9 Questions for Four-Time Noonie Nominee and SDE-1 Shravan Kumar B

Hey Hackers! I’m Shravan Kumar B and I’m a SDE-1 @ Locus (Mara Labs).

First of all, a huge thank you to the HackerNoon community and staff for nominating me for a 2021 Noonies award! I’ve been nominated in the following categories please do check out these award pages and vote:

1. HACKERNOON CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR - BEGINNERS

2. HACKERNOON CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR - CAREER - ADVICE

3. HACKERNOON CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR - CAREERS

4. HACKERNOON CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR - DEVELOPER

   
   

As someone in the accelerating Information and Technology industry, I believe that the most exciting technology of the present is `Deno` because Deno is shaping out to be the new go-to server-side environment with native TypeScript support, making it easier for developers to learn both sides of the stack, i.e., Frontend and Backend. In addition, it also meets all the shortcoming of the Node.js environment. Learn more about my thoughts and opinions on Deno and my journey in the tech industry via the interview below.

1. What do you do and why do you do it? (tell us your story)

I started out with Deno, to see how is it different from Node.js and explore the nooks and corners of the technology, at its very mature stage. I simply started exploring out of curiosity. As I kept exploring it, my curiosity grew and I created simple PoCs. I tried to replicate previously worked simple use-cases built on Node.js/Express.js; which allowed me to rebuild some npm packages in Deno.

Deno’s native support of TypeScript, and its Dependency Management, made work quite easy and fast. This kept me going and motivated me to keep working on Deno.

2. Tell us more about the things you create / write / manage / build!

Currently, I have a couple of Open Source Projects, that were started by me. I maintain them as well. Whenever time allows, I try to contribute to Open Source Projects.

Projects I work on:

• One of the exciting things that I have worked on in recent times, is a Dynamic GitHub Readme Quotes Generator. It generates quotes for your GitHub Readmes to give a poetic touch to Readmes. It's built on NodeJS as Heroku did not support Deno at the time of building this project.

  
  

• Another project, that I’ve been maintaining for quite some time now, is Learning Resources, a centralized hub for learners from around the globe. Here, you can find collections of manuals, blogs, hacks, one-liners, courses, and other free learning resources in one space.

  
  

• I recently started out another project called Production-Ready Boilerplates, which simply has a collection of Production-Ready Frontend and Backend boilerplates, with different architectures and Tech stacks like Deno, Node.js, Django, Springboot and so on.

I also worked on several IoT/embedded system related projects:

• For one of the projects, I worked with a team to build Smart Corona Mask[Embedded Interface Source code] integrated into a Spring boot and React Native application. It basically keeps track of people who come in contact with each other using a MaskId which when connected to the Bluetooth on a Mobile Phone, and upon internet access, it will send the response to a server, store their details, and would also beep when two people wear in close contact with each other do not follow social distancing.

  
  

• Autonomous Garbage Collecting System using IoT - a system that has a Smart Dustbin and an Autonomous Garbage Collecting Robot which collects the garbage from the Dustbin when the threshold level has reached. The operation had multiple modules - Client-Server Architecture for Dustbin-Robot Interaction, Path planning the locomotion of the robot, and finally the collection of the garbage. An IEEE paper was also published on the same. [SourceCode is private]

I also sometimes publish content on blogs.

I focus on writing and creating content that is illustrated, self-explanatory and easy to understand. I believe, if the content that I write and illustrate can be understood by anyone that knows nothing about the technology, it means that I’ve understood it.

Some of my blogs are mentioned below:

• Reflecting on My Voyage as an Intern to a Developer

• Must-Know: Basic Engineering Principles for Programming

• SOLID Principles: Write SOLID programs; Avoid STUPID programs

• Programming: Human Philosophy

  
  

3. How did you end up on your current career path? Do you like it?

I started programming and development at an early age. I like to build products. I kinda like to break things down and re-build or re-innovate things out of them. This is why I was drawn towards technology. By the 10th grade, I was sure that I wanted to pursue my career in exploring technology and its depth.

