Things I build, break, fix, and write about

1 September 2026
Privacy boundaries when AI touches government records

AI governance gets awkward fast when government records are involved, because the model is rarely the problem. The problem is the sloppy boundary around it, the sort I have seen quietly turn a harmless prompt into a route through records nobody meant to expose.

1 September 2026
Metadata schema choices for content libraries

Structured metadata only works when it matches how people actually retrieve content. I have seen neat schemas fail as soon as the library meets real...

31 August 2026
Federation trade-offs in self-hosted social feeds

Federation looks tidy until you let it touch the edges, and then the odd cases arrive fast. I prefer self-hosted social feeds that stay explicit about...

31 August 2026
FireAvert Z-Wave stove shutoffs for offline safety

FireAvert’s setup does the part that matters without asking Home Assistant to babysit it, which is exactly how I want stove protection to behave. The...

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9 January 2026
Installing SurfSense on Docker

SurfSense installation on Docker guides you to run a self-hosted AI agent on your machine. Get Docker running, use a named volume for persistent data, reserve ports 3000 and 8000, and start with one...

9 January 2026
Self-hosting a DNS server on a home lab

Learn how to set up a reliable DNS server for your home lab using minimal hardware and software. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for a seamless experience.

8 January 2026
Tuning Frigate detection on an Intel N100 mini PC

Unlock the full potential of your Intel N100 mini PC with Frigate and Amcrest PoE cameras. This detailed guide walks you through setup and optimization for efficient monitoring.

8 January 2026
Integrating Home Assistant with smart gas meters

Check your meter label and paperwork before touching SDR gear. If your smart gas meter uses Wireless M‑Bus, start listening on 433 MHz and 868 MHz with rtl_433 or metermon and a tuned antenna. If...

7 January 2026
Automate lighting to follow circadian rhythms

Circadian Lighting Automation in Home Assistant matches your lights to the day. Use tunable white bulbs, group lights, and set sunrise, sunset and midday triggers. Start with one room, test kelvin and...

7 January 2026
Enhancing Home Assistant with custom automation

Home Assistant Automation: Build reliable automations with device triggers, blueprints and YAML. Use device_trigger and binary_sensor to cut CPU use. Test automations with the trace tool, keep your...

6 January 2026
Best practices for a resilient Kubernetes cluster

I build Kubernetes clusters to survive real faults, not to win configuration contests. This is what I do during setup to keep them standing when something fails, and the places I see people cut...

6 January 2026
Printing a dual OptiPlex case on a Bambu P1S

Dual OptiPlex Homelab: Print the case on a Bambu P1S in PETG-GF. Fit and wire two OptiPlex boards. You get print settings, cable management methods, cooling fixes and simple automation tips. Use them...

5 January 2026
Using Dell Chromebook 3100 as a thin client

Turn Dell Chromebook 3100 units into cheap Chromebook thin clients for your home automation and remote desktop use. Record serials, remove school management, install Chromium OS Flex or minimal Debian...

5 January 2026
Best practices for Proxmox Backup Server snapshot management

Proxmox Backup Server snapshots can yield corrupt metadata if taken while PBS is active. Plan snapshots to separate PBS maintenance from your VM backup windows. Export your config and keys off the...