Home on Parker Chang's Web

Save Point Updated

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

First, I want to share a good news: I found a job in Japan!

But before continuing, I want to share the story from the night before I received the offer.

That night was the first time I talked with the other people in the share house.

I was waiting for the elevator to go down to the first floor for a shower when a French guy (23y) happened to walk out of his room. He gestured for me to wait, then jogged over. We started chatting in the elevator.

Thoughts on an Ideal Life

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Looking back at this time last year, I was still in Taiwan, living in a single studio apartment on Jilin Road near Xingtian Temple.

That was the most satisfying place I had lived in Taiwan so far. The landlord was nice, the layout was square, there were large windows facing outside, and what satisfied me the most was having an independent doorplate. The only flaws were the lack of a kitchen and the inability to transfer my household registration there.

2025 → 2026

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Prologue #

Like this year, I dragged my annual review until the Lunar New Year. In the past, it was because of the long holidays during the New Year period which allowed me to reflect. This year in Japan, despite not having holidays, I allow myself to delay it until now.

Life in Kusatsu

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kusatsu was my first stop in Japan, and it’s also where I’ve been living for over a month now.

Kusatsu has been voted the number one hot spring in Japan for 23 consecutive years in the Top 100 Onsen rankings. Generally, people visit the three major hot springs: Goza-no-Yu, Sai-no-Kawara Open-Air Bath, and Otaki-no-Yu. Personally, I recommend Otaki-no-Yu the most. However, to be honest, after soaking here for over a month, I haven’t particularly felt the “greatness” of the hot springs here. I know it’s very natural, but it seems that’s about it.

I'm Afraid of Living Well

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article is the last one of 2025!

If taking the annual review as the last article might have more sense of ritual, but this article is also very commemorative to me. It is a thought that has troubled me for a long time, a bit heavy but very suitable to let go at the end of the year.

Body in Australia, Heart in Japan: Graduated from Australian Working Holiday in Four Months

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As the title says, I left Australia.

Decided to go to Australia temporarily in the middle of this year, and the decision to leave was also made in a hurry.

But I am very glad that I ran to Australia instead of continuing to suffer in Taiwan. Just four months broke me and reassembled me, reshaped the way I interact with the world, and let me see more possibilities.

What I Want to Pursue in Work

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although I have written about work in my Annual Review since 2022, the last article dedicated to work and career reflection was this one: Reviewing My First Three Years as a Software Engineer. I suddenly realized that another three years have passed, which is a good timing to write again.

Written After Homelessness

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What is a home to you?

After canceling the rental in Taipei last month, I became homeless. I really want to say romantically that from today on, the world is my home, I live on Earth, and I will roam the world!

From Coding to Cutting Pumpkins: Official Start of Australian Working Holiday

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Still Anxious Too Quickly #

The leisurely feeling disappeared after the first week, and started to get a little anxious about not finding a job.

I decided to come to Australia temporarily, and didn’t have much time to look up information. I was very unfamiliar with everything about how to make a living here, and there were also many things hadn’t thought clearly yet, like do I want to collect visa days? What jobs do I want to do? Where do I want to work?

My First Week in Australia

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Unknowingly have lived in Gold Coast for a week. Taking advantage of memory and impact still fresh to record.

This week I actually didn’t do much. Went to various supermarkets to buy supplies with friends in the first two days. Two days looking up information and running administrative processes (mobile phone, bank, TFN, TMR etc.). Weekend two days went to BroadBeach and Surfers Paradise to see the sea by myself. Then at night usually playing Maplestory with friends in Taiwan.

Leaving Taiwan for Two Years: Heading to Australia and Japan

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Originally hoped to have one article per month, but articles for April and May were written as a first draft and never published.

However, Atomic Habits says “The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It is the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows.” Before June ends, I have to hurry up and publish! (Those two articles I wrote are about “Happiness” and “Honesty”. I will try to finish editing and publish them soon.)

How I Set Up a WordPress Site

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Last year I handled several large WordPress sites at work. I’m here to record and share the WordPress hosting strategy I learned.

This site will also be changed to WordPress later. After changing, I will come back to share why and how I did it.

Three Days in Tokyo

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This is an article mixing travelogue and recent mood.

Thought about the title for a long time. Just happened to read Taiyo Matsumoto’s new work “Tokyo Higoro” (Tokyo Days) recently, decided to pay tribute in the title.

Went to Tokyo for a quick three-day trip at the beginning of the month. Because after Aimer’s Asian tour ended last June, followed the atmosphere and immediately drew tickets for this year’s Tokyo tour in March.

2024 → 2025

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The annual review was accidentally dragged to February again, missing the time after New Year’s Day. Originally hoped to write it during the Spring Festival, after all, there was a long holiday at that time. But facts proved that instead of coveting more time, it is better to act quickly. Once the idea of “can do it later” appears, it will be dragged on forever.

After Losing My Facebook Account Used for Twelve Years

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Preface #

Every accident allows me to break away from the habitual state, look at the present with a relatively detached state, and realize what aspects of the current state I am unsatisfied or satisfied with. Like losing my phone abroad before, and this time my Facebook being suspended, both made me think a lot.

Draw Your Own Map

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I originally wanted to write another article first, but I received a letter asking how to practice and reflect on “Draw Your Own Map” mentioned in 2023→ 2024, so I decided to write this one first.

I actually always wanted to write about this topic, but because the map and thinking method have been changing, or haven’t crossed the hurdle in my heart, feeling that the idea could not be examined by others yet.

Some Self-inflicted Troubles and Thoughts on Writing

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On my birthday last May, I built this website in one go, but so far I have only written six articles.

This is the first article I finally have some time to write after starting my new job this April.

