write a 2024 blog

apacheli · apacheli · commit 587896aef4c7 · 2025-01-08T11:42:31.000-06:00
diff --git a/src/assets/contributions.json b/src/assets/contributions.json
diff --git a/src/assets/data.json b/src/assets/data.json
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+{
+    "contributions": [
+        {
+            "title": "Discord Developer Documentation",
+            "description": "The Discord developer platform lets you develop apps to customize and extend Discord for millions of users.",
+            "url": "https://discord.com/developers/docs/intro",
+            "date": "2020-2022"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "eris",
+            "description": "A NodeJS Discord library. Eris has over 1.5k stars on GitHub!",
+            "url": "https://github.com/abalabahaha/eris",
+            "date": "2019-2021"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "wave",
+            "description": "A Rainmeter-like widget platform powered by Electron!",
+            "url": "https://github.com/thewaveorg/wave",
+            "date": "2021"
+        }
+    ],
+    "projects": [
+        {
+            "title": "robintune",
+            "description": "A tool for calculating and standardizing battle mechanics in video games.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/robintune",
+            "date": "2025-present"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "bluejay",
+            "description": "Create a book with MDX, JSX components, and Bun. Fun fact: My personal website was built using bluejay.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/bluejay",
+            "date": "2024-present"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "discord-api-libs",
+            "description": "A curated list of open-source libraries for interacting with Discord's API.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/discord-api-libs",
+            "date": "2020-present"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "whirlybird",
+            "description": "A JavaScript library for making Discord bots.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/whirlybird",
+            "date": "2020-present"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "yttv",
+            "description": "Makes YouTube TV work in your web browser. It's the same interface when using YouTube on a gaming console.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/yttv",
+            "date": "2022"
+        },
+        {
+            "title": "watch_only",
+            "description": "A Firefox add-on that redirects you from YouTube Shorts to the original YouTube video player.",
+            "url": "https://github.com/apacheli/watch_only",
+            "date": "2022"
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/src/assets/projects.json b/src/assets/projects.json
diff --git a/src/components/Comments.tsx b/src/components/Comments.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 export default () => (
     <>
-        <h2>Comments</h2>
+        <h2>
+            <a href="#comments" id="comments">
+                Comments
+            </a>
+        </h2>
         <script
             src="https://giscus.app/client.js"
             data-repo="apacheli/apacheli.github.io"
diff --git a/src/components/Footer.tsx b/src/components/Footer.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import Discord from "@icons/Discord.svg";
 import GitHub from "@icons/GitHub.svg";
-import LinkedIn from "@icons/LinkedIn.svg";
 import Steam from "@icons/Steam.svg";
 import Twitch from "@icons/Twitch.svg";
 import Twitter from "@icons/Twitter.svg";
@@ -9,7 +8,6 @@ import YouTube from "@icons/YouTube.svg";
 const nav = [
     { href: "/discord", icon: Discord, h: "#5865F2" },
     { href: "/github", icon: GitHub, h: "#808080" },
-    { href: "/linkedin", icon: LinkedIn, h: "#0266c3" },
     { href: "/steam", icon: Steam, h: "#00adef" },
     { href: "/twitch", icon: Twitch, h: "#8d44f7" },
     { href: "/twitter", icon: Twitter, h: "#24a3f1" },
@@ -27,6 +25,11 @@ export default () => (
                 ))}
             </ul>
         </nav>
-        <span>&copy; 2024-present apacheli</span>
+        <span>
+            &copy; 2024-present apacheli <a href="https://github.com/apacheli/apacheli.github.io">(source)</a>
+        </span>
+        <span>
+            Designed with &#10084;&#65039; and <a href="https://apache.li/bluejay">Bluejay</a>
+        </span>
     </div>
 );
diff --git a/src/components/Header.tsx b/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const nav = [
 export default () => (
     <div class="main-header">
         <a href="/" class="main-header-title">
-            <img src="/icon.png" alt="bluejay icon" height="48" width="48" />
+            <img src="/icon.png" alt="apache.li icon" height="48" width="48" />
             <span>Apacheli</span>
         </a>
         <nav>
diff --git a/src/components/Page.tsx b/src/components/Page.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface PageProps {
 export default ({ title, description, children }: PageProps) => (
     <html lang="en">
         <head>
-            <title>{`Bluejay - ${title}`}</title>
+            <title>{`apache.li - ${title}`}</title>
             <link rel="icon" href={`${Bun.env.BLUEJAY_PATH}/icon.png`} />
             <link rel="stylesheet" href={`${Bun.env.BLUEJAY_PATH}/index.css`} />
             <meta charset="utf8" />
diff --git a/src/icons/LinkedIn.svg b/src/icons/LinkedIn.svg
diff --git a/src/pages/about.mdx b/src/pages/about.mdx
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@ export const description = "Web and Software Developer"
 
