5d4a1199b5 · cmc/cleberg.net

.gitignore +1

		@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
	1	.build
1	2	.DS_Store
2	3	.vscode
3	4	public

README.md deleted −32

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1		# cleberg.net
2
3		[cleberg.net](https://cleberg.net) is my personal webpage and blog.
4
5		## Overview
6
7		This website & blog uses Markdown for content, HTML for templates, built and
8		published with [Zola](https://getzola.org).
9
10		## Configuration
11
12		All configuration options are available within the =config.toml= file. Refer to
13		the Zola documentation for further configuration options.
14
15		## Building
16
17		To get running:
18
19		```sh
20		git clone https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net && \
21		cd cleberg.net && \
22		zola build
23		```
24
25		## Publishing
26
27		Use `zola build` and deploy to whichever deployment target you prefer.
28
29		## Tasks
30
31		Refer to the [todo page](https://todo.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net) for open
32		tickets or to submit a new ticket.

README.org added +44

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	1	* cleberg.net
	2
	3	[[https://cleberg.net][cleberg.net]] is my personal webpage and blog.
	4
	5	** Overview
	6
	7	This website & blog uses [[https://orgmode.org/][Org-Mode]], published with [[https://github.com/emacs-love/weblorg][weblorg]].
	8
	9	** Configuration
	10
	11	All configuration options are available within the =publish.el= file. Refer to
	12	the weblorg documentation for further configuration options.
	13
	14	** Building & Publishing
	15
	16	Local testing is available via [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][Emacs]] or through the command line.
	17
	18	#+begin_src sh
	19	git clone https://git.cleberg.net/cleberg.net.git && \
	20	cd cleberg.net && \
	21	emacs -nw
	22	#+end_src
	23
	24	Within Emacs, open any of the repository files. In Doom, I do this with =Spc f
	25	f= and selecting =README.org=. Make any changes necessary to customize the
	26	project.
	27
	28	To publish, you can use the =build.sh= script (change the deployment target!) or
	29	you can run the following commands.
	30
	31	Use the =ENV= environment variable to determine which base URL weblorg will use.
	32	If ENV is ommitted, it will default to =localhost:8000=. If =ENV=prod=, weblorg
	33	will look in the =publish.el= file for the production base URL.
	34
	35	#+begin_src sh
	36	ENV=prod emacs --script publish.el
	37	#+end_src
	38
	39	The files will be published to the =.build= directory. You can deploy these
	40	files to the target through any number of methods, such as =scp= or SFTP.
	41
	42	** Tasks
	43
	44	Refer to the [[https://todo.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net][todo page]] for open tickets or to submit a new ticket.

config.toml deleted −21

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1		# Site settings
2		base_url = "https://cleberg.net"
3		title = "cleberg.net"
4		description = "The personal website of Christian Cleberg."
5		author = "Christian Cleberg"
6
7		# RSS settings
8		generate_feeds = true
9		feed_filenames = ["atom.xml"]
10
11		[markdown]
12		highlight_code = true
13		highlight_theme = "css"
14		highlight_themes_css = [
15		{ theme = "ayu-dark", filename = "syntax-theme-dark.css" },
16		{ theme = "inspired-github", filename = "syntax-theme-light.css" },
17		]
18		external_links_target_blank = true
19		lazy_async_image = true
20
21		[extra]

content/blog/#2022-03-24-server-hardening.org# added +293

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	1	#+date: <2022-03-24>
	2	#+title: Hardening a Public-Facing Home Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Post Updates
	7
	8	#+begin_quote
	9	After reviewing this post today (2022-10-04), I noticed quite a few gaps in my
	10	write-up and wanted to add a few things, even though this blog is really just a
	11	retrospective and knowledge dump for myself. I left things intact and simply
	12	crossed them out (+like this+) for posterity.
	13	#+end_quote
	14
	15	* Planning Data Flows & Security
	16
	17	** My Personal Data Flow
	18
	19	#+begin_src
	20	┌───────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
	21	┌──► VLAN1 ├───► Private Devices │
	22	│ └───────┘ └─────────────────┘
	23	┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ │
	24	│ Internet ├───► Router ├───► Firewall ├───► Switch ├──┤
	25	└──────────┘ └────────┘ └──────────┘ └────────┘ │
	26	│ ┌───────┐ ┌───────────────┐
	27	└──► VLAN2 ├───► Public Server │
	28	└───────┘ └───────────────┘
	29	#+end_src
	30
	31	** Thought Process
	32
	33	To serve content from your home server and harden your security posture, you
	34	have to think about the transport of data from =server= to =client=.
	35
	36	Let's start with the actual server itself. Think about the following:
	37
	38	- Do I have a firewall enabled? Do I need to update this to allow new ports or
	39	IPs?
	40	- Do I have an IPS/IDS that may prevent outside traffic?
	41	- Do I have any other security software installed?
	42	- Are the services hosted inside Docker containers, behind a reverse proxy, or
	43	virtualized? If so, are they configured to allow outside traffic?
	44
	45	Once the data leaves the server, where does it go? In my case, it goes to a
	46	managed switch. In this case, I asked the following:
	47
	48	- What configurations is the switch using?
	49	- Am I using VLANs?
	50	- Yes, I am using 802.1Q VLANs.
	51	- Are the VLANs configured properly?
	52	- Yes, as shown in the Switch section below, I have a separate VLAN to allow
	53	outside traffic to and from the server alone. No other devices, except for a
	54	service port, and in that VLAN.
	55
	56	At this point, the data has been processed through the switch. Where does it go
	57	next? In my case, it's pretty simple: it goes to the router/modem device.
	58
	59	- Does my ISP block any ports that I need?
	60	- This is an important step that a lot of people run into when self-hosting at
	61	home. Use an online port-checker tool for your IP or call your ISP if you
	62	think ports are blocked.
	63	- Is there a router firewall?
	64	- Yes, I checked that it's configured to allow the ports I need to run my
	65	services publicly. Common web servers and reverse proxies require ports 80
	66	and 443, but other services like media servers or games can require unique
	67	ports, so be sure to check the documentation for your service(s).
	68	- Are there any other settings affecting inbound/outbound traffic?
	69	- Schedules or access blocks
	70	- Static Routing
	71	- QoS
	72	- Port Forwarding
	73	- DMZ Hosting
	74	- Remote Management (this can sometimes mess with services that also require
	75	the use of ports 80 and 443)
	76
	77	Once the data leaves my router, it goes to the upstream ISP and can be accessed
	78	publicly.
	79
	80	*** Server
	81
	82	The services I run on my server are installed straight into the OS, without any
	83	use of Docker or VMs, so I don't need any extra application configuration to
	84	make them accessible to the outside world.+
	85
	86	As of 2022-10-04, the paragraph above is no longer true as I now run a reverse
	87	proxy with Nginx and host many services inside Docker. However, it doesn't
	88	change anything regarding this post as I still just need to open ports 80 & 443
	89	and create the necessary website configuration files.
	90
	91	When creating new services - either installed directly on bare metal or within
	92	something like Docker - I ensure that I read through the documentation
	93	thoroughly to understand a few key things: - What network activities should this
	94	app perform (if any)? Using which ports and protocols? - Does this app require
	95	any commands/services to be run as =root=? - Does this app log errors,
	96	authentication failures/successes, or anything else that would be useful for an
	97	investigation?
	98
	99	For extra security, I use limit all incoming connections to SSH connections
	100	through my server firewall (=ufw=) and disable common SSH settings. After all of
	101	that, I use =fail2ban= as a preventative measure against brute-force login
	102	attempts.
	103
	104	As another piece of security, you can randomize your SSH port to ensure that
	105	random scanners or attackers can't easily try to force their way into your
	106	network. For example, you can edit the port rules in your server to block all
	107	connection requests to port =22= but forward all remote connections from port
	108	=12345= to your server's port =22=. Then you just need to SSH to your network
	109	via your randomized port.
	110
	111	** =ufw=
	112
	113	To see how to configure =ufw=, see my other post: [[/blog/ufw.html][Secure Your
	114	Network with the Uncomplicated Firewall]].
	115
	116	The general notion with an on-device firewall is that you want to deny all
	117	incoming connections by default and then selectively open certain ports for
	118	services or users that you know need access.
	119
	120	If you know that you will only be logging into this server from a certain set or
	121	list of IPs, you can always set the firewall to only allow connections to port
	122	22 from those IPs.
	123
	124	For a quick start to only allow SSH connections to the server, use this:
	125
	126	#+begin_src sh
	127	sudo ufw default deny incoming
	128	sudo ufw default allow outgoing
	129	sudo ufw allow 22
	130	sudo ufw enable
	131	#+end_src
	132
	133	** =ssh=
	134
	135	1. Using SSH Keys
	136
	137	First, make sure you have an SSH keypair generated on the device(s) that
	138	you'll be using to log in to the server. If you don't have an SSH key, run
	139	this command:
	140
	141	#+begin_src sh
	142	ssh-keygen
	143	#+end_src
	144
	145	Now that we have an SSH key, copy it to the server with the following
	146	command, which will ask for the user's password before accepting the key:
	147
	148	#+begin_src sh
	149	ssh-copy-id my_user@my_server
	150	#+end_src
	151
	152	If you have multiple keys, you'll need to specify which to use. After it's
	153	complete, =ssh= back into the server as that user and make sure it doesn't
	154	ask for a password.
	155
	156	2. Disable Password & Root Authentication
	157
	158	Now that we can access the server without a password, we will disable
	159	password authentication and disable anyone from using =ssh= to login as
	160	=root=.
	161
	162	To do this, open the =sshd_config= file:
	163
	164	#+begin_src sh
	165	sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
	166	#+end_src
	167
	168	You'll need to update the parameters to the values below. If one of these
	169	rules is commented-out or doesn't exist, create the rule at the bottom of the
	170	file.
	171
	172	#+begin_src config
	173	PermitRootLogin no
	174	PasswordAuthentication no
	175	PubkeyAuthentication yes
	176	#+end_src
	177
	178	Finally, restart the =ssh= service:
	179
	180	#+begin_src sh
	181	sudo systemctl restart sshd.service
	182	#+end_src
	183
	184	To test that everything's working so far, open ANOTHER terminal and try
	185	logging in as =root= over SSH. It is very important that you keep your
	186	current SSH session open and test with an additional session, or you will
	187	lock yourself out at some point and will need to use a recovery method (e.g.,
	188	hooking monitor up to home server) to get yourself back in.
	189
	190	3. Enable MFA for =ssh=
	191
	192	This part is optional, but I highly recommend it. So far, we've ensured that
	193	no one can log into our user on the server without using our secret key, and
	194	we've ensured that no one can log in remotely as =root=. Next, you can enable
	195	MFA authentication for =ssh= connections.
	196
	197	This process involves editing a couple files and installing an MFA package,
	198	so I will not include all the details in this post. To see how to configure
	199	MFA for =ssh=, see my other post: [[/blog/ssh-mfa.html][Enabling MFA for
	200	SSH]].
	201
	202	** =fail2ban=
	203
	204	I haven't written a post on how I use =fail2ban=, but it's quite simple. I use
	205	the default =sshd= jail, but you can always create new jails for respective
	206	applications or ports. For example, if you use Nginx as your web server, you can
	207	use the =nginx-http-auth= jail.
	208
	209	In order to get it up and running, use the following commands:
	210
	211	#+begin_src sh
	212	sudo apt install fail2ban
	213	sudo fail2ban-client start sshd
	214	sudo fail2ban-client status sshd
	215	#+end_src
	216
	217	This should be used as a last-resort defense and shouldn't be a replacement for
	218	the security measures mentioned above.
	219
	220	* Switch
	221
	222	Between the router and any local devices is my managed switch, which is used to
	223	create VLANs. The example below shows how I would isolate the VLANs if I were
	224	starting to host a single service at home.
	225
	226	** 802.1Q VLAN Configuration
	227
	228	In this configuration, port 8 is the public server that needs to be accessed
	229	from the outside. Port 23 is my 'dedicated service port' for this server. In
	230	order to SSH to this server, I need to plug my laptop into port 23 or else I
	231	cannot SSH. Otherwise, I'd need to hook up a monitor and keyboard directly to
	232	the server to manage it.
	233
	234	#+begin_verse
	235	#+end_verse
	236
	237	\| VLAN ID \| VLAN Name \| Member Ports \| Tagged Ports \| Untagged Ports \|
	238	\|---------+-----------+--------------+--------------+----------------\|
	239	\| 1 \| Default \| 1-24 \| 1-24 \| \|
	240	\| 2 \| Server \| 1,8,23 \| 1,8,23 \| \|
	241
	242	** 802.1Q VLAN PVID Setting
	243
	244	Once the VLAN is created, I simply add the =VLAN ID= of =2= as the =PVID= for
	245	any related ports (in this case, see that ports =8= and =23= have a PVID of
	246	=2=).
	247
	248	\| Port \| PVID \|
	249	\|------+------\|
	250	\| 1 \| 1 \|
	251	\| 2 \| 1 \|
	252	\| 3 \| 1 \|
	253	\| 4 \| 1 \|
	254	\| 5 \| 1 \|
	255	\| 6 \| 1 \|
	256	\| 7 \| 1 \|
	257	\| 8 \| 2 \|
	258	\| 9 \| 1 \|
	259	\| 10 \| 1 \|
	260	\| 11 \| 1 \|
	261	\| 12 \| 1 \|
	262	\| 13 \| 1 \|
	263	\| 14 \| 1 \|
	264	\| 15 \| 1 \|
	265	\| 16 \| 1 \|
	266	\| 17 \| 1 \|
	267	\| 18 \| 1 \|
	268	\| 19 \| 1 \|
	269	\| 20 \| 1 \|
	270	\| 21 \| 1 \|
	271	\| 22 \| 1 \|
	272	\| 23 \| 2 \|
	273	\| 24 \| 1 \|
	274
	275	* Router
	276
	277	On my router, the configuration was as easy as opening the firewall settings and
	278	unblocking the ports I needed for my services (e.g., HTTP/S, Plex, SSH, MySQL,
	279	etc.).
	280
	281	Since I'm relying on an ISP-provided modem/router combo for now (not by
	282	choice), I do not use any other advanced settings on my router that would
	283	inhibit any valid traffic to these services.
	284
	285	The paragraph above regarding the ISP-owned router is no longer accurate as I
	286	now use the Ubiquiti Unifi Dream Machine Pro as my router. Within this router, I
	287	enabled port forwarding/firewall rules, segregate the network based on the
	288	device, and enable traffic restrictions (e.g., silently drop traffic from
	289	certain countries and threat categories).
	290
	291	If you have the option with your ISP, I recommend using a personal router with
	292	software that you are familiar with so that you can explore all the options
	293	available to you.

content/blog/2018-11-28-aes-encryption.md deleted −118

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1		+++
2		date = 2018-11-28
3		title = "AES Encryption"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Basic AES
9
10		If you're not familiar with encryption techniques,
11		[AES](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard) is the
12		Advanced Encryption Standard. This specification was established by the
13		National Institute of Standards and Technology, sub-selected from the Rijndael
14		family of ciphers (128, 192, and 256 bits) in 2001. Furthering its popularity
15		and status, the US government chose AES as their default encryption method for
16		top-secret data, removing the previous standard which had been in place since 1977.
17
18		AES has proven to be an extremely safe encryption method, with 7-round and
19		8-round attacks making no material improvements since the release of this
20		encryption standard almost two decades ago.
21
22		> Though many papers have been published on the cryptanalysis of AES, the
23		> fastest single-key attacks on round-reduced AES variants [20, 33] so far are
24		> only slightly more powerful than those proposed 10 years ago [23,24].
25		>
26		> - [Bogdonav, et
27		> al.](http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/cryptanalysis/aesbc.pdf)
28
29		# How Secure is AES?
30
31		In theory, AES-256 is non-crackable due to the massive number of combinations
32		that can be produced. However, AES-128 is no longer recommended as a viable
33		implementation to protect important data.
34
35		A semi-short [comic
36		strip](http://www.moserware.com/2009/09/stick-figure-guide-to-advanced.html)
37		from Moserware quickly explains AES for the public to understand. Basically AES
38		encrypts the data by obscuring the relationship between the data and the
39		encrypted data. Additionally, this method spreads the message out. Lastly, the
40		key produced by AES is the secret to decrypting it. Someone may know the method
41		of AES, but without the key, they are powerless.
42
43		To obscure and spread the data out, AES creates a substitution-permutation
44		network. Wikipedia has a wonderful [example of an SP
45		network](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/SubstitutionPermutationNetwork2.png/468px-SubstitutionPermutationNetwork2.png)
46		available. This network sends the data through a set of S boxes (using the
47		unique key) to substitute the bits with another block of bits. Then, a P box
48		will permutate, or rearrange, the bits. This is done over and over, with the key
49		being derived from the last round. For AES, the key size specifies the number of
50		transformation rounds: 10, 12, and 14 rounds for 128-bit, 192-bit, and 256-bit
51		keys, respectively.
52
53		# The Process
54
55		1. KeyExpansion: Using [Rijndael's key
56		schedule](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard), the
57		keys are dynamically generated.
58		2. AddRoundKey: Each byte of the data is combined with this key using
59		bitwise xor.
60		3. SubBytes: This is followed by the substitution of each byte of data.
61		4. ShiftRows: Then, the final three rows are shifted a certain number of
62		steps, dictated by the cipher.
63		5. MixColumns: After the rows have been shifted, the columns are mixed and
64		combined.
65
66		This process does not necessarily stop after one full round. Steps 2 through 5
67		will repeat for the number of rounds specified by the key. However, the final
68		round excludes the MixColumns step. As you can see, this is a fairly complex
69		process. One must have a solid understanding of general mathematic principles to
70		fully understand how the sequence works (and to even attempt to find a
71		weakness).
72
73		According to research done by Bogdanov et al., it would take billions of years
74		to brute force a 126-bit key with current hardware. Additionally, this brute
75		force attack would require storing 2^88^ bits of data! However, there are a few
76		different attacks that have been used to show vulnerabilities with the use of
77		this technology. Side-channel attacks use inadvertent leaks of data from the
78		hardware or software, which can allow attackers to obtain the key or run
79		programs on a user's hardware.
80
81		Please note that this is not something you should run out and try to implement
82		in your `Hello, World!` app after only a few hours of research. While AES
83		(basically all encryption methods) is extremely efficient in what it does, it
84		takes a lot of time and patience to understand. If you're looking for something
85		which currently implements AES, check out the [Legion of the Bouncy
86		Castle](https://www.bouncycastle.org/documentation.html) for Java
87		implementations of cryptographic algorithms.
88
89		# Why Does Encryption Matter?
90
91		There are limitless reasons to enable encryption at-rest or in-transit for
92		various aspects of your digital life. You can research specific examples, such
93		as [Australia passes new law to thwart strong
94		encryption](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/12/australia-passes-new-law-to-thwart-strong-encryption/).
95		However, I will simply list a few basic reasons to always enable encryption,
96		where feasible:
97
98		1. Privacy is a human right and is recognized as a national right in some
99		countries (e.g., [US Fourth
100		Amendment](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourth_amendment)).
101		2. "Why not?" Encryption rarely affects performance or speed, so there's usually
102		not a reason to avoid it in the first place.
103		3. Your digital identity and activity (texts, emails, phone calls, online
104		accounts, etc.) are extremely valuable and can result in terrible
105		consequences, such as identity theft, if leaked to other parties. Encrypting
106		this data prevents such leaks from ruining lives.
107		4. Wiping or factory-resetting does not actually wipe all data from the storage
108		device. There are methods to read data from the physical disks/boards inside
109		devices.
110		5. Corporations, governments, and other nefarious groups/individuals are
111		actively looking for ways to collect personal information about anyone they
112		can. If someone's data is unencrypted, that person may become a target due to
113		the ease of data collection.
114
115		Read More:
116
117		- [Federal Information Processing Standards Publication
118		197](http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.197.pdf)

content/blog/2018-11-28-aes-encryption.org added +124

		@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
	1	#+title: AES Encryption
	2	#+date: <2018-11-28>
	3	#+description: A beginner's guide to AES encryption.
	4
	5	* Basic AES
	6
	7	If you're not familiar with encryption techniques,
	8	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard][AES]] is
	9	the Advanced Encryption Standard. This specification was established
	10	by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, sub-selected from
	11	the Rijndael family of ciphers (128, 192, and 256 bits) in 2001.
	12	Furthering its popularity and status, the US government chose AES as
	13	their default encryption method for top-secret data, removing the
	14	previous standard which had been in place since 1977.
	15
	16	AES has proven to be an extremely safe encryption method, with 7-round
	17	and 8-round attacks making no material improvements since the release of
	18	this encryption standard almost two decades ago.
	19
	20	#+begin_quote
	21	Though many papers have been published on the cryptanalysis of AES, the
	22	fastest single-key attacks on round-reduced AES variants [20, 33] so far
	23	are only slightly more powerful than those proposed 10 years ago
	24	[23,24].
	25
	26	- [[http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/cryptanalysis/aesbc.pdf][Bogdonav,
	27	et al.]]
	28	#+end_quote
	29
	30	* How Secure is AES?
	31
	32	In theory, AES-256 is non-crackable due to the massive number of
	33	combinations that can be produced. However, AES-128 is no longer
	34	recommended as a viable implementation to protect important data.
	35
	36	A semi-short
	37	[[http://www.moserware.com/2009/09/stick-figure-guide-to-advanced.html][comic
	38	strip]] from Moserware quickly explains AES for the public to
	39	understand. Basically AES encrypts the data by obscuring the
	40	relationship between the data and the encrypted data. Additionally, this
	41	method spreads the message out. Lastly, the key produced by AES is the
	42	secret to decrypting it. Someone may know the method of AES, but without
	43	the key, they are powerless.
	44
	45	To obscure and spread the data out, AES creates a
	46	substitution-permutation network. Wikipedia has a wonderful
	47	[[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/SubstitutionPermutationNetwork2.png/468px-SubstitutionPermutationNetwork2.png][example
	48	of an SP network]] available. This network sends the data through a set
	49	of S boxes (using the unique key) to substitute the bits with another
	50	block of bits. Then, a P box will permutate, or rearrange, the bits.
	51	This is done over and over, with the key being derived from the last
	52	round. For AES, the key size specifies the number of transformation
	53	rounds: 10, 12, and 14 rounds for 128-bit, 192-bit, and 256-bit keys,
	54	respectively.
	55
	56	* The Process
	57
	58	1. KeyExpansion: Using
	59	[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard][Rijndael's
	60	key schedule]], the keys are dynamically generated.
	61	2. AddRoundKey: Each byte of the data is combined with this key using
	62	bitwise xor.
	63	3. SubBytes: This is followed by the substitution of each byte of
	64	data.
	65	4. ShiftRows: Then, the final three rows are shifted a certain number
	66	of steps, dictated by the cipher.
	67	5. MixColumns: After the rows have been shifted, the columns are mixed
	68	and combined.
	69
	70	This process does not necessarily stop after one full round. Steps 2
	71	through 5 will repeat for the number of rounds specified by the key.
	72	However, the final round excludes the MixColumns step. As you can see,
	73	this is a fairly complex process. One must have a solid understanding of
	74	general mathematic principles to fully understand how the sequence works
	75	(and to even attempt to find a weakness).
	76
	77	According to research done by Bogdanov et al., it would take billions of
	78	years to brute force a 126-bit key with current hardware. Additionally,
	79	this brute force attack would require storing 2^{88} bits of data!
	80	However, there are a few different attacks that have been used to show
	81	vulnerabilities with the use of this technology. Side-channel attacks
	82	use inadvertent leaks of data from the hardware or software, which can
	83	allow attackers to obtain the key or run programs on a user's hardware.
	84
	85	Please note that this is not something you should run out and try to
	86	implement in your =Hello, World!= app after only a few hours of
	87	research. While AES (basically all encryption methods) is extremely
	88	efficient in what it does, it takes a lot of time and patience to
	89	understand. If you're looking for something which currently implements
	90	AES, check out the
	91	[[https://www.bouncycastle.org/documentation.html][Legion of the Bouncy
	92	Castle]] for Java implementations of cryptographic algorithms.
	93
	94	* Why Does Encryption Matter?
	95
	96	There are limitless reasons to enable encryption at-rest or in-transit
	97	for various aspects of your digital life. You can research specific
	98	examples, such as
	99	[[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/12/australia-passes-new-law-to-thwart-strong-encryption/][Australia
	100	passes new law to thwart strong encryption]]. However, I will simply
	101	list a few basic reasons to always enable encryption, where feasible:
	102
	103	1. Privacy is a human right and is recognized as a national right in
	104	some countries (e.g.,
	105	[[https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourth_amendment][US Fourth
	106	Amendment]]).
	107	2. "Why not?" Encryption rarely affects performance or speed, so there's
	108	usually not a reason to avoid it in the first place.
	109	3. Your digital identity and activity (texts, emails, phone calls,
	110	online accounts, etc.) are extremely valuable and can result in
	111	terrible consequences, such as identity theft, if leaked to other
	112	parties. Encrypting this data prevents such leaks from ruining lives.
	113	4. Wiping or factory-resetting does not actually wipe all data from the
	114	storage device. There are methods to read data from the physical
	115	disks/boards inside devices.
	116	5. Corporations, governments, and other nefarious groups/individuals are
	117	actively looking for ways to collect personal information about
	118	anyone they can. If someone's data is unencrypted, that person may
	119	become a target due to the ease of data collection.
	120
	121	Read More:
	122
	123	- [[http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.197.pdf][Federal
	124	Information Processing Standards Publication 197]]

content/blog/2018-11-28-cpp-compiler.md deleted −136

		@@ -1,136 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2018-11-28
3		title = "The C++ Compiler"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# A Brief Introduction
9
10		[C++](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B) is a general-purpose programming
11		language with object-oriented, generic, and functional features in addition to
12		facilities for low-level memory manipulation.
13
14		The source code, shown in the snippet below, must be compiled before it can be
15		executed. There are many steps and intricacies to the compilation process, and
16		this post was a personal exercise to learn and remember as much information as I
17		can.
18
19		```cpp
20		#include <iostream>
21
22		int main()
23		{
24		std::cout << "Hello, world!\n";
25		}
26		```
27
28		## Compilation Process
29
30		### An Overview
31
32		Compiling C++ projects is a frustrating task most days. Seemingly nonexistent
33		errors keeping your program from successfully compiling can be annoying
34		(especially since you know you wrote it perfectly the first time, right?).
35
36		I'm learning more and more about C++ these days and decided to write this
37		concept down so that I can cement it even further in my own head. However, C++
38		is not the only compiled language. Check out [the Wikipedia entry for compiled
39		languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiled_language) for more examples of
40		compiled languages.
41
42		I'll start with a wonderful, graphical way to conceptualize the C++ compiler.
43		View [The C++ Compilation
44		Process](https://web.archive.org/web/20190419035048/http://faculty.cs.niu.edu/~mcmahon/CS241/Notes/compile.html)
45		by Kurt MacMahon, an NIU professor, to see the graphic and an explanation. The
46		goal of the compilation process is to take the C++ code and produce a shared
47		library, dynamic library, or an executable file.
48
49		## Compilation Phases
50
51		Let's break down the compilation process. There are four major steps to
52		compiling C++ code.
53
54		### Step 1
55
56		The first step is to expand the source code file to meet all dependencies. The
57		C++ preprocessor includes the code from all the header files, such as `#include
58		<iostream>`. Now, what does that mean? The previous example includes the
59		`iostream` header. This tells the computer that you want to use the `iostream`
60		standard library, which contains classes and functions written in the core
61		language. This specific header allows you to manipulate input/output streams.
62		After all this, you'll end up which a temporary file that contains the expanded
63		source code.
64
65		In the example of the C++ code above, the `iostream` class would be included in
66		the expanded code.
67
68		### Step 2
69
70		After the code is expanded, the compiler comes into play. The compiler takes the
71		C++ code and converts this code into the assembly language, understood by the
72		platform. You can see this in action if you head over to the [GodBolt Compiler
73		Explorer](https://godbolt.org), which shows C++ being converted into assembly
74		dynamically.
75
76		For example, the `Hello, world!` code snippet above compiles into the following
77		assembly code:
78
79		```asm
80		.LC0:
81		.string "Hello, world!\n"
82		main:
83		push rbp
84		mov rbp, rsp
85		mov esi, OFFSET FLAT:.LC0
86		mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZSt4cout
87		call std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >& std::operator<< <std::char_traits<char> >(std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >&, char const*)
88		mov eax, 0
89		pop rbp
90		ret
91		__static_initialization_and_destruction_0(int, int):
92		push rbp
93		mov rbp, rsp
94		sub rsp, 16
95		mov DWORD PTR [rbp-4], edi
96		mov DWORD PTR [rbp-8], esi
97		cmp DWORD PTR [rbp-4], 1
98		jne .L5
99		cmp DWORD PTR [rbp-8], 65535
100		jne .L5
101		mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZStL8__ioinit
102		call std::ios_base::Init::Init() [complete object constructor]
103		mov edx, OFFSET FLAT:__dso_handle
104		mov esi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZStL8__ioinit
105		mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZNSt8ios_base4InitD1Ev
106		call __cxa_atexit
107		.L5:
108		nop
109		leave
110		ret
111		_GLOBAL__sub_I_main:
112		push rbp
113		mov rbp, rsp
114		mov esi, 65535
115		mov edi, 1
116		call __static_initialization_and_destruction_0(int, int)
117		pop rbp
118		ret
119		```
120
121		### Step 3
122
123		Third, the assembly code generated by the compiler is assembled into the object
124		code for the platform. Essentially, this is when the compiler takes the assembly
125		code and assembles it into machine code in a binary format. After researching
126		this online, I figured out that a lot of compilers will allow you to stop
127		compilation at this step. This would be useful for compiling each source code
128		file separately. This saves time later if a single file changes; only that file
129		needs to be recompiled.
130
131		### Step 4
132
133		Finally, the object code file generated by the assembler is linked together with
134		the object code files for any library functions used to produce a shared
135		library, dynamic library, or an executable file. It replaces all references to
136		undefined symbols with the correct addresses.

content/blog/2018-11-28-cpp-compiler.org added +136

		@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
	1	#+date: <2018-11-28>
	2	#+title: The C++ Compiler
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* A Brief Introduction
	7
	8	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B][C++]] is a general-purpose
	9	programming language with object-oriented, generic, and functional
	10	features in addition to facilities for low-level memory manipulation.
	11
	12	The source code, shown in the snippet below, must be compiled before it
	13	can be executed. There are many steps and intricacies to the compilation
	14	process, and this post was a personal exercise to learn and remember as
	15	much information as I can.
	16
	17	#+begin_src cpp
	18	#include <iostream>
	19
	20	int main()
	21	{
	22	std::cout << "Hello, world!\n";
	23	}
	24	#+end_src
	25
	26	** Compilation Process
	27
	28	*** An Overview
	29
	30	Compiling C++ projects is a frustrating task most days. Seemingly
	31	nonexistent errors keeping your program from successfully compiling can
	32	be annoying (especially since you know you wrote it perfectly the first
	33	time, right?).
	34
	35	I'm learning more and more about C++ these days and decided to write
	36	this concept down so that I can cement it even further in my own head.
	37	However, C++ is not the only compiled language. Check out
	38	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiled_language][the Wikipedia entry
	39	for compiled languages]] for more examples of compiled languages.
	40
	41	I'll start with a wonderful, graphical way to conceptualize the C++
	42	compiler. View
	43	[[https://web.archive.org/web/20190419035048/http://faculty.cs.niu.edu/~mcmahon/CS241/Notes/compile.html][The
	44	C++ Compilation Process]] by Kurt MacMahon, an NIU professor, to see the
	45	graphic and an explanation. The goal of the compilation process is to
	46	take the C++ code and produce a shared library, dynamic library, or an
	47	executable file.
	48
	49	** Compilation Phases
	50
	51	Let's break down the compilation process. There are four major steps to
	52	compiling C++ code.
	53
	54	*** Step 1
	55
	56	The first step is to expand the source code file to meet all
	57	dependencies. The C++ preprocessor includes the code from all the header
	58	files, such as =#include <iostream>=. Now, what does that mean? The
	59	previous example includes the =iostream= header. This tells the computer
	60	that you want to use the =iostream= standard library, which contains
	61	classes and functions written in the core language. This specific header
	62	allows you to manipulate input/output streams. After all this, you'll
	63	end up which a temporary file that contains the expanded source code.
	64
	65	In the example of the C++ code above, the =iostream= class would be
	66	included in the expanded code.
	67
	68	*** Step 2
	69
	70	After the code is expanded, the compiler comes into play. The compiler
	71	takes the C++ code and converts this code into the assembly language,
	72	understood by the platform. You can see this in action if you head over
	73	to the [[https://godbolt.org][GodBolt Compiler Explorer]], which shows
	74	C++ being converted into assembly dynamically.
	75
	76	For example, the =Hello, world!= code snippet above compiles into the
	77	following assembly code:
	78
	79	#+begin_src asm
	80	.LC0:
	81	.string "Hello, world!\n"
	82	main:
	83	push rbp
	84	mov rbp, rsp
	85	mov esi, OFFSET FLAT:.LC0
	86	mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZSt4cout
	87	call std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >& std::operator<< <std::char_traits<char> >(std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >&, char const*)
	88	mov eax, 0
	89	pop rbp
	90	ret
	91	__static_initialization_and_destruction_0(int, int):
	92	push rbp
	93	mov rbp, rsp
	94	sub rsp, 16
	95	mov DWORD PTR [rbp-4], edi
	96	mov DWORD PTR [rbp-8], esi
	97	cmp DWORD PTR [rbp-4], 1
	98	jne .L5
	99	cmp DWORD PTR [rbp-8], 65535
	100	jne .L5
	101	mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZStL8__ioinit
	102	call std::ios_base::Init::Init() [complete object constructor]
	103	mov edx, OFFSET FLAT:__dso_handle
	104	mov esi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZStL8__ioinit
	105	mov edi, OFFSET FLAT:_ZNSt8ios_base4InitD1Ev
	106	call __cxa_atexit
	107	.L5:
	108	nop
	109	leave
	110	ret
	111	_GLOBAL__sub_I_main:
	112	push rbp
	113	mov rbp, rsp
	114	mov esi, 65535
	115	mov edi, 1
	116	call __static_initialization_and_destruction_0(int, int)
	117	pop rbp
	118	ret
	119	#+end_src
	120
	121	*** Step 3
	122
	123	Third, the assembly code generated by the compiler is assembled into the
	124	object code for the platform. Essentially, this is when the compiler
	125	takes the assembly code and assembles it into machine code in a binary
	126	format. After researching this online, I figured out that a lot of
	127	compilers will allow you to stop compilation at this step. This would be
	128	useful for compiling each source code file separately. This saves time
	129	later if a single file changes; only that file needs to be recompiled.
	130
	131	*** Step 4
	132
	133	Finally, the object code file generated by the assembler is linked
	134	together with the object code files for any library functions used to
	135	produce a shared library, dynamic library, or an executable file. It
	136	replaces all references to undefined symbols with the correct addresses.

content/blog/2019-01-07-useful-css.md deleted −190

		@@ -1,190 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2019-01-07
3		title = "Useful CSS Snippets"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Introduction to CSS
9
10		[CSS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS), the language used to markup HTML code
11		and make it "pretty", is one of the most effective ways to increase the
12		attractiveness of a website. It can also lead to increased user engagement,
13		retention, and satisfaction. In fact, there are whole career fields are
14		dedicated to the improvement of user experiences, known as UI design and UX
15		design.
16
17		Some web developers are used to the common CSS properties, such as element
18		sizing, fonts, colors, etc., but are not as well versed in less-used properties
19		and values such as `flexbox`, `clip-path`, and `transform`. This article will
20		provide some insight into the less-used and unique CSS properties.
21
22		# CSS Variables
23
24		The first topic today is CSS variables. Variables are not often used by smaller
25		developers. CSS variables allow you to give your website a well-defined
26		structure, where you can easily reuse CSS properties throughout the project.
27
28		You can use variables to define things, such as color palettes. Then, you can
29		use these colors for backgrounds anywhere else in the HTML. This could be
30		extended, where extra variables could be defined for `primary-text`,
31		`quoted-text`, etc. Variables can also be used to define spacing (e.g. `32px` or
32		`2rem`), which can then be applied to margins, padding, font sizes, and more.
33
34		For example, here are some variables defined at the root of the website, which
35		allows for any subsequent CSS rules to use those variables:
36
37		```css
38		:root {
39		--primary-color: black;
40		--secondary-color: white;
41		}
42
43		body {
44		background-color: var(--primary-color);
45		color: var(--secondary-color);
46		}
47		```
48
49		# CSS Box Shadows
50
51		Box shadows were once my mortal enemy. No matter how hard I tried, I just
52		couldn't get them to work how I wanted. Because of this, my favorite discovery
53		has been CSSMatic's [box shadow generator](https://www.cssmatic.com/box-shadow).
54		It provides an excellent tool to generate box shadows using their simple
55		sliders. Surprisingly, this is the reason I learned how box shadows work! You
56		can use the sliders and watch how the CSS code changes in the image that is
57		displayed. Through this, you should understand that the basic structure for box
58		shadows is:
59
60		```css
61		box-shadow: inset horizontal vertical blur spread color;
62		```
63
64		Now, let's look at some basic examples! You can copy and paste the following
65		code into a site like CodePen or your own HTML files. Feel free to play around
66		with the code, experiment, and learn.
67
68		Box Shadow #1
69
70		```html
71		<div class="shadow-examples">
72		<div class="box effect1">
73		<h3>Effect 1</h3>
74		</div>
75		</div>
76		```
77
78		```css
79		.box h3 {
80		text-align: center;
81		position: relative;
82		top: 80px;
83		}
84		.box {
85		width: 70%;
86		height: 200px;
87		background: #fff;
88		margin: 40px auto;
89		}
90		.effect1 {
91		box-shadow: 0 10px 6px -6px #777;
92		}
93		```
94
95		Box Shadow #2
96
97		```html
98		<div class="shadow-examples">
99		<div class="box effect2">
100		<h3>Effect 2</h3>
101		</div>
102		</div>
103		```
104
105		```css
106		.box h3 {
107		text-align: center;
108		position: relative;
109		top: 80px;
110		}
111		.box {
112		width: 70%;
113		height: 200px;
114		background: #fff;
115		margin: 40px auto;
116		}
117		.effect2 {
118		box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
119		}
120		```
121
122		Try these box shadows out on your own and see how changing each shadow value
123		works.
124
125		# CSS Flexbox
126
127		Now, let's move on to the best part of this article: flexbox. The flexbox is by
128		far my favorite new toy. I originally stumbled across this solution after
129		looking for more efficient ways of centering content horizontally AND
130		vertically. I had used a few hack-ish methods before, but flexbox throws those
131		out the window. The best part of it all is that flexbox is _dead simple_.
132
133		Flexbox pertains to the parent div of any element. You want the parent to be the
134		flexbox in which items are arranged to use the flex methods. It's easier to see
135		this in action that explained, so let's see an example.
136
137		Flexbox
138
139		```html
140		<div class="flex-examples">
141		<div class="sm-box">
142		<h3>1</h3>
143		</div>
144		<div class="sm-box">
145		<h3>2</h3>
146		</div>
147		</div>
148		```
149
150		```css
151		.flex-examples {
152		display: flex;
153		flex-wrap: wrap;
154		justify-content: flex-start;
155		align-items: center;
156		padding: 10px;
157		background-color: #f2f2f2;
158		}
159		.sm-box {
160		display: flex;
161		justify-content: center;
162		align-items: center;
163		width: 20%;
164		height: 100px;
165		background: #fff;
166		margin: 40px 10px;
167		}
168		```
169
170		You may notice that we no longer need to use the `top` property for the `h3`
171		elements in our code. This is because we set the display box to be a flex
172		container for the small boxes, AND we made the small boxes flex containers for
173		their elements (the h3 tags). Flex boxes can be nested like this to center
174		content that is inside centered content.
175
176		For the example above, we designated the `justify-content` property to be
177		`flex-start` so that the boxes stack from the left side of the screen. This
178		property can be changed to `center` to make the boxes appear in the center of
179		the screen.
180
181		For an interactive example, [check out this
182		CodePen](https://codepen.io/LandonSchropp/pen/KpzzGo) from
183		[LandonScropp](https://codepen.io/LandonSchropp/). Resize the window with dice
184		to see how they collapse and re-align.
185
186		# Even More CSS
187
188		For more inspiration, you can visit [CodePen](https://www.codepen.io),
189		[Dribbble](https://dribbble.com), or [UI Movement](https://uimovement.com) to
190		browse the collections of many amazing web designers.

content/blog/2019-01-07-useful-css.org added +194

		@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
	1	#+date: <2019-01-07>
	2	#+title: Useful CSS Snippets
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Introduction to CSS
	7
	8	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS][CSS]], the language used to markup
	9	HTML code and make it "pretty", is one of the most effective ways to
	10	increase the attractiveness of a website. It can also lead to increased
	11	user engagement, retention, and satisfaction. In fact, there are whole
	12	career fields are dedicated to the improvement of user experiences,
	13	known as UI design and UX design.
	14
	15	Some web developers are used to the common CSS properties, such as
	16	element sizing, fonts, colors, etc., but are not as well versed in
	17	less-used properties and values such as =flexbox=, =clip-path=, and
	18	=transform=. This article will provide some insight into the less-used
	19	and unique CSS properties.
	20
	21	* CSS Variables
	22
	23	The first topic today is CSS variables. Variables are not often used by
	24	smaller developers. CSS variables allow you to give your website a
	25	well-defined structure, where you can easily reuse CSS properties
	26	throughout the project.
	27
	28	You can use variables to define things, such as color palettes. Then,
	29	you can use these colors for backgrounds anywhere else in the HTML. This
	30	could be extended, where extra variables could be defined for
	31	=primary-text=, =quoted-text=, etc. Variables can also be used to define
	32	spacing (e.g. =32px= or =2rem=), which can then be applied to margins,
	33	padding, font sizes, and more.
	34
	35	For example, here are some variables defined at the root of the website,
	36	which allows for any subsequent CSS rules to use those variables:
	37
	38	#+begin_src css
	39	:root {
	40	--primary-color: black;
	41	--secondary-color: white;
	42	}
	43
	44	body {
	45	background-color: var(--primary-color);
	46	color: var(--secondary-color);
	47	}
	48	#+end_src
	49
	50	* CSS Box Shadows
	51
	52	Box shadows were once my mortal enemy. No matter how hard I tried, I
	53	just couldn't get them to work how I wanted. Because of this, my
	54	favorite discovery has been CSSMatic's
	55	[[https://www.cssmatic.com/box-shadow][box shadow generator]]. It
	56	provides an excellent tool to generate box shadows using their simple
	57	sliders. Surprisingly, this is the reason I learned how box shadows
	58	work! You can use the sliders and watch how the CSS code changes in the
	59	image that is displayed. Through this, you should understand that the
	60	basic structure for box shadows is:
	61
	62	#+begin_src css
	63	box-shadow: inset horizontal vertical blur spread color;
	64	#+end_src
	65
	66	Now, let's look at some basic examples! You can copy and paste the
	67	following code into a site like CodePen or your own HTML files. Feel
	68	free to play around with the code, experiment, and learn.
	69
	70	Box Shadow #1
	71
	72	#+begin_src html
	73	<div class="shadow-examples">
	74	<div class="box effect1">
	75	<h3>Effect 1</h3>
	76	</div>
	77	</div>
	78	#+end_src
	79
	80	#+begin_src css
	81	.box h3 {
	82	text-align: center;
	83	position: relative;
	84	top: 80px;
	85	}
	86	.box {
	87	width: 70%;
	88	height: 200px;
	89	background: #fff;
	90	margin: 40px auto;
	91	}
	92	.effect1 {
	93	box-shadow: 0 10px 6px -6px #777;
	94	}
	95	#+end_src
	96
	97	Box Shadow #2
	98
	99	#+begin_src html
	100	<div class="shadow-examples">
	101	<div class="box effect2">
	102	<h3>Effect 2</h3>
	103	</div>
	104	</div>
	105	#+end_src
	106
	107	#+begin_src css
	108	.box h3 {
	109	text-align: center;
	110	position: relative;
	111	top: 80px;
	112	}
	113	.box {
	114	width: 70%;
	115	height: 200px;
	116	background: #fff;
	117	margin: 40px auto;
	118	}
	119	.effect2 {
	120	box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
	121	}
	122	#+end_src
	123
	124	Try these box shadows out on your own and see how changing each shadow
	125	value works.
	126
	127	* CSS Flexbox
	128
	129	Now, let's move on to the best part of this article: flexbox. The
	130	flexbox is by far my favorite new toy. I originally stumbled across this
	131	solution after looking for more efficient ways of centering content
	132	horizontally AND vertically. I had used a few hack-ish methods before,
	133	but flexbox throws those out the window. The best part of it all is that
	134	flexbox is /dead simple/.
	135
	136	Flexbox pertains to the parent div of any element. You want the parent
	137	to be the flexbox in which items are arranged to use the flex methods.
	138	It's easier to see this in action that explained, so let's see an
	139	example.
	140
	141	Flexbox
	142
	143	#+begin_src html
	144	<div class="flex-examples">
	145	<div class="sm-box">
	146	<h3>1</h3>
	147	</div>
	148	<div class="sm-box">
	149	<h3>2</h3>
	150	</div>
	151	</div>
	152	#+end_src
	153
	154	#+begin_src css
	155	.flex-examples {
	156	display: flex;
	157	flex-wrap: wrap;
	158	justify-content: flex-start;
	159	align-items: center;
	160	padding: 10px;
	161	background-color: #f2f2f2;
	162	}
	163	.sm-box {
	164	display: flex;
	165	justify-content: center;
	166	align-items: center;
	167	width: 20%;
	168	height: 100px;
	169	background: #fff;
	170	margin: 40px 10px;
	171	}
	172	#+end_src
	173
	174	You may notice that we no longer need to use the =top= property for the
	175	=h3= elements in our code. This is because we set the display box to be
	176	a flex container for the small boxes, AND we made the small boxes flex
	177	containers for their elements (the h3 tags). Flex boxes can be nested
	178	like this to center content that is inside centered content.
	179
	180	For the example above, we designated the =justify-content= property to
	181	be =flex-start= so that the boxes stack from the left side of the
	182	screen. This property can be changed to =center= to make the boxes
	183	appear in the center of the screen.
	184
	185	For an interactive example,
	186	[[https://codepen.io/LandonSchropp/pen/KpzzGo][check out this CodePen]]
	187	from [[https://codepen.io/LandonSchropp/][LandonScropp]]. Resize the
	188	window with dice to see how they collapse and re-align.
	189
	190	* Even More CSS
	191
	192	For more inspiration, you can visit [[https://www.codepen.io][CodePen]],
	193	[[https://dribbble.com][Dribbble]], or [[https://uimovement.com][UI
	194	Movement]] to browse the collections of many amazing web designers.

