Links
The following is a list of things I think are awesome and worth sharing:
Software and Services
Eleventy
A simple static site generator which I personally find to be more intuitive than Hugo or Jekyll. The source for this website can be found on GitHub.
Tailscale
“A secure network that just works.” A mesh VPN that gives your devices the ability to automatically find each other and establish direct encrypted connections when possible. Relies on the WireGuard protocol. I use it extensively, including some of the less documented features like exit nodes and subnet routers. It’s a networking Swiss army knife.
Standard Notes
A great note-taking app that syncs notes between devices. End-to-end encrypted, runs on all major OSes, 100% open source (both server and client code), self-hostable, and the team behind it has a really admirable business model. Downside: It’s developed in JavaScript, and when you have thousands of notes, it really bogs down (especially on Android). Currently looking for a replacement.
Software Development
Kotlin
Known mostly for Android development and often treated as a “better Java,” it is so much more. For me, it has been a great introduction to functional programming, and I love it. Though I have a theory that I’m still testing: I think it may only be practical to write significant amounts of Kotlin in an IntelliJ-based IDE. It would be extremely difficult to write more than a few lines of Kotlin in a text editor like Vim or GEdit.
My Bash Script Template
https://gist.github.com/pcrockett/8e04641f8473081c3a93de744873f787
Bash is a terrible language. But it’s not so bad if you’re using ShellCheck and you have a nice template to start from. I copy / paste / modify this script any time I want to automate something new in Linux. I also use it for things like syntax reminders, and I update it periodically when I discover something new and useful.
Operating Systems
Desktop Linux Distros
These three operating systems are my current favorites, and I can never decide which one I want to keep installed on my laptop. Silverblue is an immutable OS (the future!), Pop is a joy to use when I actually want to get stuff done (amazing keyboard-driven UI), and Arch is great for tinkering.
GrapheneOS
A privacy and security-oriented fork of Android. For a while I used /e/OS, however I discovered that /e/ is over-extended. They try to support too many phone models and too much software, with not enough resources. This leads to low-quality outdated software, which is frustrating and insecure. Graphene is the opposite; They only support recent Pixel models, meaning they have the resources to keep up, and they produce an extremely polished, high-quality OS.
Devices
Raspberry Pi
A great little computer that’s affordable and surprisingly powerful. Great for tinkering and learning, as well as running a tiny efficient home server or simple desktop PC. I have a couple Pis in a couple different locations running Arch ARM and Tailscale. They are subnet routers and exit nodes, giving me access to a lot of things no matter where I am in the world.
Security
Security Planner
Answer a few questions, and get a simple plan for improving your privacy and security, with links to useful resources for further education. Very user-friendly, great for people ranging from aging parents to journalists.
Qubes OS
A high-security operating system that uses virtual machines to compartmentalize various areas of life. Often used by security researchers or other people in high-risk situations. I used it for a few months and was really impressed, though it ended up being too sluggish on my aging laptop.
Information
AllSides
https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news
News aggregation website that seeks to organize articles based on their bias: left, right, or center. “We expose people to information and ideas from all sides of the political spectrum so they can better understand the world — and each other.”
Lobsters
Technology link aggregation site similar to Hacker News, but instead of focusing on entrepreneurship, the focus tends more toward free and open source software.
Fun
Screeps
MMO sandbox game for programmers. Like a real-time strategy game, but it’s constantly running even when you’re not logged in, and all your units are controlled by code that you write. It’s also a good opportunity to improve your TypeScript skills.