Forem: Divyansh

How I'm building STARTUP as a college student

Divyansh — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 05:29:24 +0000

Hey dev.to crew,

Imagine this: It's midnight in my room in India, I've just dragged myself home after a brutal ten-hour commute from college, and instead of crashing, I'm firing up my laptop. Exams are looming on the 20th, my brain's fried from signals and systems lectures, but I'm tweaking the UI for this app I've been obsessing over. Why? Because if it works, it'll all be worth it – that grind of coding on weekends, holidays, and every spare second. I'm Divyansh, a third-year CS undergrad juggling studies and a startup gig, and this is the story of how GlamFlow went from a vague idea to something I'm damn proud of.

The Spark: From General Freelance Mess to Beauty Niche Magic
It started at work – I code for a startup, and my founder (who's also the CEO) pulled me aside one day. "Let's build a platform for freelancers," he said. We kicked off with something broad: a tool for anyone to manage bookings, tasks, and profiles. But then he mentioned his network – tons of friends in the beauty industry, like makeup artists and hairstylists drowning in disorganized gigs. Why not niche down? It clicked. These folks deal with chaotic schedules, scattered portfolios, and clients who ghost because there's no easy way to hire them directly. I thought, "As Engineers, we solve problems – let's make this simple and free."

We pivoted hard. I handled the frontend with React (my go-tos, with some Tailwind for styling), while keeping the backend lean with Supabase for quick deploys. No overkill – just ship fast, like I do with side projects.

The Grind: Late Nights, Design Frustrations, and That Constant Pull
Balancing this with college? Brutal. I travel Eleven hours round-trip daily, squeeze in study sessions, then code till my eyes burn. Weekends? Gone. Holidays? Project time. I've got marketing videos to edit now, and yeah, I'm stressing about not doing enough – studies slipping, feeling like I should push harder. It's created this split personality: the stressed student vs. the obsessed builder. But hey, if GlamFlow takes off, it'll prove the hustle builds character.

Tech-wise, the biggest headache was the UI. I wanted it minimal, simple, and attractive – think clean calendars and effortless portfolio uploads. But design isn't my strong suit. I'd tweak a layout, hate it, scrap it, repeat. Frustrating as hell, especially late at night when everything blurs. Finally nailed it with shadcn/ui components for that modern vibe, but it took way too many iterations.

The Win: Seeing It All Come Together
Every time I load the app, I get this rush – "I built this." From zero to a working beta, with real potential to help freelancers land gigs and ditch the chaos. We're in beta at Here, free for now, and feedback's been motivating. It's not perfect, but it's mine, born from those exhausting nights.

If you're a dev grinding side hustles or know beauty pros who need this, check it out! Try creating a profile, chat with Manno, and drop thoughts below – what's your biggest build struggle?

Keep coding,
Divyansh
(That Ambitious coder who's probably on a college bus right now)

Wanted to create App for free?

Divyansh — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:35:54 +0000

I am 22 and 3rd year CS undergrade. Always Wanted to make my own apps but one thing that stopping me (other then that i didn't know to build Apps) was Money you have to pay fee to publish app on Play store or App store.
And as an undergrade in India in didn't have that.

Then I introduced you to progressive web apps (read about it below).
Now i can make Apps with zero money.
Thanks GOD

Story

My semester breaks are going on and I decided to do something productive so participated in an hackathon. It was about spreading awareness about finance and economy. Thought finance is always boring what if i can create an app where people can learn in fun way So let me introduce you to FinLingo financial quiz app. Simple but effective.

Tech Stack i used:

PWA (progressive web apps) : applications that you build by using web technologies, and that can be installed and can run on all devices, from one codebase. PWAs provide native-like experiences to your users on supporting devices.
In short you can build an APP at once and can be used in any platforms (mac, linux, windows, Android, ios). Also no need to worry about publishing fee (It's completely free).
Next.js : For both frontend + Backend. It can be use for full-stack development. SEO friendly.
Supabase : To Store my app data. An SQL database.

