Building a Modern Developer Portfolio with SvelteKit and MDSvex

Welcome to my blog! I’m excited to share the technical journey behind building this portfolio and the decisions that shaped its architecture.

Why SvelteKit?

After exploring various frameworks, SvelteKit stood out for several compelling reasons:

• Performance First: Svelte’s compile-time optimizations eliminate the virtual DOM overhead
• Developer Experience: Hot module replacement and intuitive reactivity make development a joy
• Full-Stack Capabilities: Built-in SSR, routing, and API endpoints in one cohesive framework
• Bundle Size: Significantly smaller JavaScript bundles compared to React or Vue applications

The Tech Stack

This portfolio leverages a modern, performance-focused stack:

// Core technologies
const techStack = {
  framework: "SvelteKit",
  styling: "Tailwind CSS v4",
  content: "MDSvex",
  deployment: "Vercel",
  animations: "CSS transitions + transforms"
};

// Example of Svelte 5's new runes syntax
let isVisible = $state(false);
const fadeIn = $derived(isVisible ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0');

MDSvex: The Best of Both Worlds

One of the most exciting aspects of this setup is MDSvex - it combines the simplicity of Markdown with the power of Svelte components:

<!-- You can embed Svelte components directly in markdown -->
<script>
  import CodeBlock from '$lib/components/CodeBlock.svelte';
  import TechBadge from '$lib/components/TechBadge.svelte';
</script>

<TechBadge name="TypeScript" color="blue" />
<TechBadge name="Svelte" color="orange" />

This approach allows for rich, interactive content while maintaining the writing flow that developers love about Markdown.

Performance Optimizations

Several key optimizations ensure this site loads blazingly fast:

1. Image Optimization: Responsive images with proper sizing and lazy loading
2. Code Splitting: Automatic route-based splitting with SvelteKit
3. CSS Purging: Tailwind’s JIT compiler removes unused styles
4. Preloading: Strategic preloading of critical routes and assets

// Example of optimized image loading
export const load = async ({ fetch, params }) => {
  const post = await import(`../posts/${params.slug}.md`);
  return {
    content: post.default,
    meta: post.metadata
  };
};

What’s Next?

I’m planning to explore several exciting topics in upcoming posts:

• Advanced Svelte Patterns: Custom stores, actions, and component composition
• Animation Techniques: Creating smooth, performant animations with CSS and JavaScript
• Deployment Strategies: CI/CD pipelines and performance monitoring
• Accessibility Deep Dive: Building inclusive web experiences

Visual Polish Matters

Wrapping Up

Building this portfolio has been an incredible learning experience. The combination of SvelteKit’s developer experience, Tailwind’s utility-first approach, and MDSvex’s flexibility creates a powerful foundation for both development and content creation.

Feel free to explore the source code or reach out if you have questions about any of the implementation details!

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