Jayashrri Balaji

From the time I was introduced to online games as a child, I have been intrigued by the way software works. When I began my journey in software development, I was initially keen on building simple games using Adobe Flash and Javascript. Over time, I grew to become interested in the way software can be developed to make real-world tasks more efficient.

In my sophomore year, I joined Delta Force, the official programming club of the institute I study in. This led me to receive quality mentorship in domains such as Web Development and System Administration. I was exposed to a broader range of technology available to develop software, and I got a lot of exposure on how software is built, from ideation to deployment. I am currently interested in Blockchain Technology, as its decentralized architecture and possibilities for increased accountability interest me.

The most valuable skill I learnt over the years is the ability to use new technology to develop quality software that satisfies my goal. One of my favourite projects I have worked on is the online single-player game Beer Factory. It is a resource management event conducted as part of Pragyan, NIT Trichy's annual techno-managerial fest. Previously, I had worked on adding an opponent bot trained using Reinforcement Learning, which required me to do a significant amount of background research and experimentation. The reason why I enjoy working on this project is that every year new features are introduced, which allows me to explore new technology and implement it.

What drives my interest in software development is experiencing how different kinds of software integrate with a person's everyday lives. I am deeply passionate about creating software that targets a specific issue in society and presents a solution that is both efficient and easy to adopt.