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Understanding Big-O Notation Without Math
Reading Time: 3 minutesBig-O notation may sound intimidating, especially if you’re not into math. But don’t worry — understanding Big-O is more about logic than formulas. It helps developers measure how an algorithm’s performance scales as the amount of data increases. In this article, we’ll explore Big-O in a simple, practical way — with real-life examples and no […]
How File Systems Store and Retrieve Your Data
Reading Time: 3 minutesFile systems are the foundation of how computers organize, store, and retrieve data on physical storage devices like hard drives and SSDs. From saving a document to launching an application, file systems silently handle it all. In this article, we explore how they work behind the scenes. 1. What Is a File System? A file […]
Understanding Loops: For, While, and When to Use Each
Reading Time: < 1 minuteLoops are fundamental to programming because they allow you to execute the same code multiple times with different data. Whether you’re automating tasks, processing user input, or performing calculations, loops help you write cleaner, more efficient code. In this article, we’ll break down three key types of loops—for, while, and do-while—and help you understand when […]
How Caching Works and When You Should Use It
Reading Time: 7 minutesCaching is one of the simplest and most powerful tools for speeding up applications. It is used everywhere: inside CPUs, in browsers, databases, backends, microservices, and CDNs. Yet it is also a common source of bugs when used without a clear strategy. This article explains how caching works, the main cache strategies, when caching helps, […]
What Happens in the Boot Process of a Computer
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen you press the power button on a computer, a lot of things happen before you see the desktop or login screen. This sequence is known as the boot process. It involves firmware, bootloaders, kernels, drivers, and system services working together to bring the machine from a powered-off state to a usable operating system. This […]
How Conditional Statements Work (Explained Simply)
Reading Time: 5 minutesEvery program needs to make decisions. Should a user be allowed to log in? Should a discount be applied? Should an error message be shown? All of this logic is built using conditional statements. This guide explains how conditional statements work in simple, intuitive terms, so you can read and write decision-making code with confidence. […]
Why Your Database Queries Are Slowing Everything Down
Reading Time: 7 minutesWhen an application feels slow, developers often blame the code, the framework, or the server. In many cases, however, the real bottleneck is the database. Poorly designed queries, missing indexes, and inefficient access patterns can make even simple operations painfully slow. This article explains the most common reasons why database queries slow everything down and […]
Understanding the Memory Hierarchy (Registers → Cache → RAM → Disk)
Reading Time: 7 minutesModern CPUs are extremely fast, but they rarely run at their full potential. Most of the time, they are waiting for data. The main reason is that memory is much slower than the processor. To reduce this gap, computers use a layered memory hierarchy: small but very fast storage close to the CPU, and larger […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Variables, Memory, and Data Types
Reading Time: 5 minutesEvery program, no matter how simple or complex, is built around data. You read it, transform it, store it, and display it. To understand how this really works, you need three core ideas: variables, memory, and data types. This guide explains these concepts in simple terms so you can build a solid foundation for any […]
7 Simple Ways to Optimize Loop Performance
Reading Time: 3 minutesLoops are among the most frequently executed constructs in any program. They run millions or even billions of times across data-processing pipelines, UI applications, machine learning tasks, game engines, and system-level software. Even small inefficiencies inside loops can dramatically impact the overall performance of an application. This article explains seven practical and easy-to-apply techniques that […]
From Investigation to System-Level Insight
The origins of 1st Class Investigations are rooted in analytical thinking and technical scrutiny. Historically, investigation has meant more than observation — it has required understanding hidden mechanisms, detecting anomalies, and interpreting signals that are not immediately visible.
In the digital era, many of these investigative principles apply directly to computing systems. Software, hardware, and networked environments operate through layers of abstraction that conceal critical behavior. Performance issues, unexpected execution paths, memory leaks, and background processes often mirror the same patterns once associated with physical surveillance or technical monitoring.
This platform applies investigative logic to modern systems. Articles explore how applications execute instructions, how operating systems manage processes, and how architectural decisions influence performance and stability. By breaking down complex topics into clear explanations, the site bridges the gap between surface-level usage and internal operation.
Understanding systems at this level is essential not only for developers and engineers, but for anyone concerned with reliability, transparency, and control. Hidden processes — whether in software or infrastructure — can affect security, efficiency, and trust. Identifying them requires both technical knowledge and an investigative mindset.
1st Class Investigations continues this tradition by documenting how systems behave under real-world conditions. The focus is not on trends or tools, but on mechanisms: why things slow down, how resources are consumed, and where unintended behavior originates. In doing so, the site preserves the core investigative spirit while applying it to the digital systems that shape modern life.