App Developer with Altruistic Nature
Kochi: Shibu Devasia is a firm believer in the maxim that quality of work is more important than money and if one honestly goes about doing a job efficiently, then success and riches will follow. The software developer for smartphones, who gave-up a cushy job with a six-figure salary in Singapore, now only writes codes and develops spiritual apps for altruistic purposes.
His work was recently recognised in the just concluded ‘AppFest-2012’ in Hyderabad, when his app ‘Rosary Mate’, a personal virtual prayer partner, was adjudged second best with a prize money of Rs. 75,000. “This is my attempt to marry the old with the new. That’s why I brought mobile technology to the Catholic Church. All my apps are spiritual and are dedicated to the church,” he says.
Already, the developer has designed a ‘Jesus Youth’ prayer book for mobile users, Bible in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and the latest in Konkani language for Android, Apple, BlackBerry and Windows smartphone users.
“All the spiritual apps come free. We have not even tried to put advertisements in the apps and spoil the user experience. A mobile app on Bible has its own charm. For youngsters who have access to technology, a Bible or a Rosary prayer in a smartphone makes a lot of sense,” he says.
The developer is an early adopter and was quick to realise the potential of mobile technology. “I started working on mobile software technology from 2002. But, after going through the wringer at work in Singapore, I realised that for me money was not important. I wanted to contribute positively and that’s the reason for coming back,” he says.
The coder has also roped-in a fresh engineering graduate Ken M. Raju as a trainee. Both of them said that they were destined to take part in the recent AppFest. “We came to know about the event one day before. We accidentally found the event invite in our spam mail. Except for our background in developing spiritual-based apps, we did not prepare specifically for the event,” they explained. The coder strictly adheres to ethics and even operates a website www.ethiccoders.com. “I firmly believe in honesty and no monkey business. We give 100 per cent. For our survival, we depend on donations from our app users,” he points out. Shibu can be reached on www.ethiccoders.com.
source : The Hindu