My first real-life project

The moment the terminal was opened, and the initial "npm create-react-app" command was written, launching the project, marked a crucial point in my journey as a developer.

I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement as I dedicated myself to the development process. The result not only met my expectations but left me genuinely proud.

Finding customer

In my perspective, a real developer crafts projects for real customers. Initially hesitant about offering my services to companies or entrepreneurs, I sought answers from those around me. Surprisingly, the first opportunity presented itself effortlessly through my hairdresser—a local entrepreneur with a forward-thinking mindset. Little did I know, this would be the easiest part of an intriguing journey.

Design is as a relationship

Understanding another person's preferences for the appearance of a website turned out to be more intricate than anticipated. As a junior developer, I initially believed choosing colors, fonts, and other design elements would be straightforward. However, the process of selecting these elements proved to be a significant and meticulous task. Despite some challenges, we navigated the design process smoothly, establishing a strong, trusted relationship between the professional and the client.

Technical stack

Opting for the Gatsby framework provided a full-stack solution, leveraging Static Site Generation to pre-render into HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, resulting in a fast website. Utilizing Netlify for content storage, deployment, and project management proved to be advantageous. The simplicity of the CMS panel empowered the client to manage website content independently.

The journey involved a deliberate and mindful process of acquiring new skills. Exploring GraphQL, a powerful yet sometimes challenging tool, presented moments of struggle—especially when retrieving data. This, I believe, is a common experience in the learning curve.