Narendra Vardi

ai

Why I still prefer Markdown over HTML for AI-generated files

HTML is great for rich AI-generated explanations, but Markdown still wins when the document needs to be shared, reviewed, migrated, and maintained by a team.

ai Featured

The easiest way to read Markdown files in Chrome

In this article, I talk about a simple Chrome extension that makes reading AI-generated Markdown files easier without opening an IDE.

2026 Featured

The nightmare that is squash merge ft Github

Squash merging causes merge conflicts after PRs are merged. Learn why this happens and how to fix it with interactive rebase—plus an automated git alias that drops merged commits with a single command, saving you from repetitive conflict resolution.

2025

The Best Voice-to-Text App for Instant Transcription

In this article, I am listing out another voice-to-text conversion app that is working beautifully.

2025

🎙️How I Use MacBook Dictation to Write Faster (Setup Guide Included)

MacBook’s Dictation feature lets you turn your voice into text with just a double tap. In this article, I share my experience of writing using Dictation, along with a quick guide on how to enable it and a simple tip to make it more accurate.

Java Shot #6: Cut Down on Boilerplate with Java Records

One of the common complaints of Java is the amount of boilerplate code we have to write for a simple class to work. Let's say we want to write a simple class which stores details of a Person, ideally, we just have to be concerned about the data

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The Safer Alternative to Beneficiary Addition: Use UPI to Verify Before You Pay

In this article, I talk about how to cross-verify the account holder's name using the Bank Account ID and IFSC code.

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Java Shot #5: The Hidden Pitfall of Using toString() in Enums

Let's understand the difference between toString() and name() while working with Enum class in Java

Tech Featured

Redis is No Longer Fully Open Source – Meet Valkey, the True Alternative! 🚀🔥

In this article, I detail about what's Valkey and how it is linked to Redis and how it is different from Redis.

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Best ever feature on Apple Notes

You can activate code blocks using ⌘ + ⇧ + M on Apple notes.

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Vanishing Tunes: Ten percent of My Liked Songs Disappeared on Spotify

Just a rant on Spotify behaviour!

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How to add borders to image in Google docs

One of the frustrations I have as a Software Engineer is seeing worst possible designs continue to exists just because it worked in the past and it works now also. Adding borders to an image in Google docs is irritating. It could have been as simple as clicking a single

Learnings Featured

Learnings from presenting our Hackathon project as a Start-up Pitch

This articles is about the presentation that taught me how to present.

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Java Shot #4: Writing readable long numbers in Java

If you are someone who works with Long numbers and BigIntegers, then you can make use of these two tricks to make these Long and BigIntegers more readable. Avoid using lower case l and use upper case L to represent a Long value. public class LongTest { public static void main(

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Switching between previous and next tabs in Sublime Text

In this article, I document how to configure sublime to switch between previous and next tabs.

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Java Shot #3: Document Arrange, Act and Assert sections while writing Unit tests

A unit test can be broken down into three segments. 1. Arrange 2. Act and 3. Assert In Arrange step, you would build the necessary data that is needed for execution of the test case along with that you can also setup Mock functionality. In the Act step, you will

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Java Shot #2: Prefer using equality operator over equals() method for enums

Enums are a powerful datatype in Java. There are many instances where you want to compare two enums. Given that a enum class supports equals() method, we end up using equals() method as it's frequently used for other object comparisons. In case of enums, using == (equality) operator is

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Java Shot #1: The misapplication of equals() method in Java

One of the major advantages of statically typed language is to identify invalid data type comparisons at compile time. Java is a statically typed language and that's one main reason why I like writing Java code but there are instances where it is not. Today I talk about

Programming

✍️ Declaring constants in Java (Part I)

In this article, I explain the ways we can declare constants in Java.

Misc

😃 How to introduce yourself as a new tenant in a small apartment complex

In this article, I narrate how my friend introduced himself to all the members of an apartment complex when he shifted to this new apartment complex.

Programming

✍️ Understanding the difference between i++ and++i in Java (and C and C++)

In this article, I will show you a straight-forward way of looking at pre and post increment operators that are common in languages like C, C++ and Java

Books

🤩 What's it like to read a Manga Book

In this article, I talk about my experience of reading Manga in the form of a Physical book.

Programming Featured

🤩How to write extensible filter logic in Java code

In this article, I will detail how to use the Predicate<T> interface for maintaining multiple filters in the application code.

2023

✍️Documenting some Adobe Lightroom tips, tricks, and shortcuts

In this article, I list out the tips, tricks and shortcuts which can be helpful for beginner Lightroom users. This article will be updated continuously to discuss more useful Lightroom content.

2023

✍️Mapping Google Maps' location to Mappls' MapmyIndia location

In this article, I talk about how to look up locations on Google Maps to MapmyIndia. This is especially useful for drone users of India to identify Green, Yellow and Red zones with more precision on the DigitalSky app.