01Do you need one?
It depends on where you are. On The Workplace Stack Exchange, developers with decades of experience say they have never been asked for a portfolio, because client and employer code is private; hiring relies on the CV, interviews and coding exercises. Others answer that if you want an online reputation, the way to build it is open source, writing and answering questions publicly.
For juniors, career-changers and freelancers, a portfolio fills the gap a short CV leaves. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $92,650 for web developers in May 2025; with many applicants for entry-level roles, working projects are a way to stand out.
02Projects that make good examples
Avoid relying on tutorial clones alone (the to-do app, the weather app). If you include one, change it enough that it is yours, and say what you added.
| Project | What it shows |
|---|---|
| A real site for a real client or group | You can work to a brief and ship |
| A full-stack app with auth and a database | Back-end and data skills |
| A tool you actually use | Product sense and persistence |
| An open-source contribution | You can read and work in other people's code |
| A rebuilt, faster version of an existing site | Performance and accessibility skills |
03How to write up each project
A clean README in each repository does the same job for anyone who clicks through to the code.
- 1One-line descriptionWhat it is and who it is for.
- 2LinksLive site and source code, both working.
- 3StackThe main technologies, briefly.
- 4The hard partOne problem you solved and how: a performance fix, a tricky data model, an accessibility issue.
- 5What you would changeA sentence that shows judgment.
04Building the portfolio site itself
A Hacker News thread about a developer who rebuilt their portfolio with no framework drew a long discussion: most agreed a static site is plenty for a portfolio, while others pointed out that a React or Next.js site can be exported as fully static pages too. The point is that the site should load fast and read well, whatever it is built with. Is React good for a website? and should you code your own portfolio? cover the choice.
Hosting is free on services such as GitHub Pages, Vercel, Netlify or Cloudflare Pages; how to host a website for free compares them. Buy your name as a domain if you can.
05Small details reviewers notice
Developers reviewing portfolios often open the code. Clean, readable code in one project says more than many projects with messy repositories. How to make a website faster helps with the performance side.
- Live links that work, and repositories that are public.
- A README with setup steps and a screenshot.
- Commit history that shows real work, not one giant upload.
- A site that scores well on Lighthouse and works with a keyboard.
- Contact details that are easy to find.
06Writing about your work
Short posts about problems you solved, such as a bug that took a day to find or a page you made twice as fast, act as portfolio pieces too. The Workplace answers that recommend writing in public make the same point: explanation is evidence of skill, and it is searchable.
What people who tried it say
Developers on Hacker News and Stack Exchange split on portfolios: experienced engineers often never needed one, while those building a reputation recommend public projects, writing and simple, fast sites.
- How can I build reputation online as a programmer when my work is private?The Workplace Stack Exchange
Experienced developers say many hires never involve a portfolio because client code is private; others say the way to build one anyway is open source, writing and answering questions in public.
- Look ma, no React: I recoded my portfolio site with vanilla everythingHacker News
A long thread on whether a developer portfolio needs a framework: most agree a static site is plenty, while others point out that a React or Next.js site can be exported as fully static pages too.
Looking for more first-hand opinions? Search Reddit for “web developer portfolio examples”. We link the live threads rather than summarizing them, so you read them in full.
Our take
three projects someone can click, use and read the code of are worth more than any portfolio design. Spend the time on the projects.
Where this falls short
Hiring practices differ widely between companies and countries; some never look at portfolios. Pay data is the US median from BLS.
If you would rather spend your time on projects than on the portfolio site, Orlume can design and publish one from a short description, as real Next.js code you can download on a paid plan.
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Sources
- 1.Web developers and digital designers: Occupational Outlook Handbook · US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 2.GitHub Pages · GitHub
Researched and written by the Orlume team · Updated October 2026
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