10-year-old has dad firmly behind him

HE WAS the world's youngest iPhone application developer, at nine years old.

Just a year on, Lim Ding Wen has shown so much promise that his father has decided to quit his job to help his son realise his dream of becoming a software developer.

Just last month, Mr Lim Thye Chean, 41, set up Virtual GS, to publish his and his son's works.

Both are focusing on developing mobile phone applications, primarily games, for smart phones such as Apple's iPhone, Google Android, Lenovo's new LePhone, and the Java platform.

The former chief technology officer at an Internet Protocol TV company, Mr Lim is now getting a fraction of what he used to earn, but believes in his son, who has learnt nine programming languages since he was seven.

Right now, Mr Lim said, proceeds from the efforts of Virtual GS - more than US$1,000 (S$1,400) a month, up from US$100 last year - cover the family's basic expenses.

'I have quit my job to work on this, as it can now cover our basic expenses, but it is growing fast...so this should be able to grow into a viable business one day,' he enthused.

Mr Lim, who also has two daughters, aged six and four, said he has no particular secret to producing gifted kids.

'The key is not to force them to do anything. You don't have to teach kids about computers, they just know.'

'I always tell Ding Wen he's not a genius. Just give them the right environment...Meanwhile, he can enjoy being the world's youngest iPhone app developer - until his younger sisters come along, of course.'

tanwz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.