 # About Me
 
-Hello, I'm Jimmy Vang, a web and software developer. JavaScript and TypeScript
-are my flavor of programming languages, but I've also dabbled with Python, Java,
-and Lua. My goals are to build fully custom applications with performance and
-efficiency in mind. I also like to contribute to open-source projects.
+Hello, I'm **Jimmy Vang**, a web and software developer. JavaScript and
+TypeScript are my flavor of programming languages, but I've also dabbled with
+Python, Java, and Lua. My goals are to build fully custom applications with
+performance and efficiency in mind. I also like to contribute to open-source
+projects.
 
 I'm also a hobbyist graphic designer and artist. I've use Figma and Paint.NET to
-make some cool stuff.
+design some pretty things such as custom SVG icons for websites and thumbnails
+for video platforms such as YouTube.
 
 Check out [my blog](/blog) to see what I've been working on, or
 [contact me](/contact) if you're interested in working with me.
@@ -19,22 +21,36 @@ Check out [my blog](/blog) to see what I've been working on, or
 I study computer science, but the majority of my knowledge and experience stems
 from reading documentations and trial and error.
 
+As a software engineer and freelancer, working with clients who want custom
+applications for their specific use cases has taught me a lot about the business
+and professional side of things for my career path. I've worked with other
+brilliant minds to come up with the best solutions possible for any given problem.
+
 ## Gaming
 
 Open-world, sandbox, and tower defense are my favorite genres of video games.
 
 My friend codes:
 
-- Nintendo Switch: `SW-5259-5725-2888`
-- Steam: `876434768`
+- **Nintendo Switch**: `SW-5259-5725-2888`
+- **Steam**: [`876434768`](https://apache.li/steam)
+
+Other games:
+
+- **Genshin Impact**: `658940494`
+- **Honkai: Star Rail**: `603925780`
+- **Minecraft**: `apacheopteryx`
 
 ## My PC Build
 
 https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RzYQbL
 
-- CPU: AMD Ryzen&#8482; 5 7600
-- GPU: AMD Radeon&#8482; RX 6650 XT
+- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen&#8482; 5 7600
+- **GPU**: AMD Radeon&#8482; RX 6650 XT
 