content/blog/2019-09-09-audit-analytics.md deleted −201

		@@ -1,201 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2019-09-09
3		title = "Audit Analytics"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What Are Data Analytics?
9
10		A quick aside before I dive into this post: `data analytics` is a vague term
11		that has become popular in recent years. Think of a `data analytic` as the
12		output of any data analysis you perform. For example, a pivot table or a pie
13		chart could be a data analytic.
14
15		[Data analysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_analysis) is a process that
16		utilizes statistics and other mathematical methods to discover useful
17		information within datasets. This involves examining, cleaning, transforming,
18		and modeling data so that you can use the data to support an opinion, create
19		more useful viewpoints, and gain knowledge to implement into audit planning or
20		risk assessments.
21
22		One of the common mistakes that managers (and anyone new to the process) make is
23		assuming that everything involved with this process is "data analytics". In
24		fact, data analytics are only a small part of the process.
25
26		See Figure 1 for a more accurate representation of where data analysis sits
27		within the full process. This means that data analysis does not include querying
28		or extracting data, selecting samples, or performing audit tests. These steps
29		can be necessary for an audit (and may even be performed by the same
30		associates), but they are not data analytics.
31
32		# Current Use of Analytics in Auditing
33
34		While data analysis has been an integral part of most businesses and departments
35		for the better part of the last century, only recently have internal audit
36		functions been adopting this practice. The internal audit function works
37		exclusively to provide assurance and consulting services to the business areas
38		within the firm (except for internal auditing firms who are hired by different
39		companies to perform their roles).
40
41		> Internal Auditing helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing
42		> a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness
43		> of risk management, control and governance processes.
44		>
45		> - The IIA's Definition of Internal Audit
46
47		Part of the blame for the slow adoption of data analysis can be attributed to
48		the fact that internal auditing is strongly based on tradition and following the
49		precedents set by previous auditors. However, there can be no progress without
50		auditors who are willing to break the mold and test new audit techniques. In
51		fact, as of 2018, [only 63% of internal audit departments currently utilize data
52		analytics](https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/accounting-audit/news/12404086/internal-audit-groups-are-lagging-in-data-analytics)
53		in North America. This number should be as close as possible to 100%. I have
54		never been part of an audit that would not have benefited from data analytics.
55
56		So, how do internal audit functions remedy this situation? It's definitely not
57		as easy as walking into work on Monday and telling your Chief Audit Executive
58		that you're going to start implementing analytics in the next audit. You need a
59		plan and a system to make the analysis process as effective as possible.
60
61		# The DELTA Model
62
63		One of the easiest ways to experiment with data analytics and gain an
64		understanding of the processes is to implement them within your own department.
65		But how do we do this if we've never worked with analysis before? One of the
66		most common places to start is to research some data analysis models currently
67		available. For this post, we'll take a look at the DELTA model. You can take a
68		look at Figure 2 for a quick overview of the model.
69
70		The DELTA model sets a few guidelines for areas wanting to implement data
71		analytics so that the results can be as comprehensive as possible:
72
73		- Data: Must be clean, accessible, and (usually) unique.
74		- Enterprise-Wide Focus: Key data systems and analytical resources must be
75		available for use (by the Internal Audit Function).
76		- Leaders: Must promote a data analytics approach and show the value of
77		analytical results.
78		- Targets: Must be set for key areas and risks that the analytics can be
79		compared against (KPIs).
80		- Analysts: There must be auditors willing and able to perform data
81		analytics or else the system cannot be sustained.
82
83		# Finding the Proper KPIs
84
85		Once the Internal Audit Function has decided that they want to start using data
86		analytics internally and have ensured they're properly set up to do so, they
87		need to figure out what they will be testing against. Key Performance Indicators
88		(KPIs) are qualitative or quantitative factors that can be evaluated and
89		assessed to determine if the department is performing well, usually compared to
90		historical or industry benchmarks. Once KPIs have been agreed upon and set,
91		auditors can use data analytics to assess and report on these KPIs. This allows
92		the person performing the analytics the freedom to express opinions on the
93		results, whereas the results are ambiguous if no KPIs exist.
94
95		It should be noted that tracking KPIs in the department can help ensure you have
96		a rigorous Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) in accordance with
97		some applicable standards, such as IPPF Standard 1300.
98
99		> The chief audit executive must develop and maintain a quality assurance and
100		> improvement program that covers all aspects of the internal audit activity.
101		>
102		> - IPPF Standard 1300
103
104		Additionally, IPPF Standard 2060 discusses reporting:
105
106		> The chief audit executive must report periodically to senior management and
107		> the board on the internal audit activity's purpose, authority, responsibility,
108		> and performance relative to its plan and on its conformance with the Code of
109		> Ethics and the Standards. Reporting must also include significant risk and
110		> control issues, including fraud risks, governance issues, and other matters
111		> that require the attention of senior management and/or the board.
112		>
113		> - IPPF Standard 2060
114
115		The hardest part of finding KPIs is to determine which KPIs are appropriate for
116		your department. Since every department is different and has different goals,
117		KPIs will vary drastically between companies. To give you an idea of where to
118		look, here are some ideas I came up with when discussing the topic with a few
119		colleagues.
120
121		- Efficiency/Budgeting:
122		- Audit hours to staff utilization ratio (annual hours divided by total
123		annual work hours).
124		- Audit hours compared to the number of audits completed.
125		- Time between audit steps or to complete the whole audit. E.g., time from
126		fieldwork completion to audit report issuance.
127		- Reputation:
128		- The frequency that management has requested the services of the IAF.
129		- Management, audit committee, or external audit satisfaction survey
130		results.
131		- Education, experience, certifications, tenure, and training of the
132		auditors on staff.
133		- Quality:
134		- Number and frequency of audit findings. Assign monetary or numerical
135		values, if possible.
136		- Percentage of recommendations issued and implemented.
137		- Planning:
138		- Percentage or number of key risks audited per year or per audit.
139		- Proportion of audit universe audited per year.
140
141		# Data Analysis Tools
142
143		Finally, to be able to analyze and report on the data analysis, auditors need to
144		evaluate the tools at their disposal. There are many options available, but a
145		few of the most common ones can easily get the job done. For example, almost
146		every auditor already has access to Microsoft Excel. Excel is more powerful than
147		most people give it credit for and can accomplish a lot of basic statistics
148		without much work. If you don't know a lot about statistics but still want to
149		see some of the more basic results, Excel is a great option.
150
151		To perform more in-depth statistical analysis or to explore large datasets that
152		Excel cannot handle, auditors will need to explore other options. The big three
153		that have had a lot of success in recent years are Python, R, and ACL. ACL can
154		be used as either a graphical tool (point and click) or as a scripting tool,
155		where the auditor must write the scripts manually. Python and the R-language are
156		solely scripting languages.
157
158		The general trend in the data analytics environment is that if the tool allows
159		you to do everything by clicking buttons or dragging elements, you won't be able
160		to fully utilize the analytics you need. The most robust solutions are created
161		by those who understand how to write the scripts manually. It should be noted
162		that as the utility of a tool increases, it usually means that the learning
163		curve for that tool will also be higher. It will take auditors longer to learn
164		how to utilize Python, R, or ACL versus learning how to utilize Excel.
165
166		# Visualization
167
168		Once an auditor has finally found the right data, KPIs, and tools, they must
169		report these results so that actions can be taken. Performing in-depth data
170		analysis is only useful if the results are understood by the audiences of the
171		data. The best way to create this understanding is to visualize the results of
172		the data. Let's take a look at some of the best options to visualize and report
173		the results you've found.
174
175		Some of the most popular commercial tools for visualization are Microsoft
176		PowerBI and Tableau Desktop. However, other tools exist such as JMP, Plotly,
177		Qlikview, Alteryx, or D3. Some require commercial licenses while others are
178		simply free to use. For corporate data, you may want to make sure that the tool
179		does not communicate any of the data outside the company (such as cloud
180		storage). I won't be going into depth on any of these tools since visualization
181		is largely a subjective and creative experience, but remember to constantly
182		explore new options as you repeat the process.
183
184		Lastly, let's take a look at an example of data visualization. This example
185		comes from a [blog post written by Kushal
186		Chakrabarti](https://talent.works/2018/03/28/the-science-of-the-job-search-part-iii-61-of-entry-level-jobs-require-3-years-of-experience/)
187		in 2018 about the percent of entry-level US jobs that require experience.
188		Figure 3 shows us an easy-to-digest picture of the data. We can quickly tell
189		that only about 12.5% of entry-level jobs don't require experience.
190
191		This is the kind of result that easily describes the data for you. However, make
192		sure to include an explanation of what the results mean. Don't let the reader
193		assume what the data means, especially if it relates to a complex subject. _Tell
194		a story_ about the data and why the results matter.
195
196		# Wrap-Up
197
198		While this is not an all-encompassing program that you can just adopt into your
199		department, it should be enough to get anyone started on the process of
200		understanding and implementing data analytics. Always remember to continue
201		learning and exploring new options as your processes grow and evolve.

content/blog/2019-09-09-audit-analytics.org added +220

		@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
	1	#+date: <2019-09-09>
	2	#+title: Audit Analytics
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What Are Data Analytics?
	7
	8	A quick aside before I dive into this post: =data analytics= is a vague
	9	term that has become popular in recent years. Think of a =data analytic=
	10	as the output of any data analysis you perform. For example, a pivot
	11	table or a pie chart could be a data analytic.
	12
	13	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_analysis][Data analysis]] is a
	14	process that utilizes statistics and other mathematical methods to
	15	discover useful information within datasets. This involves examining,
	16	cleaning, transforming, and modeling data so that you can use the data
	17	to support an opinion, create more useful viewpoints, and gain knowledge
	18	to implement into audit planning or risk assessments.
	19
	20	One of the common mistakes that managers (and anyone new to the process)
	21	make is assuming that everything involved with this process is "data
	22	analytics". In fact, data analytics are only a small part of the
	23	process.
	24
	25	See Figure 1 for a more accurate representation of where data analysis
	26	sits within the full process. This means that data analysis does not
	27	include querying or extracting data, selecting samples, or performing
	28	audit tests. These steps can be necessary for an audit (and may even be
	29	performed by the same associates), but they are not data analytics.
	30
	31	* Current Use of Analytics in Auditing
	32
	33	While data analysis has been an integral part of most businesses and
	34	departments for the better part of the last century, only recently have
	35	internal audit functions been adopting this practice. The internal audit
	36	function works exclusively to provide assurance and consulting services
	37	to the business areas within the firm (except for internal auditing
	38	firms who are hired by different companies to perform their roles).
	39
	40	#+begin_quote
	41	Internal Auditing helps an organization accomplish its objectives by
	42	bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the
	43	effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
	44
	45	- The IIA's Definition of Internal Audit
	46	#+end_quote
	47
	48	Part of the blame for the slow adoption of data analysis can be
	49	attributed to the fact that internal auditing is strongly based on
	50	tradition and following the precedents set by previous auditors.
	51	However, there can be no progress without auditors who are willing to
	52	break the mold and test new audit techniques. In fact, as of 2018,
	53	[[https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/accounting-audit/news/12404086/internal-audit-groups-are-lagging-in-data-analytics][only
	54	63% of internal audit departments currently utilize data analytics]] in
	55	North America. This number should be as close as possible to 100%. I
	56	have never been part of an audit that would not have benefited from data
	57	analytics.
	58
	59	So, how do internal audit functions remedy this situation? It's
	60	definitely not as easy as walking into work on Monday and telling your
	61	Chief Audit Executive that you're going to start implementing analytics
	62	in the next audit. You need a plan and a system to make the analysis
	63	process as effective as possible.
	64
	65	* The DELTA Model
	66
	67	One of the easiest ways to experiment with data analytics and gain an
	68	understanding of the processes is to implement them within your own
	69	department. But how do we do this if we've never worked with analysis
	70	before? One of the most common places to start is to research some data
	71	analysis models currently available. For this post, we'll take a look at
	72	the DELTA model. You can take a look at Figure 2 for a quick overview
	73	of the model.
	74
	75	The DELTA model sets a few guidelines for areas wanting to implement
	76	data analytics so that the results can be as comprehensive as possible:
	77
	78	- Data: Must be clean, accessible, and (usually) unique.
	79	- Enterprise-Wide Focus: Key data systems and analytical resources
	80	must be available for use (by the Internal Audit Function).
	81	- Leaders: Must promote a data analytics approach and show the value
	82	of analytical results.
	83	- Targets: Must be set for key areas and risks that the analytics can
	84	be compared against (KPIs).
	85	- Analysts: There must be auditors willing and able to perform data
	86	analytics or else the system cannot be sustained.
	87
	88	* Finding the Proper KPIs
	89
	90	Once the Internal Audit Function has decided that they want to start
	91	using data analytics internally and have ensured they're properly set up
	92	to do so, they need to figure out what they will be testing against. Key
	93	Performance Indicators (KPIs) are qualitative or quantitative factors
	94	that can be evaluated and assessed to determine if the department is
	95	performing well, usually compared to historical or industry benchmarks.
	96	Once KPIs have been agreed upon and set, auditors can use data analytics
	97	to assess and report on these KPIs. This allows the person performing
	98	the analytics the freedom to express opinions on the results, whereas
	99	the results are ambiguous if no KPIs exist.
	100
	101	It should be noted that tracking KPIs in the department can help ensure
	102	you have a rigorous Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) in
	103	accordance with some applicable standards, such as IPPF Standard 1300.
	104
	105	#+begin_quote
	106	The chief audit executive must develop and maintain a quality assurance
	107	and improvement program that covers all aspects of the internal audit
	108	activity.
	109
	110	- IPPF Standard 1300
	111	#+end_quote
	112
	113	Additionally, IPPF Standard 2060 discusses reporting:
	114
	115	#+begin_quote
	116	The chief audit executive must report periodically to senior management
	117	and the board on the internal audit activity's purpose, authority,
	118	responsibility, and performance relative to its plan and on its
	119	conformance with the Code of Ethics and the Standards. Reporting must
	120	also include significant risk and control issues, including fraud risks,
	121	governance issues, and other matters that require the attention of
	122	senior management and/or the board.
	123
	124	- IPPF Standard 2060
	125	#+end_quote
	126
	127	The hardest part of finding KPIs is to determine which KPIs are
	128	appropriate for your department. Since every department is different and
	129	has different goals, KPIs will vary drastically between companies. To
	130	give you an idea of where to look, here are some ideas I came up with
	131	when discussing the topic with a few colleagues.
	132
	133	- Efficiency/Budgeting:
	134	- Audit hours to staff utilization ratio (annual hours divided by
	135	total annual work hours).
	136	- Audit hours compared to the number of audits completed.
	137	- Time between audit steps or to complete the whole audit. E.g., time
	138	from fieldwork completion to audit report issuance.
	139	- Reputation:
	140	- The frequency that management has requested the services of the IAF.
	141	- Management, audit committee, or external audit satisfaction survey
	142	results.
	143	- Education, experience, certifications, tenure, and training of the
	144	auditors on staff.
	145	- Quality:
	146	- Number and frequency of audit findings. Assign monetary or numerical
	147	values, if possible.
	148	- Percentage of recommendations issued and implemented.
	149	- Planning:
	150	- Percentage or number of key risks audited per year or per audit.
	151	- Proportion of audit universe audited per year.
	152
	153	* Data Analysis Tools
	154
	155	Finally, to be able to analyze and report on the data analysis, auditors
	156	need to evaluate the tools at their disposal. There are many options
	157	available, but a few of the most common ones can easily get the job
	158	done. For example, almost every auditor already has access to Microsoft
	159	Excel. Excel is more powerful than most people give it credit for and
	160	can accomplish a lot of basic statistics without much work. If you don't
	161	know a lot about statistics but still want to see some of the more basic
	162	results, Excel is a great option.
	163
	164	To perform more in-depth statistical analysis or to explore large
	165	datasets that Excel cannot handle, auditors will need to explore other
	166	options. The big three that have had a lot of success in recent years
	167	are Python, R, and ACL. ACL can be used as either a graphical tool
	168	(point and click) or as a scripting tool, where the auditor must write
	169	the scripts manually. Python and the R-language are solely scripting
	170	languages.
	171
	172	The general trend in the data analytics environment is that if the tool
	173	allows you to do everything by clicking buttons or dragging elements,
	174	you won't be able to fully utilize the analytics you need. The most
	175	robust solutions are created by those who understand how to write the
	176	scripts manually. It should be noted that as the utility of a tool
	177	increases, it usually means that the learning curve for that tool will
	178	also be higher. It will take auditors longer to learn how to utilize
	179	Python, R, or ACL versus learning how to utilize Excel.
	180
	181	* Visualization
	182
	183	Once an auditor has finally found the right data, KPIs, and tools, they
	184	must report these results so that actions can be taken. Performing
	185	in-depth data analysis is only useful if the results are understood by
	186	the audiences of the data. The best way to create this understanding is
	187	to visualize the results of the data. Let's take a look at some of the
	188	best options to visualize and report the results you've found.
	189
	190	Some of the most popular commercial tools for visualization are
	191	Microsoft PowerBI and Tableau Desktop. However, other tools exist such
	192	as JMP, Plotly, Qlikview, Alteryx, or D3. Some require commercial
	193	licenses while others are simply free to use. For corporate data, you
	194	may want to make sure that the tool does not communicate any of the data
	195	outside the company (such as cloud storage). I won't be going into depth
	196	on any of these tools since visualization is largely a subjective and
	197	creative experience, but remember to constantly explore new options as
	198	you repeat the process.
	199
	200	Lastly, let's take a look at an example of data visualization. This
	201	example comes from a
	202	[[https://talent.works/2018/03/28/the-science-of-the-job-search-part-iii-61-of-entry-level-jobs-require-3-years-of-experience/][blog
	203	post written by Kushal Chakrabarti]] in 2018 about the percent of
	204	entry-level US jobs that require experience. Figure 3 shows us an
	205	easy-to-digest picture of the data. We can quickly tell that only about
	206	12.5% of entry-level jobs don't require experience.
	207
	208	This is the kind of result that easily describes the data for you.
	209	However, make sure to include an explanation of what the results mean.
	210	Don't let the reader assume what the data means, especially if it
	211	relates to a complex subject. /Tell a story/ about the data and why the
	212	results matter.
	213
	214	* Wrap-Up
	215
	216	While this is not an all-encompassing program that you can just adopt
	217	into your department, it should be enough to get anyone started on the
	218	process of understanding and implementing data analytics. Always
	219	remember to continue learning and exploring new options as your
	220	processes grow and evolve.

content/blog/2019-12-03-the-ansoff-matrix.md deleted −116

		@@ -1,116 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2019-12-03
3		title = "The Ansoff Matrix"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		As the world of business evolves, managers must approach business planning and
11		strategy with a contemporary mindset. According to Dess, McNamara, Eisner, and
12		Lee, managers must be willing to adapt to the modern business environment by
13		going beyond "'incremental management', whereby they view their job as making a
14		series of small, minor changes to improve the efficiency of the firm's
15		operations"(2019).
16
17		One reason that strategic management is crucial is because most businesses that
18		fail in the United States each year fail due to a lack of strategic focus or
19		direction(2019). The rate of failure for businesses with poor strategies shows
20		that strategic planning and management are crucial to a business's strength and
21		longevity, injecting the critical factors of growth and direction into a
22		company's business plan.
23
24		One of the most significant strategic planning and management frameworks that
25		companies can use is the [Ansoff
26		Matrix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansoff_matrix). While this framework has
27		unique purposes and use-cases, it can effectively help an organization grow and
28		compete. Specifically, the Ansoff matrix is one of the most effective frameworks
29		for companies who want to focus on increasing sales revenue or
30		profitability(2019).
31
32		This framework uses a two-by-two figure to show the four strategic options for
33		companies to use in this framework: market penetration, market development,
34		product development, and diversification (see Figure 1). The x-axis of the
35		matrix focuses on the firm's markets and also determines if the firm is looking
36		to enter new markets or innovate in its current markets. The y-axis of the
37		matrix focuses on the firm's products and determines if the firm wants to pursue
38		strategies around their existing products or explore new products.
39
40		# Strategic Options
41
42		## Market Penetration
43
44		The most straightforward strategy in the Ansoff matrix is to focus on existing
45		products in existing markets, also known as market penetration(2019). Companies
46		such as Coca-Cola have used market penetration successfully by investing a lot
47		of money to get further value out of their current markets. Coca-Cola does this
48		by introducing new features such as Christmas-themed bottles, personal names on
49		the bottles, and other marketing schemes.
50
51		## Market Development
52
53		Market development extends existing products into new markets in an attempt to
54		increase the number of buyers. One interesting way that Coca-Cola used this
55		strategy comes from the stigma that Diet Coke is a woman's drink(2019).
56		Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola Zero, which contained the same nutritional
57		content as Diet Coke, but was packaged in a dark black can to appear more
58		"manly"(2019).
59
60		## Product Development
61
62		Product development uses existing markets to introduce new products so that the
63		firm can better meet customer needs(2019). The extreme end of diversification is
64		home to companies such as Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare company that has
65		developed a business portfolio of more than 60,000 different products(2019).
66		Johnson & Johnson's dedication to continuous diversification has led them to a
67		balance sheet rating of "AAA", industry recognition for diversification, and
68		increases in their investor dividends for 57 consecutive years(2019).
69
70		## Related Diversification
71
72		Diversification, the final strategy of the Ansoff Matrix, is more difficult than
73		the others since it involves exploring both new markets and new products.
74		Related diversification is a diversification strategy that closely relates to
75		the firm's core business. Coca-Cola's best example of related diversification is
76		its acquisition of Glaceau and Vitamin Water, which expanded their drinking
77		lines of business(2019).
78
79		## Unrelated Diversification
80
81		Unrelated diversification is a diversification strategy that does not really
82		relate to the firm's core business but still diversifies their business
83		portfolio. A good example of this would be a coffee company who has decided to
84		enter the market for bicycle sales. The main purpose of this strategy is to an
85		extremely diverse company that will not go bankrupt if one market goes through
86		difficult times. However, this requires a lot of independent skills and heavy
87		investments since the company most likely cannot easily transfer knowledge
88		between the markets they compete in.
89
90		# Requirements for Success
91
92		To use the Ansoff Matrix framework, managers need to formulate corporate goals
93		and objectives. Without goals and direction, management frameworks do not
94		present much practical utility. Further, the Ansoff Matrix requires the managers
95		involved to make tactical decisions and create a path for the company to take
96		toward their goals. Lastly, both the Ansoff Matrix needs to consider both
97		internal and external perspectives throughout the strategy formulation process.
98
99		One interesting probability is that companies will be using multiple strategic
100		planning and management frameworks at the same time. While this may sound like
101		it could crowd the management process, there are numerous reasons to do so. For
102		example, the Ansoff Matrix and the Balanced Scorecard are relatively popular,
103		and they cover entirely different parts of a company's strategy. Using the
104		results from the Balanced Scorecard could inform a company of the potential
105		product and market demands, such as from customer or supplier survey results, to
106		help the company determine which Ansoff Matrix strategy to pursue. However, a
107		combined approach at this level would require mature frameworks and focused
108		managers who are able to strategize at a high level.
109
110		Lastly, it should be noted that the author of the Ansoff matrix, Igor Ansoff,
111		often used the term [paralysis by
112		analysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis) to explain the
113		mistake of companies who overuse analysis and spend too much time planning.
114		Companies need to understand the utility of a strategic management framework
115		while ensuring that the company is poised to execute as efficiently as they have
116		planned.

content/blog/2019-12-03-the-ansoff-matrix.org added +122

		@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
	1	#+date: <2019-12-03>
	2	#+title: The Ansoff Matrix
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	As the world of business evolves, managers must approach business
	9	planning and strategy with a contemporary mindset. According to Dess,
	10	McNamara, Eisner, and Lee, managers must be willing to adapt to the
	11	modern business environment by going beyond "'incremental management',
	12	whereby they view their job as making a series of small, minor changes
	13	to improve the efficiency of the firm's operations"(2019).
	14
	15	One reason that strategic management is crucial is because most
	16	businesses that fail in the United States each year fail due to a lack
	17	of strategic focus or direction(2019). The rate of failure for
	18	businesses with poor strategies shows that strategic planning and
	19	management are crucial to a business's strength and longevity, injecting
	20	the critical factors of growth and direction into a company's business
	21	plan.
	22
	23	One of the most significant strategic planning and management frameworks
	24	that companies can use is the
	25	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansoff_matrix][Ansoff Matrix]]. While
	26	this framework has unique purposes and use-cases, it can effectively
	27	help an organization grow and compete. Specifically, the Ansoff matrix
	28	is one of the most effective frameworks for companies who want to focus
	29	on increasing sales revenue or profitability(2019).
	30
	31	This framework uses a two-by-two figure to show the four strategic
	32	options for companies to use in this framework: market penetration,
	33	market development, product development, and diversification (see
	34	Figure 1). The x-axis of the matrix focuses on the firm's markets and
	35	also determines if the firm is looking to enter new markets or innovate
	36	in its current markets. The y-axis of the matrix focuses on the firm's
	37	products and determines if the firm wants to pursue strategies around
	38	their existing products or explore new products.
	39
	40	* Strategic Options
	41
	42	** Market Penetration
	43
	44	The most straightforward strategy in the Ansoff matrix is to focus on
	45	existing products in existing markets, also known as market
	46	penetration(2019). Companies such as Coca-Cola have used market
	47	penetration successfully by investing a lot of money to get further
	48	value out of their current markets. Coca-Cola does this by introducing
	49	new features such as Christmas-themed bottles, personal names on the
	50	bottles, and other marketing schemes.
	51
	52	** Market Development
	53
	54	Market development extends existing products into new markets in an
	55	attempt to increase the number of buyers. One interesting way that
	56	Coca-Cola used this strategy comes from the stigma that Diet Coke is a
	57	woman's drink(2019). Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola Zero, which
	58	contained the same nutritional content as Diet Coke, but was packaged in
	59	a dark black can to appear more "manly"(2019).
	60
	61	** Product Development
	62
	63	Product development uses existing markets to introduce new products so
	64	that the firm can better meet customer needs(2019). The extreme end of
	65	diversification is home to companies such as Johnson & Johnson, a
	66	healthcare company that has developed a business portfolio of more than
	67	60,000 different products(2019). Johnson & Johnson's dedication to
	68	continuous diversification has led them to a balance sheet rating of
	69	"AAA", industry recognition for diversification, and increases in their
	70	investor dividends for 57 consecutive years(2019).
	71
	72	** Related Diversification
	73
	74	Diversification, the final strategy of the Ansoff Matrix, is more
	75	difficult than the others since it involves exploring both new markets
	76	and new products. Related diversification is a diversification strategy
	77	that closely relates to the firm's core business. Coca-Cola's best
	78	example of related diversification is its acquisition of Glaceau and
	79	Vitamin Water, which expanded their drinking lines of business(2019).
	80
	81	** Unrelated Diversification
	82
	83	Unrelated diversification is a diversification strategy that does not
	84	really relate to the firm's core business but still diversifies their
	85	business portfolio. A good example of this would be a coffee company who
	86	has decided to enter the market for bicycle sales. The main purpose of
	87	this strategy is to an extremely diverse company that will not go
	88	bankrupt if one market goes through difficult times. However, this
	89	requires a lot of independent skills and heavy investments since the
	90	company most likely cannot easily transfer knowledge between the markets
	91	they compete in.
	92
	93	* Requirements for Success
	94
	95	To use the Ansoff Matrix framework, managers need to formulate corporate
	96	goals and objectives. Without goals and direction, management frameworks
	97	do not present much practical utility. Further, the Ansoff Matrix
	98	requires the managers involved to make tactical decisions and create a
	99	path for the company to take toward their goals. Lastly, both the Ansoff
	100	Matrix needs to consider both internal and external perspectives
	101	throughout the strategy formulation process.
	102
	103	One interesting probability is that companies will be using multiple
	104	strategic planning and management frameworks at the same time. While
	105	this may sound like it could crowd the management process, there are
	106	numerous reasons to do so. For example, the Ansoff Matrix and the
	107	Balanced Scorecard are relatively popular, and they cover entirely
	108	different parts of a company's strategy. Using the results from the
	109	Balanced Scorecard could inform a company of the potential product and
	110	market demands, such as from customer or supplier survey results, to
	111	help the company determine which Ansoff Matrix strategy to pursue.
	112	However, a combined approach at this level would require mature
	113	frameworks and focused managers who are able to strategize at a high
	114	level.
	115
	116	Lastly, it should be noted that the author of the Ansoff matrix, Igor
	117	Ansoff, often used the term
	118	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis][paralysis by
	119	analysis]] to explain the mistake of companies who overuse analysis and
	120	spend too much time planning. Companies need to understand the utility
	121	of a strategic management framework while ensuring that the company is
	122	poised to execute as efficiently as they have planned.

content/blog/2019-12-16-password-security.md deleted −117

		@@ -1,117 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2019-12-16
3		title = "Password Security"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Users
9
10		## Why Does It Matter?
11
12		Information security, including passwords and identities, has become one of the
13		most important digital highlights of the last decade. With [billions of people
14		affected by data breaches each
15		year](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/12/28/data-breaches-2018-billions-hit-growing-number-cyberattacks/2413411002/),
16		there's a greater need to introduce strong information security systems. If you
17		think you've been part of a breach, or you want to check and see, you can use
18		[Have I Been Pwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com/) to see if your email has been
19		involved in any public breaches. Remember that there's a possibility that a
20		company experienced a breach and did not report it to anyone.
21
22		## How Do I Protect Myself?
23
24		The first place to start with any personal security check-up is to gather a list
25		of all the different websites, apps, or programs that require you to have login
26		credentials. Optionally, once you know where your information is being stored,
27		you can sort the list from the most-important items such as banks or government
28		logins to less important items such as your favorite meme site. You will want to
29		ensure that your critical logins are secure before getting to the others.
30
31		Once you think you have a good idea of all your different authentication
32		methods, I recommend using a password manager such as
33		[Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com/). Using a password manager allows you to
34		automatically save your logins, create randomized passwords, and transfer
35		passwords across devices. However, you'll need to memorize your "vault password"
36		that allows you to open the password manager. It's important to make this
37		something hard to guess since it would allow anyone who has it to access every
38		password you've stored in there.
39
40		Personally, I recommend using a
41		[passphrase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passphrase) instead of a
42		[password](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password) for your vault password.
43		Instead of using a string of characters (whether random or simple), use a phrase
44		and add in symbols and a number. For example, your vault password could be
45		`Racing-Alphabet-Gourd-Parrot3`. Swap the symbols out for whichever symbol you
46		want, move the number around, and fine-tune the passphrase until you are
47		confident that you can remember it whenever necessary.
48
49		Once you've stored your passwords, make sure you continually check up on your
50		account and make sure you aren't following bad password practices. Krebs on
51		Security has a great [blog post on password
52		recommendations](https://krebsonsecurity.com/password-dos-and-donts/). Any time
53		that a data breach happens, make sure you check to see if you were included, and
54		if you need to reset any account passwords.
55
56		# Developers
57
58		## What Are the Basic Requirements?
59
60		When developing any password-protected application, there are a few basic rules
61		that anyone should follow even if they do not follow any official guidelines
62		such as NIST. The foremost practice is to require users to use passwords that
63		are at least 8 characters and cannot easily be guessed. This sounds extremely
64		simple, but it requires quite a few different strategies. First, the application
65		should check the potential passwords against a dictionary of insecure passwords
66		such `password`, `1234abc`, or `application_name`.
67
68		Next, the application should offer guidance on the strength of passwords being
69		entered during enrollment. Further, NIST officially recommends not
70		implementing any composition rules that make passwords hard to remember (e.g.
71		passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters) and instead encouraging
72		the use of long pass phrases which can include spaces. It should be noted that
73		to be able to keep spaces within passwords, all unicode characters should be
74		supported, and passwords should not be truncated.
75
76		## What Does NIST Recommend?
77
78		The National Institute of Standards and Technology
79		([NIST](https://www.nist.gov)) in the US Department of Commerce regularly
80		publishes information around information security and digital identity
81		guidelines. Recently, NIST published [Special Publication
82		800-63b](https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html): Digital Identity
83		Guidelines and Authentication and Lifecycle Management.
84
85		> A Memorized Secret authenticator - commonly referred to as a password or, if
86		> numeric, a PIN - is a secret value intended to be chosen and memorized by the
87		> user. Memorized secrets need to be of sufficient complexity and secrecy that
88		> it would be impractical for an attacker to guess or otherwise discover the
89		> correct secret value. A memorized secret is something you know.
90		>
91		> - NIST Special Publication 800-63B
92
93		NIST offers a lot of guidance on passwords, but I'm going to highlight just a
94		few of the important factors:
95
96		- Require passwords to be a minimum of 8 characters (6 characters if randomly
97		generated and be generated using an approved random bit generator).
98		- Compare potential passwords against a list that contains values known to be
99		commonly-used, expected, or compromised.
100		- Offer guidance on password strength, such as a strength meter.
101		- Implement a rate-limiting mechanism to limit the number of failed
102		authentication attempts for each user account.
103		- Do not require composition rules for passwords and do not require passwords
104		to be changed periodically (unless compromised).
105		- Allow pasting of user identification and passwords to facilitate the use of
106		password managers.
107		- Allow users to view the password as it is being entered.
108		- Use secure forms of communication and storage, including salting and hashing
109		passwords using a one-way key derivation function.
110
111		NIST offers further guidance on other devices that require specific security
112		policies, querying for passwords, and more. All the information discussed so far
113		comes from [NIST SP800-63b](https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html) but
114		NIST offers a lot of information on digital identities, enrollment, identity
115		proofing, authentication, lifecycle management, federation, and assertions in
116		the total [NIST SP800-63 Digital Identity
117		Guidelines](https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/).

content/blog/2019-12-16-password-security.org added +127

		@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
	1	#+date: <2019-12-16>
	2	#+title: Password Security
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Users
	7
	8	** Why Does It Matter?
	9
	10	Information security, including passwords and identities, has become one
	11	of the most important digital highlights of the last decade. With
	12	[[https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/12/28/data-breaches-2018-billions-hit-growing-number-cyberattacks/2413411002/][billions
	13	of people affected by data breaches each year]], there's a greater need
	14	to introduce strong information security systems. If you think you've
	15	been part of a breach, or you want to check and see, you can use
	16	[[https://haveibeenpwned.com/][Have I Been Pwned]] to see if your email
	17	has been involved in any public breaches. Remember that there's a
	18	possibility that a company experienced a breach and did not report it to
	19	anyone.
	20
	21	** How Do I Protect Myself?
	22
	23	The first place to start with any personal security check-up is to
	24	gather a list of all the different websites, apps, or programs that
	25	require you to have login credentials. Optionally, once you know where
	26	your information is being stored, you can sort the list from the
	27	most-important items such as banks or government logins to less
	28	important items such as your favorite meme site. You will want to ensure
	29	that your critical logins are secure before getting to the others.
	30
	31	Once you think you have a good idea of all your different authentication
	32	methods, I recommend using a password manager such as
	33	[[https://bitwarden.com/][Bitwarden]]. Using a password manager allows
	34	you to automatically save your logins, create randomized passwords, and
	35	transfer passwords across devices. However, you'll need to memorize your
	36	"vault password" that allows you to open the password manager. It's
	37	important to make this something hard to guess since it would allow
	38	anyone who has it to access every password you've stored in there.
	39
	40	Personally, I recommend using a
	41	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passphrase][passphrase]] instead of a
	42	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password][password]] for your vault
	43	password. Instead of using a string of characters (whether random or
	44	simple), use a phrase and add in symbols and a number. For example, your
	45	vault password could be =Racing-Alphabet-Gourd-Parrot3=. Swap the
	46	symbols out for whichever symbol you want, move the number around, and
	47	fine-tune the passphrase until you are confident that you can remember
	48	it whenever necessary.
	49
	50	Once you've stored your passwords, make sure you continually check up on
	51	your account and make sure you aren't following bad password practices.
	52	Krebs on Security has a great
	53	[[https://krebsonsecurity.com/password-dos-and-donts/][blog post on
	54	password recommendations]]. Any time that a data breach happens, make
	55	sure you check to see if you were included, and if you need to reset any
	56	account passwords.
	57
	58	* Developers
	59
	60	** What Are the Basic Requirements?
	61
	62	When developing any password-protected application, there are a few
	63	basic rules that anyone should follow even if they do not follow any
	64	official guidelines such as NIST. The foremost practice is to require
	65	users to use passwords that are at least 8 characters and cannot easily
	66	be guessed. This sounds extremely simple, but it requires quite a few
	67	different strategies. First, the application should check the potential
	68	passwords against a dictionary of insecure passwords such =password=,
	69	=1234abc=, or =application_name=.
	70
	71	Next, the application should offer guidance on the strength of passwords
	72	being entered during enrollment. Further, NIST officially recommends
	73	not implementing any composition rules that make passwords hard to
	74	remember (e.g. passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters)
	75	and instead encouraging the use of long pass phrases which can include
	76	spaces. It should be noted that to be able to keep spaces within
	77	passwords, all unicode characters should be supported, and passwords
	78	should not be truncated.
	79
	80	** What Does NIST Recommend?
	81
	82	The National Institute of Standards and Technology
	83	([[https://www.nist.gov][NIST]]) in the US Department of Commerce
	84	regularly publishes information around information security and digital
	85	identity guidelines. Recently, NIST published
	86	[[https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html][Special Publication
	87	800-63b]]: Digital Identity Guidelines and Authentication and Lifecycle
	88	Management.
	89
	90	#+begin_quote
	91	A Memorized Secret authenticator - commonly referred to as a password
	92	or, if numeric, a PIN - is a secret value intended to be chosen and
	93	memorized by the user. Memorized secrets need to be of sufficient
	94	complexity and secrecy that it would be impractical for an attacker to
	95	guess or otherwise discover the correct secret value. A memorized secret
	96	is something you know.
	97
	98	- NIST Special Publication 800-63B
	99	#+end_quote
	100
	101	NIST offers a lot of guidance on passwords, but I'm going to highlight
	102	just a few of the important factors:
	103
	104	- Require passwords to be a minimum of 8 characters (6 characters if
	105	randomly generated and be generated using an approved random bit
	106	generator).
	107	- Compare potential passwords against a list that contains values known
	108	to be commonly-used, expected, or compromised.
	109	- Offer guidance on password strength, such as a strength meter.
	110	- Implement a rate-limiting mechanism to limit the number of failed
	111	authentication attempts for each user account.
	112	- Do not require composition rules for passwords and do not require
	113	passwords to be changed periodically (unless compromised).
	114	- Allow pasting of user identification and passwords to facilitate the
	115	use of password managers.
	116	- Allow users to view the password as it is being entered.
	117	- Use secure forms of communication and storage, including salting and
	118	hashing passwords using a one-way key derivation function.
	119
	120	NIST offers further guidance on other devices that require specific
	121	security policies, querying for passwords, and more. All the information
	122	discussed so far comes from
	123	[[https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63b.html][NIST SP800-63b]] but
	124	NIST offers a lot of information on digital identities, enrollment,
	125	identity proofing, authentication, lifecycle management, federation, and
	126	assertions in the total [[https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/][NIST
	127	SP800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines]].

content/blog/2020-01-25-linux-software.md deleted −246

		@@ -1,246 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-01-25
3		title = "My Favorite Linux Software"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# GUI Applications
9
10		## Etcher
11
12		[Etcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) is a quick and easy way to burn ISO
13		images to CDs and USB devices. There are two different ways you can install this
14		program. First, you can navigate to the [official
15		website](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) and download the AppImage file, which
16		can run without installation.
17
18		However, AppImage files are not executable by default, so you'll either need to
19		right-click to open the properties of the file and click the "Allow executing
20		file as program" box in the Permissions tab or use the following command:
21
22		```sh
23		chmod u+x FILE_NAME
24		```
25
26		If you don't like AppImage files or just prefer repositories, you can use the
27		following commands to add the author's repository and install it through the
28		command-line only.
29
30		First, you'll have to echo the repo and write it to a list file:
31
32		```sh
33		echo "deb https://deb.etcher.io stable etcher" \| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/balena-etcher.list
34		```
35
36		Next, add the application keys to Ubuntu's keyring:
37
38		```sh
39		sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 379CE192D401AB61
40		```
41
42		Finally, update the repositories and install the app.
43
44		```sh
45		sudo apt update && sudo apt install balena-etcher-electron
46		```
47
48		Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command instead:
49
50		```sh
51		sudo pacman -S etcher
52		```
53
54		## Atom
55
56		[Atom](https://atom.io) is the self-proclaimed "hackable text editor for the
57		21st century". This text editor is made by GitHub, [now owned by
58		Microsoft](https://news.microsoft.com/2018/06/04/microsoft-to-acquire-github-for-7-5-billion/),
59		and has some of the best add-ons available to customize the layout and abilities
60		of the app.
61
62		First, add the Atom repository to your sources.
63
64		```sh
65		sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/atom
66		```
67
68		Next, update your package listings and install atom.
69
70		```sh
71		sudo apt update && sudo apt install atom
72		```
73
74		If you have issues updating your packages with the Atom repository, you'll need
75		to use the snap package described below instead of the repository. To remove the
76		repository we just added, use this command:
77
78		```sh
79		sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:webupd8team/atom
80		```
81
82		You can also install Atom as a snap package, but it must be installed with the
83		`--classic` flag. A [full explanation is
84		available](https://language-bash.com/blog/how-to-snap-introducing-classic-confinement)
85		if you'd like to read more about why you need the classic flag.
86
87		```sh
88		snap install atom --classic
89		```
90
91		Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command instead:
92
93		```sh
94		sudo pacman -S atom
95		```
96
97		## Visual Studio Code
98
99		[Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com) is yet another fantastic
100		choice for programming on Linux, especially if you need those extra add-ons to
101		spice up your late-night coding sessions. The theme used in the screenshot is
102		[Mars](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EliverLara.mars) by
103		theme creator [Eliver Lara](https://github.com/EliverLara), who makes a ton of
104		great themes for VS Code, Atom, and various Linux desktop environments.
105
106		To install VS Code, you'll need to download the `.deb` file from the official
107		website. Once you've downloaded the file, either double-click it to install
108		through the Software Center or run the following command:
109
110		```sh
111		sudo dpkg -i FILE_NAME.deb
112		```
113
114		You can also install VS Code as a snap package, but it must be installed with
115		the `--classic` flag. A [full explanation is
116		available](https://language-bash.com/blog/how-to-snap-introducing-classic-confinement)
117		if you'd like to read more about why you need the classic flag.
118
119		```sh
120		snap install code --classic
121		```
122
123		Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use these commands
124		instead:
125
126		```sh
127		sudo pacman -S yay binutils make gcc pkg-config fakeroot yay -S visual-studio-code-bin
128		```
129
130		## GNOME Tweaks
131
132		[Gnome Tweaks](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-tweaks) is the ultimate tool
133		to use if you want to customize your GNOME desktop environment. This is how you
134		can switch application themes (GTK), shell themes, icons, fonts, and more. To
135		install GNOME Tweaks on Ubuntu, you just need to install the official package.
136
137		```sh
138		sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
139		```
140
141		If you've installed Manjaro or Arch with Gnome, you should have the tweak tool
142		pre-installed. If you're on Fedora, this tool is available as an official
143		package:
144
145		```sh
146		sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks
147		```
148
149		## Steam
150
151		[Steam](https://steampowered.com) is one of the most popular gaming libraries
152		for computers and is one of the main reasons that many people have been able to
153		switch to Linux in recent years, thanks to Steam Proton, which makes it easier
154		to play games not officially created for Linux platforms.
155
156		To install Steam on Ubuntu, you just need to install the official package.
157
158		```sh
159		sudo apt install steam-installer
160		```
161
162		For Arch-based systems, you'll simply need to install the `steam` package.
163		However, this requires that you enable the `multilib` source. To do so, use the
164		following command:
165
166		```sh
167		sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf
168		```
169
170		Now, scroll down and uncomment the `multilib` section.
171
172		```config
173		# Before:
174		#[multilib]
175		#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
176
177		# After:
178		[multilib]
179		Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
180		```
181
182		Finally, install the program:
183
184		```sh
185		sudo pacman -S steam
186		```
187
188		[Problem Launching Steam Games? Click
189		Here.](./2020-01-26-steam-on-ntfs-drives.html)
190
191		# Command-Line Packages
192
193		## neofetch
194
195		[Neofetch](https://github.com/dylanaraps/neofetch) is a customizable tool used
196		in the command-line to show system information. This is exceptionally useful if
197		you want to see your system's information quickly without the clutter of some
198		resource-heavy GUI apps.
199
200		This is an official package if you're running Ubuntu 17.04 or later, so simply
201		use the following command:
202
203		```sh
204		sudo apt install neofetch
205		```
206
207		If you're running Ubuntu 16.10 or earlier, you'll have to use a series of
208		commands:
209
210		```sh
211		sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dawidd0811/neofetch; sudo apt update; sudo apt install neofetch
212		```
213
214		Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command instead:
215
216		```sh
217		sudo pacman -S neofetch
218		```
219
220		## yt-dlp
221
222		[yt-dlp](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp) is an extremely handy command-line
223		tool that allows you to download video or audio files from various websites,
224		such as YouTube. There are a ton of different options when running this package,
225		so be sure to run `yt-dlp --help` first to look through everything you can do
226		(or give up and search for the best config online).
227
228		While this shouldn't be a problem for most users, yt-dlp requires Python 2.6,
229		2.7, or 3.2+ to work correctly, so install Python if you don't have it already.
230		You can check to see if you have Python installed by running:
231
232		```sh
233		python -V
234		```
235
236		To get the youtube-dl package, simply curl the URL and output the results.
237
238		```sh
239		sudo curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
240		```
241
242		Finally, make the file executable so that it can be run from the command-line.
243
244		```sh
245		sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
246		```

content/blog/2020-01-25-linux-software.org added +259

		@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-01-25>
	2	#+title: My Favorite Linux Software
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* GUI Applications
	7
	8	** Etcher
	9
	10	[[https://www.balena.io/etcher/][Etcher]] is a quick and easy way to
	11	burn ISO images to CDs and USB devices. There are two different ways you
	12	can install this program. First, you can navigate to the
	13	[[https://www.balena.io/etcher/][official website]] and download the
	14	AppImage file, which can run without installation.
	15
	16	However, AppImage files are not executable by default, so you'll either
	17	need to right-click to open the properties of the file and click the
	18	"Allow executing file as program" box in the Permissions tab or use the
	19	following command:
	20
	21	#+begin_src sh
	22	chmod u+x FILE_NAME
	23	#+end_src
	24
	25	If you don't like AppImage files or just prefer repositories, you can
	26	use the following commands to add the author's repository and install it
	27	through the command-line only.
	28
	29	First, you'll have to echo the repo and write it to a list file:
	30
	31	#+begin_src sh
	32	echo "deb https://deb.etcher.io stable etcher" \| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/balena-etcher.list
	33	#+end_src
	34
	35	Next, add the application keys to Ubuntu's keyring:
	36
	37	#+begin_src sh
	38	sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 379CE192D401AB61
	39	#+end_src
	40
	41	Finally, update the repositories and install the app.
	42
	43	#+begin_src sh
	44	sudo apt update && sudo apt install balena-etcher-electron
	45	#+end_src
	46
	47	Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command
	48	instead:
	49
	50	#+begin_src sh
	51	sudo pacman -S etcher
	52	#+end_src
	53
	54	** Atom
	55
	56	[[https://atom.io][Atom]] is the self-proclaimed "hackable text editor
	57	for the 21st century". This text editor is made by GitHub,
	58	[[https://news.microsoft.com/2018/06/04/microsoft-to-acquire-github-for-7-5-billion/][now
	59	owned by Microsoft]], and has some of the best add-ons available to
	60	customize the layout and abilities of the app.
	61
	62	First, add the Atom repository to your sources.
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/atom
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	Next, update your package listings and install atom.
	69
	70	#+begin_src sh
	71	sudo apt update && sudo apt install atom
	72	#+end_src
	73
	74	If you have issues updating your packages with the Atom repository,
	75	you'll need to use the snap package described below instead of the
	76	repository. To remove the repository we just added, use this command:
	77
	78	#+begin_src sh
	79	sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:webupd8team/atom
	80	#+end_src
	81
	82	You can also install Atom as a snap package, but it must be installed
	83	with the =--classic= flag. A
	84	[[https://language-bash.com/blog/how-to-snap-introducing-classic-confinement][full
	85	explanation is available]] if you'd like to read more about why you need
	86	the classic flag.
	87
	88	#+begin_src sh
	89	snap install atom --classic
	90	#+end_src
	91
	92	Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command
	93	instead:
	94
	95	#+begin_src sh
	96	sudo pacman -S atom
	97	#+end_src
	98
	99	** Visual Studio Code
	100
	101	[[https://code.visualstudio.com][Visual Studio Code]] is yet another
	102	fantastic choice for programming on Linux, especially if you need those
	103	extra add-ons to spice up your late-night coding sessions. The theme
	104	used in the screenshot is
	105	[[https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EliverLara.mars][Mars]]
	106	by theme creator [[https://github.com/EliverLara][Eliver Lara]], who
	107	makes a ton of great themes for VS Code, Atom, and various Linux desktop
	108	environments.
	109
	110	To install VS Code, you'll need to download the =.deb= file from the
	111	official website. Once you've downloaded the file, either double-click
	112	it to install through the Software Center or run the following command:
	113
	114	#+begin_src sh
	115	sudo dpkg -i FILE_NAME.deb
	116	#+end_src
	117
	118	You can also install VS Code as a snap package, but it must be installed
	119	with the =--classic= flag. A
	120	[[https://language-bash.com/blog/how-to-snap-introducing-classic-confinement][full
	121	explanation is available]] if you'd like to read more about why you need
	122	the classic flag.
	123
	124	#+begin_src sh
	125	snap install code --classic
	126	#+end_src
	127
	128	Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use these commands
	129	instead:
	130
	131	#+begin_src sh
	132	sudo pacman -S yay binutils make gcc pkg-config fakeroot yay -S visual-studio-code-bin
	133	#+end_src
	134
	135	** GNOME Tweaks
	136
	137	[[https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-tweaks][Gnome Tweaks]] is the
	138	ultimate tool to use if you want to customize your GNOME desktop
	139	environment. This is how you can switch application themes (GTK), shell
	140	themes, icons, fonts, and more. To install GNOME Tweaks on Ubuntu, you
	141	just need to install the official package.
	142
	143	#+begin_src sh
	144	sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
	145	#+end_src
	146
	147	If you've installed Manjaro or Arch with Gnome, you should have the
	148	tweak tool pre-installed. If you're on Fedora, this tool is available as
	149	an official package:
	150
	151	#+begin_src sh
	152	sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks
	153	#+end_src
	154
	155	** Steam
	156
	157	[[https://steampowered.com][Steam]] is one of the most popular gaming
	158	libraries for computers and is one of the main reasons that many people
	159	have been able to switch to Linux in recent years, thanks to Steam
	160	Proton, which makes it easier to play games not officially created for
	161	Linux platforms.
	162
	163	To install Steam on Ubuntu, you just need to install the official
	164	package.
	165
	166	#+begin_src sh
	167	sudo apt install steam-installer
	168	#+end_src
	169
	170	For Arch-based systems, you'll simply need to install the =steam=
	171	package. However, this requires that you enable the =multilib= source.
	172	To do so, use the following command:
	173
	174	#+begin_src sh
	175	sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf
	176	#+end_src
	177
	178	Now, scroll down and uncomment the =multilib= section.
	179
	180	#+begin_src config
	181	# Before:
	182	#[multilib]
	183	#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
	184
	185	# After:
	186	[multilib]
	187	Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
	188	#+end_src
	189
	190	Finally, install the program:
	191
	192	#+begin_src sh
	193	sudo pacman -S steam
	194	#+end_src
	195
	196	[[./2020-01-26-steam-on-ntfs-drives.html][Problem Launching Steam Games?
	197	Click Here.]]
	198
	199	* Command-Line Packages
	200
	201	** neofetch
	202
	203	[[https://github.com/dylanaraps/neofetch][Neofetch]] is a customizable
	204	tool used in the command-line to show system information. This is
	205	exceptionally useful if you want to see your system's information
	206	quickly without the clutter of some resource-heavy GUI apps.
	207
	208	This is an official package if you're running Ubuntu 17.04 or later, so
	209	simply use the following command:
	210
	211	#+begin_src sh
	212	sudo apt install neofetch
	213	#+end_src
	214
	215	If you're running Ubuntu 16.10 or earlier, you'll have to use a series
	216	of commands:
	217
	218	#+begin_src sh
	219	sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dawidd0811/neofetch; sudo apt update; sudo apt install neofetch
	220	#+end_src
	221
	222	Using Arch, Manjaro, or another distro using the AUR? Use this command
	223	instead:
	224
	225	#+begin_src sh
	226	sudo pacman -S neofetch
	227	#+end_src
	228
	229	** yt-dlp
	230
	231	[[https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp][yt-dlp]] is an extremely handy
	232	command-line tool that allows you to download video or audio files from
	233	various websites, such as YouTube. There are a ton of different options
	234	when running this package, so be sure to run =yt-dlp --help= first to
	235	look through everything you can do (or give up and search for the best
	236	config online).
	237
	238	While this shouldn't be a problem for most users, yt-dlp requires Python
	239	2.6, 2.7, or 3.2+ to work correctly, so install Python if you don't have
	240	it already. You can check to see if you have Python installed by
	241	running:
	242
	243	#+begin_src sh
	244	python -V
	245	#+end_src
	246
	247	To get the youtube-dl package, simply curl the URL and output the
	248	results.
	249
	250	#+begin_src sh
	251	sudo curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
	252	#+end_src
	253
	254	Finally, make the file executable so that it can be run from the
	255	command-line.
	256
	257	#+begin_src sh
	258	sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
	259	#+end_src

content/blog/2020-01-26-steam-on-ntfs.md deleted −91

		@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-01-26
3		title = "Linux Gaming Tweak: Steam on NTFS Drives"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Auto-Mount Steam Drives
9
10		If you want to see how to install Steam on Linux, see my other post: [Linux
11		Software](../linux-software/).
12
13		Are you having trouble launching games, even though they've installed correctly?
14		This may happen if you're storing your games on an NTFS-formatted drive. This
15		shouldn't be an issue if you're storing your games on the same drive that Steam
16		is on, but some gamers prefer to put Steam on their main drive and game files on
17		another SSD or HDD.
18
19		To fix this problem, you'll need to try a few things. First, you'll need to
20		install the `ntfs-3g` package, which is meant for better interoperability with
21		Linux.
22
23		```sh
24		sudo apt install ntfs-3g
25		```
26
27		Next, you should set up the `/etc/fstab` file to automatically mount your drives
28		on boot. To automatically mount your drives when the computer boots up, you'll
29		have to create the folders you want to mount your drive to first. I store mine
30		in the `/mnt` folder using names that I'll recognize, but you can create your
31		folders wherever you want.
32
33		```sh
34		mkdir /path/to/folder
35		```
36
37		For example:
38
39		```sh
40		mkdir /mnt/steam_library
41		```
42
43		To automatically mount drives upon system boot, you will need to collect a few
44		items. The UUID is the identification number connected to whichever drive you're
45		using to store Steam games.
46
47		Drives are usually labeled similar to `/dev/nvme0n1p1` or `/dev/sda1`, so you'll
48		need to find the line in the output of the command below that correlates to your
49		drive and copy the UUID over to the `/etc/fstab` file.
50
51		```sh
52		sudo blkid \| grep UUID=
53		```
54
55		Next, you'll need your `uid` and `gid`. To find these, run the following
56		command:
57
58		```sh
59		id -u && id -g
60		```
61
62		Now that you have collected the necessary information, open the `/etc/fstab`
63		file:
64
65		```sh
66		sudo nano /etc/fstab
67		```
68
69		Each drive you want to mount on boot should have its own line in the
70		`/etc/fstab` file that looks similar to this:
71
72		```config
73		UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/steam_library ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
74		```
75
76		Now all you need to do is unmount your drive and re-mount it. You can unmount
77		the drive by doing this (be sure to use the correct drive name here):
78
79		```sh
80		sudo umount /dev/sdxX
81		```
82
83		You can re-mount all your drives by executing the following:
84
85		```sh
86		sudo mount -a
87		```
88
89		If you don't know what your drive name is, or you're nervous about unmounting
90		and re-mounting, simply reboot your computer, and it will be done for you
91		automatically.

