Things I build, break, fix, and write about

22 April 2026
Configuration management prevents home lab drift

Cheap kit only stays cheap if the software side stays disciplined. A home lab software stack turns into a mess the moment settings live in web forms and half the logic sits in your head, which is a rubbish place for infrastructure to live.

22 April 2026
Security Advisory – 20 Apr 2026

Daily security advisory summary for 20 Apr 2026

21 April 2026
Privacy-first car telemetry: monitoring EV charging over

I took a glossy EV launch page and turned the useful bits into a Home Assistant MQTT car charging dashboard, then spent most of the time fighting the...

21 April 2026
Security Advisory – 19 Apr 2026

Daily security advisory summary for 19 Apr 2026

Latest blog posts you might like

13 March 2025
Running Speed Tests from the CLI on Sophos Firewall (Updated for SFOS 19+)

Learn to measure internet speed directly from your Sophos firewall, bypassing internal network issues. This guide covers essential CLI methods.

9 March 2025
n8n | n8n@1.109.2

n8n version 1.109.2 is out, featuring crucial bug fixes, including a fallback removal for Basic LLM Chain Node and a corrected OIDC configuration update path.

5 March 2025
Apple’s Legal Battle Against UK Government Over Encryption: The Latest Updates

Apple’s Legal Battle Against UK Government Over Encryption: The Latest Updates Apple Fights Back Against UK’s Encryption Crackdown The battle between Apple and the UK government over encrypted data...

28 February 2025
Apple’s Capitulation to UK Government Demands: A Grave Threat to Our Digital Privacy and How to Fight Back

Apple Bows to UK Government, Sacrificing User Privacy In an alarming turn of events, Apple has bowed to the UK government’s demands by removing Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for iCloud users in the...

22 February 2025
Reinventing Old Security Devices

Revitalize your outdated security devices into useful tools for your smart home. Discover creative ways to repurpose old tech, saving money and reducing waste.

7 February 2025
Voice Activation for Smart Homes: Harnessing Home Assistant's Assist

Introduction Ever tried shouting at your house to turn off the lights only to be met with silence? The struggles of getting smart home devices to respond to voice commands can leave you feeling more...

23 January 2025
How to Choose the Right MQTT Broker for Your IoT Project

Practical guidance on choosing an MQTT broker for IoT, covering security, scalability, performance and migration.

14 January 2025
How to Set Up Home Assistant Without a Raspberry Pi

Run Home Assistant without a Raspberry Pi: hardware options, HAOS or container installs, networking and maintenance.

10 January 2025
Managing a Compromised Mailbox on Sophos XGS Firewall

When a mailbox is compromised, it can lead to a surge of spam and harmful emails, threatening your organization's reputation. This guide offers key steps to manage and clear the email spool on your...

18 December 2024
age | v1.2.1

Age v1.2.1 addresses a critical security vulnerability, enforcing new plugin naming conventions. Users should update to ensure system security.