Nikolay Kostov

Born: June 1990

Email: blog@nikolay.it

Website: https://nikolay.it/

GitHub: https://github.com/NikolayIT/

StackOverflow: https://stackoverflow.com/users/1862812/nikolay-kostov

CV last updated on 15 February 2022

Summary

I am a highly skilled software engineer with strong leadership qualities, and expertise in programming and architecture. I have extensive experience in technical training and web development, utilizing technologies such as ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Core, NodeJS, PHP, SQL Server, MySQL, and the .NET platform (C#, ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, WCF, WebAPI, SignalR, Entity Framework, WPF, WinForms). I have a deep understanding of algorithms and data structures, and am known for my precision and strong teamwork skills. I have a strong commitment to meeting deadlines and have a proven track record of completing projects on time. In addition, I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer and have received recognition in the form of the "30 under 30" award by Forbes Bulgaria and the "Student of the Year in Bulgaria" award.

Computer skills

Programming Languages

Expert knowledge in C#, JavaScript and SQL

Very good knowledge in C/C++, PHP, Python and Java

Good knowledge in F#, Assembly, MSIL and Adobe Flex (MXML, ActionScript)

Software Technologies

Web programming with ASP.NET stack - ASP.NET Core, Blazor, ASP.NET MVC, Razor, ASP.NET WebForms, ASP.NET WebAPI, SignalR, Entity Framework, Dapper, LINQ, SQL Server, WCF, KendoUI, AutoMapper, Ninject

Microsoft Azure

Web programming with PHP and MySQL – PHP, MySQL, Smarty, jQuery

Web programming with NodeJS - NodeJS, ExpressJS, MongoDB

Microsoft .NET Framework and related technologies – C#, ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, Windows Forms, WCF, CLR, Mono, ASP.NET Web Forms, WPF and Silverlight

Web sites and client-side scripting – HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, KendoUI, AngularJS, Flex, Flash

Distributed systems and multi-tier architectures

Databases – designing and optimizing relational MSSQL and MySQL databases, good knowledge in MongoDB

Object-oriented programming and modeling (excellent knowledge in design patterns and SOLID)

Deep knowledge in algorithmic problems: data structures, graph theory, combinatorial problems, dynamic programming, etc.

Source control systems – Git (GitHub), TFS, SVN

HTTP, web-crawling, Windows API, Sandboxing in Windows

Administration Skills

Administraton skills for Windows Server, IIS and Microsoft SQL Server

Virtualization – Running own servers on vSphere and Hyper-V

Windows and Linux administration skills

Other Skills

Excellent presentation and communication skills

Video and audio editing skills

Excellent skills with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint

Experience

Technical Trainer in SoftUni

09/2018 - now

Expert Witness in Bulgarian Court

05/2020 - now

Solutions Architect in ZenCodeo

05/2016 - now

• StratusBK - Bankruptcy case management system for attorneys with integration with USA court for automated case filing and case information gathering, finance management, document processing, CMS, CRM, calendar with case events, etc. - http://stratusintelligence.com
• AccentInsights - Manage and track public employee activities helping managers to retain team members and stop retraining replacements - https://accentinsights.zencodeo.com
• Customer Experience Enhancer - A modern, secure and cloud-based plug and play solution which allows diverse interaction types with business’ customers: phone, email, SMS, chat, web from; call agents work tracking; managing call agents’ work; detailed marketing reports and machine learning optimization suggestions. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBU2-chC0O8
• Delinquency Cases System - Attorney and creditors system with extended information about bankruptcy cases in USA (chapter 13 cases) which integrates few data providers into unified integrated system for analyzing and visualizing cases information.
• Court Calendar - Online system to download USA court events and systemize them with easy-to-use user interface - http://courtcalendar.azurewebsites.net
• Semrad Portal - Client and employees web portal with information about cases, leads, appointments, marketing data, etc. - https://portal.debtstoppers.com/

Manager Software Engineering and Technical Trainer in Telerik (Progress)

05/2011 - 05/2016

• More than 350 lectures in Telerik Academy
• http://nikolay.it/Videos
• Main architect of TelerikAcademy.com (http://telerikacademy.com);
• Learning management system (LMS)
• Test system, Attendance system, Forum system, Anti-cheat system, Certification system, etc.
• Main architect and developer of BGCoder.com - Open Judge System (http://bgcoder.com, https://github.com/NikolayIT/OpenJudgeSystem);
  • Web interface for users and administrators (ASP.NET MVC)
  • Windows service for compiling, executing and checking user submissions
  • Restricted process executor using Windows APIs
  • Compiler wrappers and checkers
  • Anti-cheat system for detecting code similarity
• Showcase system - http://best.telerikacademy.com (https://github.com/TelerikAcademy/ShowcaseSystem)
• Trainer in Telerik Software Academy, Telerik School Academy, Telerik Algo Academy, Telerik Academy Plus
• Co-author and editor of “Introduction to programming with C#“ book (in both Bulgarian and English) (http://www.introprogramming.info/);

Web developer (as a freelancer)

