Latest thoughts

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Why I Used Kafka for Sending Emails

Many years ago (2014), I had a simple requirement in one of the systems I was working on: Every time new data was inserted, the system needed to send an email to the recipient. Sounds simple, right? For a small number of transactions, it probably is. The application inserts the data, prepares the email, sends […]

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Our Lovely Family Holiday in Garut, West Java

Starting Our Journey from Gambir Station Our family holiday in Garut, West Java, was one of those trips that felt simple but became very memorable. It was not a luxury trip or a packed overseas holiday. It was simply us spending time together, enjoying good food, beautiful scenery, fresh air, and the little moments that […]

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Happy 16th Birthday, Adam

Yesterday, my son Adam turned sixteen. Yes, sixteen. It feels strange to write that number. In my mind, he is still the little boy who needed help with everything, who would run around the house with endless energy, ask a thousand questions, and somehow make even an ordinary day feel louder and more alive. But […]

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People Management in Technology: What I Learned Managing Teams from 2013 to 2023

People Management in Technology: What I Learned Managing Teams from 2013 to 2023

Most people think people management is about: But after spending more than 10 years managing teams in technology, I realized something: Managing people is actually about managing energy, trust, pressure, communication, and expectations. I started my career as a technical person. Back in the early days around 2005, I was heavily focused on programming, troubleshooting, […]

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I Didn’t Panic When IHSG Dropped - Here’s Why - sandy.id

I Didn’t Panic When Stock Market Dropped

Hello there, The chart below shows how stock market / IDX Composite / IHSG dropped around 15% in the past 5 days. It was a sharp fall, and it even led to a trading halt on 28 January. Imagine that, stock market fell from 9,000 to 7,600. For many people, that kind of drop feels scary. […]

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Lessons from Grinding It Out: Building Success One Step at a Time

Some success stories look fast from the outside. But when we look closer, they are usually built through years of persistence, rejection, discipline, and uncomfortable decisions. That is one of the biggest messages I took from Grinding It Out, the autobiography of Ray Kroc, the man behind the global expansion of McDonald’s. Ray Kroc did not […]

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Key Variant vs Key Block: A Simple Explanation

In payment security and cryptography, we often hear terms like key variant and key block. Both are related to how cryptographic keys are used and protected, but they are not the same thing. A simple way to understand it: Key variant is about modifying how a key is used. Key block is about securely packaging and protecting the key itself. […]

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Product Management Is Not Just About Managing a Product

Product Management Is Not Just About Managing a Product

Product management is often seen as a role that focuses only on features, roadmap, and delivery timelines. But in reality, product management is much broader than that. It is about understanding problems, connecting business needs with technology, and making sure the solution being built actually creates value. From my experience in IT and Product Development, […]

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Madinah: A Gentle Ending to a Journey of Faith

Madinah: A Gentle Ending to a Journey of Faith

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, After four beautiful days in Makkah, our journey continued to Madinah, a city that feels different from the moment you arrive. Makkah was powerful, intense, and deeply emotional.Madinah felt calmer, softer, and peaceful. It is a city that teaches you to slow down, reflect, and feel gratitude in a quieter way. Day […]

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