Newsletters

Common infrastructure errors I've made

December 12, 2021

This issue explores common infrastructure pitfalls, the unique Rockstar programming language, Shopify's impressive Cyber Monday stats, the complexities of asynchronous programming, and reflections on being an average developer.

Computer networking basics every developer should know

December 05, 2021

In this issue, explore essential networking concepts for developers, learn to measure software complexity, grasp floating point basics, discover impactful books for your career, and dive into product management essentials for engineers.

Time management for makers

November 28, 2021

This week's issue dives into time management for makers, the value of measurement, the fundamentals of cryptography, the pitfalls of overengineering, and a guide to understanding Terraform. Unlock insights to enhance your projects.

Avoiding premature software abstractions

November 21, 2021

This week's issue delves into the nuances of software development, from the pitfalls of premature abstractions to the enduring relevance of SOLID principles. We also explore the value of developer estimates and roadmap planning for individual contributors.

The invisible JavaScript backdoor

November 14, 2021

In this issue, explore an invisible JavaScript backdoor, delve into frontend philosophy with React + Next.js, learn to build a CPU from scratch, and discover best practices for securing your REST API. Don't miss out.

42 things I learned from building a production database

November 07, 2021

In this issue, explore insights from building a production database, tips for asking effective questions, the mechanics of tries in JavaScript, the most used software components, and the best way to learn a new programming language.

Habits for fast and efficient programming

October 31, 2021

In this issue, explore strategies for efficient programming, Apple's journey to the M1 Pro chip, the purpose of your code, incident review best practices, and career advice on embracing uncertainty in your tech career.

What to learn

October 24, 2021

This issue explores valuable insights for developers, from mastering hidden Chrome Dev Tools features to understanding sociotechnical challenges in software. Plus, discover the importance of doing extra and the fascinating world of time zone maintenance.

Understanding how Facebook disappeared from the internet

October 17, 2021

This issue explores Facebook's sudden internet disappearance, delves into NP-hard puzzle-solving techniques, examines BGP after the outage, critiques IBM Cloud's struggles, and poses questions about engineering culture in tech companies.

Gentle introduction to GPUs inner workings

October 10, 2021

This issue explores the inner workings of GPUs, the responsibilities of software developers, performance insights from a Cassandra database on Ubuntu, and highlights from Postgres 14. Plus, gain wisdom from two decades in software engineering.

The code worked differently when the moon was full

October 03, 2021

In this issue, explore the quirks of programming with a deep dive into DMARC, tackle pesky bugs, and learn about designing low-maintenance software. Plus, discover how to enhance your coding experience in VS Code.

What makes a good changelog

September 26, 2021

In this issue, explore the nuances of changelogs, delve into the psychology behind pair programming, and gain insights on practical API design at Netflix. Plus, learn the art of reading code and tackle engineering challenges in mobile app development.

Exploring 120 years of timezones

September 19, 2021

In this issue, we tackle timezones' complexities, the importance of writing debuggable code, Kubernetes best practices, software's role in productivity, and how data visualization can diagnose engineering failures.

Writing well-documented code

September 12, 2021

In this issue, we explore the importance of well-documented code, scaling systems with caching, Netflix's A/B testing for decision making, and a new branching strategy for smoother collaboration. Plus, the challenges of app localization.

Operations is not Developer IT

September 05, 2021

This week's issue dives into software engineering challenges, from operations mishaps to the quirks of job interviews. We also explore retro software licensing, popular game engines on Steam, and GitHub Copilot's security findings.

Life before Unicode

August 29, 2021

In this issue, explore the complexities of Unicode, the significance of blue hyperlinks, a curated list of impactful computer science papers, the challenges of user-hostile software, and insights on API design from Slack.

How Google bought Android—according to folks in the room

August 22, 2021

In this issue, explore Google's acquisition of Android, delve into the intricacies of B-Trees, rethink the relevance of CSVs, master service reliability math, and discover how writing can elevate your developer career.

Best practices for writing code comments

August 15, 2021

This week's issue dives into essential coding practices, from writing effective comments and understanding Zero-based versioning to mastering HTTP/3 and key questions for new software engineers. Enhance your skills.

Use spreadsheets everywhere!

August 08, 2021

This week’s newsletter dives into the power of spreadsheets, visualizing codebases, must-know command line tools for productivity, the impact of AI on understanding, and the reality of security in tech. Explore these insights.

Zip: How not to design a file format

August 01, 2021

In this issue, explore the intricacies of file formats, the mesmerizing world of particle rendering, and the complexities of software development. Plus, uncover the journey of Dwarf Fortress and learn how to optimize SQLite for massive databases.