I decided to take the leap and build my portfolio site, starting with a Next.js portfolio starter template, and learning how to deploy a modern website and configure the DNS. To set up the domain, I registered it via AWS and then:
- Configured Route 53 by setting up a hosted zone, along with NS and A records to point to Vercel’s servers
- Set up the domain, build, and deployment settings in the Vercel dashboard, including the CI/CD pipeline (enabling auto-deploy on push)
Beyond showcasing my work in data analytics, this project was a chance to learn and experiment with Next.js (a web framework), React, and cloud computing. Building this site has given me the confidence to deploy and manage a live website.
I plan to add more posts after exams – so watch this space!