 ## Other Stuff
 
 I'm from the United States. My time zone is `GMT-5`.
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> Responses may be not available during the downtime of this timezone.
diff --git a/src/pages/blog.tsx b/src/pages/blog.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export default ({ pages }) => {
     return (
         <>
             <h1>Blog</h1>
-            <p>I write about stuff.</p>
+            <p>I yap about stuff that may or may not interest you.</p>
             <div>
                 {pages
                     .filter((page) => page.mod.type === "blog")
diff --git a/src/pages/blog/learned-2024.mdx b/src/pages/blog/learned-2024.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+import Comments from "@components/Comments"
+
+export const title = "What Have I learned in 2024?"
+export const description = "A somewhat interesting insight into what I've learned in 2024. Will this new profound knowledge carry with me into 2025? We'll have to just wait and see."
+export const date = "2025-01-08"
+export const type = "blog"
+
+# Things I've Learned in 2024
+
+2024 was a pretty lackluster year for me all things considered. However, it may
+have also been the year where I was the most excited to try and experiment with
+new things. Ranting aside, let's dive into all the cool new gadgets I've played
+with in 2024.
+
+> This is about a 5 minute read.
+
+## Databases and Caching
+
+Working with and managing databases was a new experience for me in 2024. When I
+was writing a custom application for a client, we needed to reliably manage data
+without the risk of data corruption. Normally, JSON was my go-to choice because
+it was familiar to me, but it was far, far too unreliable for the situation at
+hand.
+
+I've settled with [PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/) as my go-to choice
+when working with databases. It's probably overkill for small applications, but
+it definitely gets the job done. It even comes with a cool dashboard called
+_pgAdmin_ to help visualize your data.
+
+However, making requests to your database can be computationally expensive.
+That's where caching comes in. If data is frequently requested, it may be worth
+looking into caching solutions. I use [Redis](https://redis.io/) for this.
+Unlike a traditional database, Redis stores your data in-memory which makes it
+much faster and less expensive on your hardware.
+
+My biggest complaint about SQL is _it's just not fun to write_. Please use an
+[ORM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object%E2%80%93relational_mapping). It'll
+make you and your colleagues' lives so much easier. However, it's still
+important to be weary of what SQL is capable of, so don't drop it off your mind
+entirely.
+
+## Managing Websites with Cloudflare
+
+I purchased _this domain_ about a year ago and linked it to my GitHub account.
+Managing a website has showed me both the beauty and ugly of this world, but it
+was all worth it just to get these cool letters to appear in your searchbar. I
+personally recommend you get a grasp of HTML and CSS instead of using an
+off-the-shelf website builder like Wix and Wordpress. It'll take time, but
+having full creative control over your website is worth the hardship.
+
+[Cloudflare](https://www.cloudflare.com/) is probably the safest and most secure
+way to manage your website. It's especially vital if you host your website on
+your own hardware. It also provides a bunch of useful tools such as analytics,
+storage, and workers. If you want a fancy business email, they'll handle that
+for you too.
+
+## Building My First PC
+
+Learning how to build your first PC is certainly an experience to have. You
+start off clueless, and then you know everything. It involves so much research
+even before you start assembling anything. For example, what are you looking for
+in a computer? Video editing? Music production? Gaming? Programming? Digital
+art? All of these should be considered when looking for PC components. You can
+also just order a prebuilt one, but that's no fun.
+
+For me, I wanted something for programming, and of course, _gaming_. A lot of my
+work involves performance testing, so I needed a CPU that could handle millions
+of operations per second without stuttering. I don't play very graphically
+demanding games, so I just went with a solid midrange GPU. However, some games
+are memory hogs like modded Minecraft, so I got ahold of some fat 32 GB RAM
+sticks, but most people could settle with 16 GB. If you have several downloaded
+games or video recordings, you might also want to peek at big storage options.
+
+I've also made a few mistakes too. I ordered _a TN monitor_ instead of an OLED
+monitor. Honestly, it's not worth getting anything TN or LCD these days. Color
+accuracy simply outweighs anything they could ever offer. My current build also
+doesn't support Bluetooth. Like I said earlier, _please_ do the research. These
+mistakes could've been avoided if I just read the fine print. Use something like
+[PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com/) to compile your parts.
+
+## Computer Servers
+
+When I upgraded my PC, it left me with some cold metal, i.e., my old computer.
+Not sure what to do with it, it just sat in a corner for a few months collecting
+dust overtime. Then all of sudden, _eureka_! Its new purpose was to now host a
+Minecraft server. I wiped out everything and installed a fresh copy of Ubuntu
+(I'm a normie, I know) onto it. Normally, the spare HDMI cable lying around was
+used for accessing it, but then I discovered how much more convenient SSH was.
+
+Today, it's still being used for a Minecraft server, but I also run other things
+on it such as a Jellyfin, a media server for watching your _totally legally
+obtained media_ on it. My Discord bots are also running on it which alleviates
+some of the stress from my main computer. I also run a Nextcloud server for
+better privacy when managing sensitive files.
+[Check out the
+Awesome-Selfhosted repository](https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted).
+It might be fun setting up a homelab of your own.
+
+## Conducting My Own Business
+
+The knowledge I have for managing my own "brand" is quite bleak and the learning
+experience will have to carry into 2025. Working with _actual_ clients by
+yourself is fun, exciting, depressing, and stressful all at the same time. Just
+pace yourself in a way that doesn't burn you out. Anyway, whatever I write here
+next year will probably be more interesting.
+
+## Conclusion
+
+Overall, it was certainly a year. Anyway, that's enough yapping.
+
+<Comments />
diff --git a/src/pages/contact.mdx b/src/pages/contact.mdx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ export const description = "Web and Software Developer"
 
 # Contact
 
-For business inquiries such as commissions, you can contact me at contact@apache.li.
+For business inquiries, you can contact me at contact@apache.li.
 
 For everything else, you can message me on Discord. I don't respond on other
 platforms.
diff --git a/src/pages/index.mdx b/src/pages/index.mdx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import Article from "@components/Article"
-import contributions from "../assets/contributions.json"
-import projects from "../assets/projects.json"
+import { contributions, projects } from "../assets/data.json"
 
 export const title = "home"
 export const description = "Web and Software Developer"
@@ -9,8 +8,11 @@ export const description = "Web and Software Developer"
 
 # Hello, I'm apacheli.
 
-Hello, I'm apacheli, a web and software developer. I primarily work with backend
-software such as [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) and [Bun](https://bun.sh/).
+Hello, I'm **apacheli**, a web and software developer. I primarily work with
+backend software such as [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en) and
+[Bun](https://bun.sh/).
+
+See anything interesting? [Get in touch with me.](/contact)
 
 ## Projects
 
