Building for the long tail
Naming is one of the hardest problems in software, yet we spend less time on it than we should. Let's talk about why it matters and how to get better at it.
Recent writing
- On writing code that lasts· 18 hours ago · 23,900 reads
- The ergonomics of error handling· 17 hours ago
- The cost of context switching· 16 hours ago
Notes on system reliability
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.
From the archive
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.
About this site
Occasional thoughts on engineering practices, tooling, and how we think about code. No sponsors, no tracking, no ads.
Thoughts on systems. Updated sporadically.
Elsewhere
Occasional notes on systems topics. Past essays here.