Binny VA is an expert freelance programmer from Cochin. He currently runs a lot of blogs related to technology and programming details of which you can find at his homepage. He is also an editor at DMOZ directory (TCL/TK). We thank Binny for sparing time for this interview.
Tell us more about you and your primary blog
I am from Cochin. I studied at Campion School, Eddappally. I enrolled at IGNOU for college - but I got a job as a Web Developer on Perl before I could complete even the first year. So I dropped out of college and pursued my job. So I worked in Reubro International for 2 years as a Web Developer. That’s were I learned the ropes. After 2 years, I quit the job and became a freelancer.
What prompted you to start a blog?
I had an interest in web development since I bought my first computer. Before long I learned enough HTML to create my own site(at Tripod). After some time, I went pro - bought hosting and a few domains. I already was managing a few sites when I started BinnyVA Blog. I started it so that I can concentrate on just Web Development content at Bin-Blog. I moved all by personal stuff to BinnyVA.
Has blogging helped you in your freelance career?
Freelancers must have multiples streams of income. You might have a few projects one day - but none for the next week. That uncertainty is part of the Job. Its good money - but it is not steady money. Because I blog, I get a decent amount from my AdSense ads. The fact that I can depend on that money is one of the main factors in my decision to go freelance.
Also having a(or more) blog makes you visible - it gives you a lot of exposure. I have had a few project offers from people who have seen my blog.
You are also one of the Dmoz editors. Tell us about your experience.
I am the editor for Tcl/Tk category - it is a Scripting language. I have had that position for over an year now. It is a slow category - so I don’t have much to do there.
What are the other blogs you write?
I have too many blogs - I am sure I am heading for a burnout soon :-). My blogs/sites are…
Bin-Blog (http://www.bin-co.com/blog/)
Web Development Information - with a special emphasis on LAMP -
Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP
OpenJS(http://www.openjs.com/)
Source Code, Articles and Tutorials about JavaScript and related topics like
Ajax(XMLHTTPRequest), Client Side Scripting etc.
Bin-Co(http://www.bin-co.com/)
Bin-Co provides open source scripts, tutorials and articles for many
programming languages(like PHP, Perl, Ruby, Python, Tcl/Tk, etc).
LinDesk(http://lindesk.com)
Linux - on the Desktop. Articles, Reviews and Tutorials about many aspects of
Linux included applications and scripting.
BinnyVA(http://www.binnyva.com)
An aggregater for all my blogs.
I try to create at least one post every day.
Why do you blog? What motivates you?
1) I love to write.
2) Having a blog gives you exposure - essential if you are a freelancer like
me.
3) Last but not the least, there is money in it.
Do you use any blogging tools?
I use WordPress as my platform. I create the posts in HTML using a editor called Quanta Plus and copy-paste it into WordPress. For editing the pictures I post, I use Gimp.
Which blog post do you consider as your best?
In BinnyVA Blog, that would have to be Power Struggle - Electricity, KSEB and Me(http://blog.binnyva.com/2007/03/power-struggle-electricity-kseb-and-me/)
What is your experience from blogging? (good or bad)
Its great!
What are your favorite blogs that you read daily?
In the Kerala Category that will be…
http://www.nirmaltv.com/ - Good and Consistent.
http://poomanam.blogspot.com/
http://www.keralatips.org/
What are your future plans?
I am ‘living the dream’ right now. Good job, decent money and lots of free time. My future plan is make sure that it continues to be like this 
Is there anything you want to tell Kerala Blogger Community?
I would like to see more localized blogs. More blogs about Kerala. Or about Cochin - or Trivandrum or something.
The problem is most people write about tech. That includes me too. When I started out my blogs were all about programming. This is not a bad thing - but there are too many blogs covering that topic. So please, try a niche topic - and what is better than you home state/city?
Thanks for the interview, KeralaBlogger.
(7 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)
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