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Welcome to my blog site. I am a software engineer and I write about programming, software development, and all things tech. I hope you find something useful here.

From AI Conversations to Published Blog: The MCP-Powered Publishing Revolution

The Problem: Lost Context, Lost Thoughts We’ve all been there. You’re deep in a technical discussion with an AI assistant—analyzing code, exploring architecture, or debugging a complex issue. The conversation is rich with insights, and you think: “This would make a great blog post.” But then reality hits: you need to switch to your blog repository, format the content, commit it, push it, and wait for the build. By the time you’re back, the original context is gone, and the momentum is lost. ...

January 19, 2026 Â· 6 min Â· 1107 words Â· Jack Yu

Brikka on Induction: An Engineering View of a Triggered Extraction System

Motivation: Why This Is an Engineering Problem Most Moka pot guides treat brewing as a recipe problem: grind size, water temperature, and heat level. That framing breaks down completely when you introduce: A Brikka (pressure valve + burst extraction) An induction hob A steel induction adapter plate At this point, you are no longer “brewing coffee”. You are operating a multi-stage thermal + pressure system with delayed feedback. This article reframes Brikka-on-induction as a control problem, not a recipe. ...

January 18, 2026 Â· 2 min Â· 409 words Â· Jack Yu

OceanBase Internals: Transactions, Replay, SQL Engine, and Unit Placement

Why These Paths Matter OceanBase targets high availability and scalability in a shared-nothing cluster. The core engineering challenge is to make four critical subsystems work together with predictable latency and correctness: Write transactions must be durable, replicated, and efficiently committed. Tablet replay must recover state quickly and safely. SQL parse to execute must optimize well while respecting multi-tenant constraints. Unit placement must map tenants to physical resources without fragmentation. This article focuses on motivation, design, implementation highlights, and tradeoffs, using concrete code entry points from the OceanBase codebase. ...

January 17, 2026 Â· 8 min Â· 1517 words Â· Jack Yu

Introduction to WebVM

What is WebVM? WebVM is a virtual machine (VM) that executes entirely within a web browser. It’s an innovative project that brings the power of a Linux environment straight to your browser, eliminating the need for traditional virtual machine setups. WebVM operates within a sandboxed environment, ensuring secure execution of applications without affecting the host system. Understanding WebVM The source repository provides a frontend for the WebVM demo. By forking the repository and following the instructions outlined in the GitHub Actions, you can build an image using the Dockerfile located at: ...

January 13, 2025 Â· 3 min Â· 507 words Â· Jack Yu

Brompton Clone Bike Modification

I’m excited to share the final version of my Aceoffix 01, a Brompton clone bike I’ve been customizing: What Modifications Did I Make? Handlebar Grips The original grips were glued on and became loose over time, so I replaced them with new, more secure ones. Bell Safety first! I added a bell to alert pedestrians and other cyclists. CNC Mount Base for Action Cameras Installed at the center of the handlebar, it’s perfect for mounting my DJI OSMO Pocket 1 or a phone holder. ...

January 10, 2025 Â· 3 min Â· 460 words Â· Jack Yu

Harnessing AI to Create High-Quality Podcasts Quickly and for Free

Introduction As a long-time podcaster, I’ve always enjoyed sharing my thoughts and ideas through audio. While the world of video content—and the role of a YouTuber—has its allure, the complexities of video editing have kept me anchored in the realm of podcasting. My journey has involved leveraging platforms like Spotify Creator (formerly Anchor) for hosting and distributing my recordings. This platform offers a wide array of features for free, including audio recording, editing capabilities, and automatic promotion to Spotify. ...

December 11, 2024 Â· 3 min Â· 512 words Â· Jack Yu

Brompton-like Bikes: A Guide to Trifoldable Bicycles

Brompton-like bikes are renowned for their compactness and portability. Unlike the typical two-fold bikes, these are trifold bikes, making them exceptionally convenient for urban commuting and travel. Key Features Compact Size: The trifold design results in a very small folded size. Lightweight: Weighing between 10 to 11 kg, making them easy to carry. Easy Transportation: Suitable for air travel, and can be taken on public transport like MRT and buses. Thin Tires: Facilitates easy movement and efficient riding. Front Bracket: Allows for quick changes of front bags. Popularity: Highly popular in Singapore. Non-standard Accessories: May require specific accessories due to unique design. My bike is a Brompton clone, and I’ll share some insights on the various brands and models available. ...

December 9, 2024 Â· 3 min Â· 470 words Â· Jack Yu

My Recent Purchases: A Review of Three Sanrenmu Folding Knives

Recently, I decided to expand my collection of folding knives and purchased three models from Sanrenmu. For anyone considering a new knife or looking for suggestions, I wanted to share my experiences with these three models: the 9201, 9008, and 820. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and hopefully, my insights can help you make an informed decision. Sanrenmu 9201 Price: 198 Yuan Lock Type: Axis Lock Handle Material: Plastic Blade Material: D2 Steel First Impressions The 9201 features an axis lock mechanism, which I found to be very smooth and easy to open and close. The D2 steel blade offers good edge retention, and the plastic handle keeps the knife lightweight. ...

November 28, 2024 Â· 4 min Â· 807 words Â· Jack Yu

The Correct Way to Use `go build`

When working with Go, it’s important to know the proper way to compile your programs to avoid common errors. Here are some tips on using the go build command effectively. Recommended Usage Compile all Go files in the current directory: go build Compile all Go files explicitly: go build *.go Common Pitfalls Compiling a Single File Running: go build main.go will only build main.go. This can lead to errors if main.go depends on other Go files in the same package, as those files won’t be included in the build process. ...

November 28, 2024 Â· 1 min Â· 163 words Â· Jack Yu

Exploring Local LLMs with Ollama: My Journey and Practices

Local Large Language Models (LLMs) have been gaining traction as developers and enthusiasts seek more control over their AI tools without relying solely on cloud-based solutions. In this blog post, I’ll share my experiences with Ollama, a remarkable tool for running local LLMs, along with other tools like llamaindex and Candle. I’ll also discuss various user interfaces (UI) that enhance the local LLM experience. Table of Contents Introduction to Ollama A Popular Choice Ease of Use Built with Golang My Practices with Ollama Preferred Models Llama 3.1 Mistral Phi-3 Qwen-2 Hardware Constraints Exploring UIs for Ollama OpenWebUI Page Assist Enchanted AnythingLLM Dify Diving into llamaindex Experimenting with Candle Conclusion Introduction to Ollama A Popular Choice Ollama has rapidly become a favorite among developers interested in local LLMs. Within a year, it has garnered significant attention on GitHub, reflecting its growing user base and community support. ...

November 27, 2024 Â· 4 min Â· 722 words Â· Jack Yu