I like building useful software and making systems easier to understand.

I'm Muhammad Sufi Afifi, a backend-focused full stack engineer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I enjoy working on systems where reliability, debugging, and clean delivery matter -- the kind of engineering that keeps products running smoothly and teams moving fast.

What I do

Most of my work sits at the intersection of backend services and web applications. I build REST APIs with Java and Spring Boot, develop frontend interfaces with React and Next.js, and debug production issues across distributed systems using tools like Google Cloud Logging.

At my current role, I work on fintech payment systems -- tracing transactions across services, investigating failures, and making sure money flows end up where they should. Before that, I built user-facing features at an insurtech company, working across the full stack in Agile delivery cycles.

Research

I published a research chapter on AI-driven malware detection using neural networks and binary data analysis. The work involved designing classification models, preprocessing binary executables, and evaluating detection accuracy. It taught me how to approach problems methodically, evaluate trade-offs with data, and communicate technical results clearly.

Publication: Enhancing AI Malware Detection Using Neural Network with Binary Data Analysis
DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-589-8_7

How I think about engineering

I value clarity over cleverness. Good software should be easy to debug, easy to hand off, and easy to explain. I write technical articles to sharpen that thinking -- breaking down systems like MongoDB, RabbitMQ, and cloud logging into explanations that anyone on a team can follow.

Beyond code

Outside of work, I'm interested in developer tooling, system design patterns, and the craft of writing about technical topics. I believe engineers who can explain their work clearly are significantly more effective than those who can't.