Interview with Nirman Dave, a 17 year old Programming Guru

Meet Nirman Dave from Rajkot, Gujarat. He is just 17 year old and has coded over 200 windows apps! A fabulous achievement for a person so young. He started learning to code when he was studying in sixth standard! Not only he codes, he is also a programming guru who teaches computer programming at his school. Let us know more about him.

Nrman Dave

I am Nirman Dave, 17 years old and graduated from The Galaxy School, Rajkot. I love programming, I do it every day! However, programming just simple codes is not something I would want to do. I strongly believe in innovation and creativity and try something new every day. May it be modifying one line of code or creating a whole new different software! I put all of my softwares and codes on my website named SourceNet which has reached over 1.2 million downloads in total today. Besides being the founder of SourceNet, SourceNick and SourceNet Ads; I also teach computer programming at The Galaxy School and mentor the ‘Introduction to computer science’ course at a college in my town. Apart from programming I am really interested in activities such as chess, basketball, drama, singing and watching movies!

2) You have achieved a lot in such a small age. Can you elaborate your story of achievements?

Achievements are supposed to be taken and left along with the path.

If you embed yourself and your happiness in just one achievement then you won’t have the ones coming ahead in your path.

Hence, I haven’t “achieved” anything. I have merely came across events that have become milestones in my life’s path, and I hope, it will continue to happen. However, some events I am really proud about are lecturing at different colleges, participating in different competitions and the most important creating and innovating new devices.

Some of my innovations include:

• Snick : Snick is a programming language based on Python that introduces a completely different concept of programming. It comprises of modules which are imported each time a code is to be written. The module can be executed within the main frame. Snick GUI allows the user to both code and run the program within. Snick is aimed at beginners who have absolutely no expertise in programming and are about to enter the vast field.
• Antable : This is a project where I converted a piece of paper into a multi-touch surface table. I initiated this project along with my friend when I was in grade 11. Antable works on the concept of shadows. As the finger is touched on the apper, a shadow is generated. A software in the computer moves the cursor according to the shadows. It is the first touch surface that does not include any touch sensors.
• PyLight : PyLight is a simple, neat and all-rounder Python code editor.
• NewsBottle : NewsBottle is a simple windows phone app that displays summaries of long news articles from different web portals.

More work by Nirman can be found here.

3) What do you want to do for India?

I do not want to do things like eradicate poverty, donate food, money etc. All of this, is just merely a perception.

Poverty is just a state of mind.

If we remove all the “money” from everyone’s pockets, then we will see everyone is born equal. So, today instead of donating food or money to the poor. If we go to slums we will see at least 5 such children who have the potential to become the next Bill Gates. And if I can actually extract their talents by educating them & giving them work and showcase it through our combined efforts then that would be the most wonderful thing anyone can do for not only India, but the world. And that’s exactly what I wish to do.

4) Consider a situation where you’ll be provided two options. You can be an entrepreneur Or a top job holder in a MNC like Google/Microsoft. Who would you choose to become and why?

I am a very competitive person. If someone is working on the same project as me, I would want that person to work with me, under me, but not in any circumstances against me. Today, If Bill Gates, Lary Page etc. Can build such a massive company in just one life then why can’t I?

I see Google and Microsoft as companies that are my competitors. Both me and Bill Gates have the same potential.

So I would never want to get engulfed into this massive tsunami of growth that Google, Microsoft, and other MNCs are putting up. Why work for someone else and bring his life up? Then working for yourself and bringing your life up! Hence, entrepreneurship is clearly the option.

5) Microsoft recently offered you Visual Studio for free which is worth more than Rs. 70,000. They must have found something special in you. Why did they choose you?

Well, they did not chose me. I went to them with a request. Because, opportunities don’t come to you, you go to them! Because I am enthusiastic student who cannot afford to buy expensive software, they provided me with it. The only thing I had to do was to show them the proof of the same. With such a planned marketing strategy and a vision to enrich the lives of the coders of tomorrow, Microsoft helps every kid. Just like me.

6) Who has inspired you the most? What things have you learnt from them?

Without any doubt, it has always been my dad. He is not a computer programmer nor does he know anything about hardware. But he knows how to work his way out in any situation. He is street smart, with great negotiation skills and awesome speech. I know, I can never be as good as him, but I will try my best!

7) What are your plans for the near future?

As far as studies are concerned currently I am working on my entrance exams. And will later decide upon the place of study. Apart from that, I am currently working to two things. One, artificial intelligence. Yes, it’s going to be something like Siri and Cortana for PC. This will incorporate colloquial terms and will be available in multiple languages. I haven’t started coding it yet, but I am sure I will be able to complete it in a day or two if I keep coding the whole day. I will be coding in this in Python and C#. My second project is DriveBud, it is a project where you can listen to songs using ear buds (the top part of earphones) and does not require you to have any music storing device such as a phone or PC. All you have to do is say the name of a song and it will be played. Not only that but, functions such as GPS, information search, phone calling, texting can also be done. The operating system for this device is coded by me using python.

8) Your message for the readers?

I do not think I am the right person to address the readers. However, if you are looking for inspirations just have a look at Steve Job’s life.

If you think you are talented and want to get interviewed by us then feel free to contact us. We will be happy to feature you on our site.