Project Overview
This is the very portfolio website you're currently viewing! Built from scratch with modern web technologies, it showcases my projects, skills, and professional experience. The site features a fully functional contact form with a custom Node.js backend, responsive design, and smooth animations throughout.
Key Features
Fully Responsive
Optimized for all devices from mobile phones to desktop computers
Working Contact Form
Functional contact form with email integration and validation
Smooth Animations
CSS animations and scroll-triggered effects for enhanced UX
Custom Backend
Node.js backend deployed on Railway for form processing
Fast Loading
Optimized performance with lazy loading and efficient code
Clean Code
Well-structured, maintainable code following best practices
Development Process
Planning & Design
Created wireframes and planned the overall structure, focusing on user experience and modern design principles.
HTML Structure
Built semantic HTML structure with proper accessibility considerations and SEO optimization.
CSS Styling
Implemented responsive design with modern CSS features including Grid, Flexbox, and custom animations.
JavaScript Functionality
Added interactive features, form handling, smooth scrolling, and mobile navigation.
Backend Development
Created Node.js backend for contact form with email integration using Nodemailer and Gmail.
Deployment
Deployed frontend to GitHub Pages and backend to Railway with proper environment configuration.
Technical Implementation
Frontend Architecture
- Semantic HTML5 with proper accessibility attributes
- Modern CSS with Grid and Flexbox layouts
- CSS custom properties for consistent theming
- Vanilla JavaScript with ES6+ features
- Intersection Observer API for scroll animations
Backend Services
- Node.js with Express.js framework
- Nodemailer for email functionality
- CORS configuration for cross-origin requests
- Environment variables for secure configuration
- Railway deployment with automatic SSL
Performance Optimizations
- Minified and compressed assets
- Lazy loading for images and sections
- Efficient DOM manipulation techniques
- CSS animations using transform and opacity
- Debounced form submissions
Code Architecture
Frontend (GitHub Pages)
Backend (Railway)
Email Service (Gmail)
Challenges & Solutions
Contact Form Functionality
Challenge: GitHub Pages doesn't support server-side processing for contact forms.
Solution: Built a separate Node.js backend deployed on Railway to handle form submissions and email sending.
Cross-Origin Requests
Challenge: CORS errors when frontend tries to communicate with backend API.
Solution: Configured proper CORS headers in the Express server to allow requests from GitHub Pages domain.
Mobile Navigation
Challenge: Creating a smooth, accessible mobile hamburger menu.
Solution: Implemented CSS transforms and JavaScript event handling with proper accessibility considerations.