Simran Tinani

Cryptography

(Link) Post-Quantum Cryptography: A Comprehensive Guide
Link to white paper on post-quantum cryptography (co-authored by me at cnlab).
2025 • ~1 min read
What is a cryptographic hash function?
An explanation of hash functions, their mathematical properties, and their role in cryptography.
2022 • ~4 min read
Explaining Pseudorandomness—Part 2: Stream Ciphers, PRFs, and Block Ciphers
An explanation of stream ciphers, pseudorandom functions (PRFs), and block ciphers, and how they implement pseudorandomness in practical cryptographic systems.
2025 • ~14 min read
Explaining Pseudorandomness—Part 1: PRGs
An explanation of pseudorandomness and pseudorandom generators, their construction and their role in cryptography.
2024 • ~19 min read
What is a blockchain?
An accessible introduction to blockchain technology, explaining its decentralized architecture, consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work and Proof of Stake, the role of cryptography, and some applications.
2024 • ~12 min read
Functional and Security-Related Aspects of Blockchains and Smart Contracts
An exploration of the functional principles and security challenges of blockchain systems and smart contracts, including their architecture, consensus mechanisms, and common attack vectors.
2024 • ~1 min read
Explaining the Logjam attack and its significance
An explanation of the Logjam attack on TLS, which exploits Diffie-Hellman parameter downgrades.
2023 • ~14 min read

Systems, Applications, Security

Understanding Code Translation: From Source to Machine
An exploration of how code is translated from high-level languages into machine-readable instructions through compilation, assembly, and linking.
2025 • ~18 min read
Understanding the Hierarchy of Computer Languages
A breakdown of the hierarchy of programming languages, and of the roles of source code, bytecode, assembly, object files, and executables.
2024 • ~18 min read
Understanding Computer Memory: Types and Hierarchy
A study of how computers store and access information, exploring the types and hierarchy of memory systems.
2024 • ~18 min read
Understanding Computer Hardware
An low-level summary of the physical components that make computing possible.
2024 • ~14 min read

AI and Machine Learning

AI and the Next Generation of Language
A reflection on Large Language Models as a new paradigm in human-computer interaction—one that replaces rigid syntax with adaptive, intuitive dialogue—while examining their promise, limitations, and role as collaborative instruments in the evolving digital landscape.
2025 • ~10 min read
Generative AI before it was cool: Experiments with image generation with DCGANs
An empirical exploration of DCGAN architectures, covering architectural modifications, mode collapse, label smoothing, grayscale inputs, and hyperparameter tuning.
2025 • ~8 min read
Perceptrons from Scratch: A Starting Point for Machine Learning
An implementation-focused walkthrough of the Perceptron and Pocket Learning Algorithms in R, using synthetic 2D data to explore linear classification, weight updates, and performance evaluation.
2023 • ~10 min read
(Link) Vehicular Counting using Object Detection and Object Tracking
Link to white paper for a deep learning-based vehicular counting model developed at Hashbrown Systems.
2019 • ~1 min read

Theoretical Computer Science

Compilation, Interpretation, and Typing
A beginner’s attempt at understanding code compilation, interpretation, and typing.
2025 • ~8 min read
Decision Problems — Decidability, Verifiability, and Complexity Classess
An introduction to decision problems, algorithmic solvability, and complexity theory, with a focus on decidability, verifiability, and the P vs NP landscape.
2025 • ~11 min read
Rice's Theorem
An introduction to Rice’s Theorem and its implications for undecidability in program behavior analysis.
2024 • ~4 min read

Mathematics

Abstract math for anyone: A brief introduction to Groups, their history and applications
A gentle introduction to abstract group theory and some applications.
2020 • ~17 min read
Minimum Sum Euclidean Decompositions of Integers
A short note exploring Euclidean decompositions of integers that minimize the sum of their components.
2019 • ~1 min read