When I set out to build this portfolio, I didn't just want a website. I wanted a platform that demonstrated my philosophy as a Software Engineer in Test (SDET): **Quality is not an afterthought; it's an architectural decision.** and of course, don't test things manually if it can be automated.
Also I wanted to learn in the process so here is how it was built. may be another blog sometime next month with detailed steps.
1. The Tech Stack: Modern & Fast
- React & Vite: Chosen for their speed and component-based architecture.
- PWA (Progressive Web App): This site works offline! Try turning off your internet; you can still browse it. (don't kill me if it doesn't 😅)
- Vercel Edge Runtime: Used for dynamic Open Graph (OG) image generation. (this one i still need to fix , not sure why it is not working correctly)
2. Engineering Excellence: Testing First
A portfolio about automation quality consultant must be automated. I implemented a dual-layer testing strategy:
- Unit Testing (Vitest): I use Vitest to test individual components like the `BlogNudge` and `XPathGame` logic. It runs fast and ensures small units of code work as expected.
- E2E Testing (Playwright): I use Playwright to simulate real user journeys. It verifies that the home page loads, navigation works, and the blog is accessible on both Desktop and Mobile viewports.
3. Performance & SEO
For this , i took help from google and my colleagues whose expertise is on SEO and performance.
I integrated `vite-plugin-image-optimizer` to automatically compress assets during the build, also implemented **JSON-LD Structured Data** so search engines understand.
Conclusion
This portfolio is an application by itself (atleast i consider it), and has taken me lots of time fixing the things, searching docs , google etc, built with the same rigor and care that I bring to my professional work. It stands as a testament to the fact that with the right mindset and company of good friends/coworkers, we can build experiences that are not only functional but also exceptional.
If you have any query, feel free to say hello, hoping to publish a detailed blog sometime next month.
