Project Halo – 2024 Refresh

It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog post—nearly a year, in fact. So much has happened during this time: I graduated, found a job, and have truly fallen in love with the work I’m doing. This past year has been a whirlwind of learning, building, and evolving. From mastering scalable system development and improving user interface design to adopting better tech stacks and collaborating effectively—these experiences have been taking me to new heights in the past several months.

Now, I’m excited to share an update about a new project called Halo. This is my 2024 refreshed version of a personal website, inspired by many other creative personal websites I’ve come across online. It’s designed not to showcase fancy technical skills, but to genuinely express who I am. This insight comes from a recent realization, thanks to advice from Lewis, that expressing one true self is vital—whether you’re job hunting, networking with top-tier engineers, or even seeking a future co-founder.

But expressing oneself isn’t merely about sharing emotions; it’s also about conveying technical abilities, lifestyle philosophies, design tastes, and, most importantly, passion. So, my goal with Project Halo is not only to introduce who I am but to create an interactive and engaging experience for visitors. I envision it as something people might find valuable enough to revisit—not because of frequent updates, but due to the meaningful content it offers. I want it to be a platform where users can discover resources, tools, and insights that resonate with them.

Why "Halo"?

The name Halo signifies something meant to be seen—an aura that represents my presence in the digital space. Unlike my previous project, Planet, which focused more on aesthetics and animations, Halo aims to deliver a top-tier user experience. I’m pushing to make it among the best in the realm of personal websites, with an emphasis on functionality, engagement, and interactivity.

But it's not just about creating a personal site; I want Halo to be a product. A product that people want to use, not just browse. I’m incorporating many productivity tools like Arc Browser, CleanShot X, and Raycast that I rely on daily—things that others often ask me about. By sharing these, I hope to provide real value to visitors, turning Halo into more than just a personal branding platform but a helpful resource for others.

Looking Ahead: Plans for 2025

In 2025, my main focus will be refining Halo. I want to enhance its functionality, making it even more engaging and user-friendly. Personal branding is key in the tech industry, and I see Halo as my digital identity—a way for others to truly know me.

Another idea that has emerged recently is building an AI tool for writing blog posts. This tool wouldn’t simply transcribe spoken words but would organize them into well-structured blog posts while retaining my unique voice. The goal is to streamline the process, allowing me to generate content faster. I’ve noticed that I think quicker when I speak, and typing tends to slow me down. If I can just “dump” my thoughts and have AI shape them into readable content, it could be a game-changer for me and potentially for others.

I’m already experimenting with this AI-powered writing process, and this blog post itself is part of that experiment. The AI transforms my spoken words into coherent text, preserving my tone while removing unnecessary repetitions and filler words. While I’m not aiming to commercialize this AI tool, I do see potential in it. Maybe, one day, it could be developed into a lightweight, user-friendly product—something with a simple one-time license model where users bring their own API keys.

Building the Foundation

I believe in offering valuable tools for free, especially at the start. This isn’t about earning money; it’s about earning users, gaining traction, and fostering long-term relationships. I’m still at an early stage in my career, so building a network and a reputation is my main focus right now.

As for Project Halo, it’s more than just a website—it's a universe of everything around me. It’ll have sections dedicated to projects, detailed career illustrations, blog posts, demos, and descriptions of tools I use. I want it to be an engaging, evolving space that feels truly personal.

In the end, Halo will be an expression of me—my journey, my work, my ideas. I’m thrilled to see where this project leads and welcome any feedback or suggestions you might have. Stay tuned as Halo evolves, and thank you for being a part of this journey!

Interesting Fact

FYI - I only spent 15 minutes writing this. Thanks to the AI that transforms my thoughts from spoken snippets into real pieces. Welcome to the era of AI-powered everything!