About Me

, View Archived, beginnings

I'm Du, an aspiring generalist in the world of computer science. My journey began with being introduced to Linux when I was eight years old, and since then, I've been on a mission to understand as much of the tech landscape as possible. This curiosity has led me to explore a wide variety of technologies, from mobile app development to building a privacy focused search engine from scratch.

I'm an advocate for privacy-enhancing technologies, particularly Monero and Tor, for their critical role in preserving financial privacy and anonymity online. My support for Monero stems from its technical merits, including ring signatures, stealth addresses, and confidential transactions, which offer unparalleled privacy in the cryptocurrency space. Similarly, I value Tor for its ability to protect user identity and circumvent censorship through onion routing, opening up new possibilities for trade and information distribution that would otherwise be life threatening or impossible.

One of my guiding principles has been to gain hands-on experience with as many technologies as possible. I've worked with nearly every consumer-accessible tech within a $1,000 budget, as I believe strongly that practical experience is the best teacher. This approach has given me a unique perspective on the strengths and limitations of various tools and platforms.

Personal values #

I firmly believe in meritocracy, rationality, privacy, and self-sovereignty. I hold that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to succeed based on their individual merits and efforts11Not based on government handouts because you believe that you're disadvantaged. Unless you are missing limbs, or your IQ is below 80, you aren't.. Rational thought and decision-making are pivotal for personal growth and societal advancement in my eyes. Additionally, I strongly advocate for the right of individuals to control their information and lives, free from external interference.

My political leanings are rooted in libertarianism, prioritizing individual liberty and the free exchange of information. I value the fundamental freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, believing that they are integral to a healthy society. My views are grounded in objectivity and a pursuit of truth, encouraging critical thinking and a rejection of dogmatic beliefs.

Skills and expertise #

I specialize in covert communications with extensive experience in computer networking, both hardware and software. I have:

  • Developed and shipped three full-stack mobile apps on Google Play, amassing 1.2 million downloads.
  • Managed a network infrastructure supporting 20 million third-party client connections.
  • Expertise in virtualization (VMware, Proxmox), real-time communication (Matrix), and custom cloud infrastructure development.

Languages #

I'm fluent in American English and know some domain-specific Mandarin. As for programming languages, I have worked with many languages, including but not limited to:

  • Rust: Developed a search engine in pure Rust, including spider, indexer, and dynamic HTML generator (without any JavaScript).
  • Dart: Built two cross-platform mobile apps using Flutter, including a privacy-focused messaging app and a superapp.
  • JavaScript: Created this website.
  • Kotlin: Developed three native Android apps, including two seperate clients for a Minecraft content viewer and a peer-to-peer chat app.
  • Crystal: Reimplemented all of my finance calculators and two backend services related, which resulted in a 3x speed increase.

Current occupation #

Seeking full-time employment

Awards or achievements #

My work has appeared in a local newspaper22I wasn't too thrilled with their finished article, It didn't capture the ideas and reasons for doing what I do that were discussed in the interview. and I've successfully completed a few privately ran bug bounties. I'm also the person behind the Privacy Spreadsheet project, which aims to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the privacy of a variety of software and services.

Favorite books, movies, or music #

I like reading blogs and websites mostly, so here's a list of my favorites: Trilema, Gwern.net, Less Wrong. I don't watch movies or TV shows, but I do listen to music and podcasts, primarily in Chinese. I've never liked Western music, but I do enjoy the occasional classical piece.

Pets #

I have a cat named Scout. I found him outside in the freezing cold when I went to let my dog out. The dog ran over and sniffed a pile of snow which I thought was odd, so I ran over in the snow (barefoot of course) and found a scrawny kitten, only a week or two old, freezing to death. I brought him back to life and he's been my companion for a few years now.

Social media usage #

I don't use social media. None at all33I really hate Discord with a passion due to the destruction of society's collective mental wellbeing that's resulted from its use. I am against social media and if you find people claiming to be me on Reddit or whatever, they are liars.

Fun facts or quirks #

I struggle with insomnia, often finding myself caught in that liminal space between alertness and exhaustion. During these nocturnal hours, I often write code, chat with people on Dread, and occasionally dictate thoughts into Obsidian which form the basis of these blog posts.

Cultural background #