# Dhruv Agrawat

> Dhruv Agrawat is a full-stack software engineer, freelancer and co-founder of the web agency Quadcydle, based in New Delhi, India. Full-Stack Software Engineer, Freelancer, and Startup Builder focused on building scalable web products.

This file summarises the site for AI assistants (https://llmstxt.org). The full text of every post, guide, recipe and travel story is in https://dhruvagrawat.com/llms-full.txt.

## About Dhruv Agrawat
Dhruv Agrawat is a full-stack software engineer, freelancer and co-founder of the web agency Quadcydle, based in New Delhi, India.

- Full name: Dhruv Agrawat
- Role: Full-stack software engineer, freelancer and agency co-founder
- Based in: New Delhi, India
- Currently: Co-Founder & Software Engineer (Quadcydle, since June 2023); Freelance Full-Stack Developer (Freelance, since January 2023)
- Company: Quadcydle (https://quadcydle.com), a digital studio that builds, hosts, runs and grows websites for small and remote businesses
- Experience: 3+ years; 30+ custom web applications delivered
- Core stack: React, Next.js, Typescript, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, Docker, Java, C++
- Knows about: Full-stack web development, React, Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Docker, WebRTC, OpenCV, Linux, Arch Linux, Open-source software, Web application security, Freelance web development, Running a web agency, Himalayan trekking, Travel photography, Italian cooking, Indian cooking
- Education: B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (2022–2026); Class XII – PCM + Computer Science, Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya, Dwarka (2017–2022)
- Available for: freelance web development projects and full-time roles
- Contact: agrawatdhruv@gmail.com
- Full profile: https://dhruvagrawat.com/about (last updated 2026-09-30)
- Profiles: https://github.com/dhruvagrawat, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvagrawat/, https://x.com/DhruvAgrawat, https://www.instagram.com/dhruvagrawat/, https://leetcode.com/dhruvagrawat/, https://auth.geeksforgeeks.org/user/dhruvagrawat

In his own words: "I am a Full-Stack Software Engineer with 3+ years of hands-on experience building web applications, automation tools, and startup products. I’ve worked across freelance, startup, and agency environments, contributing to scalable systems using React, Next.js, Node.js, and modern cloud tooling. I also co-founded a tech agency and actively mentor developers."

## Experience
- **Co-Founder & Software Engineer, Quadcydle** (June 2023 – Present, New Delhi, India): Co-founded a technology agency focused on building digital solutions for small and remote businesses. Led full-stack development, hiring, mentoring, and delivery of scalable web applications.
- **Software Engineer, CData Insights** (January 2025 – April 2025, Remote (USA)): Worked on backend-heavy software systems and contributed to scalable engineering solutions for enterprise use cases.
- **Software Engineer, LiveBuy** (November 2024 – January 2025, New Delhi, India): Built and maintained production features for a commerce platform, working across frontend and backend systems.
- **Software Developer, TICKET'D** (May 2024 – October 2024, Gurugram, India): Worked on a Web3-based ticketing platform, contributing to product features, integrations, and performance optimization.
- **Freelance Full-Stack Developer, Freelance** (January 2023 – Present, Remote): Delivered 30+ custom web applications using Next.js, Node.js, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL. Improved performance, responsiveness, and scalability for multiple clients.
- **Full-Stack Developer Intern, Alonefield LLC** (February 2023 – May 2023, Remote (Singapore)): Developed MERN stack applications, collaborated with design teams, and handled production deployments.

## Projects
- **AI Website Automation Tool** (2024; Next.js, Node.js, MongoDB, Docker, AI APIs): Built an AI-powered automation platform that generates and deploys websites using modern full-stack technologies.
- **Video Conferencing Platform** (2023; WebRTC, Node.js, JavaScript): Developed a real-time video conferencing system using WebRTC with chat and audio-video sync.
- **OpenCV Air Painter** (2023; Python, OpenCV): Gesture-based virtual drawing application using OpenCV and Python, optimized for low-end hardware.