This is how i created my first App for free and you can do the same.
If you wanna see my code click here.
.
.
.

Thanks!
for reading till end.

Creating an social media app for students

Divyansh — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:58:55 +0000

Hello everyone, I am an 2nd year college and recently I created my semester project an educational web application for students where students can generate notes, answer to their questions using generative ai and i think we all are familiar to this as we are using chatgpt right?
Here is how it look :

But now as I am on my end-sem leave I'm thinking something crazy now what I'm gonna do is I will update this app to the next level and create a app for students with where students can generate notes, youtube videos && their huge book && notes summaries and also can save their notes, bookmarks also they can have a To do list etc.

Yeah! for now that is in my mind and then I will add more and more features until it become the best app in the world for students to study and I want to document this Journey with you all so I'm creating these blogs. Also I'm creating this app with zero cash in my pocket. As making an full stack web application cost money I need to manage the database user data and all the other things even I'm not a professional programmer also i'm just and Engineering student who like to create amazing things and solve some problems. But i know somehow i will manage and let see how far we can go as I'm a broker college student with no money but hope. Maybe You will find these blogs interesting. This is the day 0 I haven't done anything yet just a simple chat app. Next time I will write a blog when I had done some changes for now I am thinking these changes to be made:

First of all adding a landing page for my project
secondly a menu bar at right the
third thing is to have light and dark themes
then I want to change the user interface for now this is enough and then I will add more this is my first target

If you want to use this app for now and see how it look when you are reading this blog here is the link:

https://edumate-xygy.vercel.app/

How to Create a "Guess the Number" Game in Python for beginners

Divyansh — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:41:39 +0000

What Is the "Guess the Number" Game?

In this game, the computer randomly picks a number, and you have to guess what it is. After each guess, the computer will tell you if your guess is too high, too low, or just right. The game ends when you guess the correct number, and it also tells you how many attempts it took.

Let's dive right in!

Step 1: Import the random Module
First, we need to import the random module. This module helps us generate a random number that you will try to guess.

import random

Step 2: Generate a Random Number
Now, we need to generate a random number between 1 and 100. This number will be the secret number that you have to guess.

# Generate a random number between 1 and 100
secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)

Step 3: Start the Game and Explain the Rules
Next, let's display a welcome message to the player and explain the rules.

# Start the game
print("Welcome to 'Guess the Number' game!")
print("I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100.")

Step 4: Create a Loop for Guessing
We'll create a loop that keeps asking the player to guess the number until they get it right. We'll also keep track of how many guesses the player makes.

# Variable to store the user's guess
guess = None

# Variable to count the number of attempts
attempts = 0

Step 5: Ask for the Player's Guess
In this step, we'll ask the player to enter their guess. After they guess, we'll check if the guess is too high, too low, or correct.

# Loop until the user guesses the correct number
while guess != secret_number:
    # Ask the user to enter a number
    guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

    # Increment the attempts counter
    attempts += 1

    # Check if the guess is too low, too high, or correct
    if guess < secret_number:
        print("Too low! Try guessing a higher number.")
    elif guess > secret_number:
        print("Too high! Try guessing a lower number.")
    else:
        print("Congratulations! You guessed the correct number!")

Step 6: Display the Number of Attempts

Finally, after the player guesses the number, we'll let them know how many attempts it took to find the correct answer.

# Tell the user how many attempts it took
print(f"It took you {attempts} attempts to guess the correct number.")
print("Thank you for playing!")

Complete Code
Here's the full code for the game:

import random

# Generate a random number between 1 and 100
secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)

# Start the game
print("Welcome to 'Guess the Number' game!")
print("I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100.")

# Variable to store the user's guess
guess = None

# Variable to count the number of attempts
attempts = 0

# Loop until the user guesses the correct number
while guess != secret_number:
    # Ask the user to enter a number
    guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

    # Increment the attempts counter
    attempts += 1

    # Check if the guess is too low, too high, or correct
    if guess < secret_number:
        print("Too low! Try guessing a higher number.")
    elif guess > secret_number:
        print("Too high! Try guessing a lower number.")
    else:
        print("Congratulations! You guessed the correct number!")

