Update: This post was written at the start of the build. Since then the stack has evolved — the database is now MySQL in production, and the site has grown to include a full kanban board system, blog CMS, and admin panel. The "Going Live" post covers the full production stack.
Every developer needs a corner of the internet they can call their own. This is mine.
I recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Game Programming and Development, and like most people fresh out of college I found myself with a lot of knowledge, not enough shipped projects, and a blank page where a portfolio should be.
So I'm building one from scratch — and documenting the process along the way.
What I'm Building
The site you're reading this on is a custom Flask application built with Python, running on my own VPS. No WordPress, no site builders, no templates. Everything from the database models to the CSS is written by hand.
The stack:
- Python + Flask for the backend
- SQLite for the database (for now)
- Jinja2 for templating
- Vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend
- Plesk on a self-managed VPS for hosting
Why Document It?
A few reasons. First, the process of building something is often more interesting than the finished product. Second, writing about what I'm doing forces me to actually understand it. And third, if someone else is starting from a similar place, maybe this is useful to them.
What's Coming
The site is early but functional. Here's what I'm working toward:
- A projects section with per-project kanban boards so you can see exactly what I'm working on at any given time
- A devlog (this) where I write about what I'm building and learning
- Eventually, actual game projects to show off
I'm starting fresh — no college projects, no recycled work. Everything here is built post-graduation, documented as it happens.
More soon.