I generally try to use FOSS software, here a non-complete and always-changing list:
OSs
- Parabola Linux: Desktop
- Arch Linux: Desktop if I need some non-free software (driver issues and sometimes some work-related stuff)
- Debian Linux: Server (only the FOSS repos)
- OpenWRT: Router
- GrapheneOS: Smartphone
- Quill OS (old InkBox OS): Kobo Nia
Hardwares
I have rarely been in the same place for many years so I usually prefer laptops, also I don’t need a lot of power.
My main device is a Thinkpad X200 with Libreboot and it’s in great conditions, my secondary laptop (that I use for work) is a Thinkpad X250.
I also have a Dell G15 with a Ryzen 7 5800H and a RTX 3060; I rarely use it, mainly for gaming, running a “simple” AI stuff like LLaMAC++ or “mining” Monero.
I also buy/receive/find old computer (laptops, netbooks, pentium towers etc…), I usually clean and recover them, repair if needed and install Debian on a new SSD; after that I either sell or donate them if needed by someone (schools, churches…). Whenever possible I’ll also install Libreboot on all supported hardware.
Smartphones are forged by the devil but I have a refurbished Pixel 6a with a custom ROM, I don’t use it much, on a tipical week it last for like 4 days. It is starting to lag more than usual (let’s thanks Google, famous for the poor quality of his devices) and, in the future, I could try switching to a PinePhone or in general something compatible with Postmarket OS.
A very cool thing that I have is the Sensor-Watch and also the N-O-D-E mods are great.
My homeserver is a ZimaBoard 432 with 2 Western Digital SSD (2TB and 1TB); I thought it was not worth the price but it’s working great and the power consumption is very low (I was using a random old pc before, this boars already re-payed itself with the saved electricity). I mainly choose it for the x86 processor. Of course I instantly deleted CasaOS and installed good ol’ Debian.
As a router I use a Fritz!Box 7520, found it for 30 euros, it support ADSL2 and latest OpenWRT release.
I also have a strong interest in Open Hardware and I would like to try something like the MNT Reform, but for now I’m ok.
Programs
Daily
- dwm and related Suckless stuff
- lynx: terminal based web browser with vim-like keybinds, just great
- librewolf: the best “normal” browser
- keepassXC: I used pass in the past but I find KeepassXC easier to use across multiple devices. And no, there are NO alternatives to offline self-contained password managers.
- vim: I tried Emacs but I still prefer Vim, not really sure why
- lf: a great advantage of terminal application is that once you get used to them, they are comfortable and usable on a server
- remmina: having to manage a lot of SSH and sometimes some RDP connections daily I found remmina to be the least bad program.
- newsboat: terminal-based RSS reader
Media
- mpv + yt-dlp: Just the best player + a very cool downloader which works for a lot of websites (even though curl works most of the time…)
- ncmpcpp: very cool and simple to use terminal music player
- vanilla music: my god it was a pain to find a simple, offline and not subscription-based (or Spotify/Soundcloud frontend) Android music player that doesn’t completely sucks. This works good.
- baresip: right now I work with SIP related stuff and this is great
- zathura: simple stupid PDF (and a lot of other formats) reader
- koreader: again, simple stupid application for e-reader in general. It just works.
Server
- rsync: easy to setup with cron and keep every device in sync
- mergerfs: great utility for a simple home server setup like the one I have
- nginx: very simple webserver to understand and configure.
- postgresql: just the funny blue elephant DB
- wireguard: a pretty good VPN. If you are using a non self-hosted one, you are doing it wrong.
- dovecot: SMTP server, configured with SpamAssassin
- coturn: TURN server
- Matrix Synapse: Matrix server, I use this obscene and unbearable software just because I was looking for a self-hosted messagging solution and now I’m using it with an handful of users and mainly for the Whatsapp bridge. Administrating it is not that bad but the absurd amount of network request that you have to block in order to have a “private” experince is just unacceptable. Also there isn’t even a single decent client.
- SearxNG: great private search engine, and self-hosted!
- RSS-Bridge: I haven’t been using it a lot lately, but it can be pretty useful
- Monero node: I have the bandwith and the storage to run one (pruned), so why not?
Other random stuff that I’m planning to try
- Proxmox: I generally dislike virtualization since I see it as an over-engineered solution to a self-made problem (most of the time) but hey, maybe I’ll change my mind
- OpenBSD: well, gotta try it sooner or later…
- GNU Guix: mostly out of curiosity
- tor: running a Tor node and serving this website through it would be nice
- i2pd: Tor bul cooler (and safer). Same as tor, I’m planning to run a node
- XMPP: the real best extensible chat protocol, still not sure which server to choose
- httpd: seems cool and simple, I also personally don’t use a lof of nginx advanced features
- Asterisk: when you work with systems like 3CX and FreePBX at first they seems ugly, unpolished and you have no idea of what it’s happening. When you understand them you start to appreciate solutions like those, excpecially in a business environment. I’m planning to have a pure Asterisk installation for personal use, but Opensips is also really cool.
When I will try all of this? No idea.
Stuff that I’ll try to make myself!
In tech, like a lot other things in life, complaining sounds good at first, but then you realize that you are doing no harm to anyone but yourself by not following the solution you want.
So, since I have a love/hate relationship with some programs I’ll try to code myself an alternative. Maybe they will suck at first, but that’s the only way.
- a Postman alternative: how is it possible that there isn’t a single FOSS application that replace Postman WHITOUT a subscription/cloud login based service?
I know that there are application where this option is not mandatory, but I don’t want it at all.
For now I’m using Firecamp and I’ve tried Insomnia, at least they are Open Source, but they are still sub-optimal - a Dbeaver alternative: I mean, it’s ok, but I would like something more slick and not written in Java, since I had a lot of problems with jre and jdk libraries
This is not to demigrate any project, it’s just a great exercise to learn and understand technology. Of course you will find all of this software on my git.
Technology that I don’t like
- Proprietary software or non-free software in general.
- Electron. I hate it with passion. Don’t use it. Don’t use applications written in Electron. Please, just don’t. It’s really bad.
- The new shiny stuff that you don’t need. I try to buy used or even better, not buying and using what I already have.
- I don’t think smartphones are inherently bad, but a lot of time they make the person who use it bad. They completely kill social occasions most of the time.
- VPNs companies and all their fake marketing. They are literally a scam. More on this in the future.
As said before, this is an always-expanding page and things may change/update. I will elaborate more on some points in dedicated posts.
Also if you have any suggestions or question please contact me!