## Pages
- [Home](https://dhruvagrawat.com/): profile, work history, projects and contact
- [About](https://dhruvagrawat.com/about): who Dhruv Agrawat is — experience, skills, education, writing, travel and FAQs
- [Projects](https://dhruvagrawat.com/projects)
- [Blogs](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs) and [Articles](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles)
- [Photography](https://dhruvagrawat.com/photography): photos from Himalayan treks and travels
- [Travel journal](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel): interactive globe of places visited and a travel wishlist
- [Free tools](https://dhruvagrawat.com/tools)
- [Status](https://dhruvagrawat.com/status): live uptime of Dhruv's sites and services
- [SSH Like a Pro: Keys, ~/.ssh/config, Tunnels and Hardening](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/ssh-tips-config-keys-tunnels): Use ed25519 keys, ~/.ssh/config shortcuts, jump hosts and port forwarding like a pro — then harden your server's SSH daemon.
- [Keep Arch Linux Stable: Btrfs Snapshots, Updates & Recovery](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/keep-arch-linux-stable-btrfs-snapshots): Make Arch Linux dependable: Btrfs snapshots with Snapper and snap-pac, safe update habits, an LTS kernel fallback and arch-chroot recovery.
- [Your First Open Source Contribution: A Practical, No-Fear Guide](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/first-open-source-contribution): How to find a beginner-friendly open source project, pick an issue, fork, branch, commit and open a pull request that maintainers actually want to merge.
- [systemd for Developers: Services, Timers and journalctl Explained](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/systemd-services-timers-journalctl): Run your app as a systemd service that restarts on crash, replace cron with systemd timers, and read logs with journalctl. Copy-paste unit files included.
- [Hyprland vs Sway vs i3: Which Tiling Window Manager?](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/tiling-window-managers-hyprland-sway-i3): An honest comparison of Hyprland, Sway and i3 — what tiling window managers are, who each suits, and a starter config to get going.
- [Manage Your Dotfiles with GNU Stow and Git (the Simple Way)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/dotfiles-gnu-stow-git): Keep your .bashrc, .zshrc, git, Neovim and terminal configs in one git repo and symlink them anywhere with GNU Stow — set up a new Linux machine in minutes.
- [12 Modern CLI Tools That Replace the Classics (and Why)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/modern-cli-tools): ripgrep, fd, bat, eza, fzf, zoxide and more — faster, friendlier replacements for grep, find, cat and ls, with install commands and config.
- [30 Linux Terminal Tricks That Save Me Hours Every Week](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/linux-terminal-tricks): Keyboard shortcuts, history tricks, brace expansion, xargs and more — practical Bash and Zsh tricks that make you much faster in the terminal.
- [pacman and the AUR: The Arch Linux Package Cheat Sheet](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/pacman-aur-cheat-sheet): Every pacman command you'll actually use, plus installing from the AUR safely with paru or yay, fixing keyring errors and rolling back packages.
- [How to Install Arch Linux: A Clear, Step-by-Step Guide](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/install-arch-linux-guide): Install Arch Linux on a UEFI machine step by step — partitioning, pacstrap, bootloader, networking and your first user — with every command explained.
- [Getting Started with Next.js 15](https://dhruvagrawat.com/blogs/getting-started-with-nextjs): A practical guide to building your first production-ready app with Next.js 15, the App Router, and server components.
- [Winter Snow Treks in Uttarakhand: Kedarkantha, Brahmatal & Dayara](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/winter-snow-treks-uttarakhand): A first-timer's guide to Kedarkantha, Brahmatal and Dayara Bugyal: altitude, duration, best months, what to pack and how to stay safe in the snow.
- [Client Contracts & Scope Creep: Keeping an Agency Sane](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/client-contracts-scope-creep): What every web project contract needs, how to write a clear scope, and a change-request process that turns scope creep into paid work.
- [Rishikesh Beyond Rafting: A Nature Lover's Guide](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/rishikesh-nature-guide): The quieter side of Rishikesh: ghats at dawn, forest waterfalls, the Beatles Ashram, Kunjapuri sunrise and Rajaji National Park, plus when to go.
- [How to Price Freelance Web Development Projects in India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/pricing-freelance-web-projects-india): Hourly vs fixed vs value pricing, estimating projects, milestone payments, international clients, GST basics and retainers that stabilise income.
- [How to Secure a Next.js and Node.js App in Production](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/secure-nextjs-nodejs-production): A production security checklist for Next.js and Node.js: secrets, security headers and CSP, auth, server actions, validation and rate limiting.
- [How to Start and Run a Small Web Agency in India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/how-to-start-run-web-agency-india): Lessons from co-founding a tech agency: picking a niche, finding clients, pricing, hiring, delivery, cash flow and the mistakes that sink agencies.
- [8 Web Vulnerabilities Every Developer Should Know](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/web-vulnerabilities-every-developer-should-know): Broken access control, injection, XSS, CSRF, SSRF, leaked secrets and more — how each attack works and how to fix it, with code examples.
- [Passkeys, Password Managers and 2FA: Securing Your Digital Life](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/passkeys-password-managers-2fa): How password managers, passkeys and the right kind of 2FA protect you — plus a 30-minute plan to lock down your email, bank and work accounts.
- [Best Himachal Treks for Beginners: Triund, Kheerganga & More](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/himachal-treks-for-beginners): Triund, Kheerganga, Kareri Lake, Prashar Lake and Hampta Pass: a beginner's guide to Himachal treks with difficulty, seasons and packing tips.
- [Website Security Checklist for Small Businesses (2026 Edition)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/website-security-checklist-small-business): A plain-English, 20-point security checklist for small business websites: HTTPS, updates, backups, logins, headers and what to do if hacked.
- [Building Scalable APIs with Node.js and PostgreSQL](https://dhruvagrawat.com/articles/building-scalable-apis): Practical patterns for designing APIs that stay fast and maintainable as your user base grows — connection pooling, query optimization, and caching strategies.

