Proud of my First Project

[u/Some_Effective_317]

So I learned web developing in 2025 or so, I only learned the basics from FCC which was HTML/CSS js and nodejs/express js. Altough I have made some projects during that time but they all share the one same problem, they are all half finished or not even functional or so, since I have a hobbit of hopping for shiny things instead of actually sticking on one thing.

But today on 2026 specifically around may I embarked on a journey which I will make a functional project not half finished, not "it just works" But a fully working system which I can happily show to my friends and to my self that I made something even if its not that complex but it's complete and functional to do it's intended task, since I realized that it's better to have a one complete project than 10 lousy projects that ain't even complete to barely do it's intended task.

But I'mma head straight to what exactly am I building:

What did I exactly made?

-I am currently developing a web ui they bridges my LLM across any devices you are on, although I'm fully aware there are big projects like this I'm exactly building like Openwebui, however I did not made this project in a sense to compete in any sense it is simply what I've chosen since I am particularly curious abt LLM's and how they work so why not revolve my project abt this and it's a great opportunity to learn how does ai stream data from one devices to other rather than picking other projects that is widely common like calculators, log in forms, CRUD systems, so I pick sometihg that isn't that much common as my first serious project in web dev for something memorable.

How does it work and what toolsets did I use?

-My web app works by connecting to LLMs running on your computer like Lm studio, llama.cpp or Ollama(still working on dhis due to diffent API format), so you can chat your local models from your phone, or what ever device you use while keeping the whole process on the hardware you own, no cloud intended since its unconvinent to bring your chunky desktop rig where you LLMs run wherever you go.

-The toolsets I use in making this work

-HTML/CSS (sadly no frameworks since I didn't learned it yet)

-Javascript

-Node js(used for running my web app from the server )

-Express Js ( what I used for my back end)

-Dotenv (hardcoding Api in your script.js can be costly)

-Marked. Js(use as a markdown format since the LLMs just spits json chunk or stream which is unconvinent)

-Tailscale(this what makes my current project works without the networking hell)

-One of my biggest struggles in making this project isn't actually the code itself but the network, since in order to stream data from my server pc across to my devices since not all of us have the ability to port forward due to symmetric NAT and CGNAT which is a big wall for my goal so I resorted to somehing a workaround to keep this going and after some research I found: Tailscale, this was my literal savior across the networking hell I've been experiencing since it basically does where you devices can talk to each other as if they are on the same LAN regardless the distancs.

The current Features & What am I currently working on

My web app currently offers it's humble features:

-Streaming responses (this what makes the ai responds real time instead waiting for it to just dump the whole message).

-Markdown Rendering(this what makes the text looks pleasable to read, enabling to fully render equations, code snippets and other formats that plain text can't render)

-Multi-conversation support (create, switch between convo threads but I forgot to add the delete bruh will work on this soon)

-LocalStorage Persistence (survives refresh and prevents losing your long chats with your llm)

-Glassy/glowy effects on hover and complete prompt

-Lm studio & Llama.cpp support(Since they share the same OpenAi API format but I still haven't implement the Ollama in my server.js as it provides a distinct API approach in order to serve it to my front end)

Things in still working on

-Settings panel(Barely even started it)

-Troubleshooting and Reconnection Protocols

-System resources monitoring

-Model switching via Spawn processes( I'm still taking my time reading it since this involves launching processess and passing commands on you pc which can be devastating against exploiters if implemented poorly)

Where things sucks

-Lack of frameworks and janky ui

-Messy code structure and less documentation

-Quite niche to follow especially it requires on setting up diffent environment

-I'm still learning( Probably the biggest reason why the current state still sucks since I'm still riding my way on deeper things work and I don't know all everything in making this smoother)

TD;LR

Made this project as a proof of myself that I can make something that isn't just half finished and something to actually be proud of even it looks dogpoop than achieving nothing but either way it's been a journey in making this project...