The Tech Diaries
The Tech Diaries
Ep 4. Code with Khushi: Tech Influencer with a Passion for Computer Science
In this captivating episode of "The Tech Diaries," join host Sahil David as he sits down with Khushi Patil, a Master's student in Computer Science and a tech influencer with a thriving Instagram channel boasting over 100k followers. Join the conversation as the podcast delves into Khushi's inspiring journey. Despite her initial disinterest in computer science, Khushi found ways to fall in love with the field, influenced by her father's guidance. They explore the importance of data structures and algorithms, discussing how mastering these concepts can elevate a developer's skill set.
Khushi takes the audience behind the scenes of her popular Instagram channel, @codewithkhushi. Together, they uncover how Khushi shares her coding journey and empowers others to embark on their own paths in the tech world. Uncover practical strategies for maintaining work-life balance in the tech industry, as Khushi shares her tips for reducing screen time and finding solace in books. Gain insights into the secrets of nailing tech job interviews, as Khushi emphasises the importance of soft skills and highlights the qualities that make a successful developer. Explore the value of logical thinking and the power of practice in honing your skills.
Beyond coding, Sahil and Khushi explore Khushi's vision for a more inclusive industry. They delve into her passion for breaking gender barriers and advocating for job opportunities based on skills rather than gender. Get a glimpse into Khushi's personal life as she shares her daily routine, including her love for running and travelling, and how these activities contribute to her personal and professional growth.
This enlightening conversation is filled with valuable insights, empowering stories, and practical tips. Whether you're an aspiring developer or simply curious about the tech world, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
Guest: Khushi Patel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codewithkhushi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khushi-patil-850a17222/
Useful Links
Leetcode (Practice Coding Problems): https://leetcode.com/
[Book]: Introduction to Algorithms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Algorithms
[Book] Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
[Book] Dopamine Detox: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Dopamine-Detox-Audiobook/B09DR5MTYP
The episode covers
(00:00) Introducing Khushi Patil: A Tech Influencer with a Passion for Computer Science
(02:11) Khushi's Journey into the World of Computer Science
(09:18) Importance of Data Structures and Algorithms
(14:12) Khushi's Instagram Channel, @codewithkhushi
(22:50) Managing Work and Life in the Tech World
(26:24) Soft
Connect With Sahil
Personal Website (sahildavid.dev)
Instagram (@sahildavid.dev)
LinkedIn
Linktree
If you know a developer or tech professional you would like to listen to on the show, please let me know via email sahil@sahildavid.dev
If you liked the episode please leave a review. Let Sahil know what you think about the episode.
Khushi: [00:00:00] I feel we fear something because we are not given the opportunity to face it. Find as many opportunities as you can. The gist of my story - from not liking computer science to actually loving it right now, so yeah.
Sahil: Stories are powerful. A good story can change your life. With this idea in mind, I'm bringing this special episode of the Tech Diaries podcast.
My name is Sahil David. I'm a full-stack developer based in the UK. Welcome to my podcast. The Tech Diaries where we explore developer stories that shape and inspire our technical minds.
If you are starting your journey as a developer or looking for inspiration, today's episode is a perfect episode for you. I cannot tell you how long I have waited to have [00:01:00] today's guest on the show. Khushi Patil is a post-graduation student studying computer science at MIT World Peace University in Pune, India.
Alongside her studies, Khushi is also inspiring thousands of people through her Instagram page @codewithkhushi with more than 100K followers now, Khushi constantly shares her coding journey and provides educational content for other developers to grow. So without further wait. Please join me in welcoming our guest for today's episode, Khushi Patil.
Hello, Hi Khushi, welcome to the show. I am super excited to have you here today.
Khushi: Well, the pleasure is mine. I'm like, when are we doing this? Because I love talking, so, yeah.
Sahil: Yeah. I actually have a little story I wanna tell you, last year, in November 2022, I was planning this podcast, and when I was planning, I had put down names of a few individuals I wanted to interview, [00:02:00] and your name was one of them. So today is actually a very special episode for Tech Diaries Podcast, a milestone. So yeah, happy to have you here.
