Most technology in our homes doesn't truly belong to us.
I got tired of paying for hardware locked behind subscriptions and having no way to know how my data was being used. So I started building alternatives: open source, self hosted, running entirely on hardware I physically own.
I am an Engineering Leader who thinks carefully about technology decisions at work. Weekend Hacks is me applying that same thinking at home, and sharing what I find along the way.
Accessing Home Assistant From Outside the House
I wanted to reach Home Assistant from my phone when I'm away from home. I looked at three options and ended up with Cloudflare Tunnel for the app and Tailscale for the server.
Giving Every Service a Proper Domain Name and HTTPS
How I replaced a wall of port numbers with clean domain names and automatic HTTPS using Traefik as a reverse proxy on my home lab.
Getting Your Home Lab Ready to Run Apps
The setup that lets you deploy and manage self hosted applications from a browser, without needing the command line for every change.
Configure a Smart Home That Works for You, Not the Manufacturer
Most smart home devices work on the manufacturer's terms. Home Assistant changes that, giving you automations that run on your network, not theirs.
Configure a Filter That Protects Your Whole Home Network
One piece of software that blocks ads and trackers on every device in your home, without installing anything on any of them.
Setting Up Your First Home Lab
The first step: picking the right hardware and getting it online. What to buy, what to avoid, and how to connect to it once it is running.