systemhalted by Palak Mathur

TDD as a Management Technique Revisited

Software Engineering
I still think TDD is a Taylorian construct. But I now care less about the ritual and more about a deeper idea - thinking about evaluation and testing before we write code.

Org Incentive Optimization Problem

Personal Essays
Most orgs are unknowingly running an “Org Incentive Optimization” algorithm that over-rewards flashy new platforms and under-values quiet reliability work, so you have to translate maintenance into visible, computable outcomes.

India and the United States

Politics & Governance   Society & Economy
Let us explore the Indo-US relations over the year and where they are headed after recent tariffs imposed by US on India

[Movie Review] Dhurandhar

Movie Review
Review of Hindi movie Dhurandhar

IEEE 754 Doubles - The Numbers That Lie With A Straight Face

Computer Science   Software Engineering   Technology
In Java, double feels like a real number. You write 1.0, the compiler nods, the program runs, and everything looks fine. Until it doesn’t.

Associativity, Identity, and Folding - Why Your reduce Keeps Biting You

Computer Science   Software Engineering   Technology
A practical look at associativity, identity, and folding in Java Streams, and why some reduce calls behave nicely while others explode in surprising ways.

Either This Or That - Why I Wanted Disjunctive Types In Java

Computer Science   Software Engineering   Technology
When your Java methods really mean "either this or that" but the type system only says "here’s something…maybe," you’re flying blind. This post walks through using Result types, sealed hierarchies, and a bit of logic-thinking to make those hidden alternatives explicit, so the compiler – not your Javadoc – tells the truth about your code.

Revolutionizing Global Payments - A Comprehensive Analysis of Real-Time Payment Systems - UPI in India, FedNow in the US, and Similar Interfaces Worldwide

Society & Economy   Technology   Politics & Governance
Real-time payment systems have become the backbone of modern economies, offering rapid and secure transactions for individuals and businesses alike. This in-depth technical article explores the transformative power of real-time payment systems, with a focus on two major players - Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India and the emerging FedNow standard in the United States. Additionally, we analyze similar interfaces from around the world, including the Faster Payments Service (FPS) in the UK, SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) in the Eurozone, and PIX in Brazil. Through an in-depth examination of each system’s development, architecture, features, and global impact, this article aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the rapidly evolving landscape of real-time payment solutions.