13 articles tagged Backend
Queueing theory for backend capacity
Why doubling traffic can quadruple tail latency, how to model each constrained resource as a queue, and how to measure utilisation before you hit the cliff.
14 min read · 8 November 2026
STRIDE is a checklist, not a threat model
STRIDE is a memory aid, not a threat model. Use attack trees to map paths to an asset and STRIDE to prompt each node, with a CI check that keeps trees current.
15 min read · 1 November 2026
Small language models: the classifier trap
Why compact classifiers fail on rare inputs, and how per-label thresholds, guardrails and score monitoring contain the damage.
15 min read · 31 October 2026
Dependency pinning: the lockfile lie
A lockfile records a resolution, not a guarantee. Learn where determinism breaks, how to enforce lockfiles in CI, and how pinning interacts with SCA.
16 min read · 31 October 2026
Node.js memory leak: find it in 10 min
Classify rising memory before profiling it: compare heapUsed and rss, take two heap snapshots, read retainer paths, and bound every in-memory structure.
14 min read · 29 October 2026
HTTP/3 changes less than the demos imply
HTTP/3 usually terminates at the CDN, so origin behavior barely changes. Here is where QUIC matters, where it does not, and how to measure a rollout.
13 min read · 24 October 2026
Settlement vs clearing: backend engineer's guide
Clearing produces obligations; settlement moves money. How to model both ledgers, reconcile them, and avoid the schema mistakes that break finance.
15 min read · 28 September 2026
World models won't replace your backend
World models add a high-rate prediction stream to your system. Treat it as a sensor: schema, retention, backpressure, and rollback, not a new stack.
15 min read · 24 September 2026
Rust rewrites: where they pay off, where they don't
A practical framework for deciding whether a Rust backend rewrite is worth it, with code, failure modes, and measurement steps.
12 min read · 21 September 2026
IDP for AI: 2026 stack evolution
How to wire embedding model changes into an internal developer platform so dimension drift fails loudly instead of silently shipping broken indexes.
14 min read · 2 September 2026
When flags become experiments
How to run feature flags and A/B tests on a $5 VPS with no data warehouse, using offline-tolerant self-hosted tooling and SMS replies as conversions.
15 min read · 28 June 2026
Store data once, serve everywhere: cheaper
How to serve reads from regional caches instead of replicating your database everywhere, with worked cost math, invalidation code, and failure modes.
12 min read · 25 June 2026
Run APIs in 50 spots: what breaks first
Edge APIs fail at the data layer, not the network. Covers sharding, bounded staleness, cache invalidation, clock drift, and how to measure each.
12 min read · 19 June 2026