Welcome to Beyond Basics

Hey, I’m Ruslan, a former director of engineering.

I used to lead engineering teams. Now I’m deep into math, trying to understand what’s behind AI and modern tech.

This newsletter is where I learn out loud. Right now, I’m working through precalculus, calculus, and linear algebra from scratch. I’m not a math expert. Just sharing what I’m wrestling with, what clicks, and what doesn’t.

If you’re into tech, AI, or the process of going deep on fundamentals - even later in life - you might enjoy this.

What to expect:

• Short updates on what I’m learning

• Notes from my time as a director and engineer

• Occasional book reviews and tools that help me learn

If that sounds like your thing, stick around.

— Ruslan

P.S. If you’re interested in my older posts on writing an interpreter or a web server in Python, you can still find them at ruslanspivak.com

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.