johnston's docs

johnstonliu.me email github linkedin

Chances are, you found this place through my other website. If not, then welcome. This is where I document my writing on technical topics primarily in software engineering, and occasionally other things that interest me as well as my past projects. Feel free to reach out with the links above if you'd like to chat.

Writing

What's the best way to handle roles & permissions?

April 6, 2025

Projects (some aren't deployed anymore)

Pool

November 2025

Next.js (React)
Go
SSE & Websockets
Postgres w/ PostGIS
Redis Pub/sub
AWS

Carpool matching platform for shared airport Uber and Lyft rides for UChicago students.

Web app that automatically matches riders based on travel time, airport, and other preferences. Launched over Thanksgiving and Winter Break, it reached 1,000+ verified users, created 300+ carpools, and saved students $10k+ in travel costs.

Kai Class

March 2025

React + React Router & Vite
TypeScript (Express)
MongoDB
Google Cloud

Real-time, anonymous course feedback for UChicago classes, with direct professor responses.

An anonymous discussion board that lets students surface concerns during the quarter so instructors can respond immediately, improving on traditional end-of-quarter evaluations.