Networking
How TLS Handshakes Work: The Cryptography Behind HTTPS
A step-by-step guide to TLS 1.3 handshakes covering key exchange, certificate chain validation, cipher suites, forward secrecy, and session resumption with 0-RTT.
10 min read·
Latest Articles
Networking
WebSockets vs SSE vs Long Polling: When to Use Each
A practical comparison of WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, and long polling with code examples, use case mapping, scaling strategies, and a clear decision framework.
10 min read·
Networking
TCP vs UDP: When Speed Beats Reliability
A practical comparison of TCP and UDP covering connection overhead, head-of-line blocking, congestion control, and exactly when to choose speed over reliability in your applications.
9 min read·
Networking
HTTP/2 vs HTTP/3: What Actually Changed and Why It Matters
A deep comparison of HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 covering multiplexing, QUIC, head-of-line blocking, real-world performance differences, and how to configure your servers for both protocols.
10 min read·
Architecture
CQRS and Event Sourcing: A Practical Introduction
CQRS separates read and write models for independent optimization. Event Sourcing stores every state change as an immutable event. Learn when each pattern solves real problems, with TypeScript implementations, projection examples, and event store comparisons.
12 min read·
Architecture
Rate Limiting: Token Bucket, Leaky Bucket, Sliding Window, and Fixed Counter
Compare the four main rate limiting algorithms -- Token Bucket, Leaky Bucket, Sliding Window Log, and Fixed Window Counter. Includes Redis Lua implementations, nginx configuration, distributed rate limiting patterns, and managed service pricing.
12 min read·
Architecture
API Design Patterns: REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC Compared
REST for public APIs, GraphQL for complex frontends, gRPC for service-to-service. Learn when to use each API design pattern, with comparisons of error handling, versioning, authentication, and managed gateway pricing.
10 min read·
Architecture
Microservices vs Monolith: The Decision Framework Engineers Actually Use
The microservices vs monolith decision depends on team size, deployment needs, and organizational structure. Learn the five-question decision framework, the Strangler Fig migration pattern, and why most teams should start with a well-structured monolith.
10 min read·
Architecture
The CAP Theorem: What It Actually Means for Your Database Choices
The CAP theorem forces a trade-off between consistency and availability during network partitions. Learn how PostgreSQL, Cassandra, DynamoDB, and other databases handle this trade-off, plus the PACELC extension that captures what CAP misses.
11 min read·