If you're a current follower of this blog then you may already know that I'm a bit of a fan of using plain text accounting for managing…
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #python🏷️ #ledger🏷️ #financeThings I host and run myself, and some ramblings.
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostA collection of links to interesting/useful/fun content.
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #development🏷️ #life🏷️ #funI often talk about self-hosting on this blog, and I'm certainly a big fan of being able to control my own data and systems wherever possible…
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostA collection of podcasts I frequently listen to.
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #personalIf you've ever run your own Nextcloud before, you may have noticed screens like the following in your instance's settings pages. Nextcloud…
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostI recently signed the web0 manifesto, which embodies many of the values I consider to be important when it comes to technology - and the web…
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinion🎉 This is post 100 in my attempt at the #100DaysToOffload challenge! For a couple of years I have been writing mobile apps using the…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyFor as long as I've been using Matrix I've hosted my own homeserver on my own VPS and at my own domain. Why I chose to move I previously…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostSome people may remember my quest a few months back to find a good alternative to Google Photos for image storage and backup. At the time, I…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostMost applications include some sort of outbound transactional email as part of their normal function. These email messages could be to…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyI maintain a small number of projects in my spare time. The amount of time I get to work on and maintain these varies depending on my other…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #lifeA while ago I posted about how I back-up my personal servers to Backblaze B2. That approach involved adding all of the files and directories…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostFrom the hills of Dusk's End to the small alleys of Main Street, you feel drawn to the lights of this vibrant metropolis in an uncharted…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #lifeI've really enjoyed my recent discovery of a couple of traditional-style webzines. Webzines (sometimes referred to as online magazines, or…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #lifeI've recently been reminiscing about the "old" days of the web. They felt much more like expressions of personality and creativity. These…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionIf you run a service that accepts file uploads from users, and then subsequent re-download by other users (such as images), then your…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyBackground I've recently noticed (and read) more and more posts discussing *BSD systems. Creations like the new (and excellent) OpenBSD…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyAnother podcast I frequently listen to likely needs no introduction of its own. The This Week in Tech (or just "TWiT") network's flagship…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #podcast🏷️ #opinionLast week I gave a talk at the Bitcoin Association BSV Meet-up for Wales, hosted by Tramshed Tech in Cardiff. BSV Wales Image Before…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #lifeA few years ago I was in the position of needing a solution to backup and sync dotfiles (configuration files for various pieces of software…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #projectIt's been a few weeks since my last post about the Pinephone. Since then I have been playing further with a different graphical shell and…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pinephoneFor many developers, the notion of adding accessibility features - such as image text attributes to web page images and integrations with…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionI was performing a standard system upgrade on an Arch server this morning and received the following messages (maintainer details redacted…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyThe need for notifications I self-host several services on various servers - for both some professional and personal uses. I use automated…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyAnother project I try to maintain (when I can!) is SSO Tools. This is a simple web service that aims to help developers test their own…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #projectThe problem with image uploads Many services - including web and mobile apps - allow for their users to upload imagery. This could be to…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pythonAdding theming and the choice between "light" and "dark" modes to your website can enhance your site's accessibility and make it feel more…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #reactFor several years I've been a user of Goodreads. It's a very popular platform, and I primarily use it for keeping track of the books I've…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyI don't tend to talk much about the projects I'm working on, but thought this would be a good opportunity to write a post about one such…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #projectBack in April, I bought a Pinephone. I used the phone quite consistently for the first few weeks and I meant to write an update here a…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pinephoneSome people have complex development processes and flows - making use of tools such as heavy editors and IDEs, Docker for running and…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyProviding code snippets on your website or blog can be a great way to convey meaning for technical concepts. Using the HTML tag can help…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #reactThe Gemini protocol has gathered even more momentum in the few months since I last posted about it. Its popularity is largely driven by its…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #gemini🏷️ #projectI listen to a number of podcasts each week. One of these is ATP (Accidental Tech Podcast). ATP logo This is one of my favourite weekly…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #podcastMany