Alexander Reelsen
@spinscale.bsky.social
Husband, dad, enjoys working distributed, likes distributed databases & search engines, the JVM, Basketball/Streetball fan, gulps coffee, lives in Emsdetten/Germany, occasionally blogs at https://spinscale.de
Achievement unlocked: Added a cover slide using a terminal with figlet to my no-slides #elasticon presentation showing ES|QL to look into three years of solar data.
A part of the demo has also been written down in a blog post. See spinscale.de/posts/2025-1...
A part of the demo has also been written down in a blog post. See spinscale.de/posts/2025-1...
November 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Achievement unlocked: Added a cover slide using a terminal with figlet to my no-slides #elasticon presentation showing ES|QL to look into three years of solar data.
A part of the demo has also been written down in a blog post. See spinscale.de/posts/2025-1...
A part of the demo has also been written down in a blog post. See spinscale.de/posts/2025-1...
Finished: Optimizing Cloud Native Java
Great explanations, how the JVM works in general, performance testing, GC. A small cloud chapter at the end, but more about general k8s configuration and less about java specifics.
Good general overview, quite recent, not cloud specific IMO, bit of a misnomer
Great explanations, how the JVM works in general, performance testing, GC. A small cloud chapter at the end, but more about general k8s configuration and less about java specifics.
Good general overview, quite recent, not cloud specific IMO, bit of a misnomer
September 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: Optimizing Cloud Native Java
Great explanations, how the JVM works in general, performance testing, GC. A small cloud chapter at the end, but more about general k8s configuration and less about java specifics.
Good general overview, quite recent, not cloud specific IMO, bit of a misnomer
Great explanations, how the JVM works in general, performance testing, GC. A small cloud chapter at the end, but more about general k8s configuration and less about java specifics.
Good general overview, quite recent, not cloud specific IMO, bit of a misnomer
Finished: A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout
Relatively short with a bit less than 200 pages, but I really enjoyed it. If you have been coding for long enough, so many things seem intuitive and factual in this book, but it's hard to put them into words.
Relatively short with a bit less than 200 pages, but I really enjoyed it. If you have been coding for long enough, so many things seem intuitive and factual in this book, but it's hard to put them into words.
September 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout
Relatively short with a bit less than 200 pages, but I really enjoyed it. If you have been coding for long enough, so many things seem intuitive and factual in this book, but it's hard to put them into words.
Relatively short with a bit less than 200 pages, but I really enjoyed it. If you have been coding for long enough, so many things seem intuitive and factual in this book, but it's hard to put them into words.
Finished: Kill it with fire - Manage aging computer systems
Great book, around 220 pages. When you work on a successful piece of software, it becomes legacy, cause it sticks around for long, the world moves on. How do you tackle upgrades without that evil full rewrite plus good mgmt advice
Great book, around 220 pages. When you work on a successful piece of software, it becomes legacy, cause it sticks around for long, the world moves on. How do you tackle upgrades without that evil full rewrite plus good mgmt advice
September 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: Kill it with fire - Manage aging computer systems
Great book, around 220 pages. When you work on a successful piece of software, it becomes legacy, cause it sticks around for long, the world moves on. How do you tackle upgrades without that evil full rewrite plus good mgmt advice
Great book, around 220 pages. When you work on a successful piece of software, it becomes legacy, cause it sticks around for long, the world moves on. How do you tackle upgrades without that evil full rewrite plus good mgmt advice
P.S. As a total pro-am techfluencer I had to include a completely unrelated picture, but that octopus is 🔥
August 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
P.S. As a total pro-am techfluencer I had to include a completely unrelated picture, but that octopus is 🔥
Finished: The Java Cookbook
A thick 600 pages book with dozens of different recipes. Suited for the beginner - but also kept up to date, like an example for using the Vector API. Learned about ChoiceFormat for handling plurals.
Only recommended if you are getting started with Java professionally.
A thick 600 pages book with dozens of different recipes. Suited for the beginner - but also kept up to date, like an example for using the Vector API. Learned about ChoiceFormat for handling plurals.
Only recommended if you are getting started with Java professionally.
August 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: The Java Cookbook
A thick 600 pages book with dozens of different recipes. Suited for the beginner - but also kept up to date, like an example for using the Vector API. Learned about ChoiceFormat for handling plurals.
Only recommended if you are getting started with Java professionally.
A thick 600 pages book with dozens of different recipes. Suited for the beginner - but also kept up to date, like an example for using the Vector API. Learned about ChoiceFormat for handling plurals.
Only recommended if you are getting started with Java professionally.
Finished: In-Memory Analytics with Apache Arrow
What a great introduction into the arrow ecosystem, which is quite big already. Code samples in python, go and C++, lots of explanations.
Last chapter explains how to contribute - what a great final chapter for a book about an Open Source product.
What a great introduction into the arrow ecosystem, which is quite big already. Code samples in python, go and C++, lots of explanations.