I started with learning programming which was later reintroduced as part of the curriculum. Since then, it has been obviously very important to lead my through, at least that’s the part where I have spent a lot of my time. Front of the the system desk, coding, designing systems in the name of exploration.

I love to be a part of the generation where innovation is accelerating and so is the scope and depth of the technology. One fact that still amazes me, is not just about how technology makes things easier, but, also the part that how the accessibility of the technology has evolved over years.

I remember my dad having a very basic Nokia Camera Mobile, for 5k, today, at the same cost, we get phone better in terms of all aspects. Ain’t that crazy how the cost, production and other factors has evolved along with technology?

4. What tech are you most excited or passionate about right now and why?

Recently, I joined a company as a Backend Developer, and the company deals with Supply Chain Management. I have been going through several aspects of the Supply Chain Management and different solutions provided and utilised by different companies.

I never worked on such a dynamically altering domain. There is always something new to learn in this industry. Technology, regulations, business processes and models, the competitive landscape - these things are continuously changing in the industry, which opens new doors to newer opportunities and challenges. It’s difficult to be bored in Supply Chain Management.

That is certainly something that keeps me pushing forward to face new challenges.

5. What tech are you most worried about right now and why?

If you remember, there was hype around Node.js when it initially appeared. Market was completely filled with need of the Node.js developers and people skilled in both Frontend & Backend in terms of JS.

I am certain that, it is not the case now. With emergence of Django [Data Intensive Framework], Springboot [Best supported for Micro-service Arch] and other similar frameworks, I feel the hype around Node.js has lowered.

Despite Deno’s existence, I do not think that Node.js will go out of business. But I am not certain about Node.js’ status probably 5 years down the line. It depends on how the community around Node.js receives it and maturity of Deno as replacement of Node.js.

As of now if you see, companies like Netflix, Paypal, LinkedIn and so on use Node.js. So taking that picture into consideration, we can remain confident.

6. If we gave you 10 million dollars to invest in something today, what would you invest in and why?

Honestly speaking, if given 10 million dollars to invest on something today, I would invest 5 million in building a home for the homeless to stay under a roof and give them space to live and survive.

And the other 5 million, I will invest on Rental properties, probably real-estate, which would give an income and grow my investment capital as well, that basically means, passive income and equity appreciation. This fund will be a long term investment and can be utilised to maintain and improvising the space we built for the homeless.

I don’t know if you were looking for a cranky answer though!

7. What are you currently learning?

Currently I am exploring the Business domain of Supply Chain Management. Also sidewise strengthening my Java Development Skills and Springboot skills.

Planning to gain strong grip on Cloud as well. I haven’t started yet on that part but will start soon.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever given someone?

Sometimes failure is the best way to figure out where life is going.

Success boosts ego, failure keeps you grounded. Often when someone faces a setback in early stages, and give up on things, and this is what they often title as FAILURE. Setbacks are part of the Success package, which people fail to understand. We need to keep trying.

Understanding that, it is not the end of life, but end of one chapter in your life.

I always tell my fellow mates and friends, that Failure is the best teacher.

9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“Be brave enough to suck at something new“

To date, every time I learn something new, I remember this. This was something that I learnt from a situation, certain situations do teach you a lot.

Most people don’t explore or try to learn something new, because they are scared that it might be difficult or may be not their cup of tea. I was scared too, but that’s what it is all about: pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

About HackerNoon’s 2021 Noonie Awards

The annual Noonie Awards celebrate the best and brightest of the tech industry, bringing together all who are making the Internet and the world of tech what it is today. Please be sure to check out our award categories, nominate, and vote for the people and companies who you think are making the biggest impact on the tech industry today.

The 2021 Noonies are sponsored by: bybit, Dottech Domains, and Avast. Thank you so much to these sponsors who are helping us celebrate the accomplishments of all our nominees.