My mini-memoir

Looking back, I cannot believe a passed-down computer with a Pentium and a gigabyte of memory running Windows XP was all it took to kick off this lifelong obsession with computers.

I am Pranav Karawale, a digital artisan & an architect of systems, and this is my "about me". Computers, mobile phones, and electronics have always been a place of awe and a fountain of curiosity for me ever since I was a kid. This lifelong obsession has guided me to learn and master the skill of having a way with computers and making them do what I want.
While dragging that computer to its absolute limits, I was glued to the screen for hours, when a random day in 2019 I ended up on a tutorial on how to make a website. From there things kicked off, which has led here to this website and a lot of other things in my professional journey.
Upgrading machines and buying new laptops with hard-earned money also gave me a sense of responsibility regarding their care and a constant appreciation of the hardware, the software, the build, and the advancements technology has made so far. I am truly grateful to have witnessed such colossal amounts of innovation and privileged enough to experience it and harness its powers.

Precision over Pixels

You may have noticed this as the main tagline of my website. Well, what's in a design philosophy anyway? You might think that is what I am inferring, but that phrase is indeed my philosophy. I believe software should be like a LaFerrari: exquisite beauty on the outside, backed by raw, uncompromising power on the inside.
I also believe that a machine should be transparent and not locked-down; it should be so simple and open at its core that it embraces its user to blow a soul into it with their own personal touch, making it something that's truly theirs. I aim to make stuff that is a well-engineered piece of art where every component works together, creating a harmony of their own. Precision of engineering spread over pixels of art.

What hats do I wear?

My expertise lies in Full-Stack web applications and the "magic" of connecting software with the physical world through IoT and embedded devices. Recently, I've been diving deep into Machine Learning on embedded systems. I also bring these engineering opinions to Pravideon Pvt. Ltd., where I serve as Co-Founder. There, I work with my team to build performant, reliable systems that live up to the eye candy. We deal with end-to-end web & mobile apps, hardware automation, and the union of these fields. The projects page of my website hosts a collection of my work. For a more professional overview, you can check out my résumé.

What does retronav mean??

[retro] + pra[nav]
The name "retronav" is a portmanteau of "retro" and "nav", where "nav" is a shortened form of my first name, Pranav. The "retro" part signifies my love for retro aesthetics and technology from the 80s, 90s, 00s, which are nostalgia now, but for its time looked like the future.

Getting in touch

If my mini-memoir sounds interesting enough for a small conversation, you are absolutely welcome! I love to have a chat with people with interesting ideas and concrete opinions. All you need to do is send that email!