Category: Backend Technology
-
Binary Stream
A binary stream is a continuous sequence of binary data transmitted or processed without predefined structure. It represents raw data in its most fundamental form, as a series of bits (0s and 1s), enabling efficient communication, storage, and processing across various systems. Binary streams are widely used in file systems, network communications, and inter-process communication…
-
OPEN ID & Oauth
OPEN ID & Oauth works hand in hand. To let the end user access the data the identification of the user has to be done, the identification process will require email or phone number as primary keys, and other supporting details like name, city, etc as supporting data points to ensure that the right user is identified via OPEN ID…
-
PCI DSS Compliance: Securing Payment Card Data
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to protect card payment data. It aims to secure payment systems and reduce fraud associated with payment card transactions. The standard applies to all entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data, including e-commerce platforms, payment processors, and financial institutions.…
-
Restful API Structure
RESTful APIs (Representational State Transfer APIs) are a cornerstone of modern web architecture, enabling communication between client and server systems using HTTP. A RESTful API adheres to the principles of REST, a stateless, resource-oriented architectural style. In this article, we delve into the advanced intricacies of RESTful API structures, covering resource organization, endpoints, HTTP methods,…
-
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is an advanced network protocol designed to provide secure file transfer over a reliable data stream, ensuring both confidentiality and integrity during data transmission. Unlike FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which transmits data in plain text, SFTP operates over a secure SSH (Secure Shell) connection, protecting the data from interception and…
-
CEP (Complex Event Processing)
Complex Event Processing (CEP) is an advanced data processing paradigm designed to analyze and act on multiple events in real time, identifying patterns, correlations, and aggregations from streams of data. In contrast to Simple Event Processing, CEP enables systems to derive meaningful information from the occurrence and relationships of different events, making it ideal for…
-
1st Party & 3rd Party API
Both the 1st party & 3rd party API have a lot to offer and their implementation is totally based on the use cases and business cases, here are the key differentials that make both the first party and the 3rd party API relevant for specific use cases and business cases. Both the API types be…
-
Memcached: A High-Performance In-Memory Caching System
Memcached is an open-source, high-performance, distributed memory caching system designed to accelerate dynamic web applications by alleviating database load. It is primarily used for caching frequently accessed data, such as database query results, API responses, or even session data, to improve performance and reduce latency. How Memcached Works Memcached operates on a simple key-value store…
-
Reverse Proxies
Reverse Proxies are intermediary servers that handle client requests before they reach the backend server. Unlike forward proxies, which serve client requests by masking client identity, reverse proxies sit in front of web servers to distribute, optimize, and secure incoming traffic. Their primary function is to route client requests to the appropriate backend server while…
-
Read Duplicates : Distributed System
In distributed systems, read duplicates refer to the occurrence of multiple, identical reads of the same data in a system, particularly when the data is being retrieved from different nodes or replicas. These duplicates often arise in systems that employ replication strategies for high availability and fault tolerance. While read duplicates may seem like a…
-
Simple Event Processing
Simple Event Processing (SEP) is an event-driven approach often employed in real-time systems where individual events trigger direct responses without complex pattern recognition or state tracking. In SEP, each event is handled independently, ideal for low-latency applications such as IoT devices, logging, or monitoring systems, where immediate action is required upon event occurrence. Core Characteristics…
-
Database Indexes
A database index is a data structure used to improve the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of additional space and overhead. Indexes are fundamental to optimizing query performance, especially when dealing with large datasets. A database index works similarly to the index in a book, allowing quick access…
-
Rendering Migration Strategy
A migration strategy is a comprehensive, organized approach designed to move applications, systems, or data from one environment to another, often with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. The choice of migration strategy depends on factors such as the complexity of the system, the target environment, and risk tolerance. It plays a vital role in system…
-
Hash Map
A Hash Map (or Hash Table) is one of the most fundamental and widely used data structures in computer science, providing an efficient way to store key-value pairs. The primary operation in a hash map is the ability to associate a key with a value, and retrieve that value in near constant time. This makes…
-
Hyper-Threading : Concepts & Implementation
Hyper-Threading (HT) is a technology introduced by Intel that allows a single physical processor core to appear as two logical cores to the operating system, enabling more efficient CPU resource utilization. While this technology increases the throughput of a system, it also necessitates understanding and managing system compliance and performance implications, especially in high-performance and…
-
POP (Post Office Protocol)
POP, or Post Office Protocol, is a protocol used by email clients to retrieve email from a remote server. Initially designed to allow users to download their emails and access them offline, POP has evolved over time to provide more stability and flexibility in email systems. POP3, the most current version, operates at the application…
-
TCP / IP Model
The TCP/IP model (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the backbone of internet and network communication. It outlines how data is transferred between devices over a network in a four-layered structure: 1. Link Layer (Network Access Layer): This layer includes protocols that deal with the physical aspects of data transfer, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and hardware addressing.…