## Recipes
- [Punjabi Chole Masala](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/punjabi-chole-masala) (North Indian, vegetarian): Dark, tangy, dhaba-style Punjabi chole: chickpeas cooked with tea for colour, then simmered in a deeply browned onion-tomato masala.
- [Palak Paneer](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/palak-paneer) (North Indian, vegetarian): Bright green palak paneer: blanched spinach blended into a smooth, gently spiced gravy with soft paneer — and the trick to keep it vibrant.
- [Pesto alla Genovese (with Trofie, Potatoes & Beans)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/pesto-alla-genovese) (Italian): Authentic Genoese basil pesto made the Ligurian way, served with trofie, potatoes and green beans cooked in the same pot.
- [Veg Dum Biryani](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/veg-dum-biryani) (North Indian, vegetarian): Fragrant layered veg dum biryani: spiced yogurt-marinated vegetables, basmati, fried onions, mint and saffron, sealed and slow-steamed.
- [Cacio e Pepe](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/cacio-e-pepe) (Italian): The Roman classic of pasta, Pecorino Romano and black pepper, with a foolproof method for a creamy, clump-free sauce. No butter, no cream.
- [Dal Makhani (Restaurant Style)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/dal-makhani) (North Indian, vegetarian): Slow-cooked Punjabi dal makhani: black urad dal and rajma simmered with butter, tomato and cream until velvety, with optional dhungar smoke.
- [Bruschetta al Pomodoro](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/bruschetta-al-pomodoro) (Italian, vegetarian): Classic Italian tomato bruschetta: grilled bread rubbed with garlic, topped with ripe tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Ready in 20 minutes.
- [Fettuccine Alfredo (the Original, No Cream)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/fettuccine-alfredo-authentic) (Italian): The original Roman fettuccine Alfredo: just butter, Parmigiano Reggiano and pasta water emulsified into a silky sauce. No cream, 15 minutes.
- [Shahi Paneer](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/shahi-paneer) (North Indian, vegetarian): Restaurant-style shahi paneer: soft paneer in a rich, mildly spiced Mughlai gravy of onions, tomatoes, cashews and cream, finished with kasuri methi.
- [Penne all'Arrabbiata](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/penne-allarrabbiata) (Italian, vegetarian): Authentic Roman penne arrabbiata: a fiery tomato sauce of garlic, dried chilli and olive oil. No cream, no onion — ready in 30 minutes.
- [Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)](https://dhruvagrawat.com/resipy/butter-chicken) (North Indian): The classic North Indian curry — tender chicken in a velvety tomato-cream sauce with warm spices. Rich, comforting, and surprisingly simple.

