The Challenge

The goal was to build a portfolio that acts as its own case study. Instead of using a headless CMS like Sanity or Strapi, I engineered a custom solution to demonstrate full-stack competency—handling everything from database schema design to secure session management and file uploads.

Key Features

Custom Admin Dashboard

Built from scratch to manage all site content without external dependencies.

• Secure Authentication: Iron-session encrypted cookies with enforced 2FA (TOTP).
• Dynamic Content: Manage Projects, Blog Posts, and Publications instantly.
• Live Preview: WYSIWYG editing for complex case studies.

Technical Architecture

• Framework: Next.js 16 (App Router) for server-side rendering and kinetic performance.
• Database: Prisma ORM with SQLite (Production) for reliable, zero-latency data access.
• Security: Rate limiting (Upstash Redis), strict Content Security Policy, and Zod input validation.
• Deployment: Self-hosted on Linux (Debian) with Nginx reverse proxy and PM2 process management.

☁️ Deployment & DevOps

• Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Compute Engine.
• Web Server: Nginx configured as a securely hardened reverse proxy with SSL termination (Let's Encrypt).
• Process Management: PM2 for application clustering and zero-downtime deployments.
• CI/CD: GitHub Actions pipeline that enforces linting, type-safety, and security audits before merge.

Design System

• Aesthetics: Glassmorphism, tailored gradients, and "Gold/Noir" premium theme.
• Interactivity: Fluid animations using Framer Motion.
• Typography: Curated pairing of Outfit (headings) and Inter (body).

Use Cases

• Showcase: Presenting complex projects with rich media galleries.
• Consultancy: Dedicated "Services" flow with Upwork Escrow integration for client trust.
• Thought Leadership: Integrated Markdown blog with syntax highlighting for technical writing.