# Tell the user how many attempts it took
print(f"It took you {attempts} attempts to guess the correct number.")
print("Thank you for playing!")

And that's it! You've just created a simple "Guess the Number" game in Python. This project is perfect for beginners and helps you understand the basics of loops, conditionals, and user input in Python. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be ready to create more complex projects!

Happy coding!!

Wanna be the master of python click here.

Why Learn C Language: A Deep Dive into Its Timeless Relevance

Divyansh — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:22:11 +0000

In the world of programming, there are countless languages to choose from—Python, Java, JavaScript, and many more. But one language that stands out, even after decades, is C. While some may argue that C is outdated or difficult to learn, there's a strong case for why every budding computer science student should learn it.

C: The Foundation of Modern Programming
C is often referred to as the "mother of all languages." Why? Because many modern languages, like C++, Java, and even Python, have roots in C. Learning C gives you a deeper understanding of how these languages work under the hood. It’s like learning to drive a manual car before switching to an automatic one—you gain a better appreciation of the mechanics involved.

Speed and Efficiency: The Power of C
If you’ve ever wondered why C is still relevant today, look no further than its speed and efficiency. The image above showcases a comparison between various programming languages in terms of energy consumption, execution time, and memory usage. Notice how C consistently ranks at the top:

Energy Efficiency: C is the most energy-efficient language, meaning it uses the least power to execute tasks. This is crucial in systems where battery life and energy consumption are critical, like in embedded systems and mobile devices.

Execution Time: C is one of the fastest languages in terms of execution time. When you need a program to run quickly, C is often the go-to language.

Memory Usage: C also excels in memory management. Unlike higher-level languages, which handle memory allocation for you, C gives you direct control over memory. This is why it's widely used in system programming, where efficient memory usage is crucial.

Understanding Your Computer at a Fundamental Level
One of the biggest advantages of learning C is that it allows you to understand your computer at a fundamental level. C operates close to the hardware, giving you insights into how your computer and operating systems work. You learn about memory management, pointers, and how data is stored and retrieved. This knowledge is invaluable, especially if you want to dive into fields like systems programming, embedded systems, or even cybersecurity.

C Is Not as Hard as It Seems
Some people shy away from learning C because they’ve heard it’s difficult. While it’s true that C has a steeper learning curve compared to some other languages, it’s not insurmountable. In fact, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that the language’s simplicity and elegance make it a pleasure to work with. Plus, the skills you gain from learning C will make learning other languages easier.

Why Should You Learn C?
Here’s a quick summary of why learning C is worth your time:

Foundation for Other Languages: Mastering C provides a solid foundation for learning other languages.
Speed and Efficiency: C’s performance is unparalleled, making it ideal for developing fast and efficient programs.
Low-Level Understanding: C teaches you how computers and operating systems work at a low level.
Direct Memory Management: You gain direct control over how memory is allocated and used, a skill that’s crucial in many tech fields.
Versatility: C is used in various domains, from operating systems and embedded systems to game development and high-performance computing.

Conclusion: Embrace the Power of C
While the tech world is constantly evolving, C remains a powerful and relevant language. Whether you want to understand computers more deeply, build efficient programs, or simply challenge yourself, learning C is a rewarding journey. Don’t be swayed by those who say it’s outdated or too difficult—with patience and practice, you’ll discover the elegance and power of this timeless language.

Happy Coding!!

How to Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Run the Ubuntu Subsystem on Windows Using the Terminal

Divyansh — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 05:38:46 +0000

If you've ever wanted to run Linux on your Windows computer, you're in the right place! In this blog, I'll guide you through the simple process of installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and getting the latest Ubuntu subsystem up and running—all from the terminal. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be able to use Ubuntu directly from your Windows machine. Let's get started!

