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
109 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
Zeynep Demir · 4 likes
can you share what you tried before this? That is where teh boring checklist helps
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
Achieng Njeri · 2 likes
the kuala angle is what sold me. This pairs weirdly well with arepas
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
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 teh 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