Khushi: Yeah, I'm happy to be here.
Sahil: I have so much to talk to you about actually. Okay. As you know that this podcast is about exploring stories, I would love to hear about your background story and how did you start your journey in computer science?
Khushi: Okay about that. I would say I never wanted to, you know Do computer science, like from the very beginning the first time I had to face computer science or coding was in seventh grade or something where I had to study QBasic. And I was like, no, this is not my cup of tea. I'll not be doing it. I was so clear to my dad and my dad was like, no, you have to do it.
You like it. Just do it. Just do it. And I think that went on for a very long time that I even took admissions for You know, bachelor's, I did my BSc in computer science and then M.Sc., [00:03:00] but in this entire time, like of five, five to six years, I've realized that you cannot always be sad with what you are doing because then that doesn't work out well.
So maybe this is, I just, maybe it might be a wrong perspective, but for me it was, it worked out, so I was like, let's just try. Being fine with computer science, let's just try learning it some other ways, like some other, like all this time I was learning it through, let's say, old school methods and I wanted to try some, like maybe then I tried something else.
So like, that's how I even started with @codewithkhushi. So that is the gist of my story, this from not liking computer science to actually loving it right now. So, yeah.
Sahil: Wow.
Khushi: Because I'm finally understanding it.
Sahil: Okay, so you mentioned @codewithkhushi there. Actually, I, have a few questions on that as well to let everyone [00:04:00] know that's Khushi's Instagram channel and I think you're doing amazing on that. So we'll come to, we'll come to @codewithkhushi, but I wanna, I wanna know this influence of your dad. So your dad played a significant role in your career then. So is he a programmer as well?
Khushi: Yes. So, Basically he he has like, been doing this for the last 25 years.
Sahil: Wow.
Khushi: So, yeah. Even for him, I think it started off very, like a funny story where he, he didn't have any sort of guidance at that time. His father was a farmer, so his dad was like, in the end, you have to, you know, take care of our land. So, Might as well just do some basic degree and come back or, you know, might as well just do something in agriculture and come back.
But he missed the agriculture seats, like the call, it seats by a few marks, so he couldn't get into the good ones. So one of his friends was like forget this. Try doing computer [00:05:00] science, something new and interesting and it has a lot of maths. And my dad loved it. So he's like, okay, let's try it.
And he got into computer science and yeah, now it's been 25 years and he's, In love with it, like that is his life. He has nothing else to talk about at the dinner table except what he has done the entire day on the computer or what is happening around or, you know, anything new for me. So yeah, that is how he's always influencing me, that this is how he does that.
Sahil: Okay. Let me try to visualize this. So in your home at a dinner table, you are sitting and you're talking about computer science. How's that experience?
Khushi: I would say out of if like in a week we have 14 meals together. I think all 13 of them are about computer science. Not even like the 13, the last one, the 14, the one that I said it's not about computer science. It's when my mom gets very frustrated. She's like, stop, [00:06:00] please. I don't understand this. Please just stop. So yeah, that is when it happens, but. Yeah, all the time. It's either him telling me that I am doing something wrong, or him telling me that I'm not doing, you know, enough of what is going on around.
Like, for example, he is like, you should do AI now because it's like, you know, the era is here, you shouldn't be doing you know, Java. But I just fell in love with Java. So it's like I just started doing Java and now he's like, let's. Shift to something else, but it's like you have to do that. That is how computer science work.
You have to, you know, keep learning and shifting your domains like that. But at the same time, he also gives me a few tips and tricks on how to crack interviews. In between he just says You know, an interviewer can ask you this? Like, I'm eating Dal Chawal (Rice & Lentils). And he'll be like, stop an interviewer can ask you this.
Like, then I'll have to think. And he's like, what would you say? And I'm, I'll, I'll have to think before I take that bite. I'm like, oh God, what am I supposed to say? [00:07:00] So, VIVAs never end like one-on-one. vivas never end. What is, what was that question? What is this? What was? Like it is never-ending. So yeah, the question and answer sessions don't end?
