Coding the Future

Creating a program through coding is never accomplished in a short period of time.

Especially for a high-level program like the one I was trying to build; it was like constructing a massive skyscraper, requiring immense effort and time.

Planning it, defining its structure and design—that's just the beginning. Then comes the actual implementation, testing, debugging, and eventually, maintenance.

From a macro perspective, I would follow a similar process.

Of course, there would be differences in the details.

First of all, there's no need for planning.

The planning for this development was already complete.

Since it was the translation program I had dreamed of for so long, I had already written down the proposal.

Shall we move straight to the design phase, then?

In this context, design included system architecture design, module design, data structure design, and algorithm design.

It meant planning the strategy to develop the program to its final stage in detail and finalizing the overall structure of the system.

I'll use text prototyping programs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and UML tools.

For prototyping, I used Freema, and for the UML tool, I used System Architect. One was to clarify the system requirements in text, and the other was to visualize it through diagrams.

Since the programming language I was using had changed, which in turn altered the scope of what could be implemented, I had to rewrite this part from scratch.

However, it wasn't difficult because I already had several types of complete open-source translation engines stored in my head.

Although I spent a considerable amount of time pondering, I eventually finished it.

Now, it's time to implement it.

From this point on, it would take far more time than before.

After all, this was the process of actually building the program.

There were so many steps involved.

Data collection and preprocessing, tokenization and embedding, model selection, design, construction, followed by additional training and testing.

Even looking at it in broad strokes, it's incredibly complex.

Regardless, I would take these steps one by one.

First, data collection and preprocessing.

To start, I needed basic English and Korean data.

This was to establish the cognitive foundation for the program I was building.

Fortunately, these datasets were shared as open-source, and I had already gathered enough of them when making my practice program, so I could just reuse them.

I don't really need to do tokenization and embedding from scratch either.

To put it simply, these two steps convert human language into a format that a computer can understand.

Tokenization breaks human language down into smaller units like words, punctuation, or numbers.

Embedding converts those small units into numbers that the computer can process.

But since there were already pre-processed datasets and models available, I could just use those.

Time is precious.

The part where it got truly complicated was next.

I have to select, design, and build the model.

It is easiest to think of a model as a bundle of materials needed to build a program.

I had to select those materials, design them in detail, and then build them up, shovel by shovel.

Just like constructing a real building.

Therefore, finishing this process required an immense amount of time.

That was why developers usually teamed up to write code, and why they specialized in different fields.

But in my case, things are a bit different.

I had used the skill to acquire all knowledge of this transcendent language, as well as the technology required to build an AI translation program.

Natural language processing, machine learning, neural networks, DevOps, and more.

I was in a state where I could naturally recall and apply all of those technologies.

In other words, I can build it all by myself.

A complete AI translation program, from start to finish.

And my coding speed is incredibly fast.

In movies, developers memorize source code and type away at black screens without a single pause, but reality is different.

Aside from a few frequently used lines of code, they usually have to search the internet and slowly apply things one by one.

On the other hand, since the code comes to my mind instantly...

My coding speed was bound to be monstrously fast, just like in the movies.

Anyway.

First, let's choose a model.

The fact that I scored a perfect mark on the CSAT and did an interview even had an impact on my business.

The microbial purification device was mentioned in most of the articles, and companies that read about it began reaching out with inquiries.

They wanted to know if they could implement it as well.

My mother, who took those calls, hooked the clients. In just a few days, she secured over ten locations.

"Yes, I'll send it right over!"

"Of course that's possible! When would be convenient for you?"

Thanks to that, I became busy as well.

To provide an estimate, I had to visit the companies in person.

Once a contract was finalized, I had to go back to draw up the blueprints and periodically check the progress of the construction.

Fortunately, my mother had learned how to place orders with our subcontractors and took charge of that, which significantly reduced my workload.

"Whew, I'm home!"

"Son! We got another order today!"

"Really?"

My mother possessed surprisingly good sales skills.

Well, thanks to that, we were making a lot of money.

But it's a bit of a shame that it leaves me with less time for other things.

In the meantime, the college application period arrived.

After consulting with my homeroom teacher, I submitted my applications.

KAIST, Hankuk University, POSTECH.

It was because of my teacher's advice, who said I would get accepted wherever I applied anyway, so I should apply to Hankuk University as well and think about it once the results came out.

As for POSTECH, I added it because it was also an excellent engineering school.

Though I'll still end up going to KAIST.

Unlike me, who made the decision so easily, the other kids were agonizing over their choices.

Starting with Jang Junyeob.

"Argh! I can't decide!"

"About what?"

"Daejeon Municipal University or Seodaemun University! That is the question!"

"What's the difference?"

"The former means staying here in Daejeon, and the latter means going to Seoul. That's why!"

Hmm, is that really something to agonize over?

"Can't you just apply to the university you want to go to?"

