I created Bortoleto, a custom e-commerce website for my family's butcher shop, using Java and JSP. I learned how to design, implement, test, deploy, and maintain a web application.

Data analysis

Email marketing

HTML

Copywriting

Public relations

User interface design

Web development

Database design

JavaScript

Customer relationship management

Java

Content marketing

Marketing

Link Building

Social media

Branding

Communication

Storytelling

Software development

Content strategy

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I want to share with you my story of how I created my first side project, Bortoleto, a custom e-commerce website for my family's butcher shop using Java and JSP. This was a very interesting and challenging project that helped me learn a lot of things and improve my skills as a FullStack developer. I hope that by reading my story, you will get some insights and inspiration for your own projects. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> My family runs a butcher shop for generations. I decided to take a different path with my life and I started studying Software Engineering at the University of Trento. In the early 2017, I started to think about the possibility to merge what I was studying with my family's business. I always thought that it would be very useful for them to have an e-commerce website to be able to sell their products online. So I decided to help them out and create a website for them. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I planned and designed the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I had just started the university and I was completely new to the world of web development. I didn't want to simply use an already existing platform like WordPress or Shopify just yet. I wanted to try and do some experience with the things I was studying at school. So I started designing the e-commerce website in Java. However, I didn't know the existence of the frameworks, so Spring and Spring Boot were not in the picture. I developed all the XMLs, the servlets, filters, listeners, schedulers, all by my own. So I think that in terms of experience, this made a huge impact on my knowledge base. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I based the project on the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture pattern, which separates the presentation layer (view) from the business logic (model) and the data access layer (controller). The view consisted of JSP pages that handled the user interface and HTML pages that displayed the results of the controller requests. The model consisted of Java classes that represented the data and the business rules of the e-commerce website. The controller consisted of servlets that handled different aspects of the e-commerce functionality, such as product catalog, shopping cart, checkout, chat, market, blog, etc. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I implemented and tested the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I used various technologies, tools, and languages to implement and test the project, such as Java, JSP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Eclipse, Tomcat, MySQL, etc. I learned them in school, personal side projects, and online tutorials. I also had to learn new things on the go, as the project was complex and challenging. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The major difficulties were the payment system and the deployment/hosting. The payment was complex because my family wanted to be integrated with the main bank account of the company. And it is important to keep in mind I was very new to this world. So I went to the bank of my family's company to ask if they were offering some kind of integration and in fact they did. However, it was a super custom integration. So I had to study and make thousands of tests before using it right. Also, the deployment and the hosting part were very difficult. I didn't know how to do it and also I didn't know about Docker, which would have probably simplified the whole thing. So I found a website where you could load up the .war file and the deployment worked. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I deployed and maintained the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I deployed the project on a website that allowed me to upload the .war file and run it on a Tomcat server. I also used a MySQL database to store the data of the e-commerce website. I had to configure the settings and the parameters of the server and the database to ensure the security and reliability of the website. I also had to monitor the performance and feedback of the website, using tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, etc. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I maintained the project by fixing bugs, adding new features, and updating the content of the website. I also communicated with my family and the customers of the butcher shop, to get their feedback and suggestions, and to provide them with support and assistance. I also wrote blog posts about meat-related topics, such as recipes, tips, news, etc., to attract more visitors and customers to the website. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> What I learned from the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I learned a lot of things from this project, especially how Java web applications work under the hood, which not many new software developers know since they use from the beginning frameworks like Spring, which are very useful but they hide all these mechanisms. I also learned how to use various technologies, tools, and languages, such as JSP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Eclipse, Tomcat, MySQL, etc. I also learned how to design, implement, test, deploy, and maintain a complex and challenging web application, such as an e-commerce website. I also learned how to communicate and collaborate with different people, such as my family, the customers, the bank, etc. I also learned how to solve problems and create value for the users and the clients. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> This project helped me grow and improve as a FullStack developer and as a professional in general. It also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that await me in the future. It also gave me a lot of satisfaction and pride, as I was able to help my family and their business, and to create something useful and valuable for them and for the customers. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Even though the project turned out great, I realized my family needed a user-friendly e-commerce site that they could manage easily, even without technical skills. So, I decided to recreate it using WordPress. Now, you can check it out <a href="https://macelleriadellantonio.it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>, and it's much simpler for everyone to handle </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> In conclusion, I can say that Bortoleto was one of the challenging projects that I ever created. It was a very interesting and rewarding project that helped me learn a lot of things and improve my skills as a FullStack developer. It was also a very rewarding and enjoyable project that helped me help my family and their business, and to create something useful and valuable for them and for the customers. I think that Bortoleto is a great example of how to create a custom e-commerce website using Java and JSP, and I hope that it can inspire and help other developers who want to create similar projects. </Typography>

Creating Bortoleto with Java and JSP

Bortoleto: A Custom E-commerce Website

I created Lists, a web application for custom shopping lists, using Java and JSP. I learned how to design, implement and test a web application.

