Why does my linked list node occupies 16 bytes yet malloc reports 24 bytes? Summary A developer implemented a linked list node (struct Node) in C using manual memory allocation. While sizeof(struct Node) returned 16 bytes, malloc_usable_size() reported 24 bytes for an allocated node. Additionally, observed memory addresses between consecutive nodes differed by 32 bytes. … Read more
# Postmortem: Beginner’s Dilemma – WordPress vs Custom PHP Development ### ## Summary A beginner developer encountered decision paralysis when choosing between WordPress and custom PHP development for web projects. This postmortem analyzes the trade-offs and contextual factors to guide appropriate technology selection during the learning phase. ### ## Root Cause – **Misalignment of project … Read more
# How to Properly Handle Parent and Child Theme CSS in WordPress Without Messy Overrides ### ## Summary – Child theme CSS overrides become messy due to parent theme complexity (multiple CSS files, inline styles) – Primary solution: Strategic dequeuing of parent CSS and rebuilding style hierarchy – Goal: Avoid specificity wars and `!important` overload … Read more
# VS Code Not Showing Hover Documentation for Java Annotations: Technical Postmortem ### ## Summary A Java developer using VS Code for Spring Boot experienced missing hover documentation (Javadoc) for common annotations like `@Entity`, `@Table`, and `@Data`. The project used JDK 17, Maven, Spring Boot, JPA/Hibernate, and Lombok. While compilation and autocomplete worked normally, annotation … Read more
# Tortoise ORM ReverseRelation “already specialized” Error Analysis ## Summary – An incorrectly typed `ReverseRelation` field causes Tortoise ORM to throw a “ReverseRelation is already specialized” error during static analysis. – The issue manifests in PyLance type-checking despite functioning at runtime. – Fix involves consistent type specialization using forward references in quotes. ## Root Cause … Read more
# Why Removing Mutexes Reduces Latency in Low-Contention Multithreaded Systems ## Summary A low-contention multithreaded application using mutexes exhibited higher-than-expected latency. Replacing mutexes with lighter synchronization mechanisms (like atomic operations) reduced latency despite minimal lock contention. This occurs because mutex operations incur non-negligible overhead even without blocking due to hardware/system-level interactions. ## Root Cause – … Read more
## Production Postmortem: Adaptive Candle Pattern Detection Failure in NinjaTrader ### Summary A trading strategy relying on rigid candle pattern detection thresholds experienced low detection rates and adaptability issues during live market volatility shifts. The static ratio-based approach failed to identify key patterns dynamically. ### Root Cause – **Fixed thresholds** insensitive to changing market conditions … Read more
Web Development Fundamentals: A Postmortem for Beginners Summary A novice encountered significant confusion while learning web development fundamentals, struggling to grasp core concepts like front-end versus back-end responsibilities, essential technologies, and career-entry skills. This gap led to the submission of an unfocused, overly broad question. Root Cause Rapid evolution of web technologies overcrowding beginner resources … Read more
# Debugging Django Admin Actions: Actions Not Reflecting on Dashboards and Privilege Issues ## Summary – Admin actions performed (e.g., approving users, updating statuses) failed to appear in user dashboards – Administrators with `is_staff`/`is_superuser` permissions faced unexpected privilege limitations – Issues stemmed from a combination of stale queries, permission misconfigurations, and signal handling gaps ## … Read more
# The Hidden Pitfall: Why Default Values Don’t Replace Constructors ## Summary – Explored the misconception that Java’s default variable initialization eliminates the need for constructors – Diagnosed flawed logic in assuming default values (0, null, false) satisfy domain requirements – Identified critical object-state dependencies that default values fail to address – Ritual: Addressed via … Read more