Blog

How to close a database connection after all Mocha tests are finished – Mocha Root Hook Plugins in TypeScript

May 3, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

Mocha Root Hook Plugins make it possible to run clean-up code after all tests have completed.

How to add a serialization method to custom JavaScript classes

April 20, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

In JavaScript, objects are most often serialized to a format called JavaScript Object Notation – or “JSON”. Learn how to describe what shape your custom classes should take whenever there is a need to serialize them.

How to create a monotonically increasing counter using Express.js and LMDB

April 13, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

It’s surprisingly challenging to code an auto-incrementing counter in a concurrent environment. Specifically, the problem of “lost updates” quickly becomes quite real.

Coding challenges: Is it about the solution, or the refactoring?

April 8, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

When solving coding challenges, should I just get to the right answer — or should I aim to write code that can evolve?

How to Add AI Players to your Self-hosted OpenTTD Server’s Multiplayer Games

April 6, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

Checkout this guide for adding AI players to your multiplayer OpenTTD games!

No More Manual Sitemap Builds: How I Synced Next.js with a Headless WordPress CMS

April 6, 2025 by Missie Dawes

I connected WordPress and Next.js to keep our sitemap automatically up-to-date — no rebuilds, no stale links, just fresh content that stays in sync.

And We’re Live: Publishing My First NPM Package

March 30, 2025 by Missie Dawes

Publishing my first NPM package was easier than I expected, but automating the process came with a few unexpected challenges—here’s what I learned along the way.

Identifying and fixing faulty RAM on my homelab server

March 30, 2025 by Andrew Dawes

Some time last year, I started noticing a concerning trend…

Zod, Expectations, and a Little White Lie

January 26, 2025 by Missie Dawes

You know how psychologists and therapists say communicating expectations plays a key role in maintaining healthy relationships? Turns out the same is true of code.

Push It

January 17, 2025 by Missie Dawes

I have a reputation for doing things well.

That’s not a brag, it’s a confession.