Besides this He'll, he'll talk about his stories. Like for example how he had to struggle, how he had no computer laptops or something and he still managed to do so well on computers. Like he's like Ima remember the time like I was in, he. Like, he remembered a time when he was in college and he was like I didn't have a computer, so we had to jump a huge wall of our college to, you know, get into the lab so we can work overnight on our projects or something just to do practical training.
And then that makes me feel sad having a MacBook, having two, or three laptops. And I'm like, oh God. But yeah, that is his point. He's like, Please do better. You have everything you, you know, you need. [00:08:00]
Sahil: Wow. I think that's really inspirational, isn't it? Yeah. Like I, I remembered you posted the real ones where your dad was trying to solve your coding problem. Right?
Khushi: So I, I was actually having a very bad problem in, in my eclipse. Something was going wrong and while the. Well, you know, the server was running in my Tomcat and I couldn't figure out what it was. It was in some hidden file on my computer, but yeah, I couldn't figure it out. So it took him two days in bits and, you know, pieces like one or two hours every day and something, and he fixed it.
And I was like, ah, you know, like wow. Oh my God, you are my hero, that gave me the idea, I should post a reel about this because he keeps doing this.
Sahil: That is really amazing. Let's take a minute to thank our parents and our family members. You know, we are here because of them. So a big thank you.
Khushi: Yeah.
Sahil: And thank you for sharing your story.
So you mentioned that your dad says to follow the trends, [00:09:00] follow the AI trends, but you are in love with Java, so. What, what's your area of expertise then? What's your favourite programming language and why did you choose that?
Khushi: So when I started programming, trust me, I know it's not like a legitimate programming language, but HTML was the first one that I was like, okay, you are the one.
And then I realized the key I was. Going more into, you know, the easier side of computer science, which wasn't what I, you know, stand for. Like, I'm like, why would I do the easy stuff? Why would I go for something easier? So I was like, okay, let's just. Like I was scared of Java because of the syntax, oh my god, it's a lot.
Yeah. Like, let's just get used to it. And then I started doing DSA in Java. I even built a lot of projects in Java and that is how Java became a, you know, like, okay, one thing that I know. And hence it's like a favourite thing. But yeah, I [00:10:00] am learning Python these days and soon I think I might fall in love with Python because it's a lot easier.
The syntax is not as complicated. But other than this, databases are something I actually like, in general. I've also been learning about data analytics and it's actually a subject I would, you know, Work ahead on, since I'm in my first year of my master's right now, maybe by the end of my second year, I will be doing something more about you know, data analytics. That is, that is what I'm going to do,
Sahil: yeah. That sounds really interesting. And I mean, you mentioned DSA because
Khushi: Yeah.
Sahil: A lot of people ask these questions, so data structures and algorithms mm-hmm. How, how important it is to learn. DSA or data structures, do you think?
Khushi: With everybody around me, all the, you know, people like my father, my father's friends, or there are so many people who are like, so [00:11:00] good in their life, like doing so good in their life and career right now. Just give me one piece of advice and that is like, please have a good take on your data. You know, I like data structures and algorithms and trust me, I was not good in math, so it was a nightmare to be. You know, a little above average in data structures and algorithms. So it took me a lot of time and I'm still learning every day.
Like I still do Leetcoding, like the streak keeps breaking. But yeah, I try to, you know, at least do some amount of sums per week so that I don't lose that touch with. That. But yeah, it is actually important because it helps you build good programming logic and, you know, like when you're writing a code, it should be in a way that its like, because every time we are, like, let's say we are writing logic for some particular program or something like that, and we tend to, you know, [00:12:00] mess up the logic. Yeah, because we don't understand how to go to it. So I think when you solve data DSA questions and on Leetcode or something like that it does help you a lot like your thinking capacity. Also change, like the way you think it changes though. Then, yeah, that changes a lot.
