Hacker News: bg4

New comment by bg4 in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (December 2025)"

bg4 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:07:19 +0000

  Location: Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
  Remote: Yes
  Willing to relocate: No
  Technologies: Java, Scala, Python, TypeScript, Kubernetes, Kafka, PostgreSQL, GCP, AWS, learning Go
  Résumé/CV: on request
  Email: bgoldswo@gmail.com

Hello! Fifteen years building backend systems with strict correctness and reliability requirements: matching engines, healthcare workflows, optimization pipelines.

Recently I built a vehicle–passenger on-demand matcher and a Kubernetes job platform for heavy optimization workloads. Before that I worked on distributed systems for chronic-care data (Scala, Kafka). Earlier, I spent a decade in transportation optimization across routing, planning, and scheduling.

I’m at my best when partnering with ML or OR teams, taking prototypes and turning them into predictable, production-ready systems. Strong domain modeling, correctness, property-based testing, and keeping on-call quiet.

Open to senior or staff backend or platform roles.

Happy to talk.

New comment by bg4 in "Connecticut parents arrested for letting kids walk to Dunkin' Donuts"

bg4 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:32:32 +0000

My sister had the police called when her school age kids were playing/riding scooters in her front yard and driveway. In that case though, the police were just as confused as she was.

New comment by bg4 in "Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal"

bg4 — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 18:11:22 +0000

I'd recommend doing whatever the hell you want.

New comment by bg4 in "How can you not be romantic about programming? (2020)"

bg4 — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:49:38 +0000

Yes, it's always other peoples code that's the problem.

New comment by bg4 in "Ask HN: How do you recharge your batteries?"

bg4 — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:43:39 +0000

The point of the wedge is to discourage your airway from being blocked. Fwiw, it was recommended to me by my sleep doctor until I was able to complete the process of sleep test and receive/fitted for machine and mask. If you don't have insurance which would cover all of that you should consider it.

New comment by bg4 in "Ask HN: How do you recharge your batteries?"

bg4 — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:26:27 +0000

I've been treated for it for over 10 years and can't tolerate the mask anymore. I hate it. I've found some relief with a large sleep wedge, you might try that as low cost temporary alternative. In addition, weight loss if that's also a factor (definitely was for me). I'll try to use mask once a week but I usually tear it off in my sleep.

New comment by bg4 in "“Computers”, BSA Merit Badge Series (1973)"

bg4 — Fri, 13 May 2022 22:45:34 +0000

You're not wrong sadly - I've commented very much the same thing for the experience I had in the 80s compared to today.

New comment by bg4 in "“Computers”, BSA Merit Badge Series (1973)"

bg4 — Fri, 13 May 2022 22:25:33 +0000

I'm an Eagle Scout who grew up in the 80s. 'We'll be loyal scouts' was my jam baby.

New comment by bg4 in "Better.com CEO blasts laid-off employees, accusing them of ‘stealing’"

bg4 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:36:20 +0000

Sure would be nice to cancel the narcissist sociopaths from society.

New comment by bg4 in "Physics Student Earns PhD at Age 89"

bg4 — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 05:16:57 +0000

There is no evidence, only bitterness.

New comment by bg4 in "Richard Bartle releases his classic “Designing Virtual Worlds” book for free"

bg4 — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 02:51:46 +0000

Coding a MUD is what switched me from Health Science to Computer Science in 1996. Though, in hindsight, I wish I'd gotten a double major in both subjects.

New comment by bg4 in "It’s time to break up the Ivy League cartel"

bg4 — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 07:14:24 +0000

For me, the progression has been: software engineer, software engineer, railroad engineer, railroad engineer, farmer. I will be very interested to see what my son picks and I very much plan to allow him to pursue his own interests.

New comment by bg4 in "Ask HN: What lessons did you learn from your best or worst colleagues?"

bg4 — Sat, 15 May 2021 03:53:13 +0000

Best: be competent, be kind, collaborate

Worst: be competent, be rude, don't collaborate

New comment by bg4 in "Why Bad CEOs Fear Remote Work"

bg4 — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:12:29 +0000

I think the problem here is you. I've been working remote for years and very much care about them and would take tickets for them to help them out for anniversaries or whatever.

New comment by bg4 in "Texas lawmakers approve bill banning 'meat' & 'beef' on plant-based food labels"

bg4 — Thu, 13 May 2021 00:18:48 +0000

Beef like product? Worked for cheese wiz.

New comment by bg4 in "Should never happen. If it does, call the developers"

bg4 — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 18:57:34 +0000

> I have a co-worker who takes it upon himself to "discover" and "fix" things that are broken, but to him, "broken" means "I don't understand this, or it's doing it in a way I don't like"

That's a dangerous individual who should be coached (Lesson 1: Chesterton's Fence), or fired.

New comment by bg4 in "Scala projects are difficult to maintain"

bg4 — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:33:16 +0000

In my experience, it's easier for many developers to blame the tools and language rather than admit the dumpster fire of a codebase was entirely their doing and their responsibility.

New comment by bg4 in "Ask HN: What was the biggest contributor to your happiness in the past year?"

bg4 — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:07:32 +0000

Myself; I realized while watching the decline and death of a close relative that the only person in my life making me unhappy was me.

New comment by bg4 in "DDD Is Overrated"

bg4 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 18:11:44 +0000

I found his Effective Aggregate Design pdfs very helpful https://www.dddcommunity.org/library/vernon_2011/, in addition to the DDD quickly book on Infoq, and Functional and Reactive Domain Modeling by Debasish Ghosh https://www.manning.com/books/functional-and-reactive-domain...

New comment by bg4 in "Robinhood Play Store listing went from 329K reviews to 180K in few hours"

bg4 — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 01:19:50 +0000

That requires self-awareness and maturity, however.