For one task I need to start a group of services, provided through a docker-compose.yml. It worked yesterday and today I'll finish my task with a developer's test of the complete integration. But it needs seconds more than usual – I cultivated that feeling deep inside there's a delay thus there are going to be dragons ahead. More…

For years I have been using KeepassXC and in some places even as browser plugin. Its auto typing sequence is very flexibile. But a drop down selection at the input fields for username/ password is much easier to handle. But this comes at a price. More…

The bike light has a built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery. But it doesn't work anymore properly. Instead of lasting a few hours it turns dark after a few minutes. Charging nevertheless works properly. More…

No Python, no compiler, a simple grid layout to call scanimage. An easy tool for my 8year old to turn workbooks, tests and home schooling results into digital copies. More…

I often do hardware tests and compare Linux desktops. So I need many distributions bootable but also isolated. A handful of pen drives is the easiest solution. The following sections describe how to go one step further and bring them to a single USB disk. More…

As always nothing changed but nevertheless a common work process doesn't work anymore. Additionally it is a very simple task done in a few minutes. Pressure rises and no matter where you search for the solution it is always found where you look last. More…

The common desktop Linux variants like Fedora, Ubuntu or Debian have an installer that gets the average computer up and running within a few hours. Its result is an absolutely usable desktop environment. But Linux is so much more. When using Linux From Scratch, Arch Linux or Gentoo you end up touching a mirror turning your finger into liquid metal. Either panick now or see behind the Matrix. This is the first part of 4 starting with suggestions for filesystem layout. More…

XFCE has an ALSA plugin to control audio volume. It can be configured to use a certain device and works flawlessly. But it is not available through Arch's AUR (Arch User Repository) for aarch64. Raspberry Pi 3B and especially 4 support 64bit and therefore require compatible packages. The following sections guide you through the 15min process of compiling the plugin on the target system. More…

Netgear sells many different types of network hardware. Like all modern complex products their switches, routers and access points require firmware updates. Nowadays this isn't something for the average customer without a separate service contract. More…

I really enjoy taking part in other developer's struggles. This includes playing developer's games. One of them is the so called Finding of the Week. The intention is to educate, relief from stress and to remember the early days of programming. A group of developers comes together online. And everyone presents a piece of code and a very (geek) entertaining discussion starts. Once this turned awkward for me and implicitely many others. More…