From Basic to Brilliant: How I Built a Website That's Unapologetically Mine (with Festive Snow!)
Because Sometimes One HTML File Is All You Need
Have you ever looked at modern websites and thought, "Why is this so complicated?" I know I have. After years of working with bloated CMSs and fancy frameworks, I finally decided to do something different - something that brings back the joy of early web development while still feeling fresh and modern.
You see, I've always been fascinated by the art of doing more with less. (Maybe it's the 90s kid in me, when we had to make every kilobyte count). That's what led me to create JOCK.pl, my new digital home that's basically one HTML file with some thoughtfully crafted CSS and just enough JavaScript to make things interesting.
The "Why" Behind It All
Here's something most people don't talk about: modern web development has become unnecessarily complex. We're often using sledgehammers to crack nuts, implementing entire frameworks just to show a few pages. Does anyone really need 300MB of node_modules to display a blog? D:
That's why I decided to go back to basics, but with a modern twist. My requirements were simple:
Lightning-fast loading times
No external dependencies (except one custom font because, hey, we still want it to look good)
Clean, intuitive navigation
A dash of personality
Breaking Down the Build
The site structure is beautifully simple:
"*" takes you home (CLI-style, because why not?)
"thoughts" leads to this blog you're reading
"apps box" showcases my digital experiments
"creative" connects to my LinkedIn portfolio
"meet" opens up email
Plus two toggles: language and snow. (More about that snow in a bit - it's cooler than you might think!)
What makes this special isn't what it has - it's what it doesn't have. No cookie banners. No pop-ups begging you to subscribe. No "please wait while we load 50 tracking scripts." Just pure, purposeful functionality.
The Snow Saga: When Simple Becomes Complex
Now, here's where things get interesting. I decided to add some festive flair with falling snow, and wow - what started as a simple feature turned into a fascinating deep dive into performance optimization. Want to know the really cool part? The snow actually accumulates and you can interact with it!
Some technical highlights (without drowning you in code):
Grid-based collision detection - Because checking every snowflake against every pile would make your browser cry
Smart performance limits - Keeps things smooth even when it's really "snowing"
Interactive clearing - Wave your mouse around to clear the snow (oddly satisfying, trust me)
Here's a tiny peek at the “magic”:
function createSnowflake() {
if (!isSnowing || snowflakes.length >= maxActiveSnowflakes) return;
const snowflake = document.createElement('div');
snowflake.className = 'snow-pixel';
// Add random movement patterns const speed = 2 + Math.random() * 3; const horizontalMovement = Math.random() * 1.5 - 0.75; }Why This Matters (Even If You're Not a Developer)
This project taught me something crucial about digital creation: Constraints breed creativity. By limiting myself to basically one file, I had to think more carefully about every element I added. It's like trying to pack for a weekend trip in just a carry-on - you really think about what's essential.
Some broader insights for anyone working in digital:
Performance is user experience - A fast, simple site beats a fancy, slow one every time
Intentional design matters - Every element should earn its place
Simplicity scales - Less code means fewer bugs and easier maintenance
Personal touch counts - Your digital presence should feel like YOU
Looking Forward
JOCK.pl isn't just a website - it's my digital playground. I'll be adding more features, trying new ideas, and probably breaking things along the way (that's half the fun, right?).
Next up? I'm thinking about:
Adding some retro-style mini-games
Creating an old-school guestbook (remember those?)
Maybe some pixel art animations
Who knows? The beauty of having a simple foundation is that you can build anything on it!
Want to See It in Action?
Head over to JOCK.pl and toggle that snow button! Fair warning: watching those pixels fall and pile up is surprisingly addictive :)
Would love to hear your thoughts! Have you built something intentionally simple lately? Miss the old days of web development? Let me know in the comments below!