trap Archives

Tech Optimizer

July 14, 2025

The performance engineer: a detective licensed to kill… bottlenecks

A SQL query initially took fifteen hours to process, but after performance engineering adjustments by Vadim Laktushin, it was reduced to two minutes. Performance engineers (PEs) work to enhance IT system efficiency by identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks in application code, database management systems, configurations, and hardware. Vadim transitioned from a developer to a performance specialist at Postgres Professional after exploring benchmarks and system tuning. Performance issues often require complex solutions rather than straightforward fixes. For example, a client migrating from Oracle to PostgreSQL faced delays due to the Write-Ahead Log (WAL), which became a bottleneck during heavy write operations. PEs adhere to principles such as proactive analysis, reliance on data, and caution against quick fixes. Essential skills for PEs include programming, Linux expertise, understanding algorithms, statistical thinking, and effective communication. The future of performance engineering may involve specialization, and while AI can assist, it cannot replace human expertise in optimization tasks.

Tech Optimizer

July 8, 2025

How TimescaleDB helped us scale analytics and reporting

At Cloudflare, PostgreSQL and ClickHouse are used as primary databases for transactional and analytical workloads. PostgreSQL is preferred for product development due to its speed, versatility, and reliability, with hundreds of instances running in various configurations. ClickHouse, introduced in 2017, allows ingestion of tens of millions of rows per second with millisecond-level query performance but comes with trade-offs. The Digital Experience Monitoring (DEX) product was developed with a focus on simplicity and rapid shipping, utilizing a team of three engineers and collaboration with other teams. DEX's initial launch included fleet status logs uploaded every two minutes and synthetic tests with usage caps, leading to a successful MVP launch ahead of schedule. The architecture included an HTTP API, PostgreSQL for storing configurations, and a React UI in the Cloudflare Dashboard. PostgreSQL was chosen for analytics due to its ability to handle structured logs, with a table created for device state logs lacking a primary key but optimized with unique and standard indexes for common queries. The UPSERT query was used for data insertion, and the order of columns in multicolumn indexes was optimized for performance. After launching DEX, the system scaled to 1,000 inserts per second, leading to performance degradation. Precomputed aggregates were implemented to improve query performance, resulting in up to a 1000x improvement. Table partitioning was considered but ultimately not pursued due to its manual management requirements. TimescaleDB was explored as an alternative to enhance query performance, offering features like automatic partition management, continuous aggregates, and compression. A side-by-side comparison with PostgreSQL showed significant performance improvements, particularly for longer time windows. TimescaleDB's integration allowed for efficient data retention and aggregation, simplifying the infrastructure. Following the success of DEX, other teams at Cloudflare began using TimescaleDB for analytics and reporting, consolidating data from various sources and managing high ingestion rates effectively by optimizing data handling techniques such as switching to COPY for bulk inserts and adjusting replication settings.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam’s “Early Access” is no longer what it used to be — has it failed gamers?

Valve's "Early Access" initiative on Steam currently features 14,056 titles. Successful games like Kerbal Space Program, ARMA 3, Prison Architect, and Kenshi have received positive reviews. However, many players have become disillusioned with the program, particularly due to experiences like the prolonged development of DayZ, which spent nearly five years in Early Access. The program's guidelines require developers to maintain transparency and accountability, but some exploit these rules for financial gain without completing their projects. The Early Access program is intended to gather player feedback, provide funding, and support development, but issues with unfinished games and unmet promises have raised concerns about its integrity.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Portland Musician Amos Roddy Contributed Six New Songs to Minecraft’s Latest Update

Amos Roddy is a Portland-based musician who contributed six new tracks to the Minecraft soundtrack in an update released on June 17. At 40, he has been composing video game soundtracks for over a decade, starting at age 29. His minimalist and atmospheric style has been featured in indie games like Kingdom, Citizen Sleeper, and Cloud Gardens. Roddy was contacted by Mojang Studios in November 2020 and had three weeks to produce the tracks, five of which integrate into gameplay, while one can be found through an in-game music disk. He employs a unique creative process that allows instruments to guide his compositions, often crafting tracks quickly with minimal input from the developer. One track, "Tears," was inspired by defeating a Ghast in the game and incorporates elements of phonk music. Roddy plans to compose the soundtrack for an indie game titled BALL x PIT, which will have a more operatic and dynamic sound.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