Last chapter explains how to contribute - what a great final chapter for a book about an Open Source product.
July 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: In-Memory Analytics with Apache Arrow
What a great introduction into the arrow ecosystem, which is quite big already. Code samples in python, go and C++, lots of explanations.
Last chapter explains how to contribute - what a great final chapter for a book about an Open Source product.
What a great introduction into the arrow ecosystem, which is quite big already. Code samples in python, go and C++, lots of explanations.
Last chapter explains how to contribute - what a great final chapter for a book about an Open Source product.
Finished: Apache Iceberg - The definitive guide
I've always delayed taking a look at Iceberg, until it had emerged as the winner in the open table game.
Like the idea of puffin files as a possible extension to allow data stores to keep the data in an open format, while applying own optimizations.
I've always delayed taking a look at Iceberg, until it had emerged as the winner in the open table game.
Like the idea of puffin files as a possible extension to allow data stores to keep the data in an open format, while applying own optimizations.
July 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: Apache Iceberg - The definitive guide
I've always delayed taking a look at Iceberg, until it had emerged as the winner in the open table game.
Like the idea of puffin files as a possible extension to allow data stores to keep the data in an open format, while applying own optimizations.
I've always delayed taking a look at Iceberg, until it had emerged as the winner in the open table game.
Like the idea of puffin files as a possible extension to allow data stores to keep the data in an open format, while applying own optimizations.
Paper of the day: Anarchy in the Database - A Survey and Evaluation of Database Management System Extensibility
Looking into several datastores and how certain extensions clash with each other.
"Our tests found that 16.8% of extension pairs failed to work together."
www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol18/...
Looking into several datastores and how certain extensions clash with each other.
"Our tests found that 16.8% of extension pairs failed to work together."
www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol18/...
July 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Paper of the day: Anarchy in the Database - A Survey and Evaluation of Database Management System Extensibility
Looking into several datastores and how certain extensions clash with each other.
"Our tests found that 16.8% of extension pairs failed to work together."
www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol18/...
Looking into several datastores and how certain extensions clash with each other.
"Our tests found that 16.8% of extension pairs failed to work together."
www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol18/...
Finally managed to finish AI Engineering by Chip Huyen
It's packed with 500 pages, and covers a lot of topics like evaluation, inference optimization, security & guardrails, architecture and more and is really good explaining concepts.
www.oreilly.com/library/view...
It's packed with 500 pages, and covers a lot of topics like evaluation, inference optimization, security & guardrails, architecture and more and is really good explaining concepts.
www.oreilly.com/library/view...
June 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finally managed to finish AI Engineering by Chip Huyen
It's packed with 500 pages, and covers a lot of topics like evaluation, inference optimization, security & guardrails, architecture and more and is really good explaining concepts.
www.oreilly.com/library/view...
It's packed with 500 pages, and covers a lot of topics like evaluation, inference optimization, security & guardrails, architecture and more and is really good explaining concepts.
www.oreilly.com/library/view...
Had an area and quick team meeting last week. For the second time, I printed the yearly gitlab stats of my team members. So, now it's basically a tradition.
Got print quality improvements by reducing infill, but still not a 100% happy. What should I read to learn more about print quality?
Got print quality improvements by reducing infill, but still not a 100% happy. What should I read to learn more about print quality?
June 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Had an area and quick team meeting last week. For the second time, I printed the yearly gitlab stats of my team members. So, now it's basically a tradition.
Got print quality improvements by reducing infill, but still not a 100% happy. What should I read to learn more about print quality?
Got print quality improvements by reducing infill, but still not a 100% happy. What should I read to learn more about print quality?
Finished: Building AI Powered Products - The Essential Guide To AI and GenAI Product Management
Read this relatively thin book (about 200 pages) during the holidays. I might not be the intended target audience not being a product manager, but I found it hard to read.
Read this relatively thin book (about 200 pages) during the holidays. I might not be the intended target audience not being a product manager, but I found it hard to read.
May 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Finished: Building AI Powered Products - The Essential Guide To AI and GenAI Product Management
Read this relatively thin book (about 200 pages) during the holidays. I might not be the intended target audience not being a product manager, but I found it hard to read.
Read this relatively thin book (about 200 pages) during the holidays. I might not be the intended target audience not being a product manager, but I found it hard to read.
Finished: AI-Powered Search
IMO an introduction that should not be missing in any search engineers book shelve. As most such books, very focused on english as a language, that often has the luxury of existing good huggingface models that can be easily reused.
IMO an introduction that should not be missing in any search engineers book shelve. As most such books, very focused on english as a language, that often has the luxury of existing good huggingface models that can be easily reused.
February 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Finished: AI-Powered Search
IMO an introduction that should not be missing in any search engineers book shelve. As most such books, very focused on english as a language, that often has the luxury of existing good huggingface models that can be easily reused.
