About UNPARTY
UNPARTY is more than a platform—it's a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and innovation. Join me, Justin, the founder of UNPARTY, as I share how AI, CRM systems, and sheer determination are shaping our vision.
The Beginning
The Challenge
Build a platform to change how people connect with their next steps, with limited capital.
The Problem
Job search engines favor companies over applicants. How do you build a platform for applicants when the perceived power is heavily skewed towards companies?
UNPARTY is about building out my skills openly to connect to my next step. My next step? Building UNPARTY to connect you with yours.
The Solution
Provide applicants with tools and guidance to build their skills, allowing companies to connect based on skills and process—creating a synergistic connection.
The Process
The Reality
As a non-technical founder that started out with no capital, hiring an engineer to build out an unvalidated idea wasn't an option.
The Solution
I started teaching myself how to code, learning by writing and building out ideas while connecting with my community to understand their barriers of success.
Many people start with an idea because they feel checked out in their 9-to-5, struggle to pay bills on time, or simply just want a second shot at their dreams. Building out an idea is risky, expensive, and takes courage to deal with inevitable skepticism.
The Challenge
As I built out ideas, I started to lose track of what UNPARTY actually was. I had no solid business plan, just a collection of ideas without a product.
Quick Challenge
Try this: Open your favorite text editor and start journaling about your ideas. Don't worry about structure or format—just let your thoughts flow. You might be surprised at what emerges!
The Solution
A dynamic platform that builds alongside your idea and transforms into your product.
The Mission
UNPARTY is more than a platform—it's a testament to resilience, a playground for ideas, and a space for personal growth. It's about building your story, your way.
The Invitation
UNPARTY Challenge
What do you say? Join me in building out your own idea playground. Let's turn those little doubts into your space of success.
CONNECT
Touch Grass Challenge
Remember, it's not just about coding or business plans. Take time to reflect, connect with others, and enjoy the journey. Your next big idea might come when you least expect it!
WHILE WE BUILD
As UNPARTY builds you'll find excercises, tutorials, and challenges so that you can build without waiting for us.
START HERE
I was inspired by an excercise I got from a friend. I wrote down one-word descriptions of myself. No filter, no hesitation. The result was eye-opening and, frankly, uncomfortable. But it was the change I needed.
The Realization
Through this exercise, I discovered:
- Some beliefs about myself were merely echoes of others' opinions.
- I was clinging to victimhood in some areas.
- Seeking approval—or trying to change others' opinions—was a waste of time.
Most Importantly: GET OUT OF MY HEAD.
The Evolution
UNPARTY evolved from this introspection. I realized that:
- Storytelling must propel us forward, not anchor us to the past.
- Self-improvement is a continuous journey, not a destination.
- Building your own story is the most powerful thing you can do.
UNPARTY is my story. What's yours? Join us in this journey of innovation, self-discovery, and relentless growth.
Inspiration Behind UNPARTY
The journey of building UNPARTY has been unconventional, fueled by a diverse array of inspirations. These stories—be they books, articles, music, or other forms of expression—have shaped our vision and drive to improve real life through innovation.
Stories That Shaped Us
- Name
- The Marathon Don't Stop
- Type
- Book
- Author
- by Rob Kenner
- Description
Nipsey Hussle's life story, as told in this biography, is the cornerstone of UNPARTY's ethos. His journey from building a computer to uplifting his entire community exemplifies our mission. Hussle's resilience and vision continue to inspire us daily.
Played 'Real Big' as soon as I landed in Copenhagen
Each of these stories contributes to the tapestry of UNPARTY, inspiring us to push boundaries, uplift communities, and foster innovation. We believe in the power of diverse inspirations to fuel unconventional and impactful solutions.
Blog Reviews
In the journey of building this idea playground, I've explored numerous online services across various price points. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, which can vary depending on the scale and nature of your project. Instead of merely complaining about shortcomings, I've taken action - either by creating alternatives or adjusting my approach. These reviews aim to guide you through the landscape of tools and services available to entrepreneurs and creators.
