WarriorOS: Building a Modern Terminal Portfolio with React, Gemini, and Cloud Run
Source: Dev.to
This is a submission for the New Year, New You Portfolio Challenge Presented by Google AI
About Me
Hi everyone! I’m Ankush Singh Gandhi, a software engineer and the “Warrior Who Codes.” I specialize in full‑stack development, system design, and building interactive web experiences.
But I’m not just a coder—I’m a passionate technical writer and lifelong learner. Over the last few years, my articles on Dev.to have gathered over 48 000 views, and I was previously recognized as a Top Voice in Computer Science on LinkedIn for my contributions to community discussions. I absolutely love devouring system‑design blogs and engineering case studies.
My goal with this portfolio was to create something that reflects this duality: a place that showcases my projects and serves as an “Interactive Hub” for the content I create and consume. It blends a retro‑terminal aesthetic with modern, high‑performance UI to tell my story.
The Evolution: WarriorOS (v4.0) vs. Original
⚠️ NOTE: Work in Progress
This project is currently in active development. You are seeing a live preview of the new WarriorOS iteration.
This project is a complete re‑implementation of my original portfolio, warriorwhocodes.com. While the original site served me well, I wanted to push the boundaries of what a personal site could be—moving from a static showcase to a living, breathing operating system.
⚠️ Critical Viewing Experience Recommendation
While I have embedded the site below, I strongly prefer and recommend opening the portfolio in a new window. The complex terminal shortcuts, hover effects, and immersive UI are best experienced directly, not inside an iframe.
👉 Click Here to Open WarriorOS in Full Screen »
1. The New Architecture (WarriorOS)
- Status: Active Development 🚧
- Focus: Terminal‑first navigation, AI integration, “One‑Shot” learning modules.
2. The Original Portfolio (Legacy)
- Status: Stable (v3.0)
- Focus: Standard visual showcase.
Warrior Who Codes – Ankush Singh Gandhi
Backend & Software Developer specializing in Python, Django, Flask, and cloud systems. Also building modern web apps and Flutter‑based mobile apps.
How I Built It
I built WarriorOS (my portfolio) using a modern tech stack centered purely on offering a seamless user experience, accelerated by Google’s AI tools.
Tech Stack
- Frontend: React (Vite), Tailwind CSS, Framer Motion for animations.
- Deployment: Google Cloud Run (Dockerized Nginx container).
- AI Integration: Google Gemini API.
- Development Partner: Built using Antigravity, Google’s advanced agentic coding assistant.
Building with Antigravity & Gemini
This project didn’t just use AI features; it was built with AI. I used Antigravity (powered by Gemini) to pair‑program the entire WarriorOS.
- Rapid Prototyping: The agent iterated on the complex “Terminal Button” UI until it matched my exact vision—down to the pixel‑perfect glow effects.
- Deployment Automation: The agent handled containerization with Docker and the Cloud Run deployment commands, saving me hours of configuration time.
Google Gemini API Integration (The “New You” Feature)
I integrated the Gemini API directly into the site to create an AI Expert & Companion. More than a chatbot, this feature embodies my philosophy on Modern Content Writing: The AI + Human Symbiosis.
The Mindset: Evolution of Technical Learning
In the past, technical writing was static: you wrote a blog, someone read it, and if they got stuck they had to leave the site to Google the answer. I believe the future of content is interactive and adaptive.
- Human Role: Curate the structure, roadmap, and core insights (the human experience).
- AI Role: Gemini acts as the personalized expert that fills in the gaps for each individual reader.
By embedding Gemini directly into my “One‑Shot” roadmap pages, I’ve transformed static documentation into a dynamic learning session. The user doesn’t just read about Redis; they can ask, “How would this caching strategy apply to my specific e‑commerce app?” and get an instant, context‑aware answer without leaving the portfolio.
Where is Gemini Integrated?
The “One‑Shot” Library
- Navigate to the Library section and open any “One‑Shot” roadmap (e.g., Redis, System Design).
- A “Expert Mode” button floats on the screen.
- Clicking it opens a chat window where the AI is pre‑prompted with the exact context of that specific roadmap. It knows you’re studying Redis and acts as a specialized database expert.
Global AI Assistant
- Throughout the site, the AI acts as a guide to my portfolio. It can explain the architecture of my projects, suggest which blog post you should read based on your interests, or even quiz you on the skills listed in my About Me section.
Active‑Recall Quizzes
- Inside the Expert window, you can switch to “Quiz Mode.” Gemini generates rapid‑fire questions based on the content you’re viewing, helping you verify your understanding in real time.
# What I'm Most Proud Of
## The Global Terminal System
I didn't want the terminal to be a fake GIF. It's a fully functional global navigation CLI. No matter where you are on the site, you can hit the button and type commands like:
- `system.archive_access` → instantly navigates to my library/blog section.
- `system.profile_bio` → jumps to the About Me section.
- `python` → launches a simulated Python environment (try `import antigravity`!).
It treats the entire website navigation like a file system, giving power users a faster way to explore.
## The "One‑Shot" Learning Modules
Reflecting my passion for content creation, I built interactive roadmap pages for topics like **Redis**, **Django ORM**, and **MySQL**. Instead of just saying “I know Redis,” I show *what* I know through structured cheat sheets and guides, with the AI Expert standing by to explain any concept to visitors.
## Seamless Cloud Deployment
Getting the app Dockerized and running on **Google Cloud Run** was a huge win. The site loads instantly, is secured with HTTPS by default, and can scale up if my blog post goes viral.
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I'm excited to share **WarriorOS** with the community. It represents my journey from writing articles to building an entire operating system for my work.
**Happy Coding! 🚀**