JSTL

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I want to share with you my story of how I created my side project, Lists, a web application for creating custom shopping lists to share with other people. This was a very interesting and challenging project that helped me learn a lot of things and improve my skills as a web developer. I hope that by reading my story, you will get some insights and inspiration for your own projects. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> This project was an assignment of the university course "Web Programming". It was one of the first courses in web development that I took and this project was a good challenge by all means. The main idea behind the project was to create a web application with a catalog of already existing products, but also with the possibility to create your own custom products, where anyone could create different lists for different needs, add products to these lists, share the lists with other people and be notified when you were close to a shop that sold a product in one of your lists. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I planned and designed the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The technologies that me and my team used to implement this project were already defined by the professor and, as the project was mainly focused on Java, we used it. We designed the project with the MVC pattern, defining all the view part with JSP pages using JSTL. The guidelines of the project given by the professor were not as detailed as one could expect, so we had to really take our time in the design process. We also created an ER diagram and a UseCase diagram that you can find in this folder: <a href="https://github.com/Rob097/Lists/tree/master/doc" target="_blank">Doc Folder</a> The main features of the project are thoroughly described in this pdf that you can read: <a href="https://github.com/Rob097/Lists/blob/master/doc/Documentazione.pdf" target="_blank">Documentation pdf</a> </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I implemented and tested the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> At the time, the main challenges were surely highlighted by the lack of experience that me and my team had, given the fact that this was one of the very first web projects that we all worked on. So, we used NetBeans as IDE to write the code and Tomcat to run the web application. Every feature that we developed passed through some serious test phases in which a lot of problems in both design and technical fields came out. Thinking about it now, I'd say that without knowing it, our team was divided into two internal teams: One dev team (where I was) and a sort of Quality Assurance team. As in all teams, we also had some communication problems which especially when we were close to the deadline created some disagreements. But I have to say we handled it pretty well, sitting around a table and discussing all the problems we were having and deciding which ones were more important, assigning them an urgency level, and solving them first. This approach helped us resolve the majority of the serious problems, leaving unresolved only a few secondary problems. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I deployed and maintained the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> As I already said, all the features were tested by some components of the team focused on quality assurance. Also, being a university course project, we didn't have the need to deploy and host the project for real. Although we had a problem in this sense. Every member had the master branch on his computer running on NetBeans, however at the beginning, everyone had also his own copy of the database. We wanted to avoid this by having a unique database for everyone. We also didn't want to pay for an online service and in 2017 with small knowledge on the field, we couldn't find a solution. So what I did was starting a server on my Raspberry Pi at home, creating a free DDNS, using the route forwarding on my home router and giving access to the database to all my team members which now had all the same database. This was not optimal and surely not very quick, but I think it is a good example of how with some imagination you can always find a way to create things without paying for expensive services (at least at the beginning). </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> What I learned from the project </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> This project put me and my team under a lot of stress, challenge and it gave us a lot of study and work to do. I think that the scarcity of details in the main essay was both an increase in the complexity of the project and an opportunity to work on something by our own. In the end, the result was great and everything worked perfectly. We made the decision to omit some parts and include different ones and this decision, with the right motivations, was rewarded. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I learned a lot of things from this project, especially how to use various technologies, tools, and languages, such as Java, JSP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, NetBeans, Tomcat, MySQL, etc. I also learned how to design, implement and test a complex and challenging web application, such as a custom shopping list website. I also learned how to communicate and collaborate with different people, such as my team members, the professor, the users, etc. I also learned how to solve problems and create value for the users and the clients. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> This project helped me grow and improve as a web developer and as a professional in general. It also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that await me in the future. It also gave me a lot of satisfaction and pride, as I was able to create something useful and valuable for myself and for other people. </Typography>

Developing Lists with Java and JSP

Lists: A Custom Shopping List Web Application

I created a web application that can support multiple companies with different data and configurations, using React, Spring Boot, and MongoDB. I learned how to use complex methodologies and technologies, such as multi-tenancy, NoSql, and various libraries and tools.

