Blog
Articles, guides, and notes on software engineering.
8 Books on Computer and Network Fundamentals (CS, OS, and TCP/IP)
A reading list of 8 books for relearning computer and network fundamentals: how computers and programs work, an overview of computer science, the OS and UNIX, and TCP/IP and email. Each entry links to its full review.
Recent Posts
4 Books on Software Engineering Careers (From the Fundamentals to Staff Engineer)
A reading list of 4 books for thinking about a software engineering career: the fundamentals of the job, how to approach your career, and the staff engineer path to technical leadership. Each entry links to its full review.
4 Books on Software Development in the Generative AI Era (Prompts, Context, and AI Coding)
A reading list of 4 books for putting generative AI to work in development: prompt engineering, context engineering, AI coding in practice, and how to create value with generative AI. Each entry links to its full review.
6 Books on SaaS and Building a Business (Launch, Architecture, Sales, and Customers)
A reading list of 6 books for engineers who want to understand SaaS and new businesses: launching a SaaS, multi-tenant architecture, how sales and customer success work, and understanding customers with Lean Startup and Jobs Theory. Each entry links to its full review.
7 Books on Monitoring, SRE, and Operations (From Monitoring Basics to SLOs and Capacity)
A reading list of 7 books on monitoring, SRE, and operations: monitoring basics, reliability targets with SLOs, logging and observability, backups, and production readiness and capacity planning. Each entry links to its full review.
8 Books for Learning System Design and the Architect Role
A reading list of 8 books on system design and the work of an architect: design patterns through interview problems, the architecture design process, the architect's role, and trade-offs and non-functional requirements. Each entry links to its full review.
4 Books for Learning Web Performance (From Fundamentals to Tuning and CDNs)
A reading list of 4 books for making web systems faster: how system performance works, server-side tuning learned from ISUCON, frontend tuning, and delivery with HTTP caching and CDNs. Each entry links to its full review.
Designing Secure API Tokens with NIST CSF 2.0: Working Backward from Protect and Detect
Design an API token feature such as Personal Access Tokens (PATs) by working backward from the six NIST CSF 2.0 Functions (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover). Covers the DB schema, token format, scope checks, anomaly detection, secret scanning, and revocation with code examples.
Spinning Reel Casting Guide: Basics and Tips for Placing a Lure Where You Want It
A beginner's guide to casting lures with a spinning reel. Based on manufacturers' official guides, it covers the basic steps, cast types and when to use each, accuracy and distance tips, and how to prevent wind knots and other line trouble, with tables and diagrams.
Fundamentals of Software Engineering
A review of Fundamentals of Software Engineering by Nathaniel Schutta and Dan Vega. From reading and writing code, testing, architecture, and production to learning, careers, and working with AI, it surveys the practical basics that turn a coder into an engineer in one book.
Rockfish Lure Fishing Field Guide: Worms, Actions, and Colors for Groupers and Marbled Rockfish
A field guide to catching areolate grouper, blacktip grouper, and marbled rockfish on soft plastics. Covers fish behavior, worm types, actions, colors, rigs, and what to change first when nothing bites, with tables and diagrams.
The Lineage of Programming Languages Leading to Go
A source-checked walk through the lineage of programming languages from Algol 60 to Go: Wirth's Pascal-to-Oberon path and Hoare's CSP path through Newsqueak, Alef, and Limbo, and how both streams merge into Go.
9 Books for Learning Agile Development (Scrum, Lean, and Kaizen)
A staged reading list of 9 books for learning agile and lean development, from the basics to practice: agile fundamentals, practice and improvement, and lean validation of value. Each entry links to its full review.
5 Books for Engineers on the Basics of Business Systems
A reading list of 5 books for learning the basics of business systems from an engineer's view: accounting, finance, inventory, production, and logistics. It groups the 'Knowledge and Skills of X Systems for Engineers' series by domain, and each entry links to its full review.
9 Books for Writing Good Code (Readability and Refactoring)
A reading list of 9 books for writing readable, change-tolerant code: the basics of readability, improvement through refactoring, facing complexity, and a couple of titles to widen your view. Each entry links to its full review.
10 Books for Learning Databases (SQL, Design, and Operations)
A staged reading list of 10 books for learning databases, from SQL basics to design and operations: SQL basics, deeper SQL, design, PostgreSQL, and distributed data. Each entry links to its full review.
10 Books on Thinking and Intellectual Productivity for Engineers
A reading list of 10 books to sharpen an engineer's thinking and intellectual productivity: problem solving, logical thinking and communication, abstraction, and how to learn. Each entry links to its full review.
12 Books for Learning Engineering Management (Organization, Leadership, PdM)
A staged reading list of 12 books for learning engineering management, from building organizations to leadership and product management: organization and team design, the manager's role, technical strategy, and product. Each entry links to its full review.
9 Books for Learning Go (Beginner to Advanced)
A staged reading list of 9 books for learning Go, from beginner to advanced: language basics, a deeper understanding of the language, and web, systems, and distributed implementation. Each entry links to its full review.
7 Books for Learning Ruby and Rails (Beginner to Advanced)
A staged reading list of 7 books for learning Ruby and Ruby on Rails: getting started, deepening the language, and Rails in practice. Each entry links to its full review.