Nikolay Kostov
Born: June 1990
Email: blog@nikolay.it
Website: https://nikolay.it/
GitHub: https://github.com/NikolayIT/
Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/users/1862812/nikolay-kostov
CV last updated on 10 December 2025
Summary
Senior software engineer, solutions architect and technical trainer with extensive experience in building large-scale web platforms, cloud solutions and developer tooling on the Microsoft stack. Strong expertise in C#, .NET, ASP.NET Core, SQL Server, JavaScript and Azure, with deep understanding of software architecture, algorithms and data structures. Proven track record in leading engineering teams, designing complex systems, delivering high-quality software on time and teaching thousands of students and professionals.
Court-appointed expert witness (software engineering and digital forensics) in the Bulgarian courts, experienced in complex technical analyses and formal expert reports. Former Microsoft Certified Trainer (2014–2022), recognized in Forbes Bulgaria "30 under 30" and as "Student of the Year in Bulgaria".
Computer Skills
Programming Languages
- Expert: C#, JavaScript, SQL
- Very good: C/C++, PHP, Python, Java
- Good: F#, Assembly, MSIL, Adobe Flex (MXML, ActionScript)
Software Technologies
- Web development with the ASP.NET stack: ASP.NET Core, Blazor, ASP.NET MVC, Razor, ASP.NET Web Forms, ASP.NET Web API, SignalR, Entity Framework, Dapper, LINQ, SQL Server, WCF, Kendo UI, AutoMapper, Ninject
- Microsoft Azure (App Services, storage, databases and related services)
- Web development with PHP and MySQL: PHP, MySQL, Smarty, jQuery
- Web development with Node.js: Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB
- Microsoft .NET Framework and .NET: C#, ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, Windows Forms, WCF, CLR, Mono, ASP.NET Web Forms, WPF, Silverlight
- Client-side technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, Kendo UI, AngularJS, Flex, Flash
- Distributed systems and multi-tier architectures
- Databases – design and optimization of relational databases (SQL Server, MySQL), good knowledge of MongoDB
- Object-oriented programming and modeling (excellent knowledge of design patterns and SOLID principles)
- Deep knowledge of algorithmic problems – data structures, graph theory, combinatorial problems, dynamic programming, etc.
- Source control systems – Git (GitHub, Azure DevOps), TFS, SVN
- HTTP, web crawling, Windows API, sandboxing in Windows
Administration Skills
- Administration of Windows Server, IIS and Microsoft SQL Server
- Virtualization – running own servers on vSphere and Hyper-V
- Windows and Linux administration
Other Skills
- Excellent presentation and communication skills
- Video and audio editing skills
- Excellent skills with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint
Experience
- Design and deliver courses in programming, algorithms, data structures and software engineering.
- Teach large groups of students in both online and in-person formats.
- Act as court-appointed expert in software, web systems and digital evidence.
- Prepare detailed technical analyses and formal expert reports for civil and other court cases.
Design and development of cloud-based legal-tech and business systems.
Selected projects
- StratusBK – Bankruptcy case management system for attorneys with integration with US courts for automated case filing and case information gathering, finance management, document processing, CMS, CRM, calendar with case events, etc. (http://stratusintelligence.com)
- AccentInsights – Platform to manage and track public employee activities, helping managers retain team members and reduce retraining costs. (https://accentinsights.zencodeo.com)
- Customer Experience Enhancer – Modern, secure, cloud-based plug-and-play solution enabling multiple interaction channels with customers (phone, email, SMS, chat, web form), agent work tracking, agent management, detailed marketing reports and machine-learning-based optimization suggestions. (video)
- Delinquency Cases System – System for attorneys and creditors with extended information about US bankruptcy cases (Chapter 13), integrating several data providers into a unified platform for analysis and visualization.
- Court Calendar – Online system to download US court events and systemize them in an easy-to-use UI. (http://courtcalendar.azurewebsites.net)
- Semrad Portal – Client and employee web portal with information about cases, leads, appointments and marketing data. (https://portal.debtstoppers.com/)
- Delivered more than 350 lectures in Telerik Academy.
- Main architect of TelerikAcademy.com (http://telerikacademy.com): learning management system (LMS), test system, attendance system, forum system, anti-cheat system, certification system and others.
- Main architect and developer of BGCoder.com – Open Judge System (http://bgcoder.com, source code):
- 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 custom checkers.
- Anti-cheat system for detecting code similarity.
- Showcase System – http://best.telerikacademy.com, source code
- Trainer in Telerik Software Academy, Telerik School Academy, Telerik Algo Academy, Telerik Academy Plus.
- Co-author and editor of the book “Introduction to programming with C#” (Bulgarian and English) – http://www.introprogramming.info/.
- Video lectures: https://nikolay.it/Videos
Selected websites
- https://dela.bg (ASP.NET Core)
- http://musicx.mx (ASP.NET Core, Blazor)
- https://presscenters.com (ASP.NET Core)
- https://textbg.com (ASP.NET Core)
- https://nikolay.it (ASP.NET Core)
- http://rubixstudio.com (PHP)
- http://reprobiomed.eu (PHP)
- http://uniken.bg (PHP)
- http://vsepeta.com (PHP)
- http://ribarskatahija.com (initially PHP, later 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)
- Numerous open source projects: https://github.com/NikolayIT
- Learning management system: http://telerikacademy.com (closed source)
- Online judge system for programming competitions: http://bgcoder.com, source code
- BlogSystem written in ASP.NET Core: https://github.com/NikolayIT/nikolay.it
- Santase card game engine with AI, published in Microsoft Store: Store link, source code
- Texas Hold'em Poker card game engine: source code
- Belot card game engine: source code
- RatioMaster.NET: http://ratiomaster.net, source code
- NStudio: http://nstudio.nrpg.info – no longer active
- NRPG Skyper: http://skyper.nrpg.info – no longer active
- NPMG Salary – used by the administration of the National High School of Science and Mathematics for calculating salaries and printing documents
- AstroPlatform – project for the NASA Space Apps Challenge Bulgaria: source code
- tDNA (closed source) – project for Telerik Hackathon 2013: mobile app using Kendo Mobile and Telerik Backend Services with dashboard, news, statistics and data for Telerik employees from Active Directory
- Active participant in TopCoder algorithmic tournaments
- National Olympiad in IT (2007; 2008 – 1st place in IT test and 1st place in desktop applications project category; 2009 – 1st place in 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) – https://js-book.softuni.bg/ – ISBN: 978-619-00-0702-9
- Programming Basics with Python (Bulgarian) – https://python-book.softuni.bg/ – ISBN: 978-619-00-0806-4
- Programming Basics with C++ (Bulgarian) – 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 influential IT people in Bulgaria, 2022
Education
Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science (module: Computer Programming).
Participation in various national training camps in informatics.
Specialty: Chemistry and Biology. Graduated with excellent marks.
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 (MCT) – 2014 – 2025
- Microsoft Exam 98-365: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals – 19 May 2015
- Microsoft Exam 98-367: Security Fundamentals – 04 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
- Microsoft Exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure – 09 December 2025