About me
I'm Sankalp, a backend engineer from Nepal focused on building software with Python, Django, and Linux.
I build backend systems, REST APIs, and developer tools. I started programming because I wanted to understand the systems behind the applications I used every day. How servers handle requests, how databases store and relate data, how software can automate repetitive work.
Today, I design relational database schemas, build business applications and APIs, and write automation that solves practical problems. I prefer boring, reliable technology over unnecessary complexity. I keep dependencies to a minimum and favor architectures that are easy to understand, maintain, and extend years down the road.
My main focus is backend development, with Python and Django at the center of my work. When a project requires a complete user-facing feature, I also work across the frontend using React, HTMX, Alpine.js, and Tailwind CSS.
I care about understanding the systems underneath the code, not just making something work. Good database design, clear application structure, and straightforward code are usually more valuable than adding another layer of abstraction.
My Journey
- Build full-stack web applications and APIs as a contractor for the agency's clients.
- Developed the backend for job portals, e-commerce sites, and student management systems using Django.
- Wrote interactive frontend interfaces for client projects using React, HTMX, Alpine.js, and Tailwind CSS.
- Set up database schemas, APIs, and deployment pipelines for all new client projects.
- Build CLI tools in Rust and Python for Linux system management and developer workflows.
- Built lapctl, a Rust CLI for managing laptop GPU switching and power limits.
- Built django-nepkit, a Django package providing local date fields and validation for Nepali developers.
- Automate development workflows with Bash and Lua scripts.
- Deploy applications on Linux servers, managing Nginx, SSL certificates, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Built backend APIs for e-commerce platforms using Django and PostgreSQL.
- Developed form processing systems for educational consultancies to automate lead handling.
- Designed REST APIs for frontend teams to consume in React applications.
- Optimized database queries with indexing and caching to speed up data delivery.
- Deployed applications to cloud servers and set up monitoring for uptime.
What I Care About
Simplicity
Prefer the simplest architecture that solves the actual problem. Avoid unnecessary abstractions, dependencies, and complexity.
Maintainability
Code should remain understandable, predictable, and easy to change long after it was written.
Performance
Avoid unnecessary work, inefficient queries, and complexity that does not provide meaningful value.
Understanding Systems
I like knowing what happens underneath the abstractions I use, from the database and operating system to the application server.
Open Source
Build useful tools, solve problems I actually encounter, and share the results with the community.
Engineering Philosophy
I prefer boring, reliable technology over chasing the latest JavaScript framework. I build web applications that are designed to remain understandable and maintainable years after they're shipped. I keep dependencies intentional and minimal, and I structure Django applications so another developer can quickly understand how they work and extend them safely.
I treat database design as the foundation of an application. When the data model is messy, everything built on top of it becomes harder to reason about. That's why I spend time designing clear schemas and understanding how the database actually works underneath the ORM.
I also like understanding the systems behind the abstractions I use. Knowing how PostgreSQL executes queries, how Linux manages processes, or what happens between an HTTP request and a database response helps me diagnose difficult problems and make better engineering decisions.
Technical Focus
Primary Arsenal
Also Work With
Infrastructure & Tooling
Beyond Work
Outside of work I mostly listen to music. It's always on when I'm coding, reading, or doing nothing in particular.
I watch anime and movies. My taste is all over the place. I'll go from something slow and quiet to full action without much thought.
Honestly though, a large portion of my free time goes to sleeping. I have no regrets about this.
I also spend an unreasonable amount of time ricing Linux. I've been using the same window manager for years, but somehow I'm still never quite done tweaking everything around it. I change shells, themes, keybindings, and whatever else catches my attention. Sometimes I open a terminal with no particular goal and end up two hours deep into configuring something that was perfectly fine before I touched it.