Sahil: I completely agree. I think that's really good advice. You mentioned Leetcode, right? And Leetcode is amazing. Anyone who's listening, who doesn't know what Leetcode is, please check it out. It's, it's an online platform where you can solve problems, and it'll definitely help you develop strong, logical thinking. They divide the problem into three categories, easy, medium, and hard, so whatever you're comfortable with. But the key is to stay consistent, so solve at least one problem every day. Try to solve one problem every day and stay consistent, and that will definitely help you build strong foundations. Yeah. I always found [00:13:00] is like when you, if you don't plan your code before writing it, the logic will just get complicated for no reason. And, you know, it's so easy to lose track And there is this book Introduction to Algorithms, which I consider the bible of. DSA and I, I, I've been meaning to read it for years and years and after once I read it, it helped me a lot. So much. And like even today as well, some of the concepts really helped me. So I would personally recommend everyone to just read that book, you know, get familiar with DSAs, and learn about data structures. I think I think they help. Again, strong foundations always help. Right,
Khushi: right. They do.
Sahil: Next I wanted to ask you about was. So you have a very successful Instagram channel.
Khushi: Mm-hmm.
Sahil: It's called @codewithkhushi. First of all, congratulations on reaching 100K followers. I think it's well deserved.
Khushi: Thank you.
Sahil: So if anyone who's listening isn't following [00:14:00] @codewithkhushi, please do. What was your inspiration for starting something like that?
Khushi: So, as I mentioned before, I didn't like computer science or I more like I didn't like what my dad was forcing me to do.
I wanted to have my own will. I wanted to have my own you know, voice or say in what I am doing, but I didn't have that because my dad was like, no, you have to do this. So when we are told we have to do it, we don't want to do it. Exactly. It's like a human thing. And I wanted to break that. I was like, I am in the second year of my bachelor's now.
I cannot be a loser coming this far. I have to start liking what I am doing. First of all, I tried You know, I even wrote one entire a hundred pages notebook. I was like, let's just, you know, maybe if, if learning on a computer is not working, let's just write the codes. That is how I was like that extreme with myself.
I was like, no, even this is not helping. What will help? And I realized I needed a community where I [00:15:00] could tell people, okay, oh look, I did this. And they're like, oh, you did that. We also did this. And, you know, it helps me keep a streak or helps me, you know, like Be honest to myself when it comes to doing coding every day, because I realized this one thing when I was struggling with how I like this subject is that practice will actually, you know, make you better at this.
So I was like, let's open an Instagram page and we won't tell anyone about it. It's, it's going to be a total secret. We just, you know, like through hashtags we'll get, you know, people who would relate to my content and maybe follow, I don't care, but at least if they follow me, I would, I would follow them back.
So it was like a. Thing like that. So it became then I had my first 50 people, so they were very nice and friendly. They, I still follow them right now. They're still in my family. They still ask me, how are you? What do you do? And did you do this? Did you check this out? And that out. So that is how it started.
I started posting like, Hey guys, I did this [00:16:00] today. Or, Hey guys, this is my to-do list for today, and I have done three out of 10 things. Let's, and it's already 7:00 PM God, help me. What am, what am I going to do? But the. You know, there's seven months. So, yeah. So I started posting about my life. Like today I'm doing this, today I'm doing that.
I was stuck on this problem. Could you guys help me out? And one of my reels like it was a very relatable reel blew up. It was about how Oh, you know, like you shouldn't be learning two programming languages together. Like if you are trying to do DSA, just do it in one language. You cannot do Python and Java both at the same time.
It just confuses you and everybody could relate to that reel. And within some time, I was like reaching a lot of numbers and I was like, Oh shit, this wasn't planned. This wasn't planned. And I even, I even archived all my posts. I'm like, no, you know, like, let's just not, so when I archived all my posts because I was scared, I was like, [00:17:00] no, I didn't want so much of attention.
Like all this was about me trying to get back to studying or get back to, you know, computer science in general. Like, no, this is not what I wanted. So yeah, they stopped for a while, but, And then, I don't know, like I really wanted to keep posting my life. So I started doing it again and they just, the numbers went up, like content reactions, reacting from their end on my end.
So yeah, it did help me get a lot of reaches and from, I think 2K became 10, then 20 at 20. It was a long break, and then suddenly it was 100 one day. Yeah, like in, within a week's time.
Sahil: But I think that's, that's really interesting because that kind of sparked an interest in you. In computer science, right?