Step 0: Prepare Your Windows for WSL Installation
Before we dive into enabling WSL and installing Ubuntu, you need to make sure certain features are enabled on your Windows machine. These features are essential for WSL to function correctly.

Open Windows Features:

Right-click on the Taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

In the Taskbar settings window, click on Search from the left-hand menu.
In the search bar, type "optional features" and press Enter.

Scroll down and click on More Windows features. This will open the Windows Features dialog box.

Enable Required Features:

In the Windows Features dialog box, scroll down and check the following three options:
Virtual Machine Platform
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Windows Hypervisor Platform
These features are essential for running WSL and the Ubuntu subsystem. Make sure all three are checked.

Apply Changes and Restart:

After selecting the necessary features, click OK.
Windows will take a few moments to apply these changes. Once completed, you'll be prompted to restart your computer. Go ahead and do that.
Note: Restarting your computer is important to ensure that the changes take effect properly.

Once your computer has restarted, you're ready to proceed with the WSL installation steps.

Step 1: Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
With the necessary features enabled, you can now proceed to enable WSL on your Windows machine. Here’s how to do it:

Open PowerShell as Administrator:

Click on the Start Menu.
Type "PowerShell".
Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.

Enable WSL:

In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

wsl --install

This command will enable WSL and install the default Linux distribution, which is typically Ubuntu.
If you already have WSL installed but not enabled, use this command instead:


dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Wait for the process to complete. You might be asked to restart your computer. Go ahead and do that.

Step 2: Check the Version of WSL
After restarting, it’s important to check which version of WSL you have installed, as WSL 2 offers more features and better performance.

Check WSL Version:

Open a new PowerShell window (you don’t need administrator rights for this).
Type the following command and press Enter:

wsl --list --verbose

This command will show you the version of WSL that is currently installed on your machine.
If WSL 1 is installed and you want to upgrade to WSL 2, follow these steps:
Ensure you’re running Windows 10, version 1903 or higher, with Build 18362 or higher.
Install the WSL 2 Linux kernel update package by downloading it from the Microsoft website.
In PowerShell, set WSL 2 as the default version by running:

wsl --set-default-version 2

You can then convert any existing WSL 1 distributions to WSL 2 with the following command:


wsl --set-version <distro name> 2

Replace with the name of your installed Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu).

Step 3: Install Ubuntu Using the Terminal

Now that WSL is enabled and configured, it's time to install the Ubuntu distribution directly from the terminal.

List Available Distributions:

In the PowerShell or Command Prompt, type the following command to see a list of available Linux distributions:

wsl --list --online

This will show you all the Linux distributions you can install, including various versions of Ubuntu.

Install Ubuntu:

To install the latest version of Ubuntu, use the following command:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

If you want to install a specific version of Ubuntu, replace Ubuntu with the exact name from the list you obtained in the previous step (e.g., Ubuntu-20.04).
The installation will begin, and this may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection and system performance.

Step 4: Set Up Ubuntu

After Ubuntu is installed, you’ll need to complete the initial setup.

Launch Ubuntu:

After the installation is complete, Ubuntu will launch automatically, or you can start it manually by typing wsl in the terminal or by searching for "Ubuntu" in the Start Menu and opening it.

Create a User Account:

The first time you launch Ubuntu, it will ask you to create a user account and set a password.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your username and password. Remember this information, as you'll need it to log in.

Step 5: Update and Upgrade Ubuntu

With Ubuntu set up, it's a good idea to update the system to ensure you have the latest software and security patches.

Open the Terminal:

You should already be in the Ubuntu terminal, but if not, just open the Ubuntu app from the Start Menu or by typing wsl in PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Update Package Lists:

Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo apt update

Upgrade Installed Packages:

After the package lists are updated, upgrade your installed packages with:

sudo apt upgrade -y

This command will upgrade all the installed software to the latest versions. The -y flag automatically agrees to the installation of updates.

Step 6: Start Using Ubuntu on Windows

Congratulations! You now have Ubuntu running on your Windows machine. You can use the terminal to run Linux commands, install additional software, and even use it for development tasks.

