An interview with Bijoy Thangaraj
January 13th, 2008 | Published in Google Desktop API
Bijoy has held the top spot in the Hall of Fame and is a gadget-making veteran. We've especially enjoyed his Smiley gadgets.
How did you get introduced to Desktop gadgets?
I came across the Google Desktop SDK when I was browsing through http://code.google.com (as usual) during my summer holidays two years back.
What other programming languages and platforms do you know?
I know C++ and C# apart from JavaScript. My current professional work is on the .NET/Windows platform.
What do you think is the best gadget you've written?
Tech Talks from the Googleplex is the best one. Smiley gadgets and Catch the Bee are my favorites.
What's your favorite gadget that you didn't write?
Virtual Flower Pot. It looks realistic!
Which gadgets do you think should be written?
Those using the Event and Query APIs.
What's the most exciting thing about writing a gadget?
The most great and exciting thing is the ability to reach millions of users around the world through gadgets. Apart from that, writing gadgets gives me a compelling reason to learn new APIs, exercise my JavaScript and also put my brain to work occasionally.
What would you like to see next in the gadget platform?
Oh! I dream of a lot of things. Opacity adjustment for all gadgets, communication between different gadgets, gadgets dockable to windows, cornerbars (as opposed to sidebars), etc. :)
What's the most embarrassing bug you ever coded?
That will always be the missing ';'.
What's your favorite book about programming or computers?
Donald E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming, Fundamental Algorithms/Sorting and Searching, ISBN 0-201-89683-4/ ISBN 0-201-89685-0.
What's the best advice you can give to a new developer?
I recommend that you first go through all the samples packaged as part of the Google Desktop SDK. Start by modifying the existing code and then come up with your own ideas. Always have a bookmark of the Gadget API Reference handy. Whenever you are stuck with any problem, feel free to post your questions to the Developer Forum, where API Gurus are waiting to help. Finally, as Umakanthan mentioned, keep reading those great articles as they keep coming. I hope to contribute more articles shortly.
What's your favorite TV show or movie?
I hardly watch television. I spend most of my idle time composing music or practicing piano, which is my favorite musical instrument. My favorite movie is The Passion of The Christ.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to Desktop gadget developers?
Google Desktop API has numerous advantages such as short development times, great outreach, and a strong developer community. And don't forget the goodies! I've given about 20 T-shirts that I've received through this program to my friends.
We'd like to thank Bijoy for all his contributions to Google Desktop. As Bijoy mentioned, he is an accomplished musician. He's written and performed a song that's very dear to the Google Desktop team.