# Pushing software engineering limits with "napkin math"

DevFeed: [Pushing software engineering limits with "napkin math"](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/pushing-software-engineering-limits-with-napkin-math-18176.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/pushing-software-engineering-limits>)

Author: Gergely Orosz

Published: 2026-07-21T16:52:07Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [The Pragmatic Engineer](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-pragmatic-engineer.md>)

Topics: [Software Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software-engineering.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [cloud-infrastructure](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud-infrastructure.md>), [Databases](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/databases.md>), [AI Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-development.md>), [cursor](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cursor.md>), [Shopify](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/shopify.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [ai-engineer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-engineer.md>), [build](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/build.md>), [cursor](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cursor.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [shopify](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/shopify.md>), [software](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software.md>), [software-engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-engineering.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines Simon Eskildsen's approach to software engineering, including algorithmic programming, long-term infrastructure work at Shopify, and "napkin math" for estimating compute and data-transfer limits. It also discusses turbopuffer's origins, Cursor as an early customer, and considerations around venture-capital funding.

## Source excerpt

Turbopuffer cofounder Simon Eskildsen on the benefits of longer tenure, using first principles to build durable software - and why founders should be cautious when raising VC money