Blog
Guides and practical tips on web development, security, and data processing. Learn about JSON formatting, password security, regular expressions, image optimization, Base64 encoding, and more.
The Science and History of BMI — From Quetelet's 1832 Formula to WHO Standards
Trace BMI from Quetelet's 1832 statistical concept to Ancel Keys' 1972 naming, WHO classification, and the Asian-specific cutoffs. Includes data from 230 cohort studies and a clear-eyed look at BMI's well-known limitations.
Compound Interest Explained: The Math, the Rule of 72, and Why Starting Early Matters More Than Amount
The mathematics of compound interest, the Rule of 72, side-by-side simulations of starting 10 years earlier vs. contributing more, the true cost of fund fees, and tax-advantaged wrappers (401k, IRA, ISA, NISA) compared.
CSV, JSON, XML, YAML — Data Format Selection Guide
Compare the design philosophy, file size, parsing speed, and schema support of CSV, JSON, XML, and YAML. Includes use-case-based decision criteria for APIs, config files, and data exchange.
Hash Algorithm Comparison: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-3, and BLAKE3
From MD5's broken collision resistance to SHA-3's sponge construction and BLAKE3's parallelism — a specification-grounded comparison for developers choosing the right hash algorithm.
JWT Structure, Security Risks, and Best Practices
JWT's three-part structure, HS256 vs RS256, the alg:none vulnerability, why secrets don't belong in payloads, refresh token design, and OWASP recommendations — all based on RFC 7519.
Markdown and HTML Conversion Best Practices
Markdown's history, CommonMark's standardization, GFM extensions, XSS vulnerabilities in Markdown-to-HTML conversion, and practical usage in static site generators — based on the CommonMark Spec and HTML Living Standard.
Mortgage Repayment Methods Explained: Fixed Payments vs. Declining Balance
A complete guide to mortgage repayment structures: fixed-payment (level payment) vs. declining-balance methods, fixed vs. variable rates, how much interest early repayment saves, and debt-to-income benchmarks from regulators in the US, UK, and internationally.
The Science of Password Strength: What NIST SP 800-63B Actually Says
A deep dive into NIST SP 800-63B's password guidelines: why mandatory rotation and complexity rules are counterproductive, how entropy is calculated, what zxcvbn measures that entropy misses, and the case for passphrases and phishing-resistant MFA.
UUID v4 / v7 / NanoID / CUID2 — A Complete Comparison Guide
UUID v4 vs v7, NanoID's compactness, and CUID2's collision resistance compared side by side. Includes database primary key recommendations based on RFC 9562.
Base64 Encoding Explained: How It Works, When to Use It, and Common Pitfalls
Understand how Base64 encoding works, when to use it, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Code examples in 6 languages and comparisons with other schemes.
Burndown Chart Guide: How to Create, Read & Use Burndown and Burnup Charts
Complete guide to burndown and burnup charts for agile teams. Covers sprint burndown, release burndown, kanban, initiative-level, individual and cross-team charts, plus Jira setup and common pitfalls.
Image Optimization Guide — Improve Page Speed with WebP Conversion
A guide to image optimization for the web covering format comparison, WebP benefits, compression techniques, responsive images, and lazy loading.
JSON Complete Guide: Syntax, Validation, Schema, and Practical Tools
Master JSON from syntax basics to JSON Schema validation. Covers parsing in 4 languages, JSON vs JSON5 vs JSONC, security tips, and free online tools.
How to Create Strong Passwords — Understanding Strength and Best Practices
Learn what determines password strength, common attack methods, the concept of entropy, and practical strategies for secure password management.
Planning Poker: The Complete Guide to Agile Estimation (Rules, Fibonacci & Online Tool)
Learn planning poker rules, Fibonacci card values, facilitation tips, remote team strategies, and sprint planning integration. Also known as poker planning, scrum poker, and estimation poker.
Introduction to Regular Expressions — Common Patterns and Practical Examples
Learn regular expressions from basics to practical patterns. Covers metacharacters, quantifiers, grouping, lookaheads, and real-world validation examples.
Story Points Explained: Estimation Guide with Fibonacci Scale
A practical guide to story points covering the Fibonacci scale, planning poker, velocity tracking, cross-team calibration, anti-patterns, and SAFe estimation.