web apps have support for uploading video files. Whether it's a media-focused platform (such as a video sharing service) or just…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #javascriptI enjoy reading my RSS feeds across my devices - whether it's on my phone when out and about, my Mac in between bouts of work, or my iPad…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostThe problem Image processing and resizing is a common task in many types of applications. This is made even more important by modern phones…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyLoading indicators In user-facing software, loading indicators are extremely important to let your users know that something is happening…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyGoogle and DuckDuckGo It's common knowledge that part of Google's business model is to use the data it knows about you, your searches, and…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostWales Tech Week is an annual event held by Technology Connected. The 2021 event is running this week, aiming to bring technologists together…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #lifeLiving without workspaces IDEs and richly-featured text editors - such as VS Code and Sublime Text - support many great features. One of…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyRecently I've noticed that some of the RSS feeds I subscribe to have become more and more restrictive. A post might contain just a title, or…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionSomeone non-technical recently asked me the question, "what actually is a server?". They knew it was just a type of computer that runs…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyFor a couple of years now I have been using a self-hosted Nextcloud as a replacement for iCloud and Google Drive. I won't go into the…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostIn this post I will talk a little about how I handle my digital notes and to-do lists. In the spirit of my last post on data sovereignty…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostThe term 'data sovereignty' is something we hear much more about these days. Increasingly I've also heard it being mentioned in different…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyI listen to a number of podcasts each week. One of these is Go Time. Go Time logo The Go Time podcast releases episodes every Thursday. Its…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #podcastAs you may know, I recently purchased the beta edition of the Pinephone. It arrived last week in the Pinephone Beta Edition box shown below…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pinephoneAs is the case with many countries, all businesses in the UK must report the state of their financial accounts to the relevant inland…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #finance🏷️ #technology🏷️ #ledgerI don't use Facebook often. In fact, I only have an account currently because our company uses the "Login with Facebook" functionality in…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyLike many people, I own and manage multiple email accounts - for example, some are for work, for home, or for specific projects. I used to…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionSimple and RESTful HTTP APIs The HTTP standard is an expressive system for network-based computer-computer interaction. It's a relatively…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionPre-ordering the PinePhone Beta Earlier this week I ordered a PinePhone, which recently became available as a Beta Edition. I've been…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pinephone🏷️ #lifeWhy use decentralised communication services Centralised communication services, such as Telegram, Signal, and Whatsapp, offer convenient…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #selfhostThe last twenty years of internet evolution Although I was still somewhere between being of single-digit age and a young teen back in the…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technologyMinimising possessions Like many people I these days try and live a minimal life when it comes to possessions. Having more stuff means there…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #life🏷️ #technologyRSS has had a bit of a resurgence for personal websites and blogs in recent years, especially with the growing adoption of Small Web and…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #javascriptPython's Flask framework is an easy and excellent tool for writing web applications. Its in-built features and ecosystem of supporting…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #pythonBy now I'm sure everyone has heard the horror stories about people (seemingly-) randomly losing access to their Google accounts. Often the…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionFor many small or personal services running on a VPS in the cloud, administration is often done by connecting directly to the server via SSH…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #securityInformation, software, and links about plain text accounting.
🏷️ #technology🏷️ #finance🏷️ #funMany people no longer feel comfortable using Facebook. Whether you were never a member to begin with or you've had an account but chosen to…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #life🏷️ #selfhostShapes and patterns can be leveraged in user interfaces to guide your users, draw attention to content, lend weight or emphasis, or just for…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #cssReact state React state management is what gives the library its reactiveness. It's what makes it so easy to build performant data-driven…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #reactMany people would consider RSS - Really Simple Syndication - to be a relic of the past. However I think it has been making a comeback. RSS…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionIf you need a database for your next project, why not first consider if SQLite might be a good option? And I don't mean just for getting an…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionIf you've visited my geminispace (gemini://g.wilw.dev) you'll have noticed that I've recently been on a mission to decentralise the every…
🏷️ #selfhosted🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #selfhost🏷️ #gitea🏷️ #github🏷️ #analysis🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionInformation on my Geminispace, and what I keep there.