content/blog/2020-01-26-steam-on-ntfs.org added +91

		@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-01-26>
	2	#+title: Linux Gaming Tweak: Steam on NTFS Drives
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Auto-Mount Steam Drives
	7
	8	If you want to see how to install Steam on Linux, see my other post:
	9	[[../linux-software/][Linux Software]].
	10
	11	Are you having trouble launching games, even though they've installed
	12	correctly? This may happen if you're storing your games on an
	13	NTFS-formatted drive. This shouldn't be an issue if you're storing your
	14	games on the same drive that Steam is on, but some gamers prefer to put
	15	Steam on their main drive and game files on another SSD or HDD.
	16
	17	To fix this problem, you'll need to try a few things. First, you'll need
	18	to install the =ntfs-3g= package, which is meant for better
	19	interoperability with Linux.
	20
	21	#+begin_src sh
	22	sudo apt install ntfs-3g
	23	#+end_src
	24
	25	Next, you should set up the =/etc/fstab= file to automatically mount
	26	your drives on boot. To automatically mount your drives when the
	27	computer boots up, you'll have to create the folders you want to mount
	28	your drive to first. I store mine in the =/mnt= folder using names that
	29	I'll recognize, but you can create your folders wherever you want.
	30
	31	#+begin_src sh
	32	mkdir /path/to/folder
	33	#+end_src
	34
	35	For example:
	36
	37	#+begin_src sh
	38	mkdir /mnt/steam_library
	39	#+end_src
	40
	41	To automatically mount drives upon system boot, you will need to collect
	42	a few items. The UUID is the identification number connected to
	43	whichever drive you're using to store Steam games.
	44
	45	Drives are usually labeled similar to =/dev/nvme0n1p1= or =/dev/sda1=,
	46	so you'll need to find the line in the output of the command below that
	47	correlates to your drive and copy the UUID over to the =/etc/fstab=
	48	file.
	49
	50	#+begin_src sh
	51	sudo blkid \| grep UUID=
	52	#+end_src
	53
	54	Next, you'll need your =uid= and =gid=. To find these, run the following
	55	command:
	56
	57	#+begin_src sh
	58	id -u && id -g
	59	#+end_src
	60
	61	Now that you have collected the necessary information, open the
	62	=/etc/fstab= file:
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	sudo nano /etc/fstab
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	Each drive you want to mount on boot should have its own line in the
	69	=/etc/fstab= file that looks similar to this:
	70
	71	#+begin_src config
	72	UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/steam_library ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	Now all you need to do is unmount your drive and re-mount it. You can
	76	unmount the drive by doing this (be sure to use the correct drive name
	77	here):
	78
	79	#+begin_src sh
	80	sudo umount /dev/sdxX
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	You can re-mount all your drives by executing the following:
	84
	85	#+begin_src sh
	86	sudo mount -a
	87	#+end_src
	88
	89	If you don't know what your drive name is, or you're nervous about
	90	unmounting and re-mounting, simply reboot your computer, and it will be
	91	done for you automatically.

content/blog/2020-02-09-cryptography-basics.md deleted −167

		@@ -1,167 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-02-09
3		title = "Cryptography Basics"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Similar Article Available
9
10		If you haven't already, feel free to read my post on [AES
11		Encryption](../aes-encryption/).
12
13		# What is Cryptography?
14
15		In layman's terms, cryptography is a process that can change data from a
16		readable format into an unreadable format (and vice-versa) through a series of
17		processes and secrets. More technically, this is the Internet Security
18		Glossary's definition:
19
20		> [Cryptography is] the mathematical science that deals with transforming data
21		> to render its meaning unintelligible (i.e., to hide its semantic content),
22		> prevent its undetected alteration, or prevent its unauthorized use. If the
23		> transformation is reversible, cryptography also deals with restoring encrypted
24		> data to an intelligible form.
25		>
26		> - [Internet Security Glossary (2000)](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2828)
27
28		Cryptography cannot offer protection against the loss of data; it simply offers
29		encryption methods to protect data at-rest and data in-traffic. At a high-level,
30		encrypted is when plaintext data is encrypted to ciphertext (a secure form of
31		text that cannot be understood unless decrypted back to plaintext). The
32		encryption process is completed through the use of a mathematical function that
33		utilizes one or more values called keys to encrypt or decrypt the data.
34
35		# Key Elements of Cryptographic Systems
36
37		To create or evaluate a cryptographic system, you need to know the essential
38		pieces to the system:
39
40		- Encryption Algorithm (Primitive): A mathematical process that encrypts
41		and decrypts data.
42		- Encryption Key: A string of bits used within the encryption algorithm as
43		the secret that allows successful encryption or decryption of data.
44		- Key Length (Size): The maximum number of bits within the encryption key.
45		It's important to remember that key size is regulated in many countries.
46		- Message Digest: A smaller, fixed-size bit string version of the original
47		message. This is practically infeasible to reverse, which is why it's
48		commonly used to verify integrity.
49
50		# Symmetric Systems (Secret Key Cryptography)
51
52		Symmetric cryptography utilizes a secret, bidirectional key to perform both
53		encryption and decryption of the data. The most common implementation of
54		symmetric cryptography is the Advanced Encryption Standard, which uses keys that
55		are 128 bits to 256 bits in size. This standard came after the National
56		Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) decided to retire the Data
57		Encryption Standard (DES) in 2001.
58
59		Since brute force attacks strongly correlate with key length, the 56-bit key
60		length of DES was considered insecure after it was publicly broken in under 24
61		hours. However, there is a modern implementation of DES called Triple DES where
62		the DES method is applied three times to each data block.
63
64		The main advantages to symmetric systems are the ease of use, since only one key
65		is required for both encryption and decryption, and the simplicity of the
66		algorithms. This helps with bulk data encryption that may unnecessarily waste
67		time and power using asymmetric systems.
68
69		However, symmetric systems have disadvantages to keep in mind. Since the key is
70		private, it can be difficult to safely distribute keys to communication
71		partners. Additionally, the key cannot be used to sign messages since it's
72		necessary to keep the key private.
73
74		# Asymmetric Systems (Public Key Cryptography)
75
76		Asymmetric cryptography utilizes two keys within the system: a secret key that
77		is privately-held and a public key that can be distributed freely. The
78		interesting aspect of asymmetric cryptography is that either key can be used to
79		encrypt the data, there's no rule that dictates which key must be used for
80		encryption. Once one key is used to encrypt the data, only the other key can be
81		used to decrypt the data. This means that if the private key encrypts the data,
82		only the public key can decrypt the data.
83
84		An advantage of this system is that if you successfully decrypt data using one
85		of the keys, you can be sure of the sender since only the other key could have
86		encrypted the data.
87
88		One of the major implementations of an asymmetric system is a digital signature.
89		A digital signature can be generated using the sender's private key, or a
90		one-way hash function and is used to provide assurance for the integrity and
91		authenticity of the message. A couple common message digest algorithms are
92		SHA-256 and SHA-512, which securely compress data and produce a 128-bit message
93		digest.
94
95		It should be noted that man-in-the-middle attacks are one of the risks with
96		digital signatures and public keys. To combat this, applications often use a
97		public key infrastructure (PKI) to independently authenticate the validity of
98		signatures and keys.
99
100		Due to the large key size and [inefficient mathematical
101		functions](https://crypto.stackexchange.com/a/591) of asymmetric encryption,
102		elliptical curve cryptography (ECC) is often used to increase security while
103		using fewer resources.
104
105		# Applications of Cryptographic Systems
106
107		There are quite a few implementations of cryptographic systems around the world.
108		Here are a few popular examples:
109
110		Transport Layer Security (TLS): One of the most famous cryptographic
111		solutions created is TLS, a session-layered or connection-layered internet
112		protocol that allows for secure communications between browsers and servers.
113		Using handshakes, peer negotiation, and authentication allows TLS to prevent
114		eavesdropping and malicious transformation of data. The major reason for TLS
115		popularity is that a major vulnerability was found in the SSL protocol in 2014.
116		Instead of SSL, TLS can be used with HTTP to form HTTPS and is the preferred
117		method for modern web development due to its increased security.
118
119		Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS): An application layer protocol
120		that allows for secure transport of data between servers and web clients. One of
121		the unique parts of HTTPS is that it uses a secured port number instead of the
122		default web port address.
123
124		Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPNs are made to securely extend a private
125		network across public networks by utilizing an encrypted layered tunneling
126		protocol paired with an authentication method, such as usernames and passwords.
127		This technology originally allowed remote employees to access their company's
128		data but have evolved into one of the top choices for anyone who wishes to mask
129		their sensitive personal data.
130
131		Internet Protocol Security (IPSec): This protocol suite facilitates
132		communication between two or more hosts or subnets by authenticating and
133		encrypting the data packets. IPSec is used in a lot of VPNs to establish the VPN
134		connection through the transport and tunnel mode encryption methods. IPSec
135		encrypts just the data portion of packets in the transport methods, but it
136		encrypts both the data and headers in the tunnel method (introducing an
137		additional header for authentication).
138
139		Secure Shell (SSH): SSH is another network protocol used to protect network
140		services by authenticating users through a secure channel. This protocol is
141		often used for command-line (shell) functions such as remote shell commands,
142		logins, and file transfers.
143
144		Kerberos: Developed by MIT, Kerberos is a computer-network authentication
145		protocol that works on the basis of tickets to allow nodes communicating over a
146		non-secure network to prove their identity to one another securely. This is most
147		commonly used in business environments when used as the authentication and
148		encryption method for Windows Active Directory (AD).
149
150		# Cybersecurity Controls
151
152		If you're someone who needs solutions on how to control risks associated with
153		utilizing a crytograhpic system, start with a few basic controls:
154
155		- Policies: A policy on the use of cryptographic controls for protection
156		of information is implemented and is in accordance with organizational
157		objectives.
158		- Key management: A policy on the use, protection and lifetime of
159		cryptographic keys is implemented through the entire application lifecycle.
160		- Key size: The organization has researched the optimal key size for their
161		purposes, considering national laws, required processing power, and
162		longevity of the solution.
163		- Algorithm selection: Implemented algorithms are sufficiently appropriate
164		for the business of the organization, robust, and align with recommended
165		guidelines.
166		- Protocol configuration: Protocols have been reviewed and configured
167		suitable to the purpose of the business.

content/blog/2020-02-09-cryptography-basics.org added +177

		@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-02-09>
	2	#+title: Cryptography Basics
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Similar Article Available
	7
	8	If you haven't already, feel free to read my post on
	9	[[../aes-encryption/][AES Encryption]].
	10
	11	* What is Cryptography?
	12
	13	In layman's terms, cryptography is a process that can change data from a
	14	readable format into an unreadable format (and vice-versa) through a
	15	series of processes and secrets. More technically, this is the Internet
	16	Security Glossary's definition:
	17
	18	#+begin_quote
	19	[Cryptography is] the mathematical science that deals with transforming
	20	data to render its meaning unintelligible (i.e., to hide its semantic
	21	content), prevent its undetected alteration, or prevent its unauthorized
	22	use. If the transformation is reversible, cryptography also deals with
	23	restoring encrypted data to an intelligible form.
	24
	25	- [[https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2828][Internet Security Glossary
	26	(2000)]]
	27	#+end_quote
	28
	29	Cryptography cannot offer protection against the loss of data; it simply
	30	offers encryption methods to protect data at-rest and data in-traffic.
	31	At a high-level, encrypted is when plaintext data is encrypted to
	32	ciphertext (a secure form of text that cannot be understood unless
	33	decrypted back to plaintext). The encryption process is completed
	34	through the use of a mathematical function that utilizes one or more
	35	values called keys to encrypt or decrypt the data.
	36
	37	* Key Elements of Cryptographic Systems
	38
	39	To create or evaluate a cryptographic system, you need to know the
	40	essential pieces to the system:
	41
	42	- Encryption Algorithm (Primitive): A mathematical process that
	43	encrypts and decrypts data.
	44	- Encryption Key: A string of bits used within the encryption
	45	algorithm as the secret that allows successful encryption or
	46	decryption of data.
	47	- Key Length (Size): The maximum number of bits within the encryption
	48	key. It's important to remember that key size is regulated in many
	49	countries.
	50	- Message Digest: A smaller, fixed-size bit string version of the
	51	original message. This is practically infeasible to reverse, which is
	52	why it's commonly used to verify integrity.
	53
	54	* Symmetric Systems (Secret Key Cryptography)
	55
	56	Symmetric cryptography utilizes a secret, bidirectional key to perform
	57	both encryption and decryption of the data. The most common
	58	implementation of symmetric cryptography is the Advanced Encryption
	59	Standard, which uses keys that are 128 bits to 256 bits in size. This
	60	standard came after the National Institute of Standards and Technology
	61	(NIST) decided to retire the Data Encryption Standard (DES) in 2001.
	62
	63	Since brute force attacks strongly correlate with key length, the 56-bit
	64	key length of DES was considered insecure after it was publicly broken
	65	in under 24 hours. However, there is a modern implementation of DES
	66	called Triple DES where the DES method is applied three times to each
	67	data block.
	68
	69	The main advantages to symmetric systems are the ease of use, since only
	70	one key is required for both encryption and decryption, and the
	71	simplicity of the algorithms. This helps with bulk data encryption that
	72	may unnecessarily waste time and power using asymmetric systems.
	73
	74	However, symmetric systems have disadvantages to keep in mind. Since the
	75	key is private, it can be difficult to safely distribute keys to
	76	communication partners. Additionally, the key cannot be used to sign
	77	messages since it's necessary to keep the key private.
	78
	79	* Asymmetric Systems (Public Key Cryptography)
	80
	81	Asymmetric cryptography utilizes two keys within the system: a secret
	82	key that is privately-held and a public key that can be distributed
	83	freely. The interesting aspect of asymmetric cryptography is that either
	84	key can be used to encrypt the data, there's no rule that dictates which
	85	key must be used for encryption. Once one key is used to encrypt the
	86	data, only the other key can be used to decrypt the data. This means
	87	that if the private key encrypts the data, only the public key can
	88	decrypt the data.
	89
	90	An advantage of this system is that if you successfully decrypt data
	91	using one of the keys, you can be sure of the sender since only the
	92	other key could have encrypted the data.
	93
	94	One of the major implementations of an asymmetric system is a digital
	95	signature. A digital signature can be generated using the sender's
	96	private key, or a one-way hash function and is used to provide assurance
	97	for the integrity and authenticity of the message. A couple common
	98	message digest algorithms are SHA-256 and SHA-512, which securely
	99	compress data and produce a 128-bit message digest.
	100
	101	It should be noted that man-in-the-middle attacks are one of the risks
	102	with digital signatures and public keys. To combat this, applications
	103	often use a public key infrastructure (PKI) to independently
	104	authenticate the validity of signatures and keys.
	105
	106	Due to the large key size and
	107	[[https://crypto.stackexchange.com/a/591][inefficient mathematical
	108	functions]] of asymmetric encryption, elliptical curve cryptography
	109	(ECC) is often used to increase security while using fewer resources.
	110
	111	* Applications of Cryptographic Systems
	112
	113	There are quite a few implementations of cryptographic systems around
	114	the world. Here are a few popular examples:
	115
	116	Transport Layer Security (TLS): One of the most famous cryptographic
	117	solutions created is TLS, a session-layered or connection-layered
	118	internet protocol that allows for secure communications between browsers
	119	and servers. Using handshakes, peer negotiation, and authentication
	120	allows TLS to prevent eavesdropping and malicious transformation of
	121	data. The major reason for TLS popularity is that a major vulnerability
	122	was found in the SSL protocol in 2014. Instead of SSL, TLS can be used
	123	with HTTP to form HTTPS and is the preferred method for modern web
	124	development due to its increased security.
	125
	126	Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS): An application layer
	127	protocol that allows for secure transport of data between servers and
	128	web clients. One of the unique parts of HTTPS is that it uses a secured
	129	port number instead of the default web port address.
	130
	131	Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPNs are made to securely extend a
	132	private network across public networks by utilizing an encrypted layered
	133	tunneling protocol paired with an authentication method, such as
	134	usernames and passwords. This technology originally allowed remote
	135	employees to access their company's data but have evolved into one of
	136	the top choices for anyone who wishes to mask their sensitive personal
	137	data.
	138
	139	Internet Protocol Security (IPSec): This protocol suite facilitates
	140	communication between two or more hosts or subnets by authenticating and
	141	encrypting the data packets. IPSec is used in a lot of VPNs to establish
	142	the VPN connection through the transport and tunnel mode encryption
	143	methods. IPSec encrypts just the data portion of packets in the
	144	transport methods, but it encrypts both the data and headers in the
	145	tunnel method (introducing an additional header for authentication).
	146
	147	Secure Shell (SSH): SSH is another network protocol used to protect
	148	network services by authenticating users through a secure channel. This
	149	protocol is often used for command-line (shell) functions such as remote
	150	shell commands, logins, and file transfers.
	151
	152	Kerberos: Developed by MIT, Kerberos is a computer-network
	153	authentication protocol that works on the basis of tickets to allow
	154	nodes communicating over a non-secure network to prove their identity to
	155	one another securely. This is most commonly used in business
	156	environments when used as the authentication and encryption method for
	157	Windows Active Directory (AD).
	158
	159	* Cybersecurity Controls
	160
	161	If you're someone who needs solutions on how to control risks associated
	162	with utilizing a crytograhpic system, start with a few basic controls:
	163
	164	- Policies: A policy on the use of cryptographic controls for
	165	protection of information is implemented and is in accordance with
	166	organizational objectives.
	167	- Key management: A policy on the use, protection and lifetime of
	168	cryptographic keys is implemented through the entire application
	169	lifecycle.
	170	- Key size: The organization has researched the optimal key size for
	171	their purposes, considering national laws, required processing power,
	172	and longevity of the solution.
	173	- Algorithm selection: Implemented algorithms are sufficiently
	174	appropriate for the business of the organization, robust, and align
	175	with recommended guidelines.
	176	- Protocol configuration: Protocols have been reviewed and configured
	177	suitable to the purpose of the business.

content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.md deleted −111

		@@ -1,111 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-03-25
3		title = "Session Private Messenger"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Privacy Warning
9
10		The company behind Session (Loki Foundation) is from Australia. If you didn't
11		know, Australia has introduced
12		[legislation](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6195_aspassed/toc_pdf/18204b01.pdf)
13		mandating companies comply with government requests to build backdoor access
14		into applications. For more information, read my article on [AES
15		Encryption](./2020-01-25-aes-encryption.html).
16
17		# About Session
18
19		[Session](https://getsession.org) is a private, cross-platform messaging app
20		from the [Loki Foundation](https://loki.foundation). As someone who has spent
21		years looking for quality alternatives to major messaging apps, I was excited
22		when I first heard about Session. Reading through [Session's white
23		paper](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf), you can learn the technologies
24		behind the Session app. Part of the security of Session comes from the Signal
25		protocol, which was forked as the origin of Session.
26
27		> Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that removes sensitive metadata
28		> collection, and is designed for people who want privacy and freedom from any
29		> forms of surveillance.
30
31		In general, this app promises security through end-to-end encryption,
32		decentralized onion routing, and private identities. The biggest change that the
33		Loki Foundation has made to the Signal protocol is removing the need for a phone
34		number. Instead, a random identification string is generated for any session you
35		create. This means you can create a new session for each device if you want to,
36		or link new devices with your ID.
37
38		Since Session's website and white paper describe the details of Session's
39		security, I'm going to focus on using the app in this post.
40
41		# Features
42
43		Since most people are looking for an alternative to a popular chat app, I am
44		going to list out the features that Session has so that you are able to
45		determine if the app would suit your needs:
46
47		- Multiple device linking (via QR code or ID)
48		- App locking via device screen lock, password, or fingerprint
49		- Screenshot blocking
50		- Incognito keyboard
51		- Read receipts and typing indicators
52		- Mobile notification customization
53		- Old message deletion and conversation limit
54		- Backups
55		- Recovery phrase
56		- Account deletion, including ID, messages, sessions, and contacts
57
58		# Downloads
59
60		I have tested this app on Ubuntu 19.10, Android 10, macOS Monterey, and iOS 15.
61		All apps have worked well without many issues.
62
63		Below is a brief overview of the Session app on Linux. To get this app, you'll
64		need to go to the [Downloads](https://getsession.org/download/) page and click
65		to link to the operating system you're using.
66
67		For Linux, it will download an AppImage that you'll need to enable with the
68		following command:
69
70		```sh
71		sudo chmod u+x session-messenger-desktop-linux-x86_64-1.0.5.AppImage
72		```
73
74		# Creating an Account
75
76		Once you've installed the app, simply run the app and create your unique Session
77		ID. It will look something like this:
78		`05af1835afdd63c947b47705867501d6373f486aa1ae05b1f2f3fcd24570eba608`.
79
80		You'll need to set a display name and, optionally, a password. If you set a
81		password, you will need to enter it every time you open the app.
82
83		# Start Messaging
84
85		Once you've created your account and set up your profile details, the next step
86		is to start messaging other people. To do so, you'll need to share your Session
87		ID with other people. From this point, it's fairly straightforward and acts like
88		any other messaging app, so I won't dive into much detail here.
89
90		## macOS
91
92		One key feature to note is that the desktop application now provides a helpful
93		pop-up box explaining the process that Session uses to hide your IP address:
94
95		## iOS
96
97		The mobile app is quite simple and effective, giving you all the standard mobile
98		messaging options you'd expect.
99
100		# Potential Issues
101
102		I've discovered one annoying issue that would prevent from using this app
103		regularly. On a mobile device, there have been issues with receiving messages on
104		time. Even with battery optimization disabled and no network restrictions,
105		Session notifications sometimes do not display until I open the app or the
106		conversation itself and wait a few moments. This is actually one of the reasons
107		I stopped using Signal (this seems fixed as of my updates in 2021/2022, so I
108		wouldn't worry about this issue anymore).
109
110		Looking for another messenger instead of Session? I recommend Signal, Matrix,
111		and IRC.

content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.org added +116

		@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-03-25>
	2	#+title: Session Private Messenger
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Privacy Warning
	7
	8	The company behind Session (Loki Foundation) is from Australia. If you
	9	didn't know, Australia has introduced
	10	[[https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6195_aspassed/toc_pdf/18204b01.pdf][legislation]]
	11	mandating companies comply with government requests to build backdoor
	12	access into applications. For more information, read my article on
	13	[[./2020-01-25-aes-encryption.html][AES Encryption]].
	14
	15	* About Session
	16
	17	[[https://getsession.org][Session]] is a private, cross-platform
	18	messaging app from the [[https://loki.foundation][Loki Foundation]]. As
	19	someone who has spent years looking for quality alternatives to major
	20	messaging apps, I was excited when I first heard about Session. Reading
	21	through [[https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf][Session's white paper]],
	22	you can learn the technologies behind the Session app. Part of the
	23	security of Session comes from the Signal protocol, which was forked as
	24	the origin of Session.
	25
	26	#+begin_quote
	27	Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that removes sensitive
	28	metadata collection, and is designed for people who want privacy and
	29	freedom from any forms of surveillance.
	30	#+end_quote
	31
	32	In general, this app promises security through end-to-end encryption,
	33	decentralized onion routing, and private identities. The biggest change
	34	that the Loki Foundation has made to the Signal protocol is removing the
	35	need for a phone number. Instead, a random identification string is
	36	generated for any session you create. This means you can create a new
	37	session for each device if you want to, or link new devices with your
	38	ID.
	39
	40	Since Session's website and white paper describe the details of
	41	Session's security, I'm going to focus on using the app in this post.
	42
	43	* Features
	44
	45	Since most people are looking for an alternative to a popular chat app,
	46	I am going to list out the features that Session has so that you are
	47	able to determine if the app would suit your needs:
	48
	49	- Multiple device linking (via QR code or ID)
	50	- App locking via device screen lock, password, or fingerprint
	51	- Screenshot blocking
	52	- Incognito keyboard
	53	- Read receipts and typing indicators
	54	- Mobile notification customization
	55	- Old message deletion and conversation limit
	56	- Backups
	57	- Recovery phrase
	58	- Account deletion, including ID, messages, sessions, and contacts
	59
	60	* Downloads
	61
	62	I have tested this app on Ubuntu 19.10, Android 10, macOS Monterey, and
	63	iOS 15. All apps have worked well without many issues.
	64
	65	Below is a brief overview of the Session app on Linux. To get this app,
	66	you'll need to go to the [[https://getsession.org/download/][Downloads]]
	67	page and click to link to the operating system you're using.
	68
	69	For Linux, it will download an AppImage that you'll need to enable with
	70	the following command:
	71
	72	#+begin_src sh
	73	sudo chmod u+x session-messenger-desktop-linux-x86_64-1.0.5.AppImage
	74	#+end_src
	75
	76	* Creating an Account
	77
	78	Once you've installed the app, simply run the app and create your unique
	79	Session ID. It will look something like this:
	80	=05af1835afdd63c947b47705867501d6373f486aa1ae05b1f2f3fcd24570eba608=.
	81
	82	You'll need to set a display name and, optionally, a password. If you
	83	set a password, you will need to enter it every time you open the app.
	84
	85	* Start Messaging
	86
	87	Once you've created your account and set up your profile details, the
	88	next step is to start messaging other people. To do so, you'll need to
	89	share your Session ID with other people. From this point, it's fairly
	90	straightforward and acts like any other messaging app, so I won't dive
	91	into much detail here.
	92
	93	** macOS
	94
	95	One key feature to note is that the desktop application now provides a
	96	helpful pop-up box explaining the process that Session uses to hide your
	97	IP address:
	98
	99	** iOS
	100
	101	The mobile app is quite simple and effective, giving you all the
	102	standard mobile messaging options you'd expect.
	103
	104	* Potential Issues
	105
	106	I've discovered one annoying issue that would prevent from using this
	107	app regularly. On a mobile device, there have been issues with receiving
	108	messages on time. Even with battery optimization disabled and no network
	109	restrictions, Session notifications sometimes do not display until I
	110	open the app or the conversation itself and wait a few moments. This is
	111	actually one of the reasons I stopped using Signal (this seems fixed as
	112	of my updates in 2021/2022, so I wouldn't worry about this issue
	113	anymore).
	114
	115	Looking for another messenger instead of Session? I recommend Signal,
	116	Matrix, and IRC.

content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.md deleted −152

		@@ -1,152 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-05-03
3		title = "An Inside Look at My Home Lab"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is a Homelab?
9
10		Starting as a developer, I have largely stayed away from hardware-based hobbies
11		(other than building a gaming desktop). However, as the quarantine for COVID-19
12		stretches out further and further, I found myself bored and in search of new
13		hobbies. After spending the last few months browsing the
14		[r/homelab](https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/) subreddit, I decided it was time
15		to jump in and try things out for myself.
16
17		Since I am a beginner and just recently graduated from college, everything I've
18		done so far in my homelab is fairly low-budget.
19
20		# Hardware
21
22		## Raspberry Pi 4
23
24		Luckily, I had actually purchased a [Raspberry Pi
25		4](https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/) before the
26		quarantine started so that I could try to keep Plex Media Center running, even
27		while my desktop computer was turned off. I started here, using the Pi to hold
28		Plex and Pi-hole until I grew tired with the slow performance.
29
30		Here are the specifications for the Pi 4:
31
32		- Broadcom BCM2711, Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz
33		- 4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM
34		- Gigabit Ethernet
35		- H.265 (4kp60 decode), H264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode)
36		- 64 GB MicroSD Card
37
38		## Dell Optiplex 5040
39
40		Since I wasn't happy with the Pi as my main server, I turned to Craigslist. I
41		know a lot of other homelabbers use Ebay, but I can't seem to ever trust it
42		enough to purchase items on there. So I used Craigslist and found a Dell
43		Optiplex 5040 desktop computer on sale for $90. While this computer might be
44		underpowered, it was one of the few computers under $100 that was available
45		during quarantine.
46
47		Here are the specifications for the Dell Optiplex 5040:
48
49		- Intel Core i3 6100
50		- 8GB RAM DDR3
51		- Intel HD Graphics
52		- Gigabit Ethernet
53		- 500GB Hard Drive
54
55		While this hardware would be awful for a work computer or a gaming rig, it
56		turned out to be wonderful for my server purposes. The only limitation I have
57		found so far is the CPU. The i3-6100 only has enough power for a single 4k video
58		transcode at a time. I haven't tested more than three 1080p streams at a time,
59		but the maximum amount of streams I've ever actually used is two.
60
61		## WD easystore 10TB & 8TB
62
63		Application storage and temporary files are stored on the internal hard drive of
64		the server, but all media files (movies, tv, games, books, etc) are stored
65		externally on my WD easystore hard drive. Creating auto-boot configurations in
66		the `/etc/fstab` file on my server allows the hard drives to automatically mount
67		whenever I need to restart my server.
68
69		> Update: In March 2022, I shucked the hard drives out of their external cases,
70		> put some Kapton tape on the third power pin to prevent power shutdowns, and
71		> stuck them inside my server tower using internal SATA cables.
72
73		## Netgear Unmanaged Switch
74
75		To manage all the ethernet cords used by my homelab, my desktop, and my living
76		room media center, I purchased an 8-port gigabit ethernet switch for $50 at my
77		local computer store. This is probably much more than I should have spent on an
78		unmanaged switch, but I am comfortable with the choice.
79
80		## TP-Link Managed Switch
81
82		Since I use the unmanaged switch to group all living room devices together, I
83		use the managed switch to configure VLANs and secure my network.
84
85		## Arris TM1602A Modem & Sagecom Fast 5280 Router
86
87		My default modem and router, provided by my ISP, are fairly standard. The Arris
88		modem supports DOCSIS 3.0, which is something that I definitely wanted as a
89		minimum. The Sagecom router is also standard, no fancy bells or whistles.
90		However, it does support DHCP and DHCPv6, which is something you can use to
91		route all household traffic through a pi-hole or firewall.
92
93		## TP-Link EAP
94
95		In order to gain better control over the network, I use my own wireless access
96		point instead of the one included in the Sagecom router above. Now I can control
97		and organize all of my ethernet connections through the VLANs on the managed
98		switch and wireless connections through the VLANS on the EAP.
99
100		## Generic Printer
101
102		The last piece to my homelab is a standard wireless printer. Nothing special
103		here.
104
105		# Software
106
107		## Ubuntu Server 20.04
108
109		While the 20.04 version of Ubuntu was just released, I always like to experiment
110		with new features (and I don't mind breaking my system - it just gives me more
111		experience learning how to fix things). So, I have Ubuntu Server 20.04 installed
112		on the Dell Optiplex server and Ubuntu Server 19.10 installed on the Raspberry
113		Pi. Once I find an acceptable use for the Pi, I will most likely switch the
114		operating system.
115
116		## Docker
117
118		I am _very_ new to Docker, but I have had a lot of fun playing with it so far.
119		Docker is used to create containers that can hold all the contents of a system
120		without interfering with other software on the same system. So far, I have
121		successfully installed pi-hole, GitLab, Gogs, and Nextcloud in containers.
122		However, I opted to delete all of those so that I can reconfigure them more
123		professionally at a later time.
124
125		## Plex Media Server
126
127		Plex is a media center software that allows you to organize your movies, TV
128		shows, music, photos, and videos automatically. It will even download metadata
129		for you so that you can easily browse these collections.
130
131		## Pi-hole
132
133		Pi-hole is an alternative ad-blocker that runs at the DNS level, allowing you to
134		block traffic when it hits your network, so that you can reject any traffic you
135		deem to be bad. Pi-hole uses blacklists and whitelists to decide which traffic
136		block and, luckily, there are a lot of pre-made lists out there on Reddit,
137		GitHub, etc.
138
139		## Nextcloud
140
141		While I had trouble with the Docker version of Nextcloud, I was very successful
142		when setting up the snap version. Using this, I was able to map Nextcloud to a
143		subdomain of a domain I own in Namecheap. Additionally, Nextcloud has an
144		integration with Let's Encrypt that allows me to issue certificates
145		automatically to any new domain I authorize.
146
147		## Webmin
148
149		To monitor my servers, and the processes running on them, I use the Webmin
150		dashboard. This was fairly painless to set up, and I currently access it
151		straight through the server's IP address. In the future, I will be looking to
152		configure Webmin to use a custom domain just like Nextcloud.

content/blog/2020-05-03-homelab.org added +162

		@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-05-03>
	2	#+title: An Inside Look at My Home Lab
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is a Homelab?
	7
	8	Starting as a developer, I have largely stayed away from hardware-based
	9	hobbies (other than building a gaming desktop). However, as the
	10	quarantine for COVID-19 stretches out further and further, I found
	11	myself bored and in search of new hobbies. After spending the last few
	12	months browsing the [[https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/][r/homelab]]
	13	subreddit, I decided it was time to jump in and try things out for
	14	myself.
	15
	16	Since I am a beginner and just recently graduated from college,
	17	everything I've done so far in my homelab is fairly low-budget.
	18
	19	* Hardware
	20
	21	** Raspberry Pi 4
	22
	23	Luckily, I had actually purchased a
	24	[[https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/][Raspberry
	25	Pi 4]] before the quarantine started so that I could try to keep Plex
	26	Media Center running, even while my desktop computer was turned off. I
	27	started here, using the Pi to hold Plex and Pi-hole until I grew tired
	28	with the slow performance.
	29
	30	Here are the specifications for the Pi 4:
	31
	32	- Broadcom BCM2711, Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz
	33	- 4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM
	34	- Gigabit Ethernet
	35	- H.265 (4kp60 decode), H264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode)
	36	- 64 GB MicroSD Card
	37
	38	** Dell Optiplex 5040
	39
	40	Since I wasn't happy with the Pi as my main server, I turned to
	41	Craigslist. I know a lot of other homelabbers use Ebay, but I can't seem
	42	to ever trust it enough to purchase items on there. So I used Craigslist
	43	and found a Dell Optiplex 5040 desktop computer on sale for $90. While
	44	this computer might be underpowered, it was one of the few computers
	45	under $100 that was available during quarantine.
	46
	47	Here are the specifications for the Dell Optiplex 5040:
	48
	49	- Intel Core i3 6100
	50	- 8GB RAM DDR3
	51	- Intel HD Graphics
	52	- Gigabit Ethernet
	53	- 500GB Hard Drive
	54
	55	While this hardware would be awful for a work computer or a gaming rig,
	56	it turned out to be wonderful for my server purposes. The only
	57	limitation I have found so far is the CPU. The i3-6100 only has enough
	58	power for a single 4k video transcode at a time. I haven't tested more
	59	than three 1080p streams at a time, but the maximum amount of streams
	60	I've ever actually used is two.
	61
	62	** WD easystore 10TB & 8TB
	63
	64	Application storage and temporary files are stored on the internal hard
	65	drive of the server, but all media files (movies, tv, games, books, etc)
	66	are stored externally on my WD easystore hard drive. Creating auto-boot
	67	configurations in the =/etc/fstab= file on my server allows the hard
	68	drives to automatically mount whenever I need to restart my server.
	69
	70	#+begin_quote
	71	Update: In March 2022, I shucked the hard drives out of their external
	72	cases, put some Kapton tape on the third power pin to prevent power
	73	shutdowns, and stuck them inside my server tower using internal SATA
	74	cables.
	75	#+end_quote
	76
	77	** Netgear Unmanaged Switch
	78
	79	To manage all the ethernet cords used by my homelab, my desktop, and my
	80	living room media center, I purchased an 8-port gigabit ethernet switch
	81	for $50 at my local computer store. This is probably much more than I
	82	should have spent on an unmanaged switch, but I am comfortable with the
	83	choice.
	84
	85	** TP-Link Managed Switch
	86
	87	Since I use the unmanaged switch to group all living room devices
	88	together, I use the managed switch to configure VLANs and secure my
	89	network.
	90
	91	** Arris TM1602A Modem & Sagecom Fast 5280 Router
	92
	93	My default modem and router, provided by my ISP, are fairly standard.
	94	The Arris modem supports DOCSIS 3.0, which is something that I
	95	definitely wanted as a minimum. The Sagecom router is also standard, no
	96	fancy bells or whistles. However, it does support DHCP and DHCPv6, which
	97	is something you can use to route all household traffic through a
	98	pi-hole or firewall.
	99
	100	** TP-Link EAP
	101
	102	In order to gain better control over the network, I use my own wireless
	103	access point instead of the one included in the Sagecom router above.
	104	Now I can control and organize all of my ethernet connections through
	105	the VLANs on the managed switch and wireless connections through the
	106	VLANS on the EAP.
	107
	108	** Generic Printer
	109
	110	The last piece to my homelab is a standard wireless printer. Nothing
	111	special here.
	112
	113	* Software
	114
	115	** Ubuntu Server 20.04
	116
	117	While the 20.04 version of Ubuntu was just released, I always like to
	118	experiment with new features (and I don't mind breaking my system - it
	119	just gives me more experience learning how to fix things). So, I have
	120	Ubuntu Server 20.04 installed on the Dell Optiplex server and Ubuntu
	121	Server 19.10 installed on the Raspberry Pi. Once I find an acceptable
	122	use for the Pi, I will most likely switch the operating system.
	123
	124	** Docker
	125
	126	I am /very/ new to Docker, but I have had a lot of fun playing with it
	127	so far. Docker is used to create containers that can hold all the
	128	contents of a system without interfering with other software on the same
	129	system. So far, I have successfully installed pi-hole, GitLab, Gogs, and
	130	Nextcloud in containers. However, I opted to delete all of those so that
	131	I can reconfigure them more professionally at a later time.
	132
	133	** Plex Media Server
	134
	135	Plex is a media center software that allows you to organize your movies,
	136	TV shows, music, photos, and videos automatically. It will even download
	137	metadata for you so that you can easily browse these collections.
	138
	139	** Pi-hole
	140
	141	Pi-hole is an alternative ad-blocker that runs at the DNS level,
	142	allowing you to block traffic when it hits your network, so that you can
	143	reject any traffic you deem to be bad. Pi-hole uses blacklists and
	144	whitelists to decide which traffic block and, luckily, there are a lot
	145	of pre-made lists out there on Reddit, GitHub, etc.
	146
	147	** Nextcloud
	148
	149	While I had trouble with the Docker version of Nextcloud, I was very
	150	successful when setting up the snap version. Using this, I was able to
	151	map Nextcloud to a subdomain of a domain I own in Namecheap.
	152	Additionally, Nextcloud has an integration with Let's Encrypt that
	153	allows me to issue certificates automatically to any new domain I
	154	authorize.
	155
	156	** Webmin
	157
	158	To monitor my servers, and the processes running on them, I use the
	159	Webmin dashboard. This was fairly painless to set up, and I currently
	160	access it straight through the server's IP address. In the future, I
	161	will be looking to configure Webmin to use a custom domain just like
	162	Nextcloud.

content/blog/2020-05-19-customizing-ubuntu.md deleted −193

		@@ -1,193 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-05-19
3		title = "A Beginner's Guide: Customizing Ubuntu"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# More Information
9
10		For inspiration on designing your \*nix computer, check out the
11		[r/unixporn](https://libredd.it/r/unixporn) subreddit!
12
13		# Customizing Ubuntu
14
15		New to Linux and want to add a personal touch to your machine? One of the best
16		perks of Linux is that it is extremely customizable. You can change the
17		styles of the windows, shell (status bars/docks), icons, fonts, terminals, and
18		more.
19
20		In this post, I'm going to go through customization on Ubuntu 20.04 (GNOME)
21		since most new users tend to choose Ubuntu-based distros. If you've found a way
22		to install Arch with i3-gaps, I'm assuming you know how to find more advanced
23		tutorials out there on customizations.
24
25		## Required Tools
26
27		Ubuntu 20.04 ships with the default desktop environment
28		[Gnome](https://www.gnome.org/), which includes the handy `gnome-tweaks` tool to
29		quickly change designs. To install this, just open your terminal and enter the
30		following command:
31
32		```sh
33		sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
34		```
35
36		After you've finished installing the tool, simply launch the Tweaks application,
37		and you'll be able to access the various customization options available by
38		default on Ubuntu. You might even like some of the pre-installed options.
39
40		## GNOME Application Themes
41
42		To change the themes applied to applications in GNOME, you will need to change
43		the Applications dropdown in the Appearance section of Tweaks. To add more
44		themes, you will have to find your preferred theme online and follow the steps
45		below to have it show up in the Tweaks tool. While you may find themes anywhere,
46		one of the most popular sites for GNOME themes is
47		[gnome-look.org](https://www.gnome-look.org/). This website contains themes for
48		applications, shells, icons, and cursors.
49
50		Steps to import themes into Tweaks:
51
52		1. Download the theme.
53		2. These files are usually compressed (.zip, .tar.gz, .tar.xz), so you will need
54		to extract the contents. This is easiest when opening the file explorer,
55		right-clicking the compressed file, and choosing "Extract here."
56		3. Move the theme folder to `/usr/share/themes/`. You can do so with the
57		following command: `sudo mv theme-folder/ /usr/share/themes/`.
58		- Icons and cursors will be moved to the `/usr/share/icons/` folder.
59		- Fonts will be moved to the `/usr/share/fonts/` folder Alternatively, you
60		can move them to the `/usr/share/fonts/opentype/` or
61		`/usr/share/fonts/opentype/` folders, if you have a specific font type.
62		4. Close tweaks if it is open. Re-open Tweaks and your new theme will be
63		available in the Applications dropdown in the Appearance section of Tweaks.
64
65		If the theme is not showing up after you've moved it into the themes folder, you
66		may have uncompressed the folder into a sub-folder. You can check this by
67		entering the theme folder and listing the contents:
68
69		```sh
70		cd /usr/share/themes/Mojave-Dark && ls -la
71		```
72
73		This is an example of what the contents of your theme folder should look like.
74		If you just see another folder there, you should move that folder up into the
75		`/usr/share/themes/` folder.
76
77		```sh
78		cinnamon COPYING gnome-shell gtk-2.0 gtk-3.0 index.theme metacity-1 plank xfwm4
79		```
80
81		## GNOME Shell Themes
82
83		To change the appearance of the title bar, default dock, app menu, and other
84		parts of the GNOME shell, you'll need to install the [user
85		themes](https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/) extension on
86		[Gnome Extensions](https://extensions.gnome.org/). To be able to install
87		extensions, you will first need to install the browser extension that the
88		website instructs you to. See this screenshot for the blue box with a link to
89		the extension.
90
91		After the browser extension is installed, you will need to install the native
92		host connector:
93
94		```sh
95		sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell
96		```
97
98		Finally, you can go the [user
99		themes](https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/) extension page
100		and click the installation button. This will enable the Shell option in Tweaks.
101		Now you can move shell themes to the `/usr/share/themes` directory, using the
102		same steps mentioned in the previous section, and enable the new theme in
103		Tweaks.
104
105		## Icons & Cursors
106
107		Icons and cursors are installed exactly the same way, so I'm grouping these
108		together in this post. Both of these items will need to follow the same process
109		as installing themes, except you will want to move your font folders to the
110		`/usr/share/icons/` directory instead.
111
112		## Fonts
113
114		Fonts are one of the overlooked parts of customization, but a good font can make
115		the whole screen look different. For example, I have installed the [IBM
116		Plex](https://github.com/IBM/plex/releases) fonts on my system. This follows the
117		same process as installing themes, except you will want to move your font
118		folders to the `/usr/share/fonts/` directory instead.
119
120		## Terminal
121
122		If you spend a lot of time typing commands, you know how important the style and
123		functionality of the terminal is. After spending a lot of time using the default
124		GNOME terminal with [unix
125		shell](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)>), I decided to try some
126		different options. I ended up choosing
127		[Terminator](https://terminator-gtk3.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) with
128		[zsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell).
129
130		Terminator is great if you need to open multiple terminals at one time by simply
131		right-clicking and splitting the screen into as many terminals as you want.
132		While this project hasn't been updated in a while, [it is coming under new
133		development](https://github.com/gnome-terminator/terminator/issues/1). However,
134		this terminal is great and I haven't experienced any errors yet.
135
136		For the shell choice, I decided to choose zsh after trying it out on a fresh
137		Manjaro installation. Zsh is great if you like to change the themes of your
138		terminal, include icons, or add plugins.
139
140		The desktop uses the
141		[zsh-autosuggestions](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions) to
142		suggest past commands as you type. In addition, it suggests corrections if you
143		misspell a command. Lastly, it uses the `af-magic` theme, which adds dashed
144		lines between commands, moving the user@host tag to the right side of the
145		terminal, and changes the colors. There are plenty of plugins and themes to
146		choose from. Just figure out what you like and add it to your `~/.zshrc` file!
147
148		### Steps to Replicate My Terminal
149
150		To install zsh on Ubuntu, enter the following command into a terminal:
151
152		```sh
153		sudo apt install zsh
154		```
155
156		Then, enter the next command to activate zsh:
157
158		```sh
159		sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) $(whoami)
160		```
161
162		To install Terminator on Ubuntu:
163
164		```sh
165		sudo apt install terminator
166		```
167
168		To install Oh My Zsh on Ubuntu:
169
170		```sh
171		sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
172		```
173
174		To install zsh-autosuggestions via Oh My Zsh:
175
176		```sh
177		git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
178		```
179
180		Then, add the following plugin wording to your `~/.zshrc` file (the default
181		config usually has the `git` plugin activated, so just add any other plugins to
182		the parentheses separated by a space):
183
184		```sh
185		nano ~/.zshrc
186		```
187
188		```sh
189		plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
190		```
191
192		Finally, you need to log out of your computer and log back in so your user shell
193		can refresh.

content/blog/2020-05-19-customizing-ubuntu.org added +198

		@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-05-19>
	2	#+title: A Beginner's Guide: Customizing Ubuntu
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* More Information
	7
	8	For inspiration on designing your *nix computer, check out the
	9	[[https://libredd.it/r/unixporn][r/unixporn]] subreddit!
	10
	11	* Customizing Ubuntu
	12
	13	New to Linux and want to add a personal touch to your machine? One of
	14	the best perks of Linux is that it is extremely customizable. You can
	15	change the styles of the windows, shell (status bars/docks), icons,
	16	fonts, terminals, and more.
	17
	18	In this post, I'm going to go through customization on Ubuntu 20.04
	19	(GNOME) since most new users tend to choose Ubuntu-based distros. If
	20	you've found a way to install Arch with i3-gaps, I'm assuming you know
	21	how to find more advanced tutorials out there on customizations.
	22
	23	** Required Tools
	24
	25	Ubuntu 20.04 ships with the default desktop environment
	26	[[https://www.gnome.org/][Gnome]], which includes the handy
	27	=gnome-tweaks= tool to quickly change designs. To install this, just
	28	open your terminal and enter the following command:
	29
	30	#+begin_src sh
	31	sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
	32	#+end_src
	33
	34	After you've finished installing the tool, simply launch the Tweaks
	35	application, and you'll be able to access the various customization
	36	options available by default on Ubuntu. You might even like some of the
	37	pre-installed options.
	38
	39	** GNOME Application Themes
	40
	41	To change the themes applied to applications in GNOME, you will need to
	42	change the Applications dropdown in the Appearance section of Tweaks. To
	43	add more themes, you will have to find your preferred theme online and
	44	follow the steps below to have it show up in the Tweaks tool. While you
	45	may find themes anywhere, one of the most popular sites for GNOME themes
	46	is [[https://www.gnome-look.org/][gnome-look.org]]. This website
	47	contains themes for applications, shells, icons, and cursors.
	48
	49	Steps to import themes into Tweaks:
	50
	51	1. Download the theme.
	52	2. These files are usually compressed (.zip, .tar.gz, .tar.xz), so you
	53	will need to extract the contents. This is easiest when opening the
	54	file explorer, right-clicking the compressed file, and choosing
	55	"Extract here."
	56	3. Move the theme folder to =/usr/share/themes/=. You can do so with the
	57	following command: =sudo mv theme-folder/ /usr/share/themes/=.
	58	- Icons and cursors will be moved to the =/usr/share/icons/= folder.
	59	- Fonts will be moved to the =/usr/share/fonts/= folder
	60	Alternatively, you can move them to the
	61	=/usr/share/fonts/opentype/= or =/usr/share/fonts/opentype/=
	62	folders, if you have a specific font type.
	63	4. Close tweaks if it is open. Re-open Tweaks and your new theme will be
	64	available in the Applications dropdown in the Appearance section of
	65	Tweaks.
	66
	67	If the theme is not showing up after you've moved it into the themes
	68	folder, you may have uncompressed the folder into a sub-folder. You can
	69	check this by entering the theme folder and listing the contents:
	70
	71	#+begin_src sh
	72	cd /usr/share/themes/Mojave-Dark && ls -la
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	This is an example of what the contents of your theme folder should look
	76	like. If you just see another folder there, you should move that folder
	77	up into the =/usr/share/themes/= folder.
	78
	79	#+begin_src sh
	80	cinnamon COPYING gnome-shell gtk-2.0 gtk-3.0 index.theme metacity-1 plank xfwm4
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	** GNOME Shell Themes
	84
	85	To change the appearance of the title bar, default dock, app menu, and
	86	other parts of the GNOME shell, you'll need to install the
	87	[[https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/][user themes]]
	88	extension on [[https://extensions.gnome.org/][Gnome Extensions]]. To be
	89	able to install extensions, you will first need to install the browser
	90	extension that the website instructs you to. See this screenshot for the
	91	blue box with a link to the extension.
	92
	93	After the browser extension is installed, you will need to install the
	94	native host connector:
	95
	96	#+begin_src sh
	97	sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell
	98	#+end_src
	99
	100	Finally, you can go the
	101	[[https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/][user themes]]
	102	extension page and click the installation button. This will enable the
	103	Shell option in Tweaks. Now you can move shell themes to the
	104	=/usr/share/themes= directory, using the same steps mentioned in the
	105	previous section, and enable the new theme in Tweaks.
	106
	107	** Icons & Cursors
	108
	109	Icons and cursors are installed exactly the same way, so I'm grouping
	110	these together in this post. Both of these items will need to follow the
	111	same process as installing themes, except you will want to move your
	112	font folders to the =/usr/share/icons/= directory instead.
	113
	114	** Fonts
	115
	116	Fonts are one of the overlooked parts of customization, but a good font
	117	can make the whole screen look different. For example, I have installed
	118	the [[https://github.com/IBM/plex/releases][IBM Plex]] fonts on my
	119	system. This follows the same process as installing themes, except you
	120	will want to move your font folders to the =/usr/share/fonts/= directory
	121	instead.
	122
	123	** Terminal
	124
	125	If you spend a lot of time typing commands, you know how important the
	126	style and functionality of the terminal is. After spending a lot of time
	127	using the default GNOME terminal with
	128	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)][unix shell]], I
	129	decided to try some different options. I ended up choosing
	130	[[https://terminator-gtk3.readthedocs.io/en/latest/][Terminator]] with
	131	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell][zsh]].
	132
	133	Terminator is great if you need to open multiple terminals at one time
	134	by simply right-clicking and splitting the screen into as many terminals
	135	as you want. While this project hasn't been updated in a while,
	136	[[https://github.com/gnome-terminator/terminator/issues/1][it is coming
	137	under new development]]. However, this terminal is great and I haven't
	138	experienced any errors yet.
	139
	140	For the shell choice, I decided to choose zsh after trying it out on a
	141	fresh Manjaro installation. Zsh is great if you like to change the
	142	themes of your terminal, include icons, or add plugins.
	143
	144	The desktop uses the
	145	[[https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions][zsh-autosuggestions]]
	146	to suggest past commands as you type. In addition, it suggests
	147	corrections if you misspell a command. Lastly, it uses the =af-magic=
	148	theme, which adds dashed lines between commands, moving the user@host
	149	tag to the right side of the terminal, and changes the colors. There are
	150	plenty of plugins and themes to choose from. Just figure out what you
	151	like and add it to your =~/.zshrc= file!
	152
	153	*** Steps to Replicate My Terminal
	154
	155	To install zsh on Ubuntu, enter the following command into a terminal:
	156
	157	#+begin_src sh
	158	sudo apt install zsh
	159	#+end_src
	160
	161	Then, enter the next command to activate zsh:
	162
	163	#+begin_src sh
	164	sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) $(whoami)
	165	#+end_src
	166
	167	To install Terminator on Ubuntu:
	168
	169	#+begin_src sh
	170	sudo apt install terminator
	171	#+end_src
	172
	173	To install Oh My Zsh on Ubuntu:
	174
	175	#+begin_src sh
	176	sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
	177	#+end_src
	178
	179	To install zsh-autosuggestions via Oh My Zsh:
	180
	181	#+begin_src sh
	182	git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
	183	#+end_src
	184
	185	Then, add the following plugin wording to your =~/.zshrc= file (the
	186	default config usually has the =git= plugin activated, so just add any
	187	other plugins to the parentheses separated by a space):
	188
	189	#+begin_src sh
	190	nano ~/.zshrc
	191	#+end_src
	192
	193	#+begin_src sh
	194	plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
	195	#+end_src
	196
	197	Finally, you need to log out of your computer and log back in so your
	198	user shell can refresh.