Khushi: Yeah.
Sahil: You, you actually made your own documentation in a way, your living documentation on your Instagram page. So, that's really interesting. So how [00:18:00] difficult it is for you to stay consistent on Instagram then?
Khushi: Oh, I'm still struggling with that. Mostly because now I get brand collaborations too. Mm-hmm. Like they, they, and They helped me pay my college fees and everything, so I wouldn't deny them, like not all of them.
I don't take up all of them. I deny a few, but I cannot deny it at all. Like totally, I cannot cut them off. So when I have a collaboration planned, they keep picking on me. Like, they're like, done. Is it done? And that's how it's like, okay, that, that keeps me consistent with the brand collaborations.
Other than that, posting my everyday things, it's a little difficult right now. I don't know if you've realized it in the past few days, I haven't been posting much. It was also because I had dental surgery. But other than that, it's very, you know, difficult to stay consistent. I still put You know, the progress of my projects that I'm working on or something like that.
But now it's such [00:19:00] a huge you know, like a crowd. It's like 100K, a hundred thousand people. How are you supposed to just put your random coding thing anymore? Like now they look up to you for giving them better content. So that gives a lot of pressure and I end up doing nothing, but I think I really should start putting content the way I used to because the people who wanted to stay will stay and those who don't, and then yeah, they can go. But yeah, I think that it was so, should be like that again.
Sahil: Yeah. One thing I would say is that your content. It's very relatable. I think that's, yeah. Your few reels blew up because they were very relatable and I think I came across your profile on a reel where you were sharing how Indian students take notes.
I. I think you did, and I could relate to myself because I used to do that when I was in India. [00:20:00] So I was like, yeah. So yeah, I would say personally that, yeah, please keep posting relatable stuff because you know, that's what people relate to. Yeah. Yeah. So you mentioned that when you started, you started as a secret. But I'm sure, yeah. Soon people must have realized, oh, this is our Khushi she's posting. So what was that experience like?
Khushi: That was actually it, it felt flattering a little. I was like, oh, thank you. Like they used to come up to me and they're like, is this you? And I was like, yeah, that's me. So that was one we recently, I was out with my parents, like we were shopping, we were shopping in my some something for my dad and a group of boys come up to me, they're like, Hello, ma'am. Are you Khushi? And I was like, oh yeah, I am. And we follow you on Instagram. You are @codewithkhushi, right? And I don't know, you should have seen my [00:21:00] dad's face, my mom, like, what the, what just happened? Like a group. And it was amazing. Like this used to happen in my college where students used to come up to me and they're like, ma'am, we know you or Didi, we know you or Khushi Hi.
We know you from Instagram. We love your content and everything. We follow you and con congrats on this and that. So college level, I was like, okay, because they are students, they do know me, but when, like out of an out of nowhere in some place where like a shopping complex, if someone recognizes me, it was a, it was a nice moment because we follow so many people on Instagram, at least like a hundred.
And to recognize someone like, oh sure, it's her, like by the name. It did. It was flattering.
Sahil: You should be proud of yourself. Your content is amazing. You are inspiring so many people, so please keep up the good work.
Khushi: That means a lot.
Sahil: Okay, so then I want to [00:22:00] ask a really important question because. This is what I struggle with. It's like this work-life balance because you're studying a full-time computer science course, you know, constantly influencing people on Instagram, doing collaboration interviews. So what's your secret? What's your superpower?
Khushi: I would say we think influencers are someone who is having a lot of followers or something like, you know, good grades or something like that. They're doing perfectly well in their lives, but I would say I still struggle to have the, you know, Productive, the most productive day I could have. I, I try to keep my screen time low, like my, if you check my screen time right now, it's not more than, you know, 20, 25 minutes. Like I have two phones. I use two phones.
I. I think combining, both of them. It must be around 30, around 30 minutes. That's it. That is my screen time because if I scroll on [00:23:00] Instagram, if I keep that wheels coming up if I keep letting them come up, then it's not going to help me at all. So, limiting screen time was one of my, you know, Star points that I would say helped me get back to life and be productive.
