https://majiehong.com/ Notes on software, systems and the occasional book. en pimpal https://majiehong.com/2026-01-19_localhost_dev/ https://majiehong.com/2026-01-19_localhost_dev/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Explaining loopback addresses, port ranges, reverse proxies and safe binding choices for local and containerised services. https://majiehong.com/2025-08-31_review_before_the_coffee_gets_cold/ https://majiehong.com/2025-08-31_review_before_the_coffee_gets_cold/ Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Reviewing a Tokyo café's rule-bound time-travel stories about relationships, regret, emotional warmth and acceptance. https://majiehong.com/2025-08-10_review_project_hail_mary/ https://majiehong.com/2025-08-10_review_project_hail_mary/ Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Reviewing a survival story built on human-alien collaboration, scientific problem-solving and accessible, tightly paced prose. https://majiehong.com/2025-08-03_revue_nausicaa_de_la_vallee_du_vent/ https://majiehong.com/2025-08-03_revue_nausicaa_de_la_vallee_du_vent/ Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Analyse des thèmes écologiques et politiques du manga, de sa traduction et de ses écarts avec le film de Miyazaki. https://majiehong.com/2025-02-23_declutter_methods/ https://majiehong.com/2025-02-23_declutter_methods/ Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Comparing KonMari, Danshari and waste-reduction principles while balancing the practical and emotional value of possessions. https://majiehong.com/2024-08-24_perl_better_cross_platform_tool/ https://majiehong.com/2024-08-24_perl_better_cross_platform_tool/ Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Using portable Perl one-liners instead of incompatible GNU and BSD variants of grep, sed and awk. https://majiehong.com/2024-05-26_python_match_regexps/ https://majiehong.com/2024-05-26_python_match_regexps/ Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Benchmarking regular expressions and lower-level alternatives for validating simple patterns in Python strings. https://majiehong.com/2024-05-17_case_incorrect_song_length/ https://majiehong.com/2024-05-17_case_incorrect_song_length/ Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Tracing misleading song durations to chapter metadata and fixing iOS and QuickTime playback with an ffmpeg option. https://majiehong.com/2024-05-01_powershell_inconsistencies/ https://majiehong.com/2024-05-01_powershell_inconsistencies/ Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Examining PowerShell's object pipelines, inconsistent parameter binding, iteration choices and awkward JSON defaults. https://majiehong.com/2023-11-25_how_does_the_bluetooth_stack_works/ https://majiehong.com/2023-11-25_how_does_the_bluetooth_stack_works/ Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Surveying Bluetooth networks, protocols, pairing, profiles, Linux audio integration and packet-capture limitations. https://majiehong.com/2023-10-29_using_caddy_webserver_to_mock_backend/ https://majiehong.com/2023-10-29_using_caddy_webserver_to_mock_backend/ Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Using a compact Caddy configuration to mock endpoints with query matching, JSON files and custom status responses. https://majiehong.com/2023-10-01_http_authentication/ https://majiehong.com/2023-10-01_http_authentication/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Explaining how HTTP clients answer authentication challenges using schemes, realms and authorization headers. https://majiehong.com/2023-08-27_learning_from_shell_history/ https://majiehong.com/2023-08-27_learning_from_shell_history/ Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Analysing command frequencies and arguments in shell history to reveal opportunities for aliases and workflow automation. https://majiehong.com/2023-08-12_webserver_httpd_caddy/ https://majiehong.com/2023-08-12_webserver_httpd_caddy/ Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Reviewing an Apache configuration failure, comparing open-source web servers and presenting a clearer Caddy setup. https://majiehong.com/2023-06-29_terminal_ui_web/ https://majiehong.com/2023-06-29_terminal_ui_web/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Examining keyboard-friendly terminal interface conventions and evaluating a CSS-based web interface inspired by them. https://majiehong.com/2023-05-08_maven_lifecycles_phases_and_plugins/ https://majiehong.com/2023-05-08_maven_lifecycles_phases_and_plugins/ Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Explaining Maven's lifecycles, phase-to-plugin bindings, execution order, default goals and direct plugin invocation. https://majiehong.com/2023-04-15_state_of_gtk_programming_in_python/ https://majiehong.com/2023-04-15_state_of_gtk_programming_in_python/ Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Assessing GTK4's API while detailing weaknesses in Python documentation, tooling, autocomplete and migration support. https://majiehong.com/2023-04-07_sql_group_by_window_speed_when_equivalent/ https://majiehong.com/2023-04-07_sql_group_by_window_speed_when_equivalent/ Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Comparing equivalent SQLite aggregation queries and explaining why GROUP BY has a simpler plan than a window function. https://majiehong.com/2023-02-05_java_to_native_code_so_easy_uber_jar/ https://majiehong.com/2023-02-05_java_to_native_code_so_easy_uber_jar/ Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Building a Picocli application as an executable fat JAR, then compiling it into a native binary with GraalVM. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-21_java_to_native_code_so_easy_no_deps/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-21_java_to_native_code_so_easy_no_deps/ Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Turning a dependency-free Java source file into a static executable with javac and GraalVM Native Image. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_1/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_1/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Using Java, SQLite and T9 keypad conversion to identify a customer whose surname encodes to their telephone number. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_2/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_2/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Combining SQL and Java filtering to find 2017 rug-cleaner buyers whose two-part names have the initials J.D. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_3/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_3/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Using SQLite to isolate a nearby customer by ZIP code, Aries birth dates and Chinese zodiac Dog years. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_4/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_4/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Identifying a habitual early-morning pastry buyer by grouping bakery orders and ranking customers by frequency. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_5/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_5/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Finding a prolific cat owner by querying pet-product purchases in Queens Village and ranking repeat customers. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_6/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_6/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Locating an avid coupon user by comparing retail and wholesale prices and ranking below-cost purchases by customer. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_7/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_7/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Using sequential order IDs and SQL joins to find a male customer who bought a differently coloured item immediately afterward. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_8/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-08_hanukkah_of_data_2022_puzzle_8/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Ranking customers by purchases of Noah's collectible products to identify someone who repeatedly acquired complete sets. https://majiehong.com/2023-01-05_splitting_file_by_lines/ https://majiehong.com/2023-01-05_splitting_file_by_lines/ Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Comparing csplit, awk, jq and Java approaches for dividing text files whenever a line matches a regular expression. https://majiehong.com/2022-09-04_handcrafting_a_docker_image/ https://majiehong.com/2022-09-04_handcrafting_a_docker_image/ Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Building a minimal single-layer Docker image by packaging a static binary and generating the required archives and metadata. https://majiehong.com/2022-08-21_static_binary/ https://majiehong.com/2022-08-21_static_binary/ Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Testing whether popular Linux executables are dependency-free and demonstrating how to build a truly static binary. https://majiehong.com/2022-04-15_deposit_system_in_germany/ https://majiehong.com/2022-04-15_deposit_system_in_germany/ Fri, 15 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 Explaining how Germany's bottle deposits encourage reuse, affect consumers and producers and may evolve across Europe. https://majiehong.com/2021-09-12_reducing_this_blog_size_again/ https://majiehong.com/2021-09-12_reducing_this_blog_size_again/ Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Replacing client-side syntax highlighting with Asciidoctor and Rouge to save browser work and support users without JavaScript. https://majiehong.com/2021-08-31_experience_being_deaf/ https://majiehong.com/2021-08-31_experience_being_deaf/ Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Using travel without the local language to illustrate barriers deaf people face in healthcare, support, entertainment and calls. https://majiehong.com/2021-07-30_slow_nixos_startup/ https://majiehong.com/2021-07-30_slow_nixos_startup/ Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Using systemd boot analysis to find network delays in NixOS and reduce startup time through targeted configuration changes. https://majiehong.com/2021-07-17_backup_strategy_with_borg/ https://majiehong.com/2021-07-17_backup_strategy_with_borg/ Sat, 17 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Building an encrypted, deduplicated Linux backup workflow with Borg, SSHFS, a NAS, pruning rules and systemd timers. https://majiehong.com/2021-07-11_mockito_performance_cost/ https://majiehong.com/2021-07-11_mockito_performance_cost/ Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Benchmarking Java tests to show that mocking simple data objects can be dramatically slower than using real instances. https://majiehong.com/2021-04-21_altruistic_design/ https://majiehong.com/2021-04-21_altruistic_design/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Defining humane design through usability, accessibility and user experience that reduce suffering instead of manipulating people. https://majiehong.com/2021-04-02_when_unicode_full/ https://majiehong.com/2021-04-02_when_unicode_full/ Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Using Unicode's fixed capacity and historical growth rate to estimate when the encoding could become full. https://majiehong.com/2021-03-08_fzf_jq_play_locally/ https://majiehong.com/2021-03-08_fzf_jq_play_locally/ Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Combining fzf previews with jq to interactively compose and test JSON queries in a fast, private terminal environment. https://majiehong.com/2021-03-03_fzf_interactivity_ssh/ https://majiehong.com/2021-03-03_fzf_interactivity_ssh/ Wed, 03 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Using fzf to add reusable interactivity to command-line tools by filtering a host list before launching SSH. https://majiehong.com/2020-12-22_the_issue_with_exception_for_validation/ https://majiehong.com/2020-12-22_the_issue_with_exception_for_validation/ Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Showing how exception-based input validation stops at the first error and complicates returning every failure together. https://majiehong.com/2020-12-16_parser_combinators_over_regexps/ https://majiehong.com/2020-12-16_parser_combinators_over_regexps/ Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Comparing Python regex and parser-combinator implementations for clearer validation, composition and error reporting. https://majiehong.com/2020-10-04_reducing_this_blog_size/ https://majiehong.com/2020-10-04_reducing_this_blog_size/ Sun, 04 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Optimising images, themes, CSS and JavaScript to reduce the blog's transfers, load time and carbon footprint. https://majiehong.com/2020-09-20_essence_of_astronomy_binoculars_shopping/ https://majiehong.com/2020-09-20_essence_of_astronomy_binoculars_shopping/ Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Relating pupil size, objective diameter and magnification to select binocular specifications suitable for astronomy. https://majiehong.com/2020-09-01_make_ui_fast_again/ https://majiehong.com/2020-09-01_make_ui_fast_again/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Comparing client architectures to explain how locality and asynchronous work can reduce user-interface latency. https://majiehong.com/2020-06-11_json_processing_with_jq_made_simpler/ https://majiehong.com/2020-06-11_json_processing_with_jq_made_simpler/ Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Teaching jq through formatting, filtering, modifying and constructing JSON with practical command-line examples. https://majiehong.com/2020-03-06_layers_and_reliability/ https://majiehong.com/2020-03-06_layers_and_reliability/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Modelling sequential processing layers with probability to show how each dependency affects a system's reliability. https://majiehong.com/2019-11-01_anything_as_a_service/ https://majiehong.com/2019-11-01_anything_as_a_service/ Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Turning owned tasks and products into services as a pattern for generating practical start-up ideas. https://majiehong.com/2019-08-18_property_based_testing/ https://majiehong.com/2019-08-18_property_based_testing/ Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Using a Kotlin uppercase function to show how generated inputs and invariants uncover cases missed by example-based tests. https://majiehong.com/2019-08-04_number_of_unit_tests/ https://majiehong.com/2019-08-04_number_of_unit_tests/ Sun, 04 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Examining test coverage, cyclomatic complexity and combinatorial testing to estimate how many tests software needs. https://majiehong.com/2019-04-22_java_expression_problem/ https://majiehong.com/2019-04-22_java_expression_problem/ Mon, 22 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Exploring extensibility trade-offs in object-oriented and functional code, then implementing object algebras in Java. https://majiehong.com/2019-04-14_book_review_humble_pi/ https://majiehong.com/2019-04-14_book_review_humble_pi/ Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Reviewing Matt Parker's humorous collection of consequential mathematical mistakes and comparing it with his video work. https://majiehong.com/2019-01-31_java_refactoring_impurity/ https://majiehong.com/2019-01-31_java_refactoring_impurity/ Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Separating file-system side effects from Java business logic through dependency injection to make code unit-testable. https://majiehong.com/2019-01-06_life_short/ https://majiehong.com/2019-01-06_life_short/ Sun, 06 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Reflecting on the brevity of human life and using our limited time to benefit ourselves and other people. https://majiehong.com/2018-07-22_getting_ready_for_alien_communication/ https://majiehong.com/2018-07-22_getting_ready_for_alien_communication/ Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Measuring readiness for alien contact through our ability to communicate across languages, animals, plants and fungi. https://majiehong.com/2018-06-17_how_to_live_your_life/ https://majiehong.com/2018-06-17_how_to_live_your_life/ Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Summarising WHO guidance on physical activity and nutrition for improving health, preventing disease and living longer. https://majiehong.com/2018-06-09_beyond_ffi/ https://majiehong.com/2018-06-09_beyond_ffi/ Sat, 09 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Making the case for generalising foreign function interfaces and simplifying code reuse across language boundaries.