- Published on
A reference index of the 30 recurring system design building blocks: what each one is, what problem it solves, and what it costs. Notes collected while studying distributed systems.
Writing archive
Everything published under Writing, newest first. Each entry is labelled as part of an investigation, an article or reference. Short engineering notes have their own archive.
- Published on
Internal AI tools touch real company data, real permissions, and sometimes real actions. Here is how to build one that is actually secure without adding unnecessary complexity.- Published on
Most startups that say they want an AI agent should not start with an agent. Here is how to choose between RAG, workflow automation, and agents — and what to build first.- Published on
Reference
What Is Workflow Automation in AI?
Workflow automation sits between a simple chatbot and a full AI agent — and it is often where the most real business value lives. Here is what it means and when to use it.- Published on
Reference
What Is an AI Agent, Really?
The term AI agent gets used too loosely. Here is what a real agent actually is, what makes it different from a chatbot or workflow, and when it is actually justified.