Product Reviews
- Name
- ChatGPT
- Type
- Artificial Intelligence
- Description
Cost: Varies by usage and subscription plan. Free tier available with limited usage; paid tiers for higher demands.
Use Cases:
- Text generation and content creation
- Question answering and recommendations
- Code assistance and debugging
- Customer service automation
- Brainstorming and ideation
Pros:
- Versatile and applicable to a wide range of tasks
- Constantly improving with regular updates
- Can significantly boost productivity in various fields
Cons:
- Potential for generating inaccurate or biased information
- Limited to knowledge cutoff date; may lack current information
- Can sometimes produce overly verbose or repetitive responses
Pro Tip: Set realistic expectations and use ChatGPT as a starting point rather than a definitive source. Always cross-reference important information with reliable sources. To maximize benefits:
- Research your topic independently before crafting prompts
- Use specific, well-structured prompts for better results
- Critically evaluate and fact-check the generated content
- Iterate and refine your prompts based on initial responses
Bottom Line: ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance productivity and creativity when used thoughtfully. However, it's crucial to approach it as an assistant rather than an authoritative source, especially for specialized or current information.
Code Snippets
UNPARTY started with no-code platforms, but to build this platform, I needed to learn some code. Let's start with the classic "Hello, World!" example in various languages.
Hello, World!
"Hello, World!" is traditionally the first program you write when learning a new programming language. It's a simple program that outputs the text "Hello, World!" to the screen.
- Name
output- Type
- string
- Description
The text that will be displayed: "Hello, World!"
Optional additions
- Name
name- Type
- string
- Description
A name to personalize the greeting (e.g., "Hello, UNPARTY!")
Hello World Examples
echo "Hello, World!"
Running the examples:
- Bash: Save in a .sh file and run with
bash filename.shor type directly in the terminal. - JavaScript: Run in a browser console or with Node.js using
node filename.js. - Python: Save as .py file and run with
python filename.py. - PHP: Save as .php file and run on a PHP server or locally with
php filename.php. - HTML: Save as .html file and open in a web browser.
Output
Hello, World!
Custom Color Input for BgColorPicker
Enhance the BgColorPicker component by adding custom color input functionality. This feature allows users to input their own colors using hex codes, providing more flexibility in color selection.
Key Concepts
- Name
useState- Type
- React Hook
- Description
Manages the state of the custom color input
- Name
customColor- Type
- string
- Description
Stores the user-inputted hex color code
- Name
handleCustomColorChange- Type
- function
- Description
Updates the customColor state as the user types
- Name
handleCustomColorSubmit- Type
- function
- Description
Validates and applies the custom color
Implementation Steps
- Update imports to include useState
- Add new state for custom color
- Create handlers for custom color input and submission
- Add custom color input form to the component
- Update the save color functionality
- Test the new feature
BgColorPicker Enhancement
import React, { useState } from 'react'
import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux'
import { setBgColor } from 'src/store/customizationsSlice'
// ... other imports
Testing the Implementation
- Run your application and navigate to the BgColorPicker component.
- Locate the new custom color input field below the color grid.
- Enter a valid hex color code (e.g., FF0000 for red) and click "Add Color".
- Verify that the new color is applied when you click the "Save Color" button.
- Test with invalid inputs to ensure proper error handling.
This enhancement maintains existing functionality while adding the ability to input custom colors, validated to ensure proper hex color codes.
Color
Adding design to your code not only makes it visually appealing but also enhances user experience. Let's start with a simple "Hello, World!" example and add some basic styling.
Basic UI Concepts
- Name
Layout- Type
- design principle
- Description
The arrangement of elements on the page.
- Name
Color- Type
- design principle
- Description
Use of colors to create visual interest and hierarchy.
- Name
Typography- Type
- design principle
- Description
The style, arrangement, and appearance of text.
- Name
Spacing- Type
- design principle
- Description
The use of margins and padding to create balance.
CSS Properties Used
- Name
background-color- Type
- CSS property
- Description
Sets the background color of an element.
- Name
color- Type
- CSS property
- Description
Sets the text color.
- Name
font-family- Type
- CSS property
- Description
Specifies the font for text.
