
## 👨‍💻 What I'm Working On

The big news first: **I just joined DKatalis as a Senior Engineer.** I am excited to start this new chapter.

Leaving Xendit in May closed a long chapter. The handover is done, the job search is done, and I get to build again without the "what next" tab open in my head all day. That feels good.

This blog is still my favorite side playground. I keep finding small things to improve, and writing still helps me think more clearly about systems and life.

## 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life

Bigger news at home: **we are expecting our second child.** Kiara is about to become a big sister, and I am equal parts excited and bracing for the chaos.

Kiara is still the main character for now. Walking and running have fully unlocked, and my back continues to file complaints I keep ignoring.

Coming home to her still shrinks everything else. Toddlers do not care about your new job title. They want dinosaur sounds and someone willing to chase them around the living room.

My wife held a lot of weight through the Xendit exit and the search that followed. I am grateful she stayed, and that she picked me up at my worst. We get to start this next stretch together, with a little more air in the room and a growing family on the way.

## 🎮 Gaming

Football Manager and FIFA are still the easy off switch. Three Kingdoms might come back off the shelf now that work feels steadier again.

Still following Dota 2 esports as a spectator. The International remains the only sports event I plan my schedule around.

## 🎵 Music

Gracia from JKT48 has graduated, and I am still not fully over it. She will still be the one. That said, the shelf has candidates circling: **Marsha, Freya, Lana, Kimmy, Gracie, Michie, Zee, Oniel, Alya, and Ve.** Potential replacements on paper. In practice, Gracia still wins.

K-pop, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, and Dewa 19 stay on heavy rotation. The anxiety playlist is quieter these days. That alone feels like progress.

## 📚 What I'm Reading

Still re-reading Naruto more times than I will admit in polite company. **Dandadan** and **Sakamoto Days** stay in the rotation. **My Hero Academia** is still the manga I keep losing my place in.

On the technical side I am shifting from interview prep back to learning for the work itself. System design, distributed systems, and whatever DKatalis throws at me next.

## 📺 What I'm Watching

UFC is still in the rotation.

I still have a growing list of K-Dramas that people keep recommending, and I want to get back into them. I just have not found the time yet. Once I start one, I usually cannot stop until I finish the entire series, which means my productivity disappears for a week. It is a dangerous cycle I try to avoid during busy periods, and right now life is still pretty full.

---

**Sidenote:** Not actively looking right now. If you just want to say hi, or if you really want to hire me: **fajarmaulanafirdaus29 at gmail dot com**.



## 👨‍💻 What I'm Working On

The big news first: I'm leaving Xendit. Last day is **May 12, 2026**. Four years, three roles, a lot of payment infrastructure shipped, and now I'm in the handover phase. I wrote about it more honestly [in a separate post at later date](/blog). I'd rather people hear the real story than guess.

So right now my "work" is two things in parallel: handing over NEX cleanly so the people who inherit it aren't cursing my name in six months, and **looking for my next role openly and quickly**. I'm targeting Staff / Lead / Senior backend or full-stack positions. Remote is the priority because I want to be home for Kiara, but I'm flexible on hybrid. If you're hiring or know someone who is, please reach out.

On the side projects front, this blog is still my favorite playground. I keep finding small things to improve. Writing technical posts (especially the LeetCode breakdowns) has been a good way to keep my brain warm during a stressful stretch. There's something grounding about explaining a sliding window solution when the rest of life feels like it's sliding around too.

With a few friends I'm trying to stand up something like an IT consultancy in Surabaya. The shape of it is still loose, more intent than a deck at this point, but I want to see if we can build a real shop here.

## 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life

Kiara is **walking and running now**, and I cannot keep up. Last month she was wobbling between the couch and the coffee table. This month she is sprinting through the house with the confidence of a person who has never met gravity. My back, which was already complaining, has filed a formal grievance.

Honestly, even with everything happening at work, coming home to her makes the rest of it shrink. Toddlers don't care about your performance review tier. They want you to chase them around the living room making dinosaur sounds. It's the best kind of recalibration.

My wife has been the rock through all of this. The Xendit news landed hard for both of us, and she's been holding things together while I focus on the handover and the job search. I owe her, big time.

## 🎮 Gaming

Not much new since January. Football Manager and FIFA still in the rotation when I need to switch my brain off. Three Kingdoms has gone on the shelf for now. Hard to commit to a 200-hour campaign when you're not sure where you'll be working in three months.

