What Happens When You Type a URL Into Your Browser?
What happens when you type a URL, step by step: DNS lookup, TCP or QUIC, TLS handshake, HTTP request, CDN, server work, and browser rendering explained.
WRITING / NOTES FROM THE FORGE
Articles
In-depth tech articles on system design, DSA, AI engineering, data engineering, and building software that lasts.
Database Sharding Explained: When and How to Shard
Database sharding explained: when you actually need it, how to pick a shard key, range vs hash vs directory sharding, and how to handle rebalancing.
Embeddings Explained: How AI Understands Meaning
Embeddings explained for developers: what embeddings are, how they capture meaning, how cosine similarity works, and how to use them for search and RAG.
Graph Algorithms Every Developer Should Know: BFS, DFS, and Dijkstra
Graph algorithms every developer should know: when to use BFS, DFS, or Dijkstra, how each works, and correct Python code for routing and dependency problems.
How to Choose a Vector Database for Your AI Application
How to choose a vector database: a practical comparison of dedicated vector DBs, pgvector, search engines, and libraries by scale, filtering, and cost.
JWT vs Session Authentication: Which One Should You Use?
JWT vs session authentication explained: how each works, security trade-offs, revocation, scaling, and a clear rule for picking the right one for your app.
Load Balancing Algorithms Explained: Round Robin to Consistent Hashing
Load balancing algorithms explained: round robin, weighted, least connections, IP hash, power of two choices, and consistent hashing, with when to use each.
RAG Explained: How to Build Retrieval-Augmented Generation That Works
RAG explained for developers: how retrieval-augmented generation works, how to chunk, embed, retrieve, and rerank, and how to evaluate a RAG pipeline.
Dynamic Programming for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Method
Dynamic programming for beginners: a repeatable five-step method to define state, write the recurrence, and move from memoization to tabulation with code.
Prompt Engineering Best Practices for Developers
Prompt engineering best practices for developers: clear instructions, examples, structured output, delimiters, evals, and patterns that make LLMs reliable.
Caching Strategies Explained: Cache-Aside, Write-Through, and More
Caching strategies compared: cache-aside, read-through, write-through, write-behind, and write-around, with trade-offs, code, and when to use each.
REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC: How to Choose the Right API Style
REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC compared on performance, caching, tooling, and team fit, with a practical decision guide for public, frontend, and internal APIs.