content/blog/2020-07-20-video-game-sales.md → content/blog/2020-07-20-video-game-sales.org renamed +59 −60

		@@ -1,36 +1,35 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-07-20
3		title = "Data Exploration: Video Games Sales"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2020-07-20>
	2	#+title: Data Exploration: Video Games Sales
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Background Information
	5
	6	* Background Information
9	7
10	8	This dataset (obtained from
11		[Kaggle](https://www.kaggle.com/gregorut/videogamesales/data)) contains a list
12		of video games with sales greater than 100,000 copies. It was generated by a
13		scrape of vgchartz.com.
	9	[[https://www.kaggle.com/gregorut/videogamesales/data][Kaggle]])
	10	contains a list of video games with sales greater than 100,000 copies.
	11	It was generated by a scrape of vgchartz.com.
14	12
15	13	Fields include:
16	14
17		- Rank: Ranking of overall sales
18		- Name: The game name
19		- Platform: Platform of the game release (i.e. PC,PS4, etc.)
20		- Year: Year of the game's release
21		- Genre: Genre of the game
22		- Publisher: Publisher of the game
23		- NA~Sales~: Sales in North America (in millions)
24		- EU~Sales~: Sales in Europe (in millions)
25		- JP~Sales~: Sales in Japan (in millions)
26		- Other~Sales~: Sales in the rest of the world (in millions)
27		- Global~Sales~: Total worldwide sales.
	15	- Rank: Ranking of overall sales
	16	- Name: The game name
	17	- Platform: Platform of the game release (i.e. PC,PS4, etc.)
	18	- Year: Year of the game's release
	19	- Genre: Genre of the game
	20	- Publisher: Publisher of the game
	21	- NA_{Sales}: Sales in North America (in millions)
	22	- EU_{Sales}: Sales in Europe (in millions)
	23	- JP_{Sales}: Sales in Japan (in millions)
	24	- Other_{Sales}: Sales in the rest of the world (in millions)
	25	- Global_{Sales}: Total worldwide sales.
28	26
29		There are 16,598 records. 2 records were dropped due to incomplete information.
	27	There are 16,598 records. 2 records were dropped due to incomplete
	28	information.
30	29
31		# Import the Data
	30	* Import the Data
32	31
33		```python
	32	#+begin_src python
34	33	# Import the Python libraries we will be using
35	34	import pandas as pd
36	35	import numpy as np
		@@ -41,42 +40,42 @@ import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
41	40	file = r'video_game_sales.csv'
42	41	df = pd.read_csv(file)
43	42	df
44		```
	43	#+end_src
45	44
46		# Explore the Data
	45	* Explore the Data
47	46
48		```python
	47	#+begin_src python
49	48	# With the description function, we can see the basic stats. For example, we can
50	49	# also see that the 'Year' column has some incomplete values.
51	50	df.describe()
52		```
	51	#+end_src
53	52
54		```python
	53	#+begin_src python
55	54	# This function shows the rows and columns of NaN values. For example, df[179,3] = nan
56	55	np.where(pd.isnull(df))
57	56
58	57	(array([179, ..., 16553], dtype=int64),
59	58	array([3, ..., 5], dtype=int64))
60		```
	59	#+end_src
61	60
62		# Visualize the Data
	61	* Visualize the Data
63	62
64		```python
	63	#+begin_src python
65	64	# This function plots the global sales by platform
66	65	sns.catplot(x='Platform', y='Global_Sales', data=df, jitter=False).set_xticklabels(rotation=90)
67		```
	66	#+end_src
68	67
69		```python
	68	#+begin_src python
70	69	# This function plots the global sales by genre
71	70	sns.catplot(x='Genre', y='Global_Sales', data=df, jitter=False).set_xticklabels(rotation=45)
72		```
	71	#+end_src
73	72
74		```python
	73	#+begin_src python
75	74	# This function plots the global sales by year
76	75	sns.lmplot(x='Year', y='Global_Sales', data=df).set_xticklabels(rotation=45)
77		```
	76	#+end_src
78	77
79		```python
	78	#+begin_src python
80	79	# This function plots four different lines to show sales from different regions.
81	80	# The global sales plot line is commented-out, but can be included for comparison
82	81	df2 = df.groupby('Year').sum()
		@@ -100,11 +99,11 @@ ax.plot(years, d, label='Other_Sales')
100	99
101	100	ax.legend()
102	101	plt.show()
103		```
	102	#+end_src
104	103
105		## Investigate Outliers
	104	** Investigate Outliers
106	105
107		```python
	106	#+begin_src python
108	107	# Find the game with the highest sales in North America
109	108	df.loc[df['NA_Sales'].idxmax()]
110	109
		@@ -124,33 +123,33 @@ Name: 0, dtype: object
124	123	# Explore statistics in the year 2006 (highest selling year)
125	124	df3 = df[(df['Year'] == 2006)]
126	125	df3.describe()
127		```
	126	#+end_src
128	127
129		```python
	128	#+begin_src python
130	129	# Plot the results of the previous dataframe (games from 2006) - we can see the year's results were largely carried by Wii Sports
131	130	sns.catplot(x="Genre", y="Global_Sales", data=df3, jitter=False).set_xticklabels(rotation=45)
132		```
	131	#+end_src
133	132
134		```python
	133	#+begin_src python
135	134	# We can see 4 outliers in the graph above, so let's get the top 5 games from that dataframe
136	135	# The results below show that Nintendo had all top 5 games (3 on the Wii and 2 on the DS)
137	136	df3.sort_values(by=['Global_Sales'], ascending=False).head(5)
138		```
	137	#+end_src
139	138
140		# Discussion
	139	* Discussion
141	140
142		The purpose of exploring datasets is to ask questions, answer questions, and
143		discover intelligence that can be used to inform decision-making. So, what have
144		we found in this dataset?
	141	The purpose of exploring datasets is to ask questions, answer questions,
	142	and discover intelligence that can be used to inform decision-making.
	143	So, what have we found in this dataset?
145	144
146		Today we simply explored a publicly-available dataset to see what kind of
147		information it contained. During that exploration, we found that video game
148		sales peaked in 2006. That peak was largely due to Nintendo, who sold the top 5
149		games in 2006 and has a number of games in the top-10 list for the years
150		1980-2020. Additionally, the top four platforms by global sales (Wii, NES, GB,
151		DS) are owned by Nintendo.
	145	Today we simply explored a publicly-available dataset to see what kind
	146	of information it contained. During that exploration, we found that
	147	video game sales peaked in 2006. That peak was largely due to Nintendo,
	148	who sold the top 5 games in 2006 and has a number of games in the top-10
	149	list for the years 1980-2020. Additionally, the top four platforms by
	150	global sales (Wii, NES, GB, DS) are owned by Nintendo.
152	151
153		We didn't explore everything this dataset has to offer, but we can tell from a
154		brief analysis that Nintendo seems to rule sales in the video gaming world.
155		Further analysis could provide insight into which genres, regions, publishers,
156		or world events are correlated with sales.
	152	We didn't explore everything this dataset has to offer, but we can tell
	153	from a brief analysis that Nintendo seems to rule sales in the video
	154	gaming world. Further analysis could provide insight into which genres,
	155	regions, publishers, or world events are correlated with sales.

content/blog/2020-07-26-business-analysis.md → content/blog/2020-07-26-business-analysis.org renamed +102 −98

		@@ -1,32 +1,30 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-07-26
3		title = "Algorithmically Analyzing Local Businesses "
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2020-07-26>
	2	#+title: Algorithmically Analyzing Local Businesses
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Background Information
9	5
10		This project aims to help investors learn more about a random city in order to
11		determine optimal locations for business investments. The data used in this
12		project was obtained using Foursquare's developer API.
	6	* Background Information
	7
	8	This project aims to help investors learn more about a random city in
	9	order to determine optimal locations for business investments. The data
	10	used in this project was obtained using Foursquare's developer API.
13	11
14	12	Fields include:
15	13
16		- Venue Name
17		- Venue Category
18		- Venue Latitude
19		- Venue Longitude
	14	- Venue Name
	15	- Venue Category
	16	- Venue Latitude
	17	- Venue Longitude
20	18
21		There are 232 records found using the center of Lincoln as the area of interest
22		with a radius of 10,000.
	19	There are 232 records found using the center of Lincoln as the area of
	20	interest with a radius of 10,000.
23	21
24		# Import the Data
	22	* Import the Data
25	23
26		The first step is the simplest: import the applicable libraries. We will be
27		using the libraries below for this project.
	24	The first step is the simplest: import the applicable libraries. We will
	25	be using the libraries below for this project.
28	26
29		```python
	27	#+begin_src python
30	28	# Import the Python libraries we will be using
31	29	import pandas as pd
32	30	import requests
		@@ -35,29 +33,29 @@ import math
35	33	import json
36	34	from pandas.io.json import json_normalize
37	35	from sklearn.cluster import KMeans
38		```
	36	#+end_src
39	37
40		To begin our analysis, we need to import the data for this project. The data we
41		are using in this project comes directly from the Foursquare API. The first step
42		is to get the latitude and longitude of the city being studied (Lincoln, NE) and
43		setting up the folium map.
	38	To begin our analysis, we need to import the data for this project. The
	39	data we are using in this project comes directly from the Foursquare
	40	API. The first step is to get the latitude and longitude of the city
	41	being studied (Lincoln, NE) and setting up the folium map.
44	42
45		```python
	43	#+begin_src python
46	44	# Define the latitude and longitude, then map the results
47	45	latitude = 40.806862
48	46	longitude = -96.681679
49	47	map_LNK = folium.Map(location=[latitude, longitude], zoom_start=12)
50	48
51	49	map_LNK
52		```
	50	#+end_src
53	51
54		Now that we have defined our city and created the map, we need to go get the
55		business data. The Foursquare API will limit the results to 100 per API call, so
56		we use our first API call below to determine the total results that Foursquare
57		has found. Since the total results are 232, we perform the API fetching process
58		three times (100 + 100 + 32 = 232).
	52	Now that we have defined our city and created the map, we need to go get
	53	the business data. The Foursquare API will limit the results to 100 per
	54	API call, so we use our first API call below to determine the total
	55	results that Foursquare has found. Since the total results are 232, we
	56	perform the API fetching process three times (100 + 100 + 32 = 232).
59	57
60		```python
	58	#+begin_src python
61	59	# Foursquare API credentials
62	60	CLIENT_ID = 'your-client-id'
63	61	CLIENT_SECRET = 'your-client-secret'
		@@ -115,18 +113,19 @@ url3 = 'https://api.foursquare.com/v2/venues/explore?&client_id={}&client_secret
115	113
116	114	# Fetch the final results (201 - 232)
117	115	results3 = requests.get(url3).json()
118		```
	116	#+end_src
119	117
120		# Clean the Data
	118	* Clean the Data
121	119
122		Now that we have our data in three separate dataframes, we need to combine them
123		into a single dataframe and make sure to reset the index so that we have a
124		unique ID for each business. The `get~categorytype~` function below will pull
125		the categories and name from each business's entry in the Foursquare data
126		automatically. Once all the data has been labeled and combined, the results are
127		stored in the `nearby_venues` dataframe.
	120	Now that we have our data in three separate dataframes, we need to
	121	combine them into a single dataframe and make sure to reset the index so
	122	that we have a unique ID for each business. The =get~categorytype~=
	123	function below will pull the categories and name from each business's
	124	entry in the Foursquare data automatically. Once all the data has been
	125	labeled and combined, the results are stored in the =nearby_venues=
	126	dataframe.
128	127
129		```python
	128	#+begin_src python
130	129	# This function will extract the category of the venue from the API dictionary
131	130	def get_category_type(row):
132	131	try:
		@@ -189,15 +188,15 @@ nearby_venues3.columns = [col.split(".")[-1] for col in nearby_venues3.columns]
189	188	nearby_venues = nearby_venues.append(nearby_venues3)
190	189	nearby_venues = nearby_venues.reset_index(drop=True)
191	190	nearby_venues
192		```
	191	#+end_src
193	192
194		# Visualize the Data
	193	* Visualize the Data
195	194
196		We now have a complete, clean data set. The next step is to visualize this data
197		onto the map we created earlier. We will be using folium's `CircleMarker()`
198		function to do this.
	195	We now have a complete, clean data set. The next step is to visualize
	196	this data onto the map we created earlier. We will be using folium's
	197	=CircleMarker()= function to do this.
199	198
200		```python
	199	#+begin_src python
201	200	# add markers to map
202	201	for lat, lng, name, categories in zip(nearby_venues['lat'], nearby_venues['lng'], nearby_venues['name'], nearby_venues['categories']):
203	202	label = '{} ({})'.format(name, categories)
		@@ -213,20 +212,21 @@ for lat, lng, name, categories in zip(nearby_venues['lat'], nearby_venues['lng']
213	212	).add_to(map_LNK)
214	213
215	214	map_LNK
216		```
	215	#+end_src
217	216
218		# Clustering: _k-means_
	217	* Clustering: /k-means/
219	218
220		To cluster the data, we will be using the _k-means_ algorithm. This algorithm is
221		iterative and will automatically make sure that data points in each cluster are
222		as close as possible to each other, while being as far as possible away from
223		other clusters.
	219	To cluster the data, we will be using the /k-means/ algorithm. This
	220	algorithm is iterative and will automatically make sure that data points
	221	in each cluster are as close as possible to each other, while being as
	222	far as possible away from other clusters.
224	223
225		However, we first have to figure out how many clusters to use (defined as the
226		variable _'k'_). To do so, we will use the next two functions to calculate the
227		sum of squares within clusters and then return the optimal number of clusters.
	224	However, we first have to figure out how many clusters to use (defined
	225	as the variable /'k'/). To do so, we will use the next two functions to
	226	calculate the sum of squares within clusters and then return the optimal
	227	number of clusters.
228	228
229		```python
	229	#+begin_src python
230	230	# This function will return the sum of squares found in the data
231	231	def calculate_wcss(data):
232	232	wcss = []
		@@ -260,13 +260,13 @@ def optimal_number_of_clusters(wcss):
260	260
261	261	# calculating the optimal number of clusters
262	262	n = optimal_number_of_clusters(sum_of_squares)
263		```
	263	#+end_src
264	264
265		Now that we have found that our optimal number of clusters is six, we need to
266		perform k-means clustering. When this clustering occurs, each business is
267		assigned a cluster number from 0 to 5 in the dataframe.
	265	Now that we have found that our optimal number of clusters is six, we
	266	need to perform k-means clustering. When this clustering occurs, each
	267	business is assigned a cluster number from 0 to 5 in the dataframe.
268	268
269		```python
	269	#+begin_src python
270	270	# set number of clusters equal to the optimal number
271	271	kclusters = n
272	272
		@@ -275,12 +275,13 @@ kmeans = KMeans(n_clusters=kclusters, random_state=0).fit(cluster_df)
275	275
276	276	# add clustering labels to dataframe
277	277	nearby_venues.insert(0, 'Cluster Labels', kmeans.labels_)
278		```
	278	#+end_src
279	279
280		Success! We now have a dataframe with clean business data, along with a cluster
281		number for each business. Now let's map the data using six different colors.
	280	Success! We now have a dataframe with clean business data, along with a
	281	cluster number for each business. Now let's map the data using six
	282	different colors.
282	283
283		```python
	284	#+begin_src python
284	285	# create map with clusters
285	286	map_clusters = folium.Map(location=[latitude, longitude], zoom_start=12)
286	287	colors = ['#0F9D58', '#DB4437', '#4285F4', '#800080', '#ce12c0', '#171717']
		@@ -299,30 +300,31 @@ for lat, lng, name, categories, cluster in zip(nearby_venues['lat'], nearby_venu
299	300	fill_opacity=0.7).add_to(map_clusters)
300	301
301	302	map_clusters
302		```
	303	#+end_src
303	304
304		# Investigate Clusters
	305	* Investigate Clusters
305	306
306		Now that we have figured out our clusters, let's do a little more analysis to
307		provide more insight into the clusters. With the information below, we can see
308		which clusters are more popular for businesses and which are less popular. The
309		results below show us that clusters 0 through 3 are popular, while clusters 4
310		and 5 are not very popular at all.
	307	Now that we have figured out our clusters, let's do a little more
	308	analysis to provide more insight into the clusters. With the information
	309	below, we can see which clusters are more popular for businesses and
	310	which are less popular. The results below show us that clusters 0
	311	through 3 are popular, while clusters 4 and 5 are not very popular at
	312	all.
311	313
312		```python
	314	#+begin_src python
313	315	# Show how many venues are in each cluster
314	316	color_names = ['Dark Green', 'Red', 'Blue', 'Purple', 'Pink', 'Black']
315	317	for x in range(0,6):
316	318	print("Color of Cluster", x, ":", color_names[x])
317	319	print("Venues found in Cluster", x, ":", nearby_venues.loc[nearby_venues['Cluster Labels'] == x, nearby_venues.columns[:]].shape[0])
318	320	print("---")
319		```
	321	#+end_src
320	322
321		Our last piece of analysis is to summarize the categories of businesses within
322		each cluster. With these results, we can clearly see that restaurants, coffee
323		shops, and grocery stores are the most popular.
	323	Our last piece of analysis is to summarize the categories of businesses
	324	within each cluster. With these results, we can clearly see that
	325	restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores are the most popular.
324	326
325		```python
	327	#+begin_src python
326	328	# Calculate how many venues there are in each category
327	329	# Sort from largest to smallest
328	330	temp_df = nearby_venues.drop(columns=['name', 'lat', 'lng'])
		@@ -342,21 +344,23 @@ with pd.option_context('display.max_rows', None, 'display.max_columns', None):
342	344	print("\n\n", "Cluster 3:", "\n", cluster3_grouped.loc[cluster3_grouped['Cluster Labels'] > 1])
343	345	print("\n\n", "Cluster 4:", "\n", cluster4_grouped.loc[cluster4_grouped['Cluster Labels'] > 1])
344	346	print("\n\n", "Cluster 5:", "\n", cluster5_grouped.loc[cluster5_grouped['Cluster Labels'] > 1])
345		```
346
347		# Discussion
348
349		In this project, we gathered location data for Lincoln, Nebraska, USA and
350		clustered the data using the k-means algorithm in order to identify the unique
351		clusters of businesses in Lincoln. Through these actions, we found that there
352		are six unique business clusters in Lincoln and that two of the clusters are
353		likely unsuitable for investors. The remaining four clusters have a variety of
354		businesses, but are largely dominated by restaurants and grocery stores.
355
356		Using this project, investors can now make more informed decisions when deciding
357		the location and category of business in which to invest.
358
359		Further studies may involve other attributes for business locations, such as
360		population density, average wealth across the city, or crime rates. In addition,
361		further studies may include additional location data and businesses by utilizing
362		multiple sources, such as Google Maps and OpenStreetMap.
	347	#+end_src
	348
	349	* Discussion
	350
	351	In this project, we gathered location data for Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
	352	and clustered the data using the k-means algorithm in order to identify
	353	the unique clusters of businesses in Lincoln. Through these actions, we
	354	found that there are six unique business clusters in Lincoln and that
	355	two of the clusters are likely unsuitable for investors. The remaining
	356	four clusters have a variety of businesses, but are largely dominated by
	357	restaurants and grocery stores.
	358
	359	Using this project, investors can now make more informed decisions when
	360	deciding the location and category of business in which to invest.
	361
	362	Further studies may involve other attributes for business locations,
	363	such as population density, average wealth across the city, or crime
	364	rates. In addition, further studies may include additional location data
	365	and businesses by utilizing multiple sources, such as Google Maps and
	366	OpenStreetMap.

content/blog/2020-08-22-redirect-github-pages.md deleted −124

		@@ -1,124 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-08-22
3		title = "Redirect GitHub Pages from Subdomain to the Top-Level Domain"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Short answer
9
10		## Step 1
11
12		Add a new file CNAME to your GitHub Pages repository containing only one line:
13		your top-level domain name. E.g.: `example.com`
14
15		## Step 2
16
17		[Optional] but highly recommended
18
19		2.1: Remove all other top-level records (prefixed with @) of type A from your
20		DNS configuration.
21
22		2.2: Remove a CNAME record for the second-level domain www if it is present.
23
24		## Step 3
25
26		Add these 5 entries to the very top of your DNS configuration:
27
28		```txt
29		@ A 185.199.108.153
30		@ A 185.199.109.153
31		@ A 185.199.110.153
32		@ A 185.199.111.153
33		www CNAME your_github_username.github.io.
34		```
35
36		Replace `your_github_username` with your actual GitHub username.
37
38		## Step 4
39
40		Wait for your DNS changes to propagate. DNS changes aren't effective
41		immediately. They can take up to a full day to propagate.
42
43		# Long answer
44
45		This issue has two sides. One is the DNS configuration itself. Another one is
46		the way GitHub Pages will forward HTTP requests.
47
48		We need to know a few things to understand what GitHub is trying to say in their
49		documentation.
50
51		## DNS Entry Types
52
53		There are two types of DNS records which interest us: CNAME and A.
54
55		`A` is also known as `Apex` or sometimes as `root entry`. It forwards requests
56		to a specified fixed IP address. `CNAME` entry forwards requests to a specified
57		URL (actual valid plain text URL, not an IP address).
58
59		## DNS Load balancing
60
61		GitHub has one central URL address which accepts all DNS requests for GitHub
62		Pages: `http://username.github.io`. That URL is resolved to different IP
63		addresses based on your geographical location. Website hosted on GitHub Pages is
64		a simple collection of `HTML`, `CSS` and `JS` files. GitHub distributes these
65		files to different servers across the globe. So that when your browser sends a
66		request from Europe, it receives data from a server in Europe. The same is valid
67		for the requests from Asia and the USA.
68
69		## What GitHub is trying to say
70
71		Since `A` records in DNS must contain IP addresses, and they must be either
72		`185.199.108.153` or `185.199.109.153` or `185.199.110.153` or
73		`185.199.111.153`, there is no way to forward requests to a server located
74		somewhere in Europe or Asia. Your website hosted at GitHub Pages will be
75		downloaded from a central GitHub Pages server. There is a minor risk that if
76		GitHub Pages DNS servers (`x.x.x.153`) are down for some reason, all custom
77		domains which use fixed GitHub Pages IP addresses will not be accessible (their
78		DNS requests will not be resolvable).
79
80		That is why GitHub strongly suggests to either use a second-level domain for
81		your GitHub Pages (e.g. `blog.example.com`) or use a DNS service provider that
82		supports a record type `ALIAS` that acts as `A` record but forwards request to a
83		URL address (e.g. `username.github.io`) instead of a fixed IP address.
84
85		## How GitHub Pages treats HTTP requests
86
87		After a DNS request for `your_github_username.github.io` is resolved into an IP
88		address, e.g. `185.199.108.153` your browser sends an HTTP request to that
89		server with an HTTP header `Host`. Below are `curl` examples that load the same
90		website (these examples might not work if you are behind a proxy server):
91
92		```sh
93		curl --header "Host: your_github_username.github.io" http://185.199.108.153/
94		curl --header "Host: www.example.com" http://185.199.108.153/
95		curl --header "Host: example.com" http://185.199.108.153/
96		```
97
98		This way GitHub Pages servers know which user website to serve.
99
100		> GitHub Pages server will automatically redirect HTTP requests to the top-level
101		> domain if your `CNAME` file contains `example.com` but `www.example.com` is
102		> requested.
103		>
104		> The same is valid if your `CNAME` file contains `www.example.com` but the
105		> header `Host` in the `HTTP` request contains `example.com`.
106
107		## Why can't I add a `CNAME` record entry that accepts a top-level request (`@`) to my DNS configuration?
108
109		Quote from the GitHub Pages documentation:
110
111		> Warning: Do not create a CNAME record for your custom apex domain! Doing so
112		> may cause issues with other services, such as email, on that domain.
113
114		## References:
115
116		1. [Setting up a custom domain with GitHub
117		Pages](https://docs.github.com/en/github/working-with-github-pages/configuring-a-custom-domain-for-your-github-pages-site)
118		2. [My custom domain isn't
119		working](https://docs.github.com/en/github/working-with-github-pages/troubleshooting-custom-domains-and-github-pages)
120		3. [Cannot access my GitHub Pages website by IP
121		Address](https://serverfault.com/questions/589370/cannot-access-my-github-pages-website-by-ip-address)
122		4. [How do I set up GitHub Pages to redirect DNS requests from a subdomain (e.g.
123		www) to the top-level domain (TLD, Apex
124		record)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23375422/how-do-i-set-up-github-pages-to-redirect-dns-requests-from-a-subdomain-e-g-www)

content/blog/2020-08-22-redirect-github-pages.org added +131

		@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-08-22>
	2	#+title: Redirect GitHub Pages from Subdomain to the Top-Level Domain
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Short answer
	7
	8	** Step 1
	9
	10	Add a new file CNAME to your GitHub Pages repository containing only one
	11	line: your top-level domain name. E.g.: =example.com=
	12
	13	** Step 2
	14
	15	[Optional] but highly recommended
	16
	17	2.1: Remove all other top-level records (prefixed with @) of type A from
	18	your DNS configuration.
	19
	20	2.2: Remove a CNAME record for the second-level domain www if it is
	21	present.
	22
	23	** Step 3
	24
	25	Add these 5 entries to the very top of your DNS configuration:
	26
	27	#+begin_src txt
	28	@ A 185.199.108.153
	29	@ A 185.199.109.153
	30	@ A 185.199.110.153
	31	@ A 185.199.111.153
	32	www CNAME your_github_username.github.io.
	33	#+end_src
	34
	35	Replace =your_github_username= with your actual GitHub username.
	36
	37	** Step 4
	38
	39	Wait for your DNS changes to propagate. DNS changes aren't effective
	40	immediately. They can take up to a full day to propagate.
	41
	42	* Long answer
	43
	44	This issue has two sides. One is the DNS configuration itself. Another
	45	one is the way GitHub Pages will forward HTTP requests.
	46
	47	We need to know a few things to understand what GitHub is trying to say
	48	in their documentation.
	49
	50	** DNS Entry Types
	51
	52	There are two types of DNS records which interest us: CNAME and A.
	53
	54	=A= is also known as =Apex= or sometimes as =root entry=. It forwards
	55	requests to a specified fixed IP address. =CNAME= entry forwards
	56	requests to a specified URL (actual valid plain text URL, not an IP
	57	address).
	58
	59	** DNS Load balancing
	60
	61	GitHub has one central URL address which accepts all DNS requests for
	62	GitHub Pages: =http://username.github.io=. That URL is resolved to
	63	different IP addresses based on your geographical location. Website
	64	hosted on GitHub Pages is a simple collection of =HTML=, =CSS= and =JS=
	65	files. GitHub distributes these files to different servers across the
	66	globe. So that when your browser sends a request from Europe, it
	67	receives data from a server in Europe. The same is valid for the
	68	requests from Asia and the USA.
	69
	70	** What GitHub is trying to say
	71
	72	Since =A= records in DNS must contain IP addresses, and they must be
	73	either =185.199.108.153= or =185.199.109.153= or =185.199.110.153= or
	74	=185.199.111.153=, there is no way to forward requests to a server
	75	located somewhere in Europe or Asia. Your website hosted at GitHub Pages
	76	will be downloaded from a central GitHub Pages server. There is a minor
	77	risk that if GitHub Pages DNS servers (=x.x.x.153=) are down for some
	78	reason, all custom domains which use fixed GitHub Pages IP addresses
	79	will not be accessible (their DNS requests will not be resolvable).
	80
	81	That is why GitHub strongly suggests to either use a second-level domain
	82	for your GitHub Pages (e.g. =blog.example.com=) or use a DNS service
	83	provider that supports a record type =ALIAS= that acts as =A= record but
	84	forwards request to a URL address (e.g. =username.github.io=) instead of
	85	a fixed IP address.
	86
	87	** How GitHub Pages treats HTTP requests
	88
	89	After a DNS request for =your_github_username.github.io= is resolved
	90	into an IP address, e.g. =185.199.108.153= your browser sends an HTTP
	91	request to that server with an HTTP header =Host=. Below are =curl=
	92	examples that load the same website (these examples might not work if
	93	you are behind a proxy server):
	94
	95	#+begin_src sh
	96	curl --header "Host: your_github_username.github.io" http://185.199.108.153/
	97	curl --header "Host: www.example.com" http://185.199.108.153/
	98	curl --header "Host: example.com" http://185.199.108.153/
	99	#+end_src
	100
	101	This way GitHub Pages servers know which user website to serve.
	102
	103	#+begin_quote
	104	GitHub Pages server will automatically redirect HTTP requests to the
	105	top-level domain if your =CNAME= file contains =example.com= but
	106	=www.example.com= is requested.
	107
	108	The same is valid if your =CNAME= file contains =www.example.com= but
	109	the header =Host= in the =HTTP= request contains =example.com=.
	110	#+end_quote
	111
	112	** Why can't I add a =CNAME= record entry that accepts a top-level request (=@=) to my DNS configuration?
	113
	114	Quote from the GitHub Pages documentation:
	115
	116	#+begin_quote
	117	Warning: Do not create a CNAME record for your custom apex domain! Doing
	118	so may cause issues with other services, such as email, on that domain.
	119	#+end_quote
	120
	121	** References:
	122
	123	1. [[https://docs.github.com/en/github/working-with-github-pages/configuring-a-custom-domain-for-your-github-pages-site][Setting
	124	up a custom domain with GitHub Pages]]
	125	2. [[https://docs.github.com/en/github/working-with-github-pages/troubleshooting-custom-domains-and-github-pages][My
	126	custom domain isn't working]]
	127	3. [[https://serverfault.com/questions/589370/cannot-access-my-github-pages-website-by-ip-address][Cannot
	128	access my GitHub Pages website by IP Address]]
	129	4. [[https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23375422/how-do-i-set-up-github-pages-to-redirect-dns-requests-from-a-subdomain-e-g-www][How
	130	do I set up GitHub Pages to redirect DNS requests from a subdomain
	131	(e.g. www) to the top-level domain (TLD, Apex record)?]]

content/blog/2020-08-29-php-auth-flow.md → content/blog/2020-08-29-php-auth-flow.org renamed +74 −72

		@@ -1,23 +1,22 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-08-29
3		title = "PHP Authentication Flow"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Introduction
9
10		When creating websites that will allow users to create accounts, the developer
11		always needs to consider the proper authentication flow for their app. For
12		example, some developers will utilize an API for authentication, some will use
13		OAuth, and some may just use their own simple database.
14
15		For those using pre-built libraries, authentication may simply be a problem of
16		copying and pasting the code from their library's documentation. For example,
17		here's the code I use to authenticate users with the Tumblr OAuth API for my
18		Tumblr client, Vox Populi:
19
20		```php
	1	#+date: <2020-08-29>
	2	#+title: PHP Authentication Flow
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Introduction
	7
	8	When creating websites that will allow users to create accounts, the
	9	developer always needs to consider the proper authentication flow for
	10	their app. For example, some developers will utilize an API for
	11	authentication, some will use OAuth, and some may just use their own
	12	simple database.
	13
	14	For those using pre-built libraries, authentication may simply be a
	15	problem of copying and pasting the code from their library's
	16	documentation. For example, here's the code I use to authenticate users
	17	with the Tumblr OAuth API for my Tumblr client, Vox Populi:
	18
	19	#+begin_src php
21	20	// Start the session
22	21	session_start();
23	22
		@@ -38,27 +37,28 @@ $client = new Tumblr\API\Client(
38	37	$token,
39	38	$token_secret
40	39	);
41		```
	40	#+end_src
42	41
43		However, developers creating authentication flows from scratch will need to
44		think carefully about when to make sure a web page will check the user's
45		authenticity.
	42	However, developers creating authentication flows from scratch will need
	43	to think carefully about when to make sure a web page will check the
	44	user's authenticity.
46	45
47		In this article, we're going to look at a simple authentication flow using a
48		MySQL database and PHP.
	46	In this article, we're going to look at a simple authentication flow
	47	using a MySQL database and PHP.
49	48
50		# Creating User Accounts
	49	* Creating User Accounts
51	50
52		The beginning to any type of user authentication is to create a user account.
53		This process can take many formats, but the simplest is to accept user input
54		from a form (e.g., username and password) and send it over to your database. For
55		example, here's a snippet that shows how to get username and password parameters
56		that would come when a user submits a form to your PHP script.
	51	The beginning to any type of user authentication is to create a user
	52	account. This process can take many formats, but the simplest is to
	53	accept user input from a form (e.g., username and password) and send it
	54	over to your database. For example, here's a snippet that shows how to
	55	get username and password parameters that would come when a user submits
	56	a form to your PHP script.
57	57
58		Note: Ensure that your password column is large enough to hold the hashed
59		value (at least 60 characters or longer).
	58	Note: Ensure that your password column is large enough to hold the
	59	hashed value (at least 60 characters or longer).
60	60
61		```php
	61	#+begin_src php
62	62	// Get the values from the URL
63	63	$username = $_POST['username'];
64	64	$raw_password = $_POST['password'];
		@@ -91,15 +91,15 @@ if ($conn->query($sql) === TRUE) {
91	91	}
92	92
93	93	$conn->close();
94		```
	94	#+end_src
95	95
96		## Validate Returning Users
	96	** Validate Returning Users
97	97
98		To be able to verify that a returning user has a valid username and password in
99		your database is as simple as having users fill out a form and comparing their
100		inputs to your database.
	98	To be able to verify that a returning user has a valid username and
	99	password in your database is as simple as having users fill out a form
	100	and comparing their inputs to your database.
101	101
102		```php
	102	#+begin_src php
103	103	// Query the database for username and password
104	104	// ...
105	105
		@@ -110,41 +110,42 @@ if(password_verify($password_input, $hashed_password)) {
110	110
111	111	// Else, Redirect them back to the login page.
112	112	...
113		```
	113	#+end_src
114	114
115		# Storing Authentication State
	115	* Storing Authentication State
116	116
117		Once you've created the user's account, now you're ready to initialize the
118		user's session. **You will need to do this on every page you load while the user
119		is logged in.** To do so, simply enter the following code snippet:
	117	Once you've created the user's account, now you're ready to initialize
	118	the user's session. *You will need to do this on every page you load
	119	while the user is logged in.* To do so, simply enter the following code
	120	snippet:
120	121
121		```php
	122	#+begin_src php
122	123	session_start();
123		```
	124	#+end_src
124	125
125		Once you've initialized the session, the next step is to store the session in a
126		cookie so that you can access it later.
	126	Once you've initialized the session, the next step is to store the
	127	session in a cookie so that you can access it later.
127	128
128		```php
	129	#+begin_src php
129	130	setcookie(session_name());
130		```
	131	#+end_src
131	132
132		Now that the session name has been stored, you'll be able to check if there's an
133		active session whenever you load a page.
	133	Now that the session name has been stored, you'll be able to check if
	134	there's an active session whenever you load a page.
134	135
135		```php
	136	#+begin_src php
136	137	if(isset(session_name())) {
137	138	// The session is active
138	139	}
139		```
	140	#+end_src
140	141
141		## Removing User Authentication
	142	** Removing User Authentication
142	143
143		The next logical step is to give your users the option to log out once they are
144		done using your application. This can be tricky in PHP since a few of the
145		standard ways do not always work.
	144	The next logical step is to give your users the option to log out once
	145	they are done using your application. This can be tricky in PHP since a
	146	few of the standard ways do not always work.
146	147
147		```php
	148	#+begin_src php
148	149	// Initialize the session.
149	150	// If you are using session_name("something"), don't forget it now!
150	151	session_start();
		@@ -176,17 +177,18 @@ session_write_close();
176	177	// Go back to sign-in page
177	178	header('Location: https://example.com/logged-out/');
178	179	die();
179		```
	180	#+end_src
180	181
181		# Wrapping Up
	182	* Wrapping Up
182	183
183		Now you should be ready to begin your authentication programming with PHP. You
184		can create user accounts, create sessions for users across different pages of
185		your site, and then destroy the user data when they're ready to leave.
	184	Now you should be ready to begin your authentication programming with
	185	PHP. You can create user accounts, create sessions for users across
	186	different pages of your site, and then destroy the user data when
	187	they're ready to leave.
186	188
187		For more information on this subject, I recommend reading the [PHP
188		Documentation](https://www.php.net/). Specifically, you may want to look at
189		[HTTP Authentication with
190		PHP](https://www.php.net/manual/en/features.http-auth.php), [session
191		handling](https://www.php.net/manual/en/book.session.php), and
192		[hash](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.hash.php).
	189	For more information on this subject, I recommend reading the
	190	[[https://www.php.net/][PHP Documentation]]. Specifically, you may want
	191	to look at [[https://www.php.net/manual/en/features.http-auth.php][HTTP
	192	Authentication with PHP]],
	193	[[https://www.php.net/manual/en/book.session.php][session handling]],
	194	and [[https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.hash.php][hash]].

content/blog/2020-09-01-visual-recognition.md deleted −199

		@@ -1,199 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-09-01
3		title = "IBM Watson Visual Recognition"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is IBM Watson?
9
10		If you've never heard of [Watson](https://www.ibm.com/watson), this service is a
11		suite of enterprise-ready AI services, applications, and tooling provided by
12		IBM. Watson contains quite a few useful tools for data scientists and students,
13		including the subject of this post today: visual recognition.
14
15		If you'd like to view the official documentation for the Visual Recognition API,
16		visit the [API
17		Docs](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/visual-recognition/visual-recognition-v3?code=python).
18
19		# Prerequisites
20
21		To be able to use Watson Visual Recognition, you'll need the following:
22
23		1. Create a free account on [IBM Watson
24		Studio](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-studio).
25		2. Add the [Watson Visual
26		Recognition](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-visual-recognition) service to
27		your IBM Watson account.
28		3. Get your API key and URL. To do this, first go to the [profile
29		dashboard](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/home2?context=cpdaas) for your
30		IBM account and click on the Watson Visual Recognition service you created.
31		This will be listed in the section titled Your services. Then click the
32		Credentials tab and open the Auto-generated credentials dropdown.
33		Copy your API key and URL so that you can use them in the Python script
34		later.
35		4. [Optional] While not required, you can also create the Jupyter Notebook
36		for this project right inside [Watson
37		Studio](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-studio). Watson Studio will save
38		your notebooks inside an organized project and allow you to use their other
39		integrated products, such as storage containers, AI models, documentation,
40		external sharing, etc.
41
42		# Calling the IBM Watson Visual Recognition API
43
44		Okay, now let's get started.
45
46		To begin, we need to install the proper Python package for IBM Watson.
47
48		```sh
49		pip install --upgrade --user "ibm-watson>=4.5.0"
50		```
51
52		Next, we need to specify the API key, version, and URL given to us when we
53		created the Watson Visual Recognition service.
54
55		```python
56		apikey = "<your-apikey>"
57		version = "2018-03-19"
58		url = "<your-url>"
59		```
60
61		Now, let's import the necessary libraries and authenticate our service.
62
63		```python
64		import json
65		from ibm_watson import VisualRecognitionV3
66		from ibm_cloud_sdk_core.authenticators import IAMAuthenticator
67
68		authenticator = IAMAuthenticator(apikey)
69		visual_recognition = VisualRecognitionV3(
70		version=version,
71		authenticator=authenticator
72		)
73
74		visual_recognition.set_service_url(url)
75		```
76
77		[Optional] If you'd like to tell the API not to use any data to improve
78		their products, set the following header.
79
80		```python
81		visual_recognition.set_default_headers({'x-watson-learning-opt-out': "true"})
82		```
83
84		Now we have our API all set and ready to go. For this example, I'm going to
85		include a `dict` of photos to load as we test out the API.
86
87		```python
88		data = [
89		{
90		"title": "Grizzly Bear",
91		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image1.jpg"
92		},
93		{
94		"title": "Nature Lake",
95		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image2.jpg"
96		},
97		{
98		"title": "Welcome Sign",
99		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image3.jpg"
100		},
101		{
102		"title": "Honey Badger",
103		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image4.jpg"
104		},
105		{
106		"title": "Grand Canyon Lizard",
107		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image5.jpg"
108		},
109		{
110		"title": "Castle",
111		"url": "https://example.com/photos/image6.jpg"
112		}
113		]
114		```
115
116		Now that we've set up our libraries and have the photos ready, let's create a
117		loop to call the API for each image. The code below shows a loop that calls the
118		URL of each image and sends it to the API, requesting results with at least 60%
119		confidence. The results are output to the console with dotted lines separating
120		each section.
121
122		In the case of an API error, the codes and explanations are output to the
123		console.
124
125		```python
126		from ibm_watson import ApiException
127
128		for x in range(len(data)):
129		try:
130		url = data[x]["url"]
131		images_filename = data[x]["title"]
132		classes = visual_recognition.classify(
133		url=url,
134		images_filename=images_filename,
135		threshold='0.6',
136		owners=["IBM"]).get_result()
137		print("-----------------------------------------------")
138		print("Image Title: ", data[x]["title"], "\n")
139		print("Image URL: ", data[x]["url"], "\n")
140		classification_results = classes["images"][0]["classifiers"][0]["classes"]
141		for result in classification_results:
142		print(result["class"], "(", result["score"], ")")
143		print("-----------------------------------------------")
144		except ApiException as ex:
145		print("Method failed with status code " + str(ex.code) + ": " + ex.message)
146		```
147
148		# The Results
149
150		Here we can see the full result set of our function above. If you view each of
151		the URLs that we sent to the API, you'll be able to see that it was remarkably
152		accurate. To be fair, these are clear high-resolution, clear photos shot with a
153		professional camera. In reality, you will most likely be processing images that
154		are lower quality and may have a lot of noise in the photo.
155
156		However, we can clearly see the benefit of being able to call this API instead
157		of attempting to write our own image recognition function. Each of the
158		classifications returned was a fair description of the image.
159
160		If you wanted to restrict the results to those that are at least 90% confident
161		or greater, you would simply adjust the `threshold` in the
162		`visual_recognition.classify()` function.
163
164		When your program runs, it should show the output below for each photo you
165		provide.
166
167		```txt
168		----------------------------------------------------------------
169		Image Title: Grizzly Bear
170		Image URL: https://example.com/photos/image1.jpg
171
172		brown bear ( 0.944 )
173		bear ( 1 )
174		carnivore ( 1 )
175		mammal ( 1 )
176		animal ( 1 )
177		Alaskan brown bear ( 0.759 )
178		greenishness color ( 0.975 )
179		----------------------------------------------------------------
180		```
181
182		# Discussion
183
184		Now, this was a very minimal implementation of the API. We simply supplied some
185		images and looked to see how accurate the results were. However, you could
186		implement this type of API into many machine learning (ML) models.
187
188		For example, you could be working for a company that scans their warehouses or
189		inventory using drones. Would you want to pay employees to sit there and watch
190		drone footage all day in order to identify or count things in the video?
191		Probably not. Instead, you could use a classification system similar to this one
192		in order to train your machine learning model to correctly identify items that
193		the drones show through video. More specifically, you could have your machine
194		learning model watch a drone fly over a field of sheep in order to count how
195		many sheep are living in that field.
196
197		There are many ways to implement machine learning functionality, but hopefully
198		this post helped inspire some deeper thought about the tools that can help
199		propel us further into the future of machine learning and AI.

content/blog/2020-09-01-visual-recognition.org added +202

		@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-09-01>
	2	#+title: IBM Watson Visual Recognition
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is IBM Watson?
	7
	8	If you've never heard of [[https://www.ibm.com/watson][Watson]], this
	9	service is a suite of enterprise-ready AI services, applications, and
	10	tooling provided by IBM. Watson contains quite a few useful tools for
	11	data scientists and students, including the subject of this post today:
	12	visual recognition.
	13
	14	If you'd like to view the official documentation for the Visual
	15	Recognition API, visit the
	16	[[https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/visual-recognition/visual-recognition-v3?code=python][API
	17	Docs]].
	18
	19	* Prerequisites
	20
	21	To be able to use Watson Visual Recognition, you'll need the following:
	22
	23	1. Create a free account on
	24	[[https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-studio][IBM Watson Studio]].
	25	2. Add the [[https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-visual-recognition][Watson
	26	Visual Recognition]] service to your IBM Watson account.
	27	3. Get your API key and URL. To do this, first go to the
	28	[[https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/home2?context=cpdaas][profile
	29	dashboard]] for your IBM account and click on the Watson Visual
	30	Recognition service you created. This will be listed in the section
	31	titled Your services. Then click the Credentials tab and open the
	32	Auto-generated credentials dropdown. Copy your API key and URL so
	33	that you can use them in the Python script later.
	34	4. [Optional] While not required, you can also create the Jupyter
	35	Notebook for this project right inside
	36	[[https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-studio][Watson Studio]]. Watson
	37	Studio will save your notebooks inside an organized project and allow
	38	you to use their other integrated products, such as storage
	39	containers, AI models, documentation, external sharing, etc.
	40
	41	* Calling the IBM Watson Visual Recognition API
	42
	43	Okay, now let's get started.
	44
	45	To begin, we need to install the proper Python package for IBM Watson.
	46
	47	#+begin_src sh
	48	pip install --upgrade --user "ibm-watson>=4.5.0"
	49	#+end_src
	50
	51	Next, we need to specify the API key, version, and URL given to us when
	52	we created the Watson Visual Recognition service.
	53
	54	#+begin_src python
	55	apikey = "<your-apikey>"
	56	version = "2018-03-19"
	57	url = "<your-url>"
	58	#+end_src
	59
	60	Now, let's import the necessary libraries and authenticate our service.
	61
	62	#+begin_src python
	63	import json
	64	from ibm_watson import VisualRecognitionV3
	65	from ibm_cloud_sdk_core.authenticators import IAMAuthenticator
	66
	67	authenticator = IAMAuthenticator(apikey)
	68	visual_recognition = VisualRecognitionV3(
	69	version=version,
	70	authenticator=authenticator
	71	)
	72
	73	visual_recognition.set_service_url(url)
	74	#+end_src
	75
	76	[Optional] If you'd like to tell the API not to use any data to
	77	improve their products, set the following header.
	78
	79	#+begin_src python
	80	visual_recognition.set_default_headers({'x-watson-learning-opt-out': "true"})
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	Now we have our API all set and ready to go. For this example, I'm going
	84	to include a =dict= of photos to load as we test out the API.
	85
	86	#+begin_src python
	87	data = [
	88	{
	89	"title": "Grizzly Bear",
	90	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image1.jpg"
	91	},
	92	{
	93	"title": "Nature Lake",
	94	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image2.jpg"
	95	},
	96	{
	97	"title": "Welcome Sign",
	98	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image3.jpg"
	99	},
	100	{
	101	"title": "Honey Badger",
	102	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image4.jpg"
	103	},
	104	{
	105	"title": "Grand Canyon Lizard",
	106	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image5.jpg"
	107	},
	108	{
	109	"title": "Castle",
	110	"url": "https://example.com/photos/image6.jpg"
	111	}
	112	]
	113	#+end_src
	114
	115	Now that we've set up our libraries and have the photos ready, let's
	116	create a loop to call the API for each image. The code below shows a
	117	loop that calls the URL of each image and sends it to the API,
	118	requesting results with at least 60% confidence. The results are output
	119	to the console with dotted lines separating each section.
	120
	121	In the case of an API error, the codes and explanations are output to
	122	the console.
	123
	124	#+begin_src python
	125	from ibm_watson import ApiException
	126
	127	for x in range(len(data)):
	128	try:
	129	url = data[x]["url"]
	130	images_filename = data[x]["title"]
	131	classes = visual_recognition.classify(
	132	url=url,
	133	images_filename=images_filename,
	134	threshold='0.6',
	135	owners=["IBM"]).get_result()
	136	print("-----------------------------------------------")
	137	print("Image Title: ", data[x]["title"], "\n")
	138	print("Image URL: ", data[x]["url"], "\n")
	139	classification_results = classes["images"][0]["classifiers"][0]["classes"]
	140	for result in classification_results:
	141	print(result["class"], "(", result["score"], ")")
	142	print("-----------------------------------------------")
	143	except ApiException as ex:
	144	print("Method failed with status code " + str(ex.code) + ": " + ex.message)
	145	#+end_src
	146
	147	* The Results
	148
	149	Here we can see the full result set of our function above. If you view
	150	each of the URLs that we sent to the API, you'll be able to see that it
	151	was remarkably accurate. To be fair, these are clear high-resolution,
	152	clear photos shot with a professional camera. In reality, you will most
	153	likely be processing images that are lower quality and may have a lot of
	154	noise in the photo.
	155
	156	However, we can clearly see the benefit of being able to call this API
	157	instead of attempting to write our own image recognition function. Each
	158	of the classifications returned was a fair description of the image.
	159
	160	If you wanted to restrict the results to those that are at least 90%
	161	confident or greater, you would simply adjust the =threshold= in the
	162	=visual_recognition.classify()= function.
	163
	164	When your program runs, it should show the output below for each photo
	165	you provide.
	166
	167	#+begin_src txt
	168	----------------------------------------------------------------
	169	Image Title: Grizzly Bear
	170	Image URL: https://example.com/photos/image1.jpg
	171
	172	brown bear ( 0.944 )
	173	bear ( 1 )
	174	carnivore ( 1 )
	175	mammal ( 1 )
	176	animal ( 1 )
	177	Alaskan brown bear ( 0.759 )
	178	greenishness color ( 0.975 )
	179	----------------------------------------------------------------
	180	#+end_src
	181
	182	* Discussion
	183
	184	Now, this was a very minimal implementation of the API. We simply
	185	supplied some images and looked to see how accurate the results were.
	186	However, you could implement this type of API into many machine learning
	187	(ML) models.
	188
	189	For example, you could be working for a company that scans their
	190	warehouses or inventory using drones. Would you want to pay employees to
	191	sit there and watch drone footage all day in order to identify or count
	192	things in the video? Probably not. Instead, you could use a
	193	classification system similar to this one in order to train your machine
	194	learning model to correctly identify items that the drones show through
	195	video. More specifically, you could have your machine learning model
	196	watch a drone fly over a field of sheep in order to count how many sheep
	197	are living in that field.
	198
	199	There are many ways to implement machine learning functionality, but
	200	hopefully this post helped inspire some deeper thought about the tools
	201	that can help propel us further into the future of machine learning and
	202	AI.

