MQMarshall Qiao

Writing

What I'm learning, made useful.

Notes on backend engineering, distributed systems, applied AI, and the decisions that make software last.

  1. 3 min readDistributed Systems

    Designing High-Throughput Systems Without Losing the Plot

    A practical framework for separating capacity, latency, correctness, and operational risk before choosing technology.

  2. 2 min readArchitecture

    Event-Driven Architecture: Where the Boundaries Actually Matter

    Events create leverage only when ownership, delivery guarantees, and recovery paths are explicit.

  3. 1 min readApplied AI

    Engineering with AI Without Losing Control

    Coding agents become valuable when the workflow makes evidence, boundaries, and review easier—not optional.