Lecture 28

Portfolio Work Session

April 28, 2026

CSCI 4513 - Advanced Web Programming

Norse Mythology

The Grinding Stone of Perfection

After Brokkr and Sindri forged Mjölnir in the fires of their forge, the hammer was not yet complete. The handle was too short, the balance imperfect.

They spent days grinding, polishing, and refining the details. Each imperfection was carefully addressed. Each rough edge was smoothed away.

It was not the forging that made Mjölnir legendary—it was the refinement.

Today, you are at the grinding stone. Polish your treasure until it shines.

Today's Agenda

Work Session

📝 This is YOUR time

This entire class period is dedicated to working on your portfolio project with instructor and peer support available.

What You Should Be Doing:

Getting Help Today

You Are Not Alone

🙋 Ask for Help

Professor bobby will be circulating the room. Raise your hand or call me over when you need assistance.

Types of Help Available:

🐛 Debugging

Stuck on a bug? Let's work through it together.

💡 Feature Implementation

Not sure how to add a feature? I'll guide you.

🎨 Design Feedback

Want UI/UX advice? Let me take a look.

🚀 Deployment Issues

Trouble deploying? We'll get it live.

Focus Areas

If You're Not Sure Where to Start...

🎯 Prioritize in This Order:

  1. Fix Critical Bugs
    • App crashes or broken features
    • Error messages users see
  2. Polish the Core Features
    • Make your main functionality shine
    • Improve user experience
  3. Write Documentation
    • README with screenshots
    • How to install and run
  4. Deploy and Test
    • Get it live on a public URL
    • Test in different browsers

Quick Reference

The Polish Checklist

✅ Code Quality

  • No console.logs
  • Consistent naming
  • Error handling
  • Clean code structure

✅ User Experience

  • Loading states
  • Error messages
  • Mobile responsive
  • Fast performance

✅ Documentation

  • README with screenshots
  • Clear description
  • Setup instructions
  • Tech stack listed

✅ Deployment

  • Live demo URL
  • HTTPS enabled
  • Environment vars secured
  • Custom domain (bonus)

Peer Collaboration

Help Each Other

💬 You can help each other!

If you finish early or just want to take a break, help a classmate. Fresh eyes often spot bugs faster. Plus, explaining concepts reinforces your own understanding.

Ways to Help Each Other:

Making the Most of Today

Time Management Tips

⏰ You have the full class period. Use it wisely!

Suggested Workflow:

  1. First 5 minutes: Make a quick TODO list of what you want to accomplish today
  2. Next 50 minutes: Work on your highest priority items
  3. Take breaks: Step away if you're stuck—fresh perspective helps
  4. Last 10 minutes: Commit and push your progress to GitHub

💡 Pro Tip: Set small, achievable goals. "Fix the login bug" is better than "finish the entire app."

Expectations

What You Should Accomplish Today

🎯 Minimum Goal

By the end of today, you should have made visible progress on your portfolio project.

This Could Mean:

Remember: This is not due at the end of class, but you should use this time productively. Your portfolio project is what employers will see!

After Today

Keep Working

⚠️ This project extends beyond this class session.

Next Steps:

💪 You've Got This

You've learned an incredible amount this semester. Now it's time to showcase that knowledge in a project that represents your skills. Make it something you're proud to show off!

Summary

Portfolio Work Session

📋 Key Points:

Now get to work! 💻