Innovation

NoSql

Multi-tenancy

React

Information security

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I want to share with you a personal project that I worked on a couple of years ago while I was studying React and Spring Boot. It's a web application that can support multiple companies with different data and configurations, using the multi-tenancy approach. I will tell you what the project is about, how I designed and implemented it, what challenges I faced, what benefits I gained, and what outcomes I achieved. I hope you will enjoy reading this blog post and learn something new and useful. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2" gutterBottom> What is the project about? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The project started as a fidelity management system for companies. The idea was to create a platform where companies can manage their customer loyalty programs, such as rewarding their customers with points and vouchers, and tracking their customer behavior and preferences. However, as I was working on the project, I realized that I was more interested in learning complex methodologies and technologies than creating a real-world product. So, I decided to change the focus of the project and make it more an academic project. The new goal of the project was to create a modular application that can be used as a template for future projects that use the multi-tenancy approach. Multi-tenancy is a software architecture pattern that allows a single application to serve multiple clients or tenants, each with their own data and configurations, while ensuring data isolation and security. For example, imagine a web application that allows different companies to create and manage their own websites. Each company would have its own domain name, logo, theme, content, and users, but they would all use the same web application. That's what multi-tenancy is about. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2" gutterBottom> How did I design and implement the project? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The project is a full-stack web application that uses React for the frontend and Spring Boot for the backend. The project also uses MongoDB, a NoSql database, to store the data of each tenant. The project consists of four modules: the core module, the web module, the security module, and the email module. The core module contains the common functionalities and utilities that are used by the other modules, such as the models, the repositories, the services, the exceptions, and the constants. The web module contains the controllers and the DTOs that handle the REST API requests and responses. The security module contains the configuration and the components that handle the authentication and authorization of the users, such as the filters, the providers, the tokens, and the authorities. The email module contains the configuration and the components that handle the email sending and receiving, such as the templates, the listeners, and the events. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The frontend of the project is a React application that uses functional components and hooks to create the user interface. The frontend uses MUI, a library of React components that follow the Material Design guidelines, to create a beautiful and responsive web application. The frontend also uses Axios, a library that simplifies the HTTP requests and responses, to communicate with the backend. The frontend also uses React Router, a library that handles the navigation and routing of the application, to create different pages and components. The frontend also uses Redux, a library that manages the state of the application, to store and update the data of the user and the company. The frontend also uses Chart.js, a library that creates interactive charts and graphs, to display the analytics and reports of the company. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2" gutterBottom> What challenges did I face? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The main challenges I faced while working on this project were related to the multi-tenancy approach and the NoSql database. To implement the multi-tenancy approach, I had to create and access different MongoDB databases dynamically, depending on the tenant identifier. To do this, I used mongoFactory and mongoTemplate, two classes that allow me to create and access different MongoDB databases programmatically. I also used a custom annotation and a custom filter to identify the tenant identifier from the request header and to set the current database accordingly. To learn how to use a NoSql database, I had to change my mindset from the relational model to the document model. I had to learn how to design and query the data using documents and collections, instead of tables and rows. I also had to learn how to use the aggregation framework, a feature that allows me to perform complex data analysis and manipulation. I also had to learn how to use the Spring Data MongoDB, a module that simplifies the interaction with MongoDB using annotations and repositories. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2" gutterBottom> What benefits did I gain? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> The main benefits of this project are the knowledge and skills I gained about the multi-tenancy approach and the NoSql databases, but also about the Spring Boot framework and React. I learned how to create a modular and scalable web application that can support multiple clients with different data and configurations. I also learned how to use a NoSql database that can handle large and complex data more efficiently and flexibly. I also learned how to use the Spring Boot framework and React to create a full-stack web application that follows the best practices and standards of the industry. I also learned how to use various libraries and tools that enhance the functionality and the appearance of the web application. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2" gutterBottom> What outcomes did I achieve? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> As it is right now, I don't think this project can be used in a real world scenario because it is not complete and it is not optimized. However, I think that this project can be used as a template for future projects that use the multi-tenancy approach. I think that this project can be improved and extended by adding more features and functionalities to the fidelity management system, such as the ability to create and redeem vouchers, the ability to send and receive notifications, the ability to integrate with external services and APIs, and the ability to customize the look and feel of the web application. I also think that this project can be optimized and refined by improving the performance and the security of the web application, such as the caching, the logging, the testing, the error handling, and the encryption. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> If you are interested in my project, you can find the source code and the documentation on GitHub: <Link href="https://github.com/Rob097/myForment" underline="hover" color="primary" > https://github.com/Rob097/myForment </Link> . You can also contact me if you have any questions or feedback. I hope you enjoyed reading this story and I hope you learned something new and useful. 😊 </Typography>

Building a Multi-Tenant Web Application

MyForment

Developed MyPortfolio, a web application that allows users to create personalized portfolios using stories instead of lists. Used Spring Boot, React, Next.js, microservices, microfrontends, Docker, and SQL.