🏷️ #technologyOver the past few months I have been trying to use centralised "big tech" social media platforms less and instead immerse myself into the…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #gemini🏷️ #technologyBuilding apps on serverless architecture has been a game-changer for me and for developers everywhere, enabling small dev teams to cheaply…
🏷️ #100daystooffload🏷️ #serverless🏷️ #aws🏷️ #lambda🏷️ #analysis🏷️ #technology🏷️ #opinionIf you write React web apps that interface with a backend web API then definitely consider trying React Query. The library makes use of…
🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #react🏷️ #webapi🏷️ #technologyThis short post introduces a useful JavaScript operator to help make your one-liners even more concise. The specification was added formally…
🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #technologyJavaScript has lots of handy tools for creating concise code and one-liners. One such tool is the optional chaining operator. The optional…
🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #technologyI recently stumbled across an article on Hacker News discussing the pros of basic personal accounting using GnuCash - a free and open-source…
🏷️ #ledger🏷️ #finance🏷️ #technologyThis note documents the set-up of a k8s cluster from scratch, including ingress and load-balanced TLS support for web applications. It's…
🏷️ #kubernetes🏷️ #devops🏷️ #technologyZEIT's Now service is great for deploying apps and APIs that are able to make use of serverless execution models, and I use it for many of…
🏷️ #golang🏷️ #vercel🏷️ #technologyA previous note about Philips Hue bulbs got me thinking that the API exposed by the bridge might be used to warn if the house lights are…
🏷️ #hue🏷️ #iot🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologyI recently blogged about Nintendo Hotspot data and mentioned it could be more usefully consumable in a native mobile app. Android Hotspot As…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #nintendo🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologySince getting a DS, StreetPass has become quite addictive. It's actually pretty fun checking the device after walking through town or using…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #nintendo🏷️ #technologyA couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about wrapping some of Weka's classification functionality to allow it to be used programmatically…
🏷️ #weka🏷️ #golang🏷️ #machinelearning🏷️ #technologyAs is the case with many people, all music I listen to on my PC these days plays from the web through a browser. I'm a heavy user of Google…
🏷️ #linux🏷️ #i3🏷️ #technologyA while ago I wrote an article for Heroku's Dev Center on carrying out direct uploads to S3 using a Python app for signing the PUT request…
🏷️ #heroku🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #technologyIn my last post I discussed methods for streaming music to different zones in the house. More specifically I wanted to be able to play music…
🏷️ #project🏷️ #linux🏷️ #technologyFor a while, now, I have been looking for a reliable way to manage zoned music-playing around the house. The general idea is that I'd like…
🏷️ #linux🏷️ #technologySurf forecasts Last week I released a new version of the tides Android app I'm currently developing. The idea of the application was…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #technologyBack in March, I emailed Magic Seaweed to ask them if they had a public API for their surf forecast data. They responded that they didn't at…
🏷️ #project🏷️ #android🏷️ #technologyI today issued a full upgrade of the server at flyingsparx.net, which is hosted by Digital Ocean. By default, on Arch, this will upgrade…
🏷️ #linux🏷️ #digitalocean🏷️ #technologyOver the last few months, I've started to use Weka more and more. Weka is a toolkit, written in Java, that I use to create models with which…
🏷️ #weka🏷️ #python🏷️ #machinelearning🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologyThis is just a quick post to mention that I have made the source for the Gower Tides app on Google Play public. The source repository is…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologyMy hosting for my website has nearly expired, so I have been looking for renewal options. These days I tend to need to use servers for more…
🏷️ #digitalocean🏷️ #technologyI've been having trouble connecting to Eduroam, at least reliably and persistently, without heavy desktop environments or complicated…
🏷️ #linux🏷️ #wifi🏷️ #technologyI wanted a way in which users can seamlessly upload images for use in the Heroku application discussed in previous posts. Ideally, the image…
🏷️ #python🏷️ #aws🏷️ #s3🏷️ #technologyA few posts back, I talked about the development of an Android app for tide predictions for South Wales. This app is now on Google Play. If…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologyI've taken to writing most of my recent presentations in plain HTML (rather than using third-party software or services). I used JavaScript…
🏷️ #javascript🏷️ #project🏷️ #technologyTides Main Activity I've always been interested in the development of smartphone apps, but have never really had the opportunity to actually…
🏷️ #android🏷️ #project🏷️ #technology