Forem: Pragadeesh Nehru

RETRO '25

Pragadeesh Nehru — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:39:42 +0000

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
-Henry David Thoreau

2025 didn’t try to impress me. It tried to teach me how to live properly.

This was the year where things quietly fell into place. Not in a cinematic way. In a real, slightly messy, but deeply satisfying way.

Stepping Into the Real World

Somewhere along the way, I got placed in a company. I won’t name it, because that’s not the point.

What mattered was the environment. It was fun, challenging, and genuinely valuable. I wasn’t just working, I was learning how work actually feels when it’s done right. Good people, meaningful tasks, and a space where growth wasn’t forced, but expected.

For the first time, “career” stopped feeling abstract.

Learning to Slow Down and Read

I built a proper reading habit this year. Not skimming. Not collecting titles. Actually reading.

Books became less about productivity and more about perspective. Reading taught me patience, depth, and the uncomfortable joy of sitting with ideas that don’t resolve instantly. It changed how I think, how I write, and how I listen.

Attention, I learned, is a skill.

Writing to Think

2025 is when I started writing seriously on Medium.

Not for algorithms. Not for validation. To think clearly.

Writing forced me to confront half-formed opinions and lazy assumptions. It demanded clarity and honesty. Sometimes it was uncomfortable, which is exactly why it mattered.

Writing stopped being a side activity and became a way of understanding myself better.

Art as a Constant

Art stayed with me this year, but it evolved.

I stopped chasing motivation and started focusing on consistency. I drew more, observed more, and experimented quietly. Art became less about output and more about presence. A place to slow time down when everything else sped up.

Being Real, Finally

This might be the most important part.

I started talking more. Opening up. Being myself without rehearsing conversations in my head. I stopped trying to fit into versions of myself that looked impressive but felt hollow.

Along the way, I found genuinely good company. I went out more. Laughed more. Lived more in the real world than behind a screen.

Turns out reality is richer than any feed.

What 2025 Gave Me

2025 taught me that growth isn’t always loud.

Sometimes it looks like:

Enjoying your work
Reading consistently
Creating without pressure
Speaking honestly
Choosing people over pixels

This year didn’t just make me better at things. It made me more myself.

As I move forward, I’m not chasing speed or noise. I’m choosing depth, presence, and reality.

That feels like the right direction.

Checkout my portfolio for my works:
https://pragadeeshn-portfolio.vercel.app/

Youtube | Linkedin | X

DEV RETRO 2024 !

Pragadeesh Nehru — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:53:47 +0000

This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Retro’ing and Debugging 2024.

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and Discovery

The unexamined life is not worth Living
-Socrates

As 2024 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with growth, exploration, and significant achievements. It’s been a journey of self-discovery and skill-building, shaping the person I am today. Here's a look at the highlights:

Diving Into Web Development

This year, I took the plunge into web development, immersing myself in technologies like React, Tailwind CSS, and Next.js. Building web applications from scratch was both challenging and exciting. It was incredible to see my ideas come to life on the screen, and I’m eager to keep building and refining my skills in this ever-evolving field.

Programming and Problem-Solving

2024 was also about sharpening my programming skills. Participating in Hacktoberfest was a rewarding experience, allowing me to contribute to open-source projects and connect with a vibrant developer community. On top of that, solving nearly 300 problems on LeetCode helped me build a strong foundation in data structures and algorithms, enhancing my ability to think critically and solve complex problems.

Excelling Academically

Maintaining academic excellence in my third year of college was no small feat. It required focus, dedication, and careful time management. Looking back, I’m proud of my efforts to balance academics with personal and professional pursuits.

Leadership and Collaboration

Being elected as the Vice President of my department association was a significant milestone. This role allowed me to lead initiatives, organize events, and work closely with my peers. It was a year of learning, as I honed my leadership and teamwork skills while contributing to the community.

Artistic Growth

Amidst the technical and academic pursuits, I made time to nurture my creative side. Improving my art skills became a therapeutic and fulfilling endeavor. Exploring new techniques and styles not only enhanced my skills but also enriched my perspective as a creator.

Content Creation: Blogging and YouTube

This year marked the beginning of my journey as a content creator. I started sharing the ideas and reflections I gathered from reading and watching fiction through my blog, using it as a platform for self-expression. Additionally, I launched my YouTube channel to explore new creative outlets and share my perspective in a different format.

2024 was a year of firsts, growth, and achievements. It taught me the value of perseverance, curiosity, and the courage to try new things. As I step into 2025, I’m excited to build on this foundation, explore new opportunities, and continue striving for excellence in all areas of my life.

Here’s to embracing the journey and making the most of every moment. Thank you, 2024, for being a year to remember.

Checkout my portfolio for my works:
https://pragadeeshn-portfolio.vercel.app/

Youtube | Linkedin | X

Neural Networks - One Byte Explainer

Pragadeesh Nehru — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 18:35:38 +0000

This is a submission for the Web Game Challenge: One Byte Explainer

Explainer

Imagine teaching an alien Tic-Tac-Toe. Neural networks are like its brain: each neuron (alien thought) processes moves. After training (games played), it predicts winning moves, learning patterns and improving—similar to how AI makes decisions in games.

Additional Context

Just like our alien learns from past games, neural networks improve by adjusting connections between neurons. Game devs use this process to create smarter AI, making NPCs that learn and adapt to a player's strategy over time.

Thanks for reading!

Alien XO (Alien Themed TicTacToe)

Pragadeesh Nehru — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 18:25:07 +0000

This is a submission for the Web Game Challenge, Build a Game: Alien Edition

What I Built

I created an alien-themed Tic-Tac-Toe game called Alien XO. The classic Tic-Tac-Toe format has been redesigned with an intergalactic twist—players compete as aliens instead of the usual "X" and "O" symbols, adding a fresh, otherworldly feel to the game. The UI features a vibrant alien design, making the game visually engaging, while maintaining the simplicity and fun of the original Tic-Tac-Toe.

Demo

You can play Alien XO here: [https://tic-tac-toe-pragadeeshn.vercel.app/]

The code for the project is available on GitHub: [https://github.com/pragadeeshnehru/TicTacToe]

Journey

Building Alien XO in React was a fun and rewarding experience. I started by developing the basic game logic for Tic-Tac-Toe and then focused on integrating the alien theme through custom designs and CSS styles. Here are some highlights of the journey:

I've managed to implement a alien theme for this game.
Learning how to implement React state management for game logic was one of the key challenges, especially managing player turns and determining the winner.
Styling with Tailwind CSS helped bring the alien-themed visuals to life, from alien icons to futuristic backgrounds.
I experimented with different animation effects to give the game an interactive feel.
I have implemented a log system to record player moves.

What I Learned

Throughout the process, I deepened my understanding of React, particularly component-based architecture, state handling, and conditional rendering. I also explored CSS animations to add subtle transitions that made the game more interactive. This project allowed me to combine creativity with frontend development skills, and I’m proud of how everything came together.

What’s Next

I plan to enhance Alien XO by adding features such as:

Multiplayer mode: Allowing two players to compete from different devices.
AI opponent: Adding a single-player mode where the player can compete against an alien AI.
Leaderboard: Tracking wins and losses, so players can challenge each other.