<Typography variant="body1"> The first version of MyPortfolio was not just a web application, but also a learning journey. It was a journey that started with curiosity and passion, and ended with knowledge and satisfaction. It was a journey that taught me new things and challenged me to grow as a developer. It was a journey that helped me to shape my vision and to create something that I am proud of. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Motivation: Learning New Technologies and Improving My Skills</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The main motivation for creating the first version of the project was to learn new technologies and to improve my skills as a developer. I wanted to create something that would allow me to learn and practice new things. I also wanted to create something that would be useful for other people. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> When I first started working on this project, I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to create. I knew it was something about portfolios, but I didn't know exactly what it was going to be. At the beginning, the focus was on practicing with multimodule architecture and Spring Boot. I wanted to create a web application that would allow users to create their own profiles, write their own stories, and view other users' stories. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Development: A Long and Complex Process</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> It took me a long time to develop the first version of the project. It was a complex and challenging process that involved many steps and phases. I had to design, code, test, debug, deploy, and document the project. I had to use different technologies and approaches for the backend and the frontend. I had to make many decisions and trade-offs along the way. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> For the backend, I used Spring Boot as the framework to create RESTful APIs that handled requests from the frontend. I used a multimodule architecture to organize the project into three main modules: core, Sec Auth Conf, and Ui-Api. The core module contained the services, the transaction manager, the repositories, and other core components. The Sec Auth Conf module contained the security configuration, the security filters, the security utils, and the overall application configuration. The Ui-Api module contained the controllers, the DTOs, and the mappers. It was the module that exposed the REST APIs to the frontend. I wrote a very thorough documentation in the <a href="https://github.com/Rob097/MyPortfolio-Backend/wiki" target="_blank">WIKI of the repository</a> to explain the backend in more detail. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The frontend was developed in Angular instead of React because at the time I was more familiar with Angular. At the time I didn't know of the existing of Tailwind so I'd say that was one of the first frustrating part. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The project was hosted on two different platforms. The backend was hosted on Heroku and the frontend was hosted on Firebase. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Challenges: Learning, Experimenting, and Solving Problems</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> One of the main challenges that I faced while developing the first version of the project was learning new technologies and approaches. I had to learn new things and to experiment with them. I had to understand how they worked and how to use them properly. I had to find solutions to problems that I didn't know how to solve. I had to make mistakes and learn from them. I had to ask for help and advice from other people. I had to be patient and persistent. I had to keep going even when I felt frustrated or discouraged. I had to keep learning and improving my skills as a developer. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> To learn how to use new technologies and approaches, I followed online tutorials, courses, blogs, and documentation. I also looked at some examples and projects that used them. I tried to understand the concepts, the benefits, and the drawbacks of each one. I also experimented with them by creating small prototypes and testing them. I learned from my mistakes and improved my code quality and performance. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Achievements: Understanding and Creating</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> I wouldn't say I had any achievements or successes while developing the first version of the project, but I would say that I had a lot of learning and a lot of fun. I enjoyed the process of discovering new possibilities and creating new solutions. I also gained more confidence and competence as a developer. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> Probably the main achievement was understanding what I really wanted to create and starting to work on the second version of the project, which was even more complex and challenging than the first one. The second version of the project was a complete redesign and rewrite of the first one, using different technologies and approaches. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Feedbacks: None</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> I didn't receive any feedbacks or reactions from other people about the first version of the project because I didn't share it with anyone. I was just using it to learn and practice new things. I didn't think it was ready or good enough to be shown to the world. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> However, I realized that feedbacks are important and valuable for any developer who wants to improve their work and their skills. Feedbacks can help us to identify our strengths and weaknesses, to learn from our mistakes and successes, to get new ideas and perspectives, and to motivate us to keep working and growing. Feedbacks can also help us to connect with other people who share our interests and passions, and to create a community of learners and creators. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The Learnings: What to Do and What Not to Do</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The main learnings or insights that I gained from developing the first version of the project were related to the technologies and approaches that I used. I learned how to use them and how to apply them in practice. I also learned what is worth spending time implementing and what is better to avoid using already existing solutions, which is probably the most important thing I learned. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> I learned that sometimes it is better to use a simple and basic solution that works well than a complex and advanced solution that causes problems. I learned that sometimes it is better to use a ready-made and tested solution that saves time and effort than a custom-made and untested solution that wastes time and effort. I learned that sometimes it is better to use a proven and reliable solution that ensures quality and performance than a new and experimental solution that risks errors and failures. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> I also learned that sometimes it is better to use a different and innovative solution that creates value and differentiation than a common and conventional solution that creates similarity and competition. I learned that sometimes it is better to use a flexible and adaptable solution that supports change and evolution than a rigid and fixed solution that prevents them. I learned that sometimes it is better to use a user-centered and user-friendly solution that meets the needs and expectations of the users than a developer-centered and developer-friendly solution that meets the needs and expectations of the developers. </Typography>

<Typography variant="body1"> I implemented a useful feature in the Back-End system. When the Front-End requests data, like a user profile, I wanted the flexibility to specify what additional information to include—such as roles, projects, or stories. I introduced the concept of "VIEWS" to represent this idea. It's like telling the system how much detail I need. Now, when making a request, we can specify a specific view, which trigger the creation of a set of fetch options. Every fetch option specify a particular relation or data to fetch from the database and include in the response to the caller. Here's a snippet of the fetch handler for the user entity:</Typography> <CodeEditor language="java" value={`@Component
public class UserFetchHandler extends AbstractFetchHandler<User>{

 @Autowired
 private ApplicationContext applicationContext;
 
 public static final String FETCH_ROLES = "roles";
 
 public static final String FETCH_ROLES_PERMISSIONS = FETCH_ROLES + "." + RoleFetchHandler.FETCH_PERMISSIONS;
 
 private static final Set<String> supportedKeys = new HashSet<>(Arrays.asList(
 FETCH_ROLES
 ));
 