content/blog/2020-09-22-internal-audit.md deleted −233

		@@ -1,233 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-09-22
3		title = "Who is Internal Audit?"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Definitions
9
10		One of the many reasons that Internal Audit needs such thorough explaining to
11		non-auditors is that Internal Audit can serve many purposes, depending on the
12		organization's size and needs. However, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
13		defines Internal Auditing as:
14
15		> Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting
16		> activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It
17		> helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic,
18		> disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk
19		> management, control, and governance processes.
20
21		However, this definition uses quite a few terms that aren't clear unless the
22		reader already has a solid understanding of the auditing profession. To further
23		explain, the following is a list of definitions that can help supplement
24		understanding of internal auditing.
25
26		## Independent
27
28		Independence is the freedom from conditions that threaten the ability of the
29		internal audit activity to carry out internal audit responsibilities in an
30		unbiased manner. To achieve the degree of independence necessary to effectively
31		carry out the responsibilities of the internal audit activity, the chief audit
32		executive has direct and unrestricted access to senior management and the board.
33		This can be achieved through a dual-reporting relationship. Threats to
34		independence must be managed at the individual auditor, engagement, functional,
35		and organizational levels.
36
37		## Objective
38
39		Objectivity is an unbiased mental attitude that allows internal auditors to
40		perform engagements in such a manner that they believe in their work product and
41		that no quality compromises are made. Objectivity requires that internal
42		auditors do not subordinate their judgment on audit matters to others. Threats
43		to objectivity must be managed at the individual auditor, engagement,
44		functional, and organizational levels.
45
46		## Assurance
47
48		Assurance services involve the internal auditor's objective assessment of
49		evidence to provide opinions or conclusions regarding an entity, operation,
50		function, process, system, or other subject matters. The internal auditor
51		determines the nature and scope of an assurance engagement. Generally, three
52		parties are participants in assurance services: (1) the person or group directly
53		involved with the entity, operation, function, process, system, or other subject
54
55		- (the process owner), (2) the person or group making the assessment - (the
56		internal auditor), and (3) the person or group using the assessment - (the
57		user).
58
59		## Consulting
60
61		Consulting services are advisory in nature and are generally performed at the
62		specific request of an engagement client. The nature and scope of the consulting
63		engagement are subject to agreement with the engagement client. Consulting
64		services generally involve two parties: (1) the person or group offering the
65		advice (the internal auditor), and (2) the person or group seeking and receiving
66		the advice (the engagement client). When performing consulting services, the
67		internal auditor should maintain objectivity and not assume management
68		responsibility.
69
70		## Governance, Risk Management, & Compliance (GRC)
71
72		The integrated collection of capabilities that enable an organization to
73		reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty and act with integrity.
74
75		# Audit Charter & Standards
76
77		First, it's important to note that not every organization needs internal
78		auditors. In fact, it's unwise for an organization to hire internal auditors
79		unless they have regulatory requirements for auditing and have the capital to
80		support the department. Internal audit is a cost center that can only affect
81		revenue indirectly.
82
83		Once an organization determines the need for internal assurance services, they
84		will hire a Chief Audit Executive and create the audit charter. This charter is
85		a document, approved by the company's governing body, that will define internal
86		audit's purpose, authority, responsibility, and position within the
87		organization. Fortunately, the IIA has model charters available to IIA members
88		for those developing or improving their charter.
89
90		Beyond the charter and organizational documents, internal auditors follow a few
91		different standards in order to perform their job. First is the International
92		Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) by the IIA, which is the model of
93		standards for internal auditing. In addition, ISACA's Information Technology
94		Assurance Framework (ITAF) helps guide auditors in reference to information
95		technology (IT) compliance and assurance. Finally, additional standards such as
96		FASB, GAAP, and industry-specific standards are used when performing internal
97		audit work.
98
99		# Three Lines of Defense
100
101		[The IIA](https://theiia.org) released the original Three Lines of Defense model
102		in 2013, but have released an updated version in 2020.
103
104		I won't go into depth about the changes made to the model in this article.
105		Instead, let's take a look at the most current model.
106
107		The updated model forgets the strict idea of areas performing their own
108		functions or line of defense. Instead of talking about management, risk, and
109		internal audit as 1-2-3, the new model creates a more fluid and cooperative
110		model.
111
112		Looking at this model from an auditing perspective shows us that auditors will
113		need to align, communicate, and collaborate with management, including business
114		area managers and chief officers, as well as reporting to the governing body.
115		The governing body will instruct internal audit _functionally_ on their goals
116		and track their progress periodically.
117
118		However, the internal audit department will report _administratively_ to a chief
119		officer in the company for the purposes of collaboration, direction, and
120		assistance with the business. Note that in most situations, the governing body
121		is the audit committee on the company's board of directors.
122
123		The result of this structure is that internal audit is an independent and
124		objective function that can provide assurance over the topics they audit.
125
126		# Audit Process
127
128		A normal audit will generally follow the same process, regardless of the topic.
129		However, certain special projects or abnormal business areas may call for
130		changes to the audit process. The audit process is not set in stone, it's simply
131		a set of best practices so that audits can be performed consistently.
132
133		While different organizations may tweak the process, it will generally follow
134		this flow:
135
136		## 1. Risk Assessment
137
138		The risk assessment part of the process has historically been performed
139		annually, but many organizations have moved to performing this process much more
140		frequently. In fact, some organizations are moving to an agile approach that can
141		take new risks into the risk assessment and re-prioritize risk areas on-the-go.
142		To perform a risk assessment, leaders in internal audit will research industry
143		risks, consult with business leaders around the company, and perform analyses on
144		company data.
145
146		Once a risk assessment has been documented, the audit department has a
147		prioritized list of risks that can be audited. This is usually in the form of
148		auditable entities, such as business areas or departments.
149
150		## 2. Planning
151
152		During the planning phase of an audit, auditors will meet with the business area
153		to discuss the various processes, controls, and risks applicable to the
154		business. This helps the auditors determine the scope limits for the audit, as
155		well as timing and subject-matter experts. Certain documents will be created in
156		this phase that will be used to keep the audit on-track an in-scope as it goes
157		forward.
158
159		## 3. Testing
160
161		The testing phase, also known as fieldwork or execution, is where internal
162		auditors will take the information they've discovered and test it against
163		regulations, industry standards, company rules, best practices, as well as
164		validating that any processes are complete and accurate. For example, an audit
165		of HR would most likely examine processes such as employee on-boarding, employee
166		termination, security of personally identifiable information (PII), or the IT
167		systems involved in these processes. Company standards would be examined and
168		compared against how the processes are actually being performed day-to-day, as
169		well as compared against regulations such as the Equal Employment Opportunity
170		(EEO), American with Disabilities Act, and National Labor Relations Act.
171
172		## 4. Reporting
173
174		Once all the tests have been completed, the audit will enter the reporting
175		phase. This is when the audit team will conclude on the evidence they've
176		collected, interviews they've held, and any opinions they've formed on the
177		controls in place. A summary of the audit findings, conclusions, and specific
178		recommendations are officially communicated to the client through a draft
179		report. Clients have the opportunity to respond to the report and submit an
180		action plan and time frame. These responses become part of the final report
181		which is distributed to the appropriate level of administration.
182
183		## 5. Follow-Up
184
185		After audits have been completed and management has formed action plans and time
186		frames for audit issues, internal audit will follow up once that due date has
187		arrived. In most cases, the follow-up will simply consist of a meeting to
188		discuss how the action plan has been completed and to request documentation to
189		prove it.
190
191		# Audit Department Structure
192
193		While an internal audit department is most often thought of as a team of
194		full-time employees, there are actually many different ways in which a
195		department can be structured. As the world becomes more digital and fast-paced,
196		outsourcing has become a more attractive option for some organizations. Internal
197		audit can be fully outsourced or partially outsourced, allowing for flexibility
198		in cases where turnover is high.
199
200		In addition, departments can implement a rotational model. This allows for
201		interested employees around the organization to rotate into the internal audit
202		department for a period of time, allowing them to obtain knowledge of risks and
203		controls and allowing the internal audit team to obtain more business area
204		knowledge. This program is popular in very large organizations, but
205		organizations tend to rotate lower-level audit staff instead of managers. This
206		helps prevent any significant knowledge loss as auditors rotate out to business
207		areas.
208
209		# Consulting
210
211		Consulting is not an easy task at any organization, especially for a department
212		that can have negative perceptions within the organization as the "compliance
213		police." However, once an internal audit department has delivered value to
214		organization, adding consulting to their suite of services is a smart move. In
215		most cases, Internal Audit can insert themselves into a consulting role without
216		affecting the process of project management at the company. This means that
217		internal audit can add objective assurance and opinions to business areas as
218		they develop new processes, instead of coming in periodically to audit an area
219		and file issues that could have been fixed at the beginning.
220
221		# Data Science & Data Analytics
222
223		One major piece of the internal audit function in the modern world is data
224		science. While the process is data science, most auditors will refer to anything
225		in this realm as data analytics. Hot topics such as robotic process automation
226		(RPA), machine learning (ML), and data mining have taken over the auditing world
227		in recent years. These technologies have been immensely helpful with increasing
228		the effectiveness and efficiency of auditors.
229
230		For example, mundane and repetitive tasks can be automated in order for auditors
231		to make more room in their schedules for labor-intensive work. Further, auditors
232		will need to adapt technologies like machine learning in order to extract more
233		value from the data they're using to form conclusions.

content/blog/2020-09-22-internal-audit.org added +248

		@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-09-22>
	2	#+title: Who is Internal Audit?
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Definitions
	7
	8	One of the many reasons that Internal Audit needs such thorough
	9	explaining to non-auditors is that Internal Audit can serve many
	10	purposes, depending on the organization's size and needs. However, the
	11	Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) defines Internal Auditing as:
	12
	13	#+begin_quote
	14	Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting
	15	activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations.
	16	It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a
	17	systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the
	18	effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.
	19	#+end_quote
	20
	21	However, this definition uses quite a few terms that aren't clear unless
	22	the reader already has a solid understanding of the auditing profession.
	23	To further explain, the following is a list of definitions that can help
	24	supplement understanding of internal auditing.
	25
	26	** Independent
	27
	28	Independence is the freedom from conditions that threaten the ability of
	29	the internal audit activity to carry out internal audit responsibilities
	30	in an unbiased manner. To achieve the degree of independence necessary
	31	to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the internal audit
	32	activity, the chief audit executive has direct and unrestricted access
	33	to senior management and the board. This can be achieved through a
	34	dual-reporting relationship. Threats to independence must be managed at
	35	the individual auditor, engagement, functional, and organizational
	36	levels.
	37
	38	** Objective
	39
	40	Objectivity is an unbiased mental attitude that allows internal auditors
	41	to perform engagements in such a manner that they believe in their work
	42	product and that no quality compromises are made. Objectivity requires
	43	that internal auditors do not subordinate their judgment on audit
	44	matters to others. Threats to objectivity must be managed at the
	45	individual auditor, engagement, functional, and organizational levels.
	46
	47	** Assurance
	48
	49	Assurance services involve the internal auditor's objective assessment
	50	of evidence to provide opinions or conclusions regarding an entity,
	51	operation, function, process, system, or other subject matters. The
	52	internal auditor determines the nature and scope of an assurance
	53	engagement. Generally, three parties are participants in assurance
	54	services: (1) the person or group directly involved with the entity,
	55	operation, function, process, system, or other subject
	56
	57	- (the process owner), (2) the person or group making the assessment -
	58	(the internal auditor), and (3) the person or group using the
	59	assessment - (the user).
	60
	61	** Consulting
	62
	63	Consulting services are advisory in nature and are generally performed
	64	at the specific request of an engagement client. The nature and scope of
	65	the consulting engagement are subject to agreement with the engagement
	66	client. Consulting services generally involve two parties: (1) the
	67	person or group offering the advice (the internal auditor), and (2) the
	68	person or group seeking and receiving the advice (the engagement
	69	client). When performing consulting services, the internal auditor
	70	should maintain objectivity and not assume management responsibility.
	71
	72	** Governance, Risk Management, & Compliance (GRC)
	73
	74	The integrated collection of capabilities that enable an organization to
	75	reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty and act with integrity.
	76
	77	* Audit Charter & Standards
	78
	79	First, it's important to note that not every organization needs internal
	80	auditors. In fact, it's unwise for an organization to hire internal
	81	auditors unless they have regulatory requirements for auditing and have
	82	the capital to support the department. Internal audit is a cost center
	83	that can only affect revenue indirectly.
	84
	85	Once an organization determines the need for internal assurance
	86	services, they will hire a Chief Audit Executive and create the audit
	87	charter. This charter is a document, approved by the company's governing
	88	body, that will define internal audit's purpose, authority,
	89	responsibility, and position within the organization. Fortunately, the
	90	IIA has model charters available to IIA members for those developing or
	91	improving their charter.
	92
	93	Beyond the charter and organizational documents, internal auditors
	94	follow a few different standards in order to perform their job. First is
	95	the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) by the IIA,
	96	which is the model of standards for internal auditing. In addition,
	97	ISACA's Information Technology Assurance Framework (ITAF) helps guide
	98	auditors in reference to information technology (IT) compliance and
	99	assurance. Finally, additional standards such as FASB, GAAP, and
	100	industry-specific standards are used when performing internal audit
	101	work.
	102
	103	* Three Lines of Defense
	104
	105	[[https://theiia.org][The IIA]] released the original Three Lines of
	106	Defense model in 2013, but have released an updated version in 2020.
	107
	108	I won't go into depth about the changes made to the model in this
	109	article. Instead, let's take a look at the most current model.
	110
	111	The updated model forgets the strict idea of areas performing their own
	112	functions or line of defense. Instead of talking about management, risk,
	113	and internal audit as 1-2-3, the new model creates a more fluid and
	114	cooperative model.
	115
	116	Looking at this model from an auditing perspective shows us that
	117	auditors will need to align, communicate, and collaborate with
	118	management, including business area managers and chief officers, as well
	119	as reporting to the governing body. The governing body will instruct
	120	internal audit /functionally/ on their goals and track their progress
	121	periodically.
	122
	123	However, the internal audit department will report /administratively/ to
	124	a chief officer in the company for the purposes of collaboration,
	125	direction, and assistance with the business. Note that in most
	126	situations, the governing body is the audit committee on the company's
	127	board of directors.
	128
	129	The result of this structure is that internal audit is an independent
	130	and objective function that can provide assurance over the topics they
	131	audit.
	132
	133	* Audit Process
	134
	135	A normal audit will generally follow the same process, regardless of the
	136	topic. However, certain special projects or abnormal business areas may
	137	call for changes to the audit process. The audit process is not set in
	138	stone, it's simply a set of best practices so that audits can be
	139	performed consistently.
	140
	141	While different organizations may tweak the process, it will generally
	142	follow this flow:
	143
	144	** 1. Risk Assessment
	145
	146	The risk assessment part of the process has historically been performed
	147	annually, but many organizations have moved to performing this process
	148	much more frequently. In fact, some organizations are moving to an agile
	149	approach that can take new risks into the risk assessment and
	150	re-prioritize risk areas on-the-go. To perform a risk assessment,
	151	leaders in internal audit will research industry risks, consult with
	152	business leaders around the company, and perform analyses on company
	153	data.
	154
	155	Once a risk assessment has been documented, the audit department has a
	156	prioritized list of risks that can be audited. This is usually in the
	157	form of auditable entities, such as business areas or departments.
	158
	159	** 2. Planning
	160
	161	During the planning phase of an audit, auditors will meet with the
	162	business area to discuss the various processes, controls, and risks
	163	applicable to the business. This helps the auditors determine the scope
	164	limits for the audit, as well as timing and subject-matter experts.
	165	Certain documents will be created in this phase that will be used to
	166	keep the audit on-track an in-scope as it goes forward.
	167
	168	** 3. Testing
	169
	170	The testing phase, also known as fieldwork or execution, is where
	171	internal auditors will take the information they've discovered and test
	172	it against regulations, industry standards, company rules, best
	173	practices, as well as validating that any processes are complete and
	174	accurate. For example, an audit of HR would most likely examine
	175	processes such as employee on-boarding, employee termination, security
	176	of personally identifiable information (PII), or the IT systems involved
	177	in these processes. Company standards would be examined and compared
	178	against how the processes are actually being performed day-to-day, as
	179	well as compared against regulations such as the Equal Employment
	180	Opportunity (EEO), American with Disabilities Act, and National Labor
	181	Relations Act.
	182
	183	** 4. Reporting
	184
	185	Once all the tests have been completed, the audit will enter the
	186	reporting phase. This is when the audit team will conclude on the
	187	evidence they've collected, interviews they've held, and any opinions
	188	they've formed on the controls in place. A summary of the audit
	189	findings, conclusions, and specific recommendations are officially
	190	communicated to the client through a draft report. Clients have the
	191	opportunity to respond to the report and submit an action plan and time
	192	frame. These responses become part of the final report which is
	193	distributed to the appropriate level of administration.
	194
	195	** 5. Follow-Up
	196
	197	After audits have been completed and management has formed action plans
	198	and time frames for audit issues, internal audit will follow up once
	199	that due date has arrived. In most cases, the follow-up will simply
	200	consist of a meeting to discuss how the action plan has been completed
	201	and to request documentation to prove it.
	202
	203	* Audit Department Structure
	204
	205	While an internal audit department is most often thought of as a team of
	206	full-time employees, there are actually many different ways in which a
	207	department can be structured. As the world becomes more digital and
	208	fast-paced, outsourcing has become a more attractive option for some
	209	organizations. Internal audit can be fully outsourced or partially
	210	outsourced, allowing for flexibility in cases where turnover is high.
	211
	212	In addition, departments can implement a rotational model. This allows
	213	for interested employees around the organization to rotate into the
	214	internal audit department for a period of time, allowing them to obtain
	215	knowledge of risks and controls and allowing the internal audit team to
	216	obtain more business area knowledge. This program is popular in very
	217	large organizations, but organizations tend to rotate lower-level audit
	218	staff instead of managers. This helps prevent any significant knowledge
	219	loss as auditors rotate out to business areas.
	220
	221	* Consulting
	222
	223	Consulting is not an easy task at any organization, especially for a
	224	department that can have negative perceptions within the organization as
	225	the "compliance police." However, once an internal audit department has
	226	delivered value to organization, adding consulting to their suite of
	227	services is a smart move. In most cases, Internal Audit can insert
	228	themselves into a consulting role without affecting the process of
	229	project management at the company. This means that internal audit can
	230	add objective assurance and opinions to business areas as they develop
	231	new processes, instead of coming in periodically to audit an area and
	232	file issues that could have been fixed at the beginning.
	233
	234	* Data Science & Data Analytics
	235
	236	One major piece of the internal audit function in the modern world is
	237	data science. While the process is data science, most auditors will
	238	refer to anything in this realm as data analytics. Hot topics such as
	239	robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning (ML), and data mining
	240	have taken over the auditing world in recent years. These technologies
	241	have been immensely helpful with increasing the effectiveness and
	242	efficiency of auditors.
	243
	244	For example, mundane and repetitive tasks can be automated in order for
	245	auditors to make more room in their schedules for labor-intensive work.
	246	Further, auditors will need to adapt technologies like machine learning
	247	in order to extract more value from the data they're using to form
	248	conclusions.

content/blog/2020-09-25-happiness-map.md → content/blog/2020-09-25-happiness-map.org renamed +72 −71

		@@ -1,88 +1,87 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-09-25
3		title = "Data Visualization: World Choropleth Map of Happiness"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2020-09-25>
	2	#+title: Data Visualization: World Choropleth Map of Happiness
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Background Information
	5
	6	* Background Information
9	7
10	8	The dataset (obtained from
11		[Kaggle](https://www.kaggle.com/unsdsn/world-happiness)) used in this article
12		contains a list of countries around the world, their happiness rankings and
13		scores, as well as other national scoring measures.
	9	[[https://www.kaggle.com/unsdsn/world-happiness][Kaggle]]) used in this
	10	article contains a list of countries around the world, their happiness
	11	rankings and scores, as well as other national scoring measures.
14	12
15	13	Fields include:
16	14
17		- Overall rank
18		- Country or region
19		- GDP per capita
20		- Social support
21		- Healthy life expectancy
22		- Freedom to make life choices
23		- Generosity
24		- Perceptions of corruption
	15	- Overall rank
	16	- Country or region
	17	- GDP per capita
	18	- Social support
	19	- Healthy life expectancy
	20	- Freedom to make life choices
	21	- Generosity
	22	- Perceptions of corruption
25	23
26		There are 156 records. Since there are ~195 countries in the world, we can see
27		that around 40 countries will be missing from this dataset.
	24	There are 156 records. Since there are ~195 countries in the world, we
	25	can see that around 40 countries will be missing from this dataset.
28	26
29		# Install Packages
	27	* Install Packages
30	28
31		As always, run the `install` command for all packages needed to perform
	29	As always, run the =install= command for all packages needed to perform
32	30	analysis.
33	31
34		```python
	32	#+begin_src python
35	33	!pip install folium geopandas matplotlib numpy pandas
36		```
	34	#+end_src
37	35
38		# Import the Data
	36	* Import the Data
39	37
40	38	We only need a couple packages to create a choropleth map. We will use
41		[Folium](https://python-visualization.github.io/folium/), which provides map
42		visualizations in Python. We will also use geopandas and pandas to wrangle our
43		data before we put it on a map.
	39	[[https://python-visualization.github.io/folium/][Folium]], which
	40	provides map visualizations in Python. We will also use geopandas and
	41	pandas to wrangle our data before we put it on a map.
44	42
45		```python
	43	#+begin_src python
46	44	# Import the necessary Python packages
47	45	import folium
48	46	import geopandas as gpd
49	47	import pandas as pd
50		```
	48	#+end_src
51	49
52		To get anything to show up on a map, we need a file that will specify the
53		boundaries of each country. Luckily, GeoJSON files exist (for free!) on the
54		internet. To get the boundaries of every country in the world, we will use the
55		GeoJSON link shown below.
	50	To get anything to show up on a map, we need a file that will specify
	51	the boundaries of each country. Luckily, GeoJSON files exist (for free!)
	52	on the internet. To get the boundaries of every country in the world, we
	53	will use the GeoJSON link shown below.
56	54
57		GeoPandas will take this data and load it into a dataframe so that we can easily
58		match it to the data we're trying to analyze. Let's look at the GeoJSON
59		dataframe:
	55	GeoPandas will take this data and load it into a dataframe so that we
	56	can easily match it to the data we're trying to analyze. Let's look at
	57	the GeoJSON dataframe:
60	58
61		```python
	59	#+begin_src python
62	60	# Load the GeoJSON data with geopandas
63	61	geo_data = gpd.read_file('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/datasets/geo-countries/master/data/countries.geojson')
64	62	geo_data.head()
65		```
	63	#+end_src
66	64
67		Next, let's load the data from the Kaggle dataset. I've downloaded this file, so
68		update the file path if you have it somewhere else. After loading, let's take a
69		look at this dataframe:
	65	Next, let's load the data from the Kaggle dataset. I've downloaded this
	66	file, so update the file path if you have it somewhere else. After
	67	loading, let's take a look at this dataframe:
70	68
71		```python
	69	#+begin_src python
72	70	# Load the world happiness data with pandas
73	71	happy_data = pd.read_csv(r'~/Downloads/world_happiness_data_2019.csv')
74	72	happy_data.head()
75		```
	73	#+end_src
76	74
77		# Clean the Data
	75	* Clean the Data
78	76
79		Some countries need to be renamed, or they will be lost when you merge the
80		happiness and GeoJSON dataframes. This is something I discovered when the map
81		below showed empty countries. I searched both data frames for the missing
82		countries to see the naming differences. Any countries that do not have records
83		in the `happy_data` df will not show up on the map.
	77	Some countries need to be renamed, or they will be lost when you merge
	78	the happiness and GeoJSON dataframes. This is something I discovered
	79	when the map below showed empty countries. I searched both data frames
	80	for the missing countries to see the naming differences. Any countries
	81	that do not have records in the =happy_data= df will not show up on the
	82	map.
84	83
85		```python
	84	#+begin_src python
86	85	# Rename some countries to match our GeoJSON data
87	86
88	87	# Rename USA
		@@ -100,34 +99,35 @@ happy_data.at[republic_congo_index, 'Country or region'] = 'Republic of Congo'
100	99	# Rename the DRC
101	100	democratic_congo_index = happy_data.index[happy_data['Country or region'] == 'Congo (Kinshasa)']
102	101	happy_data.at[democratic_congo_index, 'Country or region'] = 'Democratic Republic of the Congo'
103		```
	102	#+end_src
104	103
105		# Merge the Data
	104	* Merge the Data
106	105
107	106	Now that we have clean data, we need to merge the GeoJSON data with the
108		happiness data. Since we've stored them both in dataframes, we just need to call
109		the `.merge()` function.
	107	happiness data. Since we've stored them both in dataframes, we just need
	108	to call the =.merge()= function.
110	109
111		We will also rename a couple columns, just so that they're a little easier to
112		use when we create the map.
	110	We will also rename a couple columns, just so that they're a little
	111	easier to use when we create the map.
113	112
114		```python
	113	#+begin_src python
115	114	# Merge the two previous dataframes into a single geopandas dataframe
116	115	merged_df = geo_data.merge(happy_data,left_on='ADMIN', right_on='Country or region')
117	116
118	117	# Rename columns for ease of use
119	118	merged_df = merged_df.rename(columns = {'ADMIN':'GeoJSON_Country'})
120	119	merged_df = merged_df.rename(columns = {'Country or region':'Country'})
121		```
	120	#+end_src
122	121
123		# Create the Map
	122	* Create the Map
124	123
125	124	The data is finally ready to be added to a map. The code below shows the
126		simplest way to find the center of the map and create a Folium map object. The
127		important part is to remember to reference the merged dataframe for our GeoJSON
128		data and value data. The columns specify which geo data and value data to use.
	125	simplest way to find the center of the map and create a Folium map
	126	object. The important part is to remember to reference the merged
	127	dataframe for our GeoJSON data and value data. The columns specify which
	128	geo data and value data to use.
129	129
130		```python
	130	#+begin_src python
131	131	# Assign centroids to map
132	132	x_map = merged_df.centroid.x.mean()
133	133	y_map = merged_df.centroid.y.mean()
		@@ -151,17 +151,18 @@ folium.Choropleth(
151	151	smooth_factor=0,
152	152	highlight=True
153	153	).add_to(world_map)
154		```
	154	#+end_src
155	155
156	156	Let's look at the resulting map.
157	157
158		# Create a Tooltip on Hover
	158	* Create a Tooltip on Hover
159	159
160		Now that we have a map set up, we could stop. However, I want to add a tooltip
161		so that I can see more information about each country. The `tooltip_data` code
162		below will show a popup on hover with all the data fields shown.
	160	Now that we have a map set up, we could stop. However, I want to add a
	161	tooltip so that I can see more information about each country. The
	162	=tooltip_data= code below will show a popup on hover with all the data
	163	fields shown.
163	164
164		```python
	165	#+begin_src python
165	166	# Adding labels to map
166	167	style_function = lambda x: {'fillColor': '#ffffff',
167	168	'color':'#000000',
		@@ -202,6 +203,6 @@ folium.LayerControl().add_to(world_map)
202	203
203	204	# Display the map
204	205	world_map
205		```
	206	#+end_src
206	207
207	208	The tooltip will now appear whenever you hover over a country.

content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.md deleted −116

		@@ -1,116 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-10-12
3		title = "On the Pursuit of Mediocrity"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Perfect is the Enemy of Good
9
10		As the saying goes, "the best is the enemy of the good." As we strive for
11		perfection, we often fail to realize the implications of such an undertaking.
12		Attempting to reach perfection is often unrealistic. Even worse, it can get in
13		the way of achieving a good outcome. In certain situations, we try so hard to
14		achieve the ideal solution that we have burned the bridges that would have
15		allowed us to reach a lesser yet still superb solution.
16
17		Philosophers throughout history have inspected this plight from many viewpoints.
18		Greek mythology speaks of the [golden
19		mean](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mean_(philosophy)>), which uses the
20		story of Icarus to illustrate that sometimes "the middle course" is the best
21		solution. In this story, Daedalus, a famous artist of his time, built feathered
22		wings for himself and his son so that they might escape the clutches of King
23		Minos. Daedalus warns his beloved son whom he loved so much to "fly the middle
24		course", between the sea spray and the sun's heat. Icarus did not heed his
25		father; he flew up and up until the sun melted the wax off his wings. For not
26		heeding the middle course, he fell into the sea and drowned.
27
28		More recently, management scholars have explored the [Pareto
29		principle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle) and found that as we
30		increase the frequency of something, or strive to perform actions to achieve
31		some form of perfection, we run into [diminishing
32		returns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns).
33
34		Even further, Harold Demsetz is noted as coining the term [the Nirvana
35		fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_fallacy) in 1969, which shows the
36		fallacy of comparing actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives.
37		This is another trap that we may fall into, where we are constantly thinking of
38		the ultimate solutions to problems, when something more realistic needs to be
39		considered.
40
41		Over and over throughout history, we've found that perfection is often
42		unrealistic and unachievable. However, we push ourselves and our peers to "give
43		100%" or "go the extra mile," while it may be that the better course is to give
44		a valuable level of effort while considering the effects of further effort on
45		the outcome. Working harder does not always help us achieve loftier goals.
46
47		This has presented itself to me most recently during my time studying at my
48		university. I was anxious and feeling the stresses of my courses, career, and
49		personal life for quite a while, which was greatly affecting how well I was
50		doing at school and my level of effort at work. One day, I happened to be
51		talking to my father when he said something simple that hit home:
52
53		> All you can do is show up and do your best. Worrying about the outcomes won't
54		> affect the outcome itself.
55
56		The thought was extremely straightforward and uncomplicated, yet it was
57		something that I had lost sight of during my stress-filled years at school. Ever
58		since then, I've found myself pausing and remembering that quote every time I
59		get anxious or stressed. It helps to stop and think "Can I do anything to affect
60		the outcome, or am I simply worrying over something I can't change?"
61
62		# When Mediocrity Isn't Enough
63
64		One problem with the philosophies presented in this post is that they are
65		implemented far too often in situations where mediocrity simply isn't adequate.
66		For example, let's take a look at digital user data, specifically
67		personally-identifiable information (PII). As a cybersecurity auditor in the
68		United States, I have found that most companies are concerned more with
69		compliance than any actual safeguards over the privacy or protection of user
70		data. Other than companies who have built their reputation on privacy and
71		security, most companies will use
72		[satisficing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisficing) as their primary
73		decision-making strategy around user data.
74
75		> Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that entails
76		> searching through the available alternatives until an acceptability threshold
77		> is met.
78
79		This means that each decision will be met with certain possible solutions until
80		one of the solutions meets their minimum acceptable standards. For companies
81		that deal with user data, the minimum-acceptable standards come from three
82		areas:
83
84		1. Laws and regulations
85		2. Competitive pressure
86		3. Risk of monetary or reputation loss
87
88		Working with project management or auditing, the primary concern here is the
89		risk of legal ramifications. Since the primary risk comes from laws and
90		regulations, companies will require that any project that involves user data
91		must follow all the rules of those laws so that the company can protect itself
92		from fines or other penalties.
93
94		Following this, companies will consider best practices in order to place itself
95		in a competitive position (e.g. Google vs. Apple) and review any recent or
96		ongoing litigation against companies regarding user data. In a perfect company,
97		management would then consider the ethical responsibilities of their
98		organization and discuss their responsibilities over things like
99		personally-identifiable information.
100
101		However, as we mentioned above, most companies follow the idea of satisficing,
102		which states that they have met the minimum acceptable standards and can now
103		move on to other decisions. Modern business culture in the United States
104		dictates that profits are the golden measure of how well a company or manager is
105		performing, so we often don't think about our responsibilities beyond these
106		basic standards.
107
108		Not all situations demand excellence, but I believe that applying any philosophy
109		as a broad stroke across one's life can be a mistake. We must be able to think
110		critically about what we are doing as we do it and ask ourselves a few
111		questions. Have I done everything I can in this situation? Is mediocrity an
112		acceptable outcome, or should we strive for perfection, even if we can't attain
113		it?
114
115		Taking a few moments to think critically throughout our day, as we make
116		decisions, can have a tremendous effect on the outcomes we create.

content/blog/2020-10-12-mediocrity.org added +124

		@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-10-12>
	2	#+title: On the Pursuit of Mediocrity
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Perfect is the Enemy of Good
	7
	8	As the saying goes, "the best is the enemy of the good." As we strive
	9	for perfection, we often fail to realize the implications of such an
	10	undertaking. Attempting to reach perfection is often unrealistic. Even
	11	worse, it can get in the way of achieving a good outcome. In certain
	12	situations, we try so hard to achieve the ideal solution that we have
	13	burned the bridges that would have allowed us to reach a lesser yet
	14	still superb solution.
	15
	16	Philosophers throughout history have inspected this plight from many
	17	viewpoints. Greek mythology speaks of the
	18	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mean_(philosophy)][golden mean]],
	19	which uses the story of Icarus to illustrate that sometimes "the middle
	20	course" is the best solution. In this story, Daedalus, a famous artist
	21	of his time, built feathered wings for himself and his son so that they
	22	might escape the clutches of King Minos. Daedalus warns his beloved son
	23	whom he loved so much to "fly the middle course", between the sea spray
	24	and the sun's heat. Icarus did not heed his father; he flew up and up
	25	until the sun melted the wax off his wings. For not heeding the middle
	26	course, he fell into the sea and drowned.
	27
	28	More recently, management scholars have explored the
	29	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle][Pareto principle]] and
	30	found that as we increase the frequency of something, or strive to
	31	perform actions to achieve some form of perfection, we run into
	32	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminishing_returns][diminishing
	33	returns]].
	34
	35	Even further, Harold Demsetz is noted as coining the term
	36	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_fallacy][the Nirvana fallacy]]
	37	in 1969, which shows the fallacy of comparing actual things with
	38	unrealistic, idealized alternatives. This is another trap that we may
	39	fall into, where we are constantly thinking of the ultimate solutions to
	40	problems, when something more realistic needs to be considered.
	41
	42	Over and over throughout history, we've found that perfection is often
	43	unrealistic and unachievable. However, we push ourselves and our peers
	44	to "give 100%" or "go the extra mile," while it may be that the better
	45	course is to give a valuable level of effort while considering the
	46	effects of further effort on the outcome. Working harder does not always
	47	help us achieve loftier goals.
	48
	49	This has presented itself to me most recently during my time studying at
	50	my university. I was anxious and feeling the stresses of my courses,
	51	career, and personal life for quite a while, which was greatly affecting
	52	how well I was doing at school and my level of effort at work. One day,
	53	I happened to be talking to my father when he said something simple that
	54	hit home:
	55
	56	#+begin_quote
	57	All you can do is show up and do your best. Worrying about the outcomes
	58	won't affect the outcome itself.
	59	#+end_quote
	60
	61	The thought was extremely straightforward and uncomplicated, yet it was
	62	something that I had lost sight of during my stress-filled years at
	63	school. Ever since then, I've found myself pausing and remembering that
	64	quote every time I get anxious or stressed. It helps to stop and think
	65	"Can I do anything to affect the outcome, or am I simply worrying over
	66	something I can't change?"
	67
	68	* When Mediocrity Isn't Enough
	69
	70	One problem with the philosophies presented in this post is that they
	71	are implemented far too often in situations where mediocrity simply
	72	isn't adequate. For example, let's take a look at digital user data,
	73	specifically personally-identifiable information (PII). As a
	74	cybersecurity auditor in the United States, I have found that most
	75	companies are concerned more with compliance than any actual safeguards
	76	over the privacy or protection of user data. Other than companies who
	77	have built their reputation on privacy and security, most companies will
	78	use [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisficing][satisficing]] as their
	79	primary decision-making strategy around user data.
	80
	81	#+begin_quote
	82	Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that
	83	entails searching through the available alternatives until an
	84	acceptability threshold is met.
	85	#+end_quote
	86
	87	This means that each decision will be met with certain possible
	88	solutions until one of the solutions meets their minimum acceptable
	89	standards. For companies that deal with user data, the
	90	minimum-acceptable standards come from three areas:
	91
	92	1. Laws and regulations
	93	2. Competitive pressure
	94	3. Risk of monetary or reputation loss
	95
	96	Working with project management or auditing, the primary concern here is
	97	the risk of legal ramifications. Since the primary risk comes from laws
	98	and regulations, companies will require that any project that involves
	99	user data must follow all the rules of those laws so that the company
	100	can protect itself from fines or other penalties.
	101
	102	Following this, companies will consider best practices in order to place
	103	itself in a competitive position (e.g. Google vs. Apple) and review any
	104	recent or ongoing litigation against companies regarding user data. In a
	105	perfect company, management would then consider the ethical
	106	responsibilities of their organization and discuss their
	107	responsibilities over things like personally-identifiable information.
	108
	109	However, as we mentioned above, most companies follow the idea of
	110	satisficing, which states that they have met the minimum acceptable
	111	standards and can now move on to other decisions. Modern business
	112	culture in the United States dictates that profits are the golden
	113	measure of how well a company or manager is performing, so we often
	114	don't think about our responsibilities beyond these basic standards.
	115
	116	Not all situations demand excellence, but I believe that applying any
	117	philosophy as a broad stroke across one's life can be a mistake. We must
	118	be able to think critically about what we are doing as we do it and ask
	119	ourselves a few questions. Have I done everything I can in this
	120	situation? Is mediocrity an acceptable outcome, or should we strive for
	121	perfection, even if we can't attain it?
	122
	123	Taking a few moments to think critically throughout our day, as we make
	124	decisions, can have a tremendous effect on the outcomes we create.

content/blog/2020-12-27-website-redesign.md deleted −94

		@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-12-27
3		title = "Redesigning My Website: The 5 KB Result"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# A Brief History
9
10		As a form of continuous learning and entertainment, I've been running a handful
11		of websites since 2016 when I took my first programming courses in college. I
12		maintain one main website, the place I consider the official website to
13		represent me. Under this site, I have a handful of subdirectories and
14		subdomains.
15
16		One of the parts I've enjoyed the most about web development is the aspect of
17		designing an identity for a web page and working to find exciting ways to
18		display the site's content. Inevitably, this means I've changed the designs for
19		my websites more times than I could possibly count. Since I don't really host
20		anything on my main webpage that's vital, it allows me the freedom to change
21		things as inspiration strikes.
22
23		Historically, I've relied on core utilities for spacing, components, and layouts
24		from [Bootstrap](https://getbootstrap.com) and added custom CSS for fonts,
25		accents, colors, and other items. I also tend to create sites with no border
26		radius on items, visible borders, and content that takes up the entire screen
27		(using whitespace inside components instead of whitespace around my components).
28
29		# The Redesign Process
30
31		About a week ago, I found myself wishing for a new design yet again. The prior
32		design was largely inspired by IBM's [Carbon Design
33		System](https://www.carbondesignsystem.com) and relied on jQuery, Bootstrap,
34		along with some compressed [.webp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebP) images.
35
36		To anyone who knows my preferences toward web design - and even in my personal
37		life - it should be no surprise that I immediately started looking for
38		inspiration on minimalism. While there are some decent minimalistic designs on
39		sites like
40		[Dribbble](https://dribbble.com/search/shots/popular/web-design?q=minimalism),
41		people seem to mostly discuss [brutalist web
42		design](https://brutalist-web.design) when you ask about minimalism. While
43		brutalist web design doesn't have to be minimal, it often is.
44
45		I suppose, in a way, I did create a brutalist website since my HTML is semantic
46		and accessible, hyperlinks are colored and underlined, and all native browser
47		functions like scrolling and the back button work as expected. However, I didn't
48		think about brutalism while designing these sites.
49
50		The new design followed a simple design process. I walked through the screens on
51		my blog and asked myself: "Is this element necessary for a user?" This allowed
52		me to first start by removing all javascript, which had the sole purpose of
53		allowing users to open a collapsed navbar on mobile. Replacing the collapsible
54		navbar allowed me to remove both jQuery and Bootstrap's javascript.
55
56		Next, I removed things like author names (since I'm literally the only person
57		who will ever write on this site), multiple ways to click on a blog post card,
58		blog post descriptions, and the scroll-to-top button. It also helped to move all
59		categories to a single page, rather than have each category on its own page.
60
61		The final big piece to finish the
62		"[KonMari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Kondo#KonMari_method)"-like part
63		of my process was to remove Bootstrap CSS in its entirety. However, this meant
64		pulling out a few very useful classes, such as `.img-fluid` and the default font
65		stacks to keep in my custom CSS.
66
67		After removing all the unnecessary pieces, I was finally able to reorganize my
68		content and add a very small amount of custom CSS to make everything pretty.
69		This took a brief amount of time, effectively just consisting of me converting
70		`<div>` tags into things like `<ul>` lists and choosing accent colors.
71
72		# The Results
73
74		## Reflection
75
76		So, what did all of this reorganizing do to my webpages? Well, first, my
77		websites are now ridiculously fast. Since the prior designs were also
78		minimal and didn't have many images, they measured up in Firefox's Network
79		Monitor around 300 KB - 600KB. After making the changes, my main site is at 5 KB
80		transferred (22 KB total), and my blog is at 6.5 KB transferred (13 KB total).
81		**That means the redesigned pages are less than 2% the size of the old
82		designs.**
83
84		Google Lighthouse ranks the new webpage as 100 in performance, accessibility,
85		and best practices, with SEO at 92 since they think tap targets are not sized
86		appropriately for mobile users. First contextual paints of the pages are under
87		0.8 seconds with 0 ms of blocking time. However, the blog subdomain ranks at 100
88		for all four categories! First contextual paints of the blog homepage are under
89		1.0 seconds with 0 ms of blocking time, due to the fact that the CSS for my blog
90		is within a separate CSS file, and the CSS for my main website is simply
91		embedded in the HTML file.
92
93		Now that everything is complete, I can confidently say I'm happy with the result
94		and proud to look at the fastest set of websites I've created so far.

content/blog/2020-12-27-website-redesign.org added +100

		@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-12-27>
	2	#+title: Redesigning My Website: The 5 KB Result
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* A Brief History
	7
	8	As a form of continuous learning and entertainment, I've been running a
	9	handful of websites since 2016 when I took my first programming courses
	10	in college. I maintain one main website, the place I consider the
	11	official website to represent me. Under this site, I have a handful of
	12	subdirectories and subdomains.
	13
	14	One of the parts I've enjoyed the most about web development is the
	15	aspect of designing an identity for a web page and working to find
	16	exciting ways to display the site's content. Inevitably, this means I've
	17	changed the designs for my websites more times than I could possibly
	18	count. Since I don't really host anything on my main webpage that's
	19	vital, it allows me the freedom to change things as inspiration strikes.
	20
	21	Historically, I've relied on core utilities for spacing, components, and
	22	layouts from [[https://getbootstrap.com][Bootstrap]] and added custom
	23	CSS for fonts, accents, colors, and other items. I also tend to create
	24	sites with no border radius on items, visible borders, and content that
	25	takes up the entire screen (using whitespace inside components instead
	26	of whitespace around my components).
	27
	28	* The Redesign Process
	29
	30	About a week ago, I found myself wishing for a new design yet again. The
	31	prior design was largely inspired by IBM's
	32	[[https://www.carbondesignsystem.com][Carbon Design System]] and relied
	33	on jQuery, Bootstrap, along with some compressed
	34	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebP][.webp]] images.
	35
	36	To anyone who knows my preferences toward web design - and even in my
	37	personal life - it should be no surprise that I immediately started
	38	looking for inspiration on minimalism. While there are some decent
	39	minimalistic designs on sites like
	40	[[https://dribbble.com/search/shots/popular/web-design?q=minimalism][Dribbble]],
	41	people seem to mostly discuss [[https://brutalist-web.design][brutalist
	42	web design]] when you ask about minimalism. While brutalist web design
	43	doesn't have to be minimal, it often is.
	44
	45	I suppose, in a way, I did create a brutalist website since my HTML is
	46	semantic and accessible, hyperlinks are colored and underlined, and all
	47	native browser functions like scrolling and the back button work as
	48	expected. However, I didn't think about brutalism while designing these
	49	sites.
	50
	51	The new design followed a simple design process. I walked through the
	52	screens on my blog and asked myself: "Is this element necessary for a
	53	user?" This allowed me to first start by removing all javascript, which
	54	had the sole purpose of allowing users to open a collapsed navbar on
	55	mobile. Replacing the collapsible navbar allowed me to remove both
	56	jQuery and Bootstrap's javascript.
	57
	58	Next, I removed things like author names (since I'm literally the only
	59	person who will ever write on this site), multiple ways to click on a
	60	blog post card, blog post descriptions, and the scroll-to-top button. It
	61	also helped to move all categories to a single page, rather than have
	62	each category on its own page.
	63
	64	The final big piece to finish the
	65	"[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Kondo#KonMari_method][KonMari]]"-like
	66	part of my process was to remove Bootstrap CSS in its entirety. However,
	67	this meant pulling out a few very useful classes, such as =.img-fluid=
	68	and the default font stacks to keep in my custom CSS.
	69
	70	After removing all the unnecessary pieces, I was finally able to
	71	reorganize my content and add a very small amount of custom CSS to make
	72	everything pretty. This took a brief amount of time, effectively just
	73	consisting of me converting =<div>= tags into things like =<ul>= lists
	74	and choosing accent colors.
	75
	76	* The Results
	77
	78	** Reflection
	79
	80	So, what did all of this reorganizing do to my webpages? Well, first, my
	81	websites are now ridiculously fast. Since the prior designs were also
	82	minimal and didn't have many images, they measured up in Firefox's
	83	Network Monitor around 300 KB - 600KB. After making the changes, my main
	84	site is at 5 KB transferred (22 KB total), and my blog is at 6.5 KB
	85	transferred (13 KB total). *That means the redesigned pages are less
	86	than 2% the size of the old designs.*
	87
	88	Google Lighthouse ranks the new webpage as 100 in performance,
	89	accessibility, and best practices, with SEO at 92 since they think tap
	90	targets are not sized appropriately for mobile users. First contextual
	91	paints of the pages are under 0.8 seconds with 0 ms of blocking time.
	92	However, the blog subdomain ranks at 100 for all four categories! First
	93	contextual paints of the blog homepage are under 1.0 seconds with 0 ms
	94	of blocking time, due to the fact that the CSS for my blog is within a
	95	separate CSS file, and the CSS for my main website is simply embedded in
	96	the HTML file.
	97
	98	Now that everything is complete, I can confidently say I'm happy with
	99	the result and proud to look at the fastest set of websites I've created
	100	so far.

content/blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.md deleted −81

		@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-12-28
3		title = "Neon Drive: A Nostalgic 80s Arcade Racing Game"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Game Description
9
10		[Neon Drive](https://store.steampowered.com/app/433910/Neon_Drive/) presents
11		itself as a simple arcade-style game inspired by the arcade race games of the
12		1980s, yet it has managed to take up hours of my life without much effort. The
13		game description, directly from the Steam page, is intriguing enough to entice
14		anyone who's been looking for a good arcade racing game:
15
16		> Neon Drive is a slick retro-futuristic arcade game that will make your brain
17		> melt. You've been warned. From beautiful cityscapes and ocean roads to
18		> exploding enemy spaceships, Neon Drive has it all.
19
20		# Gameplay
21
22		The game holds true to the
23		[retro-futurism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrofuturism) style, including
24		chrome female robots, pixelated arcade machines, and
25		[outrun](https://teddit.net/r/outrun/) aesthetics.
26
27		Each level of the game is shown as a separate arcade machine. Each arcade
28		machine lets you play on Normal, Hard, Insane, Practice, and Free Run. To beat
29		each arcade, you must reach the end of the level without crashing your car into
30		the various obstacles on the course. Basic levels let you move left or right to
31		avoid blocks in the road. Later levels put you through other tests, such as
32		dodging traffic or blasting asteroids.
33
34		The game uses synthwave music to keep you on track to make the correct moves by
35		timing the beats of the songs to the correct moves on the screen. It reminds me
36		of the early Guitar Hero games, as well as mobile apps like VOEZ - repetition
37		and staying on-beat is the only way to win.
38
39		# In-Game Screenshots
40
41		Taking a look at the main menu, you can see that Neon Drive plays into every
42		stereotype you can think of around retro-futuristic, synthwave arcades (in a
43		good way).
44
45		Once you get into the first level, we see that the choice of car fits right in
46		with the stereotypical cars of the 80s, like the
47		[DeLorean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMC_DeLorean) or the [Ferrari
48		F40](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F40). Each new level comes with new
49		color schemes and cars, so you should never get tired of the aesthetic.
50
51		Personally, I love the orange and blue colors used in level 2:
52
53		If you're the competitive type and getting 100% on all arcade machines isn't
54		enough, there are leaderboards for the regular part of the game, and the
55		endurance game mode.
56
57		# Other Suggestions
58
59		Neon Drive sits nicely within the well-founded cult genre of Outrun. Other games
60		that I've enjoyed in this same spectrum are:
61
62		- [Far Cry 3: Blood
63		Dragon](https://store.steampowered.com/app/233270/Far_Cry_3__Blood_Dragon/)
64		- [Retrowave](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1239690/Retrowave/)
65		- [Slipstream](https://store.steampowered.com/app/732810/Slipstream/)
66
67		Although these games aren't necessarily in the same genre, they do have aspects
68		that place them close enough to interest gamers that enjoyed Neon Drive:
69
70		- [Black Ice](https://store.steampowered.com/app/311800/Black_Ice/)
71		- [Cloudpunk](https://store.steampowered.com/app/746850/Cloudpunk/)
72		- [Need for Speed:
73		Heat](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222680/Need_for_Speed_Heat/)
74		- [VirtuaVerse](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1019310/VirtuaVerse/)
75
76		Of course, if all you really care about is the arcade aspect of these games, you
77		can check out the [Atari
78		Vault](https://store.steampowered.com/app/400020/Atari_Vault/) or any of the
79		other classic games sold on Steam by companies like Namco, Atari. For something
80		like Nintendo, you'd have to settle for buying used classic consoles or delve
81		into the world of emulation.

