The latest articles on DEV Community by Harsh Kumar (@harsh_kumar_0904). https://dev.to/harsh_kumar_0904 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3716876%2F8ccf2846-b923-4555-8fd2-41ce3a7b8dd4.jpg https://dev.to/harsh_kumar_0904 en Harsh Kumar Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:16:00 +0000 https://dev.to/harsh_kumar_0904/driving-through-my-world-of-code-a-playable-portfolio-with-waterfalls-wildlife-and-working-tech-57o7 https://dev.to/harsh_kumar_0904/driving-through-my-world-of-code-a-playable-portfolio-with-waterfalls-wildlife-and-working-tech-57o7 <p><em>This is a submission for the <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/new-year-new-you-google-ai-2025-12-31">New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Presented by Google AI</a></em></p> <h2> About Me </h2> <p>I’m Harsh Kumar, a Computer Science student focused on AI &amp; ML, but more importantly — a builder who loves solving real-world problems around me.</p> <p>I come from Purnea, Bihar, and before college I was already working with local businesses on their digital presence. That experience shaped how I see technology — not just as code, but as a tool to fix messy, inefficient, real-life systems.</p> <p>Through my projects, I try to bridge the gap between ground-level problems and practical tech solutions. Whether it’s helping a Honda dealership manage data better, building systems for college students, or creating digital tools for hospitals and campus communities, my goal is always the same:</p> <p>Use technology where it actually matters.</p> <p>This portfolio represents my journey of building with limited resources, learning by doing, and turning everyday problems into working digital solutions.</p> <h2> Portfolio </h2> <p><strong>Use control:</strong><br> W,A,S,D - Movement<br> E - interact with buildings<br> Shift - boost<br> Space - Jump</p> <p>For live demo, here is my Portfolio <a href="https://drive-through-portfolio-2-0-244615643119.us-west1.run.app" rel="noopener noreferrer">link</a></p> <p><strong>Turn on Sound</strong><br> </p> <div class="ltag__cloud-run"> <iframe height="600px" src="https://drive-through-portfolio-2-0-244615643119.us-west1.run.app"> </iframe> </div> <p><em>Click on Jump(with mouse) and then WASD to control.</em></p> <p><strong>--labels dev-tutorial=devnewyear2026</strong></p> <h2> How I Built It </h2> <p>This portfolio is not a traditional scrolling website — it’s an interactive 3D world where visitors can explore my work by driving a car and interacting with different buildings. Each building represents a part of my journey, skills, or projects.</p> <p><strong>Development Approach:</strong></p> <p>I built the entire experience using Google AI Studio as my primary development environment. Instead of following a standard template, I used AI-assisted iteration to design a portfolio that feels more like a playable experience than a website.</p> <p>The idea was to make exploring my work feel like exploration in the real world — you don’t just scroll, you discover.</p> <p><strong>Tech &amp; Tools:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Frontend Experience: 3D web environment (interactive scene, movement, object interaction)</li> <li>Design Style: Game-inspired portfolio interface</li> <li>Deployment: Google Cloud Run via Google AI Studio</li> </ul> <p>AI Tools Used: <br> Google AI Studio for:</p> <ul> <li>Structuring the application logic</li> <li>Designing interactive behavior</li> <li>Refining UI/UX ideas</li> <li>Improving written content and storytelling</li> </ul> <p><strong>Design Decisions:</strong><br> I intentionally avoided a traditional resume-style layout. Instead, I focused on:</p> <ul> <li>Immersion over scrolling</li> <li>Interaction over static sections</li> <li>Exploration over navigation menus</li> </ul> <p>This reflects how I approach technology — I like building systems that people experience, not just use.</p> <h2> What I'm Most Proud Of </h2> <p>🌍 <strong>Turning a Portfolio into an Experience</strong></p> <ul> <li>Most portfolios show projects in cards or lists. I transformed mine into a 3D interactive world where:</li> <li>You can drive a car to move around</li> <li>Each building represents a different section (projects, skills, journey, etc.)</li> <li>Visitors learn about me through interaction, not just reading</li> <li>This makes the portfolio memorable and engaging, like a small open-world demo.</li> </ul> <p>🧠 <strong>Blending Creativity with Technology</strong></p> <p>This project shows that I don’t just build systems — I think about how people experience technology. Combining:</p> <ul> <li>Web development</li> <li>Interactive design</li> <li>3D environment thinking</li> <li>AI-assisted development helped me push beyond a standard portfolio into something more experimental and creative.</li> </ul> <p>☁️ <strong>Cloud-Ready Architecture</strong></p> <p>Deploying the app using Google AI Studio → Cloud Run allowed the project to run in a secure, scalable cloud environment while keeping AI keys protected. This gave the portfolio a production-style deployment, not just local hosting.</p> <p>🚧 <strong>Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone</strong></p> <ul> <li>This project challenged me to work with:</li> <li>Interactive environments</li> <li>Spatial thinking (designing in 3D space)</li> <li>Non-traditional navigation systems</li> </ul> <p>It represents growth — not just in technical skills, but in how I think about user experience.</p> <p>You reached the end of the road! Before you drive off, feel free to share feedback or thoughts — it helps me build better worlds.</p> devchallenge googleaichallenge portfolio gemini