Writings

The Journal

❦

Thoughts on programming, technology, and lessons learned along the way.

July 11, 2026

Turn Your iPhone into a Remote Terminal for Your Mac — Completely Free and Open Source

SSH into your MacBook from your iPhone anywhere in the world using a-Shell, Tailscale, and tmux — a completely free, open-source setup that keeps terminal sessions alive across disconnects.

iOSMacProductivityTechnical

Turn Your iPhone into a Remote Terminal for Your Mac — Completely Free and Open Source

July 7, 2026

Network Request Override with Chrome DevTools

Chrome DevTools' Override Content and Override Headers let you intercept network requests and replace responses locally — a game changer for frontend development, especially on large projects where backend changes are slow or impossible.

FrontendWebTechnical

Network Request Override with Chrome DevTools

June 28, 2026

Flutter App Store Publishing: Common Pitfalls (Part 1)

After publishing 100+ Flutter apps, these are the App Store rejection reasons I see most often — missing Info.plist permissions, alpha-channel icons, in-app account deletion, XML escaping, debug banners in screenshots, and mandatory login issues.

FlutterMobileApp StoreTechnical

Flutter App Store Publishing: Common Pitfalls (Part 1)

June 21, 2026

Understanding Side-Effect Imports in JavaScript

Side-effect imports run a module's top-level code without binding any exports — useful for polyfills, analytics, and startup configuration, but they hide behavior and introduce ordering concerns. This post explains the pattern with examples and when to use it carefully.

JavascriptSoftware EngineeringFrontendTechnical

Understanding Side-Effect Imports in JavaScript

June 11, 2026

Using the BroadcastChannel API for Cross-Tab Communication

The BroadcastChannel API lets browser tabs, windows, iframes, and workers on the same origin exchange messages without a server. This post covers common use cases, a logout synchronization example, and how it compares to localStorage events, Shared Workers, and Service Workers.

WebJavascriptFrontendTechnical

Using the BroadcastChannel API for Cross-Tab Communication

June 6, 2026

Common Problems with Vibe Coding (and How to Avoid Them)

Seven common problems with AI-assisted 'vibe coding' — from duplicated code and security gaps to generic frontends and missing context — with practical workflow solutions for each. These aren't fundamental AI limitations; they're fixable with the right habits.

AISoftware EngineeringProductivityNon-technical

Common Problems with Vibe Coding (and How to Avoid Them)

May 30, 2026

Hopcroft's Algorithm: Efficient DFA Minimization

A walkthrough of Hopcroft's Algorithm for DFA minimization — partition refinement, a step-by-step six-state example, full Python implementation, and O(n·s·log n) complexity analysis. A final project for UVA's Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms class.

AlgorithmsComputer ScienceTechnical

Hopcroft's Algorithm: Efficient DFA Minimization

May 20, 2026

Reflections from PyCon US 2026

Reflections from my first PyCon US — volunteering at the registration desk, GPU tiling with NVIDIA, AI economics, Python's generational garbage collector, Pablo Galindo's 'cathedral' keynote on open source, and the 'Silence is Gold' lightning talk. PyCon reminded me that Python is much bigger than a programming language — it's a community.

PyConPythonCommunityNon-technical

August 23, 2025

Why Monorepos Make AI Coding Tools Way Smarter

Monorepos significantly enhance AI coding tools by providing full context across frontend, backend, and shared code. This article explains how unified codebases enable better AI suggestions, fewer errors, and more effective pair programming with AI assistants.

Software EngineeringAINon-technical

Why Monorepos Make AI Coding Tools Way Smarter

July 26, 2025

Things that literally doubled my productivity as a programmer

Discover practical productivity tips and tools that can significantly boost your programming efficiency, from keyboard shortcuts to automation techniques.

Must-ReadProductivityNon-technical

Things that literally doubled my productivity as a programmer

July 1, 2025

Xcode might be eating up your hard drive space!

Xcode's DerivedData folder can consume massive disk space on Mac. This article explains how to find and safely delete it to reclaim storage, with a real-life example of freeing up 276 GB.

XcodeMobileTechnical

Xcode might be eating up your hard drive space!

June 22, 2025

How I learned git rebasing — a real life work scenario

A real-life scenario demonstrates how git rebase can help separate feature work from dependent changes. The article explains a branching situation, the problem with merging, and how 'git rebase --onto main A' solves it, highlighting the value of practical experience.

GitTechnical

How I learned git rebasing — a real life work scenario

June 6, 2025

Canonical URL sharing on mobile browsers and a workaround for static sites

Mobile browsers often share canonical URLs, which can strip important context from links. This article explains why, the impact on users, and a workaround for static sites to preserve full URLs when sharing.

WebJavascriptFrontendTechnical

Canonical URL sharing on mobile browsers and a workaround for static sites

June 12, 2024

Write clean Flutter code with extension methods

Learn how to write clean Flutter code using Dart extension methods. This article explains how to add new methods to existing classes, provides practical examples like date-only extraction and string capitalization, and encourages creating your own extensions for cleaner, more maintainable code.

FlutterDartTechnical

Write clean Flutter code with extension methods

May 25, 2024

How to learn programming in 2024

Learning programming in 2024 is easier than ever thanks to abundant resources, but it's also easy to get overwhelmed. Focus on mastering core concepts, building real projects, and following your interests to stay motivated. Avoid "tutorial hell" by applying what you learn and tracking your progress.

Non-technicalLearning-to-program