Developing a Website for a Local Business: Learning from My First Real-World Project
"Your first project may not be perfect, but it's the perfect opportunity to learn and grow as a developer."
As a web developer, building a website that looks great and performs well is essential. Recently, I had the opportunity to develop a website for a local business using Html, Tailwind CSS as a Postcss plugin with Vite build and JavaScript for the functionality. In this blog post, I'll share some of the key takeaways from this project and how I optimized the website for performance.
Getting Started
To start, I gathered the necessary information from the client and created a wireframe to ensure that I understood the client's needs before diving into the coding phase. Then, I designed the layout of the website using HTML and added styling with Tailwind CSS.
Using Tailwind CSS
Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that allows developers to create complex layouts and designs with ease. I used it as a Postcss plugin with Vite build to optimize the website's performance. With the help of Vite build, I was able to create a production-ready website that loads quickly and efficiently."
One of the challenges I faced was to ensure that the website's performance was not negatively impacted by using Tailwind CSS. I learned that using the Tailwind CDN for production can slow down website performance, so it's better to use Tailwind as a Postcss plugin with Vite build or the Tailwind CLI.
Adding Functionality with JavaScript
In addition to designing the layout and adding styling with Tailwind CSS, I also had to add some functionality to the website using JavaScript. This involved creating scripts to handle the menu bar and image slideshow. I used JavaScript to create these features, and it was a great learning experience.
Optimizing Website Performance
One of the biggest challenges I faced was improving website performance and speed. I used Chrome DevTools to identify the performance bottlenecks and found that the images were slowing down the website. To address this, I optimized the images by reducing their size without compromising on quality. This significantly improved the website's performance and speed.
Conclusion
Building a performant website using Tailwind CSS, HTML, and JavaScript was a fantastic learning experience. I was able to hone my technical skills, improve my workflow, and optimize website performance for a better user experience. If you're a web developer looking to create visually stunning and performant websites, I highly recommend using Tailwind CSS as a Postcss plugin with Vite build or the Tailwind CLI. Additionally, learning how to optimize images and improve website performance is essential for creating a successful website.
Related Links
Link to the website I developed: [https://false-ceiling-solution.netlify.app/]
Link to the GitHub repository: [https://github.com/Anas-Rehberlik/FalseCeilingSolution.com]
Link to the Tailwind CSS documentation: [https://tailwindcss.com/]
Link to Netlify for hosting website: [https://www.netlify.com/]