I study computer science and pure mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Welcome to my small slice of the web :) In addition to longer-form blogs, I also post shorter notes and links to pieces I enjoyed on the tidbits page.
Perhaps you’d like to learn a bit more about me. To get in touch, email me at jliu1602 [at] gmail.com; I am also active on Discord as jo3_l.
Converting NFAs to regular expressions by solving linear systems of equations
Let’s write a compiler for a probabilistic programming language using probability generating functions in 200 lines of Python
An exposition of the bitap or shift-and exact string matching algorithm
Reminiscing about my summer in NYC interning at Bloomberg
Articles and posts about LLM-assisted development that I found interesting and are not slop, plus some of my opinions
Counting down, seemingly without loops or recursion
Tests that expose gaps in your thinking instead of confirming what you already know
Some pieces of technical content that influence the way I think about programming.
A guide on using Shiki for syntax highlighting in Hugo websites
Examining the effect of changes in pressure on equilibrium position mathematically
Some practice with induction: a proof of the sum of exponents law for integer exponents