Hi, I’m Chi!
Systems Software Engineer @ Neon. Previously MSCS @ CMU.
FAQ
Q: How do you pronounce your first name, Chi, and your last name, Zhang?
A: In the English context, Chi is usually pronounced /tʃiː/ (like “chi” in “cheese” without the “se”). You can find the Mandarin pronunciation in this video (2nd tone). Zhang is often pronounced like “John.”
Q: Why are you based in Pittsburgh instead of SF/SEA/NYC?
A: After studying for one and a half years at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, I chose to work remotely from here. The cost of living is lower compared to SF/NYC, and I enjoy the peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle.
Update: I’m planning to move to Mountain View or Seattle in late 2025 or early 2026 as part of the Neon-Databricks acquisition.
Q: What languages do you speak?
A: I speak Mandarin Chinese, English, and Shanghainese, a dialect of Shanghai. I also know some Japanese. 你好 / 今朝夜到恰老酒伐 / 日本語は少し分かります / Hello!
Q: What is your favorite programming language?
A: Rust. I started learning it in 2018 and have used it ever since.
Q: When did you start programming?
A: I started programming in 2009 during primary school. I spent several years in competitive programming in junior middle and high school. Afterward, I shifted my focus to systems programming and database systems. My first language was BASIC, followed by C. I then learned Ruby (because RPG Maker used it for scripting), and later PHP, JavaScript, C++, Python, Haskell, Rust, and Go.
Q: When did you start working on databases?
A: My database journey began in 2020 when I submitted my first patch to TiKV as part of the LFX Mentorship project (similar to GSoC). Since then, I’ve focused on databases and storage systems. I consolidated what I have learned throughout the journey and developed a course on building a storage engine from scratch: check out mini-lsm.
Q: When will you update your blog (and the courses)?
A: I’ll try to update them when I have some free time 🫠. In the meantime, you can join the Discord communities for my courses to get quick answers to small questions.
Q: Can you offer advice for new grads pursuing a career in databases?
A: Certainly! Feel free to reach out to me, but please know I might be slow to respond.
Q: What is the best bubble tea shop in Pittsburgh?
A: Tsaocaa has a location near the University of Pittsburgh and another in Squirrel Hill. The newly opened Wushiland is also fantastic.
Update: There are a few new bubble tea spots in Squirrel Hill, and I now recommend Tiger Sugar. Tsaocaa remains on my list, but it’s now my second choice.
Q: Why does 15-445/645 (the CMU database course) seem more challenging since you became a TA in 2022?
A: We’ve been enhancing the projects to make them more engaging and less painful, removing outdated materials, and adding new, industry-relevant content. Except for the Fall 2023 semester, when I proposed too many ambitious ideas, the overall difficulty has stayed consistent.
Q: Are you planning to go all-in on the AI/LLM hype?
A: Not yet, but I’m interested in learning how LLMs work and exploring system optimizations to improve model inference and serving. I’ve also developed a new course about it called tiny-llm.