Blog

Career-Shaping Experiences


**My finished project code:** https://github.com/shaneajeffery/udacity-go-crm-backend

**Completed course Nanodegree certificate:** https://confirm.udacity.com/e/dbcc9022-e5ab-11ee-ac73-eb0086781fe7

### Transitioning Into the Course

With over two decades of software development under my belt, my expertise predominantly lies in web-centric technologies. Throughout my journey, I've traversed through languages like C#, PHP, Node.js, with intermittent exposure to Go, albeit in a limited capacity. Despite having utilized Go in two previous roles, my engagement was primarily confined to minor edits, lacking a comprehensive understanding of its fundamentals.

### Course Selection Rationale

In 2018, I embarked on the React nanodegree program offered by Udacity, an experience I found exceptionally enriching. Led by Tyler McGinnis, renowned in the JavaScript and React community, the course left a lasting impression. However, due to professional commitments and personal projects consuming my time, I abstained from pursuing further educational endeavors with Udacity until now.

### Navigating Through the Curriculum

For individuals with a solid programming foundation, completing this course within 2-3 days is well within reach. However, the course content primarily scratches the surface and fails to delve into advanced Go concepts such as Goroutines, Channels, and Wait Groups, which are integral for a comprehensive grasp of the language.

While the course content is satisfactory on its own, the crux of the issue lies in the inadequate support provided by Udacity's mentors, contrasting starkly with my previous experience with the React course. Despite submitting my project multiple times, mentor interactions revealed significant shortcomings, ranging from technical deficiencies to an inability to follow basic setup instructions.

**Issue #1** -- I highlighted the necessity of having Go 1.22 to resolve the encountered issue.

![Issue 1](https://www.shane-jeffery.com/images/blog/go-1.png)

**Issue #2** -- I pointed out the presence of setup instructions for the .env file in the README.

![Issue 2](https://www.shane-jeffery.com/images/blog/go-2.png)

**Issue #3** -- I emphasized the guidance in the README regarding seeding the Postgres DB and modifying the connection string in the .env file.

![Issue 3](https://www.shane-jeffery.com/images/blog/go-3.png)

**Issue #4** -- Upon being informed that mentor support for the Postgres extra credit step was unavailable, I had to revert the changes and implement a slice to manage the state of the Customer store. The edits made can be viewed here: https://github.com/shaneajeffery/udacity-go-crm-backend/commit/81baa46c9aed99fed8804f1f6c2f3987c9be491a

![Issue 4a](https://www.shane-jeffery.com/images/blog/go-4.png)

![Issue 4b](https://www.shane-jeffery.com/images/blog/go-5.png)

### Reflections on Value Proposition

While the course content may suffice for beginners, particularly those seeking an introduction to backend development, the exorbitant cost of a monthly membership ($250) is not justified by the quality of mentorship provided. For individuals with a solid programming background, pursuing self-directed learning avenues supplemented by practical projects is recommended, offering superior value and flexibility.

In summary, while the course may hold merit for newcomers to Go, particularly in the absence of mentorship considerations, alternative learning platforms (Udemy, Educative.io, etc.) offer comparable educational resources at a fraction of the cost, warranting careful consideration before committing to Udacity's offerings.


Udacity Circling the Drain: Go (Golang) Nanodegree Experience


### Seven Years of Dormancy

In late 2017, I made the decision to discontinue operations with MaskedArmory.com, coinciding with the closure of KHAccounts.net. The absence of compelling financial incentives, coupled with heightened personal priorities, rendered the venture unsustainable at the time.

### Revisiting Seven Years Later: A Compelling Case

Despite its retirement, Masked Armory maintained a distinguished presence in its niche, and remarkably, the landscape of competition has remained largely unchanged. Presently, Safe Armory stands as the sole dominant force in the domain. The genesis of Masked Armory in 2010 was fueled by dissatisfaction with existing alternatives, which persisted over time. Now, with an industry still stagnated, the imperative to inject vitality through healthy competition is undeniable.

Furthermore, this revival is motivated purely by passion, devoid of any commercial aspirations. The project will be open-sourced as it nears Version 1, inviting participation from fellow developers within the community. This endeavor seeks to foster a sense of communal ownership within the RMT (Real Money Trading) community, providing stakeholders with a vested interest in its success.