"Ha! Of course I want to go to Seoul! And live on my own! It's a man's romance! But... my family's financial situation isn't great."

Ah.

Hearing that, it made sense why he was struggling.

His desires clashed with reality.

I already knew that Jang Junyeob's family wasn't well-off.

In that situation, going to a university in Seoul would mean renting a place and covering living expenses, which would be a heavy burden.

And it's not like his grades are high enough to get a scholarship.

I briefly thought about offering financial support, but decided against it. Not only did I have no real reason to go that far, but it might also hurt his pride.

Besides, it wasn't like his future would be ruined just because he didn't go to a school in Seoul.

Well, he'll figure it out.

Meanwhile, Oh Yunsung returned to the classroom after finishing his consultation.

He naturally walked over to us.

"How did it go?"

"Oh, you know. I just decided to apply to three schools based on my grades."

"Where?"

"Anam University, Wangsimni University, and Baekbeom Daeheung University."

"They're all in Seoul?"

All three were prestigious universities located in Seoul.

His grades were high enough to get in.

His grades had improved significantly after studying with me.

Although Anam University was a bit of a stretch, he had a high chance of getting in, just as he had hoped.

Good for him.

But then, Jang Junyeob muttered with a gloomy expression.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Then I guess I'm the only one staying in Daejeon..."

Huh?

"I'm staying too."

"Why you?"

I replied to his bewildered question.

"I told you I'm going to KAIST, didn't I?"

At that, his head snapped up.

"Really? You're not going to Hankuk University?"

"Yeah. I told you before. I'm going to KAIST."

I even said so in the interview.

"Seriously? So you're staying in Daejeon?"

"Yeah."

Since KAIST is in Daejeon.

He immediately brightened up and cheered.

"Oh! Then I'm staying in Daejeon too! Sweet! Problem solved!"

A few days later, the acceptance results were announced.

I did it!

I was officially accepted into KAIST.

I got into the other two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as well, but I didn't feel particularly thrilled about them.

However...

"Son!"

"This is amazing!"

My parents were absolutely ecstatic just by the fact that I got into college. Of course, it was only natural since all three were considered the top universities in Korea.

"Hahaha! Talk about turning our lives around!"

"Our son is going to college! Whoo-hoo!"

For some reason, they seemed more amazed and excited by the simple fact that I was going to college at all.

Come to think of it, they were very happy in my past life too.

Back when I got into college then.

Of course, it was not to this extent, but they were still quite happy.

Because they had assumed I wouldn't be able to go to college in the first place.

I had completely turned my back on studying throughout high school.

I had foolishly wasted all my precious time on games.

But now, so much has changed.

My life, and their lives as well.

I was going to college at the normal age, my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠father had been promoted instead of demoted, and my mother had quit her restaurant job to become a capable sales manager.

Everything had changed for the better, toward happiness. I was satisfied.

Heh.

When it came to making the final decision, my parents respected my choice.

"I'm going to go to KAIST."

"Go ahead."

"Hmm... I'm sure you thought it through and made the right choice. Do as you wish."

They supported me, and I decided to enroll at KAIST as I had originally planned.

The tuition fee of over five million won was not an issue. I was receiving a full scholarship.

Honestly, even without it, the money wouldn't have been much of a burden.

Since I've already earned plenty of money.

Because the business was still ongoing, it was hard to calculate the exact amount, but it had easily surpassed one billion won.

"So, since things turned out like this, why don't we move to a new house?"

Our house was in Daejeon.

It was located slightly on the outskirts, and the building itself was very old.

Since I was going to a university in Daejeon anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to move.

Especially since we had the financial leeway.

"Should we?"

"Hmm... but it's money you worked so hard to earn. Spending it like this feels a bit... and above all, it's your money. I don't think it's right to use it to move our house."

My mother opposed my suggestion. My father initially agreed with me but then nodded at my mother's words.

However, after a persistent tug-of-war, we finally decided to move.

"It's fine. I earned it to spend it on things like this anyway. Besides, even if we buy a house, the title will be under my name."

"Hmm..."

"Alright..."

Since they both looked quite embarrassed, I changed the subject.

"By the way, did you two get your health checkups recently?"

"Well, we did. The basic one provided by the government."

"Me too."

But that wasn't enough.

Those only covered the bare minimum.

And while I wasn't sure about my father, I knew for a fact that my mother would get cancer in the future.

Although it was a bit early, I had to make sure we caught it in advance.

"Let's get a separate one. The most expensive, full-course package."

"No, there's no need to go that far..."

"Oh dear, that's just extravagant."

As expected, they both refused, but I persisted.

"What's the point of earning money if we don't spend it? There's really nowhere else to use it right now anyway."

"True. We need to stay healthy to watch over our son for a long time."

"Exactly. Falling sick would just make us a burden. We should check in advance."

A few days passed.

Finally!

The self-learning AI translation program was complete.