Uttam Kini's Blog

  • Edge cases

    Like in software edge cases abound in real life. For example, I was coaxed by a salesman at a US Polo outlet to use an app to get discounts. When I wanted to exchange one item because it didn’t fit, I had to pay the discount back. Their system didn’t recognise the discount because it Read more

  • The Overnight Bus

    I took an overnight bus to Mangalore this weekend after a gap of over ten years. I usually drive or take a flight. I couldn’t drive because I was going there to collect my brand new car. Flights are expensive and also inconvenient. You have to wake up early, take a cab to the airport, Read more

  • Refactoring my wardrobe

    My wife used to tell me that I wore certain clothes a lot more than others. There were some clothes that I rarely or never wore.The reason for this was that my wardrobe was a mess. It was easy to pick clothes from the top and not look deeper. Clothes post-wash ended up on the Read more

  • On FOMO

    I have done a lot of things in my life for FOMO. For example, learning new programming languages and frameworks or starting this blog even. This blog was started because I wanted to build my online “brand”. Thats what good software engineers do right? The enthusiasm didn’t last long. With time I have realised that Read more

  • Rails on WSL

    Last year I bought a laptop that I probably didn’t need. It is an Asus ROG gaming laptop. Turns out I am not that interested in gaming that I thought I was. I now had a Windows laptop after a decade and wanted to try WSL. Since I have a side app that runs on Read more

  • Why do we litter so much in India

    When someone asks you why is there so much litter on the roads in India, the most off the cuff reply is that “Its cultural” or “People don’t care”. I live in a gated society in Bangalore and the streets inside are cleaner than any western country. People inside do seem to care. The moment Read more

  • Buying vs Renting a house

    Buying a house versus renting is a polarising topic. The renters will show you the math of how renting saves you a lot of money over the long run. The buyers will tell you how a home is an appreciating asset and an emotional thing. I have been a buyer. I have bought 2 homes Read more

  • Price as a proxy for quality

    In 2019, I moved into a new home. After furnishing it, I wanted to buy a TV. I researched online and came to the conclusion that all TV panels are more or less the same and one should buy the cheapest TV possible. So I bought a 55 inch VU for ₹35000 and felt proud Read more

  • On standups

    Standups have almost become muscle memory on teams. We do them everyday but don’t question why. Standups ensure that individuals and the team are moving in the right direction. They also ensure individuals’ accountability to the team. Without them it is easy for people to go into rabbit holes or procrastinate. Read more

  • How podcasts have changed my life

    In the December of 2020, my wife and I found ourselves in the middle of the lockdown with a newborn. I started running and exercising to feel normal. Podcasts are how I entertained myself when I ran alone on the roads with a mask on. The starting point for me was this episode of the Read more