Compare two attempts fairly
Two numbers become a useful comparison only when their conditions are known. The differences around the numbers can matter more than their size.
The complete index
Notes
A notebook about holding a question steady while a result changes.
Begin with any of these seven notes. The section list and neighbouring readings offer a route back when a question changes.
Delay and throughput answer different questions
A quick first reply and a fast transfer describe different parts of an experience. A single number cannot stand in for both.
Keep a useful observation
A useful observation begins with a small question. Decide which result would help answer it before choosing what to collect.
Leave a connection check easy to repeat
A short record of the question, conditions and result is usually more reusable than a large collection of unexplained output.
Read a failure one layer at a time
A connection can fail before a name is resolved, during a secure handshake or after a request arrives. Naming the layer narrows the next check.
Draw the boundary before collecting detail
A clear boundary makes a note smaller and more trustworthy. It tells a reader which conclusion the evidence can support.
Read a reference note with a question in hand
A reference page is easier to use when you know which decision it should help you make. Reading can be a small, directed part of the work.