 @Override
 public User handle(User entity, Fetch fetch, ResultSet resultSet, Map<String, User> groupingMap)
 throws SQLException {
 if (entity == null) {
 return null;
 }
 
 if (fetch == null) {
 return entity;
 }
 
 if(fetch.hasOption(FETCH_ROLES)) {
 Fetch.Option fetchOption = fetch.getOption(FETCH_ROLES);
 validate(fetchOption); 
 
 if (entity.getId()!=null) {
 IRoleRepository roleRepository = applicationContext.getBean(IRoleRepository.class);
 RoleSearchCriteria criteria = new RoleSearchCriteria(); 
 criteria.setUserId(entity.getId());
 criteria.setFetch(FetchBuilder.child(fetch, FETCH_ROLES));
 List<Role> roles = roleRepository.findByCriteria(criteria);
 if (roles != null) {
 entity.setRoles(roles);
 }
 }
 }
 
 return entity;
 }

 @Override
 public boolean supportKey(Option option) {
 return supportedKeys.contains(option.getKey());
 }

 @Override
 protected boolean supportNonDefaultStrategy(Option option) {
 if (option.getKey().equals(FETCH_ROLES)) {
 return option.getStrategy() == Strategy.REPOSITORY;
 }
 return false;
 }

 @Override
 protected boolean supportNonDefaultMapping(Option option) {
 if (option.getKey().equals(FETCH_ROLES)) {
 return option.getMapping() == Mapping.DEFAULT;
 }
 return false;
 }

}`} />

The Fetch Mechanism

The first version

<Typography variant="body1"> Have you ever felt frustrated by the traditional way of creating a portfolio? Do you feel like you are not able to showcase your personal and professional journey in an engaging and meaningful way? Do you wish you could share more than just a list of your experiences, projects, education, and skills? </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be interested in MyPortfolio, a web application that I am currently developing. MyPortfolio is a web application that allows users to create personalized portfolios using stories instead of the traditional list-based approach. The main goal of the web application is to enable users to share their personal and professional journeys by narrating stories that highlight their experiences, projects, education, and skills that led them to achieve their goals. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">Why Stories?</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> Stories are powerful tools for communication and persuasion. They can capture the attention of the audience, evoke emotions, and convey messages in a memorable way. Stories can also help us to understand ourselves and others better, as they reveal our motivations, challenges, and achievements. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> That is why I decided to use stories as the main element of MyPortfolio. I believe that stories can help users to create more engaging and meaningful portfolios that reflect their unique journeys. Stories can also help users to highlight the most important aspects of their journeys, such as the details that they find interesting, the challenges that they faced, and the skills that they learned or improved. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> In MyPortfolio, users can create stories for every single detail of their journeys, without making their portfolios boring or unattractive to the readers. Users can also organize their stories into categories, such as experiences, projects, education, and skills. Users can also link their stories to each other, creating a coherent and comprehensive narrative of their journeys. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">How Did I Come Up With the Idea of MyPortfolio?</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The idea of MyPortfolio came from my own dissatisfaction with the traditional way of creating a portfolio. I wanted to create something that was more engaging and that allowed me to highlight the most important aspects of my journey. I wanted to create something that would allow me to share my personal and professional journey by narrating stories that highlight my experiences, projects, education, and skills that led me to achieve my goals. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> I was inspired by the fact that I love to tell stories and to listen to stories. I think that stories are a great way to connect with people and to express ourselves. I was motivated to start this project because I wanted to create something that would allow me to share my stories with the world and to inspire others to do the same. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">What Are the Main Features and Technologies of MyPortfolio?</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> MyPortfolio is a web application that consists of a Java-based microservices backend hosted in Docker containers and a microfrontend-based frontend using React and Next.js. The database is a SQL DB. The application has different features and functionalities depending on who is using it. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> If you are a visitor, you can explore the registered users (professionals) and filter them by some criteria, such as field or skill. You can also see some statistics about the registered users, such as the numbers by field or by skill. You can directly contact a user (for now via email, but in the future there will be a chat embedded in the app). </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> You can also enter a user profile, read the main story which is the story that describes the user as a person, take a quick look at where the user is working right now, the last education and the last or current project. You can also easily navigate through the user's diary which contains all the experiences/educations/projects and see them as a list or even as an engaging timeline. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> You can also enter a single experience/education/project and read related skills and navigate through the related stories. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> If you are a registered user, once the project will be complete, you will be able to create your own profile, write your own stories, add your own experiences/educations/projects and add your own skills. You will have a ton of analytics to see if your portfolio is engaging enough and what about it is more interesting. You'll also have a useful AI integration that will help you to write your stories quickly and easily. If you are a company that wants to be able to have multiple persons working on the company's portfolio, you will be able to do so thanks to some cool collaboration features that will allow multiple users to work on the same portfolio. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">What Were the Main Challenges and How Did I Overcome Them?</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> One of the main challenges that I faced while developing MyPortfolio was learning new technologies, new approaches, new architectures and tools. I wanted to use this project as an opportunity to learn and improve my skills as a developer. However, learning new things also meant facing difficulties and uncertainties along the way. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" component="div"> Some of the new things that I learned and used for this project were: <ul> <li>Spring Boot: a framework for creating Java-based web applications that simplifies the configuration and deployment process.</li> <li>React: a library for creating user interfaces using components that can be reused and composed.</li> <li>Next.js: a framework for creating React-based web applications that supports server-side rendering, static site generation, and dynamic routing.</li> <li>Microservices: an architectural style that divides a complex application into smaller, independent, and loosely coupled services that communicate with each other through APIs.</li> <li>Microfrontends: an architectural style that divides a complex frontend into smaller, independent, and loosely coupled components that can be developed and deployed separately.</li> <li>Docker: a platform that allows to create, run, and share applications using containers that isolate the application from the underlying environment.</li> <li>SQL: a language for managing data in relational databases.</li> </ul> </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> To learn how to use these technologies, approaches, architectures and tools, I followed online tutorials, courses, blogs, and documentation. I also looked at some examples and projects that used them. I tried to understand the concepts, the benefits, and the drawbacks of each one. I also experimented with them by creating small prototypes and testing them. I learned from my mistakes and improved my code quality and performance. I also used some tools and practices that helped me to manage and monitor my development process, such as GitHub, Maven and Postman. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> Learning new things was challenging but also rewarding. I enjoyed the process of discovering new possibilities and creating new solutions. I also gained more confidence and competence as a developer. I think that learning new things is essential for any developer who wants to keep up with the fast-changing and evolving world of technology. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">What Are the Main Goals and Next Steps for MyPortfolio?</Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The main goal of MyPortfolio is to enable users to share their personal and professional journeys by narrating stories that highlight their experiences, projects, education, and skills that led them to achieve their goals. I want to create a web application that is engaging, meaningful, and useful for both the users who create their portfolios and the users who visit them. I want to create a web application that can help users to connect with each other, to learn from each other, and to inspire each other. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1"> The next steps or improvements that I want to make for MyPortfolio are to implement all the missing parts related to the registered users. Another next step that I want to make is to start talking about this project online. Until now, it was more like something that I wasn't sure to be able to complete, but now that I'm almost done with it, I want to start sharing it with the world and get some feedback from other people. I want to know what other people think about my project, what they like and what they don't like, what they suggest and what they criticize. I want to use their feedback to improve my project and to make it better. I also hope that my project can inspire other people to create their own portfolios using stories and to share their own journeys with the world. 🌍 </Typography>

