During January 2026, Max Eppenberger focused on backend stability improvements for the flexcompute/tidy3d repository, addressing a critical bug in the HTTP interceptor. He enhanced the interceptor’s robustness by refining its handling of non-dict JSON responses, preventing application crashes and improving error reporting. Working primarily in Python, Max applied his expertise in API development and error handling to introduce more defensive JSON parsing and observability within the HTTP path. His targeted approach resulted in tighter commit traceability and rapid stabilization of the codebase. The work demonstrated depth in backend engineering, prioritizing reliability and maintainability over new feature development during this period.