Still following Dota 2 esports as a spectator. The International is still the only sports event I plan my schedule around.

## 🎵 Music

Mostly the same rotation as January, with one big change. **Gracia from JKT48 is graduating.** I am taking it harder than I should. There's a strange poetry to both of us "graduating" at the same time. I'm going to miss her.

K-pop, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Dewa 19 still on heavy rotation. When the job hunt anxiety hits, "Numb" still does the job 20 years later. Some songs just age into being more relevant.

## 📚 What I'm Reading

Re-reading Naruto for what is now genuinely embarrassing the number of times. The arc about losing the people you trained with and having to figure out who you are without them is hitting differently this month, for reasons I'll let the reader figure out.

**Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo** is finished. Yuji is so goated. **My Hero Academia** I keep losing the thread on which chapter I left off. The manga's been done for ages and I'm still picking at it in the wrong order. **Dandadan** and **Sakamoto Days** stay in the rotation.

On the technical side I'm prepping for interviews. So lots of system design refreshers, distributed systems, some payments-specific reading. If anyone has good staff-level system design resources I haven't seen, I'd love recommendations.

## 📺 What I'm Watching

UFC is still in the rotation. There's something cathartic about watching two people resolve their differences in a cage right now.

Mostly though, I'm not watching much. Hard to relax into a series when half your brain is composing a cover letter.

---

**Sidenote:** If you've made it this far and you're hiring, or you know someone who is: **fajarmaulanafirdaus29 at gmail dot com**. I'd love to talk.



## 👨‍💻 What I'm Working On

I've been diving deep into rebuilding my personal website and blog using Next.js. What started as a simple refresh turned into a complete overhaul. I've added tag filtering, category systems, improved the design, and made everything more organized and searchable. It's been incredibly satisfying to see it all come together.

Work-wise, I'm still at Xendit in the Experiments team. I can't really talk about what I'm working on (corporate life and all that), but I'm proud to say I successfully graduated a project from Experiments. Felt pretty good about that one.

Right now I'm thinking hard about how to upgrade our PgBoss from the old version without downtime, or at least with minimum downtime while avoiding any potential fires. The challenge is that the PgBoss API interfaces have changed quite a lot between versions, so it requires careful planning and migration strategy.

I've been writing more technical blog posts lately, especially focusing on LeetCode problems and algorithm solutions. There's something really satisfying about breaking down complex problems into understandable explanations. I'm trying to document my learning journey and share insights that might help others.

On the PC side, things have been... eventful. My Ryzen 7600X decided to fry itself on my ASRock motherboard. To make matters worse, the motherboard's B2 RAM slot was also malfunctioning. Went back to the shop and they replaced the motherboard for free with a B850M Pro Rs Wifi variant. Since the 7600X was out of stock, I decided to treat myself and upgrade to the Ryzen 9800X3D. Of course, that meant the cooler needed an upgrade too, so I went with the Thermalright Frozen Warframe SE. Silver linings, I guess? The new setup is an absolute beast, and honestly, I'm not even mad about the forced upgrade anymore. Still running everything in my compact Deepcool CH260 case with my weird collection of mini figurines inside that my wife thinks is ridiculous.

## 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life

Being a dad continues to be the most rewarding experience of my life. Kiara ([kiaraasteria.me](https://www.kiaraasteria.me/)) is now over 1 year old, and every day brings new discoveries. She's at that stage where she's learning to walk, which means I spend a lot of time hunched over holding her hands as she takes her wobbly steps. My back is absolutely paying the price for this, but seeing her face light up with each successful step makes it all worth it.

My wife and I are still navigating this parenting journey together. We've gotten better at the whole work-life balance thing, though it's still a constant challenge. Late-night coding sessions after Kiara goes to sleep have become my norm, and honestly, I've learned to appreciate those quiet hours for focused work.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that perfection isn't the goal. Showing up consistently is. Whether it's being present for my family or delivering quality work, consistency beats perfection every time.

## 🎮 Gaming

Gaming has taken a backseat lately, but I still fire up Football Manager and FIFA occasionally when I need to unwind. There's something therapeutic about managing a virtual football team. It's a nice break from the real world.

I'm still following Dota 2 esports pretty closely, even though I haven't played in over a year. Watching The International and following the competitive scene is enough for me right now. Maybe I'll get back into playing someday, but for now, being a spectator works perfectly fine.

