Welcome

I’m Rajiv, and this is Chai & Biscuit, a space where I dump everything I’ve learned building systems, navigating cloud platforms, and figuring out this whole software engineering thing. Think of it as a notebook I’m sharing with you over a cup of tea.

The name is intentional. Learning doesn’t need to be sterile or formal. It happens over conversations, mistakes, and patience. Like sitting down with someone knowledgeable while sipping chai and eating a biscuit. Comfortable. Honest. No pretense.

What’s here

You’ll find docs on the core stuff: architecture patterns, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS), DevOps practices, and the kind of software engineering knowledge that actually matters in production systems. There are write-ups from my trenches, war stories, mistakes, and lessons learned the hard way. Career guides for developers prepping for interviews or thinking through their next move. Guides that cut through the noise and focus on signal.

Everything here is written because I wanted to write it, because I learned something worth sharing or disagreed with how something was being explained elsewhere.

Who this is for

If you’re a developer learning your craft, building a career, prepping for that next opportunity, or just curious about how systems work at scale, this is for you. I’m not here to sell you anything or inflate my credentials. I’m here to write clearly about what I know and admit what I don’t.

You’ll find practical stuff you can use Monday morning. You’ll find deeper dives on architecture and design. You’ll find posts that didn’t fit neatly into any category but felt important anyway. I think good content should respect your time, which is why you won’t find 3,000-word posts that could’ve been a 300-word explanation. Everything here is trimmed down to the essentials.

How I think about this

I’ve built systems that scale. I’ve watched them fail. I’ve learned Azure and AWS not because they’re cool, but because they’re how real services run today. I’ve had career pivots and growth moments. I’ve read a lot, made mistakes, and gotten smarter.

Most importantly: I believe developers grow through understanding, not through following. So I write to explain the “why” alongside the “how.” I write to make you think, not just copy-paste. If you disagree with something here or find an error, that’s feedback I actually want.

What to expect

Regular posts on cloud, architecture, DevOps, and career development. No gatekeeping. No corporate speak. No “10 reasons why…” clickbait. Just honest writing about engineering, learning, and building better systems.

You can explore the docs section for deeper references on specific topics. You can browse the blog for stories and guides. You can treat this as a resource or just read what catches your attention. No algorithm is pushing you anywhere, read what’s useful to you.

Let’s build something

This site is work in progress, like everything worth building. It’ll grow as I learn and as I have things worth sharing. If something resonates, or if you think I got it wrong, reach out. The best learning happens in conversations.

Welcome to Chai & Biscuit. I hope you find something valuable here.

Key takeaways

  • A personal site is your knowledge base and portfolio combined: document what you learn and let your work speak for itself
  • Write to explain the why alongside the how, respect your reader’s time, and skip the clickbait because thoughtful content converts better
  • This community is for developers building careers, prepping for opportunities, or simply curious about systems at scale
  • Good content respects your time by cutting out fluff: deep dives should coexist with practical guides you can use Monday morning
  • Start reading what catches your attention and reach out if something resonates or seems wrong because learning happens in conversations

Happy Coding! 🎉