The Feature Belongs to the Builders! Builders build. Talkers talk!

This Is the Stack That Wins 🔥 @sanity.io @nextjs.org @reactjs @tailwindcss.com @vercel.com @figma.com

New site is live! - Framework: @nextjs.org - CMS: @sanity.io - Hosting: @vercel.com - i18n: next-intl www.frankspin.com/en

Evolution of my workspace

React developers meeting all the third-party service providers they used to build their app.

I’m definitely in the ‘grinding’ phase of developing my personal site. It’s cumbersome to dig through old backups and Google Drive folders to find old work, but it’s one of those things you just need to finish to mentally close a chapter.

👋 Time to talk content! I'm starting a new podcast for conversations at the intersection of code and content called ... Code && Content!

Time machine

Lazy Sunday morning

When not every website looked the same

Are you even a real designer if you don’t have a section on your website filled with concepts for your personal site—ones you spent way too much time on but never saw the light of day?

Back in 2016, I was involved with the redesign of the SS Rotterdam, a pretty iconic boat now serving as a hotel. It was originally used by the Holland America Line.

2011 was peak webdesign

Portfolio card

I wish I had better archived all the work I’ve done over the years. I’ve lost so many projects and can’t even remember all the ones I worked on. Now, I’m trying to create an archive with the pieces I can find, but it’s a lot of work and will probably never be complete.

Adding the rest in a list view

Started adding work to the portfolio, keeping it very minimalist. I’m also adding an image gallery to display more screenshots. Still deciding whether to show every item in a card or only a few recent ones, with the rest in a data table.

That feeling when your entire family has already had the flu, and you’re the only one who hasn’t been affected.

The last week I’ll be working on my personal site, with a hard deadline set for the first of Feb. Today, I’m all on translating content and ensuring consistency between the Dutch and English versions. Next, I’ll add work to the portfolio, followed by SEO and other optimizations.

One more level deep

💪 Great helpers

Morning

Upgraded to Tailwind v4

Do we actually need ShadCN as an additional layer on top of Tailwind? Do we need a typography plugin for Tailwind? Aren’t we adding so much complexity, abstraction, and dependencies to our codebases that, in the end, it slows us down?

Was TypeScript a mistake?

In 2021, I sold my startup UptimeMate to HostPapa after my technical co-founder found his dream job elsewhere, and I couldn’t fly the rocket ship we built on my own. Still proud of what we achieved in such a short time.

Keeping it very simple with the call to action on my personal site. Just a simple "mailto" button will do the job. Nothing fancy, just an email.

Working on resume page

My Principles for 2025

I spoke with my therapist today.

Bought my first pair of “dad shoes.” Life comes at you fast.

Almost done

Anything you like on this list?

Not really necessary and it conflicts a little with keeping things simple and getting things done, but I always really enjoy browsing through lists of other designers and developers.

I’m trying to simplify my life this year. What have you done to make life simpler? For example: simplifying meals, reducing subscriptions, or overthinking less. Any tips?

Refactored an old personal logo—a monogram of F + S. It works perfectly with the minimalist theme I’m aiming for.

Mentally preparing for the upcoming task of digging a hole for the trampoline we’re giving our oldest son for his birthday.

These are the best commits, right? Removing functionality that isn’t 100% necessary, feels like dead weight, and where you don’t fully understand how everything works?

Updated the code samples to be more minimalistic, aligning with the overall cleaner look and feel.

Please take a moment of silence for me and others with an all-electric house. €0.57 per kWh!

This shocks me. Regular fruits and vegetables from the supermarket cannot be used by manufacturers of baby food because they contain too many pesticides. Strangely enough, as a parent, you are allowed to give that same fruit to your baby yourself…

Switched to left-aligned headings for better consistency, reduced their size slightly, and aligned them with the main text for a cleaner look.

I will stop using my phone after 8 PM. The goal is to be in bed by 9:30 PM. In the meantime, I’ll read, relax, or watch a series with my wife

Note to self: I need to stop overcomplicating things and just start shipping.

Does anyone have a working example using Tailwind CSS v4 with light/dark mode? Bonus points if it also includes a theme switcher using next-themes and the Tailwind Typography plugin.

Good morning! What are you up to today?

Here’s a small UX tip: When creating a mailto link, add a popover with the email address. This way, users with browser-based email clients can easily copy it without triggering the native email app.

Developers revisiting an old project that doesn’t use Tailwind.

I fine-tuned the testimonial component and integrated it into the contact page. Testimonials can now be easily selected directly from the Sanity content editor.