09/2005 - now

• http://musicx.mx (ASP.NET Core, Blazor)
• https://presscenters.com (ASP.NET Core)
• https://dela.bg (ASP.NET Core)
• https://textbg.com (ASP.NET Core)
• http://nikolay.it (ASP.NET Core)
• http://rubixstudio.com (PHP)
• http://reprobiomed.eu (PHP)
• http://uniken.bg (PHP)
• http://vsepeta.com (PHP)
• http://ribarskatahija.com (Started in PHP, now rewritten in ASP.NET MVC)
• http://managerteams.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://prepishi.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://vapostolov.eu - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://agency-angel.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://zamunda.info - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://training-bg.net - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://zvyn.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://jaltici.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://selectronic-bg.com - No longer active. (PHP)
• http://aznepusha.bg - No longer active. (PHP)

.NET projects

06/2004 – now

• A lot of open source projects in https://github.com/NikolayIT
• Learning management system (http://telerikacademy.com, closed source)
• Online judge system for programming competitions (http://bgcoder.com, https://github.com/NikolayIT/OpenJudgeSystem)
• BlogSystem written in ASP.NET Core (https://github.com/NikolayIT/nikolay.it)
• Santase card game engine with AI deployed in Microsoft Store: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/santase/9nblggh5xs6f (open source: https://github.com/NikolayIT/SantaseGameEngine)
• Texas Hold'em Poker card game engine (https://github.com/NikolayIT/TexasHoldemGameEngine)
• Belot card game engine (https://github.com/NikolayIT/BelotGameEngine)
• RatioMaster.NET (http://ratiomaster.net, https://github.com/NikolayIT/RatioMaster.NET)
• NStudio (http://nstudio.nrpg.info) - No longer active.
• NRPG Skyper (http://skyper.nrpg.info) - No longer active.
• NPMG Salary (Program used by the administration of National High School of Science and Mathematics for calculating salaries and printing documents)
• AstroPlatform - project for the NASA hackaton in Bulgaria (https://github.com/NasaSpaceAppsChallenge2014/NasaAstroPlatform)
• tDNA (closed source) - project for the Telerik Hackaton (2013). Mobile application using Kendo Mobile and Telerik Backend Services with dashboard, news, statistics and data for Telerik employees taken from the Telerik's Active Directory

Participation in programming competitions

02/2005 – now

• Actively participating in TopCoder algorithmic tournaments
• National Olympiad in IT (2007; 2008 – 1^st place in the IT test, 1^st place in the desktop applications project category; 2009 – 1^st place in the Internet applications project category)
• National Olympiad in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)
• National Autumn Competition in Informatics (2007; 2008; 2009)
• National Winter Competition in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)
• National Spring Competition in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)

Co-author of books

Introduction to programming with C# (English version) - http://www.introprogramming.info/english-intro-csharp-book/ - ISBN: 978-954-400-773-7

Introduction to programming with C# (Bulgarian version) - http://www.introprogramming.info/intro-csharp-book/ - ISBN: 978-619-00-0778-4

Programming Basics with JavaScript (Bulgarian version) - https://js-book.softuni.bg/ - ISBN: 978-619-00-0702-9

Programming Basics with Python (Bulgarian version) - https://python-book.softuni.bg/ - ISBN: 978-619-00-0806-4

Programming Basics with C++ (Bulgarian version) - https://cpp-book.softuni.bg/ - ISBN: 978-619-00-0951-1

Achievements and Awards

Microsoft Certified Trainer

Active from December 2014 to December 2022

30 under 30 - Forbes Bulgaria

November 2015

Student of the year in Bulgaria 2015

December 2015

Top 100 most influencing IT people in Bulgaria

2022

Education

New Bulgarian University

Master degree in “Software Technologies in the Internet”

2016 – 2018

New Bulgarian University

Bachelor degree; Specialty: Computer Science; Module: Computer Programming

2015 – 2016

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Specialty: Computer Science

2009 – 2014

Telerik Academy

Graduated with best results

2010 – 2011

Participated in various school-camps for informatics organized by the Ministry of Education of Bulgaria

2005 – 2009

National High School of Science and Mathematics

Specialty: Chemistry and Biology; graduated with excellent marks;

2004 – 2009

105 SOU “Atanas Dalchev”

Graduated with excellent marks;

1997 – 2004

Exams and Certificates

Microsoft Exam 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3

24 October 2012

Microsoft Exam 70-483: Programming in C#

05 November 2012

Microsoft Exam 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications

07 February 2013

Microsoft Exam 98-372: .NET Fundamentals

21 March 2013

Microsoft Exam 98-375: HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals

11 April 2013

Microsoft Exam 98-361: Software Development Fundamentals

17 April 2013

Microsoft Exam 70-487: Developing Microsoft Azure and Web Services

24 April 2013

Microsoft Exam 98-363: Web Development Fundamentals

13 May 2014

Microsoft Exam 98-349: Windows Operating System Fundamentals

11 June 2014

Microsoft Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014

26 June 2014

Microsoft Certified Trainer

2014 - 2022

Microsoft Exam 98-365: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals

19 May 2015

Microsoft Exam 98-367: Security Fundamentals

4 June 2015

Microsoft Exam 70-494: Recertification for MCSD: Web Applications

26 October 2015

Microsoft Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

15 February 2022

Microsoft Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator

31 March 2022