- Name
padding- Type
- CSS property
- Description
Creates space inside an element.
- Name
border-radius- Type
- CSS property
- Description
Rounds the corners of an element.
Styled Hello World
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Styled Hello World</title>
<style>
body {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
height: 100vh;
margin: 0;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
background-color: #f0f0f0;
}
.hello-world {
background-color: #3498db;
color: white;
padding: 20px 40px;
font-size: 24px;
border-radius: 10px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="hello-world">
Hello, World!
</div>
</body>
</html>
Explanation:
- HTML Structure: We create a simple HTML document with a div containing our "Hello, World!" text.
- CSS Styling:
- We use
display: flexon the body to center the content both vertically and horizontally. - The
.hello-worldclass applies styling to our text container:background-colorsets a blue background.colormakes the text white.paddingadds space inside the container.font-sizeincreases the text size.border-radiusrounds the corners.box-shadowadds a subtle shadow for depth.
- We use
This example demonstrates how a few lines of CSS can significantly improve the visual appeal of even the simplest content.
Here's a Shortcut
While there's no substitute for hard work, knowing the right shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow. Here are some essential terminal commands and keyboard shortcuts that every web developer should know.
Terminal Commands
- Name
ls- Type
- command
- Description
List directory contents
- Name
cd- Type
- command
- Description
Change directory
- Name
mkdir- Type
- command
- Description
Create a new directory
- Name
touch- Type
- command
- Description
Create a new file
- Name
npm install- Type
- command
- Description
Install package dependencies
- Name
git clone- Type
- command
- Description
Clone a repository
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Name
Ctrl + C- Type
- shortcut
- Description
Copy selected text
- Name
Ctrl + V- Type
- shortcut
- Description
Paste copied text
- Name
Ctrl + Z- Type
- shortcut
- Description
Undo last action
- Name
Ctrl + S- Type
- shortcut
- Description
Save current file
- Name
Ctrl + F- Type
- shortcut
- Description
Find in current file
Terminal Examples
# List contents of current directory
ls
# Change to a specific directory
cd /path/to/directory
# Create a new directory
mkdir new_project
# Create a new file
touch index.html
Pro Tips:
- Use the up arrow to cycle through previous commands in the terminal.
- Tab completion can save time when typing file or directory names.
- Ctrl + R allows you to search through your command history.
- Learn to use package managers like npm or yarn efficiently.
- Familiarize yourself with your code editor's specific shortcuts for even more efficiency.
Take Your Time
Building takes time, and UNPARTY is growing at its own pace. It's normal to feel like progress isn't fast enough, but remember: steady growth is sustainable growth. Let's turn this feeling into a fun learning experience!
The "Delete Your Doubts" Challenge
This challenge is designed to help you practice coding while metaphorically deleting your doubts and negative thoughts.
- Create a file named
doubts.jsonwith some sample "doubt" data. - Write a script to "delete" these doubts using the provided code snippet as inspiration.
- For each doubt deleted, add a positive affirmation or lesson learned.
Sample doubts.json
{
"doubts": [
{
"id": "doubt1",
"content": "I'm not learning fast enough"
},
{
"id": "doubt2",
"content": "My project isn't growing quickly"
},
{
"id": "doubt3",
"content": "I don't know enough to succeed"
}
]
}
Challenge Steps
- Read the
doubts.jsonfile. - For each doubt, use the DELETE request to "remove" it.
- After each deletion, log a positive message or lesson learned.
- Keep track of your progress and celebrate small wins!
Remember, the goal is to have fun while learning. Take your time, experiment, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – they're part of the growth process!
Delete Your Doubts
curl -X DELETE https://api.unparty.dev/v1/doubts/{doubt_id} \
-H "Authorization: Bearer {your_growth_token}"
Bonus Challenge
Try to implement error handling in your script. What if a doubt doesn't exist? How would you handle that gracefully?
Positive Response
{
"message": "Doubt successfully deleted",
"affirmation": "You're making progress, even when you can't see it!",
"doubts_remaining": 2
}
Remember: Just as in coding, growth is iterative. Celebrate each doubt you overcome, and keep pushing forward!