-
Edge Computing
Edge servers are strategically positioned nodes in a network architecture designed to bring data processing closer to end users, reducing latency and improving performance. These servers act as intermediaries between the user’s device and the core server infrastructure, often located on the edge of the network (hence the name). Edge computing optimizes the overall performance…
-
CDN (Content Dilivery Network)
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers designed to efficiently deliver web content to users based on their geographical location. The primary goal of a CDN is to reduce latency, increase website load times, and enhance the overall performance of web applications by caching content in multiple locations. CDNs offload traffic…
-
Cron jobs (process automation)
A cron job is a scheduled task that automates repetitive processes in Unix-like systems using the cron daemon. It is highly useful for managing periodic operations, such as system maintenance, backups, or data syncing. Cron jobs are configured in the crontab file, which uses a precise syntax to specify task timing. Crontab Syntax and Scheduling…
-
SSH (Secure Shell Connection)
Secure Shell (SSH) is a cryptographic protocol enabling secure remote access and management of networked systems over unsecured networks. Operating on the application layer, SSH relies on public-key cryptography to establish an encrypted tunnel between the client and server, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity during the session. Key Components of SSH 1. Authentication: SSH supports…
-
AES 256 Compliance : Ensuring Robust Data Encryption
AES 256 (Advanced Encryption Standard) is widely regarded as one of the most secure encryption algorithms available today, especially for protecting sensitive data. AES 256-bit encryption is the highest security level defined within the AES family, which is used globally for everything from securing government communications to encrypting personal data in cloud storage and financial…
-
Containerization
Containers are an essential technology in modern software development, facilitating the deployment and management of applications across diverse environments. A container is a lightweight, stand-alone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, libraries, environment variables, and configuration files. This isolation ensures consistency across different stages of development, from…
-
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM)
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) is a programming paradigm that facilitates the interaction between object-oriented programming languages and relational databases. By abstracting SQL operations into high-level object-oriented constructs, ORM allows developers to manipulate data using native programming language objects without delving into raw SQL. Key Concepts in ORM 1. Abstraction Layer:ORM abstracts database operations like CRUD (Create,…
-
Typical HTTP request/ response cycle
The HTTP request-response cycle is a fundamental mechanism in web communication, facilitating client-server interactions. Below is an advanced explanation of its components and flow: Request-Response Architecture Overview HTTP operates as a stateless protocol where the client sends requests, and the server processes and responds. Key components include: 1. HTTP Request: Generated by a client (usually…
-
BFS (Breadth-First Search)
Breadth-First Search (BFS) is a graph traversal algorithm that explores all the vertices of a graph level by level, starting from a given source vertex. BFS is often used in unweighted graphs to find the shortest path between two nodes, solve puzzles like mazes, and perform other graph-based analyses. BFS Algorithm Overview BFS uses a…
-
JWT (JSON Web Token):
JSON Web Token (JWT) is an open standard (RFC 7519) used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. It is compact, URL-safe, and typically used for authentication and authorization purposes in web applications. JWTs allow stateless authentication, which means the server does not need to store session data; instead, the token itself…
-
AJAX
AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a powerful technique that enables dynamic, asynchronous interactions with a server, allowing web applications to send and receive data without reloading the entire page. This approach enhances the user experience by creating seamless, interactive, and fast-loading interfaces, a cornerstone for modern web applications. Core Concepts of AJAX AJAX leverages…
-
cURL (Client URL)
cURL (Client URL) is an open-source command-line tool and library used for transferring data across various protocols, such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more. Common in data retrieval and automation, cURL provides a streamlined way to interact with URLs, primarily for network communication in software development. With its versatility and robustness, cURL supports multiple options…
-
DVCS (Distributed Version Control System)
A Distributed Version Control System (DVCS) is an advanced software tool designed to manage source code versions across distributed environments. Unlike centralized systems, where the version history is stored on a single server, DVCS allows each user to maintain a full local copy of the repository, including its entire history. This enhances performance, flexibility, and…
-
Capacity Estimation (System Design)
Capacity estimation is a critical aspect of software engineering, particularly in ensuring that systems and applications meet anticipated demand without compromising performance. It involves quantifying the maximum workload a system can handle efficiently. Estimation requires detailed analysis of parameters such as CPU utilization, memory usage, disk I/O, network bandwidth, and latency. Core Components of Capacity…
-
Write-heavy Systems
In a write-heavy system, the majority of database operations involve frequent data insertions, updates, or deletions rather than reads. These systems often focus on efficient data ingestion and consistency to handle high write loads and are commonly found in applications such as logging, metrics collection, and IoT data storage, where large volumes of data are…
-
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a core protocol in the application layer of the TCP/IP suite, facilitating the transmission of email messages between servers. Working over a reliable, connection-oriented architecture (typically TCP), SMTP orchestrates the structured relay of messages from one server (Mail Transfer Agent, or MTA) to another, ensuring dependable message delivery.…
