"Unikey is a typing solution"
Unikey at 25
Yesterday, March 26th, marked 25 years since Unikey was released for free public use. Across social media platforms, numerous people shared posts expressing gratitude to Mr. Pham Kim Long (born 1973). He overcame significant criticism and skepticism to create this "national software." Despite receiving multiple offers to commercialize the program, he remained firm in his decision to keep it free for the community to use.
"Unikey is my hobby, and I will always maintain it as free software," Mr. Long emphasized. The story of Unikey online and its creator has touched many hearts. Mr. Long's dedication to providing a solution for Vietnamese typing has made a significant impact. His decision to keep the software free, despite commercial opportunities, shows his commitment to serving the community. Today, images of Unikey and its creator, Mr. Pham Kim Long - the person who developed this famous Vietnamese typing software - are being widely shared across social media platforms.
Before Unikey online became available, typing Vietnamese on computers was quite challenging, despite the existence of several support programs. During this period, font errors and compatibility issues across different platforms made digital communication in Vietnamese rather difficult.
In 2000, when Windows began supporting Unicode encoding for Vietnamese language, a young research student named Pham Kim Long had an innovative idea to develop a free Unicode-supported typing tool. This idea emerged at a crucial time when digital communication was rapidly evolving.
From Assembly to Ubiquity
After just three days and two nights of intense design and coding, Mr. Pham Kim Long launched the first Unicode support program called Unikey. This Vietnamese typing software was lightweight, user-friendly, stable, and worked seamlessly across various applications. It allowed users to type Vietnamese text without worrying about font compatibility issues, making it an essential tool for Vietnamese language users.
The quick development of Unikey was possible because its foundation had been laid back in 1994. At that time, Pham Kim Long and three of his classmates had challenged each other to create the most compact Vietnamese typing program for the DOS operating system using Assembly programming language. Long won this friendly competition by developing a program that was only 2KB in size. This small but efficient program later became the foundation for what we now know as Unikey online, the widely-used Vietnamese typing software.
After Unikey online was released, Mr. Long received numerous offers to commercialize the product. However, he declined them all.
"Making Unikey a free software was a natural decision because it was created to fulfill users' needs for a free typing program. Moreover, when you create something beneficial, it's natural to want to share it with others. I don't oppose those who develop commercial software - their work is completely legitimate. Although I make my living by writing software, Unikey isn't meant for profit. Unikey is my hobby, so developing it serves my personal interest as well. I will always keep Unikey free. Furthermore, since Unikey is open source, anyone can take it and develop it further," Mr. Long explains.
From Student Project to Global Integration
"Anyone can take it and develop it further" - this statement proved significant when, in 2006, Apple contacted Pham Kim Long to integrate Unikey's core into all their products. Since then, all iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Macbooks have been using Unikey for their built-in Vietnamese typing feature.
More than two decades have passed, and Unikey remains the most popular Vietnamese typing software, helping millions of Vietnamese people with their daily typing needs. Its success story demonstrates how a student's project evolved into an essential tool for digital communication in Vietnamese. The software's journey from a simple typing program to being integrated into major technology platforms shows its significant impact on making Vietnamese language accessible in the digital world.
The "Father" of Unikey online has had a remarkable journey with two decades of technological innovation.
Over 25 years, Unikey has remained an essential software for Vietnamese users. The story of Pham Kim Long and Unikey isn't just about talent and passion; it's a testament to the generous spirit of the Vietnamese people.
The 'Father' of Unikey forms a connection with two of Vietnam's tech unicorns
The Evolving Odyssey of Pham Kim Long: From Unikey Pioneer to MoMo's AI Visionary
Mr. Long's career has continuously evolved and expanded. Starting as a student at Hanoi University of Technology, followed by his research period in the Czech Republic, he returned to his homeland to contribute to several advanced technology companies. His journey took him from IBM Vietnam to FPT Telecom, and eventually to VNG, where he worked on the Zalo AI project.
After his time at Zalo, Mr. Pham Kim Long embarked on a new chapter at MoMo, where he continues to pursue his passion for natural language processing and computer vision technology.
The "Father" of Unikey, Pham Kim Long, has joined the technology unicorn MoMo, marking another significant milestone in his impressive career journey.
Mr. Long shared that at MoMo, he discovered a vast "playground" with rich and diverse data, where services and products are pre-integrated, creating an ideal environment for him to showcase his abilities. During his discussions with MoMo's leadership team, he became increasingly excited about their clear vision and objectives for AI, a promising tool that would bring practical benefits to users. These factors motivated him to make a significant decision: to join MoMo and be part of their innovative journey.
His passion for work serves as an endless source of inspiration, driving him to believe in and fully commit to the projects he pursues. As a developer who contributed to unikey online and other technological innovations, his dedication remains unwavering.
To maintain intense focus, Mr. Long explains that he regularly limits his social media usage and sets specific time slots for responding to online discussions to avoid distractions. This disciplined approach helps him stay productive and concentrated on his work.
Balancing Act: How a Tech Innovator Harmonizes Work and Wellness
Additionally, participating in sports activities such as running, tennis, and swimming not only helps him recharge with positive energy but also improves his work concentration. These physical activities provide a balanced lifestyle that complements his demanding technical work.
In any professional environment, conflicting opinions are inevitable. When facing such situations, the creator of unikey online believes in maintaining a professional in maintaining a professional attitude, focusing on the issues at hand, and avoiding personal criticism. Calmly listening, analyzing, and evaluating all arguments before providing appropriate feedback often leads to better outcomes.
The essence of disagreements isn't about determining who's right or wrong. Instead, the key is identifying the person ultimately responsible for decision-making, which helps guide the project toward the best possible solution. This approach ensures that discussions remain productive and goal-oriented.
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Source:
H.Linh (TH) - 27/03/2025 - https://markettimes.vn/25-nam-sau-khi-tang-unikey-mien-phi-cho-cong-dong-cha-de-phan-mem-quoc-dan-viet-nam-dang-o-dau-79709.html
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