Building My Portfolio Website with the Ignite Framework

829 words; 4 minutes to read.

Creating a portfolio website is an exciting journey that not only showcases your work but also demonstrates your ability to leverage modern technologies. Recently, I embarked on this journey to build my portfolio website using the Ignite framework. Here’s a deep dive into my process, the technologies used, and the lessons learned along the way.

NOTE: This particular blog post was generated by AI as an example.

The Beginning

As a software developer with over 25 years of experience, including more than a decade specializing in iOS development, I wanted a portfolio site that reflected my passion for innovative technologies and clean, efficient code. My goal was to create a site that not only highlighted my professional achievements but also provided a seamless user experience.

Choosing Ignite

I chose the Ignite framework for several reasons:

  1. Performance: Ignite creates STATIC pages, which ensures that the site loads quickly and runs smoothly.
  2. Flexibility: It offers a range of customization options that allowed me to tailor the site to my specific needs.
  3. Modern Stack: Ignite uses React Native and Expo, which are technologies I am familiar with and have used in various projects.

Building the Site

Setting Up

The first step was setting up the development environment. Ignite makes this process straightforward with its CLI tool. Here’s a quick overview of the setup process:

npm install -g ignite-cli
ignite new MyPortfolio
cd MyPortfolio
ignite generate screen Home

Customizing the Design

One of the key aspects of the site was its design. I wanted a clean, professional look that was also visually engaging. Using Ignite’s built-in components, I customized the styles to align with my personal brand. I focused on creating a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation and clear presentation of content.

Integrating Content

For the content, I included sections such as:

Implementing Features

Responsive Design

Ensuring the site was responsive was a priority. With more users accessing websites from mobile devices, it was crucial that my portfolio looked great on any screen size. Ignite’s components are designed to be responsive, but I also added custom media queries to fine-tune the responsiveness.

Animations and Interactivity

To make the site more engaging, I incorporated subtle animations and interactive elements. For instance, I used React Native’s Animated API to create smooth transitions and hover effects.

Deployment

Deploying the site was the final step. I chose Vercel for hosting due to its seamless integration with GitHub and its excellent performance. The deployment process was as simple as connecting my repository and allowing Vercel to handle the rest.

git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git push origin main

Lessons Learned

Throughout this process, I gained several valuable insights:

  1. Planning is Key: Having a clear vision and plan for the site helped streamline the development process.
  2. Stay Updated with Trends: The tech landscape is constantly evolving. Staying updated with the latest tools and frameworks can significantly enhance your development workflow.
  3. User Experience Matters: Focusing on the end-user experience is crucial. A site that is not only functional but also enjoyable to use can make a big difference.

Conclusion

Building my portfolio website with the Ignite framework was a rewarding experience. It allowed me to showcase my skills and projects in a modern, dynamic way. If you’re a developer looking to build your portfolio, I highly recommend exploring Ignite. It’s a powerful tool that can help you create a professional and engaging online presence.

Feel free to check out my portfolio at https://www.perlguy.net and connect with me on LinkedIn.

Thank you for reading!

Brent Danger Michalski

Senior iOS Developer | Innovator | Tech Enthusiast

Washington, MO | brent.michalski@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brent-michalski

Created in Swift with Ignite