The cost of context switching
Performance optimization is a tempting distraction. Every line of code that exists to optimize one specific case is a line that must be maintained and understood forever.
Latest writing
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The ergonomics of error handling
The tools we reach for shape our thinking. I've spent the last decade in terminals and shells, and it's changed how I approach problem-solving in subtle ways.
From the archive
Distributed systems fail in ways that are hard to predict. After years of debugging production incidents, certain patterns keep recurring. This post explores a few.
About this site
These are my notes on building reliable, readable, maintainable systems. Interested in clarity over cleverness.
Thoughts on design. Updated monthly.
Elsewhere
Occasional thoughts on design topics. Past essays here.