Warish.co version 3.4 is now live! 🎉 While the site’s overall appearance has remained the same since its launch a few months ago, I’ve implemented several significant under-the-hood changes: switching to vanilla CSS, reorganizing the homepage with new components, and removing Keystatics to use only Astro content collections. I include all the details in the Warish.co changelog.
Warish.co version 3.3+ website layout is improved!
I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. The site reflects the perfect balance between professional and personal. I’m not a big fan of that too-corporate aesthetic. Although I want to showcase my professional work and background, I want to keep the look and feel genuinely me.
What’s next on the roadmap? I’m currently focusing on expanding the Projects section with more detailed case studies and developing a dedicated Technical Writing Service landing page.
But that’s not all for this post. With this new version released, I’ll share the story of Warish.co, from an idea to a published site. ✨
Warish.co From Then to Now
I bought the domain warish.co without knowing what to do with it. I thought it was cool to have a domain name in my name. But it sat there unused for months until I began carving out my own corner of the internet.
Build My Internet Corner
Why would I bother creating a website when free social media channels exist?
Social media is certainly a powerful tool to connect with others and build brand visibility, but it could feel as if renting space in a crowded apartment building — you’re constantly competing for attention, subject to algorithm changes, and living by someone else’s rules.
My website, by contrast, is a home I can set the rules, control the experience, and create without constraints. Beyond that, it gives me a satisfying feeling of building something. I believe that’s what writing and coding have in common. Writing builds words. Coding builds websites. Both start from nothing and end with something tangible.
Version 1 – WordPress Beginning
I knew very basic HTML and CSS knowledge but wasn’t interested in pre-made website builders. WordPress seemed to be an ideal choice, offering the perfect middle ground for a beginner like me to get a website up and running.
I bought a cheap hosting plan, installed WordPress and a free theme, added some plugins, and uploaded my writing sample and bio — and there it was: the first version of my site!
Version 2 – AI Web Builder
WordPress began to feel…bloated. Running a website was all about installing plugin after plugin… and another plugin. I gave Lindo.ai, an AI web builder, a try. (They offered a lifetime deal at the time, so I thought it’d be nice to get rid of yearly hosting fees.) While simple, I found it to be only a temporary solution. I want a better CMS for my blog.
Warish.co v2 design actually paved the way for v3.
Version 3 – Astro Site
Warish.co v3 marked an important milestone for me because it’s where I found myself getting serious about web development AND the starting point of my technical writing journey.
I’m not sure which came first: frustration with confusing coding tutorials that inspired me to write clearer ones, OR my desire to become a technical writer that led me to build a website as a real-world project. Either way, both paths led me here.
I chose to build a static site for two main reasons. First, I wanted to learn web development by creating my own portfolio site. Second, I could host it for free on Cloudflare Pages instead of paying for WordPress hosting. (I’ll save ‘why Astro’ for a future post.)
Building and Learning from Cosmic Themes
Rather than starting from scratch, I find that I learn best by studying examples, such as templates or GitHub repositories. Then adjusting it. Then incrementally building my own stuff. Until I understand every component.
That’s why I invested in Cosmic Themes’ All Access ($99 at the time). I bought it not only for the Astro themes themselves but also to learn from the real codebase.
And I wasn’t disappointed. Cosmic Themes’ codebase is neat, well-organized, and flexible. (A big shoutout to Web Reaper!) I started with simple customizations to colors and typography, then progressed to creating new components by adapting existing ones. Now, I have exciting ideas to develop the website to fit my needs.
I could say that Cosmic Themes is the blueprint for developing my current Astro theme and building the next ones in the future.
Warish.co as a Playground and Laboratory
At this point, Warish.co has become more than a portfolio site — it’s a playground for my work, life, and ideas. A laboratory where I practice my web development skills. A showroom where anyone can learn about me and my work.
Looking ahead, I want it to be a digital bucket that consolidates my digital world: what I read, what I like, what I do.