Databases
Why more teams are running SQLite in production
Once dismissed as a toy, SQLite now powers serious web apps. WAL mode, fast NVMe disks and better tooling changed the math.
Staff Writer
Daniel Reyes
Writes about web frameworks, databases and keeping things simple.
Web
HTML over the wire: building fast interfaces without a SPA
Server-rendered HTML plus a little JavaScript can deliver app-like interfaces. Here's how the HTML-over-the-wire approach works and where it stops being a good idea.
Tools
Git worktrees: stop stashing and work on two branches at once
Worktrees let you check out several branches of the same repository side by side. They're built into git and remarkably underused.
Databases
Postgres indexes beyond the basics: partial, expression and covering
A plain B-tree index on the right column solves most problems. For the rest, Postgres has index types that are smaller, faster and more precise.
Databases
N+1 queries: how to spot them and how to fix them
The most common ORM performance bug hides in plain sight in your logs. Eager loading fixes it — once you know where to look.
Web
HTTP caching, properly: Cache-Control, ETags and what browsers actually do
The fastest request is the one that never reaches your server. A practical guide to the headers that control browser and CDN caching.
Web
Background jobs that don't bite: idempotency, retries and timeouts
Jobs will run twice, run late and fail halfway. Designing for that from the start is what separates a reliable queue from a source of 3 a.m. pages.
Databases
Full-text search without a search cluster
Before you add a dedicated search engine, check what your database already does. Postgres and SQLite both ship capable full-text search.
Web
Progressive enhancement: build forms that work before the JavaScript loads
Start with HTML that works on its own, then layer on JavaScript. Your app gets faster, more resilient and more accessible almost for free.
Databases
Database connection pooling, explained
Hitting "too many connections" errors is a rite of passage. Understanding how pools work — in your app and in front of your database — makes them go away.
Web
Modern CSS layout: grid, container queries and :has()
CSS has quietly absorbed features that used to need frameworks or JavaScript. A tour of the layout tools worth knowing now.
Databases
Transaction isolation levels without the jargon
Your database lets concurrent transactions see each other in controlled ways. Knowing which anomalies your isolation level allows prevents subtle, expensive bugs.