I recently learned about Where Winds Meet, and I think this game could actually stray me away from my initial plan to buy Black Myth: Wukong. It looks incredibly promising. Oh, and I'm totally into Total War: Three Kingdoms right now! The strategic depth and the Three Kingdoms setting just scratches that perfect itch.

## 🎵 Music

My music taste is still all over the place, and I love it that way. Here's what's been on repeat:

K-pop groups: aespa, IU, Twice, Red Velvet, Girls' Generation, Itzy, Nmixx, NewJeans, and (G)-IDLE. There's something about K-pop that just hits different. The production, the choreography, the whole package. If they ever need a backup dancer, I'm ready (though my wife might disagree).

On the rock side: Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Dream Theater, Slipknot, and Bring Me the Horizon. These are my go-to when I need to focus or when I'm coding late at night. There's something about heavy riffs that helps me concentrate.

Indonesian music: Isyana Sarasvati, Noah, Dewa 19, and Gigi. These bring me back home and remind me of where I come from. Music has this incredible power to transport you, and these artists do it every time.

On a sadder note, I'm absolutely devastated by ADOR's decision to terminate Danielle's contract with the label, along with NewJeans. It's heartbreaking to see one of my favorite groups go through this. The whole situation has been a mess, and I'm genuinely hoping the girls land on their feet and continue making music somehow.

## 📚 What I'm Reading

On the manga side, I've been keeping up with Jujutsu Kaisen, which recently finished. Now I'm continuing with its sequel, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. I also just finished Kaiju #8, and I'm currently on my way to read My Hero Academia while keeping up with Dandadan. Does this make me a "weeb"? I'm not really sure about that, to be honest.

I'm also re-reading Naruto for what feels like the hundredth time. It's my comfort read. There's something about the themes of perseverance, friendship, and never giving up that always resonates with me, especially when I'm going through challenging times.

On the technical side, I'm constantly learning new things through solving LeetCode problems and writing about them. Each problem teaches me something new about algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving approaches. I'm also exploring system design concepts and trying to document my learning journey.

## 📺 What I'm Watching

Watching shows has become a luxury I don't have much time for these days. Between work, family, and working on my blog, there's not much room left for binge-watching.

I recently found UFC incredibly interesting. It really boils me up because I've always wanted to do it. I used to do MMA back in my university days, but honestly, I felt like shit during that time. Watching UFC now brings back those memories and makes me wonder about the path not taken.

I still have a growing list of K-Dramas that people keep recommending, but I've learned to be more selective. Once I start one, I can't stop until I finish the entire series, which means my productivity disappears for a week. It's a dangerous cycle I try to avoid during busy periods.

I'm slowly working through my Marvel movie backlog when I get the chance, but honestly, I'd rather spend that time coding or writing blog posts. Priorities have definitely shifted.

---

**Sidenote:** The AI hype causing PC parts prices to skyrocket is really frustrating. I had plans to add more SSD storage, upgrade my RAM from 2x16GB to 2x32GB, and eventually build an Intel system for my wife. All of that has been scrapped because of how ridiculous the prices have gotten. It sucks, but I guess those upgrades will have to wait until the market calms down (if it ever does).



## 👨‍💻 What I'm Working On

I've been diving deep into rebuilding my personal website and blog using Next.js. What started as a simple refresh turned into a complete overhaul. I've added tag filtering, category systems, improved the design, and made everything more organized and searchable. It's been incredibly satisfying to see it all come together.

Work-wise, I'm still at Xendit in the Experiments team. I can't really talk about what I'm working on (corporate life and all that), but I'm proud to say I successfully graduated a project from Experiments. Felt pretty good about that one.

Right now I'm thinking hard about how to upgrade our PgBoss from the old version without downtime, or at least with minimum downtime while avoiding any potential fires. The challenge is that the PgBoss API interfaces have changed quite a lot between versions, so it requires careful planning and migration strategy.

I've been writing more technical blog posts lately, especially focusing on LeetCode problems and algorithm solutions. There's something really satisfying about breaking down complex problems into understandable explanations. I'm trying to document my learning journey and share insights that might help others.

On the side, I'm still tinkering with my PC setup. Ryzen 7600x, RTX 5070 Ti, all in a compact Deepcool CH260 case. I've got this weird collection of mini figurines inside my case that my wife thinks is ridiculous, but honestly, it makes my workspace feel more personal and fun. Recently, I bought a new monitor, a 27 inch 2K display, and it absolutely amazes me. The screen real estate and clarity have completely transformed my workflow.

