Announcing My First Open Source Project: Graphkit
In this mini update, I pleased to announce my first open source project on GitHub
What Is the Network Effect and Why It Matters to Social Media
I read an excellent article the other day called "The End of the Twitter Era" and the author made an excellent point about how the network effect impacts the life and death of social media platforms (both past and present). I've been thinking a lot about
Mastering the Bluesky Firehose with Python: A Simple Tutorial
Bluesky is awesome for many reasons, however one feature which not many may know about is the ability to collect data using the publicly available API thanks to the AT protocol - the system used to run Bluesky. One feature of the API's the ability to stream activity
Refining My Note-Taking Process: From Pen and Paper to Blog
In this post, I share my journey of refining my note-taking process. From handwritten notes to a private Hugo site, I’m simplifying my approach to better capture and refine my thoughts. Eventually, everything I learn will make its way to this blog and my social media profiles.
The Real Reason I Prefer Bluesky to X (and It’s Not Just About Elon)
Bluesky isn’t just a "left-wing echo chamber"—it’s a step towards sustainable, decentralised social media. While platforms like X face criticism for invasive policies and centralised control, Bluesky offers a future inspired by the open Web, driven by protocols like ATProto.
Why Bluesky Feels Like the Future of Social Media
I'm a huge supporter of decentralized social media, and after almost a week on Bluesky, and I love it! It feels like the future of microblogging—fresh, innovative, and better than Mastodon. Features like starter packs, custom feeds, and an open API make it a standout in the space.
My Thoughts on GoToSocial
I'm passionate about self-hosting and want to run my own ActivityPub-powered network without relying on others. After struggling with Mastodon, I found GoToSocial—a lightweight, privacy-focused alternative. It’s easy to set up and shows promise for those wanting more control on the Fediverse.
Experimenting with Thermal Printing: My Setup, Mishaps, and Tips
After some trial and error, I set up my thermal printer using Node-RED, ditching CUPS for easier control. Using Node.js packages like readability and wkhtmltoimage, I convert articles into clean PNGs, making print layout adjustments simpler and manageable through a web UI—no SSH needed!
Raspberry Pi + Receipt Printer = Hours of Fun
About a week or so ago now, I came across a compelling post from Hacker News about a guy who has configured a dot matrix printer to deliver his daily news. At first, I thought that this was a bit of a backwards idea considering we have smartphones for this
Is a Four-Day Compressed Work Week Really Worth It?
Considering a four-day compressed work week? After a year of experience, I’ve found it boosts productivity, improves work-life balance, and offers environmental benefits. While it’s not for everyone, if you get the chance, it might just be worth it!
2024 Conservative Leadership Election Endorsements: September Update
In a previous post, we looked at which candidates were leading in publicly declared endorsements from a range of individuals, including MPs, former MPs, Peers, and other politicians and public figures. I realise it’s been over two weeks since the original data was collected, and with the first round
The Challenges of the Fediverse. What No One Is Prepared to Talk About.
For what it's worth, Mastodon is a great platform and my general experience of it has been positive. Yes, I've experienced a lot of teething issues with self-hosting but overall, I much prefer it to Twitter/X. But, there are bigger problems at play which I