content/blog/2020-12-28-neon-drive.org added +84

		@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-12-28>
	2	#+title: Neon Drive: A Nostalgic 80s Arcade Racing Game
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Game Description
	7
	8	[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/433910/Neon_Drive/][Neon Drive]]
	9	presents itself as a simple arcade-style game inspired by the arcade
	10	race games of the 1980s, yet it has managed to take up hours of my life
	11	without much effort. The game description, directly from the Steam page,
	12	is intriguing enough to entice anyone who's been looking for a good
	13	arcade racing game:
	14
	15	#+begin_quote
	16	Neon Drive is a slick retro-futuristic arcade game that will make your
	17	brain melt. You've been warned. From beautiful cityscapes and ocean
	18	roads to exploding enemy spaceships, Neon Drive has it all.
	19	#+end_quote
	20
	21	* Gameplay
	22
	23	The game holds true to the
	24	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrofuturism][retro-futurism]] style,
	25	including chrome female robots, pixelated arcade machines, and
	26	[[https://teddit.net/r/outrun/][outrun]] aesthetics.
	27
	28	Each level of the game is shown as a separate arcade machine. Each
	29	arcade machine lets you play on Normal, Hard, Insane, Practice, and Free
	30	Run. To beat each arcade, you must reach the end of the level without
	31	crashing your car into the various obstacles on the course. Basic levels
	32	let you move left or right to avoid blocks in the road. Later levels put
	33	you through other tests, such as dodging traffic or blasting asteroids.
	34
	35	The game uses synthwave music to keep you on track to make the correct
	36	moves by timing the beats of the songs to the correct moves on the
	37	screen. It reminds me of the early Guitar Hero games, as well as mobile
	38	apps like VOEZ - repetition and staying on-beat is the only way to win.
	39
	40	* In-Game Screenshots
	41
	42	Taking a look at the main menu, you can see that Neon Drive plays into
	43	every stereotype you can think of around retro-futuristic, synthwave
	44	arcades (in a good way).
	45
	46	Once you get into the first level, we see that the choice of car fits
	47	right in with the stereotypical cars of the 80s, like the
	48	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMC_DeLorean][DeLorean]] or the
	49	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F40][Ferrari F40]]. Each new
	50	level comes with new color schemes and cars, so you should never get
	51	tired of the aesthetic.
	52
	53	Personally, I love the orange and blue colors used in level 2:
	54
	55	If you're the competitive type and getting 100% on all arcade machines
	56	isn't enough, there are leaderboards for the regular part of the game,
	57	and the endurance game mode.
	58
	59	* Other Suggestions
	60
	61	Neon Drive sits nicely within the well-founded cult genre of Outrun.
	62	Other games that I've enjoyed in this same spectrum are:
	63
	64	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/233270/Far_Cry_3__Blood_Dragon/][Far
	65	Cry 3: Blood Dragon]]
	66	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1239690/Retrowave/][Retrowave]]
	67	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/732810/Slipstream/][Slipstream]]
	68
	69	Although these games aren't necessarily in the same genre, they do have
	70	aspects that place them close enough to interest gamers that enjoyed
	71	Neon Drive:
	72
	73	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/311800/Black_Ice/][Black Ice]]
	74	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/746850/Cloudpunk/][Cloudpunk]]
	75	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222680/Need_for_Speed_Heat/][Need
	76	for Speed: Heat]]
	77	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1019310/VirtuaVerse/][VirtuaVerse]]
	78
	79	Of course, if all you really care about is the arcade aspect of these
	80	games, you can check out the
	81	[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/400020/Atari_Vault/][Atari Vault]]
	82	or any of the other classic games sold on Steam by companies like Namco,
	83	Atari. For something like Nintendo, you'd have to settle for buying used
	84	classic consoles or delve into the world of emulation.

content/blog/2020-12-29-zork.md deleted −80

		@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2020-12-29
3		title = "Zork: Let's Explore a Classic"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Download (Free)
9
10		Before we get into the game itself, you should know that you can download Zork
11		for free from Infocom's [download
12		page](http://infocom-if.org/downloads/downloads.html). So feel free to boot it
13		up and take a ride back to the 1980s with this masterpiece.
14
15		# Game Description
16
17		Zork is an interactive, text-based computer game originally released in 1980.
18		This series, split into three separate games, introduced a robust and
19		sophisticated text parser to gamers. People were largely used to the simple
20		commands used in the popular game [Colossal Cave
21		Adventure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure), but Zork
22		allowed users to send more complex commands that included prepositions and
23		conjunctions.
24
25		Zork tracks your score as you explore the map, find tools, and collect trophy
26		items (e.g., a jewel-encrusted egg). When you place your trophy items in the
27		trophy case found in the Living Room area, you gain score points. Collecting the
28		Twenty Treasures of Zork and placing them within the trophy case wins the game.
29		However, you must explore the map, solve puzzles, and avoid being eaten by a
30		grue to collect these treasures.
31
32		# The Map
33
34		Since Zork is a vast and complex game, it helps to have a map as you explore and
35		collect your trophies. However, if you want to play the game as it was truly
36		intended, you should try to play it without using the map.
37
38		![Zork Map](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20201229-zork/zork_map.jpg)
39
40		_[Map Source](https://www.filfre.net/2012/01/exploring-zork-part-1/)_
41
42		# In-Game Screenshots
43
44		After playing the game (for the first time ever) for several weeks around 2014,
45		I was finally able to beat the game with some online help to find the last
46		couple items. As I was writing this post, I installed the game again to grab
47		some screenshots to show off the true glory of this game. As noted in [Jimmy
48		Maher's playthrough](https://www.filfre.net/2012/01/exploring-zork-part-1/), the
49		original Zork games looked quite a bit different due to the older hardware of
50		computers like the Apple II and multiple bug fixes that Infocom pushed out after
51		the game's initial release. My play-through uses the [Zork
52		Anthology](https://store.steampowered.com/app/570580/Zork_Anthology/) version,
53		which utilizes DOSBox on Windows.
54
55		The first screenshot here shows the introductory information, which doesn't
56		include instructions of any kind for the player. If you haven't played text
57		adventures before, try to use simple commands like "go west," "look around," or
58		"hit troll with elvish sword."
59
60		In this second screenshot, we see the player has entered the house and found the
61		trophy case in the living room. The lantern and sword in this room allow the
62		player to explore dark areas and attack enemies. If you don't use the lantern,
63		you won't be able to see anything in dark areas, and you may be eaten by a grue.
64
65		Finally, we see that the player has found the first treasure: a jewel-encrusted
66		egg. These treasures can be taken back to the house and placed in the trophy
67		case or carried until you feel like you want to put things away.
68
69		# Conclusion
70
71		It's been quite a few years since I first played Zork, but I clearly remember
72		the late nights and bloodshot eyes that helped me find all the treasures. This
73		game is well worth the time and effort, even though the text-based aspect may be
74		off-putting to gamers who didn't have to grow up playing games without graphics.
75		However, I believe that the strategy and skills learned in early video games
76		like Zork can actually help you, even when playing newer games.
77
78		If you do decide to play Zork, you can download Zork I, II, and III from
79		Infocom's [download page](http://infocom-if.org/downloads/downloads.html) for
80		free or search the internet for an online version.

content/blog/2020-12-29-zork.org added +86

		@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
	1	#+date: <2020-12-29>
	2	#+title: Zork: Let's Explore a Classic
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Download (Free)
	7
	8	Before we get into the game itself, you should know that you can
	9	download Zork for free from Infocom's
	10	[[http://infocom-if.org/downloads/downloads.html][download page]]. So
	11	feel free to boot it up and take a ride back to the 1980s with this
	12	masterpiece.
	13
	14	* Game Description
	15
	16	Zork is an interactive, text-based computer game originally released
	17	in 1980. This series, split into three separate games, introduced a
	18	robust and sophisticated text parser to gamers. People were largely used
	19	to the simple commands used in the popular game
	20	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure][Colossal Cave
	21	Adventure]], but Zork allowed users to send more complex commands that
	22	included prepositions and conjunctions.
	23
	24	Zork tracks your score as you explore the map, find tools, and collect
	25	trophy items (e.g., a jewel-encrusted egg). When you place your trophy
	26	items in the trophy case found in the Living Room area, you gain score
	27	points. Collecting the Twenty Treasures of Zork and placing them within
	28	the trophy case wins the game. However, you must explore the map, solve
	29	puzzles, and avoid being eaten by a grue to collect these treasures.
	30
	31	* The Map
	32
	33	Since Zork is a vast and complex game, it helps to have a map as you
	34	explore and collect your trophies. However, if you want to play the game
	35	as it was truly intended, you should try to play it without using the
	36	map.
	37
	38	#+caption: Zork Map
	39	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20201229-zork/zork_map.jpg]]
	40
	41	/[[https://www.filfre.net/2012/01/exploring-zork-part-1/][Map Source]]/
	42
	43	* In-Game Screenshots
	44
	45	After playing the game (for the first time ever) for several weeks
	46	around 2014, I was finally able to beat the game with some online help
	47	to find the last couple items. As I was writing this post, I installed
	48	the game again to grab some screenshots to show off the true glory of
	49	this game. As noted in
	50	[[https://www.filfre.net/2012/01/exploring-zork-part-1/][Jimmy Maher's
	51	playthrough]], the original Zork games looked quite a bit different due
	52	to the older hardware of computers like the Apple II and multiple bug
	53	fixes that Infocom pushed out after the game's initial release. My
	54	play-through uses the
	55	[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/570580/Zork_Anthology/][Zork
	56	Anthology]] version, which utilizes DOSBox on Windows.
	57
	58	The first screenshot here shows the introductory information, which
	59	doesn't include instructions of any kind for the player. If you haven't
	60	played text adventures before, try to use simple commands like "go
	61	west," "look around," or "hit troll with elvish sword."
	62
	63	In this second screenshot, we see the player has entered the house and
	64	found the trophy case in the living room. The lantern and sword in this
	65	room allow the player to explore dark areas and attack enemies. If you
	66	don't use the lantern, you won't be able to see anything in dark areas,
	67	and you may be eaten by a grue.
	68
	69	Finally, we see that the player has found the first treasure: a
	70	jewel-encrusted egg. These treasures can be taken back to the house and
	71	placed in the trophy case or carried until you feel like you want to put
	72	things away.
	73
	74	* Conclusion
	75
	76	It's been quite a few years since I first played Zork, but I clearly
	77	remember the late nights and bloodshot eyes that helped me find all the
	78	treasures. This game is well worth the time and effort, even though the
	79	text-based aspect may be off-putting to gamers who didn't have to grow
	80	up playing games without graphics. However, I believe that the strategy
	81	and skills learned in early video games like Zork can actually help you,
	82	even when playing newer games.
	83
	84	If you do decide to play Zork, you can download Zork I, II, and III from
	85	Infocom's [[http://infocom-if.org/downloads/downloads.html][download
	86	page]] for free or search the internet for an online version.

content/blog/2021-01-01-seum.md deleted −71

		@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-01-01
3		title = "SEUM: Spreedrunners from Hell"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Game Description
9
10		[SEUM: Speedrunners from
11		Hell](https://store.steampowered.com/app/457210/SEUM_Speedrunners_from_Hell/) is
12		an incredibly fast-paced mashup of a puzzle game and a free-running game.
13		Created by [Pine Studio](https://pinestudio.co) in early 2016 and first released
14		as a [demo on
15		GameJolt](https://gamejolt.com/games/seum-speedrunners-from-hell-demo/154868),
16		this game was successfully green-lit on Steam and has amassed a cult following
17		on multiple consoles.
18
19		Here's the game description straight from the developers:
20
21		> Like a bastard child of Quake 3 and Super Meat Boy, SEUM: Speedrunners from
22		> Hell is truly hardcore and focuses on speed and fast reaction.
23
24		# Story
25
26		SEUM does a great job setting the stage when you open the game for the first
27		time, playing an animated video in the form of comic book images. You see Marty,
28		the protagonist, sitting around drinking his beer as Satan busts down the door,
29		cuts his hand off, and steals all his beer and bacon. As Satan is leaving, Marty
30		whips a vinyl record across the room and cuts off one of Satan's hands. This
31		hand is what allows you to use all the powers in the game.
32
33		# Gameplay
34
35		To accomplish each level, you will need to get to the final blue portal under a
36		certain time limit. You can beat a level by getting to the portal before the
37		time meter runs out or "Dominate" a level by beating it within a shorter time
38		limit (noted by a bright red/orange color in the time meter).
39
40		The portal is usually set behind locked gates, protected by dangerous defenses,
41		or in hard-to-reach places. To reach the portal, you'll need to go through any
42		existing orange portals, light all yellow beacons, avoid things like fireballs
43		and blades, or use any satanic power orbs lying around. These special abilities
44		include:
45
46		- Gravity
47		- Teleport
48		- Rewind
49		- Spawn platform
50		- Roar (DLC)
51		- Rocket (DLC)
52		- Shadow world (DLC)
53
54		For the main storyline, there are nine floors to beat. Each floor contains nine
55		regular levels, one boss level, and one bonus level; although you don't
56		technically need to beat all levels to advance to the next floor.
57		# In-Game Screenshots
58
59		The main menu gives you plenty of options for tuning your system, playing main
60		levels, playing the DLC, or exploring the other game modes.
61
62		Once you enter a level, you can look around and strategize before starting.
63		Clicking any button will start the menu, and you'll have to restart if you die.
64		One of the great things about SEUM is that it has great keyboard shortcuts. You
65		can quickly smash `R` to restart the level or `M` to return to the level menu.
66
67		Once you're able to win a level, you'll see the high scores and can watch
68		replays of the best scores.
69
70		Each regular level also contains a beer in a disguised location that may take
71		some out-of-the-box thinking.

content/blog/2021-01-01-seum.org added +73

		@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-01-01>
	2	#+title: SEUM: Spreedrunners from Hell
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Game Description
	7
	8	[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/457210/SEUM_Speedrunners_from_Hell/][SEUM:
	9	Speedrunners from Hell]] is an incredibly fast-paced mashup of a puzzle
	10	game and a free-running game. Created by [[https://pinestudio.co][Pine
	11	Studio]] in early 2016 and first released as a
	12	[[https://gamejolt.com/games/seum-speedrunners-from-hell-demo/154868][demo
	13	on GameJolt]], this game was successfully green-lit on Steam and has
	14	amassed a cult following on multiple consoles.
	15
	16	Here's the game description straight from the developers:
	17
	18	#+begin_quote
	19	Like a bastard child of Quake 3 and Super Meat Boy, SEUM: Speedrunners
	20	from Hell is truly hardcore and focuses on speed and fast reaction.
	21	#+end_quote
	22
	23	* Story
	24
	25	SEUM does a great job setting the stage when you open the game for the
	26	first time, playing an animated video in the form of comic book images.
	27	You see Marty, the protagonist, sitting around drinking his beer as
	28	Satan busts down the door, cuts his hand off, and steals all his beer
	29	and bacon. As Satan is leaving, Marty whips a vinyl record across the
	30	room and cuts off one of Satan's hands. This hand is what allows you to
	31	use all the powers in the game.
	32
	33	* Gameplay
	34
	35	To accomplish each level, you will need to get to the final blue portal
	36	under a certain time limit. You can beat a level by getting to the
	37	portal before the time meter runs out or "Dominate" a level by beating
	38	it within a shorter time limit (noted by a bright red/orange color in
	39	the time meter).
	40
	41	The portal is usually set behind locked gates, protected by dangerous
	42	defenses, or in hard-to-reach places. To reach the portal, you'll need
	43	to go through any existing orange portals, light all yellow beacons,
	44	avoid things like fireballs and blades, or use any satanic power orbs
	45	lying around. These special abilities include:
	46
	47	- Gravity
	48	- Teleport
	49	- Rewind
	50	- Spawn platform
	51	- Roar (DLC)
	52	- Rocket (DLC)
	53	- Shadow world (DLC)
	54
	55	For the main storyline, there are nine floors to beat. Each floor
	56	contains nine regular levels, one boss level, and one bonus level;
	57	although you don't technically need to beat all levels to advance to the
	58	next floor. # In-Game Screenshots
	59
	60	The main menu gives you plenty of options for tuning your system,
	61	playing main levels, playing the DLC, or exploring the other game modes.
	62
	63	Once you enter a level, you can look around and strategize before
	64	starting. Clicking any button will start the menu, and you'll have to
	65	restart if you die. One of the great things about SEUM is that it has
	66	great keyboard shortcuts. You can quickly smash =R= to restart the level
	67	or =M= to return to the level menu.
	68
	69	Once you're able to win a level, you'll see the high scores and can
	70	watch replays of the best scores.
	71
	72	Each regular level also contains a beer in a disguised location that may
	73	take some out-of-the-box thinking.

content/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.md deleted −100

		@@ -1,100 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-01-04
3		title = "A Simple Guide to the Fediverse"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is the Fediverse?
9
10		The fediverse is a federated universe of servers commonly used for sharing
11		content, like social media. So, instead of having to rely on a single
12		organization to run the server (e.g. Facebook), the fediverse is a giant
13		collection of servers across the world, owned by many people and organizations.
14
15		Take a look at this depiction of a federated network. Each server in this photo
16		is owned and run by different administrators/owners. Federated networks are best
17		explained as email servers: you have an email account that exists on a server
18		(e.g. Outlook), your friend has an account on a different server (e.g. GMail),
19		and another friend has an account on a third server (e.g. ProtonMail). All three
20		of you can talk and communicate back and forth without having to be on the same
21		server. However, responsible email admins are there to set rules and control the
22		traffic going in/out of the server.
23
24		The main objective of this architecture is to decentralize the control within
25		the internet connections. For example, if you run your own Mastodon instance,
26		you and your users can't be censored or impacted in any way by authorities of
27		another Mastodon instance. Some users have praised these features due to recent
28		criticism of popular social media websites that may be over-censoring their
29		users.
30
31		This strategy is great for making sure control of the social web isn't
32		controlled by a single organization, but it also has some downsides. If I create
33		a Mastodon instance and get a ton of users to sign up, I can shut the server
34		down at any time. That means you're at risk of losing the content you've created
35		unless you back it up, or the server backs it up for you. Also, depending on the
36		software used (e.g. Mastodon, Pixelfed, etc.), censorship may still be an issue
37		if the server admins decide they want to censor their users. Now, censorship
38		isn't always a bad thing and can even benefit the community as a whole, but
39		you'll want to determine which servers align with your idea of proper
40		censorship.
41
42		However, these are risks that we take when we sign up for any online platform.
43		Whatever your reason is for trying out federated social networks, they are part
44		of the future of the internet. However, the popularity of these services is
45		still yet to be determined, especially with the increased difficulty
46		understanding and signing up for these platforms. Perhaps increased regulation
47		and litigation against current social media sites will push more users into the
48		fediverse.
49
50		# Federated Alternatives to Popular Sites
51
52		The list below is a small guide that will show you federated alternatives to
53		current popular websites. There are many more out there, so go and explore: you
54		might just find the perfect home.
55
56		## Reddit
57
58		- [Lemmy](https://lemmy.ml/instances)
59
60		## Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr
61
62		- [Mastodon](https://joinmastodon.org)
63		- [Diaspora](https://diasporafoundation.org)
64		- [Friendica](https://friendi.ca)
65		- [GNU Social](https://gnusocial.network)
66		- [Pleroma](https://pleroma.social)
67
68		## Instagram
69
70		- [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org)
71
72		## Slack/Discord
73
74		- [Matrix](https://element.io)
75
76		## Youtube/Vimeo
77
78		- [Peertube](https://joinpeertube.org)
79
80		## Spotify/Soundcloud
81
82		- [Funkwhale](https://funkwhale.audio)
83
84		## Podcasting
85
86		- [Pubcast](https://pubcast.pub)
87
88		## Medium/Blogger
89
90		- [WriteFreely](https://writefreely.org)
91
92		# Get Started
93
94		The best way to get started is to simply sign up and learn as you go. If you're
95		comfortable signing up through a Mastodon, Pleroma, or Friendica server, here is
96		[a list of themed servers](https://fediverse.party/en/portal/servers) to choose
97		from. If you're looking for something else, try a web search for a federated
98		alternative to your favorite sites.
99
100		Find a server that focuses on your passions and start there!

content/blog/2021-01-04-fediverse.org added +100

		@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-01-04>
	2	#+title: A Simple Guide to the Fediverse
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is the Fediverse?
	7
	8	The fediverse is a federated universe of servers commonly used for
	9	sharing content, like social media. So, instead of having to rely on a
	10	single organization to run the server (e.g. Facebook), the fediverse is
	11	a giant collection of servers across the world, owned by many people and
	12	organizations.
	13
	14	Take a look at this depiction of a federated network. Each server in
	15	this photo is owned and run by different administrators/owners.
	16	Federated networks are best explained as email servers: you have an
	17	email account that exists on a server (e.g. Outlook), your friend has an
	18	account on a different server (e.g. GMail), and another friend has an
	19	account on a third server (e.g. ProtonMail). All three of you can talk
	20	and communicate back and forth without having to be on the same server.
	21	However, responsible email admins are there to set rules and control the
	22	traffic going in/out of the server.
	23
	24	The main objective of this architecture is to decentralize the control
	25	within the internet connections. For example, if you run your own
	26	Mastodon instance, you and your users can't be censored or impacted in
	27	any way by authorities of another Mastodon instance. Some users have
	28	praised these features due to recent criticism of popular social media
	29	websites that may be over-censoring their users.
	30
	31	This strategy is great for making sure control of the social web isn't
	32	controlled by a single organization, but it also has some downsides. If
	33	I create a Mastodon instance and get a ton of users to sign up, I can
	34	shut the server down at any time. That means you're at risk of losing
	35	the content you've created unless you back it up, or the server backs it
	36	up for you. Also, depending on the software used (e.g. Mastodon,
	37	Pixelfed, etc.), censorship may still be an issue if the server admins
	38	decide they want to censor their users. Now, censorship isn't always a
	39	bad thing and can even benefit the community as a whole, but you'll want
	40	to determine which servers align with your idea of proper censorship.
	41
	42	However, these are risks that we take when we sign up for any online
	43	platform. Whatever your reason is for trying out federated social
	44	networks, they are part of the future of the internet. However, the
	45	popularity of these services is still yet to be determined, especially
	46	with the increased difficulty understanding and signing up for these
	47	platforms. Perhaps increased regulation and litigation against current
	48	social media sites will push more users into the fediverse.
	49
	50	* Federated Alternatives to Popular Sites
	51
	52	The list below is a small guide that will show you federated
	53	alternatives to current popular websites. There are many more out there,
	54	so go and explore: you might just find the perfect home.
	55
	56	** Reddit
	57
	58	- [[https://lemmy.ml/instances][Lemmy]]
	59
	60	** Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr
	61
	62	- [[https://joinmastodon.org][Mastodon]]
	63	- [[https://diasporafoundation.org][Diaspora]]
	64	- [[https://friendi.ca][Friendica]]
	65	- [[https://gnusocial.network][GNU Social]]
	66	- [[https://pleroma.social][Pleroma]]
	67
	68	** Instagram
	69
	70	- [[https://pixelfed.org][Pixelfed]]
	71
	72	** Slack/Discord
	73
	74	- [[https://element.io][Matrix]]
	75
	76	** Youtube/Vimeo
	77
	78	- [[https://joinpeertube.org][Peertube]]
	79
	80	** Spotify/Soundcloud
	81
	82	- [[https://funkwhale.audio][Funkwhale]]
	83
	84	** Podcasting
	85
	86	- [[https://pubcast.pub][Pubcast]]
	87
	88	** Medium/Blogger
	89
	90	- [[https://writefreely.org][WriteFreely]]
	91
	92	* Get Started
	93
	94	The best way to get started is to simply sign up and learn as you go. If
	95	you're comfortable signing up through a Mastodon, Pleroma, or Friendica
	96	server, here is [[https://fediverse.party/en/portal/servers][a list of
	97	themed servers]] to choose from. If you're looking for something else,
	98	try a web search for a federated alternative to your favorite sites.
	99
	100	Find a server that focuses on your passions and start there!

content/blog/2021-01-07-ufw.md deleted −217

		@@ -1,217 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-01-07
3		title = "Secure Your Network with the Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw)"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Uncomplicated Firewall
9
10		Uncomplicated Firewall, also known as ufw, is a convenient and beginner-friendly
11		way to enforce OS-level firewall rules. For those who are hosting servers or any
12		device that is accessible to the world (i.e., by public IP or domain name), it's
13		critical that a firewall is properly implemented and active.
14
15		Ufw is available by default in all Ubuntu installations after 8.04 LTS. For
16		other distributions, you can look to install ufw or check if there are
17		alternative firewalls installed already. There are usually alternatives
18		available, such as Fedora's `firewall` and the package available on most
19		distributions: `iptables`. Ufw is considered a beginner-friendly front-end to
20		iptables.
21
22		[Gufw](https://gufw.org) is available as a graphical user interface (GUI)
23		application for users who are uncomfortable setting up a firewall through a
24		terminal.
25
26		# Getting Help
27
28		If you need help figuring out commands, remember that you can run the `--help`
29		flag to get a list of options.
30
31		```sh
32		sudo ufw --help
33		```
34
35		# Set Default State
36
37		The proper way to run a firewall is to set a strict default state and slowly
38		open up ports that you want to allow. This helps prevent anything malicious from
39		slipping through the cracks. The following command prevents all incoming traffic
40		(other than the rules we specify later), but you can also set this for outgoing
41		connections, if necessary.
42
43		```sh
44		sudo ufw default deny incoming
45		```
46
47		You should also allow outgoing traffic if you want to allow the device to
48		communicate back to you or other parties. For example, media servers like Plex
49		need to be able to send out data related to streaming the media.
50
51		```sh
52		sudo ufw default allow outgoing
53		```
54
55		# Adding Port Rules
56
57		Now that we've disabled all incoming traffic by default, we need to open up some
58		ports (or else no traffic would be able to come in). If you need to be able to
59		`ssh` into the machine, you'll need to open up port 22.
60
61		```sh
62		sudo ufw allow 22
63		```
64
65		You can also issue more restrictive rules. The following rule will allow `ssh`
66		connections only from machines on the local subnet.
67
68		```sh
69		sudo ufw allow proto tcp from 192.168.0.0/24 to any port 22
70		```
71
72		If you need to set a rule that isn't tcp, just append your connection type to
73		the end of the rule.
74
75		```sh
76		sudo ufw allow 1900/udp
77		```
78
79		# Enable ufw
80
81		Now that the firewall is configured and ready to go, you can enable the
82		firewall.
83
84		```sh
85		sudo ufw enable
86		```
87
88		A restart may be required for the firewall to begin operating.
89
90		```sh
91		sudo reboot now
92		```
93
94		# Checking Status
95
96		Now that the firewall is enabled, let's check and see what the rules look like.
97
98		```sh
99		sudo ufw status numbered
100		```
101
102		```txt
103		Status: active
104
105		To Action From
106		-- ------ ----
107		[ 1] 22 ALLOW IN Anywhere
108		[ 2] 22 (v6) ALLOW IN Anywhere (v6)
109		```
110
111		# Deleting Rules
112
113		If you need to delete a rule, you need to know the number associated with that
114		rule. Let's delete the first rule in the table above. You'll be asked to confirm
115		the deletion as part of this process.
116
117		```sh
118		sudo ufw delete 1
119		```
120
121		# Managing App Rules
122
123		Luckily, there's a convenient way for installed applications to create files
124		that ufw can easily implement so that you don't have to search and find which
125		ports your application requires. To see if your device has any applications with
126		pre-installed ufw rules, execute the following command:
127
128		```sh
129		sudo ufw app list
130		```
131
132		The results should look something like this:
133
134		```txt
135		Available applications:
136		OpenSSH
137		Samba
138		plexmediaserver
139		plexmediaserver-all
140		plexmediaserver-dlna
141		```
142
143		If you want to get more information on a specific app rule, use the `info`
144		command.
145
146		```sh
147		sudo ufw app info plexmediaserver-dlna
148		```
149
150		You'll get a blurb of info back like this:
151
152		```txt
153		Profile: plexmediaserver-dlna
154		Title: Plex Media Server (DLNA)
155		Description: The Plex Media Server (additional DLNA capability only)
156
157		Ports:
158		1900/udp
159		32469/tcp
160		```
161
162		You can add or delete app rules the same way that you'd add or delete specific
163		port rules.
164
165		```sh
166		sudo ufw allow plexmediaserver-dlna
167		```
168
169		```sh
170		sudo ufw delete RULE\|NUM
171		```
172
173		# Creating App Rules
174
175		If you'd like to create you own app rule, you'll need to create a file in the
176		`/etc/ufw/applications.d` directory. Within the file you create, you need to
177		make sure the content is properly formatted.
178
179		For example, here are the contents my `plexmediaserver` file, which creates
180		three distinct app rules for ufw:
181
182		```config
183		[plexmediaserver]
184		title=Plex Media Server (Standard)
185		description=The Plex Media Server
186		ports=32400/tcp\|3005/tcp\|5353/udp\|8324/tcp\|32410:32414/udp
187
188		[plexmediaserver-dlna]
189		title=Plex Media Server (DLNA)
190		description=The Plex Media Server (additional DLNA capability only)
191		ports=1900/udp\|32469/tcp
192
193		[plexmediaserver-all]
194		title=Plex Media Server (Standard + DLNA)
195		description=The Plex Media Server (with additional DLNA capability)
196		ports=32400/tcp\|3005/tcp\|5353/udp\|8324/tcp\|32410:32414/udp\|1900/udp\|32469/tcp
197		```
198
199		So, if I wanted to create a custom app rule called "mycustomrule," I'd create a
200		file and add my content like this:
201
202		```sh
203		sudo nano /etc/ufw/applications.d/mycustomrule
204		```
205
206		```config
207		[mycustomrule]
208		title=My Custom Rule
209		description=This is a temporary ufw app rule.
210		ports=88/tcp\|9100/udp
211		```
212
213		Then, I would just enable this rule in ufw.
214
215		```sh
216		sudo ufw allow mycustomrule
217		```

content/blog/2021-01-07-ufw.org added +219

		@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-01-07>
	2	#+title: Secure Your Network with the Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw)
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Uncomplicated Firewall
	7
	8	Uncomplicated Firewall, also known as ufw, is a convenient and
	9	beginner-friendly way to enforce OS-level firewall rules. For those who
	10	are hosting servers or any device that is accessible to the world (i.e.,
	11	by public IP or domain name), it's critical that a firewall is properly
	12	implemented and active.
	13
	14	Ufw is available by default in all Ubuntu installations after 8.04 LTS.
	15	For other distributions, you can look to install ufw or check if there
	16	are alternative firewalls installed already. There are usually
	17	alternatives available, such as Fedora's =firewall= and the package
	18	available on most distributions: =iptables=. Ufw is considered a
	19	beginner-friendly front-end to iptables.
	20
	21	[[https://gufw.org][Gufw]] is available as a graphical user interface
	22	(GUI) application for users who are uncomfortable setting up a firewall
	23	through a terminal.
	24
	25	* Getting Help
	26
	27	If you need help figuring out commands, remember that you can run the
	28	=--help= flag to get a list of options.
	29
	30	#+begin_src sh
	31	sudo ufw --help
	32	#+end_src
	33
	34	* Set Default State
	35
	36	The proper way to run a firewall is to set a strict default state and
	37	slowly open up ports that you want to allow. This helps prevent anything
	38	malicious from slipping through the cracks. The following command
	39	prevents all incoming traffic (other than the rules we specify later),
	40	but you can also set this for outgoing connections, if necessary.
	41
	42	#+begin_src sh
	43	sudo ufw default deny incoming
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	You should also allow outgoing traffic if you want to allow the device
	47	to communicate back to you or other parties. For example, media servers
	48	like Plex need to be able to send out data related to streaming the
	49	media.
	50
	51	#+begin_src sh
	52	sudo ufw default allow outgoing
	53	#+end_src
	54
	55	* Adding Port Rules
	56
	57	Now that we've disabled all incoming traffic by default, we need to open
	58	up some ports (or else no traffic would be able to come in). If you need
	59	to be able to =ssh= into the machine, you'll need to open up port 22.
	60
	61	#+begin_src sh
	62	sudo ufw allow 22
	63	#+end_src
	64
	65	You can also issue more restrictive rules. The following rule will allow
	66	=ssh= connections only from machines on the local subnet.
	67
	68	#+begin_src sh
	69	sudo ufw allow proto tcp from 192.168.0.0/24 to any port 22
	70	#+end_src
	71
	72	If you need to set a rule that isn't tcp, just append your connection
	73	type to the end of the rule.
	74
	75	#+begin_src sh
	76	sudo ufw allow 1900/udp
	77	#+end_src
	78
	79	* Enable ufw
	80
	81	Now that the firewall is configured and ready to go, you can enable the
	82	firewall.
	83
	84	#+begin_src sh
	85	sudo ufw enable
	86	#+end_src
	87
	88	A restart may be required for the firewall to begin operating.
	89
	90	#+begin_src sh
	91	sudo reboot now
	92	#+end_src
	93
	94	* Checking Status
	95
	96	Now that the firewall is enabled, let's check and see what the rules
	97	look like.
	98
	99	#+begin_src sh
	100	sudo ufw status numbered
	101	#+end_src
	102
	103	#+begin_src txt
	104	Status: active
	105
	106	To Action From
	107	-- ------ ----
	108	[ 1] 22 ALLOW IN Anywhere
	109	[ 2] 22 (v6) ALLOW IN Anywhere (v6)
	110	#+end_src
	111
	112	* Deleting Rules
	113
	114	If you need to delete a rule, you need to know the number associated
	115	with that rule. Let's delete the first rule in the table above. You'll
	116	be asked to confirm the deletion as part of this process.
	117
	118	#+begin_src sh
	119	sudo ufw delete 1
	120	#+end_src
	121
	122	* Managing App Rules
	123
	124	Luckily, there's a convenient way for installed applications to create
	125	files that ufw can easily implement so that you don't have to search and
	126	find which ports your application requires. To see if your device has
	127	any applications with pre-installed ufw rules, execute the following
	128	command:
	129
	130	#+begin_src sh
	131	sudo ufw app list
	132	#+end_src
	133
	134	The results should look something like this:
	135
	136	#+begin_src txt
	137	Available applications:
	138	OpenSSH
	139	Samba
	140	plexmediaserver
	141	plexmediaserver-all
	142	plexmediaserver-dlna
	143	#+end_src
	144
	145	If you want to get more information on a specific app rule, use the
	146	=info= command.
	147
	148	#+begin_src sh
	149	sudo ufw app info plexmediaserver-dlna
	150	#+end_src
	151
	152	You'll get a blurb of info back like this:
	153
	154	#+begin_src txt
	155	Profile: plexmediaserver-dlna
	156	Title: Plex Media Server (DLNA)
	157	Description: The Plex Media Server (additional DLNA capability only)
	158
	159	Ports:
	160	1900/udp
	161	32469/tcp
	162	#+end_src
	163
	164	You can add or delete app rules the same way that you'd add or delete
	165	specific port rules.
	166
	167	#+begin_src sh
	168	sudo ufw allow plexmediaserver-dlna
	169	#+end_src
	170
	171	#+begin_src sh
	172	sudo ufw delete RULE\|NUM
	173	#+end_src
	174
	175	* Creating App Rules
	176
	177	If you'd like to create you own app rule, you'll need to create a file
	178	in the =/etc/ufw/applications.d= directory. Within the file you create,
	179	you need to make sure the content is properly formatted.
	180
	181	For example, here are the contents my =plexmediaserver= file, which
	182	creates three distinct app rules for ufw:
	183
	184	#+begin_src config
	185	[plexmediaserver]
	186	title=Plex Media Server (Standard)
	187	description=The Plex Media Server
	188	ports=32400/tcp\|3005/tcp\|5353/udp\|8324/tcp\|32410:32414/udp
	189
	190	[plexmediaserver-dlna]
	191	title=Plex Media Server (DLNA)
	192	description=The Plex Media Server (additional DLNA capability only)
	193	ports=1900/udp\|32469/tcp
	194
	195	[plexmediaserver-all]
	196	title=Plex Media Server (Standard + DLNA)
	197	description=The Plex Media Server (with additional DLNA capability)
	198	ports=32400/tcp\|3005/tcp\|5353/udp\|8324/tcp\|32410:32414/udp\|1900/udp\|32469/tcp
	199	#+end_src
	200
	201	So, if I wanted to create a custom app rule called "mycustomrule," I'd
	202	create a file and add my content like this:
	203
	204	#+begin_src sh
	205	sudo nano /etc/ufw/applications.d/mycustomrule
	206	#+end_src
	207
	208	#+begin_src config
	209	[mycustomrule]
	210	title=My Custom Rule
	211	description=This is a temporary ufw app rule.
	212	ports=88/tcp\|9100/udp
	213	#+end_src
	214
	215	Then, I would just enable this rule in ufw.
	216
	217	#+begin_src sh
	218	sudo ufw allow mycustomrule
	219	#+end_src

content/blog/2021-02-19-macos.md deleted −197

		@@ -1,197 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-02-19
3		title = "macOS: Testing Out a New OS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Diving into macOS
9
10		After spending nearly 15 years working with Windows and 8 years on Linux, I have
11		experienced macOS for the first time. By chance, my spouse happened to buy a new
12		MacBook and gifted me their 2013 model. Of course, I still consider my Linux
13		desktop to be my daily driver and keep Windows around for gaming needs, but over
14		the past week I've found myself using the MacBook more and more for things that
15		don't require gaming specs or advanced dev tools.
16
17		# Initial Thoughts
18
19		Before I move on to the technical aspects of my set-up, I want to take some time
20		and express my thoughts on the overall OS.
21
22		As expected, the initial computer setup is a breeze with Mac's guided GUI
23		installer.
24
25		The desktop itself reminds me of GNOME more than anything else I've seen: even
26		Pantheon from [ElementaryOS](https://elementary.io/), which people commonly
27		refer to as the closest Linux distro to macOS. The desktop toolbar is great and
28		far surpasses the utility of the GNOME toolbar due to the fact that the
29		extensions and icons _actually work_. I launch macOS and immediately see my
30		shortcuts for Tresorit, Bitwarden, and Mullvad pop up as the computer loads.
31
32		Even further, the app dock is very useful and will be yet another familiarity
33		for GNOME users. I know many people like panels instead of docks, but I've
34		always found docks to have a more pleasing UI. However, I had to disable the
35		"Show recent applications in Dock" preference; I can't stand items taking up
36		precious screen space if I'm not currently using them. On that same note, it's
37		taking me some time to get use to the fact that I have to manually quit an app
38		or else it will still stay open/active in the dock, even if I've closed out all
39		windows for that app (e.g. Firefox).
40
41		Overall, I'm having a lot of fun and for users who spend a large majority of
42		their time performing basic tasks like web browsing, writing, watching media,
43		etc., macOS is a fantastic option.
44
45		The rest of this post explains the technicalities of how I set up my CLI
46		environment to make me feel more at-home, similar to the environments I set up
47		on Fedora, Ubuntu, etc.
48
49		# Making it Feel Like Home
50
51		If you're someone who uses Linux primarily, no doubt your first thought when
52		booting macOS will be the same as mine was: "Where is the terminal and how do I
53		set up my favorite utilities?"
54
55		Luckily, macOS hasn't completely hidden away the development tools from the
56		average user. You can easily find the Terminal app in the Launchpad area, but
57		it's probably not what you're used to. I was surprised (and happy) to see that
58		the default shell is `zsh`, the shell I use on all of my Linux distros. However,
59		the commands are not the same - even the ones you may think are native to the
60		shell. Commands like `dir` do not exist, so other native commands like `ls -la`
61		or `pwd` are more useful here.
62
63		With only a few minutes of installing and tweaking a few packages, I was able to
64		recreate a terminal environment that I feel very comfortable using. See the
65		image below for a preview of the iTerm2 app with a split view between my macOS
66		desktop shell and an SSH session into my server.
67
68		# Xcode
69
70		My first step was to search the web for any hints on how to get `zsh` back up to
71		the state I like, with extensions, themes, etc. My first step was to install the
72		CLI tools for [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/), Apple's suite of
73		development tools.
74
75		```sh
76		sudo xcode-select -r
77		```
78
79		```sh
80		sudo xcode-select --install
81		```
82
83		# Homebrew
84
85		Next up is to install [Homebrew](https://brew.sh), a nifty package manager for
86		macOS.
87
88		```sh
89		/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
90		```
91
92		I ran into a permission error when installing Homebrew:
93
94		```sh
95		Error: Failed to link all completions, docs and manpages:
96		Permission denied @ rb_file_s_symlink - (../../../Homebrew/completions/zsh/_brew, /usr/local/share/zsh/site-functions/_brew)
97		Failed during: /usr/local/bin/brew update --force --quiet
98		```
99
100		I found that the following permission modification worked like a charm. However,
101		I noted that some users online discussed the fact that this solution may not
102		work if your system has multiple users who use Homebrew.
103
104		```sh
105		sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(brew --prefix)/*
106		```
107
108		Next up is to ensure Homebrew is updated and cleaned.
109
110		```sh
111		brew update
112		```
113
114		```sh
115		brew cleanup
116		```
117
118		# iTerm2
119
120		Now that I've installed the basic utilities for development, I moved onto
121		installing iTerm2, a much better terminal than the default.
122
123		```sh
124		brew install --cask iterm2
125		```
126
127		I also used the `Make iTerm2 Default Term` and `Install Shell Integration`
128		options in the iTerm2 application menu to make sure I don't run into any issues
129		later on with different terminals.
130
131		We will also install `zsh` so we can use it in iTerm2.
132
133		```sh
134		brew install zsh
135		```
136
137		# Oh-My-Zsh
138
139		I've shown the great aspects of [Oh My Zsh](https://ohmyz.sh) in other blog
140		posts, so I'll skip over that speech for now. Simply install it and run an
141		update.
142
143		```sh
144		sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
145		```
146
147		```sh
148		omz update
149		```
150
151		Finally, restart the iTerm2 application to ensure all changes go into effect.
152
153		# Oh-My-Zsh Themes
154
155		Let's change the theme of the terminal to make it a little more friendly.
156
157		```sh
158		open ~/.zshrc
159		```
160
161		The third section of this file should contain a line like the code below. Change
162		that theme to [any theme you
163		want](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/wiki/Themes), save the file, and exit.
164
165		```sh
166		ZSH_THEME="af-magic"
167		```
168
169		After changing the `.zshrc` file, you'll need to close your terminal and re-open
170		it to see the changes. Optionally, just open a new tab if you're using iTerm2,
171		and you'll see the new shell config.
172
173		# Oh-My-Zsh Plugins
174
175		Of course, my customization of `zsh` would not be complete without
176		[zsh-autosuggestions](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions). This
177		will bring up commands you've run in the past as you type them. For example, if
178		you've run `ssh user@192.168.1.99` before, the terminal will show this command
179		as soon as you start typing it (e.g. `zsh u`), and you can hit the right arrow
180		to autocomplete the command.
181
182		```sh
183		git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
184		```
185
186		```sh
187		open ~/.zshrc
188		```
189
190		```sh
191		# Scroll down the script and edit this line to add zsh-autosuggestions
192		plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
193		```
194
195		Remember: After changing the `.zshrc` file, you'll need to close your terminal
196		and re-open it to see the changes. Optionally, just open a new tab if you're
197		using iTerm2, and you'll see the new shell config.

content/blog/2021-02-19-macos.org added +203

		@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-02-19>
	2	#+title: macOS: Testing Out a New OS
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Diving into macOS
	7
	8	After spending nearly 15 years working with Windows and 8 years on
	9	Linux, I have experienced macOS for the first time. By chance, my spouse
	10	happened to buy a new MacBook and gifted me their 2013 model. Of course,
	11	I still consider my Linux desktop to be my daily driver and keep Windows
	12	around for gaming needs, but over the past week I've found myself using
	13	the MacBook more and more for things that don't require gaming specs or
	14	advanced dev tools.
	15
	16	* Initial Thoughts
	17
	18	Before I move on to the technical aspects of my set-up, I want to take
	19	some time and express my thoughts on the overall OS.
	20
	21	As expected, the initial computer setup is a breeze with Mac's guided
	22	GUI installer.
	23
	24	The desktop itself reminds me of GNOME more than anything else I've
	25	seen: even Pantheon from [[https://elementary.io/][ElementaryOS]], which
	26	people commonly refer to as the closest Linux distro to macOS. The
	27	desktop toolbar is great and far surpasses the utility of the GNOME
	28	toolbar due to the fact that the extensions and icons /actually work/. I
	29	launch macOS and immediately see my shortcuts for Tresorit, Bitwarden,
	30	and Mullvad pop up as the computer loads.
	31
	32	Even further, the app dock is very useful and will be yet another
	33	familiarity for GNOME users. I know many people like panels instead of
	34	docks, but I've always found docks to have a more pleasing UI. However,
	35	I had to disable the "Show recent applications in Dock" preference; I
	36	can't stand items taking up precious screen space if I'm not currently
	37	using them. On that same note, it's taking me some time to get use to
	38	the fact that I have to manually quit an app or else it will still stay
	39	open/active in the dock, even if I've closed out all windows for that
	40	app (e.g. Firefox).
	41
	42	Overall, I'm having a lot of fun and for users who spend a large
	43	majority of their time performing basic tasks like web browsing,
	44	writing, watching media, etc., macOS is a fantastic option.
	45
	46	The rest of this post explains the technicalities of how I set up my CLI
	47	environment to make me feel more at-home, similar to the environments I
	48	set up on Fedora, Ubuntu, etc.
	49
	50	* Making it Feel Like Home
	51
	52	If you're someone who uses Linux primarily, no doubt your first thought
	53	when booting macOS will be the same as mine was: "Where is the terminal
	54	and how do I set up my favorite utilities?"
	55
	56	Luckily, macOS hasn't completely hidden away the development tools from
	57	the average user. You can easily find the Terminal app in the Launchpad
	58	area, but it's probably not what you're used to. I was surprised (and
	59	happy) to see that the default shell is =zsh=, the shell I use on all of
	60	my Linux distros. However, the commands are not the same - even the ones
	61	you may think are native to the shell. Commands like =dir= do not exist,
	62	so other native commands like =ls -la= or =pwd= are more useful here.
	63
	64	With only a few minutes of installing and tweaking a few packages, I was
	65	able to recreate a terminal environment that I feel very comfortable
	66	using. See the image below for a preview of the iTerm2 app with a split
	67	view between my macOS desktop shell and an SSH session into my server.
	68
	69	* Xcode
	70
	71	My first step was to search the web for any hints on how to get =zsh=
	72	back up to the state I like, with extensions, themes, etc. My first step
	73	was to install the CLI tools for
	74	[[https://developer.apple.com/xcode/][Xcode]], Apple's suite of
	75	development tools.
	76
	77	#+begin_src sh
	78	sudo xcode-select -r
	79	#+end_src
	80
	81	#+begin_src sh
	82	sudo xcode-select --install
	83	#+end_src
	84
	85	* Homebrew
	86
	87	Next up is to install [[https://brew.sh][Homebrew]], a nifty package
	88	manager for macOS.
	89
	90	#+begin_src sh
	91	/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
	92	#+end_src
	93
	94	I ran into a permission error when installing Homebrew:
	95
	96	#+begin_src sh
	97	Error: Failed to link all completions, docs and manpages:
	98	Permission denied @ rb_file_s_symlink - (../../../Homebrew/completions/zsh/_brew, /usr/local/share/zsh/site-functions/_brew)
	99	Failed during: /usr/local/bin/brew update --force --quiet
	100	#+end_src
	101
	102	I found that the following permission modification worked like a charm.
	103	However, I noted that some users online discussed the fact that this
	104	solution may not work if your system has multiple users who use
	105	Homebrew.
	106
	107	#+begin_src sh
	108	sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(brew --prefix)/*
	109	#+end_src
	110
	111	Next up is to ensure Homebrew is updated and cleaned.
	112
	113	#+begin_src sh
	114	brew update
	115	#+end_src
	116
	117	#+begin_src sh
	118	brew cleanup
	119	#+end_src
	120
	121	* iTerm2
	122
	123	Now that I've installed the basic utilities for development, I moved
	124	onto installing iTerm2, a much better terminal than the default.
	125
	126	#+begin_src sh
	127	brew install --cask iterm2
	128	#+end_src
	129
	130	I also used the =Make iTerm2 Default Term= and
	131	=Install Shell Integration= options in the iTerm2 application menu to
	132	make sure I don't run into any issues later on with different terminals.
	133
	134	We will also install =zsh= so we can use it in iTerm2.
	135
	136	#+begin_src sh
	137	brew install zsh
	138	#+end_src
	139
	140	* Oh-My-Zsh
	141
	142	I've shown the great aspects of [[https://ohmyz.sh][Oh My Zsh]] in other
	143	blog posts, so I'll skip over that speech for now. Simply install it and
	144	run an update.
	145
	146	#+begin_src sh
	147	sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
	148	#+end_src
	149
	150	#+begin_src sh
	151	omz update
	152	#+end_src
	153
	154	Finally, restart the iTerm2 application to ensure all changes go into
	155	effect.
	156
	157	* Oh-My-Zsh Themes
	158
	159	Let's change the theme of the terminal to make it a little more
	160	friendly.
	161
	162	#+begin_src sh
	163	open ~/.zshrc
	164	#+end_src
	165
	166	The third section of this file should contain a line like the code
	167	below. Change that theme to
	168	[[https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/wiki/Themes][any theme you want]],
	169	save the file, and exit.
	170
	171	#+begin_src sh
	172	ZSH_THEME="af-magic"
	173	#+end_src
	174
	175	After changing the =.zshrc= file, you'll need to close your terminal and
	176	re-open it to see the changes. Optionally, just open a new tab if you're
	177	using iTerm2, and you'll see the new shell config.
	178
	179	* Oh-My-Zsh Plugins
	180
	181	Of course, my customization of =zsh= would not be complete without
	182	[[https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions][zsh-autosuggestions]].
	183	This will bring up commands you've run in the past as you type them. For
	184	example, if you've run =ssh user@192.168.1.99= before, the terminal will
	185	show this command as soon as you start typing it (e.g. =zsh u=), and you
	186	can hit the right arrow to autocomplete the command.
	187
	188	#+begin_src sh
	189	git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
	190	#+end_src
	191
	192	#+begin_src sh
	193	open ~/.zshrc
	194	#+end_src
	195
	196	#+begin_src sh
	197	# Scroll down the script and edit this line to add zsh-autosuggestions
	198	plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
	199	#+end_src
	200
	201	Remember: After changing the =.zshrc= file, you'll need to close your
	202	terminal and re-open it to see the changes. Optionally, just open a new
	203	tab if you're using iTerm2, and you'll see the new shell config.

content/blog/2021-03-19-clone-github-repos.md → content/blog/2021-03-19-clone-github-repos.org renamed +64 −64