-
SNAT (Source Network Address Translation)
Source Network Address Translation (SNAT) is a type of NAT that enables internal devices to communicate with external networks by translating private, non-routable IP addresses to a public IP address, typically at the gateway or firewall. SNAT is used for outbound connections where internal IPs are masked behind a single public IP, which is crucial…
-
Port Address Translation (PAT)
Port Address Translation (PAT), also known as Network Address Port Translation (NAPT), is a variant of Network Address Translation (NAT) that enables multiple devices to share a single public IP address, leveraging port numbers to differentiate between sessions. PAT Fundamentals PAT operates by modifying IP packet headers, substituting private IP addresses with a public IP…
-
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) is a computing approach designed to quickly answer complex queries in a multidimensional dataset, primarily used for data analytics and business intelligence (BI). Unlike Online Transactional Processing (OLTP), which manages routine transactions, OLAP is optimized for analyzing and summarizing large volumes of data. Key Concepts in OLAP Multidimensional Data Models: OLAP…
-
Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)
Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) is a high-performance approach for managing transactional data, widely used in systems requiring fast and reliable transactions, such as banking and e-commerce. OLTP systems are designed to handle a large volume of short, atomic transactions, often involving updates, inserts, or deletions of small data segments. Key Characteristics 1. Atomicity and Concurrency:…
-
JIT (just in time ) Compilation (java)
Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation is a crucial feature in many modern runtime environments, including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and .NET CLR, that enhances the performance of programs by converting code into native machine code at runtime. Unlike traditional compilation, which converts all code to machine language ahead of execution, JIT compiles code on the fly,…
-
Web Vitals : Vital KPIs
Web Vitals are a set of performance metrics from Google that measure user experience on the web, focusing on loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. For software engineers and PhD students, these metrics provide a technical lens on performance that impacts user engagement, search ranking, and overall website effectiveness. Core Web Vitals Overview 1. Largest…
-
DTR : Data Transfer Rate
Data Transfer Rate (DTR) measures the speed at which data moves between devices or components, typically measured in bits per second (bps). It reflects the efficiency and capacity of communication systems, from network connections to hard drives, making it critical in software and systems engineering where data flow performance is key. Higher transfer rates enable…
-
Compiler (High Level Code translation)
Compilers are essential tools in programming, designed to transform high-level code written by developers into machine-readable code that a computer’s hardware can execute. They enable languages like C, C++, and Java to be turned into efficient executable programs, making them foundational to software development. Stages of Compilation 1. Lexical Analysis: The compiler starts by breaking…
-
JVM : java virtual machine
The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is an essential component of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), enabling Java applications to run on any device or operating system without modification. By abstracting the underlying hardware, the JVM provides a “write once, run anywhere” capability, which has made Java a versatile and widely-used language in modern software development.…
-
C++ compilers
C++ compilers are specialized software tools that translate C++ code into machine-readable instructions, making it executable on specific hardware. They are fundamental for software development, transforming high-level C++ language into optimized, efficient binary code. Key Components of a C++ Compiler 1. Preprocessor: The first stage of the compiler, the preprocessor handles directives such as #include…
-
R/W Ratio Explained
In computing, the R/W (Read/Write) Ratio describes the proportion of read operations to write operations in a given workload. This metric is particularly significant in databases, file systems, and networked applications, as it offers insight into workload patterns and helps determine the most efficient data storage and retrieval mechanisms. The R/W ratio is commonly analyzed…
-
Event Sourcing : Node.js
Event Sourcing is a design pattern used to capture and store the state of an application as a series of events. Rather than storing the current state directly, this approach records each change as an immutable event, allowing for a historical view and the recreation of the application’s state at any point in time. Event…
-
Zend Engine (PHP core engine)
The Zend Engine is the core execution engine behind PHP, powering the language’s interpretation and execution. Developed by the creators of PHP, Zend Technologies, the engine is responsible for translating PHP code into executable machine instructions, handling memory, and managing various runtime tasks essential for PHP applications. Key Components of the Zend Engine 1. Lexical…
-
Dynamically Typed Language
A dynamically typed programming language is one where the data types of variables are determined at runtime, rather than at compile time. Unlike statically typed languages, where variable types must be explicitly defined, dynamically typed languages allow variables to hold values of any type during the program’s execution. This flexibility enables rapid development but introduces…
-
Static Typed Language
In the world of programming languages, static typing refers to a type system where the types of variables are known at compile-time rather than at runtime. This contrasts with dynamic typing, where types are determined during execution. Static type has significant implications for performance, code safety, and maintainability. This article will delve into the characteristics,…
-
ETL (Extract , Transform, Load)
An ETL pipeline (Extract, Transform, Load) is a critical process in data engineering, responsible for moving, cleaning, and transforming raw data into usable formats for analytics, business intelligence, and other data-driven tasks. This process involves three main steps—Extraction, Transformation, and Loading—that ensure the efficient flow of data from source systems to data warehouses, databases, or…