Currently, I am working as a freelancer on Upwork. I have had a few gigs. I have 3+ years of experience in developing IoT systems. My tech stack includes C++, C, ESP32, Arduino, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MATLAB, and Python. I also know Circuit Designing & Testing, Hardware Architecture, Mechatronics, Networking, Competitive Programming, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. When I look back, I often wonder how it all began.
Very few people know this story. My 13th birthday was about to arrive; it was in 2015. I always remember those October evenings when I wondered what present I should demand this time. What could a 13-year-old boy want? We recently bought a TV. So all I wanted was a PlayStation. Fitting our budget, we decided to get a PlayStation 2 in 2015, which is unknown to the world of GameTech.
My mother and I went out hunting for a PS2. We went to one showroom after another, one dealer after another, and all I found was disappointment. Apparently, PlayStation 2 were old tech, which Sony no longer manufactures. Successor versions, PlayStation 3 & PlayStation 4, were available for sale. Way out of our budget; what we could afford was no longer manufactured, and what was manufactured we couldn't afford.
I went home sad that day. Far from giving up, I don't know how the idea popped into my mind. But I decided to build "My Own PlayStation". I started exploring the internet to learn how to make stuff. It was just the dawn of online teaching. Not much was available, but somehow I came across "Arduino". I visited the Arduino.cc website saw the potential to build almost anything I wished with it. I ordered parts online, like a breadboard, Arduino Uno, jumpers, ICs, etc. Yeah, that's what my 13th birthday present was, electronic parts. This new genre of toys was my regular plaything.
I downloaded Fritzing and spent hours and sleepless nights studying electrical components & circuit design. Also, my dad taught me much about using breadboards, resistors, ICs, and basic electrical engineering. My pieces were yet to be delivered, and I started writing code in my notebooks about small beginner projects, like Blink and Servo.
Over the years, every year, I brought new electronic components on my birthday, and I learned programming in C. I built some good projects in the following years. What I value more than knowledge is experience. You will get much more knowledge on the internet nowadays than back in 2015, but spending time with these technologies over the years gave me a much better understanding than anything else. I am confident that I can master any new technology as per my requirement in no time.
Then, in the recent 2-3 years, I learned C++, Data Structures & Algorithms, Networking, Competitive Programming, etc. I have never really built a PlayStation to this date. I don't want a PlayStation anymore; I am thrilled that my life turned out this way. I got to learn so many things, and I developed many skills. Had I gotten a PS2 back then, I would have been just another cringe gamer on YouTube.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a genuinely inspiring account of how curiosity can turn into a long-term journey in programming and technology. The story of wanting a PlayStation but instead receiving an Arduino Uno, breadboard, jumpers, and electronic components shows how a simple childhood interest can develop into hands-on experience with programming, electronics, and IoT systems.
ReplyDeleteWhat stands out is the emphasis on learning by building rather than relying only on tutorials or theoretical knowledge. Starting with small experiments such as Blink and Servo projects, learning C, and gradually working with different technologies demonstrates why practical experience is so valuable for someone developing their programming skills. A structured Programming Courses path can provide a useful foundation while learners continue experimenting with their own projects.
I particularly like the final message about experience being as valuable as knowledge. Spending years experimenting with components, writing code, troubleshooting circuits, and building projects can develop a deeper understanding that is difficult to gain from theory alone. For readers interested in continuing with web-oriented programming, JavaScript Online Training can be another step toward expanding their technical skills.
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