Introduction

Developed key features for Recast TV's digital platform at Kitty, focusing on API integration, interactive tools, and advanced search functionality.

Tech Stack

Next.js 12 (Page Router), TypeScript, GraphQL, Apollo Client, WordPress (Backend), Bootstrap, React Bootstrap, ACF (Advanced Custom Fields)

Problem/Solution Format

Problem 1: Recast TV needed a seamless way to deliver dynamic content from their WordPress backend to a modern, responsive frontend. 

Solution 1: Implemented GraphQL with Apollo Client to query WordPress APIs, creating a type-safe bridge between content management and presentation. This allowed for efficient data fetching with precisely structured queries that only retrieved necessary data.

Problem 2: Users required interactive tools to evaluate potential ROI before committing to the platform. 

Solution 2: Designed and built an intuitive ROI calculator that translated complex financial variables into actionable insights, significantly improving conversion rates by allowing users to visualize their potential returns.

Problem 3: Content discoverability was limited by basic search functionality. 

Solution 3: Engineered an advanced deep search system with text highlighting features, enabling users to find specific content within videos and articles. This dramatically improved content engagement and time on site.

Results

The implementation of hover-to-play video previews increased video engagement by providing instant content sampling without user commitment. The dynamic rendering of Gutenberg blocks through GraphQL queries ensured consistent content presentation across the entire platform while maintaining optimal performance.

Conclusion

Working within Kitty's Scrum framework taught me valuable lessons about development workflow organization and the importance of thorough code documentation. The project's emphasis on mandatory commenting has shaped my approach to creating maintainable, team-friendly code.