Week 1 Recap: Building Out My First Full-Stack Project.
This week: I break down the progress I've made so far with my ongoing learning project.
Last week, I kicked off my full-stack project and shared my plans to build something new. I’ve done some smaller things for fun, like Python scripts for web scraping in Visual Studio, but I’ve never set up anything to run through a UI, let alone a Chrome extension. So this whole experience has been a deep dive into learning, with every step being net new to me.
There have definitely a few bumps along the way, but my philosophy is that if I can automate as much as possible, I’ll spend less time remembering all the little things and more time focusing on building something impactful.
Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far and what’s next.
What I’ve Achieved So Far
Here are the key milestones from this sprint:
Created a Web UI for URL Text Scraping & Resume Comparison
I built a web interface that scrapes text from a URL or receives a pasted resume and compares the two using OpenAI’s GPT-3.5-turbo model. This was a huge leap from my previous Python script days—it’s exciting to see the transition from basic scripting to a full-on UI.Built a Chrome Extension
This was a major achievement for me. I created a Chrome extension that pulls the current tab’s URL, scrapes the text, and compares it to a pasted resume. The extension does everything the web UI does but directly within the browser, which I’ve never tackled before.Set Up a CI/CD Pipeline
Automating is my comfort zone, so setting up a CI/CD pipeline to streamline pushing changes between environments was a key focus. Now, I can make updates faster without worrying about manual steps.Automated Virtual Environment Setup
I automated creating and managing virtual environments, making it super easy to jump straight into testing. This cuts down on repetitive setup steps and keeps the focus on development.Improved Error Handling & Logging
It's important to ensure that the system doesn’t crash without explanation, so I’ve integrated robust error handling into both the web app and Chrome extension. I also added logging to make troubleshooting easier.Leveraging GitHub Copilot Chat
I’ve been using GitHub Copilot Chat, and it’s been a game-changer. Whether I’m stuck or need code suggestions, it’s helped accelerate development by generating helpful ideas.
Additional Achievements:
CORS Configuration
Configured Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) to ensure secure communication between the Chrome extension and the backend.Optimized Scraping with BeautifulSoup
Optimized the web scraping process using BeautifulSoup to clean and structure the data for further analysis.User-Friendly Features
Implemented a feature in the Chrome extension that truncates displayed scraped text, making the UI cleaner and easier to navigate.Scalable Design
The architecture is set up to scale quickly in the future, making adding new features and expanding functionality simple.
What’s Next?
With a solid foundation in place, here’s what I’m working on next:
Tapping into Search APIs
I want to take this project further by integrating job search APIs to find job postings proactively. The goal is to automate pulling relevant listings from various platforms and parsing them for further analysis.Parsing Job Postings in Batches
Once the job postings are pulled from APIs, I plan to implement a way to parse through them in batches, displaying the most relevant ones in a clean format. This will allow for a smoother, more efficient workflow when comparing resumes to job descriptions.Gap Analysis Between Resume & Job Descriptions
I’m excited about this one! I’ll develop a feature that compares resumes to job descriptions and identifies gaps in skills or experience. This will help users understand where their resume might fall short and what areas to focus on.Refining Automation Setup
While the automation I’ve built has been great, there’s always room for improvement. I’m looking into better ways to minimize the need for manual updates and streamline the workflow even further.
Final Thoughts
This project has been a learning curve, but I’ve picked up something valuable with each new step. If you’ve ever transitioned from scripts to full-stack development, you know how big a leap it can be, but that makes it exciting. I’m eager to see what the next few weeks hold, especially as I dig deeper into testing, API integrations, and automation.
I’d love to hear your insights if you've worked on similar projects. How do you handle scaling and automation when working solo?
Let’s keep building!