24th, 25h and 26th Jan'09

Last weekend DJ, Gulal, Kundan and I went to Diveagar (दिवेआगार) beach at Konkan.
It is around 200 km from Pune . We started on 24th afternoon and reached there around 5:30 PM.We just reached there on time as evening is the best time to enjoy there. Apart from DJ all of us jumped into water.

After playing sometime with the Rugby ball which I took we enjoyed the Sunset.

We reached to our hotel around 7 PM. After having bath we headed towards the beach again to do the camp-fire.
But it was too dark so we came back and wandered here and there. Then we went to Mauli restaurant to have the dinner.Then we came back and had some light chat and went to bed.

Next day (25th) we woke up early and went to beach again. Its was good but not better than the last evening.At 9 AM we started for Harihareshwar , which is around 30 kms from Diveagar. There is temple near the beach.

We visited the temple and after having the breakfast we headed back to Pune. We reached back to Pune at 5:30 PM.

After that I went to drop DJ to shopper's stop as he needs to meet someone :)... and while returning I bought the tickets of Raaz. After coming back Gulal and I went for a walk. Later we all we all went to Pizza Hut at JM Road. Then we went to E-Square to watch movie.

On 26th we woke up at 8 and then had breakfast at Shiv Sagar (Aundh). Then DJ, Gulal and came to my place and we went to to have Lunch at Prem's, KP. After that I came to my flat and rested all the evening.

Overall this was one of the best weekend I had in Pune.. enjoyed a lot.

PGDSP Entrance Exam

Yesterday we had the PGDSP entrance exam at KQ Infotech. Around 50% of the students who registered, attended the test.The test was pretty simple; we asked basic C, Data Structure and Operating System questions.After the written test we took interviews.


This was one of the opportunity for those who really want to do system programming or still looking for job. There was one guy who said that he will leave his current job and join the course. On the other hand there were few guys who have poor technical skills and having nothing in hand said *NO*. Ofcourse there might be several reasons taking such decisions, but they didn't open the right door this time by taking such decision.

To be honest If I would have got this kind opportunity after finishing the B.E. , I would have been in different position right now.

I also took few interviews and one of the candidate asked me -- "Why we are doing this for free as their is no cost. Is this some kind charity." I told him that this isn't some kind of charity, you will be paying for your training while working with us simultaneously.

This is just a new and very simple concept; unfortunately some still finds is difficult.

Anyways, we will be starting the classes from 2nd Feb, with all those who are selected and ready to join the course.We will be covering following topics:-

• Introduction of Unix
• Advance system programming in Unix
• Rapid development tools
• POSIX multi threading
• Linux Kernel internals
• Linux device driver development
• WinAPI
• Windows device driver development

Why you left Red Hat?

Last month I left Red Hat and joined a startup KQInfotech. Some of my friends, relatives and few unknowns ask me why I left Red Hat in such scenario when the market is down. Here are some thoughts which I had while making this decision:-

• If not this time then never.
• I always to wanted to work at system's area, specially with Linux kernel. I might have got this opportunity at Red Hat after 2-3 years but that would have been bit late. At KQInfotech I was getting immediate opportunity.
• I was getting into my comfort zone at Red Hat.
• At KQIfotech I am also getting an opportunity to teach, which I always like. We are having a year long program PGDSP in Gurukul tradition, in which we will be taking 20 interns and they will be trained to become a system programmer.There is no fee for this course.
• To get a startup experience. In future this will be helpful :)
• Moving from support to development.
• This was the right time to take risk as I am still single.
  

Friendship

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that gives value to survival. C.S. Lewis

This first post of 2009 is to all my friends.
Thanks for being with me.