Topic

Architecture

A collection of essays to explore, one idea at a time.

Essays

Newest first

How request coalescing collapses concurrent cache misses into a single database query, protecting your backend from catastrophic cache stampedes.

25 September 20264 min read

Learn how UUIDv7 fixes B-tree index fragmentation, cuts write amplification, and keeps distributed ID generation fast in modern databases.

24 September 20263 min read

Massive frontier models are overkill for GUI clicks. CUA-S1 proves tiny 706k-parameter models offer faster, cheaper desktop automation.

20 September 20263 min read

Build high-throughput background queues in PostgreSQL using FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED without adding Redis or RabbitMQ infrastructure.

16 September 20264 min read

Learn why oversized database connection pools ruin performance, and how to calculate the optimal pool size for high-throughput microservices.

28 August 20264 min read

Stop wasting server resources with HTTP polling. Learn how Server-Sent Events (SSE) deliver real-time data efficiently with clean code examples.

12 August 20264 min read

Learn how to build resilient APIs that handle duplicate requests safely using Idempotency Keys, Redis locks, and database constraints.

23 July 20265 min read

Discover how missing API timeouts cause cascading failures in microservices. Learn how to implement timeouts correctly in Node.js, Python, and Go.

19 July 20265 min read

Stop dropping user requests during deployments. Learn how to implement graceful shutdown in your Node.js backend to ensure zero-downtime updates.

11 July 20264 min read