Aman Pandey

My fascination with computers began as a kid. I was always the one in my family who wanted to know how gadgets work, how software is made, and what makes games and websites so engaging. This curiosity led me to tinker with devices and eventually to the world of coding.

Discovering Code During a Global Pause (2020)

In 2020, as the world shifted online, I saw a golden opportunity. I began exploring web development, starting with HTML and CSS. These allowed me to create my first static web pages. Soon after, I started experimenting with JavaScript to add interactivity—making buttons work, forms submit, and even building small games.

App development fascinated me as well. I tried building simple apps through online tutorials, which helped me understand user interfaces and the logic that powers applications. I preferred learning by doing—building mini-projects like to-do lists, calculators, and small games that challenged and rewarded me.

The Python Revelation

My real breakthrough came when I learned Python. Its readable syntax and vast ecosystem opened a whole new world for me. I automated tasks, processed data, and even started dabbling in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Python taught me the fun of logical thinking, structure, and creativity combined.

Falling in Love with AI & ML

The more I explored, the more I was drawn to AI and machine learning. I saw how these fields are shaping the future, from voice assistants to self-driving cars, and I wanted to be a part of that future.

Looking Forward: Kristu Jayanti University and Beyond

I am thrilled to announce that I started my Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at Kristu Jayanti University this July. It's an exciting new chapter, and I am eager to immerse myself in the world of computer science.

As a developer and a power user, my computer is my main tool. Over time, it's easy for any Windows machine to get cluttered with temporary files, cached data, and other digital junk that can slow things down. While there are many great third-party tools out there, I found it fun and empowering to create my own simple solution.

The Birth of a Simple Idea

I noticed my PC wasn't as snappy as it used to be, so I looked into what I could do. I found myself manually clearing temporary folders and running disk cleanup utilities. It was repetitive. That's when I thought: why not automate this? This led to the creation of my Windows Optimizer script, a project you can find on my GitHub. [3]

What's Under the Hood?

The script itself is a humble Batchfile (.bat). It's a throwback technology, but it's incredibly effective for simple system tasks. It chains together a series of commands to clean out common clutter hotspots:

• Temp Folders: Clears out the main user and system temporary directories.
• Prefetch: Deletes prefetch files which can sometimes become corrupted.
• Software Distribution: Cleans up old Windows Update files.

A Lesson in Simplicity

This small project was a great reminder that not every solution needs to be a complex, multi-layered application. Sometimes, a few lines of script can solve a real-world problem effectively. It shows the power of understanding the system you're working on and using the tools at hand to make your own life easier. It's this passion for practical problem-solving that I bring to all my projects.

As we move deeper into 2025, the expectations for developer portfolios have evolved dramatically. Gone are the days when a simple HTML page with basic CSS would suffice. Today's portfolio needs to be a showcase of technical prowess, design sensibility, and user experience excellence. This is the story of building my latest portfolio - a modern web experience that pushes the boundaries of what's possible in the browser.

The Foundation: Modern Web Standards

This portfolio is built on the foundation of HTML5 semantic markup, CSS3 with custom properties for dynamic theming, and vanilla JavaScript for performance-critical interactions. I chose Bootstrap 5 as the responsive framework to ensure consistent layout across all devices, but heavily customized it with my own design system.

Interactive Features That Wow

The portfolio includes several standout features:

• Dynamic Theme System: Auto dark/light mode switching based on time of day, with manual override capability and a custom color picker for personalized branding.
• Animated Contact System: Interactive tiles with glassmorphism effects, rotating gradient borders, and smooth hover animations that make connecting effortless.
• Live Elements: Real-time IST clock, particle.js background that adapts to the theme, and magnetic button effects that follow the cursor.
• Enhanced Animations: AOS (Animate On Scroll) library integration with custom timing and easing for professional-grade transitions.

Technical Innovations

One of the most challenging aspects was implementing the conic-gradient rotating border effect for the contact cards. This required careful CSS animation timing and z-index management to create the illusion of a rotating RGB border without affecting performance.

The notification system was built from scratch with dynamic styling injection, providing contextual feedback for user interactions. The magnetic button effects use mathematical calculations to track mouse position relative to button boundaries, creating a subtle but engaging interaction.

Performance and Accessibility

Despite all the visual effects, the portfolio maintains excellent performance through:

• Lazy loading of non-critical scripts
• CSS custom properties for efficient theme switching
• Optimized animation using requestAnimationFrame
• Mobile-first responsive design with desktop enhancements

The Result

This portfolio represents the culmination of my web development journey so far. It showcases not just my projects, but my evolution as a developer who values both aesthetics and functionality. Every element has been crafted with intention, from the micro-interactions to the overall user flow.

Building this portfolio taught me that great web development is about finding the perfect balance between innovation and usability, between showing off technical skills and creating genuine value for users. As I continue to grow as a developer, this portfolio will evolve with me, serving as both a showcase and a testament to the power of modern web technologies.