I'm also exploring more system design concepts and trying to write about them. Rate limiting, API design patterns, and scalable architecture. These topics fascinate me, and I want to share what I'm learning.

## 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life

Being a dad continues to be the most rewarding experience of my life. Kiara ([kiaraasteria.me](https://www.kiaraasteria.me/)) is growing so fast, and every day brings new discoveries. Watching her learn and explore the world reminds me why I do what I do. I want to build things that matter and create a better future for her.

The past few weeks have been challenging for our little family. Kiara has been going through a lot. She's been sick, and it breaks my heart to see her losing her appetite and her usually cheerful demeanor. She's getting better now, thankfully, although she has lost some bodyweight. But the important thing is she's willing to eat again, and her smile is slowly coming back.

My wife and I are still navigating this parenting journey together. We've gotten better at the whole work-life balance thing, though it's still a constant challenge. Late-night coding sessions after Kiara goes to sleep have become my norm, and honestly, I've learned to appreciate those quiet hours for focused work.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that perfection isn't the goal. Showing up consistently is. Whether it's being present for my family or delivering quality work, consistency beats perfection every time.

## 🎮 Gaming

Gaming has taken a backseat lately, but I still fire up Football Manager and FIFA occasionally when I need to unwind. There's something therapeutic about managing a virtual football team. It's a nice break from the real world.

I'm still following Dota 2 esports pretty closely, even though I haven't played in over a year. Watching The International and following the competitive scene is enough for me right now. Maybe I'll get back into playing someday, but for now, being a spectator works perfectly fine.

I recently learned about Where Winds Meet, and I think this game could actually stray me away from my initial plan to buy Black Myth: Wukong. It looks incredibly promising. Oh, and I'm totally into Total War: Three Kingdoms right now! The strategic depth and the Three Kingdoms setting just scratches that perfect itch.

## 🎵 Music

My music taste is still all over the place, and I love it that way. Here's what's been on repeat:

K-pop groups: aespa, IU, Twice, Red Velvet, Girls' Generation, Itzy, Nmixx, NewJeans, and (G)-IDLE. There's something about K-pop that just hits different. The production, the choreography, the whole package. If they ever need a backup dancer, I'm ready (though my wife might disagree).

On the rock side: Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Dream Theater, Slipknot, and Bring Me the Horizon. These are my go-to when I need to focus or when I'm coding late at night. There's something about heavy riffs that helps me concentrate.

Indonesian music: Isyana Sarasvati, Noah, Dewa 19, and Gigi. These bring me back home and remind me of where I come from. Music has this incredible power to transport you, and these artists do it every time.

## 📚 What I'm Reading

On the manga side, I've been keeping up with Jujutsu Kaisen, which recently finished. Now I'm continuing with its sequel, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. I also just finished Kaiju #8, and I'm currently on my way to read My Hero Academia while keeping up with Dandadan. Does this make me a "weeb"? I'm not really sure about that, to be honest.

I'm also re-reading Naruto for what feels like the hundredth time. It's my comfort read. There's something about the themes of perseverance, friendship, and never giving up that always resonates with me, especially when I'm going through challenging times.

On the technical side, I'm constantly learning new things through solving LeetCode problems and writing about them. Each problem teaches me something new about algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving approaches. I'm also exploring system design concepts and trying to document my learning journey.

## 📺 What I'm Watching

Watching shows has become a luxury I don't have much time for these days. Between work, family, and working on my blog, there's not much room left for binge-watching.

I recently found UFC incredibly interesting. It really boils me up because I've always wanted to do it. I used to do MMA back in my university days, but honestly, I felt like shit during that time. Watching UFC now brings back those memories and makes me wonder about the path not taken.

I still have a growing list of K-Dramas that people keep recommending, but I've learned to be more selective. Once I start one, I can't stop until I finish the entire series, which means my productivity disappears for a week. It's a dangerous cycle I try to avoid during busy periods.

I'm slowly working through my Marvel movie backlog when I get the chance, but honestly, I'd rather spend that time coding or writing blog posts. Priorities have definitely shifted.



## 👨‍💻 What I'm Working On

I've been diving deep into rebuilding my personal website and blog using Next.js. What started as a simple refresh turned into a complete overhaul - I've added tag filtering, category systems, improved the design, and made everything more organized and searchable. It's been incredibly satisfying to see it all come together.