### Strategic Approach

The initial steps have involved migrating the original codebase from its previous GitHub repository to a newly established one under my pertinent GitHub account.

In 2017, segregating the frontend, backend, and database into distinct services was deemed necessary. However, contemporary paradigms have shifted, rendering such compartmentalization obsolete. Hence, the plan now entails leveraging Remix with RSC (React Server Components), TailwindCSS, and Prisma (with the choice between Postgres or Mongo for the database yet to be finalized).

### Projected Timeline

The timeline for this endeavor remains indeterminate, as I embark on familiarizing myself with the Remix ecosystem from scratch. Nevertheless, with over eight years of experience in React and prior exposure to NextJS, proficiency acquisition is anticipated to be expedited.

Expectations regarding the release of Version 1 will be communicated within the coming weeks.

Stay tuned!


Part 1: Resurrecting Masked Armory


### Initiating the Project Journey

Embarking on a new project can be a daunting task, especially when venturing into uncharted territories. With a background rooted in web programming spanning two decades, my foray into Machine Learning (NLP specifically) and Large Language Models (LLMs) marks a significant shift in focus. While AI technology is not novel, its recent surge in popularity beckons exploration, driven by its potential to address pertinent challenges.

The catalyst for this endeavor stems from a longstanding manual task I encountered while managing KHAccounts.net. Crafting enticing sale listings was a extremely manual effort, a process ripe for automation. With Battle.net APIs now mature and computational resources more accessible, the prospect of leveraging ML (NLP) techniques to streamline this task is within reach.

### Envisioning Application Functionality

In conceptualizing the application's input and output dynamics, a streamlined interface would facilitate the generation of sale templates tailored to individual character profiles. Through a user-friendly prompt system, users can specify output formats, character details, and server regions, culminating in comprehensive sale listings compatible with various RMT platforms (EpicNPC, OwnedCore, private sale websites).

### Navigating the LLM Landscape

The crux of this project lies in understanding and harnessing Large Language Models effectively. Extensive research is warranted to determine the optimal approach, whether by building upon existing open-source frameworks or crafting a bespoke solution tailored to the task's nuances. Additionally, delineating rarity metrics based on in-game data is essential to ensure the relevance and utility of generated templates.

### Technological Considerations

Python emerges as the language of choice for ML (NLP) and LLM-related endeavors, owing to its versatility and robust ecosystem of libraries. Complementing this, NextJS emerges as the frontrunner for frontend development, with its server components offering seamless integration with backend Python scripts, facilitating efficient computation and template generation.

### Looking Ahead

In forthcoming segments, I aim to delve deeper into the intricacies of training the LLM, elucidating the research findings that underpin the project's trajectory, and outlining strategies for data dissemination to the frontend. Your continued engagement is invaluable as we navigate this captivating journey together.

Stay tuned!


Part 1: Building Chatbot Application to Generate WoW Sales Template


### Pioneering the Anonymous Armory Concept

In the landscape of World of Warcraft anonymous armory profiling circa 2008, the need for secure yet user-friendly account profiles spurred the inception of Masked Armory. Faced with sluggish and unwieldy armory profiling options prevalent at the time, including MyWoWArmory and SimpleArmory, I identified a critical gap in the market ripe for innovation.

### Seizing the Moment

While nurturing KHAccounts.net demanded undivided attention from 2008 to early 2010, the arrival of the college summer break in 2010 presented an opportune moment to diversify. Hence, the genesis of Masked Armory, a sleek and efficient solution designed to redefine armory profiling standards.

### Inaugural Deployment

The initial incarnation of Masked Armory, introduced in 2010, leveraged a PHP backend coupled with a lightweight jQuery frontend. Despite its modest technological foundations, the platform's hallmark was its unparalleled speed and user-friendly interface, a stark departure from its predecessors' sluggish performance.

### Evolutionary Trajectory

With an exponential surge in user adoption, exceeding 20,000 unique profiles within six months, Masked Armory swiftly emerged as the preeminent choice in its niche. Over the ensuing eight years, the platform underwent three transformative iterations, starting with the move to Laravel on the backend in 2011 to Vue.js on the frontend in 2014, culminating in a final migration to a React and Node architecture in 2017.

### Synergistic Growth

Harnessing the success of KHAccounts.net's organic growth strategy, I strategically leveraged Masked Armory's burgeoning user base to fuel traffic to my sales platform. The integration of targeted advertising banners within profile pages catalyzed an unprecedented surge in traffic, facilitating accelerated account sales and sustained success for both platforms.