So even if I. And my influencer with a 100K, I get a lot of notifications. I've switched them off. So I only see notifications when I want to. I miss a lot of important notifications. So if a celebrity were to comment on my post, I see it after five days. Wow. But I think that is okay. Like I, I think that is okay because. If I keep the notifications on it would disturb my life. That is what I believe it would disturb. Like if, if something negative happens, I would give my, you know, con, like I would concentrate on that part then in the entire day. So I've kept that off and screen time has become limited. And meanwhile, I read books like Atomic Habits [00:24:00] and I still, I literally. I have so many books over here on my table right now. Recently I got this dopamine detox I'm like, okay, let's, let's read it. It's only, you know, 9,200 pages. We'll read it and then from tomorrow we're gonna be all focused. It's all going to be, you know, a productive day. That's it.
No more distractions, no more watching Netflix and stuff like that. But now since I have my holidays, I've given a little concession to myself. Like I can have like around two hours of a fun time, but when I have college, I do not like it, there's no concession given to me. That is literally my wallpaper. Do not keep any concessions. You have to do what is, you know, what has to be done because then you're not going to reach what you want to do.
Sahil: Wow, that's a very focused approach and 20 minutes of screen time in today's world that's remarkable. I think that that's the secret there. So that's tip number one from Khushi.
Limit your screen time, [00:25:00] read books, and spend time on yourself. Keep growing. Look out for long-term gains over short-term happiness. Yes. Thank you for sharing that. I think that was really good advice. And I also want to point out to books that you mentioned, atomic Habits and Dopamine Detox. I will include all the links in the podcast notes, so please check that out.
Recently on your Instagram, I saw that you were going through a campus placement training session, or in the UK we call them work placements, and a lot of people ask me how to prepare for a tech interview. So what would be your advice to someone who's starting as a developer or is preparing for a tech interview?
Khushi: Now since you are starting a career as a developer and you are like, you're looking for a job now. Yeah. So I assume you know, a little bit of your tech, like your technical skills are at least to the mark, like, you know, stuff. [00:26:00] And it's not like you don't know anything about computer science because then you'd have to first start brushing up those skills.
Then you'll have to take up a course or a skill or like, or a course on Udemy or learn any new skill. That is what I would say. Other than that, let's say your technical skills are up to the mark now, I think, I really think, what will actually help you land a job besides your technical skills is the way how you present yourself.
Your communication skills in today's world, it's, it's very important if it's, it's not only about speaking in English but also in a way that convinces the other person that, okay, we can trust this person to give this job to, because he seems responsible or he can, you know, coordinate with other, other people and make.
Like it's, it's worth it. You need to prove it to them that you are worth giving that job. So, you can do this through your communication skills [00:27:00] because recently we had this campus placement. So it was a training session of I think two weeks where our program head had given us a task about speaking about something in front of everybody.
And even, even in that Like in that one week of session, I realized that it's very important to be able to speak up or you know, to get your points in front of someone. And it doesn't matter if you are a little bit over here and there, it's okay, but it's actually very important to have good communication skills, is what I personally feel.
And I've also given a few interviews after my bachelor's. I've given one in Amdocs and one in cognition. Then the other was in Infosys. I got all those three, and at the time I. Trust me, my technical skills weren't to the mark. I would say they were very basic, like if like very basic, I would say I [00:28:00] wouldn't get into that.
But yeah, it was very basic and the only things that actually got me a job were the communication skills and me trying to convince them that if you give me the job, I'll be able to do it.
Sahil: Right. Okay. Let me try to break this down. So the first step would be to strengthen your technical skills, learn a programming language, you know, your basics, and once you do that, The second is to work on your soft skills. We all need to kind of educate ourselves every day, about how we present ourselves, and how we communicate. You know, I think it's very important these days especially when you feel sitting in a campus placement. Right.
But I also know that a lot of people suffer from public speaking anxiety. What would be your advice to someone who is afraid of public speaking?
Khushi: I feel we fear something because we are not given the opportunity to face it. Mm-hmm. So find as [00:29:00] many opportunities as you can if you have to speak, you know, to someone who's bothering you or to a teacher in, in a class full of people. You have to, you have to ask a doubt. You just do it. You don't wait for someone else to ask the same doubt.