Bonus: Setting WSL 2 as the Default for All Future Installations

To ensure all future Linux distributions installed via WSL are set to use WSL 2 by default, you can run the following command:

wsl --set-default-version 2

This ensures you always get the best performance and features available in WSL 2.

Conclusion

That's it! You've successfully installed the Windows Subsystem for Linux and set up the Ubuntu subsystem on your Windows machine—all using the terminal. Now you can enjoy the power of Linux right alongside your favorite Windows apps. Whether you're a developer, a Linux enthusiast, or just curious, WSL is a fantastic tool to have in your toolbox.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to share it with others who might benefit from running Linux on Windows. Happy coding!

My Productive Summer Vacation 🌞📚

Divyansh — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 05:13:51 +0000

A week ago, my summer vacation ended after my end-semester exams. It was one of the most productive times of the year! I had almost two months off, and I learned some amazing skills in conversation and computer science. Overall, I've developed my personality and changed the way I understand things. Here are the few things I did during my vacation:

1. Zero to Python 🐍
I created a GitHub repository with more than 100 Python programs. It's perfect for someone who knows basic Python and wants to enhance their skills through practice. I started it for my personal learning, but now it's available for everyone! I'll add more code and projects in the future.

2. Film Recommender Chatbot 🎬🤖
I saw on YouTube that everyone was making film recommender systems as projects. I wanted to make one too, but with a twist. So, I created a film recommender system with an integrated chatbot. It's still in progress, but I've made a simple version.

3. Fine-tuning GPT-2 🧠
While making the film recommender chatbot, I realized I needed to fine-tune GPT or another language model. I learned about fine-tuning models, Hugging Face Transformers, and how to fine-tune Google Colab. That's the beauty of making projects – you learn different skills along the way!

4. Freelance Project 💼
This is probably my biggest achievement! I completed my first freelance project. I created a website for someone and got paid ₹1500. It's a big achievement not because of the amount, but because I proved it's possible to earn money online. I'm excited to continue until I get my second order.

5. Distance Calculator 🗺️
Ola recently started OlaMaps in India and offered a free API for a year. So, I created a distance calculator app that can measure the distance between two cities. It's a basic project, but it was fun to start with OlaMaps. I'd love to create more projects with it in the future.

6. Learned Machine Learning 🤖
Before the vacation started, I decided to learn machine learning. I was amazed by how machines can learn on their own. To cover the basics, I completed a FreeCodeCamp video on machine learning by Ayush Verma. Then I created some projects – even the film recommender chatbot and fine-tuning were results of that ML learning.

7. Active on LinkedIn 🔗
I started posting regularly on LinkedIn and became more active on the platform. The vacation gave me time to explore this community, and I love it! I've made amazing friends there.

8. Deleted Instagram 📵
I deleted Instagram from my phone (but kept my profile) because it was taking up too much of my time. As a computer science student, it wasn't adding much value to my life. My brain feels lighter now, and I'm proud of this decision.

9. Joined Dev Communities 👥
I've joined many communities to make friends and build networks. Dev is one of them, and I love being here. I'm learning a lot!

10. Cold Calls 📞
After getting my first freelance order, I decided to start a small agency business offering web development services. I created a basic portfolio and started making cold calls. I've made about 60-70 calls overall. Although I haven't gotten any orders yet, I've learned how to talk to strangers and it has boosted my confidence.

Special Mentions 🌟

Made a friend named Sujal on LinkedIn who shared cybersecurity study materials with me.
My first freelance client was very humble and encouraged me. He even offered to help with future job opportunities.
Started a YouTube channel (not regular yet, but it's a start!)
Learned Linux and Vim (#realcoder)
Watched a movie that changed my perspective on thinking
Also i started Leetcode and take part in competitive programming.

The github repo of every project is available in my github: divyanshtiwari20.

Now that college has started again, I'm happy and ready for new adventures. Thanks for reading to the end – it means a lot! Love you 3000!! ❤️