Why Develop This Website? I have always desired to create my own custom knowledge management system. In pursuit of this, I explored various options available in the market, including Notion, Evernote, Google Keep, Obsidian, among others. These platforms are undeniably excellent and meet most of my needs. You might wonder, then, why I still chose to embark on building my own. Allow me to outline some reasons that address this query.
In today's digital age, the abundance of applications and platforms offering features for knowledge management can be overwhelming. From comprehensive tools like Notion and Evernote to niche solutions like Obsidian, users are spoilt for choice. However, amidst this sea of options, there are compelling reasons to advocate for simplicity and ownership in managing our knowledge.
The allure of feature-rich applications is undeniable, but complexity often comes at a cost. Too many features packed into a single app can overwhelm users, leading to confusion and inefficiency. In many cases, users find themselves barely scratching the surface of what these apps offer, with much of the functionality going unused. Embracing simplicity allows for a streamlined experience, enabling users to focus on what truly matters: capturing, organizing, and retrieving information effectively.
One of the fundamental drawbacks of relying solely on third-party platforms for knowledge management is the lack of ownership. When your data resides on external servers, you relinquish control over your information. In essence, you do not truly "own" your insights and ideas. Over a lifetime of professional and personal endeavors, we accumulate a wealth of knowledge—a database uniquely our own. By entrusting our data to proprietary platforms, we risk losing autonomy and control over our intellectual capital.
Enterprises often tout the benefits of knowledge sharing and collaboration. Yet, the question remains: how can we leverage our insights effectively to benefit ourselves and others? Here, the argument for utilizing language model platforms like ChatGPT emerges. These AI-powered tools offer a novel approach to knowledge management, empowering users to extract value from their data in innovative ways. By harnessing the capabilities of language models, individuals can unlock new avenues for knowledge reuse and dissemination.
At the heart of every innovation lies an idea waiting to be realized. For many of us, the desire to bring our ideas to fruition is a driving force. Whether it's a solution to a common problem or a novel concept, the journey from ideation to implementation is fraught with challenges. By cultivating a sense of ownership over our knowledge and leveraging accessible tools, such as language models, we can bridge the gap between conception and execution. Empowered by technology, we can transform our ideas into tangible outcomes that have the potential to impact lives positively.
So, I built my own website. It's not just any website; it's a multi-functional platform that serves as a Content Management System (CMS), a Knowledge Management System (KMS), hosts my custom resume, features my blog, and acts as a playground where I can leverage my coding abilities to develop online tools for the wider community, making life a little easier for everyone.
In the quest for the perfect tech stack, I experimented with several combinations:
I chose the free stack because, in the end, it's all about efficiency and accessibility. Next.js has been my go-to framework for rendering frontend pages and handling backend tasks—it just works flawlessly. Huge shoutout to the Vercel team for their incredible platform. Plus, I discovered React Three Fiber, which has been a game-changer in simplifying 3D scene effects—a fantastic toolset for any React developer.
In this journey of website development, I've learned a valuable lesson: you don't always need to reinvent the wheel. Countless resources and tools are readily available; all you need to do is seek them out and put them to good use. This time around, I opted to learn everything through official documentation rather than splurging on online courses—I realized I might have been hoarding online courses more than I was learning from them.
In the end, building my website has been an enlightening experience. It's not just about creating a digital presence but also about exploring the vast landscape of technology and finding the perfect balance between functionality, affordability, and personal growth.