You don't give the, you know, the opportunity that is yours to others. You just grab it when it comes your way. I think that is one main thing that I would suggest.
Sahil: Yeah, I think that's a piece of very good advice because I read a book recently where it was saying that many people focus on obstacles rather than opportunities, and while they're figuring out the obstacles, someone comes in and gets the opportunities. So I think, you know, you need to, you need to push yourself, and if you don't work on yourself, then who will? In my experience, I've always noticed that. It's always the first step. Once you, once you kind of take the first step, all the other steps kind of become really easy and that kind of goes in public [00:30:00] speaking and it's like any other skill you can improve with practice.
So, As everyone said, talk in front of the mirror or practice public speaking, and then slowly, slowly you will get the confidence. Thank you for that advice. I think that's really useful.
Okay, so the next question is a very interesting one. I'm working on a project that I'm compiling. The qualities of a successful developer. I'm preparing the list. So my question to you is, what is that one skill that a successful developer should have?
Khushi: That's a tough one because there are so many you know, tiny things that are coming into my mind right now. Can't think of one big you know, something that should bother, but. I think if you are into programming your logic should be good.
The way you write your programs should be to the mark. [00:31:00] I'm not talking about how you approach it, it doesn't like, I feel it, it doesn't have to be made easy, but at least you know, you should reach your goal without Having an output error or something like that. Like you should know your path. You should know, like for example, if you're solving a maze and how you figure out a path out of it. So when you are given a problem, like as a programmer, so you should be able to figure that path out. Like you should know what you are going to do, like plan out your structure of, you know, your program or something like that is one skill. And stick to one language? If. If you are really doing something or working on something, then you're sticking to one language, which is fine. Another thing.
Sahil: And are there any tips on improving your logical thinking? Because, I've noticed like a lot of people, when they're starting to learn programming, they struggle with logical thinking.
You know, like one time someone asked me this question on [00:32:00] Instagram says, I'm trying to work out the logic to calculate a leap year, but I don't know how to do it. How would you approach if someone wants to learn more logically, think more logically.
Khushi: From personal experience, I feel it's like muscle memory for me. Like if I keep doing something, it comes to me. So if I keep doing, like for example, let's say I don't understand the LEAP year program, I look for the answers. I look for the alternate answers, and I understand them. Let's say I go to something as easy as a factorial of a number and I don't understand it.
So I go through the solution, the number of solutions that can be like the alternate solutions. And I think you reach a point at, you know, a point where you can solve it by yourself. If that is really not coming to you, I think you just lack practice is what I personally feel because it has happened to me where I had to at least, you know, find solutions for a hundred. Like I [00:33:00] had to understand a hundred solutions first to actually be able to solve one problem by myself. I,
Sahil: yeah, I agree with that. And I think I love that answer because I always keep saying, practice, practice, practice. Do you know? So anyone who's struggling with developing logical thinking or solving coding problems, just practice.
Let's, let's change the topic a little bit. If you could change one thing about the tech industry, what would it be and why?
Khushi: Okay. If it was that one thing, I would, right now I have two things. I'm so sorry. One is, AI should slow down. I really need to work in this industry for another 10 years, so please, AI, don't take away my job.
So, yeah. You know, besides that joke, I would say I don't like how they put up like they showcase feminism in the entire you know, tech industry, like, [00:34:00] First of all, it was you know, in the previous days it was like she is a girl. She cannot do it. Let's not give her the job, or she will have a family soon and she won't be able to give us, you know, like full dedication.
Like she won't be able to work with full dedication, so let's just not even consider her as a candidate. Now we are given jobs just to showcase. You know, pseudo feminism, like, okay, she is a girl, let's just take her because you know, this will showcase. Like, oh yeah, we have tech, we have female tech, and so that is what I want to change.
We should be hired, you know, like equally like, it shouldn't be like, you know, you shouldn't be biased just because we are girls. We should be given a chance. I don't want that sympathy. I want to be given equal rights everywhere I go, like, So in the tech industry, I want to have the same equality. I want to face the same equality where the interviewer sees me as a human being, not as a gender, or she's a girl.
