Zaber's Note

Things I've learned, built, broken, questioned, and figured out.

Read the notes What I'm doing now

#engineering3 #caching2 #distributed-systems2 #career1 #code-quality1 #craft1 #freelancing1 #life1

5

Notes

3

Shelves

5

Timeline entries

Start here

EngineeringJanuary 14, 20262 min read

Why I Stopped Writing Clever Code

Clever code feels great to write and terrible to maintain. Here's what changed my mind, and the three questions I ask before landing anything tricky.

Latest notes

EngineeringFeb 17, 20261 min readBuilding a Distributed Cache #2

Implementing the Ring: Building a Distributed Cache, Part 2

Part two of the distributed cache series — implementing consistent hashing and proving, with a test, that a node can leave without losing data.

EngineeringFeb 3, 20262 min readBuilding a Distributed Cache #1

Designing the Cache: Building a Distributed Cache, Part 1

The first part of a series on building a distributed cache from scratch — starting with the design decisions that everything else depends on.

CareerNov 8, 20251 min read

What Nobody Tells You About Freelancing

The parts of freelancing that don't make it into the highlight reels — scope creep, feast-or-famine cash flow, and the emotional cost of being your own sales team.

LifeAug 22, 20251 min read

On Questioning Your Own Defaults

Most of what feels like a personal choice is actually an inherited default. A short note on noticing the difference.

Now

Building Zaber's Notes — a personal space for documenting what I'm learning, building, solving, and thinking about.

Updated September 2, 2026

Threads

Building a Distributed Cache2

Browse threads →

Timeline

The path so far — work, projects, and milestones, in order.

See the timeline →