Here’s What Industry Insiders Say About Portfolio.
For years, I didn’t think much about having a “portfolio.” I focused on building — solving real problems, delivering clean code, improving user experience. But the more I grew in my career, the more I realized: your portfolio isn’t just a collection of work — it’s your proof of vision, consistency, and intent.
So I decided to rebuild mine — not just to look better, but to say more. And in the process, I started talking to other developers, founders, and hiring leads to understand what really stands out to them in a portfolio.
Here’s what I learned — and how I applied it.
They Care More About Thought Process Than Polish
A designer friend told me,
“I’d rather see a basic landing page that solves a real problem than a super polished Dribbble clone.”
So in my new portfolio, I focused less on showing off “pretty” projects and more on how I approached challenges, what tools I used, and why I made certain decisions.
One Project Can Say More Than Ten
When I was younger, I used to include everything I worked on. Now, I focus on a few key things — like TucanAPI, which started as a small tool for currency exchange and evolved into a full data API suite. That single project reflects my growth as a developer, my product thinking, and my ability to ship something real.
The Portfolio Is Never Finished — And That’s Okay
Another insight from a founder I respect:
“The best portfolios feel alive. Like the person is still building, still iterating.”
That stuck with me. I no longer treat my portfolio as a one-time project. I treat it as an ongoing snapshot of where I am now — not a final version of who I was.
So What’s In Mine Now?
- A few real projects — not all of them perfect, but all of them real
- Context behind each one — not just the “what,” but the “why”
- Writing — like this post, because words matter too
- And soon: open source and experiments, because I’m still building
Final Thought
If you’re a developer like me — someone who loves solving problems more than talking about them — your portfolio might feel like a chore. But I’ve learned that it’s not about self-promotion. It’s about showing people how you think.
