onse

Introduction

A premium software-engineering knowledge base covering architecture, distributed systems, networking, databases, and the craft of building reliable software.

onse.dev is a technical knowledge base for software engineers who design, build, and operate real systems. Articles emphasize precise explanations, diagrams, and working mental models—not marketing copy or checklist tutorials.

What you will find

Content is organised in a multilevel hierarchy so you can go deep without losing the thread across related ideas:

SectionFocus
Algorithms and Data structuresFoundations that underpin performance and correctness
Networking And The InternetProtocols, DNS, HTTP, and routing
ProgrammingSoftware design, OOD, refactoring, and patterns
Architecture PatternsModular monoliths, microservices, event-driven systems
Distributed SystemsCoordination, consensus, and failure modes
ScalabilitySharding, caching, load balancing, and autoscaling
DatabasesSQL, NoSQL, locking, and distributed databases
System DesignRequirements, capacity, and classic design problems

Browse the sidebar for the full hierarchy—including backend and frontend engineering, security, infrastructure, observability, and more.

How to read

Each article stands alone, but cross-links connect related material. Prefer reading for understanding over skimming: definitions, prerequisites, comparisons, and diagrams are there to make trade-offs explicit.

Conventions

  • Precision over slogans. Terms are defined when they matter.
  • Trade-offs over dogma. Few techniques are universally correct.
  • Code that clarifies. Examples illustrate the idea; they are not production templates.
  • Interactive where it helps. Some topics—such as sharding—include visualisations so you can see remapping behaviour.

Start here

If you are exploring architecture and scale:

  1. Modular Monoliths
  2. Sharding
  3. Queue-based scaling
  4. Database sharding

Welcome. Dig in.

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