Reading List

The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.

TinyPilot: Month 25

Highlights

  • My blog post about redesigning the TinyPilot website became my second most popular article of all time
  • I’m exploring ways to preserve more knowledge on my blog
  • I’ve lowered TinyPilot’s prices in an effort to reduce inventory

Goal grades

At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:

Finalize plans for managing TinyPilot licenses

  • Result: Made no progress
  • Grade: F

Migrating to the next-gen update system took longer than I expected, so I ended up not making progress on this.

Back Up Encrypted ZFS Data without Unlocking It

I recently built my first home TrueNAS server. I use it to store the bulk of my personal and work data, so I’ve been learning how to make the most of TrueNAS and its filesystem, ZFS.

Today, I want to tell you about backing up encrypted data.

I Regret My $46k Website Redesign

Two years ago, I created a website for my business. By combining my terrible design skills with a decent-looking template, I created a site that looked okay. I told myself that if the business took off, I’d hire a real designer to make it look professional.

Screenshot of old landing page

TinyPilot website, before design changes

A year later, the business was generating $45k/month in revenue, but my website still looked like a college student’s hobby project. It was time for that professional redesign I’d promised myself.

TinyPilot: Month 24

Highlights

  • TinyPilot reached an all-time high of $74k in revenue.
  • I’m trying to figure out the best approach to software licensing.
  • I’m still searching for a web framework I can love.

Goal grades

At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:

Create a self-contained tarball for installing TinyPilot

  • Result: We now have a working tarball package
  • Grade: A

TinyPilot’s install process has been growing more complex over time. It pulls in code from multiple repositories and third-party dependencies, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of those relationships.

TinyPilot: Month 23

Highlights

  • The TinyPilot website redesign is finally done.
  • I’ve learned to make Debian packages, and it’s surprisingly simple.
  • I’ve given up on Vue and frontend frameworks in general.

Goal grades

At the start of each month, I declare what I’d like to accomplish. Here’s how I did against those goals:

Publish a blog post and video about building a homelab NAS server with TinyPilot

This was my first blog post in over a year that wasn’t a retrospective or year-end review. It got a so-so reception on reddit, but it reached #2 on Hacker News.