WIND BREAKER —Shishitoren Arc—

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Even though this work has high production, smooth fighting scenes, pleasing character design and full of masculinity, plot is just a group of delinquents fighting.

This is what I thought before watching episode 9 and 10 of anime.

Didn’t expect it could present Choji’s darkening, Togame’s self-blame and Umemiya’s broad-mindedness so well.

The Concierge

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Thoughts #

Really like watching this kind of heartwarming work without too much scheming recently.

At the same time, also like how many Japanese works observe and present interaction process between people so meticulously.

Dune: An Epic of Ecology and Power

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Prologue: A City in Fog

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Personal Website

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Building a Static Site with Hugo

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Robot Dreams

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

(Might have minor spoilers, but basically to extent guessable from name, please exercise discretion!)

Although following text talks about quite a few melancholic things, but it is still a very warm work!

It is very touching. Don’t worry it is a work that will make you very Emo after watching. If it does, I think it is also a good time to let yourself settle, go take care of those surging emotions and memories!

Hello, World

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

2023 → 2024

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Before sharing my 2023 & 2024, I want to share my thoughts on annual reviews.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Now

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Talk about eval in JavaScript, Risks and Alternatives

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Preface #

Recently, I used App Script provided by Google Sheets to write a small crawler for a friend to automate moving and organizing information on web pages. I found that the information in <script /> in HTML Source could not be read directly. when asking ChatGPT, it suddenly gave me an implementation using eval. Before, I only knew not to use it. This time I decided to seriously understand when it might be used, why not to use it, and what are the alternatives.

From Callback to Async/Await: Sequential Fade-In Animation

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Foreword #

The article is aimed at those know the concept of Callback Hell, Promise and Async/Await, but haven’t dealt with it or not completely understand the difference.

I will guide you the three ways to implement “Sequential Fade In elements after clicking a button”.

How to Build a Fitness Habit

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As an office worker who hasn’t exercised much since graduating from college, maintaining a consistent gym routine was a struggle for me. I would typically give up after only a month.

The Journey of My Site: Why write and Technology Choices

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Why Set Up a Personal Website? #

As front-end engineers, most of us might thought about (or dreamed of) setting up our own websites. However, we may be held back by the curse of knowledge and the burden of perfectionism.

2022 → 2023

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Continuing the method from last year, I made some adjustments this year, using the following key items and thoughts to review.

Why review in March?

Even if last year was a mess, I still want to leave a trace. Writing it down is like taking a snapshot of myself at that time.
I believe the future me will definitely thank the current me for writing it down, just like I am very grateful that the 2021 me did a review.

TOC

Implementing Google OAuth Login (Vue / Express)

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Preface #

Recently, the company needed to integrate third-party login. As it was my first time doing it, I stepped into quite a few pitfalls. I also found that Google has updated again, and many articles I found were no longer usable, so I decided to share and record the integration process.

Retrospective on My First Three Years as a Software Engineer

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I have been writing and editing this article for about a month. Actually, later on, I just added a little bit when I thought of something. It is a bit long, and most of it is written for myself. If you are interested in the thoughts of a non-CS liberal arts graduate transitioning to a software engineer for three years, feel free to take a look.

2021 → 2022

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Although I do an annual review every year, as I grow older and accumulate social experience, and since what I do each year is quite different, the way I review each year is actually quite different.

But this year I finally found a review method that I am relatively satisfied with:

Talk about Web Fonts — Design, File Formats and Frontend Loading

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A while ago, the font bundle from Design Not Deep caused a wave of font claiming craze. Besides slides, posters, and social media posts, have you ever thought about how fonts are used on web pages?

photo by David Klein on Unsplash

Design System - Things Frontend Engineers Should Know

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Before talking about Design System, I want to mention a concept: “Planning > Implementation”.

The nature of a software engineer is actually very close to that of an architect, except they build houses and we build systems.

A good house requires good architectural design, blueprints, understanding of the structure, and a lot of time spent on planning and design in the early stages.

Frontend Framework 101: Things You Should Know Before Learning a Framework

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Choosing a frontend framework has always been a big question for many beginners (including me). I started writing React because my company was using it. Recently, due to some circumstances, I started touching Angular, which inspired me to think more about “Frontend Frameworks”. Issues like what “framework” actually refers to? What can be called a “framework”? Why does frontend need to use it? What happens if you don’t use it? I heard Vue3 is powerful, should I learn it? And so on.

From Understanding to Practice: Building Your Own Atomic Habits — "Atomic Habits" Book Digest (Part 2)

Sun, 03 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Habit change depends on space located, and cues in front.

Four Steps of Habit Functioning — Habit Loop #

Let’s review “Definition” and “Goal” of habit first 👇

Definition: So-called habit, is behavior repeated enough times to be automated
Goal: Solve problems in life with “least energy and effort”.

Then specifically, how does “constant repetition” achieve “automation”, and further become a habit?

Re-understanding Habits — "Atomic Habits" Book Digest (Part 1)

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Preface #

In the modern age where smartphones reign supreme, people find it increasingly difficult to resist temptations on their own. After all, these temptations (such as TV series, mobile games, etc.) are readily available, and there are countless people behind them meticulously designing to make us fall. Speaking for myself, I love reading manga and watching anime very much. Often chase a whole season at once, sacrificing sleep time or whole weekend. Original planned things were not finished, can only hate myself more and more day after day.

"Atomic Habits" Full Book Notes

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Atomic Habits #

:::info Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones :::

2019/06/01 Traditional Chinese Version Published!

Author: James Clear

Founded “Habits Academy”, an online training platform
Focus on researching habit formation, decision making

This book teaches not psychological techniques of “self-motivation” or “strengthening willpower”, but how to still achieve your goals when willpower is insufficient.