Django · Pagination
Django Pagination: Order Rows and Choose an Invalid-Page Policy
Give paginated archives an explicit order, deliberate invalid-page handling and navigation that preserves active filters.
Engineering articles
Ideas built in practice.
Notes on building reliable software — architecture, decisions and lessons from real projects.
FastAPI · Application Lifecycle
FastAPI Lifespan: Set Up Shared Resources Before Requests Arrive
Give shared resources an explicit startup and shutdown boundary, then test both ends of the application lifecycle.
Docker · Build Cache
Docker BuildKit Cache Mounts: Reuse pip Downloads When Layers Rebuild
Distinguish layer reuse from a persistent package cache, and keep dependency installation correct when the cache is empty.
Python · File Reliability
Python File Updates: Prepare a Temporary File Before Replacing the Live One
Write a complete temporary file beside the destination, close it, then replace the live path with explicit cleanup.
CI/CD · Token Permissions
GitHub Actions: Give Each Job Only the Token Permissions It Needs
Use explicit workflow and job permissions to keep verification and release capabilities aligned with their tasks.
Django · Query Evaluation
Django QuerySets: Choose exists(), count() or Loaded Rows Deliberately
Match existence checks, counts and row loading to what a response actually needs, then reuse fetched results.
FastAPI · Testing
FastAPI Endpoint Tests: Assert the Contract, Not Just a Green Status
Test response bodies and rejection paths alongside status codes to make API contracts observable.
Docker · Build Security
Docker Build Secrets: Temporary Access Without Shipping Credentials
Use BuildKit secret mounts for private dependency access and review what build commands leave behind.
Python · Process Management
Python Subprocesses: Set Timeouts and Handle Exit Codes Explicitly
Give external commands explicit arguments, bounded waits and distinct handling for failure and timeout.
CI/CD · Build Artifacts
GitHub Actions Artifacts: Make Build-to-Release Handoffs Explicit
Pass named build outputs between jobs with explicit dependencies, clear paths and deliberate retention.
Django · Transactions
Django on_commit: Trigger Side Effects After the Database Commits
Defer task publication and notifications until a transaction succeeds, while keeping delivery guarantees explicit.
FastAPI · Resource Management
FastAPI Yield Dependencies: Keep Resource Cleanup Close to Setup
Use yield and finally to release request resources predictably while keeping transaction decisions explicit.
Docker · Reliability
Docker Health Checks: Test the App, Not Just the Process
Use bounded probes and explicit startup timing to detect an unresponsive application inside a running container.
Python · Observability
Python Logging: Useful Context Without Duplicate Messages
Use named loggers, deliberate context and centralized handlers to make application logs easier to investigate.
CI/CD · GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions Concurrency: Cancel Stale CI Without Interrupting Deployments
Choose concurrency groups that reduce redundant tests while respecting deployment boundaries.
Django · Database Performance
Django N+1 Queries: Choose select_related or prefetch_related
Load related records deliberately to prevent a list endpoint from issuing a query for every row.
FastAPI · API Design
FastAPI Response Models: Keep Internal Fields Out of Your API
Define an explicit output contract to filter internal fields and make API responses predictable.
Docker · Python
Docker Images for Python Web Apps: Five Practical Habits
Build smaller, repeatable Docker images for Django and FastAPI with five habits that simplify deployment.
React · Integration
Keep demo persistence separate from the API contract
Ilmora demonstrates complete management screens while keeping its current browser demo and planned server integration distinct.
Django · Content
One searchable catalog for managed and fallback projects
A shared project representation keeps search useful across database content and source-backed defaults.
Django · Reliability
Persist the enquiry before sending email
A contact form should keep a visitor’s message even when the mail server fails.