Work-wise, I'm still at Xendit in the Experiments team. I can't really talk about what I'm working on (corporate life and all that), but I'm proud to say I successfully graduated a project from Experiments. Felt pretty good about that one.

I've been writing more technical blog posts lately, especially focusing on LeetCode problems and algorithm solutions. There's something really satisfying about breaking down complex problems into understandable explanations. I'm trying to document my learning journey and share insights that might help others.

I've also just started reading "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek. I wrote a summary of the first two chapters, and I'm curious to see where the book takes me.

On the side, I'm still tinkering with my PC setup - Ryzen 7600x, RTX 5070 Ti, all in a compact Deepcool CH260 case. I've got this weird collection of mini figurines inside my case that my wife thinks is ridiculous, but honestly, it makes my workspace feel more personal and fun.

I'm also exploring more system design concepts and trying to write about them. Rate limiting, API design patterns, and scalable architecture - these topics fascinate me, and I want to share what I'm learning.

## 👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life

Being a dad continues to be the most rewarding experience of my life. Kiara ([kiaraasteria.me](https://www.kiaraasteria.me/)) is growing so fast, and every day brings new discoveries. Watching her learn and explore the world reminds me why I do what I do - I want to build things that matter and create a better future for her.

My wife and I are still navigating this parenting journey together. We've gotten better at the whole work-life balance thing, though it's still a constant challenge. Late-night coding sessions after Kiara goes to sleep have become my norm, and honestly, I've learned to appreciate those quiet hours for focused work.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that perfection isn't the goal - showing up consistently is. Whether it's being present for my family or delivering quality work, consistency beats perfection every time.

## 🎮 Gaming

Gaming has taken a backseat lately, but I still fire up Football Manager and FIFA occasionally when I need to unwind. There's something therapeutic about managing a virtual football team - it's a nice break from the real world.

I'm still following Dota 2 esports pretty closely, even though I haven't played in over a year. Watching The International and following the competitive scene is enough for me right now. Maybe I'll get back into playing someday, but for now, being a spectator works perfectly fine.

Black Myth: Wukong still looks incredible every time I see it, but with everything else going on, gaming purchases have to wait. Priorities, you know?

## 🎵 Music

My music taste is still all over the place, and I love it that way. Here's what's been on repeat:

K-pop groups: aespa, IU, Twice, Red Velvet, Girls' Generation, Itzy, Nmixx, NewJeans, and (G)-IDLE. There's something about K-pop that just hits different - the production, the choreography, the whole package. If they ever need a backup dancer, I'm ready (though my wife might disagree).

On the rock side: Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Dream Theater, Slipknot, and Bring Me the Horizon. These are my go-to when I need to focus or when I'm coding late at night. There's something about heavy riffs that helps me concentrate.

Indonesian music: Isyana Sarasvati, Noah, Dewa 19, and Gigi. These bring me back home and remind me of where I come from. Music has this incredible power to transport you, and these artists do it every time.

## 📚 What I'm Reading

I just started reading "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek. I've written a summary of the first two chapters, and I'm looking forward to continuing with more chapters to see what insights it has to offer.

On the manga side, I'm still following Jujutsu Kaisen (though I'm starting to think Gege might be more interested in cat videos than finishing the story), and I occasionally check in on Boruto to see what the next generation of ninjas are up to.

I'm also re-reading Naruto for what feels like the hundredth time. It's my comfort read - there's something about the themes of perseverance, friendship, and never giving up that always resonates with me, especially when I'm going through challenging times.

On the technical side, I'm constantly learning new things through solving LeetCode problems and writing about them. Each problem teaches me something new about algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving approaches. I'm also exploring system design concepts and trying to document my learning journey.

## 📺 What I'm Watching

Watching shows has become a luxury I don't have much time for these days. Between work, family, and working on my blog, there's not much room left for binge-watching.

I still have a growing list of K-Dramas that people keep recommending, but I've learned to be more selective. Once I start one, I can't stop until I finish the entire series, which means my productivity disappears for a week. It's a dangerous cycle I try to avoid during busy periods.

I'm slowly working through my Marvel movie backlog when I get the chance, but honestly, I'd rather spend that time coding or writing blog posts. Priorities have definitely shifted.


Now Page History

July 9, 2026 at 2:59 PM

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