AliAlkhateeb.Com

Portfolio / AliAlkhateeb.Com
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About the Project

This is a full-stack product developed in Go and configured with YAML for data. It's optimized for performance by being bundled and minified with Gulp. The deployment strategy is robust and self-hosted, utilizing AWS EC2 with a custom CI pipeline, a systemd service manager, and secure HTTPS via NGINX. Notably, this setup achieves its goals without relying on any external frameworks or CDNs.

Technologies: Go YAML HTML CSS JavaScript Gulp NGINX AWS EC2 FastAPI systemd Bash Scripting
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Overview

This site stands as a testament to full-stack control, zero dependencies, and no excuses. It's the foundational piece of the Goatzilla ecosystem, meticulously crafted from the ground up using Go’s native `net/http` and `html/template` packages, with all content hand-authored in YAML. This isn't built on a framework; it's raw engineering focused on speed, clarity, and extensibility.

Why Go + YAML

Go was the unequivocal choice for its inherent simplicity and blazing-fast native performance. It forms the robust backend, handling requests and templating with efficiency. YAML serves as the site's entire Content Management System (CMS) layer, meticulously defining structured content for every aspect of the site—from projects and skills to professional experiences. This unique architecture completely eliminates the need for a traditional database, resulting in lightweight deployments and an exceptionally portable system.

Build System (Gulp)

The front-end of this site is a masterclass in optimization, driven by a custom Gulp pipeline. This comprehensive build system ensures peak performance through several key processes:

  • HTML, CSS, and JavaScript minification to reduce file sizes.
  • Critical CSS inlining via Critters for immediate above-the-fold rendering.
  • Dead code elimination using PurgeCSS to strip unused styles.
  • Responsive image handling that converts images to WebP and applies intelligent compression.
  • Environment-aware builds, allowing for distinct configurations between development and production environments.
Deployment Process

Deployment is a streamlined, robust operation orchestrated by a powerful `deploy.sh` script. This script handles the entire pipeline:

  • Builds the site locally, ensuring all assets are compiled and optimized.
  • Securely SSHs into the AWS EC2 server.
  • Archives the previous release for quick rollbacks if needed.
  • Transfers the new release and precisely syncs static assets.
  • Restarts the `systemd` service managing the Go application.
  • Verifies uptime to confirm successful deployment.

The entire process is remarkably efficient, completing in under 3 minutes, showcasing true DevOps prowess.

Server Infrastructure

The site is self-hosted on a t3.micro EC2 instance running Amazon Linux 2023. It operates securely behind a hardened NGINX reverse proxy, which provides:

  • HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt for encrypted communication.
  • Strict TLS configurations and robust security headers to enhance protection.
  • Intelligent routing for both the main Go application (port 8080) and the independent mail microservice (port 8081).
FastAPI Mail Microservice

A dedicated, separate microservice written in FastAPI handles all contact form submissions. This service runs under its own `systemd` unit, communicating with the main application via an internal port (8081). It adheres to full CORS policies and robust SMTP security standards. Importantly, it leverages your custom domain's Google Workspace app password, ensuring all email activity is authenticated and securely isolated, preventing direct server exposure of credentials.

DevOps Mindset

This entire system was engineered with a strong DevOps mindset: it is fully self-hosted, automated, and easily auditable. There are no Docker containers running in production—just native services meticulously managed by `systemd`, backed by lean shell scripts and efficient Git workflows. This approach prioritizes transparency, control, and efficiency over abstraction.

Performance Highlights

The dedication to optimization is reflected in the site's outstanding performance metrics:

  • Achieves a perfect 100% on Google PageSpeed across the board.
  • Total JavaScript payload is under 40KB, ensuring minimal client-side processing.
  • Operates with no external CDN, serving everything directly from the origin for maximum control and efficiency.
  • Utilizes Critical CSS and async asset loading for instant "above-the-fold" content display, providing a seamless user experience.
What Makes It Special

This portfolio isn't just a website; it's a statement about engineering principles:

  • No framework, no bloat — signifying complete control over every line of code.
  • Server and mail services run independently yet deploy cohesively, demonstrating microservice architecture in practice.
  • YAML-based CMS ensures perfect SEO and structured data, without the overhead of a database.
  • Simplicity meets scalability — proving that a highly optimized, custom stack can be the ideal personal foundation.
Future Plans

Looking ahead, there are exciting enhancements planned for the Goatzilla platform:

  • Internationalization (i18n) support via YAML to serve a broader audience.
  • Dark mode toggle implemented via a cookie and CSS variables for personalized viewing.
  • Development of a dashboard backend (Go admin panel) for more intuitive content management.
  • Implementation of auto-deploy via webhook on Git push for even more seamless continuous deployment.