Why we need more collaboration

Dennis — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:58:44 +0000

This is the story of Jasho. I thought it was worth a read:
https://hub4devs.com/blogs/jasho-and-the-quiet-work-of-building-something-real

My Portfolio Using Next.js, Google Cloud Run and Gemini AI

Dennis — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:53:40 +0000

This is a submission for the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Presented by Google AI

## About Me
I am a developer and engineer with a unique background that bridges the worlds of civil engineering and software development. My goal with this portfolio was to create a digital space that not only showcases my projects and skills but also reflects my journey, from building physical infrastructure to engineering intelligent web applications. I wanted to build a platform that demonstrates my skills in full-stack development, data science and my passion for leveraging AI to create practical, innovative solutions.

## Portfolio

## How I Built It
This portfolio is a full-stack Next.js 14 application written in TypeScript, embracing the modern App Router for a clean, server-centric architecture.

Tech Stack:

1. Frontend: Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and the beautiful, accessible component library from Shadcn/UI.

2. Backend & Databases: My backend is built with Next.js API Routes. For the primary database, I use Cloud Firestore to store and manage persistent data like my blog posts. To ensure the application is fast and secure, I also use Upstash Redis as a secondary, in-memory data store for performance-critical tasks like API rate-limiting.
Firebase Authentication secures the application and enables role-based access, where you will find my AI cover letter generator and my blog's dashboard.

3. Deployment: The entire application is deployed on Google Cloud Run through the streamlined Firebase App Hosting service, ensuring a scalable and robust production environment.

4. Google AI Integration: I used Google AI's Gemini Pro model to power two distinct features, making the portfolio interactive and functional:

- AI Assistant (Neneh): An interactive chatbot trained on my portfolio's content, allowing visitors to ask questions about my skills and experience in a conversational way.
- AI Cover Letter Generator: A private tool that takes a job description and uses Gemini to automatically generate a tailored cover letter based on the full context of my resume and projects.

## What I'm Most Proud Of
I'm particularly proud of the dual AI integration. It was a fantastic challenge to not only build a public-facing chatbot but also a practical, personalized tool like the cover letter generator. Engineering the prompts to get the exact tone and format I wanted was a rewarding process. I believe it showcases my ability to think beyond a simple "tech demo" and apply AI to solve real-world problems.

Additionally, I'm proud of the data architecture. Using Cloud Firestore for content and Upstash Redis for high-speed operations like rate-limiting was a great way to build a scalable and resilient backend. This project is a true representation of my interdisciplinary skills that blend engineering precision with the creative possibilities of modern web development and AI.

Forem: Dennis

Why we need more collaboration

My Portfolio Using Next.js, Google Cloud Run and Gemini AI