Journey of Creativity: Building a Personal Website Over Two Years
After two years of dedicated effort, I am thrilled to unveil my latest project—a simple yet meaningful personal website. This journey wasn’t delayed by technical challenges but rather by the process of growth and self-discovery. Today, I want to share the story behind its creation, along with some insights into the design and technology choices that made it special.
A Personal Venture, Not a Corporate Product
For years, I worked with teams claiming to prioritize innovation, only to face roadblocks when it came to focusing on meaningful, user-centric features or asking tough questions. These experiences often left me feeling frustrated. Tired of pushing my ideas into silos or sacrificing my vision, I finally decided to build something solely for myself—a digital space where I can be authentic and heard.
The Website: A Minimalist Approach with Heart
You can explore the site here: ujjwalvivek.com. It’s intentionally lightweight, steering clear of complex tech stacks or heavy dependencies. My goal was to venture outside my comfort zone, crafting a platform that reflects my personal style and aspirations.
Technological Foundation
The site’s backbone is built with straightforward, time-tested tools: a classic React.js setup combined with Markdown for content. No CSS frameworks, analytics scripts, trackers, or SEO tricks—just pure, honest craftsmanship.
Key Features and Personal Touches
- Custom Markdown Styling: Enhanced for a unique reading experience
- Procedural Backgrounds: Generated dynamically, initially CPU-bound, with plans to leverage WebGPU for smoother rendering
- Theme Awareness: Seamlessly switch between light and dark modes; still refining contrast and readability, especially across WebKit browsers, and open to suggestions
- Embedded PDF Viewer: Powered by PDF.js, though I’m exploring ways to customize styles for a more cohesive look across platforms
- Easter Egg & Hidden Surprises: A playful secret space—if you find it, I’d love to hear your feedback or playful roasts
- Content as Commits: Posts are written as version-controlled commits, hinting at possible future integration with a CMS
- Dynamic Motion Effects: Lots of animations and transitions; considering a “low motion” mode for viewers sensitive to movement
A Personal Milestone
The website is still a work in progress—glitchy at times and continuously evolving. Yet, it’s live,