A clear introduction to what it represents

MyPortfolio

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I want to share with you my story of how I got my current work experience as a FullStack developer at Fleap spa, a startup in the blockchain field. This is a very exciting and rewarding job that allows me to work on cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. I hope that by reading my story, you will get some insights and inspiration for your own career choices. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I started working at Fleap in April 2023, after I left my previous job at GPI spa, a big corporate company in the healthcare field. I wanted to try a different work environment and a different industry, and I was very interested in blockchain technology and its potential applications. I applied for the position of FullStack developer, as I had the skills and experience that the startup was looking for. I was very happy and curious when I got the job offer, as this was a new and challenging opportunity for me. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Fleap is a software based on Hyperledger Blockchain technology to issue and exchange digital assets of a financial nature and more. Fleap is aimed at those companies that intend to digitalize the corporate structure, providing services such as the digitalization of the shareholder register, the management of corporate events such as capital increases, transfer of shares, shareholder votes, etc. Thanks to the digitalization process, companies are able to guarantee the incorruptibility of the data, the transparency and the immutability of the register. Fleap is also working on developing other features and products, such as smart contracts, digital wallets, tokenization, etc. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I'm the FullStack developer at Fleap spa, so my role is to take in the requests for the new features, analyze them, develop them and test them. I work on the front end and back-end part of the software, using various technologies, tools, and languages. I also collaborate and communicate with other developers, designers, managers, and clients, to ensure that the software meets the requirements and expectations of the users and the stakeholders. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> How I work at Fleap spa </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> As a FullStack developer at Fleap spa, I use various technologies, tools, and languages, such as Java with Spring Boot for the back end and NextJs with React for the front end. All is dockerized and orchestrated with Kubernetes. I learned them in school, personal side projects, and previous work experiences. I also have to learn new things on the job, as the blockchain industry is constantly evolving and changing. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I work on many tasks and new features, both individually and in teams, depending on the complexity and urgency of the requests. Currently, I'm working on a particular integration with the public administration to synchronize our data with the official data of the Italian' Chamber of Commerce companies registry, which is quite complex and challenging. This integration will allow us to verify and validate the identity and the ownership of the companies that use our software, and to ensure the compliance and the security of the transactions and the events that occur on the blockchain. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Of course, working at Fleap is not easy and I face many challenges and difficulties along the way. The main challenge is in the design of the code to be as efficient as possible, especially with third-party integrations. The goal is to create reusable code without losing the specifics of the desired feature. I also have to deal with the uncertainty and the variability of the requirements, as in a small team such as ours and especially in a very quick changing environment, it is difficult to write a precise requirement. Sometimes, the requirement changes when almost all the code is already written, and I have to adapt and modify the code accordingly. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> What I learn from Fleap spa </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> However, despite the challenges and difficulties, I also have many rewarding and enjoyable experiences during my work experience. I work with a team of very experienced and talented software engineers, who inspire me and motivate me every day. I also have the opportunity to meet my team in person sometimes, that enrich my learning and networking experience. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Working at Fleap helps me grow and improve as a FullStack developer and as a professional in general. I learn new skills and knowledge every day, and I apply them to solve real-world problems and create value for the users and the clients. I also improve my communication and collaboration skills, as I work with different people and different perspectives. I also develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as I face complex and challenging situations and scenarios. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> In conclusion, I can say that working at Fleap is a very unique and challenging experience. It is a very exciting and rewarding job that allows me to work on cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. It also prepares me for the challenges and opportunities that await me in the future. I think that working at Fleap is a great option for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the blockchain industry, as it provides a dynamic and diverse experience and a competitive edge in both technical and business domains. However, working at Fleap is also demanding and challenging, and it requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and open-mindedness. Therefore, my tips and advice for anyone who wants to become a FullStack developer or who wants to work at Fleap are: try to take as much information and knowledge as possible from your experienced coworkers, keep yourself updated on the frequent changes of the field and try to get as much experience as possible through your personal side projects. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey. 😊 </Typography>

