Initially, this website was planned as simple. Features were limited to links to existing projects, a blog, and a contact page.
That isn't a long list, but as the expression goes: "the devil is in the details".
Spoiled for choice
Truth is, it took me three layout overhauls (the latest today, May 7 2022) to reach a place I am satisfied enough with how the website looks.
I am completely in love with JAMSTACK and do feel a lot more comfortable getting a pre-existing template or website to work with a static site generator (11ty, in this case).
My problem is design itself.
I want to make things look good. That includes adding little (useless?) features such as a lightbox gallery, or coming up with a new color palette or font combo.
It all adds up, and that initial MVP now has lots of tiny additions (such as a post list on the sidebar, or shield badges to represent whatever was used to build that project). While I feel they do add personality to my little corner of the internet, they also take up valuable time I could be dedicating to customer websites, to furthering my studies, or to working on projects I have in mind.
What I want versus what I'll have (for now)
This is the part I find myself negotiating - with myself. Time is a limited resource, after all, and what I have right now will have to suffice.
Yes, I would like to implement a search feature. Next on my list is filtering and sorting portfolio items according to the stack used, Isotope style, a hamburger menu after that, and also a theme changer not limited to light and dark modes.
However, I don't have enough posts, pages, or uploaded projects that would justify those additions, and as such they can wait.
To scratch the HTML/CSS itch, I've settled for re-styling my GitHub README... but only next weekend and only if I can keep up with what I have scheduled for the week.
If that doesn't motivate me, I really don't know what will.
Credits
Header photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash