Vinit Shahdeo: From a GitHub User to a GitHub Star
Meet Vinit Shahdeo, a two-time GitHub Star from India, who is a senior backend engineer at Novo, where he’s building neobanking solutions for SMBs in the USA. Before joining Novo, he played a key role at Postman, contributing to the development of API-first solutions. Passionate about giving back to the community, Vinit actively mentors beginners in the open-source world, helping to shape the next generation of developers. This is the story of his journey so far.
Vinit Shahdeo’s journey into the tech world began with a simple, yet powerful question: How does Facebook work? This curiosity-driven quest for knowledge has taken him far from his roots in the small town of Jharkhand, to becoming one of India’s GitHub Stars and a senior software engineer at Novo, where he’s shaping the future of neo-banking platforms. But this journey wasn’t paved with ease—it was a road built on curiosity, hard work, and a deep passion for both coding and community.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Recognition
For Vinit, technology wasn’t just a tool—it was a puzzle, one that needed to be solved. “I always wondered what made things tick” he says, reflecting on his early fascination with computers. While his peers were scrolling through Facebook or Orkut, Vinit was the one diving deep into the workings of these platforms. It wasn’t just about using technology—it was about understanding it, breaking it down, and building something of his own.
Growing up in a small district, far from the tech hubs of India, Vinit’s access to resources was limited. Yet, his curiosity never wavered. It was the kind of curiosity that led him to explore open-source platforms and, eventually, to discover the vast world of GitHub. His deep involvement in open-source projects not only allowed him to grow as a developer but also brought him into a global community of like-minded individuals. This passion for open-source led him to become a GitHub Star in 2021, an honor awarded to fewer than 100 developers among over 100 million GitHub users worldwide.
The Early Years and Postman
Vinit’s formal education took him to VIT Vellore, where he pursued his engineering degree in Information Technology. Yet, it wasn’t just the textbooks that shaped his path—Vinit’s journey was largely driven by self-learning, open-source contributions, and practical experience. He spent countless hours coding, building projects, and participating in open-source initiatives that helped him sharpen his skills.
In 2019, Vinit’s hard work paid off when he joined Postman, a platform that changed the way developers interacted with APIs. His role as a software engineer and later as a software engineer II saw him contributing to the development of tools like Interceptor and Integrations, which now play an integral part in how developers around the world work with APIs. Vinit’s time at Postman not only honed his technical expertise but also reinforced his belief in the importance of community, mentorship, and collaboration.
“Postman was a turning point for me” he recalls. “It taught me the value of not just writing code but creating tools that empower others. The community aspect at Postman was something I really connected with, and that experience helped me grow not just as a developer but as someone who could give back to the tech world.”
Building the Future of Banking
Today, as a Senior Software Engineer at Novo, Vinit is building scalable, secure, and high-performance banking solutions for small and medium-sized businesses in the USA. His work at Novo involves crafting microservices that power the neobanking platform, using technologies like Node.js, Go, Kafka, and AWS. But Vinit isn’t just focused on the present—he’s constantly looking to the future.
“I believe that technology is not just about solving problems; it’s about anticipating future needs” says Vinit. He’s currently working on scaling banking solutions that will not only make financial services more efficient but also accessible to those who need them the most.
Beyond his work at Novo, Vinit is passionate about helping others grow. Whether through his #50DaysOfJavaScript initiative—where he encourages developers to solve daily coding challenges—or his involvement in Hacktoberfest’21, which engaged over 1,000 developers worldwide, Vinit is committed to fostering a global community of learners. His dedication to community-driven growth shines through in everything he does. In the past, he has been mentored Google Summer Of Code projects at Postman.
“I’ve learned so much from the open-source community. Now, I want to pay it forward and help others level up” he explains. In the past, he has also mentored Google Summer of Code projects at Postman
Life Outside Code
Despite his professional achievements, Vinit is not all about code. In fact, some of his best moments happen when he’s away from his screen. Whether it’s a late-night stroll through the streets of Bengaluru or a friendly badminton match, Vinit believes in balancing work with life.
“I think it’s important to step back sometimes and enjoy life’s simple pleasures,” he says with a smile. “I love spending time with family, catching up with friends, or just sipping tea while reading poetry.”
Vinit is also a fan of FM radio over Spotify—he finds comfort in the spontaneity and warmth of radio jockeys, a connection to a more nostalgic time. And when he’s not coding or playing sports, you’ll likely find him hunting for the best cafes in Bengaluru, indulging in his love for great food and local flavors.
A Commitment to Growth
Vinit’s story is one of growth—not just in terms of technical skills, but as a person and a community member. He’s faced challenges, learned from mistakes, and never stopped pushing himself to be better. For him, success is about more than personal achievements; it’s about making a meaningful impact on others.
“The best part of this journey has been the people I’ve met and the communities I’ve been part of” he shares. “Every day, I’m learning, growing, and hopefully, inspiring others to do the same.”
And for those looking to follow in his footsteps, Vinit has one simple piece of advice: “Don’t compare yourself to others—focus on being better than you were yesterday.”
Find him on Twitter at @vinit_shahdeo or his website at vinitshahdeo.com.
Also read:
1. Shruti Balasa talks about web development and her YouTuber journey
2. 5 Best Content Creators on X – You Must Follow
3. The Cocolove heading towards success