IMO an introduction that should not be missing in any search engineers book shelve. As most such books, very focused on english as a language, that often has the luxury of existing good huggingface models that can be easily reused.
I have to admit, I am still in the 3d printing phase of being fascinated. Just like software engineering it's the ability to create something out of nothing. You have an idea in your head (like a replacement lid for your compost bin), measure the old one a little, reproduce first and ...
February 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I have to admit, I am still in the 3d printing phase of being fascinated. Just like software engineering it's the ability to create something out of nothing. You have an idea in your head (like a replacement lid for your compost bin), measure the old one a little, reproduce first and ...
Finished reading: Becoming a data head
Nice introduction into statistical topics if you have never dealth with them. If you had some previous exposure, probably too high level.
Just like many books, this is a variant of the 'now draw the rest of the owl' meme, nice intro but what for next steps?
Nice introduction into statistical topics if you have never dealth with them. If you had some previous exposure, probably too high level.
Just like many books, this is a variant of the 'now draw the rest of the owl' meme, nice intro but what for next steps?
February 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Finished reading: Becoming a data head
Nice introduction into statistical topics if you have never dealth with them. If you had some previous exposure, probably too high level.
Just like many books, this is a variant of the 'now draw the rest of the owl' meme, nice intro but what for next steps?
Nice introduction into statistical topics if you have never dealth with them. If you had some previous exposure, probably too high level.
Just like many books, this is a variant of the 'now draw the rest of the owl' meme, nice intro but what for next steps?
Current blog post plans for short reads in the next weeks...
February 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Current blog post plans for short reads in the next weeks...
Finished: Database design and implementation by Edward Sciore
I really like the underpinning with a lot of Java code in this one, having a full sample database including buffers, different join implementations and more.
Recommended for getting started, lots of code plus a lot of exercises on top.
I really like the underpinning with a lot of Java code in this one, having a full sample database including buffers, different join implementations and more.
Recommended for getting started, lots of code plus a lot of exercises on top.
January 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Finished: Database design and implementation by Edward Sciore
I really like the underpinning with a lot of Java code in this one, having a full sample database including buffers, different join implementations and more.
Recommended for getting started, lots of code plus a lot of exercises on top.
I really like the underpinning with a lot of Java code in this one, having a full sample database including buffers, different join implementations and more.
Recommended for getting started, lots of code plus a lot of exercises on top.
Finished: All Hands on Tech
A very (probably too) high level introduction of how a modern IT/tech department within an organization should look like. Favorite quote in common misconceptions: "Your culture document reads like the ten things everyone should have learned in kindergarten."
A very (probably too) high level introduction of how a modern IT/tech department within an organization should look like. Favorite quote in common misconceptions: "Your culture document reads like the ten things everyone should have learned in kindergarten."
January 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Finished: All Hands on Tech
A very (probably too) high level introduction of how a modern IT/tech department within an organization should look like. Favorite quote in common misconceptions: "Your culture document reads like the ten things everyone should have learned in kindergarten."
A very (probably too) high level introduction of how a modern IT/tech department within an organization should look like. Favorite quote in common misconceptions: "Your culture document reads like the ten things everyone should have learned in kindergarten."
Finished: Ultimate Typescript Handbook
One of the better introductions into Typescript for experienced developers. Covers a lot of language features/project setup. Missed a little on the debugging part or running/packaging applications in production, but you want a concise book, not 1k pages..
One of the better introductions into Typescript for experienced developers. Covers a lot of language features/project setup. Missed a little on the debugging part or running/packaging applications in production, but you want a concise book, not 1k pages..
December 24, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Finished: Ultimate Typescript Handbook
One of the better introductions into Typescript for experienced developers. Covers a lot of language features/project setup. Missed a little on the debugging part or running/packaging applications in production, but you want a concise book, not 1k pages..
One of the better introductions into Typescript for experienced developers. Covers a lot of language features/project setup. Missed a little on the debugging part or running/packaging applications in production, but you want a concise book, not 1k pages..
Forgot to add the book image.. still learning to bluesky 🤦♀️
December 23, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Forgot to add the book image.. still learning to bluesky 🤦♀️
because it is covering a lot of those topics already.
In the second part of the book my standard thoughts about k8s in combination with platform engineering come into play: When is a good size of your company or the number of teams that you really need this kind of complexity?
In the second part of the book my standard thoughts about k8s in combination with platform engineering come into play: When is a good size of your company or the number of teams that you really need this kind of complexity?
December 23, 2024 at 1:56 PM
because it is covering a lot of those topics already.
In the second part of the book my standard thoughts about k8s in combination with platform engineering come into play: When is a good size of your company or the number of teams that you really need this kind of complexity?
In the second part of the book my standard thoughts about k8s in combination with platform engineering come into play: When is a good size of your company or the number of teams that you really need this kind of complexity?