About

Who are you?

My name is Shrutarshi Basu and I’m a student of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Lafayette College. I’m graduating in 2011 and am considering graduate school after that, probably in a field related to programming languages. I’m currently working at the PROLANGS@VT group at Virginia Tech under Dr. Barbara Ryder analyzing framework oriented Java programs.

My first ever programming experience was with a bit of BASIC in 2001, but I didn’t really do anything serious until 2003 when I started with Java (yes, I know, I started late). Actually I did do some Logo before that, but that doesn’t really count. Since then I’ve taught myself Python and some amount of Lisp and learned more Java, C, C++ and assembler. I’ve realized that I like working on both a highly abstract conceptual level, but also on a down-and-dirty, close-to-the metal level. I’ve also developed a dislike of user-interface related work, thought I do like designing a web page every now and then.

Why ‘The ByteBaker’?

Because computer science is a lot like cooking. You need the right ingredients and utensils, the proper recipes and experience and a certain amount of daring and imagination to make things work right. In both cases you can create things which are fine, beautiful works of art which make the world a better place or horrible convoluted messes which really shouldn’t be allowed to exist. I really can’t cook, so I thought I might as well write about computer technology, what it is, how it’s evolving, how to make it better and how we can use it. Plus this was the most interesting domain name I could come up with that was available.

What’s with the cupcakes?

In Spring 2009 I took a software engineering class where I was lucky to be part of a very good team and we had a really good time together. We started calling ourselves Cupcake Creations after one of us drew a cupcake in Microsoft Paint one day when we should have been working. The cupcake icon I use for the site is in honor of them and to remind me of all the things I learned in that class.

The image is of frosted chocolate cupcakes and is taken from Wikipedia. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.

How do I contact you?

Please see the Contact page for contact information.