Hey! I'm Karthik H

• I’m a Computer Science graduate from SRM Institute of Science and Technology (CGPA 9.25) with a strong interest in software engineering, systems, and technology. My journey in computing started with learning how to write code, but over time my curiosity shifted toward understanding what happens behind the code: how systems communicate, how databases store and retrieve information, how distributed systems maintain consistency, and how software can remain reliable as it scales.
• I enjoy building software that goes beyond simple applications. My strongest interests lie in backend engineering, distributed systems, databases, system design, and performance engineering. I primarily work with Java and have built projects including a Raft-based Distributed Consensus Engine, LSM-Tree Storage Engine, and Scalable Microservices Booking System. These projects gave me the opportunity to work with concepts such as consensus, replication, concurrency, fault tolerance, consistency, caching, rate limiting, storage engines, low-latency systems, and high availability.
• One thing I particularly enjoy is building systems from the ground up. Instead of only learning a concept theoretically, I like implementing it, testing its behavior, measuring performance, finding its limitations, and understanding the trade-offs involved. Building a Raft implementation helped me understand distributed consensus beyond the textbook, while building an LSM-tree helped me understand how modern storage engines approach writes, reads, compaction, and recovery.
• I’m also deeply interested in data structures and algorithms. I’ve solved 500+ problems on LeetCode and achieved a 2100 contest rating (Knight, top 3% globally). Problem solving has become an important part of how I think about engineering because it teaches me to break large problems into smaller pieces, reason about constraints, compare approaches, and care about both correctness and complexity.
• Beyond technical work, I believe that being a good engineer is also about curiosity, consistency, communication, and the willingness to keep learning. I’ve contributed as a Technical Team Associate and Class Representative, organized technical events and coding activities, and worked with others to turn ideas into practical solutions. These experiences have helped me become more comfortable working in teams, communicating ideas, and taking responsibility beyond just writing code.
• I’m constantly exploring new areas of technology and trying to understand where my interests take me next. Whether it is learning a new technology, reading about how large-scale systems work, experimenting with an idea, solving a difficult problem, or building something from scratch, I enjoy the process of figuring things out.
• Outside of software, I’m passionate about football, reading books, chess, fitness, public speaking, learning, exploring new places, and meeting new people. I enjoy staying active, challenging myself through chess and fitness, discovering new perspectives through books, improving my communication through public speaking, and making the most of experiences beyond the screen. I also enjoy documenting my journey, including the things I build, the concepts I learn, the mistakes I make, and the experiences that shape my perspective.
• This website is a reflection of that journey. My projects showcase what I build, my writing captures what I learn and think about, and my manifesto represents some of the engineering principles I believe in.

I’m always open to meeting people who are passionate about software engineering, technology, systems, startups, or building interesting things. If something here interests you, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or email. I’d love to chat, exchange ideas, and collaborate.

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