Projects - Personal Software Development

Personal projects and technical experiments by Ryan Borchert, showcasing web development, automation, and engineering tools.

Projects

Personal projects and technical experiments that showcase different aspects of software development and engineering.

Professional Website & Resume System

Built: August 2025
Tech Stack: Jekyll, GitHub Pages, LaTeX, Git, Markdown
Live Site: ryanborchert.com
Source Code: GitHub Repository

A professional website built with Jekyll and hosted on GitHub Pages, featuring automated deployment and integrated resume management.

Key Features

  • Custom Domain: Professional domain setup with HTTPS and proper DNS configuration
  • SEO Optimized: Meta tags, sitemap generation, and Google Analytics integration
  • Responsive Design: Mobile-friendly Tactile theme with custom styling
  • Automated Deployment: Git-based workflow with automatic GitHub Pages deployment
  • Resume Integration: PDF resume embedded seamlessly into the site

Technical Highlights

  • Jekyll static site generator with Liquid templating
  • GitHub Pages hosting with custom domain (CNAME configuration)
  • SEO plugins (jekyll-seo-tag, jekyll-sitemap)
  • Google Analytics integration for visitor tracking
  • Markdown-based content management for easy updates

Design Decisions

  • Jekyll over WordPress: Chose static site generation for better performance, security, and version control
  • GitHub Pages over hosting services: Leveraged free hosting with automatic deployment from Git repository
  • Tactile theme: Selected for professional appearance
  • PDF resume integration: Embedded PDF for easy viewing and downloading

What I Learned

  • Jekyll’s liquid templating system and plugin ecosystem
  • GitHub Pages deployment configuration and custom domain setup
  • SEO best practices for professional websites
  • Balancing simplicity with functionality for a personal brand site

LaTeX Resume System

Built: August 2025
Tech Stack: LaTeX, Git, PDF generation workflow
Output: Professional Resume PDF Source Code: GitHub Repository

A version-controlled resume system using LaTeX for consistent, professional formatting and easy maintenance.

Features

  • Professional Formatting: Custom LaTeX template for clean, ATS-friendly layout
  • Version Control: Git-based tracking of all resume changes and iterations
  • Automated PDF Generation: Streamlined build process for consistent output
  • Web Integration: Seamless embedding into Jekyll website

Why LaTeX Over Word

  • Consistent Formatting: Eliminates layout issues across different systems
  • Version Control: Full history of changes with Git integration
  • Professional Typography: Superior text rendering and spacing
  • Template Reusability: Easy to maintain consistent styling across updates

Project Philosophy

These projects reflect my approach to continuous learning and practical problem-solving. I believe in:

  • Learning by Building: The best way to understand new technologies is to use them in real projects
  • Documentation First: Every project should be well-documented for future reference and sharing
  • Version Control Everything: All code, configurations, and even documentation should be tracked

Check my GitHub for source code and additional projects. I regularly update this page as new projects are completed.