		@@ -1,58 +1,57 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-03-19
3		title = "How to Clonse All Repositories from a GitHub or Sourcehut Account"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2021-03-19>
	2	#+title: How to Clonse All Repositories from a GitHub or Sourcehut Account
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Cloning from GitHub
9	5
10		If you're like me and use a lot of different devices (and sometimes decide to
11		just wipe your device and start with a new OS), you probably know the pain of
12		cloning all your old code repositories down to your local file system.
	6	* Cloning from GitHub
13	7
14		If you're using GitHub, you can easily clone all of your code back down in just
15		seconds. First, create a bash script. I do so by opening a new file in `nano`,
16		but you can use `gedit`, `vim`, or something else:
	8	If you're like me and use a lot of different devices (and sometimes
	9	decide to just wipe your device and start with a new OS), you probably
	10	know the pain of cloning all your old code repositories down to your
	11	local file system.
17	12
18		```sh
	13	If you're using GitHub, you can easily clone all of your code back down
	14	in just seconds. First, create a bash script. I do so by opening a new
	15	file in =nano=, but you can use =gedit=, =vim=, or something else:
	16
	17	#+begin_src sh
19	18	nano clone_github_repos.sh
20		```
	19	#+end_src
21	20
22		Next, paste in the following information. Note that you can replace the word
23		`users` in the first line with `orgs` and type an organization's name instead of
24		a user's name.
	21	Next, paste in the following information. Note that you can replace the
	22	word =users= in the first line with =orgs= and type an organization's
	23	name instead of a user's name.
25	24
26		```sh
	25	#+begin_src sh
27	26	CNTX=users; NAME=YOUR-USERNAME; PAGE=1
28	27	curl "https://api.github.com/$CNTX/$NAME/repos?page=$PAGE&per_page=100" \|
29	28	grep -e 'git_url*' \|
30	29	cut -d " -f 4 \|
31	30	xargs -L1 git clone
32		```
	31	#+end_src
33	32
34	33	Finally, save the bash script and make it executable.
35	34
36		```sh
	35	#+begin_src sh
37	36	chmod a+x clone_github_repos.sh
38		```
	37	#+end_src
39	38
40	39	Now you can run the script and should see the cloning process begin.
41	40
42		```sh
	41	#+begin_src sh
43	42	./clone_github_repos.sh
44		```
	43	#+end_src
45	44
46		# Cloning from Sourcehut
	45	* Cloning from Sourcehut
47	46
48		I haven't fully figured out how to directly incorporate Sourcehut's GraphQL API
49		into a bash script yet, so this one will take two steps.
	47	I haven't fully figured out how to directly incorporate Sourcehut's
	48	GraphQL API into a bash script yet, so this one will take two steps.
50	49
51		First, log-in to Sourcehut and go to their [GraphQL playground for
52		Git](https://git.sr.ht/graphql). Next, paste the following query into the left
53		box:
	50	First, log-in to Sourcehut and go to their
	51	[[https://git.sr.ht/graphql][GraphQL playground for Git]]. Next, paste
	52	the following query into the left box:
54	53
55		```sh
	54	#+begin_src sh
56	55	query {
57	56	me {
58	57	canonicalName
		@@ -64,26 +63,27 @@ query {
64	63	}
65	64	}
66	65	}
67		```
	66	#+end_src
68	67
69		The output on the right side will give you an object of all your repositories.
70		Just grab that text and remove all the characters such as quotation marks and
71		curly brackets. You will need a single-line list of space-separated values for
72		the next step.
	68	The output on the right side will give you an object of all your
	69	repositories. Just grab that text and remove all the characters such as
	70	quotation marks and curly brackets. You will need a single-line list of
	71	space-separated values for the next step.
73	72
74	73	Now let's create the bash script:
75	74
76		```sh
	75	#+begin_src sh
77	76	nano clone_sourcehut_repos.sh
78		```
	77	#+end_src
79	78
80		Next, paste the following bash script in with the list of repositories you
81		obtained above and replace `your-username` with your username.
	79	Next, paste the following bash script in with the list of repositories
	80	you obtained above and replace =your-username= with your username.
82	81
83		Note that this uses the SSH-based Git cloning method (e.g. `git@git...`), so
84		you'll need to ensure you have set up Sourcehut with your SSH key.
	82	Note that this uses the SSH-based Git cloning method
	83	(e.g. =git@git...=), so you'll need to ensure you have set up Sourcehut
	84	with your SSH key.
85	85
86		```sh
	86	#+begin_src sh
87	87	repos=(repo1 repo2 repo3)
88	88
89	89	# List all sub-directories in the current directory
		@@ -92,36 +92,36 @@ do
92	92	# Clone
93	93	git clone git@git.sr.ht:~your-username/$repo
94	94	done
95		```
	95	#+end_src
96	96
97	97	Finally, save the bash script and make it executable.
98	98
99		```sh
	99	#+begin_src sh
100	100	chmod a+x clone_sourcehut_repos.sh
101		```
	101	#+end_src
102	102
103	103	Now you can run the script and should see the cloning process begin.
104	104
105		```sh
	105	#+begin_src sh
106	106	./clone_sourcehut_repos.sh
107		```
	107	#+end_src
108	108
109		# Moving Repositories to a New Host
	109	* Moving Repositories to a New Host
110	110
111		Now that you have all of your code repositories cloned to your local computer,
112		you may want to change the remote host (e.g., moving from GitHub to GitLab). To
113		do this, let's create another bash script:
	111	Now that you have all of your code repositories cloned to your local
	112	computer, you may want to change the remote host (e.g., moving from
	113	GitHub to GitLab). To do this, let's create another bash script:
114	114
115		```sh
	115	#+begin_src sh
116	116	nano change_remote_urls.sh
117		```
	117	#+end_src
118	118
119		Past the following information and be sure to change the URL information to
120		whichever host you are moving to. For this example, I am looping through all of
121		my cloned GitHub directories and changing them to Sourcehut (e.g.
122		`<YOUR_NEW_REMOTE_URL>` -> `git@git.sr.ht:~myusername`).
	119	Past the following information and be sure to change the URL information
	120	to whichever host you are moving to. For this example, I am looping
	121	through all of my cloned GitHub directories and changing them to
	122	Sourcehut (e.g. =<YOUR_NEW_REMOTE_URL>= -> =git@git.sr.ht:~myusername=).
123	123
124		```sh
	124	#+begin_src sh
125	125	# List all sub-directories in the current directory
126	126	for dir in */
127	127	do
		@@ -136,16 +136,16 @@ do
136	136	# Go back to main directory
137	137	cd ..
138	138	done
139		```
	139	#+end_src
140	140
141	141	Finally, save the bash script and make it executable.
142	142
143		```sh
	143	#+begin_src sh
144	144	chmod a+x change_remote_urls.sh
145		```
	145	#+end_src
146	146
147	147	Now you can run the script and should see the cloning process begin.
148	148
149		```sh
	149	#+begin_src sh
150	150	./change_remote_urls.sh
151		```
	151	#+end_src

content/blog/2021-03-28-gemini-capsule.md deleted −171

		@@ -1,171 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-03-28
3		title = "Launching a Gemini Capsule"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is Gemini?
9
10		[Gemini](https://gemini.circumlunar.space/) is an internet protocol introduced
11		in June 2019 as an alternative to HTTP(S) or Gopher. In layman's terms, it's an
12		alternative way to browse sites (called capsules) that requires a special
13		browser. Since Gemini is not standardized as an internet standard, normal web
14		browsers won't be able to load a Gemini capsule. Instead, you'll need to use [a
15		Gemini-specific browser](https://gemini.circumlunar.space/clients.html).
16
17		The content found within a Gemini page is called
18		[Gemtext](https://gemini.circumlunar.space/docs/cheatsheet.gmi) and is
19		_extremely_ basic (on purpose). Gemini only processes the text, no media content
20		like images. However, you're able to style 3 levels of headings, regular text,
21		links (which will display on their own line), quotes, and an unordered list.
22
23		Here's a complete listing of valid Gemtext:
24
25		````txt
26		# Heading 1
27		## Heading 2
28		### Heading 3
29
30		Regular text! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
31
32		=> https://example.com My Website
33		=> gemini://example.com My Gemini Capsule
34
35		> "If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor." - Eleanor Roosevelt
36
37		My List:
38		** Item
39		** Item
40
41		```Anything between three backticks will be rendered as code.```
42		````
43
44		### Free Option
45
46		There are probably numerous websites that allow you to create your personal
47		Gemini capsule, but I'm going to focus on the two sites that I have personally
48		tested. The first option below, Midnight Pub, allows you to create/edit any
49		Gemini files you want in your account. This is essentially a GUI option with a
50		built-in text box for editing. The second option below, Sourcehut, allows you to
51		use a Git repository and automatic build process to deploy your personal Gemini
52		capsule every time you push a commit.
53
54		## Midnight Pub - Beginner Friendly
55
56		[Midnight Pub](https://midnight.pub/) is a small, virtual community meant to
57		reflect the atmosphere of wandering into a small alley pub. The site is built in
58		Gemtext and has a server-side process to convert Gemtext to HTML if someone
59		loads the site in an HTTP(S) browser.
60
61		To create an account, you'll need to email the owner of the website to obtain a
62		key. You can find their email on the Midnight Pub homepage. Once registered,
63		head to [your account](https://midnight.pub/account) and select [manage
64		site](https://midnight.pub/site). This is the screen where you can upload or
65		create any files to be displayed on the internet.
66
67		For example, I've created both an HTML file and a Gemini file. Remember that
68		Gemini is automatically converted to HTML on the Pub, so you don't need an HTML
69		version. For example, I created an HTML version to add in some extra styling.
70
71		All you need to do is create a page like `index.gmi` and use your Gemini browser
72		to head over to your-username.midnight.pub to see the result.
73
74		That's all there is to it! Easy enough, right? Let's check out a more advanced
75		version in the next section.
76
77		# Paid Option
78
79		As of 2021, Sourcehut has decided to require users to have a paid account in
80		order to utilize their automated build system. For now, paid accounts can be as
81		low as $2/month.
82
83		## Sourcehut
84
85		[Sourcehut](https://sourcehut.org/) is a collection of software development
86		tools, but mostly surrounds their hosted Git repository service. Simply put,
87		it's a minimal and more private alternative to services like GitHub.
88
89		This walkthrough is more advanced and involves things like Git, SSH, the command
90		line. If you don't think you know enough to do this, check out my walkthrough on
91		creating a Gemini capsule for the Midnight Pub instead.
92
93		The first thing you'll need to do is create an SSH key pair, if you don't
94		already have one on your system. Once created, grab the contents of `id_rsa.pub`
95		and add it to your Sourcehut account settings - this will allow you to push and
96		pull code changes without using a username/password.
97
98		```sh
99		ssh keygen
100		```
101
102		Next up, let's create a repository with the proper name so that the Sourcehut
103		build system will know we want them to host a website for us. Use the following
104		format exactly:
105
106		```sh
107		mkdir your-username.srht.site && cd your-username.srht.site
108		```
109
110		Now that we've created the repo, let's initialize Git and add the proper remote
111		URL.
112
113		```sh
114		git init
115		```
116
117		```sh
118		git remote add origin git@git.sr.ht:~your-username/your-username.srht.site
119		```
120
121		Now that our repository is set up and configured, we will need to create at
122		least two files:
123
124		- `index.gmi`
125		- `.build.yml`
126
127		For your `.build.yml` file, use the following content and be sure to update the
128		`site` line with your username!
129
130		```yaml
131		image: alpine/latest
132		oauth: pages.sr.ht/PAGES:RW
133		environment:
134		site: your-username.srht.site
135		tasks:
136		- package: \|
137		cd $site
138		tar -cvz . > ../site.tar.gz
139		- upload: \|
140		acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz -Fprotocol=GEMINI
141		```
142
143		For the `index.gmi` file, put whatever you want in there and save it. You could
144		even just copy and paste the Gemtext cheatsheet.
145
146		If you want to serve both HTML and Gemini files from this repository, just add a
147		second command to the `upload` section:
148
149		```yaml
150		- upload: \|
151		acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz -Fprotocol=GEMINI
152		acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz
153		```
154
155		Lastly, commit your changes and push them to the remote repo.
156
157		```sh
158		git add .; git commit -m "initial commit"; git push --set-upstream origin HEAD
159		```
160
161		If you've successfully created the files with the proper format, you'll see the
162		terminal print a message that lets you know where the automatic build is taking
163		place. For example, here's what the terminal tells me:
164
165		```sh
166		remote: Build started:
167		remote: https://builds.sr.ht/~user/job/689803 [.build.yml]
168		```
169
170		Now that you've properly built your Sourcehut page, you can browse to
171		your-username.srht.site in a Gemini browser and view the final results.

content/blog/2021-03-28-gemini-capsule.org added +178

		@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-03-28>
	2	#+title: Launching a Gemini Capsule
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is Gemini?
	7
	8	[[https://gemini.circumlunar.space/][Gemini]] is an internet protocol
	9	introduced in June 2019 as an alternative to HTTP(S) or Gopher. In
	10	layman's terms, it's an alternative way to browse sites (called
	11	capsules) that requires a special browser. Since Gemini is not
	12	standardized as an internet standard, normal web browsers won't be able
	13	to load a Gemini capsule. Instead, you'll need to use
	14	[[https://gemini.circumlunar.space/clients.html][a Gemini-specific
	15	browser]].
	16
	17	The content found within a Gemini page is called
	18	[[https://gemini.circumlunar.space/docs/cheatsheet.gmi][Gemtext]] and is
	19	/extremely/ basic (on purpose). Gemini only processes the text, no media
	20	content like images. However, you're able to style 3 levels of headings,
	21	regular text, links (which will display on their own line), quotes, and
	22	an unordered list.
	23
	24	Here's a complete listing of valid Gemtext:
	25
	26	#+begin_src txt
	27	# Heading 1
	28	## Heading 2
	29	### Heading 3
	30
	31	Regular text! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
	32
	33	=> https://example.com My Website
	34	=> gemini://example.com My Gemini Capsule
	35
	36	> "If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor." - Eleanor Roosevelt
	37
	38	My List:
	39	,** Item
	40	,** Item
	41
	42	```Anything between three backticks will be rendered as code.```
	43	#+end_src
	44
	45	*** Free Option
	46
	47	There are probably numerous websites that allow you to create your
	48	personal Gemini capsule, but I'm going to focus on the two sites that I
	49	have personally tested. The first option below, Midnight Pub, allows you
	50	to create/edit any Gemini files you want in your account. This is
	51	essentially a GUI option with a built-in text box for editing. The
	52	second option below, Sourcehut, allows you to use a Git repository and
	53	automatic build process to deploy your personal Gemini capsule every
	54	time you push a commit.
	55
	56	** Midnight Pub - Beginner Friendly
	57
	58	[[https://midnight.pub/][Midnight Pub]] is a small, virtual community
	59	meant to reflect the atmosphere of wandering into a small alley pub. The
	60	site is built in Gemtext and has a server-side process to convert
	61	Gemtext to HTML if someone loads the site in an HTTP(S) browser.
	62
	63	To create an account, you'll need to email the owner of the website to
	64	obtain a key. You can find their email on the Midnight Pub homepage.
	65	Once registered, head to [[https://midnight.pub/account][your account]]
	66	and select [[https://midnight.pub/site][manage site]]. This is the
	67	screen where you can upload or create any files to be displayed on the
	68	internet.
	69
	70	For example, I've created both an HTML file and a Gemini file. Remember
	71	that Gemini is automatically converted to HTML on the Pub, so you don't
	72	need an HTML version. For example, I created an HTML version to add in
	73	some extra styling.
	74
	75	All you need to do is create a page like =index.gmi= and use your Gemini
	76	browser to head over to your-username.midnight.pub to see the result.
	77
	78	That's all there is to it! Easy enough, right? Let's check out a more
	79	advanced version in the next section.
	80
	81	* Paid Option
	82
	83	As of 2021, Sourcehut has decided to require users to have a paid
	84	account in order to utilize their automated build system. For now, paid
	85	accounts can be as low as $2/month.
	86
	87	** Sourcehut
	88
	89	[[https://sourcehut.org/][Sourcehut]] is a collection of software
	90	development tools, but mostly surrounds their hosted Git repository
	91	service. Simply put, it's a minimal and more private alternative to
	92	services like GitHub.
	93
	94	This walkthrough is more advanced and involves things like Git, SSH, the
	95	command line. If you don't think you know enough to do this, check out
	96	my walkthrough on creating a Gemini capsule for the Midnight Pub
	97	instead.
	98
	99	The first thing you'll need to do is create an SSH key pair, if you
	100	don't already have one on your system. Once created, grab the contents
	101	of =id_rsa.pub= and add it to your Sourcehut account settings - this
	102	will allow you to push and pull code changes without using a
	103	username/password.
	104
	105	#+begin_src sh
	106	ssh keygen
	107	#+end_src
	108
	109	Next up, let's create a repository with the proper name so that the
	110	Sourcehut build system will know we want them to host a website for us.
	111	Use the following format exactly:
	112
	113	#+begin_src sh
	114	mkdir your-username.srht.site && cd your-username.srht.site
	115	#+end_src
	116
	117	Now that we've created the repo, let's initialize Git and add the proper
	118	remote URL.
	119
	120	#+begin_src sh
	121	git init
	122	#+end_src
	123
	124	#+begin_src sh
	125	git remote add origin git@git.sr.ht:~your-username/your-username.srht.site
	126	#+end_src
	127
	128	Now that our repository is set up and configured, we will need to create
	129	at least two files:
	130
	131	- =index.gmi=
	132	- =.build.yml=
	133
	134	For your =.build.yml= file, use the following content and be sure to
	135	update the =site= line with your username!
	136
	137	#+begin_src yaml
	138	image: alpine/latest
	139	oauth: pages.sr.ht/PAGES:RW
	140	environment:
	141	site: your-username.srht.site
	142	tasks:
	143	- package: \|
	144	cd $site
	145	tar -cvz . > ../site.tar.gz
	146	- upload: \|
	147	acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz -Fprotocol=GEMINI
	148	#+end_src
	149
	150	For the =index.gmi= file, put whatever you want in there and save it.
	151	You could even just copy and paste the Gemtext cheatsheet.
	152
	153	If you want to serve both HTML and Gemini files from this repository,
	154	just add a second command to the =upload= section:
	155
	156	#+begin_src yaml
	157	- upload: \|
	158	acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz -Fprotocol=GEMINI
	159	acurl -f https://pages.sr.ht/publish/$site -Fcontent=@site.tar.gz
	160	#+end_src
	161
	162	Lastly, commit your changes and push them to the remote repo.
	163
	164	#+begin_src sh
	165	git add .; git commit -m "initial commit"; git push --set-upstream origin HEAD
	166	#+end_src
	167
	168	If you've successfully created the files with the proper format, you'll
	169	see the terminal print a message that lets you know where the automatic
	170	build is taking place. For example, here's what the terminal tells me:
	171
	172	#+begin_src sh
	173	remote: Build started:
	174	remote: https://builds.sr.ht/~user/job/689803 [.build.yml]
	175	#+end_src
	176
	177	Now that you've properly built your Sourcehut page, you can browse to
	178	your-username.srht.site in a Gemini browser and view the final results.

content/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.md deleted −126

		@@ -1,126 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-03-28
3		title = "Vaporware vs. Outrun"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		When it comes to an aesthetic that originated primarily online, there tends to
11		be a lot of confusion around what falls into each specific genre. This post
12		discusses Vaporwave and Outrun, which have become almost synonymous in the minds
13		of those online who aren't hardcore into these genres of media. More
14		specifically, Outrun is largely an unknown term while all aesthetics in these
15		two genres are usually attributed to Vaporwave. For example, take a look at the
16		image search results for Vaporwave: the results include a lot of
17		Outrun-themed images. You'll find a similar trend almost everywhere.
18
19		![Vaporwave Search
20		Results](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/vaporwave-search-results.png)
21
22		# Vaporwave
23
24		![Macintosh Plus Album
25		Cover](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/macintosh-plus.png)
26
27		Okay, so what is Vaporwave? I'm going to just copy-and-paste some general info
28		from the Wikipedia article on
29		[Vaporwave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporwave), so that I'm not repeating
30		everything you can already search for online:
31
32		> Vaporwave is a microgenre of electronic music, a visual art style, and an
33		> Internet meme that emerged in the early 2010s. It is defined partly by its
34		> slowed-down, chopped and screwed samples of smooth jazz, elevator, R&B, and
35		> lounge music from the 1980s and 1990s. The surrounding subculture is sometimes
36		> associated with an ambiguous or satirical take on consumer capitalism and pop
37		> culture, and tends to be characterized by a nostalgic or surrealist engagement
38		> with the popular entertainment, technology and advertising of previous
39		> decades. Visually, it incorporates early Internet imagery, late 1990s web
40		> design, glitch art, anime, 3D-rendered objects, and cyberpunk tropes in its
41		> cover artwork and music videos.
42
43		This is an excellent summary, and it helps address my point here: there are
44		specific aspects that make Vaporwave unique:
45
46		## Time Frame
47
48		The time frame for references, logos, etc. focuses mostly on the 1990s in
49		Vaporwave. You'll see old school Pepsi logos, Microsoft 95 screens, tropical
50		plants, classic marble sculptures, and many references from Japan's influence in
51		the 90s.
52
53		## Art
54
55		The color scheme is generally a soft, light palette that uses pastel colors. The
56		backdrop will often be in a light-pink or teal blue.
57
58		## Music
59
60		The musical genre of Vaporwave incorporates soft tunes, lounge music, and sound
61		effects that will make the listener reminisce of the 90s. The sounds of the
62		genre are generally slower-paced and calming. The major breakthrough artist for
63		Vaporwave was [Macintosh Plus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vektroid), who
64		released the album [Floral
65		Shoppe](https://archive.org/details/MACINTOSHPLUS-FLORALSHOPPE_complete) in
66		2011. Another more recent example is the artist
67		[sadbert](https://sadbert.bandcamp.com/), whose latest album incorporates the
68		upbeat tones of the 1999 Dilbert TV series.
69
70		Notice that Vaporwave doesn't include things like racing cars, futuristic
71		technology, chrome, or the deep orange/purple color scheme. Vaporwave is a focus
72		on the idyllic state of the world when technology was becoming common in
73		households, a reality that we have already experienced. Focus on the most
74		aesthetically-pleasing parts of that past is a large part of Vaporwave.
75
76		# Outrun
77
78		![Outrun](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/outrun.png)
79
80		Now, let's get to Outrun. This one is a little trickier since the genre has
81		largely been lumped under the Vaporwave title for so long. However, it stems
82		from the [Synthwave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthwave) music genre and is
83		likely named after the 1986 racer game, [Out
84		Run](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Run).
85
86		## Time Frame
87
88		Outrun can be thought of as a retro-futuristic aesthetic born from the 1980s.
89
90		## Art
91
92		The color scheme uses a very dark color palette with the main colors being deep
93		oranges, blues, and purples. Red edges are common around objects in Outrun art.
94		The background of the Outrun aesthetic is almost always a neon grid like you'd
95		expect to see in Tron or a 1980s arcade machine.
96
97		Classic sports cars, chrome robots, computer generated graphics and fonts, and
98		the occasional use of rain or palm trees can be found in Outrun art.
99
100		## Music
101
102		This aesthetic has a more aggressive and fast-paced style of music, which tends
103		to match the subject of the art in this aesthetic.
104
105		Outrun enthusiasts love what people in the 1980s thought the future would look
106		like. Take a look at a common video game discussed in Outrun circles, Far Cry 3:
107		Blood Dragon:
108
109		![Fry Cry 3: Blood
110		Dragon](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/far-cry.png)
111
112		Another example that doesn't force the color scheme as hard as some online art
113		does is Kung Fury:
114
115		![Kung
116		Fury](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury.png)
117
118		![Kung Fury Hacker
119		Scene](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury-hacker.png)
120
121		# Conclusion
122
123		While Vaporwave and Outrun share similarities, they are two distinct aesthetics
124		with many important distinctions. Someone who enjoys one may not necessarily
125		enjoy the other, so it's important to make sure we properly describe the
126		aesthetic we're looking for.

content/blog/2021-03-28-vaporwave-vs-outrun.org added +134

		@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-03-28>
	2	#+title: Vaporware vs. Outrun
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	When it comes to an aesthetic that originated primarily online, there
	9	tends to be a lot of confusion around what falls into each specific
	10	genre. This post discusses Vaporwave and Outrun, which have become
	11	almost synonymous in the minds of those online who aren't hardcore into
	12	these genres of media. More specifically, Outrun is largely an unknown
	13	term while all aesthetics in these two genres are usually attributed to
	14	Vaporwave. For example, take a look at the image search results for
	15	Vaporwave: the results include a lot of Outrun-themed images. You'll
	16	find a similar trend almost everywhere.
	17
	18	#+caption: Vaporwave Search Results
	19	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/vaporwave-search-results.png]]
	20
	21	* Vaporwave
	22
	23	#+caption: Macintosh Plus Album Cover
	24	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/macintosh-plus.png]]
	25
	26	Okay, so what is Vaporwave? I'm going to just copy-and-paste some
	27	general info from the Wikipedia article on
	28	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporwave][Vaporwave]], so that I'm not
	29	repeating everything you can already search for online:
	30
	31	#+begin_quote
	32	Vaporwave is a microgenre of electronic music, a visual art style, and
	33	an Internet meme that emerged in the early 2010s. It is defined partly
	34	by its slowed-down, chopped and screwed samples of smooth jazz,
	35	elevator, R&B, and lounge music from the 1980s and 1990s. The
	36	surrounding subculture is sometimes associated with an ambiguous or
	37	satirical take on consumer capitalism and pop culture, and tends to be
	38	characterized by a nostalgic or surrealist engagement with the popular
	39	entertainment, technology and advertising of previous decades. Visually,
	40	it incorporates early Internet imagery, late 1990s web design, glitch
	41	art, anime, 3D-rendered objects, and cyberpunk tropes in its cover
	42	artwork and music videos.
	43	#+end_quote
	44
	45	This is an excellent summary, and it helps address my point here: there
	46	are specific aspects that make Vaporwave unique:
	47
	48	** Time Frame
	49
	50	The time frame for references, logos, etc. focuses mostly on the 1990s
	51	in Vaporwave. You'll see old school Pepsi logos, Microsoft 95 screens,
	52	tropical plants, classic marble sculptures, and many references from
	53	Japan's influence in the 90s.
	54
	55	** Art
	56
	57	The color scheme is generally a soft, light palette that uses pastel
	58	colors. The backdrop will often be in a light-pink or teal blue.
	59
	60	** Music
	61
	62	The musical genre of Vaporwave incorporates soft tunes, lounge music,
	63	and sound effects that will make the listener reminisce of the 90s. The
	64	sounds of the genre are generally slower-paced and calming. The major
	65	breakthrough artist for Vaporwave was
	66	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vektroid][Macintosh Plus]], who released
	67	the album
	68	[[https://archive.org/details/MACINTOSHPLUS-FLORALSHOPPE_complete][Floral
	69	Shoppe]] in 2011. Another more recent example is the artist
	70	[[https://sadbert.bandcamp.com/][sadbert]], whose latest album
	71	incorporates the upbeat tones of the 1999 Dilbert TV series.
	72
	73	Notice that Vaporwave doesn't include things like racing cars,
	74	futuristic technology, chrome, or the deep orange/purple color scheme.
	75	Vaporwave is a focus on the idyllic state of the world when technology
	76	was becoming common in households, a reality that we have already
	77	experienced. Focus on the most aesthetically-pleasing parts of that past
	78	is a large part of Vaporwave.
	79
	80	* Outrun
	81
	82	#+caption: Outrun
	83	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/outrun.png]]
	84
	85	Now, let's get to Outrun. This one is a little trickier since the genre
	86	has largely been lumped under the Vaporwave title for so long. However,
	87	it stems from the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthwave][Synthwave]]
	88	music genre and is likely named after the 1986 racer game,
	89	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Run][Out Run]].
	90
	91	** Time Frame
	92
	93	Outrun can be thought of as a retro-futuristic aesthetic born from the
	94	1980s.
	95
	96	** Art
	97
	98	The color scheme uses a very dark color palette with the main colors
	99	being deep oranges, blues, and purples. Red edges are common around
	100	objects in Outrun art. The background of the Outrun aesthetic is almost
	101	always a neon grid like you'd expect to see in Tron or a 1980s arcade
	102	machine.
	103
	104	Classic sports cars, chrome robots, computer generated graphics and
	105	fonts, and the occasional use of rain or palm trees can be found in
	106	Outrun art.
	107
	108	** Music
	109
	110	This aesthetic has a more aggressive and fast-paced style of music,
	111	which tends to match the subject of the art in this aesthetic.
	112
	113	Outrun enthusiasts love what people in the 1980s thought the future
	114	would look like. Take a look at a common video game discussed in Outrun
	115	circles, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon:
	116
	117	#+caption: Fry Cry 3: Blood Dragon
	118	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/far-cry.png]]
	119
	120	Another example that doesn't force the color scheme as hard as some
	121	online art does is Kung Fury:
	122
	123	#+caption: Kung Fury
	124	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury.png]]
	125
	126	#+caption: Kung Fury Hacker Scene
	127	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210328-vaporwave-vs-outrun/kung-fury-hacker.png]]
	128
	129	* Conclusion
	130
	131	While Vaporwave and Outrun share similarities, they are two distinct
	132	aesthetics with many important distinctions. Someone who enjoys one may
	133	not necessarily enjoy the other, so it's important to make sure we
	134	properly describe the aesthetic we're looking for.

content/blog/2021-03-30-vps-web-server.md deleted −396

		@@ -1,396 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-03-30
3		title = "How to Set Up a VPS Web Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Shared Hosting vs. VPS
9
10		Choosing a place to host a website is one of the most confusing decisions for
11		beginner web developers. Even for experienced web devs, choosing between
12		different forms of web hosting can be a daunting choice.
13
14		First, let's take a look at [shared web
15		hosting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_web_hosting_service). Shared web
16		hosting is a product where you are purchasing a small piece of a web server that
17		is being shared between many websites. As a result, the cost of shared hosting
18		is extremely low. You won't have access to the server itself, which means you
19		can't install your own software on the server, such as Docker. Usually, you are
20		simply allowed to connect your domains to the server, set up domain security,
21		and other small utilities.
22
23		In contrast, a [virtual private
24		server](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server) (VPS) is a virtual
25		machine that replicates the environment of having a dedicated server to
26		yourself. You are able to control the virtual server's host names, base file
27		system, package manager, etc. Another great upside of a VPS is that since it's
28		virtual, the company providing the VPS can dynamically increase the disk size,
29		RAM size, or number of CPUs at any time. However, the virtual server is still
30		physically located on a server that is shared between multiple virtual servers.
31
32		The choice between shared hosting and VPS mostly depends on your skill level
33		with system administration. If you're comforting working on a server that is
34		mostly left up to you (or you're willing to learn), then a VPS is usually a
35		better option. However, shared hosting is a fantastic option for people who
36		don't want to have to learn how to manage their server.
37
38		# My Situation
39
40		I had used shared hosting for approximately 5 years before trying my first VPS.
41		I manage a homelab and have had success running a server and performing typical
42		sysadmin duties, but I was still hesitant to get a VPS. One fear was that I
43		always struggled to properly set up the networking part of a server - DNS and
44		hostname configurations were not my friend.
45
46		As a little bit of background, I originally used
47		[Siteground](https://www.siteground.com) for my initially shared hosting and
48		stayed on that platform for at least a year. However, the UI was clunky, and I
49		didn't like how they handled certain technical aspects, so I switched to
50		[Namecheap](https://www.namecheap.com). Namecheap was great because it is the
51		service I primarily use for purchasing domain names, which made it incredibly
52		easy to link them to my hosting service. However, it was still mediocre shared
53		hosting, and Namecheap is notorious for not letting you use [Let's
54		Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org) to obtain free SSL/TLS certificates; Namecheap
55		wants to make you purchase certificates through their store.
56
57		Finally, I settled down with [iWebFusion](https://www.iwebfusion.net) for about
58		the last year of my shared hosting. This service was pretty great, came with
59		free SSL/TLS, and I never had any complaints.
60
61		However, I finally grew tired of not being able to install software on my own
62		web server. I wanted to be able to try out things like
63		[Postmill](https://postmill.xyz) or [Matrix](https://matrix.org). This is
64		possible with a VPS, so I decided to grab a new domain name to try it out.
65
66		# Getting Started: Buying a VPS
67
68		The first step to moving over to a VPS is (you guessed it): finding a VPS
69		provider. For my VPSs, I use [1984](https://1984hosting.com) and prefer their
70		services much more than any alternative, due to their location (Iceland), their
71		[privacy policy](https://1984hosting.com/GDPR/), their respect for GDPR, and the
72		ability to remain anonymous if you pay in Bitcoin or Monero.
73
74		[Njalla](https://njal.la) is another good, privacy-oriented option for VPS
75		services.
76
77		You'll have to decide what specifications you want on your VPS. For me, I only
78		build and deploy low-resource HTML, PHP, and Python websites. This means I can
79		survive on the smallest VPS: 1 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 25GB SSD for $5.00 per
80		month.
81
82		As noted above, the great thing about a VPS is you can request your provider to
83		increase the resources at any time.
84
85		# Configuring DNS Settings
86
87		Okay, so now let's get into some actual work that has to be done to get content
88		moved from a shared host to a VPS. At this point, I'm assuming you have a shared
89		host with website content that you can still access, and you've purchased a new
90		VPS and can SSH into that server.
91
92		The first change is minor, but it should be done immediately in order to get
93		things moving: DNS settings. Go to wherever your DNS settings are handled. If
94		your shared host also managed your DNS settings, you'll need to first move that
95		DNS over to your new VPS provider. For me, I route my DNS through
96		[Gandi](https://www.gandi.net).
97
98		Once you know where your DNS settings are, go ahead and update the `A` records
99		to match the public IP address of your VPS. For example:
100
101		```txt
102		A example.com xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
103		A subdomain xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
104		CNAME www example.com.
105		```
106
107		If you have any other records that require updates, such as MX or TXT records
108		for a mail server, be sure to update those accordingly. Personally, I don't host
109		my own mail server. I route all mail on my custom domains to
110		[Migadu](https://www.migadu.com). Hosting your own email server can become
111		complex quickly and is not for beginners.
112
113		DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, so be sure to give it some
114		time before assuming you've made an error.
115
116		# Server Updates and Packages
117
118		Now that the DNS settings have been changed, let's set up our server while we
119		wait for the DNS to propagate. First up is to ssh into your server. If you've
120		signed up with a service like DigitalOcean, you can add your SSH key to your
121		account and to your VPS droplet so that you don't need a password in order to
122		SSH.
123
124		```sh
125		ssh root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
126		```
127
128		The VPS that is used in this blog post runs Ubuntu 20.04 with an Apache web
129		server. If you're working on a different operating system (OS) or want a
130		different web server, such as Nginx, you'll have to use different commands to
131		set it up.
132
133		First, let's update and upgrade our server.
134
135		NOTE: Since we have logged in to the server as `root` for now, we don't need
136		to use the `sudo` modifier before our commands.
137
138		```sh
139		apt update && apt upgrade -y
140		```
141
142		# Create A User Account
143
144		While being able to use `root` can be beneficial at times, you shouldn't use
145		`root` unless you have to.
146
147		So let's set up a new user in our system. The `-m` option below tells the OS to
148		create a home directory for the new user.
149
150		```sh
151		adduser USERNAME
152		```
153
154		Now, create a password for that user.
155
156		```sh
157		passwd USERNAME
158		```
159
160		Finally, add the user to the sudoers file, so they can perform priveleged
161		commands.
162
163		```sh
164		usermod -a -G sudo USERNAME
165		```
166
167		If you are using SSH keys and not passwords, you'll need to copy your SSH key
168		from your local machine to the VPS. If you haven't disabled password-based SSH
169		yet, the easiest way to do this is `ssh-copy-id` from your local computer (not
170		from the VPS):
171
172		```sh
173		ssh-copy-id testuser@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
174		```
175
176		If you've disabled password-based SSH, you'll need to manually copy your SSH key
177		into the `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` file.
178
179		# Install Software
180
181		Our goal here is to host a web server, so the next step is to install the Apache
182		web server and any other packages we need.
183
184		From this point on, I will be logged in as a user (not `root`) and will need to
185		use the `sudo` modifier for most commands.
186
187		```sh
188		sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y; sudo apt autoremove -y
189		sudo apt install apache2
190		```
191
192		If you need other language support, such as PHP, you'll need to install that
193		too.
194
195		```sh
196		sudo apt install libapache2-mod-php php-dom
197		sudo a2enmod php
198		sudo systemctl restart apache2
199		```
200
201		# Website Files & Folders
202
203		Next up is to create the directories for the domain(s) we want to be hosted on
204		this web server.
205
206		```sh
207		cd /var/www
208		sudo mkdir example.com
209		```
210
211		We have a folder for `example.com` now, so let's add an `index.html` file and
212		put it within a specific `public_html` folder. You don't need this `public_html`
213		if you don't want it, but it helps with organizing items related to
214		`example.com` that you don't want to publish to the internet.
215
216		```sh
217		cd example.com
218		sudo mkdir public_html && cd public_html
219		sudo nano index.html
220		```
221
222		You can put anything you want in this `index.html` file. If you can't think of
223		anything, paste this in there:
224
225		```html
226		<!DOCTYPE html>
227		<html lang="en">
228		<head>
229		<meta charset="utf-8" />
230		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
231		<title>Hello, world!</title>
232		</head>
233		<body>
234		<h1>Hello, world!</h1>
235		</body>
236		</html>
237		```
238
239		If you want something to be served at `example.com/page01/file.txt`, you'll have
240		to create the `page01` directory under the `example.com` directory. For example:
241
242		```sh
243		cd /var/www/example.com/public_html
244		sudo mkdir page01
245		sudo nano file.txt
246		```
247
248		# Apache Configuration
249
250		Now, let's set up the files that will tell the server where to find the files
251		for `example.com`. We will copy the default configuration file and create our
252		own.
253
254		```sh
255		cd /etc/apache2/sites-available
256		sudo cp 000-default.conf example.com.conf
257		sudo nano example.com.conf
258		```
259
260		This configuration file will have a few default lines, but you'll need to edit
261		it to look similar to this (settings may change based on your personal needs):
262
263		```config
264		<VirtualHost *:80>
265		ServerAdmin your-email@email-provider.com
266		ServerName example.com
267		ServerAlias www.example.com
268		DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html
269		ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
270		CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
271		</VirtualHost>
272		```
273
274		Now, enable the configuration for your new site, disable the default
275		configuration, and reload the web server.
276
277		```sh
278		sudo a2ensite example.com.conf
279		sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
280		sudo systemctl reload apache2
281		```
282
283		You can always run a test to make sure no errors or warnings are found in your
284		configuration files.
285
286		```sh
287		sudo apache2ctl configtest
288		```
289
290		Now, restart the web server entirely. After this, you should be able to browse
291		to `http://example.com` and see the HTML content you provided earlier. Note that
292		SSL/TLS has not been enabled yet, so you won't be able to use the secure version
293		yet (`https://example.com`).
294
295		```sh
296		sudo systemctl restart apache2
297		```
298
299		You can repeat this for as many websites as you need. Just create the domain
300		folders in `/var/www/`, add the configuration file, enable the configuration,
301		and restart `apache2`.
302
303		# SSL/TLS Certificates: Serve Websites Over HTTPS
304
305		In order to serve secure content, you'll need to obtain SSL/TLS certificates.
306		Luckily, there's a free tool called [Certbot](https://certbot.eff.org) that
307		helps us with the process.
308
309		The first step is to install `snapd` and `core` for Ubuntu.
310
311		```sh
312		sudo apt install snapd
313		sudo snap install core
314		sudo snap refresh core
315		```
316
317		Next, install the `certbot` snap package.
318
319		```sh
320		sudo snap install --classic certbot
321		```
322
323		Execute the following command to ensure that the `certbot` command can be run.
324
325		```sh
326		sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
327		```
328
329		Finally, you can run `certbot` one of two ways:
330
331		1. run it and let it alter your Apache configuration files automatically to
332		enable HTTPS redirects.
333		2. run it and only allow it to create certificates. You'll need to manually
334		alter the config files to enable HTTPS redirects.
335
336		Run certbot and allow automatic config changes:
337
338		```sh
339		sudo certbot --apache
340		```
341
342		Run certbot for certificates only and don't allow it to alter config files:
343
344		```sh
345		sudo certbot certonly --apache
346		```
347
348		The Certbot packages on your system come with a cron job or systemd timer that
349		will renew your certificates automatically before they expire. You will not need
350		to run Certbot again unless you change your configuration. You can test
351		automatic renewal for your certificates by running this command:
352
353		```sh
354		sudo certbot renew --dry-run
355		```
356
357		Now, test your domains by going to `https://example.com`.
358
359		# Firewall Security
360
361		To enable better security on your server, you'll need to enable a basic
362		firewall. For Ubuntu, we'll use [the uncomplicated
363		firewall](../secure-your-network-with-the-uncomplicated-firewall/).
364
365		Now, add the following rules to the firewall allow SSH, Apache, and HTTP(S)
366		connections. If you need to, you can enable different ports for specifics
367		applications, SFTP, etc.
368
369		```sh
370		sudo ufw default deny incoming
371		sudo ufw default allow outgoing
372		sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
373		sudo ufw allow Apache
374		sudo ufw allow proto tcp from any to any port 80,443
375		```
376
377		Once you've added all the rules you need, enable the firewall.
378
379		```sh
380		sudo ufw enable
381		```
382
383		# Troubleshooting
384
385		If you run into any issues during your VPS set-up, be sure to walk back through
386		your actions and make sure you didn't miss any steps.
387
388		Many websites have fantastic guides to setting up various web servers. This is
389		one of the areas [where DigitalOcean
390		shines](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials). For simpler or
391		more Linux-oriented questions, I suggest using [Linuxize]
392		(<https://linuxize.com>).
393
394		If you're getting certain errors (e.g. `500 Internal Server Error`) and need to
395		debug locally, you can view the `access.log` and `error.log` files in the
396		`/var/log/apache/` directory.

content/blog/2021-03-30-vps-web-server.org added +411

		@@ -0,0 +1,411 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-03-30>
	2	#+title: How to Set Up a VPS Web Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Shared Hosting vs. VPS
	7
	8	Choosing a place to host a website is one of the most confusing
	9	decisions for beginner web developers. Even for experienced web devs,
	10	choosing between different forms of web hosting can be a daunting
	11	choice.
	12
	13	First, let's take a look at
	14	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_web_hosting_service][shared web
	15	hosting]]. Shared web hosting is a product where you are purchasing a
	16	small piece of a web server that is being shared between many websites.
	17	As a result, the cost of shared hosting is extremely low. You won't have
	18	access to the server itself, which means you can't install your own
	19	software on the server, such as Docker. Usually, you are simply allowed
	20	to connect your domains to the server, set up domain security, and other
	21	small utilities.
	22
	23	In contrast, a
	24	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server][virtual private
	25	server]] (VPS) is a virtual machine that replicates the environment of
	26	having a dedicated server to yourself. You are able to control the
	27	virtual server's host names, base file system, package manager, etc.
	28	Another great upside of a VPS is that since it's virtual, the company
	29	providing the VPS can dynamically increase the disk size, RAM size, or
	30	number of CPUs at any time. However, the virtual server is still
	31	physically located on a server that is shared between multiple virtual
	32	servers.
	33
	34	The choice between shared hosting and VPS mostly depends on your skill
	35	level with system administration. If you're comforting working on a
	36	server that is mostly left up to you (or you're willing to learn), then
	37	a VPS is usually a better option. However, shared hosting is a fantastic
	38	option for people who don't want to have to learn how to manage their
	39	server.
	40
	41	* My Situation
	42
	43	I had used shared hosting for approximately 5 years before trying my
	44	first VPS. I manage a homelab and have had success running a server and
	45	performing typical sysadmin duties, but I was still hesitant to get a
	46	VPS. One fear was that I always struggled to properly set up the
	47	networking part of a server - DNS and hostname configurations were not
	48	my friend.
	49
	50	As a little bit of background, I originally used
	51	[[https://www.siteground.com][Siteground]] for my initially shared
	52	hosting and stayed on that platform for at least a year. However, the UI
	53	was clunky, and I didn't like how they handled certain technical
	54	aspects, so I switched to [[https://www.namecheap.com][Namecheap]].
	55	Namecheap was great because it is the service I primarily use for
	56	purchasing domain names, which made it incredibly easy to link them to
	57	my hosting service. However, it was still mediocre shared hosting, and
	58	Namecheap is notorious for not letting you use
	59	[[https://letsencrypt.org][Let's Encrypt]] to obtain free SSL/TLS
	60	certificates; Namecheap wants to make you purchase certificates through
	61	their store.
	62
	63	Finally, I settled down with [[https://www.iwebfusion.net][iWebFusion]]
	64	for about the last year of my shared hosting. This service was pretty
	65	great, came with free SSL/TLS, and I never had any complaints.
	66
	67	However, I finally grew tired of not being able to install software on
	68	my own web server. I wanted to be able to try out things like
	69	[[https://postmill.xyz][Postmill]] or [[https://matrix.org][Matrix]].
	70	This is possible with a VPS, so I decided to grab a new domain name to
	71	try it out.
	72
	73	* Getting Started: Buying a VPS
	74
	75	The first step to moving over to a VPS is (you guessed it): finding a
	76	VPS provider. For my VPSs, I use [[https://1984hosting.com][1984]] and
	77	prefer their services much more than any alternative, due to their
	78	location (Iceland), their [[https://1984hosting.com/GDPR/][privacy
	79	policy]], their respect for GDPR, and the ability to remain anonymous if
	80	you pay in Bitcoin or Monero.
	81
	82	[[https://njal.la][Njalla]] is another good, privacy-oriented option for
	83	VPS services.
	84
	85	You'll have to decide what specifications you want on your VPS. For me,
	86	I only build and deploy low-resource HTML, PHP, and Python websites.
	87	This means I can survive on the smallest VPS: 1 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and
	88	25GB SSD for $5.00 per month.
	89
	90	As noted above, the great thing about a VPS is you can request your
	91	provider to increase the resources at any time.
	92
	93	* Configuring DNS Settings
	94
	95	Okay, so now let's get into some actual work that has to be done to get
	96	content moved from a shared host to a VPS. At this point, I'm assuming
	97	you have a shared host with website content that you can still access,
	98	and you've purchased a new VPS and can SSH into that server.
	99
	100	The first change is minor, but it should be done immediately in order to
	101	get things moving: DNS settings. Go to wherever your DNS settings are
	102	handled. If your shared host also managed your DNS settings, you'll need
	103	to first move that DNS over to your new VPS provider. For me, I route my
	104	DNS through [[https://www.gandi.net][Gandi]].
	105
	106	Once you know where your DNS settings are, go ahead and update the =A=
	107	records to match the public IP address of your VPS. For example:
	108
	109	#+begin_src txt
	110	A example.com xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	111	A subdomain xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	112	CNAME www example.com.
	113	#+end_src
	114
	115	If you have any other records that require updates, such as MX or TXT
	116	records for a mail server, be sure to update those accordingly.
	117	Personally, I don't host my own mail server. I route all mail on my
	118	custom domains to [[https://www.migadu.com][Migadu]]. Hosting your own
	119	email server can become complex quickly and is not for beginners.
	120
	121	DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, so be sure to give it
	122	some time before assuming you've made an error.
	123
	124	* Server Updates and Packages
	125
	126	Now that the DNS settings have been changed, let's set up our server
	127	while we wait for the DNS to propagate. First up is to ssh into your
	128	server. If you've signed up with a service like DigitalOcean, you can
	129	add your SSH key to your account and to your VPS droplet so that you
	130	don't need a password in order to SSH.
	131
	132	#+begin_src sh
	133	ssh root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	134	#+end_src
	135
	136	The VPS that is used in this blog post runs Ubuntu 20.04 with an Apache
	137	web server. If you're working on a different operating system (OS) or
	138	want a different web server, such as Nginx, you'll have to use different
	139	commands to set it up.
	140
	141	First, let's update and upgrade our server.
	142
	143	NOTE: Since we have logged in to the server as =root= for now, we
	144	don't need to use the =sudo= modifier before our commands.
	145
	146	#+begin_src sh
	147	apt update && apt upgrade -y
	148	#+end_src
	149
	150	* Create A User Account
	151
	152	While being able to use =root= can be beneficial at times, you shouldn't
	153	use =root= unless you have to.
	154
	155	So let's set up a new user in our system. The =-m= option below tells
	156	the OS to create a home directory for the new user.
	157
	158	#+begin_src sh
	159	adduser USERNAME
	160	#+end_src
	161
	162	Now, create a password for that user.
	163
	164	#+begin_src sh
	165	passwd USERNAME
	166	#+end_src
	167
	168	Finally, add the user to the sudoers file, so they can perform
	169	priveleged commands.
	170
	171	#+begin_src sh
	172	usermod -a -G sudo USERNAME
	173	#+end_src
	174
	175	If you are using SSH keys and not passwords, you'll need to copy your
	176	SSH key from your local machine to the VPS. If you haven't disabled
	177	password-based SSH yet, the easiest way to do this is =ssh-copy-id= from
	178	your local computer (not from the VPS):
	179
	180	#+begin_src sh
	181	ssh-copy-id testuser@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	182	#+end_src
	183
	184	If you've disabled password-based SSH, you'll need to manually copy your
	185	SSH key into the =~/.ssh/authorized_keys= file.
	186
	187	* Install Software
	188
	189	Our goal here is to host a web server, so the next step is to install
	190	the Apache web server and any other packages we need.
	191
	192	From this point on, I will be logged in as a user (not =root=) and will
	193	need to use the =sudo= modifier for most commands.
	194
	195	#+begin_src sh
	196	sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y; sudo apt autoremove -y
	197	sudo apt install apache2
	198	#+end_src
	199
	200	If you need other language support, such as PHP, you'll need to install
	201	that too.
	202
	203	#+begin_src sh
	204	sudo apt install libapache2-mod-php php-dom
	205	sudo a2enmod php
	206	sudo systemctl restart apache2
	207	#+end_src
	208
	209	* Website Files & Folders
	210
	211	Next up is to create the directories for the domain(s) we want to be
	212	hosted on this web server.
	213
	214	#+begin_src sh
	215	cd /var/www
	216	sudo mkdir example.com
	217	#+end_src
	218
	219	We have a folder for =example.com= now, so let's add an =index.html=
	220	file and put it within a specific =public_html= folder. You don't need
	221	this =public_html= if you don't want it, but it helps with organizing
	222	items related to =example.com= that you don't want to publish to the
	223	internet.
	224
	225	#+begin_src sh
	226	cd example.com
	227	sudo mkdir public_html && cd public_html
	228	sudo nano index.html
	229	#+end_src
	230
	231	You can put anything you want in this =index.html= file. If you can't
	232	think of anything, paste this in there:
	233
	234	#+begin_src html
	235	<!DOCTYPE html>
	236	<html lang="en">
	237	<head>
	238	<meta charset="utf-8" />
	239	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
	240	<title>Hello, world!</title>
	241	</head>
	242	<body>
	243	<h1>Hello, world!</h1>
	244	</body>
	245	</html>
	246	#+end_src
	247
	248	If you want something to be served at =example.com/page01/file.txt=,
	249	you'll have to create the =page01= directory under the =example.com=
	250	directory. For example:
	251
	252	#+begin_src sh
	253	cd /var/www/example.com/public_html
	254	sudo mkdir page01
	255	sudo nano file.txt
	256	#+end_src
	257
	258	* Apache Configuration
	259
	260	Now, let's set up the files that will tell the server where to find the
	261	files for =example.com=. We will copy the default configuration file and
	262	create our own.
	263
	264	#+begin_src sh
	265	cd /etc/apache2/sites-available
	266	sudo cp 000-default.conf example.com.conf
	267	sudo nano example.com.conf
	268	#+end_src
	269
	270	This configuration file will have a few default lines, but you'll need
	271	to edit it to look similar to this (settings may change based on your
	272	personal needs):
	273
	274	#+begin_src config
	275	<VirtualHost *:80>
	276	ServerAdmin your-email@email-provider.com
	277	ServerName example.com
	278	ServerAlias www.example.com
	279	DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html
	280	ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
	281	CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
	282	</VirtualHost>
	283	#+end_src
	284
	285	Now, enable the configuration for your new site, disable the default
	286	configuration, and reload the web server.
	287
	288	#+begin_src sh
	289	sudo a2ensite example.com.conf
	290	sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
	291	sudo systemctl reload apache2
	292	#+end_src
	293
	294	You can always run a test to make sure no errors or warnings are found
	295	in your configuration files.
	296
	297	#+begin_src sh
	298	sudo apache2ctl configtest
	299	#+end_src
	300
	301	Now, restart the web server entirely. After this, you should be able to
	302	browse to =http://example.com= and see the HTML content you provided
	303	earlier. Note that SSL/TLS has not been enabled yet, so you won't be
	304	able to use the secure version yet (=https://example.com=).
	305
	306	#+begin_src sh
	307	sudo systemctl restart apache2
	308	#+end_src
	309
	310	You can repeat this for as many websites as you need. Just create the
	311	domain folders in =/var/www/=, add the configuration file, enable the
	312	configuration, and restart =apache2=.
	313
	314	* SSL/TLS Certificates: Serve Websites Over HTTPS
	315
	316	In order to serve secure content, you'll need to obtain SSL/TLS
	317	certificates. Luckily, there's a free tool called
	318	[[https://certbot.eff.org][Certbot]] that helps us with the process.
	319
	320	The first step is to install =snapd= and =core= for Ubuntu.
	321
	322	#+begin_src sh
	323	sudo apt install snapd
	324	sudo snap install core
	325	sudo snap refresh core
	326	#+end_src
	327
	328	Next, install the =certbot= snap package.
	329
	330	#+begin_src sh
	331	sudo snap install --classic certbot
	332	#+end_src
	333
	334	Execute the following command to ensure that the =certbot= command can
	335	be run.
	336
	337	#+begin_src sh
	338	sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
	339	#+end_src
	340
	341	Finally, you can run =certbot= one of two ways:
	342
	343	1. run it and let it alter your Apache configuration files automatically
	344	to enable HTTPS redirects.
	345	2. run it and only allow it to create certificates. You'll need to
	346	manually alter the config files to enable HTTPS redirects.
	347
	348	Run certbot and allow automatic config changes:
	349
	350	#+begin_src sh
	351	sudo certbot --apache
	352	#+end_src
	353
	354	Run certbot for certificates only and don't allow it to alter config
	355	files:
	356
	357	#+begin_src sh
	358	sudo certbot certonly --apache
	359	#+end_src
	360
	361	The Certbot packages on your system come with a cron job or systemd
	362	timer that will renew your certificates automatically before they
	363	expire. You will not need to run Certbot again unless you change your
	364	configuration. You can test automatic renewal for your certificates by
	365	running this command:
	366
	367	#+begin_src sh
	368	sudo certbot renew --dry-run
	369	#+end_src
	370
	371	Now, test your domains by going to =https://example.com=.
	372
	373	* Firewall Security
	374
	375	To enable better security on your server, you'll need to enable a basic
	376	firewall. For Ubuntu, we'll use
	377	[[../secure-your-network-with-the-uncomplicated-firewall/][the
	378	uncomplicated firewall]].
	379
	380	Now, add the following rules to the firewall allow SSH, Apache, and
	381	HTTP(S) connections. If you need to, you can enable different ports for
	382	specifics applications, SFTP, etc.
	383
	384	#+begin_src sh
	385	sudo ufw default deny incoming
	386	sudo ufw default allow outgoing
	387	sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
	388	sudo ufw allow Apache
	389	sudo ufw allow proto tcp from any to any port 80,443
	390	#+end_src
	391
	392	Once you've added all the rules you need, enable the firewall.
	393
	394	#+begin_src sh
	395	sudo ufw enable
	396	#+end_src
	397
	398	* Troubleshooting
	399
	400	If you run into any issues during your VPS set-up, be sure to walk back
	401	through your actions and make sure you didn't miss any steps.
	402
	403	Many websites have fantastic guides to setting up various web servers.
	404	This is one of the areas
	405	[[https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials][where DigitalOcean
	406	shines]]. For simpler or more Linux-oriented questions, I suggest using
	407	[Linuxize] ([[https://linuxize.com]]).
	408
	409	If you're getting certain errors (e.g. =500 Internal Server Error=) and
	410	need to debug locally, you can view the =access.log= and =error.log=
	411	files in the =/var/log/apache/= directory.