Let's just be lenient or [00:35:00] something like that. I need to have that so that when I get the job, I don't feel, oh, I got it because I was a girl. I want to feel. Okay. Okay. I got it because I was actually good at it, or I was good at that technical skill. That's the reason I've gotten the job and not because they want more tech girls. That's it. That's the one thing I want to change.
Sahil: That's actually a very important point. First of all, if this is happening anywhere, I think it should stop. It's very sad, but I also believe that individuals like yourself are already making an impact. You're inspiring so many people and changing the industry already, so that's a win.
And since you raised that topic, I would like to say that. If we analyze the two big programs that have been written in our history, the first, that landed the Apollo on the moon, and the second one that captured the image of the black hole, they both have been written by women. So that's a big shout-out to all the women in our software [00:36:00] industry.
Khushi: Yes.
Sahil: The last question I wanna ask you is about your routine outside programming. What are some of the hobbies that you enjoy?
Khushi: I. Oh, I, I love to run, like I know it's more of a fitness kinda hobby, but somewhere I've read, I read that you should have hobbies that can actually, you know, help you grow as a hu like a human. Like you shouldn't be, you know, like very stationary. You should be growing at all times. So one ho of my hobby is that I love to. Oh, run, and I'm a long-distance runner, so I run like around 15, 20 kilometres. And I try to work out and everything. That is one of the things.
The other thing is I love going on trips. I love packing a bag and I'm like, okay, let's go. And whenever I have an important exam or something, I. I tell myself, if you do well in this, you go on a trip like that. So it helps me [00:37:00] like that. So that one hobby helps me in giving up my, you know, to the mark for my goals. Other than that, I think I did love a lot of, you know, painting and artwork, but I've stopped doing it.
I, I did a lot of it during covid times where I was in, you know, lockdown, complete lockdown, and I had nothing else to do. So I did paint it a lot and yeah. Other than that, like nothing, nothing else.
Sahil: Okay. You, you have to show me those paintings. I'll love to see them.
Khushi: Sure around the wall, but now my room is a mess. Yeah.
Sahil: Yeah. And yeah, I can relate to the travel point. Like I find an excuse to just go anywhere if I have to. I think that kind of recharges and last, but most importantly, where can people find you? Everyone knows about @codewithkhushi, but do you have a LinkedIn or anything that you use other than that?
Khushi: I did have a LinkedIn I have just created, like, it was literally just yesterday that I had created [00:38:00] another account because something happened and I lost you know, one of my email IDs because of a password and I had no number linked to it.
But yeah, other than that, I have a new LinkedIn, you can find that out on my Instagram itself. I'll be posting about it soon. So yeah, that's how you can catch me up on LinkedIn too. I'll have to start from scratch. It's sad, but, okay.
Sahil: Cool. And yeah, if anyone has any questions for Khushi, just yeah, let us know.
Yeah. Thank you so much for today's talk I think it was, it was amazing to know your insight on various topics, and I think we touched on really good conversations. So some really useful content for upcoming developers or anyone who wants to find interest in computer science. So thank you so much for the time.
Khushi: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much for letting me speak for so long.
Sahil: It's a pleasure. It's a pleasure. And yeah, I just wanna say well done [00:39:00] again for @codewithKhushi and growing in your career and you know, getting 30 out of 13 to placement seminar training. So you know, you are an inspiration to many. So keep up the good work.
Khushi: That means a lot.
Sahil: Thank you so much for listening. I hope you also enjoyed the episode as much as I did. If you love the episode and feel like it brought you value, don't forget to rate the show and leave a review. It really inspires me and helps the show grow so I can keep bringing. Inspiring stories for you.
If you want to follow me behind the scenes, you can find me on Instagram at @sahildavid.dev. That's @sahildavid.dev. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss an update. I drop a New episode on the 15th of every month. Come join me every month where we explore the exciting world of software engineering.
This is [00:40:00] me, Sahil David, signing off. Lots of love and light to you.
