Programming · by Rachel Tan · 2026-10-12

A tiny story about falafel, Kuala Lumpur and timing for absolute beginners

I started this because my Monday morning felt a little stuck, and debugging seemed like a manageable place to experiment. The funny part is that the smallest change was the one I kept.

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 7 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.

I started this because my lunch break felt a little stuck, and java seemed like a manageable place to experiment. The funny part is that the smallest change was the one I kept.

I tried this in Seoul with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

108 sparks · 25 comments

Comments

Mango Fern · 17 likes

This is genuinely helpful, thanks for writing it out. A little friction removed goes a long way.

Rapid Rider · 2 likes

This is the gentle version of my rant.

Ren Suzuki · 16 likes

This feels like advice from a patient friend. The low-effort version is probably the keeper. The boring solution is probably the reliable one here.

Diego García · 13 likes

Interesting. I would like to see how it changes after 10 months. The social part surprised me too. Naming things remains undefeated as the hardest problem.

Noé Petit · 11 likes

I disagree a bit. absolute matters, but the bigger issue is usually expectations. I learned that one the expensive way.

Amir Tan · 9 likes

I appreciate the honest middle stage, not just the polished ending. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Solar Sparrow · 1 likes

Totally agree, especially for beginners.

Zeynep Demir · 4 likes

Can you share what you tried before this? That is where the boring checklist helps.

Finn Brown · 1 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Sleepy Otter · 3 likes

This sounds sensible, though I would need to test it myself. That is where the boring checklist helps.

Ethan Brooks · 0 likes

Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot.

Camille Dubois · 3 likes

The context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite.

Pim Anong · 0 likes

This is the kind of disagreement I like.

João Pereira · 3 likes

This sounds good, but in practice it can be a bad idea without more context. The winter version is even more interesting.

Grace Parker · 10 likes

I think both things can be true.

Achieng Njeri · 2 likes

The kuala angle is what sold me. This pairs weirdly well with arepas.

Pixel Orbit · 5 likes

I laughed, but you are not wrong.

Solar Otter · 0 likes

Glad you shared it; small wins count. The Dublin example makes it feel concrete. A small test case would make this easier to trust.

Ethan Brooks · 0 likes

This is the kind of useful internet I still show up for.

Urban Marauder · 1 likes

That is a good boundary.

Tola Ibrahim · 2 likes

I laughed, but you are not wrong.

Sofía Hernández · 0 likes

Really good advice, and it feels doable. I would love to see a follow-up after 4 weeks. The boring solution is probably the reliable one here.

Irene López · 0 likes

I am saving this for the next time I overthink lumpur. The social part surprised me too.

Midnight Sparrow · 0 likes

I love this. It feels practical without pretending life is neat. This is more useful on a tired quiet Sunday than on a perfect day.

Laura Gómez · 0 likes

I think both things can be true.