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Shuai Zhang
中文

Writing

Notes on software architecture, reliable backend systems, and how we build with AI.

Architecture, implementation, and the judgment that connects them.

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Three perspectives on my work: software architecture, backend engineering, and developer workflows.

  1. 01

    An AI-Native Architecture Control System

    We didn't add documentation rules — we built context governance for LLM collaboration: file contracts, module registries, and entropy control at AI velocity.

    Selected Engineering WritingFeb 28, 20264 min readEN

  2. 02

    Building Better Monetization Systems

    Lessons from enterprise billing infrastructure — charge models, rating pipelines, observability, and why flexibility compounds over years.

    AI MonetizationNov 20, 20255 min readEN

  3. 03

    Spec-Driven Vibe Coding vs. Claude Code Plan Mode

    Two AI coding workflows that look similar but optimize for different things — iteration speed under constraints vs. reliability under complexity.

    Archive / Other WritingFeb 18, 20263 min readEN

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AI Monetization

Pricing, usage billing, metering, and commercial infrastructure for AI and SaaS products.

  • How AI Changes SaaS Pricing

    Traditional seat-based models break down when intelligence becomes the product. Here's what's replacing them — and how to design pricing before your billing stack becomes the bottleneck.

    AI MonetizationPublished: Jan 15, 2026Reading time: 5 min readEN

  • Designing Pricing for Agents

    Agent-native products need agent-native pricing — per-task, per-outcome, and hybrid models for software that acts autonomously.

    AI MonetizationPublished: Oct 5, 2025Reading time: 5 min readEN

  • Consumption Billing is Eating SaaS

    Usage-based models aren't new, but AI workloads are accelerating the shift from subscriptions to consumption — and exposing gaps in legacy billing stacks.

    AI MonetizationPublished: Dec 10, 2025Reading time: 5 min readEN

Selected Engineering Writing

Engineering practice adjacent to building reliable systems—onboarding, collaboration, and process.

  • An AI-Native Architecture Control System

    We didn't add documentation rules — we built context governance for LLM collaboration: file contracts, module registries, and entropy control at AI velocity.

    Selected Engineering WritingPublished: Feb 28, 2026Reading time: 4 min readEN

  • How Great Engineers Ask for Help

    A pre-escalation checklist and how to ask questions that build trust instead of signaling defeat.

    Selected Engineering WritingPublished: Jul 4, 2022Reading time: 2 min readEN

  • Ramping Up on a New Codebase

    A phased approach: map the system first, know where things live, then dive into code.

    Selected Engineering WritingPublished: May 16, 2022Reading time: 2 min readEN

Archive / Other Writing

Earlier essays, experiments, and working notes.

Earlier essays, experiments, and working notes.