### Conclusion

While the twilight years of 2018 marked the cessation of operations for both KHAccounts.net and Masked Armory, their enduring legacy underscores the transformative impact of innovative solutions and strategic synergy within the dynamic landscape of online gaming. As I transitioned my focus towards advancing my professional career, the invaluable lessons gleaned from these ventures continue to inform my approach to technological innovation and business development.


Building Business Synergy with Masked Armory


### The Genesis

In 2003, during the transitional phase between high school and college, I found myself immersed in the original beta for World of Warcraft (WoW). As the game fully launched, I encountered the challenge of balancing my dedication to raiding and acquiring prestigious in-game achievements, such as obtaining the Corrupted Ashbringer from Naxx 40 and attaining Scarab Lord, with the demands of my collegiate pursuits.

### Introducing Markee Dragon

In search of diversifying my gaming experience beyond my warrior main, I delved into the realm of account trading and encountered Markee Dragon, a platform recognized for its facilitation of transactions involving MMO accounts, in-game currency, and related services. Captivated by the prospects, I decided to list my account for potential trades or sales, resulting in a swift influx of substantial offers, some exceeding $8000 within a mere day.

While I ultimately opted to retain possession of my account, this experience illuminated the lucrative potential of the World of Warcraft resale market, presenting an enticing opportunity for supplemental income.

### The Birth of KHAccounts.net

After accumulating sufficient seed capital, sourced from my earnings as a junior software engineer over two years, I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey within the WoW account resale niche. With a strategic focus on offering premium accounts valued at a minimum of $1000, I navigated through initial competition by investing in building a distinguished reputation and clientele base.

Over the ensuing years, my venture steadily gained momentum, yielding a substantial profit margin. Amidst the rigors of college and impending student debt, the burgeoning success of KHAccounts.net provided both financial stability and entrepreneurial fulfillment.

### Ongoing Triumph

From 2008 to 2018, I independently operated KHAccounts.net, overseeing all aspects of the business, from account acquisition to sales. Throughout this decade-long tenure, I evolved the platform's infrastructure, transitioning from a rudimentary PHP/JQuery website to a sophisticated e-commerce platform integrated with modern technologies like React, Laravel, MySQL, and using Stripe for payment processing.

Furthermore, I conceived MaskedArmory.com, a platform designed to anonymize World of Warcraft character profiles, circumventing potential punitive actions from Blizzard Entertainment while maintaining the integrity of the account resale ecosystem.

### The Epilogue

By the conclusion of 2018, recognizing the evolving landscape of the WoW community and the diminishing demand for account reselling, I made the strategic decision to conclude operations and redirect my focus towards advancing my career as a software engineer.

While KHAccounts.net now resides in the annals of my past endeavors, I take pride in the legacy it represents and the invaluable experiences gained from engaging with gamers worldwide. Indeed, the journey was punctuated by notable achievements and rewarding connections, culminating in a gratifying and prosperous chapter of my life.

For further insights into my entrepreneurial odyssey, information is accessible through search queries for 'Shane Jeffery KHAccounts.net' or 'Shane Jeffery MaskedArmory.com'. These endeavors stand as testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience cultivated during my formative years, leaving an indelible mark on my professional trajectory.

### Additional Resources

- [210 5 Star Reviews for Buying/Selling Services Provided](https://www.epicnpc.com/members/kh-accounts.69144/)
- [The Man Who Rich Selling World of Warcraft Accounts](https://www.svg.com/166047/the-man-who-got-rich-selling-world-of-warcraft-accounts/)
- [Meet the Guy Who Made $475,000 Selling World of Warcraft Accounts](https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/meet-the-guy-who-made-475-000-selling-world-of-warcraft-accounts-2926459)
- [iAmA MMO World of Warcraft Reseller 472K in Sales](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3dexu1/iama_mmo_world_of_warcraft_reseller_427k_in_sales/)


Career Shaping Experiences

Udacity Circling the Drain: Go (Golang) Nanodegree Experience

Part 1: Resurrecting Masked Armory

Part 1: Building Chatbot Application to Generate WoW Sales Template

Building Business Synergy with Masked Armory

World of Warcraft Paid for College