Frontend is interesting, can JS independently do projects?

Hello everyone, I am a front-end engineer and the author of the open-source image editor vue-fabric-editor project, and also an entrepreneur.

At the beginning of the year I wrote an article, "Frontend is interesting, another year working on an image editor", and now another year is about to pass. Last year we lived in a factory, went to Yiwu, ran to Hangzhou; this year, we flew to Shenzhen and went to Changsha. A front-end programmer's entrepreneurship, a small full-stack team using JS as the development language. Let's see what interesting things we did this year. Besides the image editor, can JS really support more commercial projects and scenarios?

3D Fabric Design

It can generate countless fabric print patterns from one image, while also supporting preview of effects on 3D models.

The main implementation idea is: use the WebGL library regl for basic graphics drawing, generate continuous square patterns, then use Three.js to texture them onto 3D models. The core work is implementing 30+ mathematical combination formulas to stitch multiple small polygons into various types of patterns.

Box Design Platform

A parametric box design platform with 3D process simulation. It supports parameterization of various complex box types, 3D effect modes for various processes, and exports production-ready files.

We really put all our energy into this project, from parametric design, 3D design, to all the details of the processes.

DIY Photo Album Mini-Program

A photo album customization mini-program built for a factory, handling everything from orders to manuscript downloads. The backend inputs various templates, and the mini-program connects with e-commerce platforms. Users DIY their albums and submit; backend printing files are automatically downloaded.

Clothing Pattern Design Platform

A system built for digital printing factories that can collect clothing photos, extract prints through AI interfaces, batch generate effect images, and then produce printed cut files.

This project uses the most diverse tech stack. We developed a Chrome extension to scrape images, trained our own LoRa model for clothing print extraction, then used PS mockups to batch generate images, used Electron to batch generate clothing cut files, and even connected to a printer to push files directly.

We also integrated AI image search to implement a style library search function.

Anime Custom Mini-Program

This designer took a long time to polish, with optimization of cutting lines, hole position adjustments, slot adjustments, and final imposition files.

The backend is packed with configuration features: login, customer service, payment, orders, shipping, courier labels, theme decoration.

Cross-Border E-Commerce Template Design Platform

This project is very interesting. It combines a designer and an infinite canvas to implement a template designer that can combine arbitrarily, letting users complete designs as if submitting a form.

It also integrates with cross-border e-commerce platforms and supports batched production orders, achieving photo-taking, shipping, and a complete closed loop of the entire cross-border process. Products like pillows, blankets, tin signs, and wall art can all use it.

Other Types of Tools

We also built a variety of other designs, such as small card design and imposition, AI pattern cutting, rice paper cutting and imposition, interface automation for image generation, 3D grayscale maps, and more.

Backend and Backend Capability Accumulation

Beyond the projects above, we also accumulated a lot of general backend development capabilities: data isolation, e-commerce platform store authorization integration, orders, multi-tenant architecture, sub-account permissions, mini-program payment and shipping. On the backend we also integrated AI, workflows, third-party systems, and middleware.

Photos

Summary

Transitioning from a pure front-end developer to a full-stack team using JS as the development language, we delivered factory projects big and small. I want to tell front-end programmers: don't limit yourself. JS can handle projects, and JS can handle entire systems. Front-end development career prospects have never been lacking.

AI is an irreversible trend. Many positions are being baptized by AI. While some are debating whether programmers should go full-stack, many programmers are already connecting with business requirements, using AI for task development, and using full-stack to deliver complete systems.

I hope we all get through the transition period together, build competitiveness after AI becomes widespread, and hope next year we can serve more large manufacturing and e-commerce clients, empower more small factories and e-commerce sellers with mature solutions, give team members more bonuses, and get the business on track.

Finally, I wish everyone gets better and better and finds a career they love.

If you're interested, you can like and follow. I'll keep reporting progress to everyone.