CRYSTAL DEPALMA
Prompt-first Full-Stack Engineer specializing in backend architecture, building secure, AI-powered tools with Node.js, MongoDB, and React. Passionate about resilient APIs, seamless data flow, and human-centered system design.
About Me
Beyond the Code
When I'm not deep in backend architecture, exploring AI capabilities, or designing scalable systems, I recharge through movement, creativity, and connection. As a lifelong athlete — whether I'm on the tennis court, in the gym, or swimming laps — I thrive on challenge, focus, and flow.
I love learning about the world. My travels through Italy — from Capri to Positano and Bari — deepened my appreciation for culture and design, and I'm excited to explore Greece and southern Italy next.
My friends know me as equal parts goofball and grounding presence. When I'm not coding, you'll find me spending time with family, learning new recipes, exploring the outdoors, or dreaming up my next big adventure.
Mentorship Matters
Throughout 2025, I've actively sought out mentorship from seasoned professionals to sharpen my technical abilities and prepare for the job market. These connections have shaped how I approach interviews, build systems, and communicate my value:
These relationships reflect my commitment to continuous growth, proactive networking, and building alongside those who inspire me.
Notable Wins & Milestones
Enrolled in Rutgers Full-Stack Coding Bootcamp
Part-Time, 400+ hours
Built foundational backend skills
REST APIs, Express routing, MongoDB CRUD
Graduated bootcamp
400+ total hours including projects + team collab
Began building IntPrepApp (In Progress)
Full-stack interview prep app with quizzes, tracking, and secure login
Launched first developer portfolio
Showcasing backend-focused case studies. Deepened skills in backend optimization, AI prompting, and real-world debugging
Refactored IntPrepApp & began mentorship with Corey Bott
Refresh token rotation, progress tracking, quiz logic. Focused on resume polish, LinkedIn strategy, and networking
Mentorship with Seif Dorani
Technical guidance, mock interviews, and role alignment
Mentorship with Lauren Beaver & launched CodeLab
Interview readiness and outreach expansion. Prototyping 10+ JavaScript algorithms and SQL joins for interview prep. Integrated Augment Code (VS Code extension) for auto-generated Jest unit tests
AI exploration & portfolio redesign
OpenAI APIs, LangChain, vector databases. Built AI-ready portfolio with Next.js 14, Tailwind, ShadCN UI, EmailJS — includes dark mode, keyboard command palette, animations, and mobile optimization
Tech Stack & Expertise
A comprehensive overview of my technical skills, from backend systems to AI integration and deployment.
Current Skill Assessment
Actively Used Technologies
Technologies I've used hands-on in real projects and am confident working with
Backend runtime for IntPrepApp and portfolio APIs
Server framework powering all my full-stack routes
Primary database for user data and quiz content
Secure login with refresh token rotation
Frontend library for IntPrepApp and components
Styling framework for responsive designs
Framework for portfolio and SSR applications
Type safety in IntPrepApp2 refactor
Contact form integration and email services
Exploring / Learning Next
Actively studying and prototyping with these tools as I expand my skillset
Integrating AI hints and resume guidance features
Optimizing AI responses for user interactions
Exploring AI application frameworks and chains
Learning containerization for app deployment
Cloud hosting and services for scalable apps
Studying for future AI-powered search features
💡 Currently exploring: Modern AI tools and deployment infrastructure (LangChain, Docker, AWS) as I design my next wave of app integrations.
My Complete Tech Toolkit
Technologies, tools, and frameworks I use to build full-stack applications
Frontend
Building responsive, interactive user interfaces
Main frontend library for IntPrepApp
Framework for portfolio and AI integrations
Styling framework actively using and customizing
Used in IntPrepApp2 and upskilling path
Component library for forms and layouts
Backend
Server-side architecture and API development
Primary backend runtime for IntPrepApp
Main server framework powering full-stack routes
Primary database for all projects
Access + refresh token auth with rotation
Schema-based modeling for MongoDB
AI & Prompt Engineering
Integrating AI capabilities into applications
Integrating hint generation into IntPrepApp
Building AI résumé guide and studying LLM behavior
Future upskilling for real-time AI tools
Future integration for AI applications
Development Tools & Infrastructure
Essential tools for development workflow and deployment
Primary code editor with extensions
Version control and collaboration
API testing and development
Database management and visualization
Unit and integration testing
Portfolio deployment optimized for Next.js
Learning roadmap to containerize apps
S3/EC2 for scalable cloud deployment
Featured Projects
A showcase of full-stack applications, backend systems, and AI-integrated solutions that demonstrate my expertise in building scalable, user-focused software.
IntPrepApp
Full-stack MERN application designed for interactive technical interview preparation with custom scrambling logic, topic filters, and user progress tracking.
TaxBuddy AI
AI-powered app delivering personalized tax-saving suggestions using Angular, FastAPI, and Azure OpenAI.
Get-LiTerary-extended
Full-stack group project where I served as the primary backend developer, implementing authentication, API endpoints, and data flow.
CodeLab
A personal JavaScript study guide designed to document and test algorithmic thinking and core logic patterns.
Endorsements & Testimonials
Words like these remind me why I love what I do.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Crystal in a mentoring capacity, and I am continually impressed by her dedication to learning and growth. Her ability to work independently, coupled with her exceptional communication skills, makes her a standout collaborator. Crystal's deep technical understanding of full stack development, AI, and more ensures she consistently delivers high-quality results."
Latest Insights
Curated thoughts on code, AI, and creative problem-solving.
Topics I'm excited to dive into
Prompt Engineering & LLMs
Designing effective prompts and integrating AI into real applications
Backend Architecture
Building scalable APIs, database design, and system patterns
JavaScript Problem Solving
Algorithm challenges, debugging techniques, and code optimization
Dev Tools & Retrospectives
Project insights, favorite tools, and lessons learned along the way
"If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in."—often attributed to Edsger W. Dijkstra
Let's Connect
Whether you're building something new, hiring for your team, or just want to chat tech — I'd love to hear from you.
Get In Touch
Or reach out directly: