Alvaro Duran is the author of 'The Payments Engineer Playbook,' a Substack publication that provides deep dives into the technology stack behind payment systems. The publication has garnered thousands of subscribers, indicating its popularity and the value of the insights shared by Alvaro Duran.
The article discusses the disconnect between payment experts and software engineers in the realm of money software, emphasizing the importance of integrating domain expertise with engineering practices. It highlights the evolution...
The article discusses the challenges of building a reliable payment system at scale, emphasizing the limitations of relational databases like PostgreSQL for high-availability payment processing. It highlights the need for zero-dow...
Stablecoins serve as a crucial link between fiat and crypto, promising faster, cheaper transactions while aiming to streamline the payment experience without traditional banking complexities.
The article discusses the evolution of stock market technology, particularly focusing on algorithmic trading and the shift from traditional trading methods to a more data-driven approach. It highlights the importance of fairness o...
The blog post emphasizes the importance of code reviews over writing new code for payments engineers, highlighting that engineers spend 75% of their time reviewing existing code. It outlines a systematic 4-step process for effecti...
The blog post explains the Raft consensus algorithm, which is designed to ensure that distributed systems can maintain consistency and reliability even when some servers fail. It discusses the structure of replicated state machine...
The Payments Engineer Playbook thrived in 2025, offering valuable insights for payment engineers and introducing a new hands-on service for companies in the industry.
The article discusses the use of GOTO statements and try/except clauses in programming, particularly in the context of error handling in payment systems. It argues that while GOTO is often deemed harmful, it is still prevalent in ...
The post argues against using enums and guard clauses in software engineering, advocating for generics to enhance code clarity and prevent integrity bugs, especially in financial applications.
The article discusses the evolution and challenges of messaging protocols in banking systems, focusing on AMQP (Advanced Message Queueing Protocol) and its limitations. It highlights the need for efficient message processing in hi...
The author argues that AI commerce, while technically feasible, is unlikely to succeed due to inherent limitations in AI's ability to authenticate and authorize transactions. Drawing parallels with the decline of Robotic Process A...
Modern double-entry accounting must adapt to real-time, multi-currency needs, as illustrated through the game Settlers of Catan, emphasizing the complexities of global transactions.
Ledgers ensure trustworthiness in financial transactions through immutability, which is crucial for maintaining consistency and traceability in accounting practices.
The article discusses the challenges of designing performant ledgers and payment systems, particularly focusing on the issue of cache stampedes in caching mechanisms. It explains the importance of understanding caching's inherent ...
The article discusses the complexities of maintaining financial ledgers in the modern digital age, particularly in light of the recent bankruptcy of Synapse Financial Technologies. It contrasts historical ledger practices, such as...
Diagrams often misrepresent accounting concepts for engineers, necessitating a deeper understanding of ownership rather than just financial transactions.
Balancing multi-currency ledgers requires a reinterpretation of traditional methods, as conventional approaches often fail to align due to inherent complexities.
Stablecoins serve as a bridge between crypto and traditional finance, offering practical benefits while emphasizing the enduring need for human trust in financial transactions.
TigerBeetle's impressive speed is overshadowed by its inability to effectively manage multi-currency transactions, highlighting the need for adaptability in financial databases.
The post argues for 'intentional fungibility' in money handling to improve transaction accuracy and advocates for building custom money libraries in software development.
True Formula 1 champions excel not just through experience or resources, but by possessing 'mechanical sympathy'—the ability to optimize their car's performance.
The article discusses the intuitive nature of quantum mechanics, using analogies from language, economics, and biology to illustrate how humans often perceive the world in terms of objects rather than processes. It emphasizes the ...
The article draws parallels between the strict standards of CrossFit, as exemplified by YouTuber Andrew Hiller, and the excuses software developers make for not deploying code changes daily. It argues that just as CrossFit athlete...