The Challenge
Every developer portfolio looks the same — React, Next.js, Tailwind, same template. I wanted mine to stand out and actually demonstrate that I can write clean code without leaning on frameworks.
Live: https://tanzil-portfolio-sigma.vercel.app
What I Built
A cyberpunk-themed developer portfolio with a terminal aesthetic. Boot sequence animation, typewriter effects, glitch animations — all in pure vanilla JS and CSS. Zero dependencies. Zero frameworks.
Technical Decisions
Why no frameworks?
A portfolio is a static page. React adds 40KB+ of JavaScript for what is essentially a landing page. Vanilla JS is faster, lighter, and honestly more impressive to technical hiring managers who see through the abstraction.
The terminal boot sequence
The page opens with a simulated system boot — text lines appear one by one like a terminal initializing. Built with a simple JS array of strings and setTimeout chains. No library needed.
Typewriter effect
Classic character-by-character reveal using requestAnimationFrame for smooth performance. Cancels and restarts cleanly when the user navigates.
Glitch animation
Pure CSS — a combination of clip-path and transform animations with staggered timing creates the glitch effect on the name header.
Stack
- HTML5
- CSS3 (custom properties, keyframe animations)
- Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+)
- Three.js (particle background)
- Deployed on Vercel
What's Inside
- Boot sequence intro animation
- Terminal-style navigation
- Project showcase with live links
- Skills matrix
- Experience timeline
- Contact section
Lessons Learned
Writing vanilla JS forces you to understand what frameworks actually do. No useEffect, no useState — just the DOM, events, and your own logic. Every developer should build at least one project without a framework.
Check it out: https://tanzil-portfolio-sigma.vercel.app
GitHub: https://github.com/Tanzil-Ahmed
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