5 Minecraft Farms to Build Early

Players in Minecraft face challenges such as food shortages and resource scarcity during the early stages of survival. Early-game farms are essential for providing resources and improving gameplay. 1. A basic crop farm can be established by planting wheat, carrots, or potatoes on well-tilled soil with a water source and sunlight. Fencing can protect crops from mobs, and villagers can help automate the process. 2. An animal breeding pen can be created by attracting cows, sheep, and chickens using wheat or seeds. Each animal provides unique resources, and a breeding cycle of about five minutes allows for a steady food supply. 3. A sugar cane farm is important for crafting paper and trading with villagers. It can be set up along a riverbank or with irrigation ditches, and can be automated with observers and pistons. 4. An XP and mob drop farm can be built around a dungeon with a skeleton or zombie spawner. A funnel system using water flows and trap doors can direct mobs for XP farming and valuable drops. 5. An iron farm can be established near a village using three villagers, beds, workstations, and a zombie to spawn Iron Golems. A kill chamber can provide a consistent source of iron ingots.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

How to build a creeper farm in Minecraft | Esports News

In Minecraft, players can build a Creeper farm to obtain a reliable source of gunpowder, which is essential for crafting TNT, fireworks, and splash potions. To construct an efficient Creeper farm, players need to gather materials such as building blocks, wooden trapdoors, carpet, cat mobs, slabs, campfires or magma blocks, chests, and hoppers. The construction steps include: 1. Choosing a location elevated above sea level or over the ocean to reduce other mob spawns. 2. Creating a flat spawning platform with solid blocks, attaching trapdoors to restrict spawns to creepers, and placing carpets to prevent spider spawns. 3. Positioning domesticated cats at the center of each platform to scare creepers into the trap zone. 4. Installing campfires or magma blocks at the base to eliminate creepers and using hoppers to collect loot. 5. Adding multiple layers of platforms to increase spawn rates and using trapdoors to guide creepers off the platforms. 6. Illuminating or slabbing nearby caves to prevent unwanted mob spawns. With careful planning and execution, players can establish a self-sustaining farm for a steady supply of gunpowder.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

This week in PC games: Elden Ring Nightreign and a giantess dating sim

The author woke up at 6 AM on a bank holiday and observed a squirrel in a treehouse. A wave of new PC games is set to launch this week, including: - May 27: - Sol Cesto: A caffeinated roguelike in Steam early access with a unique art style. - Small Spaces: An interior design toolkit for small apartments. - May 28: - To A T: An adventure game featuring a boy in a T-pose and a sandwich-making giraffe. - Kabuto Park: A creature collector inspired by beetle battles. - May 29: - Islands & Trains: A sandbox city builder. - May 30: - Debugging Hero: An ARPG with a magical sword that allows players to manipulate enemy stats. - Deadly Quiet: An immersive sim and 4-player co-op horror game. - Doodle Empires: A strategy game where players draw their own territories. The author also mentioned needing to attend to a squirrel funeral and clean up a mess caused by the Snickers bar.

AppWizard

May 25, 2025

Great moments in PC gaming: Getting so badly stuck on an adventure game puzzle I called the developer for a hint

PC gaming has evolved significantly, with advancements in technology leading to improved graphics and processing power, enabling developers to create stunning visuals and complex worlds. Modern games often feature intricate narratives that engage players emotionally, and online platforms have fostered vibrant communities for gamers to connect and share experiences. Despite nostalgia for the past, the current gaming landscape offers richness and depth that were often lacking in earlier generations.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

How to Make a Slime Farm in Minecraft – The Times of India

Slimes in Minecraft are found exclusively below Y=40 in the overworld and come in three sizes: large, medium, and small. Defeating them yields experience points—4 XP from large slimes, 2 from medium, and 1 from small. A large slime splits into smaller versions upon defeat, allowing players to accumulate approximately 24 XP from one encounter. Defeating slimes also provides slimeballs, which are essential for crafting items like leads, sticky pistons, and slime blocks. To build a slime farm, players must locate a slime chunk, dig down to Y-level 20–40, clear a 16x16 block area, create spawning platforms, add iron golems to attract slimes, build an auto-kill mechanism, and install a collection system with hoppers and minecarts. Proper lighting is necessary to prevent unwanted mob spawns.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

Locomoto is a train management adventure with Animal Crossing vibes and Minecraft-like crafting that’s already claimed hours of my time

In the game Locomoto, the player takes on the role of a train conductor, having commandeered a train from a goat named McGruff, with the mission of assisting a struggling town by transporting the future mayor. The gameplay includes clearing tracks, operating the train, and engaging in quests that involve transporting passengers and locating items. The game features a character customization system, allowing players to modify their character and train, and incorporates a crafting system for creating various items. Players can collect parcels and complete tasks, leading to an immersive and time-consuming experience. Locomoto is currently available on PC.