--- title: "M Samarth Mahendra (@samarthmahendra) | Hashnode" description: "Engineering high-performance backend systems and practical AI tools. Read the latest articles by M Samarth Mahendra on Hashnode." url: "https://hashnode.com/@samarthmahendra" --- @samarthmahendra # M Samarth Mahendra @samarthmahendra · Joined November 2025 Engineering high-performance backend systems and practical AI tools. ### [Zigzagged Deletes: MongoDB TTL Regression Caused by a WiredTiger Cursor Bug](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/zigzagged-deletes-mongodb-ttl-regression-caused-by-a-wiredtiger-cursor-bug?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) MongoDB TTL Descending Index Performance Regression Report 4.2 → 4.4 Regression Analysis | WiredTiger Cursor Bug Environment: Google Cloud e2-standard-8 • 8 vCPU • 32 GB RAM • Ubuntu 22.04 1. What I 11 min read · [samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/zigzagged-deletes-mongodb-ttl-regression-caused-by-a-wiredtiger-cursor-bug?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Mar 17](https://hashnode.com/posts/zigzagged-deletes-mongodb-ttl-regression-caused-by-a-wiredtiger-cursor-bug/69b9e5e4c22d3eeb8a10c708) ### [Building Orion: A C++23 Distributed Task Runtime Inspired by Ray](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/building-orion-a-c-23-distributed-task-runtime-inspired-by-ray?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) A high-performance, Ray-style dataflow engine and task scheduler in C++23. Orion explores task-based execution through futures and object references, 4 min read · [samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/building-orion-a-c-23-distributed-task-runtime-inspired-by-ray?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Mar 1](https://hashnode.com/posts/building-orion-a-c-23-distributed-task-runtime-inspired-by-ray/69a45fe0a7428b958dd1b180) ### [Rethinking Metadata Indexing in Analytical Data Systems](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/rethinking-metadata-indexing-in-analytical-data-systems?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Metadata Is the Real Index: How Lakehouse Systems Avoid Scanning the World Today I want to talk about something that separates toy systems from production-grade data infrastructure: Metadata. Specifically, how modern lakehouse systems use metadata to... 4 min read · [samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/rethinking-metadata-indexing-in-analytical-data-systems?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Feb 11](https://hashnode.com/posts/rethinking-metadata-indexing-in-analytical-data-systems/698c9a7ddf7879c4dc3ec4cf) ### [Modern Storage Engines](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/modern-storage-engines?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Modern Storage Engines — My Notes and Mental Models All throughout my undergrad, and during my one year of backend engineering at Draup, I only knew about classic databases like PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch. I knew that MongoDB and Elastics... 4 min read · [samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/modern-storage-engines?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Nov 27, 2025](https://hashnode.com/posts/modern-storage-engines/692897b8953005bdc68b18d8) ### [Hacking Secret Hitler: From Bayesian Math to AI Agents](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/hacking-secret-hitler-from-bayesian-math-to-ai-agents?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Over the past few weeks, my friends and I have been obsessed with Secret Hitler. If you’ve never played it, it’s a game of deception, deduction, and lying to your friends’ faces. But after a few intense sessions, my engineer brain kicked in. I realiz... 6 min read · [samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev](https://samarthmahendra.hashnode.dev/hacking-secret-hitler-from-bayesian-math-to-ai-agents?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [Nov 21, 2025](https://hashnode.com/posts/hacking-secret-hitler-from-bayesian-math-to-ai-agents/6920ad6f4d6306a17a8f6d13)