## Travel journal
- [Chandrashila Peak, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/chandrashila-peak) (visited): A winter climb from Chopta past Tungnath to Chandrashila summit — deep snow, a whiteout on the way up and a clear 360° Himalayan panorama at the top.
- [Rishikesh, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/rishikesh) (visited): A winter day on the Ganga above Rishikesh — jade-green water, smooth river boulders and the Shivalik foothills closing in on both banks.
- [Dharamshala, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/dharamshala) (visited): The gateway to the Dhauladhar range — where the Kangra valley ends and the road starts climbing towards McLeod Ganj, Triund and Laka Glacier.
- [McLeod Ganj, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/mcleod-ganj) (visited): Sunrise over McLeod Ganj — pastel rooftops stacked on the hillside, deodar forest all around and the Dhauladhars fading into morning haze.
- [Triund Trek, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/triund-trek) (visited): The classic Dhauladhar ridge walk above McLeod Ganj: a steep forest climb to open meadows at 2,850 m, the valley on one side and high peaks on the other.
- [Laka Glacier, India](https://dhruvagrawat.com/travel/laka-glacier) (visited): Beyond Triund and Snowline: a boulder valley at around 3,350 m where snow still lies in the gullies under the Dhauladhar wall, even in June.

## Free tools (no sign-up, most run entirely in the browser)
- [Weather](https://dhruvagrawat.com/weather): Real-time weather for any city. Powered by Open-Meteo — always free.
- [Currency Converter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/currency): Convert between currencies with live exchange rates.
- [World Clock](https://dhruvagrawat.com/time): Track multiple time zones at once.
- [IP Info](https://dhruvagrawat.com/ip): Your current IP address, ISP, location, and timezone.
- [EMI Calculator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/emi-calculator): Monthly EMI, total interest and a full amortization schedule.
- [SIP Calculator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/sip-calculator): Future value of a monthly SIP, with optional annual step-up.
- [GST Calculator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/gst-calculator): Add or remove GST with CGST / SGST / IGST split.
- [Percentage Calculator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/percentage-calculator): % of a number, % change, discounts — with formulas.
- [Age Calculator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/age-calculator): Exact age in years, months and days, plus next birthday.
- [Unit Converter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/unit-converter): Length, weight, temperature, area, volume, speed and data.
- [JSON Formatter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/json-formatter): Beautify, minify and validate JSON with clear error messages.
- [Base64 Encoder / Decoder](https://dhruvagrawat.com/base64): Encode and decode Base64 (UTF-8, URL-safe, files).
- [UUID Generator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/uuid-generator): Generate random v4 UUIDs / GUIDs in bulk.
- [Unix Timestamp Converter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/timestamp): Convert epoch timestamps to dates and back.
- [Hash Generator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/hash-generator): SHA-1 / SHA-256 / SHA-512 hashes of text or files.
- [JWT Decoder](https://dhruvagrawat.com/jwt-decoder): Decode JWT header & payload, check expiry. Nothing is uploaded.
- [URL Encoder / Decoder](https://dhruvagrawat.com/url-encoder): Percent-encode / decode and parse query parameters.
- [Regex Tester](https://dhruvagrawat.com/regex-tester): Live match highlighting, groups and replace preview.
- [Diff Checker](https://dhruvagrawat.com/diff-checker): Compare two texts line by line with highlighted changes.
- [Word Counter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/word-counter): Words, characters, sentences and reading time as you type.
- [Color Converter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/color-converter): HEX ↔ RGB ↔ HSL with a picker and contrast check.
- [QR Code Generator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/qr): Turn any URL or text into a QR code. Download as PNG.
- [Password Generator](https://dhruvagrawat.com/password): Cryptographically random passwords. Generated locally, never sent anywhere.
- [Case Converter](https://dhruvagrawat.com/case-converter): UPPER, lower, Title, camelCase, snake_case and more.
- [Image Compressor](https://dhruvagrawat.com/image-compressor): Compress, resize and convert images — never uploaded.

## Elsewhere
- GitHub: https://github.com/dhruvagrawat
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvagrawat/
- X: https://x.com/DhruvAgrawat
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhruvagrawat/
- LeetCode: https://leetcode.com/dhruvagrawat/
- GeeksforGeeks: https://auth.geeksforgeeks.org/user/dhruvagrawat