My Blockchain FullStack Developer Experience at Fleap

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph>I want to share with you my story of how and why I chose to pursue a bachelor degree on Information Engineering and Business Organization. This is a course that combines technical and business skills to design, develop, and manage information systems. I hope that by reading my story, you will get some insights and inspiration for your own educational and career choices. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I have always been interested in technology and how it can be used to solve problems and create value. I also wanted to learn more about the business side of things, such as how to start and run a tech company, how to market and sell products or services, and how to innovate and compete in the digital world. That's why I decided to enroll in the course of Information Engineering and Business Organization at the University of Trento in Italy. This course offered me the opportunity to study both tech and business in the same program, and to acquire a wide and clear view of a broad spectrum of knowledge that I need in order to run a tech company. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">What I learned</Typography><Typography variant="body1" paragraph> During my bachelor studies, I learned a lot of topics and skills that are relevant and useful for my future career. Some of the main topics that I learned were software development, data analysis, web development, user interface design, database design, information security, project management, business analysis, innovation, and marketing. I also learned how to use various tools and languages, such as Python, Java, C++, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Django, Excel, Tableau, etc. I also had the chance to work on various projects, both individually and in teams, that allowed me to apply what I learned in practice and to develop my creativity and problem-solving skills. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The main challenges</Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Of course, studying this course was not easy and I faced many challenges and difficulties along the way. Some of the challenges that I faced were general university difficulties, such as managing my time, studying for exams, writing papers, etc. But some of the challenges were more specific to this course, such as understanding and integrating the technical and business aspects of the course, dealing with complex and abstract concepts, and keeping up with the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the tech industry. Another challenge that I faced was the living situation, as I had to move from home and go to the city in a rented apartment. As a young man, at the beginning, it was not so easy to adapt to a new environment and to live independently. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2">The main rewards</Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> However, despite the challenges and difficulties, I also had many rewarding and enjoyable experiences during this course. I met many amazing people, such as professors, classmates, and friends, who helped me, supported me, and inspired me throughout my journey. I also had the opportunity to participate in various events and activities, such as hackathons, workshops, seminars, etc., that enriched my learning and networking experience. I also had fun and learned a lot from working on side projects, such as building websites, apps, games, etc., that allowed me to express my passion and creativity for technology and business. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> In conclusion, I can say that choosing this course was one of the best decisions that I ever made. It helped me achieve my personal and professional goals, and it prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that await me in the future. I think that this course is a great option for anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, as it provides a solid foundation and a competitive edge in both technical and business domains. However, this course is also demanding and challenging, and it requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and open-mindedness. Therefore, my tips and advice for anyone who is considering this course are: be serious, work hard, and keep an open mind. Also, try to keep working on side projects to sharpen and experience what you learn. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey. 😊 </Typography>

Why I Chose Information Engineering and Business Organization

<Typography variant='body2' className='leading-7'>As a recent graduate of the University of Trento with a degree in Information Engineering and Business Organization, I have gained a strong foundation in computer science and a passion for developing scalable, reliable and efficient solutions for complex software projects. In addition to my studies, I also completed a three-month internship in Barcelona at an e-commerce company, where I gained hands-on experience in web marketing and e-commerce development. Since April 2023, I have been working as a Full Stack developer at Fleap, where I have been actively contributing to the development of simple and reliable software solutions for the company. In my career, I have had the opportunity to work with talented teams of developers and have developed a range of skills and expertise. Some of my key achievements include: 🚀 Successfully developed and launched an e-commerce platform for a family business 📈 Contributed to the development of various software projects, consistently meeting project deadlines and exceeding quality standards 💻 Demonstrated strong problem-solving and communication skills in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment 🙍 Developed many personal projects with new technologies and published on my personal GitHub portfolio with an important documentation. 📅 In the future, I am eager to continue learning and growing as a software engineer, and hope to take on more leadership roles and work on challenging and meaningful projects that make a positive impact.</Typography>

Hi everyone!

<Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I want to share with you my story of how I got my first work experience as a FullStack developer at GPI spa, a company in the healthcare field. This was a very rewarding and challenging experience that helped me grow and improve as a professional and as a person. I hope that by reading my story, you will get some insights and inspiration for your own career choices. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I started working at GPI in January 2021, right after I graduated from the University of Trento with a bachelor degree on Information Engineering and Business Organization. I applied for the position of FullStack developer, as I wanted to use and enhance the skills and knowledge that I acquired from my studies. I was very excited and nervous when I got the job offer, as this was my first real work experience in the tech industry. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> What I did at GPI </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> GPI is a company that offers various products and services in the healthcare field, such as software, hardware, consulting, training, etc. It is involved in many different operations regarding this field and it is present in many nations around the world. My team was responsible for designing, creating, testing, and maintaining the software used for medical bookings, drugs, doctors schedules, and so on, of the majority of the Italian regions hospitals and many private clinics. My role as a FullStack developer was to take incoming requests, analyze them, develop the required features, test them, and release them. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> As a FullStack developer, I used various technologies, tools, and languages, such as Java with Spring framework for the back end part of the software and Angular for the front end. I also used many tools like Eclipse, Visual Studio, Jasper, Fork, GitLab, Jira, Grafana, and so on. I learned all these technologies and tools during my studies at the university, with company formation, and with my side projects. I also had to learn new things on the job, as the tech industry is constantly evolving and changing. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> I worked on many features, but maybe the most interesting were those that required tailored-made integrations with external systems of other software houses. For example, one of the projects that I worked on was to integrate our software with a system that managed the electronic prescriptions of drugs. This was a complex and challenging project, as it involved dealing with different data formats, protocols, security standards, and regulations. I had to collaborate and communicate with other developers, both from GPI and from the other software house, to ensure that the integration was smooth and reliable. I also had to test and debug the code extensively, to make sure that there were no errors or bugs. The outcome of this project was a successful and seamless integration that improved the efficiency and quality of the service for both the patients and the doctors. </Typography> <Typography variant="h2"> What I learned from GPI </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> Of course, working at GPI was not easy and I faced many challenges and difficulties along the way. The main challenge was the lack of experience that I had at the beginning, in both technical and social realms. I had to learn a lot of things quickly and adapt to the work environment and culture. I also had to deal with the pressure and expectations of delivering high-quality and high-performance software, as the projects that I worked on were extremely complex and sensitive, and they managed sensible information of millions of people. I was able to overcome these challenges mainly with the support of all the experienced team members that I was working with. They helped me, guided me, and taught me a lot of things. They also gave me constructive feedback and encouragement, and they made me feel part of the team. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> However, despite the challenges and difficulties, I also had many rewarding and enjoyable experiences during my work experience. I met many amazing people, such as colleagues, managers, clients, and partners, who inspired me and motivated me throughout my journey. I also had the opportunity to participate in various events and activities, such as trainings, workshops, seminars, etc., that enriched my learning and networking experience. I also had fun and learned a lot from working on side projects, such as building websites, apps, games, etc., that allowed me to express my passion and creativity for technology and business. </Typography> <Typography variant="body1" paragraph> In conclusion, I can say that working at GPI has been an amazing experience. It helped me grow and improve as a FullStack developer and as a professional in general. It also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that await me in the future. I think that working at GPI is a great option for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the tech industry, as it provides a solid and diverse experience and a competitive edge in both technical and business domains. However, working at GPI is also demanding and challenging, and it requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and open-mindedness. Therefore, my tips and advice for anyone who wants to become a FullStack developer or who wants to work at GPI are: don't be scared to start, be smart enough to ask for help, work as hard as you can, and use your free time to work on side projects to increase your experience level. Also, try to stay updated every day on the extremely frequent changes in the field of software development and relative tools. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey. 😊 </Typography>

My First Work Experience as a FullStack Developer at GPI spa

My Diary

My bachelor degree equipped me with valuable skills in both tech and business domains. It also gave me a comprehensive and insightful perspective on the various aspects of tech startups.

Business analysis

Project management

I work as a FullStack developer at Fleap spa, a startup that digitalizes the corporate structure using blockchain. I develop and integrate features for issuing and exchanging digital assets.

Angular

Full Stack Developer at Fleap

I worked as a FullStack developer at GPI spa, a healthcare software company. I developed and integrated features for medical bookings, drugs, doctors schedules, etc. I used Java, Spring, Angular, and other tools.

Full Stack Developer at GPI

<Typography variant="body2">I'd like to begin with a premise: my family has been in the butcher business for generations. Over the years, we've established several successful butcher shops in our city. While pursuing my studies, I had the valuable opportunity to contribute to our family business and gain insights into its operations. A persistent question lingered in my mind: "How can I apply my academic knowledge to enhance our family business?" This contemplation became the inspiration for my thesis. "Blockchain Innovation in the Agri-food Supply Chain" That was the title of my thesis. I delved into exploring the potential applications of blockchain in the agri-food supply chain. Specifically, I conducted a case study on a butcher shop, aiming to discern how blockchain technology could elevate its operations. I am immensely proud of the results I achieved. You can review the details <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/125AnM5YYLV-imYvff1SfTbJfvwlIB8nq/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.</Typography>

MyPortfolio

Roberto Dellantonio

Full Stack Software Developer

Predazzo, Italia

Something about me

MyPortfolio