UUIDv7 in 33 languages (25 minute read)
UUIDv7 is a 128-bit unique identifier designed to be time-sortable with 1 ms precision, making it suitable for use in databases, including distributed systems. Unlike its predecessor UUIDv4, UUIDv7 integrates both timestamp and random components, ensuring sequential ordering based on time. This makes UUIDv7 a great option for generating unique identifiers for database records that require precise chronological ordering.
Enhancing Netflix Reliability with Service-Level Prioritized Load Shedding (12 minute read)
Netflix initially implemented prioritized load shedding at the API gateway level, then extended it to individual service level for finer-grained control and better cloud capacity utilization. One example is its PlayAPI, which prioritized user-initiated requests over pre-fetch requests during an infrastructure outage, maintaining high availability for critical requests. Netflix also created an internal library for prioritized load shedding and experimented with CPU-based and IO-based load shedding.
UB or not UB: How gcc and clang handle statically known undefined behavior (9 minute read)
Undefined behavior (UB) in C code allows compilers to optimize code based on the assumption that no UB exists, potentially removing conditions or altering program flow. However, the handling differs between compilers if the compiler statically detects UB, like division by zero: GCC tends to crash the program, while Clang may ignore the undefined code or continue compiling, potentially leading to unexpected results later. This differing behavior is due to different philosophies - LLVM aims for more lenient handling to match developer expectations, while GCC takes a more conservative approach.
My spiciest take on tech hiring (3 minute read)
This author proposes a streamlined interview process with only one technical and one non-technical interview, arguing that the approach leads to more effective interviews, attracts better senior applicants, and reduces bias in the hiring process.
What AI Engineers Should Know about Search (10 minute read)
This article goes over the basics of search for engineers. Search involves various aspects like judging relevance, dealing with different information needs, and optimizing metrics like precision and recall. Click models can help understand user behavior, while BM25 is a popular lexical similarity score used in search.
1-click Exploit in South Korea's biggest mobile chat app (12 minute read)
The KakaoTalk Android app had a vulnerability that allowed attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in its WebView. The vulnerability leaked an access token that could be used to take over the user's account. Attackers could use the token to register their device on the victim's account and read their chat messages.