Why hello there.

I’m a Chicago software engineer who loves to move fast and (Usually) fix things…

Indian Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients For the Curry Paste: 3 shallots, rough chopped 8 cloves garlic, rough chopped 8 makrut lime leaves, thinly sliced 1/4 cup (40g) toasted peanuts 2 tablespoons galangal, grated (substitute with ginger if needed) 2 stalks lemongrass, thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon (2g) cumin powder 1 tablespoon (14g) coriander powder 3/4 cup (30g) dried Korean chilies, rehydrated in boiling water For the Casserole: 3 sweet potatoes, cut into large chunks (1 to 1.5 inches) 3/4 cup (180ml) chicken stock 1 can (400ml) coconut milk 4.5 tablespoons (45g) palm sugar (or brown sugar) 2 more makrut lime leaves (optional) 1.5 tablespoons (15g) hondashi (optional) For the Fried Shallots: ...

November 20, 2024 · 2 min · 339 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Software Engineering is a Team Sport: From Rookie to All-Star

The stadium buzzed with electric anticipation. It was the final seconds of the Super Bowl, and the underdog team trailed by four points. Everything hinged on this last play. The quarterback scanned the defense and noticed a telltale formation—the opponents had fallen into a pattern they’d dissected tirelessly in practice. Seizing the moment, he called an audible at the line of scrimmage. Instantly, the offensive line adjusted their stances, receivers altered their routes, and the running back shifted to provide crucial protection. The ball was snapped. In a seamless display of teamwork and adaptability, the play unfolded flawlessly, culminating in a game-winning touchdown. ...

November 4, 2024 · 8 min · 1596 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Rogers Park Live Bulletin - October 26, 2024

Residents of Rogers Park and the surrounding areas are advised of several incidents that occurred recently. Local authorities responded promptly to each situation to ensure community safety. Below is a recap of the reported events: Manager Identifies Individual in Walgreens Confrontation Location: Walgreens, 4445 N Lincoln Ave Time: 12:00 AM Police units returned to Walgreens after a manager identified a gentleman involved in an earlier confrontation at the store. An officer on the scene reported, “All right, back to the Walgreens to have the manager identify this gentleman.” ...

October 26, 2024 · 5 min · 912 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Complexity Bombs in Distributed Systems: When 'Good Enough' Bites You

In many engineering organizations I’ve been part of, the drive for rapid delivery often results in shortcuts and “good enough” solutions. When managed effectively, this ability to quickly provide value can be a significant competitive advantage. However, poor management or defaulting to this approach can lead to what I call “complexity bombs” – ticking time bombs of technical debt that explode into major issues as systems grow and evolve. These can sometimes manifest unexpectedly, particularly in distributed systems, causing sudden leaps in complexity.ystems. ...

August 18, 2024 · 4 min · 802 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Old School Engineering for Modern Software Development

Hello and What? My software engineering career began in industrial manufacturing with a paid internship at O’Sullivan Films Inc, a company specializing in plastic and vinyl sheeting for products like pool liners and car dashboards that, like so many American businesses was bought by and international conglomerate and folded into its parent’s generic embrace. The experience I gained while working at O’Sullivan, along with my years working in ‘agile’ tech startups over the years has me thinking about the differences between how manufacturing and pure software businesses approach product design, development. ...

August 10, 2024 · 6 min · 1179 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>