of a future custom CMS.
  • An abundance of motion effects—though I’m considering a “low chaos” mode to accommodate more sensitive users.

The Journey Continues

While the site remains a work in progress—still glitchy and evolving—it marks a significant milestone. Sharing this feels like a victory in authenticity and creativity, and I hope it resonates with others on their personal projects.

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