Vol. 01 The Shahzad Review Autumn 2026

Ali
Shahzad

Computer Engineering @ UWaterloo

I build software that holds up under pressure, and the tests that prove it.

In this issue

No. 1

Fraise

Browser workspace for training & testing language models

Launch training runs, compare checkpoints, and try models through streaming as-you-type autocomplete. Validated forms, live loss charts and logs, and a graceful stop that saves a resumable checkpoint. 127-test suite, zero skips: exact checkpoint replay, compiled-model correctness, evaluation behaviour.

Python · FastAPI · JavaScript · SSE

No. 2

Shale

Local-first personal knowledge base

Captures notes, email, and browsing into searchable local storage with a plug-in system for new sources. Chrome extension with an offline IndexedDB outbox and backoff retries that survive network loss and restarts. Safe AI-agent edits: scoped views, transactional writes, idempotency keys, dry-run preview, audit log.

TypeScript · React · Bun · SQLite

No. 3

Deal or No Deal

Tested simulation & analysis CLI

Found, documented, and fixed three bugs in the original simulator. Added 8 Rust and 26 Python tests, linting, an end-to-end demo, and Windows checks to CI. Packaged an installable Python CLI for reproducible runs, plots, and model verification.

Rust · Python · GitHub Actions

Also in the archive

watworks-mcp — MCP server that lets an agent find the WaterlooWorks jobs that suit you bestlobot-lang — A toy language built on Brainfuck with real conveniences, running on a stack-based VMuwhpc-onboarding — UW High Performance Computing onboarding challenge

The work so far

May – Aug 2025

Beem Solutions

Software Engineering Intern (Forward-Deployed) · Python, SQL, AWS

  • Adapted a B2B AI voice-agent platform to each client's workflow with Python integrations into their databases, CRMs, and scheduling tools.
  • Worked directly with client engineers and stakeholders to review codebases, gather requirements, and plan integrations.
  • Merged email, phone, and social interactions into unified customer profiles for the voice agents.
Jun – Aug 2024

Punjab IT Board (PITB)

Mobile Development Intern · React Native, Laravel

  • Halved app startup time by moving blocking initialization work to asynchronous operations.
  • Built and documented React Native screens with designers, wired to APIs, databases, and server components.
  • Wrote Laravel MVC backend code for apps handling national ID (CNIC) data; senior review found no security issues or bugs.

Schooling

University of Waterloo

BASc, Computer Engineering, 2026 – 2031

IB Diploma · SAT 1600/1600 · 100% Merit Scholarship

Toolkit

Languages. TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, SQL, Rust.

Applications. React, React Native, Laravel, FastAPI, Bun, SQLite, AWS, IndexedDB, Chrome extensions.

Quality & Tools. Git, GitHub Actions, pytest, Cargo, Regression testing, CI, Root-cause analysis.

Printed on the web · contact@alishahzad.dev