SE Webring

Category: Community Sites Website: https://se-webring.xyz

About

A webring connecting personal websites of Software Engineering students at the University of Waterloo. Increase discoverability and traffic to your portfolio through this centralized directory.

SE Webring

A webring for Software Engineering students at the University of Waterloo - bringing back the spirit of the 90s web to connect student portfolios and personal sites.

What's a Webring?

A webring is a collection of websites linked together by a common theme. Historically popular in the 1990s as a search engine optimization technique, the SE Webring revives this concept to provide a central directory for personal websites and portfolios of current and former Software Engineering students at the University of Waterloo, making them more discoverable and driving traffic to individual sites.

How It Works

The SE Webring is a static, client-side application with no backend - all functionality runs directly in your browser:

Core Technology

• Data Layer: All sites stored in js/sites.js as a simple JavaScript array
• Search: Fuzzy search powered by Fuse.js (search by name, year, or website)
• Visualization: Interactive 3D torus animation built with Three.js
• Hosting: Deployed on Netlify with continuous deployment from GitHub
• GitHub as CMS: All contributions managed through pull requests

Features

• 🔍 Fuzzy Search: Find students by name, cohort year, or website URL
• 🎨 3D Torus Animation: Scroll-controlled visualization using WebGL
• 📦 Client-Side Only: No backend means simple hosting and fast performance
• 🔄 Automated Workflow: GitHub Actions label PRs automatically
• ⚡ Instant Updates: Merged changes deploy automatically to production

How to Join

Requirements

• Must be a current student or alum of UW Software Engineering undergraduate program
• Have a personal website or portfolio

Submission Process

1. Fork the simcard0000/se-webring repository on GitHub
2. Add your entry to the end of the allSites array in js/sites.js:

   {
     name: "Your Full Name",
     year: 2025,  // Your cohort year
     website: "https://yoursite.com"
   }
   

3. Open a pull request with:
   • Your full name
   • Cohort year
   • Full website URL
   • Link to another profile for identity verification (LinkedIn, GitHub, etc.)
4. Wait for review - PRs are approved if all requirements are met and content is appropriate

Pro Tip: Add a mention or link to the SE Webring on your submitted site to support the community!

Technical Details

Browser Requirements

• ES Modules support
• WebGL support
• CSS position: sticky
• Import maps

Stack

• Vanilla JavaScript with ES Modules
• Fuse.js for fuzzy search
• Three.js for 3D graphics
• Hosted on Netlify
• Open source on GitHub

Credits

Created and maintained by:

• Simran Thind (@simcard0000)
• Janakitti Ratana-Rueangsri (@janakitti)

Inspired Similar Projects

The SE Webring has inspired other university communities to create their own webrings:

• ECE Webring - Waterloo ECE students
• McGill CS Webring - McGill CS students
• UOttawa EECS Webring - UOttawa EECS students
• Design Waterloo - UW Design community

Why Join?

• Increase Traffic: Get discovered by fellow students, recruiters, and the community
• Networking: Connect with other SE students and alumni
• Portfolio Visibility: Showcase your work to the Waterloo community
• Support Community: Be part of a growing movement to bring back personal websites
• SEO Benefits: Backlinks from the webring improve your site's discoverability

✓ Verified Resource