C=equals is web development project that I worked on for TBD/Block (previously Square) during my time at Zacht Studios. My role involved developing a website to promote The Lightning Network, a groundbreaking service aiming to enhance liquidity and routing on the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

CLIENT: TBD/Block

SERVICES: GitHub, React/Next.JS Development, VS Code, Contentful

Block, in its rebranded form from Square, serves as an online hub for financial services, with TBD being the specific branch I collaborated with closely. The project's objective was clear: design and develop an online platform for the launch of c=equals (The Lightning Network). The client emphasised the need for clear and easily accessible information, coupled with a backend code that could be easily managed by the Block/TBD team for future modifications. Security and data protection were very important, prompting specific guidelines for the website's development. React/Next.js were the chosen coding languages, with a portion of the website hosted on Contentful.

During the development stage, I used a variety of technologies such as GitHub, VS Code, Contentful, React/Next.js, Terminal/Command Lines, and Netlify. The first phase involved setting up the coding technologies in collaboration with the TBD/Block team to ensure seamless file interchange. The intricate design posed challenges during coding and overcoming them required leveraging resources like Stack Overflow, Discord Coding Communities, and SuperHi, as well as seeking guidance from a React/Next.js mentor provided by my manager, Zach.

Adhering to coding standards and ensuring code consistency were paramount, given the client's detailed developer toolkit. The testing phase involved rigorous functional, usability, and compatibility testing. Feedback from mentors and the TBD team refined the c=equals website to ensure optimal user satisfaction and efficiency.

The 'Big Bang Deployment' strategy was used for the launch, facilitated through Netlify. Coding bugs related to server-side rendering in React and the Terminal were addressed by me. When an error showed up on the Terminal or Netlify I would troubleshoot by going back into the React VS Code and addressed the issue within the code.

The website was successfully launched during the winter of 2023, and the client was particularly happy with the documentation process I established in GitHub. Continuous improvement post-launch was managed by the client, as my pre-launch scope of work concluded.

Throughout this project, I gained expertise in working with new coding frameworks and web development technologies, learned the significance of user testing, and honed my skills in collaborating with cross-functional teams, as well as my ability to work independently.