content/blog/2021-04-17-gemini-server.md deleted −150

		@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-04-17
3		title = "Hosting a Gemini Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Similar Article Available
9
10		To read more about Gemini and ways to test out this new protocol without your
11		own server, see my previous post [Launching a Gemini
12		Capsule](../launching-a-gemini-capsule/).
13
14		# Preparation
15
16		This guide assumes you have access to a server accessible to the world through a
17		public IP address and that you own a domain name used for this Gemini capsule.
18
19		# Getting Started with Agate
20
21		We are going to use [Agate](https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate) for this
22		tutorial. This is a basic Gemini server written in Rust. It takes very little
23		time and maintenance to get it running.
24
25		# Install Dependencies
26
27		First, you will need to install the Rust package for your system. On Ubuntu, use
28		the following commands (remember to use `sudo` if you are not the root user).
29		The Rust installation will give you options to customize the installation; I
30		used the default installation options.
31
32		```sh
33		sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
34		curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf \| sh
35		```
36
37		Remember to configure your shell with the new configuration:
38
39		```sh
40		source $HOME/.cargo/env
41		```
42
43		Before we install agate, make sure you have the `gcc` package installed:
44
45		```sh
46		sudo apt install gcc
47		```
48
49		Next, you'll need to install the agate executable with Rust's Cargo package
50		maintainer:
51
52		```sh
53		cargo install agate
54		```
55
56		# Create Symlinks
57
58		Once Cargo has finished installing all the required packages, symlink the
59		executable to your $PATH.
60
61		```sh
62		sudo ln -s $HOME/.cargo/bin/agate /usr/local/bin/agate
63		```
64
65		# Using Agate's Built-In Installation Tool
66
67		If you're running Ubuntu or Debian, use the Debian installation script found in
68		Agate's GitHub repository, under the `tools/debian` folder.
69
70		```sh
71		git clone https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate
72		cd agate/tools/debian
73		sudo ./install.sh
74		```
75
76		# Configure the Gemini Service
77
78		We have a little more to do, but since this script tries to immediately run the
79		service, it will likely fail with an exit code. Let's add our finishing touches.
80		Edit the following file and replace the hostname with your desired URL. You can
81		also change the directory where content will be served.
82
83		```sh
84		sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/gemini.service
85		```
86
87		```sh
88		# Edit these lines to whatever you want - see the next code block for my personal configuration.
89		WorkingDirectory=/srv/gemini
90		ExecStart=agate --hostname $(uname -n) --lang en
91		```
92
93		This is my personal config:
94
95		```sh
96		WorkingDirectory=/var/gemini/
97		ExecStart=agate --hostname gemini.example.com --lang en
98		```
99
100		Since we've altered the systemd configuration files, we have to reload the
101		daemon. Let's do that, restart our service, and check its status.
102
103		```sh
104		sudo systemctl daemon-reload
105		sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
106		sudo systemctl status gemini.service
107		```
108
109		# Fixing Systemd Errors
110
111		If you're still getting errors, the installation process may not have properly
112		enabled the gemini service. Fix it with the following commands.
113
114		```sh
115		sudo systemctl enable gemini.service
116		sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
117		sudo systemctl status gemini.service
118		```
119
120		# Firewall Rules
121
122		Great! Our server is now functional and running. The first consideration now is
123		that you need to be able to access port 1965 on the server. If you have a
124		firewall enabled, you'll need to open that port up.
125
126		```sh
127		sudo ufw allow 1965
128		sudo ufw reload
129		```
130
131		# Creating Content
132
133		Let's create the Gemini capsule. Note that wherever you set the WorkingDirectory
134		variable to earlier, Agate will expect you to put your Gemini capsule contents
135		in a sub-folder called "content." So, I place my files in "/var/gmi/content."
136		I'm going to create that folder now and put a file in there.
137
138		```sh
139		sudo mkdir /var/gemini/content
140		sudo nano /var/gemini/content/index.gmi
141		```
142
143		You can put whatever you want in the "index.gmi" file, just make sure it's valid
144		Gemtext.
145
146		# The Results
147
148		To view the results, you can use a Gemini browser, such as
149		[Lagrange](https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/) or
150		[amfora](https://github.com/makeworld-the-better-one/amfora).

content/blog/2021-04-17-gemini-server.org added +151

		@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-04-17>
	2	#+title: Hosting a Gemini Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Similar Article Available
	7
	8	To read more about Gemini and ways to test out this new protocol without
	9	your own server, see my previous post
	10	[[../launching-a-gemini-capsule/][Launching a Gemini Capsule]].
	11
	12	* Preparation
	13
	14	This guide assumes you have access to a server accessible to the world
	15	through a public IP address and that you own a domain name used for this
	16	Gemini capsule.
	17
	18	* Getting Started with Agate
	19
	20	We are going to use [[https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate][Agate]] for
	21	this tutorial. This is a basic Gemini server written in Rust. It takes
	22	very little time and maintenance to get it running.
	23
	24	* Install Dependencies
	25
	26	First, you will need to install the Rust package for your system. On
	27	Ubuntu, use the following commands (remember to use =sudo= if you are
	28	not the root user). The Rust installation will give you options to
	29	customize the installation; I used the default installation options.
	30
	31	#+begin_src sh
	32	sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
	33	curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf \| sh
	34	#+end_src
	35
	36	Remember to configure your shell with the new configuration:
	37
	38	#+begin_src sh
	39	source $HOME/.cargo/env
	40	#+end_src
	41
	42	Before we install agate, make sure you have the =gcc= package installed:
	43
	44	#+begin_src sh
	45	sudo apt install gcc
	46	#+end_src
	47
	48	Next, you'll need to install the agate executable with Rust's Cargo
	49	package maintainer:
	50
	51	#+begin_src sh
	52	cargo install agate
	53	#+end_src
	54
	55	* Create Symlinks
	56
	57	Once Cargo has finished installing all the required packages, symlink
	58	the executable to your $PATH.
	59
	60	#+begin_src sh
	61	sudo ln -s $HOME/.cargo/bin/agate /usr/local/bin/agate
	62	#+end_src
	63
	64	* Using Agate's Built-In Installation Tool
	65
	66	If you're running Ubuntu or Debian, use the Debian installation script
	67	found in Agate's GitHub repository, under the =tools/debian= folder.
	68
	69	#+begin_src sh
	70	git clone https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate
	71	cd agate/tools/debian
	72	sudo ./install.sh
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	* Configure the Gemini Service
	76
	77	We have a little more to do, but since this script tries to immediately
	78	run the service, it will likely fail with an exit code. Let's add our
	79	finishing touches. Edit the following file and replace the hostname with
	80	your desired URL. You can also change the directory where content will
	81	be served.
	82
	83	#+begin_src sh
	84	sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/gemini.service
	85	#+end_src
	86
	87	#+begin_src sh
	88	# Edit these lines to whatever you want - see the next code block for my personal configuration.
	89	WorkingDirectory=/srv/gemini
	90	ExecStart=agate --hostname $(uname -n) --lang en
	91	#+end_src
	92
	93	This is my personal config:
	94
	95	#+begin_src sh
	96	WorkingDirectory=/var/gemini/
	97	ExecStart=agate --hostname gemini.example.com --lang en
	98	#+end_src
	99
	100	Since we've altered the systemd configuration files, we have to reload
	101	the daemon. Let's do that, restart our service, and check its status.
	102
	103	#+begin_src sh
	104	sudo systemctl daemon-reload
	105	sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
	106	sudo systemctl status gemini.service
	107	#+end_src
	108
	109	* Fixing Systemd Errors
	110
	111	If you're still getting errors, the installation process may not have
	112	properly enabled the gemini service. Fix it with the following commands.
	113
	114	#+begin_src sh
	115	sudo systemctl enable gemini.service
	116	sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
	117	sudo systemctl status gemini.service
	118	#+end_src
	119
	120	* Firewall Rules
	121
	122	Great! Our server is now functional and running. The first consideration
	123	now is that you need to be able to access port 1965 on the server. If
	124	you have a firewall enabled, you'll need to open that port up.
	125
	126	#+begin_src sh
	127	sudo ufw allow 1965
	128	sudo ufw reload
	129	#+end_src
	130
	131	* Creating Content
	132
	133	Let's create the Gemini capsule. Note that wherever you set the
	134	WorkingDirectory variable to earlier, Agate will expect you to put your
	135	Gemini capsule contents in a sub-folder called "content." So, I place my
	136	files in "/var/gmi/content." I'm going to create that folder now and put
	137	a file in there.
	138
	139	#+begin_src sh
	140	sudo mkdir /var/gemini/content
	141	sudo nano /var/gemini/content/index.gmi
	142	#+end_src
	143
	144	You can put whatever you want in the "index.gmi" file, just make sure
	145	it's valid Gemtext.
	146
	147	* The Results
	148
	149	To view the results, you can use a Gemini browser, such as
	150	[[https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/][Lagrange]] or
	151	[[https://github.com/makeworld-the-better-one/amfora][amfora]].

content/blog/2021-04-23-php-comment-system.md deleted −261

		@@ -1,261 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-04-23
3		title = "Roll Your Own Static Commenting System in PHP"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Terrible-ness of Commenting Systems
9
10		The current state of affairs regarding interactive comment systems is, well,
11		terrible. It is especially awful if you're a privacy conscious person who does
12		not generally load third-party scripts or frames on the websites you visit.
13
14		Even further, many comment systems are charging exorbitant fees for something
15		that should be standard.
16
17		Of course, there are some really terrible options:
18
19		- Facebook Comments
20		- Discourse
21
22		There are some options that are better but still use too many scripts, frames,
23		or social integrations on your web page that could impact some users:
24
25		- Disqus
26		- Isso
27		- Remark42
28
29		Lastly, I looked into a few unique ways of generating blog comments, such as
30		using Twitter threads or GitHub issues to automatically post issues. However,
31		these both rely on external third-party sites that I don't currently use.
32
33		# Stay Static with Server-Side Comments
34
35		The main issue for my personal use-case is that my blog is completely, 100%
36		static. I use PHP on the back-end but website visitors only see HTML and a
37		single CSS file. No external javascript and no embedded frames.
38
39		So, how do we keep a site static and still allow users to interact with blog
40		posts? The key actually pretty simple - I'm already using PHP, so why not rely
41		on the classic HTML `<form>` and a PHP script to save the comments somewhere? As
42		it turns out, this was a perfect solution for me.
43
44		The second issue for my personal use-case is that I am trying to keep the
45		contents of my website accessible over time, as described by @brandur, in his
46		post entitled [Blog with Markdown + Git, and degrade gracefully through
47		time](https://brandur.org/fragments/graceful-degradation-time) .
48
49		This means I cannot rely on a database for comments, since I do not rely on a
50		database for any other part of my websites.
51
52		I blog in plain Markdown files, commit all articles to Git, and ensure that
53		future readers will be able to see the source data long after I'm gone, or the
54		website has gone offline. However, I still haven't committed any images served
55		on my blog to Git, as I'm not entirely sold on Git LFS yet - for now, images can
56		be found at [img.cleberg.net](https://img.cleberg.net).
57
58		Saving my comments back to the Git repository ensures that another aspect of my
59		site will degrade gracefully.
60
61		# Create a Comment Form
62
63		Okay, let's get started. The first step is to create an HTML form that users can
64		see and utilize to submit comments. This is fairly easy and can be changed
65		depending on your personal preferences.
66
67		Take a look at the code block below for the form I currently use. Note that
68		`<current-url>` is replaced automatically in PHP with the current post's URL, so
69		that my PHP script used later will know which blog post the comment is related
70		to.
71
72		The form contains the following structure:
73
74		1. `<form>` - This is the form and will determine which PHP script to send the
75		comment to.
76		2. `<section hidden>` - This section is hidden from the user and is used to
77		ensure that we know which blog post sent the comment.
78		3. `<section>` Display Name (Optional) - Used to accept a display name, if
79		entered.
80		4. `<section>` Comment (Required) - Used to accept the user's full comment.
81		Markdown is allowed.
82		5. `<button>` - A button to submit the form.
83
84		```html
85		<form action="/comment.php" method="POST">
86		<h3>Leave a Comment</h3>
87		<section hidden>
88		<label class="form-label" for="postURL">Post URL</label>
89		<input
90		class="form-control"
91		id="postURL"
92		name="postURL"
93		type="text"
94		value="<current-url>"
95		/>
96		</section>
97		<section>
98		<label class="form-label" for="userName">Display Name</label>
99		<input
100		class="form-control"
101		id="userName"
102		name="userName"
103		placeholder="John Doe"
104		type="text"
105		/>
106		</section>
107		<section>
108		<label class="form-label" for="userContent">Your Comment</label>
109		<textarea
110		class="form-control"
111		id="userContent"
112		name="userContent"
113		rows="3"
114		placeholder="# Feel free to use Markdown"
115		aria-describedby="commentHelp"
116		required
117		></textarea>
118		<div id="commentHelp" class="form-text">
119		Comments are saved as Markdown and cannot be edited or deleted.
120		</div>
121		</section>
122		<button type="submit">Submit</button>
123		</form>
124		```
125
126		# Handle Comments via POST
127
128		Now that we have a form and can submit comments, we need to create a PHP script
129		so that the server can fetch the comment data and save it. Make sure your PHP
130		script name matches the name you entered in the `action` field in your form.
131
132		See the code block below for the contents of my `comment.php` script. We perform
133		the following tasks in this script:
134
135		1. Grab the POST data from the HTML form.
136		2. Sanitize the comment data with `htmlentities`.
137		3. Set the display name to `Anonymous` if it was left blank.
138		4. Create a PHP object that combines all of this data.
139		5. Check if our destination file `comments.json` exists.
140		6. If so, convert the PHP object to JSON and save it to the file.
141		7. If the `comments.json` file does not exist, the script will exit with an
142		error. You can alter this to ensure it creates the script, but my source
143		code includes the file by default, so it will always exist.
144		8. Finally, send the user back to the `#comments` section of the blog post they
145		just read.
146
147		```php
148		// Get the content sent from the comment form
149		$comment = htmlentities($_POST['userContent']);
150		$post_url = $_POST['postURL'];
151
152		// Set default values if blank
153		if (isset($_POST['userName']) && trim($_POST['userName']) !== "") {
154		$username = $_POST['userName'];
155		} else {
156		$username = 'Anonymous';
157		}
158
159		// Create an empty PHP object
160		$user_object = new stdClass();
161
162		// Add object content
163		$user_object->timestamp = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
164		$user_object->username = $username;
165		$user_object->comment = $comment;
166		$user_object->post_url = $post_url;
167
168		// Append JSON to file
169		$file_name = 'comments.json';
170		if (file_exists($file_name)) {
171		$source_data = file_get_contents($file_name);
172		$temp_array = json_decode($source_data);
173		array_push($temp_array, $user_object);
174		$json_data = json_encode($temp_array, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
175		file_put_contents($file_name, $json_data);
176		} else {
177		die('Error: The "comments.json" file does not exist.');
178		}
179
180		// Send the user back
181		header('Location: ' . $post_url . '#comments');
182		```
183
184		If you're using Apache, make sure the `www-data` user on your server has the
185		correct permissions to your website directory or else it will not be able to
186		write to `comments.json`.
187
188		```sh
189		chgrp -R www-data /path/to/website/
190		chmod -R g+w comments.json
191		```
192
193		# Display User Comments
194
195		Now that we can submit comments, and they are saved to the `comments.json` file,
196		let's make sure we can show those comments in each blog post.
197
198		The code block below shows the function I use to decode my `comments.json` file,
199		check if the comments apply to the current post, and then display them.
200
201		This piece of code should really be inside a function (or at least in an
202		organized PHP workflow). Don't just copy-and-paste and expect it to work. You
203		need to at least supply a `$query` variable depending on the page visited.
204
205		```php
206		$query = 'your-blog-post.html';
207
208		// Load saved comments
209		$comments_file = 'comments.json';
210		$comments_raw = file_get_contents($comments_file);
211		$comments = json_decode($comments_raw);
212		$comment_section = '<section id="comments" class="comments"><h3>Comments</h3>';
213		foreach ($comments as $comment) {
214		if ($comment->post_url == "https://example.com/post/" . $query) {
215		// Assign metadata to variables
216		$comment_timestamp = $comment->timestamp;
217		$comment_username = $comment->username;
218		$comment_content = $comment->comment;
219
220		// Parse the comment, in case it contains Markdown
221		$comment_md = Parsedown::instance()->text($comment_content);
222		$comment_html = new DOMDocument();
223		$comment_html->loadHTML($comment_md);
224		$comment_html_links = $comment_html->getElementsByTagName('a');
225		foreach ($comment_html_links as $comment_html_link) {
226		$comment_html_link->setAttribute('rel', 'noreferrer');
227		$comment_html_link->setAttribute('target', '_blank');
228		}
229		$comment_secured_html = $comment_html->saveHTML();
230
231		// Apply metadata to comments section
232		$comment_section .= '<div class="user-comment"><div class="row"><label>Timestamp:</label><p>' . $comment_timestamp . '</p></div><div class="row"><label>Name:</label><p>' . $comment_username . '</p></div><div class="row markdown"><label>Comment:</label><div class="comment-markdown">' . $comment_secured_html . '</div></div></div>';
233		}
234		}
235
236		echo $comment_section;
237		```
238
239		# Bonus: Create a 'Recent Comments' Page
240
241		Finally, the last part of my current system is to create a Recent Comments page
242		so that I can easily check-in on my blog and moderate any spam. As an
243		alternative, you could use PHP's `mail()` function to email you for each blog
244		comment.
245
246		The code to do this is literally the same code as the previous section, I just
247		make sure it is printed when someone visits `https://example.com/comments/`.
248
249		# Possible Enhancements
250
251		This comment system is by no means a fully-developed system. I have noted a few
252		possible enhancements here that I may implement in the future:
253
254		- Create a secure moderator page with user authentication at
255		`https://blog.example.com/mod/`. This page could have the option to edit or
256		delete any comment found in `comments.json`.
257		- Create a temporary file, such as `pending_comments.json`, that will store
258		newly-submitted comments and won't display on blog posts until approved by a
259		moderator.
260		- Create a `/modlog/` page with a chronological log, showing which moderator
261		approved which comments and why certain comments were rejected.

content/blog/2021-04-23-php-comment-system.org added +272

		@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-04-23>
	2	#+title: Roll Your Own Static Commenting System in PHP
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Terrible-ness of Commenting Systems
	7
	8	The current state of affairs regarding interactive comment systems is,
	9	well, terrible. It is especially awful if you're a privacy conscious
	10	person who does not generally load third-party scripts or frames on the
	11	websites you visit.
	12
	13	Even further, many comment systems are charging exorbitant fees for
	14	something that should be standard.
	15
	16	Of course, there are some really terrible options:
	17
	18	- Facebook Comments
	19	- Discourse
	20
	21	There are some options that are better but still use too many scripts,
	22	frames, or social integrations on your web page that could impact some
	23	users:
	24
	25	- Disqus
	26	- Isso
	27	- Remark42
	28
	29	Lastly, I looked into a few unique ways of generating blog comments,
	30	such as using Twitter threads or GitHub issues to automatically post
	31	issues. However, these both rely on external third-party sites that I
	32	don't currently use.
	33
	34	* Stay Static with Server-Side Comments
	35
	36	The main issue for my personal use-case is that my blog is completely,
	37	100% static. I use PHP on the back-end but website visitors only see
	38	HTML and a single CSS file. No external javascript and no embedded
	39	frames.
	40
	41	So, how do we keep a site static and still allow users to interact with
	42	blog posts? The key actually pretty simple - I'm already using PHP, so
	43	why not rely on the classic HTML =<form>= and a PHP script to save the
	44	comments somewhere? As it turns out, this was a perfect solution for me.
	45
	46	The second issue for my personal use-case is that I am trying to keep
	47	the contents of my website accessible over time, as described by
	48	[cite/t:@brandur], in his post entitled
	49	[[https://brandur.org/fragments/graceful-degradation-time][Blog with
	50	Markdown + Git, and degrade gracefully through time]] .
	51
	52	This means I cannot rely on a database for comments, since I do not rely
	53	on a database for any other part of my websites.
	54
	55	I blog in plain Markdown files, commit all articles to Git, and ensure
	56	that future readers will be able to see the source data long after I'm
	57	gone, or the website has gone offline. However, I still haven't
	58	committed any images served on my blog to Git, as I'm not entirely sold
	59	on Git LFS yet - for now, images can be found at
	60	[[https://img.cleberg.net][img.cleberg.net]].
	61
	62	Saving my comments back to the Git repository ensures that another
	63	aspect of my site will degrade gracefully.
	64
	65	* Create a Comment Form
	66
	67	Okay, let's get started. The first step is to create an HTML form that
	68	users can see and utilize to submit comments. This is fairly easy and
	69	can be changed depending on your personal preferences.
	70
	71	Take a look at the code block below for the form I currently use. Note
	72	that =<current-url>= is replaced automatically in PHP with the current
	73	post's URL, so that my PHP script used later will know which blog post
	74	the comment is related to.
	75
	76	The form contains the following structure:
	77
	78	1. =<form>= - This is the form and will determine which PHP script to
	79	send the comment to.
	80	2. =<section hidden>= - This section is hidden from the user and is used
	81	to ensure that we know which blog post sent the comment.
	82	3. =<section>= Display Name (Optional) - Used to accept a display name,
	83	if entered.
	84	4. =<section>= Comment (Required) - Used to accept the user's full
	85	comment. Markdown is allowed.
	86	5. =<button>= - A button to submit the form.
	87
	88	#+begin_src html
	89	<form action="/comment.php" method="POST">
	90	<h3>Leave a Comment</h3>
	91	<section hidden>
	92	<label class="form-label" for="postURL">Post URL</label>
	93	<input
	94	class="form-control"
	95	id="postURL"
	96	name="postURL"
	97	type="text"
	98	value="<current-url>"
	99	/>
	100	</section>
	101	<section>
	102	<label class="form-label" for="userName">Display Name</label>
	103	<input
	104	class="form-control"
	105	id="userName"
	106	name="userName"
	107	placeholder="John Doe"
	108	type="text"
	109	/>
	110	</section>
	111	<section>
	112	<label class="form-label" for="userContent">Your Comment</label>
	113	<textarea
	114	class="form-control"
	115	id="userContent"
	116	name="userContent"
	117	rows="3"
	118	placeholder="# Feel free to use Markdown"
	119	aria-describedby="commentHelp"
	120	required
	121	></textarea>
	122	<div id="commentHelp" class="form-text">
	123	Comments are saved as Markdown and cannot be edited or deleted.
	124	</div>
	125	</section>
	126	<button type="submit">Submit</button>
	127	</form>
	128	#+end_src
	129
	130	* Handle Comments via POST
	131
	132	Now that we have a form and can submit comments, we need to create a PHP
	133	script so that the server can fetch the comment data and save it. Make
	134	sure your PHP script name matches the name you entered in the =action=
	135	field in your form.
	136
	137	See the code block below for the contents of my =comment.php= script. We
	138	perform the following tasks in this script:
	139
	140	1. Grab the POST data from the HTML form.
	141	2. Sanitize the comment data with =htmlentities=.
	142	3. Set the display name to =Anonymous= if it was left blank.
	143	4. Create a PHP object that combines all of this data.
	144	5. Check if our destination file =comments.json= exists.
	145	6. If so, convert the PHP object to JSON and save it to the file.
	146	7. If the =comments.json= file does not exist, the script will exit with
	147	an error. You can alter this to ensure it creates the script, but my
	148	source code includes the file by default, so it will always exist.
	149	8. Finally, send the user back to the =#comments= section of the blog
	150	post they just read.
	151
	152	#+begin_src php
	153	// Get the content sent from the comment form
	154	$comment = htmlentities($_POST['userContent']);
	155	$post_url = $_POST['postURL'];
	156
	157	// Set default values if blank
	158	if (isset($_POST['userName']) && trim($_POST['userName']) !== "") {
	159	$username = $_POST['userName'];
	160	} else {
	161	$username = 'Anonymous';
	162	}
	163
	164	// Create an empty PHP object
	165	$user_object = new stdClass();
	166
	167	// Add object content
	168	$user_object->timestamp = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
	169	$user_object->username = $username;
	170	$user_object->comment = $comment;
	171	$user_object->post_url = $post_url;
	172
	173	// Append JSON to file
	174	$file_name = 'comments.json';
	175	if (file_exists($file_name)) {
	176	$source_data = file_get_contents($file_name);
	177	$temp_array = json_decode($source_data);
	178	array_push($temp_array, $user_object);
	179	$json_data = json_encode($temp_array, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
	180	file_put_contents($file_name, $json_data);
	181	} else {
	182	die('Error: The "comments.json" file does not exist.');
	183	}
	184
	185	// Send the user back
	186	header('Location: ' . $post_url . '#comments');
	187	#+end_src
	188
	189	If you're using Apache, make sure the =www-data= user on your server has
	190	the correct permissions to your website directory or else it will not be
	191	able to write to =comments.json=.
	192
	193	#+begin_src sh
	194	chgrp -R www-data /path/to/website/
	195	chmod -R g+w comments.json
	196	#+end_src
	197
	198	* Display User Comments
	199
	200	Now that we can submit comments, and they are saved to the
	201	=comments.json= file, let's make sure we can show those comments in each
	202	blog post.
	203
	204	The code block below shows the function I use to decode my
	205	=comments.json= file, check if the comments apply to the current post,
	206	and then display them.
	207
	208	This piece of code should really be inside a function (or at least in
	209	an organized PHP workflow). Don't just copy-and-paste and expect it to
	210	work. You need to at least supply a =$query= variable depending on the
	211	page visited.
	212
	213	#+begin_src php
	214	$query = 'your-blog-post.html';
	215
	216	// Load saved comments
	217	$comments_file = 'comments.json';
	218	$comments_raw = file_get_contents($comments_file);
	219	$comments = json_decode($comments_raw);
	220	$comment_section = '<section id="comments" class="comments"><h3>Comments</h3>';
	221	foreach ($comments as $comment) {
	222	if ($comment->post_url == "https://example.com/post/" . $query) {
	223	// Assign metadata to variables
	224	$comment_timestamp = $comment->timestamp;
	225	$comment_username = $comment->username;
	226	$comment_content = $comment->comment;
	227
	228	// Parse the comment, in case it contains Markdown
	229	$comment_md = Parsedown::instance()->text($comment_content);
	230	$comment_html = new DOMDocument();
	231	$comment_html->loadHTML($comment_md);
	232	$comment_html_links = $comment_html->getElementsByTagName('a');
	233	foreach ($comment_html_links as $comment_html_link) {
	234	$comment_html_link->setAttribute('rel', 'noreferrer');
	235	$comment_html_link->setAttribute('target', '_blank');
	236	}
	237	$comment_secured_html = $comment_html->saveHTML();
	238
	239	// Apply metadata to comments section
	240	$comment_section .= '<div class="user-comment"><div class="row"><label>Timestamp:</label><p>' . $comment_timestamp . '</p></div><div class="row"><label>Name:</label><p>' . $comment_username . '</p></div><div class="row markdown"><label>Comment:</label><div class="comment-markdown">' . $comment_secured_html . '</div></div></div>';
	241	}
	242	}
	243
	244	echo $comment_section;
	245	#+end_src
	246
	247	* Bonus: Create a 'Recent Comments' Page
	248
	249	Finally, the last part of my current system is to create a Recent
	250	Comments page so that I can easily check-in on my blog and moderate any
	251	spam. As an alternative, you could use PHP's =mail()= function to email
	252	you for each blog comment.
	253
	254	The code to do this is literally the same code as the previous section,
	255	I just make sure it is printed when someone visits
	256	=https://example.com/comments/=.
	257
	258	* Possible Enhancements
	259
	260	This comment system is by no means a fully-developed system. I have
	261	noted a few possible enhancements here that I may implement in the
	262	future:
	263
	264	- Create a secure moderator page with user authentication at
	265	=https://blog.example.com/mod/=. This page could have the option to
	266	edit or delete any comment found in =comments.json=.
	267	- Create a temporary file, such as =pending_comments.json=, that will
	268	store newly-submitted comments and won't display on blog posts until
	269	approved by a moderator.
	270	- Create a =/modlog/= page with a chronological log, showing which
	271	moderator approved which comments and why certain comments were
	272	rejected.

content/blog/2021-04-28-photography.md deleted −68

		@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-04-28
3		title = "Jumping Back Into Photography"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Why Photography?
9
10		I've often wondered why photography is as enticing as it is. You can see
11		billions of people around the world taking photographs every single moment of
12		the day. New technology often boasts about their photographic capabilities,
13		especially smartphones. I would even assume that we live in a world where there
14		is never a moment in which a photograph is not being taken somewhere on Earth.
15
16		As for myself, I would simply say that I enjoy preserving a memory in physical
17		(or digital) form. I've never had the best memory when it comes to recalling
18		details of places and people gone by, so it helps to have a frame of reference
19		lying around.
20
21		Regardless of the reason, I think most people would agree that you simply cannot
22		have too many hobbies.
23
24		# Older Cameras
25
26		I started playing around with the idea of photography when my family purchased a
27		Fujifilm camera for family-specific events. I don't recall the specific model,
28		but I do recall it was a point-and-shoot camera without an interchangeable lens.
29		However, it was of great value to someone, like myself, who couldn't afford any
30		other camera. I took about 10,000 shots with that camera over a 3-5 year span.
31		Most notably, all of my trips to California were documented through this camera.
32
33		When possible, I would borrow my sister's camera, which is a Sony SLT-A58. This
34		camera was great and allowed for some of my best early shots, especially those
35		taken in Utah's and Nevada's parks.
36
37		# My Current Kit
38
39		I've finally come to a point in my life where I have the disposable income to
40		invest in a solid photography kit. I played around with the idea of a lot of
41		different cameras, different types, new vs used, etc. Finally, I settled on the
42		[Sony α7 III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_%CE%B17_III). This camera is
43		mirror-less and uses a full-frame image sensor at 24 megapixels. I don't create
44		large prints, and I am mostly focused on preserving memories in high quality for
45		the next 5-10 years with this camera, so the specifications here are just
46		perfect for me.
47
48		For lenses, I decided to buy two lenses that could carry me through most
49		situations:
50
51		- [Vario-Tessar T\\ FE 24-70 mm F4 ZA
52		OSS](https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/full-frame-e-mount/p/sel2470z)
53		- [Tamron 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 Di III
54		RXD](https://www.tamron-usa.com/product/lenses/a047.html)
55
56		In addition, I grabbed a couple [HGX Prime
57		67mm](https://www.promaster.com/Product/6725) protection filters for the lenses.
58
59		As I delve further into photography and pick up more skills, I will most likely
60		go back and grab a lens with a higher f-stop value, such as f/1.8. I toyed with
61		the idea of grabbing a 50 mm at `f/1.8`, but decided to keep things in a
62		reasonable price range instead.
63
64		Finally, I made sure to buy a photography-specific backpack with a rain guard,
65		and the zipper on the back panel, to protect the equipment while wearing the
66		bag. If you've ever had to haul around a DSLR (or camera of similar heft) in a
67		bag that only has a shoulder strap, you'll know the pain it can cause. Putting
68		all my equipment in a backpack was an easy decision.

content/blog/2021-04-28-photography.org added +71

		@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-04-28>
	2	#+title: Jumping Back Into Photography
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Why Photography?
	7
	8	I've often wondered why photography is as enticing as it is. You can see
	9	billions of people around the world taking photographs every single
	10	moment of the day. New technology often boasts about their photographic
	11	capabilities, especially smartphones. I would even assume that we live
	12	in a world where there is never a moment in which a photograph is not
	13	being taken somewhere on Earth.
	14
	15	As for myself, I would simply say that I enjoy preserving a memory in
	16	physical (or digital) form. I've never had the best memory when it comes
	17	to recalling details of places and people gone by, so it helps to have a
	18	frame of reference lying around.
	19
	20	Regardless of the reason, I think most people would agree that you
	21	simply cannot have too many hobbies.
	22
	23	* Older Cameras
	24
	25	I started playing around with the idea of photography when my family
	26	purchased a Fujifilm camera for family-specific events. I don't recall
	27	the specific model, but I do recall it was a point-and-shoot camera
	28	without an interchangeable lens. However, it was of great value to
	29	someone, like myself, who couldn't afford any other camera. I took about
	30	10,000 shots with that camera over a 3-5 year span. Most notably, all of
	31	my trips to California were documented through this camera.
	32
	33	When possible, I would borrow my sister's camera, which is a Sony
	34	SLT-A58. This camera was great and allowed for some of my best early
	35	shots, especially those taken in Utah's and Nevada's parks.
	36
	37	* My Current Kit
	38
	39	I've finally come to a point in my life where I have the disposable
	40	income to invest in a solid photography kit. I played around with the
	41	idea of a lot of different cameras, different types, new vs used, etc.
	42	Finally, I settled on the
	43	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_%CE%B17_III][Sony α7 III]]. This
	44	camera is mirror-less and uses a full-frame image sensor at 24
	45	megapixels. I don't create large prints, and I am mostly focused on
	46	preserving memories in high quality for the next 5-10 years with this
	47	camera, so the specifications here are just perfect for me.
	48
	49	For lenses, I decided to buy two lenses that could carry me through most
	50	situations:
	51
	52	- [[https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/full-frame-e-mount/p/sel2470z][Vario-Tessar
	53	T** FE 24-70 mm F4 ZA OSS]]
	54	- [[https://www.tamron-usa.com/product/lenses/a047.html][Tamron 70-300mm
	55	f4.5-6.3 Di III RXD]]
	56
	57	In addition, I grabbed a couple
	58	[[https://www.promaster.com/Product/6725][HGX Prime 67mm]] protection
	59	filters for the lenses.
	60
	61	As I delve further into photography and pick up more skills, I will most
	62	likely go back and grab a lens with a higher f-stop value, such as
	63	f/1.8. I toyed with the idea of grabbing a 50 mm at =f/1.8=, but decided
	64	to keep things in a reasonable price range instead.
	65
	66	Finally, I made sure to buy a photography-specific backpack with a rain
	67	guard, and the zipper on the back panel, to protect the equipment while
	68	wearing the bag. If you've ever had to haul around a DSLR (or camera of
	69	similar heft) in a bag that only has a shoulder strap, you'll know the
	70	pain it can cause. Putting all my equipment in a backpack was an easy
	71	decision.

content/blog/2021-05-30-changing-git-authors.md → content/blog/2021-05-30-changing-git-authors.org renamed +26 −28

		@@ -1,33 +1,31 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-05-30
3		title = "Changing Git Authors"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Changing Git Author/Email Based on Previously Committed Email
9
10		Here's the dilemma: You've been committing changes to your git repository with
11		an incorrect name or email (or multiple repositories), and now you want to fix
12		it. Luckily, there's a semi-reliable way to fix that. While I have never
13		experienced issues with this method, some people have warned that it can mess
14		with historical hashes and integrity of commits, so use this method only if
15		you're okay accepting that risk.
	1	#+date: <2021-05-30>
	2	#+title: Changing Git Authors
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Changing Git Author/Email Based on Previously Committed Email
	7
	8	Here's the dilemma: You've been committing changes to your git
	9	repository with an incorrect name or email (or multiple repositories),
	10	and now you want to fix it. Luckily, there's a semi-reliable way to fix
	11	that. While I have never experienced issues with this method, some
	12	people have warned that it can mess with historical hashes and integrity
	13	of commits, so use this method only if you're okay accepting that risk.
16	14
17	15	Okay, let's create the bash script:
18	16
19		```sh
	17	#+begin_src sh
20	18	nano change_git_authors.sh
21		```
	19	#+end_src
22	20
23		The following information can be pasted directly into your bash script. The only
24		changes you need to make are to the following variables:
	21	The following information can be pasted directly into your bash script.
	22	The only changes you need to make are to the following variables:
25	23
26		- `OLD_EMAIL`
27		- `CORRECT_NAME`
28		- `CORRECT_EMAIL`
	24	- =OLD_EMAIL=
	25	- =CORRECT_NAME=
	26	- =CORRECT_EMAIL=
29	27
30		```sh
	28	#+begin_src sh
31	29	#!/bin/sh
32	30
33	31	# List all sub-directories in the current directory
		@@ -60,16 +58,16 @@ do
60	58
61	59	cd ..
62	60	done
63		```
	61	#+end_src
64	62
65	63	Finally, save the bash script and make it executable.
66	64
67		```sh
	65	#+begin_src sh
68	66	chmod a+x change_git_authors.sh
69		```
	67	#+end_src
70	68
71	69	Now you can run the script and should see the process begin.
72	70
73		```sh
	71	#+begin_src sh
74	72	./change_git_authors.sh
75		```
	73	#+end_src

content/blog/2021-07-15-delete-gitlab-repos.md → content/blog/2021-07-15-delete-gitlab-repos.org renamed +41 −42

		@@ -1,53 +1,51 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-07-15
3		title = "How t oDelete All GitLab Repositories"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2021-07-15>
	2	#+title: How to Delete All GitLab Repositories
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Background
9	5
10		Have you ever used GitLab to host your source code, moved to a different host,
11		and wanted to delete everything from your GitLab account? Well, this post covers
12		any scenario where you would want to delete all repositories from your GitLab
13		account.
	6	* Background
14	7
15		For me, I currently maintain around 30 repositories and don't like to manually
16		delete them whenever I switch host. GitHub has a few different tools online to
17		delete all repositories for you, but I have not found anything similar for
18		GitLab, so I needed an alternative solution.
	8	Have you ever used GitLab to host your source code, moved to a different
	9	host, and wanted to delete everything from your GitLab account? Well,
	10	this post covers any scenario where you would want to delete all
	11	repositories from your GitLab account.
19	12
20		# Use a Python Script
	13	For me, I currently maintain around 30 repositories and don't like to
	14	manually delete them whenever I switch host. GitHub has a few different
	15	tools online to delete all repositories for you, but I have not found
	16	anything similar for GitLab, so I needed an alternative solution.
21	17
22		## Requirements
	18	* Use a Python Script
23	19
24		Before we look at the script, make sure you know your GitLab username. Next,
25		[create an authorization
26		token](https://gitlab.com/-/profile/personal_access_tokens) so that the Python
27		script can delete your repositories. Don't lose this token or else you'll need
28		to create a new one.
	20	** Requirements
29	21
30		## Create the Script
	22	Before we look at the script, make sure you know your GitLab username.
	23	Next, [[https://gitlab.com/-/profile/personal_access_tokens][create an
	24	authorization token]] so that the Python script can delete your
	25	repositories. Don't lose this token or else you'll need to create a new
	26	one.
31	27
32		To run a Python script, you must first create it. Open a terminal and enter the
33		following commands in whichever directory you prefer to store the script. You
34		can do the same things in a file manager if you prefer.
	28	** Create the Script
35	29
36		```sh
	30	To run a Python script, you must first create it. Open a terminal and
	31	enter the following commands in whichever directory you prefer to store
	32	the script. You can do the same things in a file manager if you prefer.
	33
	34	#+begin_src sh
37	35	mkdir delete-gitlab
38		```
	36	#+end_src
39	37
40		```sh
	38	#+begin_src sh
41	39	cd delete-gitlab
42		```
	40	#+end_src
43	41
44		```sh
	42	#+begin_src sh
45	43	nano main.py
46		```
	44	#+end_src
47	45
48		Enter the following code into your `main.py` script.
	46	Enter the following code into your =main.py= script.
49	47
50		```python
	48	#+begin_src python
51	49	import request
52	50	import json
53	51
		@@ -101,15 +99,16 @@ def main():
101	99
102	100	if __name__ == "__main__":
103	101	main()
104		```
	102	#+end_src
105	103
106		Now that you have the proper information, replace `{user-id}` with your GitLab
107		username and `{auth-token}` with the authorization token you created earlier.
	104	Now that you have the proper information, replace ={user-id}= with your
	105	GitLab username and ={auth-token}= with the authorization token you
	106	created earlier.
108	107
109		Finally, simply run the script and watch the output. You can also use PyCharm
110		Community Edition to edit and run the Python script if you don't want to work in
111		a terminal.
	108	Finally, simply run the script and watch the output. You can also use
	109	PyCharm Community Edition to edit and run the Python script if you don't
	110	want to work in a terminal.
112	111
113		```sh
	112	#+begin_src sh
114	113	python3 main.py
115		```
	114	#+end_src

content/blog/2021-08-25-audit-sampling.md → content/blog/2021-08-25-audit-sampling.org renamed +126 −124

		@@ -1,52 +1,51 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-08-25
3		title = "Audit Sampling with Python"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2021-08-25>
	2	#+title: Audit Sampling with Python
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Introduction
	5
	6	* Introduction
9	7
10	8	For anyone who is familiar with internal auditing, external auditing, or
11		consulting, you will understand how tedious audit testing can become when you
12		are required to test large swaths of data. When we cannot establish an automated
13		means of testing an entire population, we generate samples to represent the
14		population of data. This helps ensure we can have a small enough data pool to
15		test and that our results still represent the population.
16
17		However, sampling data within the world of audit still seems to confuse quite a
18		lot of people. While some audit-focused tools have introduced sampling
19		functionality (e.g. Wdesk), many audit departments and firms cannot use software
20		like this due to certain constraints, such as the team's budget or knowledge.
21		Here is where this article comes in: we're going to use
22		[Python](https://www.python.org), a free and open-source programming language,
23		to generate random samples from a dataset in order to suffice numerous audit
24		situations.
25
26		# Audit Requirements for Sampling
27
28		Before we get into the details of how to sample with Python, I want to make sure
29		I discuss the different requirements that auditors may have of samples used
30		within their projects.
31
32		## Randomness
33
34		First, let's discuss randomness. When testing out new technology to help assist
35		with audit sampling, you need to understand exactly how your samples are being
36		generated. For example, if the underlying function is just picking every 57th
37		element from a list, that's not truly random; it's a systematic form of
38		sampling. Luckily, since Python is open-source, we have access to its codebase.
39		Through this blog post, I will be using the [pandas](https://pandas.pydata.org)
40		module in order to generate the random samples. More specifically, I will be
41		using the
42		[pandas.DataFrame.sample](https://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/stable/reference/api/pandas.DataFrame.sample.html)
	9	consulting, you will understand how tedious audit testing can become
	10	when you are required to test large swaths of data. When we cannot
	11	establish an automated means of testing an entire population, we
	12	generate samples to represent the population of data. This helps ensure
	13	we can have a small enough data pool to test and that our results still
	14	represent the population.
	15
	16	However, sampling data within the world of audit still seems to confuse
	17	quite a lot of people. While some audit-focused tools have introduced
	18	sampling functionality (e.g. Wdesk), many audit departments and firms
	19	cannot use software like this due to certain constraints, such as the
	20	team's budget or knowledge. Here is where this article comes in: we're
	21	going to use [[https://www.python.org][Python]], a free and open-source
	22	programming language, to generate random samples from a dataset in order
	23	to suffice numerous audit situations.
	24
	25	* Audit Requirements for Sampling
	26
	27	Before we get into the details of how to sample with Python, I want to
	28	make sure I discuss the different requirements that auditors may have of
	29	samples used within their projects.
	30
	31	** Randomness
	32
	33	First, let's discuss randomness. When testing out new technology to help
	34	assist with audit sampling, you need to understand exactly how your
	35	samples are being generated. For example, if the underlying function is
	36	just picking every 57th element from a list, that's not truly random;
	37	it's a systematic form of sampling. Luckily, since Python is
	38	open-source, we have access to its codebase. Through this blog post, I
	39	will be using the [[https://pandas.pydata.org][pandas]] module in order
	40	to generate the random samples. More specifically, I will be using the
	41	[[https://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/stable/reference/api/pandas.DataFrame.sample.html][pandas.DataFrame.sample]]
43	42	function provided by Pandas.
44	43
45		Now that you know what you're using, you can always check out the code behind
46		`pandas.DataFrame.sample`. This function does a lot of work, but we really only
47		care about the following snippets of code:
	44	Now that you know what you're using, you can always check out the code
	45	behind =pandas.DataFrame.sample=. This function does a lot of work, but
	46	we really only care about the following snippets of code:
48	47
49		```python
	48	#+begin_src python
50	49	# Process random_state argument
51	50	rs = com.random_state(random_state)
52	51
		@@ -58,62 +57,65 @@ if ignore_index:
58	57	result.index = ibase.default_index(len(result))
59	58
60	59	return result
61		```
62
63		The block of code above shows you that if you assign a `random_state` argument
64		when you run the function, that will be used as a seed number in the random
65		generation and will allow you to reproduce a sample, given that nothing else
66		changes. This is critical to the posterity of audit work. After all, how can you
67		say your audit process is adequately documented if the next person can't run the
68		code and get the same sample? The final piece here on randomness is to look at
69		the [choice](https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html#random.choice)
70		function used above. This is the crux of the generation and can also be examined
71		for more detailed analysis on its reliability. As far as auditing goes, we will
72		trust that these functions are mathematically random.
73
74		## Sample Sizes
75
76		As mentioned in the intro, sampling is only an effective method of auditing when
77		it truly represents the entire population. While some audit departments or firms
78		may consider certain judgmental sample sizes to be adequate, you may need to
79		rely on statistically-significant confidence levels of sample testing at certain
80		points. I will demonstrate both here. For statistically-significant confidence
81		levels, most people will assume a 90% - 99% confidence level. In order to
82		actually calculate the correct sample size, it is best to use statistical tools
83		due to the tedious math work required. For example, for a population of 1000,
84		and a 90% confidence level that no more than 5% of the items are nonconforming,
85		you would sample 45 items.
86
87		However, in my personal experience, many audit departments and firms do not use
88		statistical sampling. Most people use a predetermined, often proprietary, table
89		that will instruct auditors which sample sizes to choose. This allows for
90		uniform testing and reduces overall workload. See the table below for a common
91		implementation of sample sizes:
	60	#+end_src
	61
	62	The block of code above shows you that if you assign a =random_state=
	63	argument when you run the function, that will be used as a seed number
	64	in the random generation and will allow you to reproduce a sample, given
	65	that nothing else changes. This is critical to the posterity of audit
	66	work. After all, how can you say your audit process is adequately
	67	documented if the next person can't run the code and get the same
	68	sample? The final piece here on randomness is to look at the
	69	[[https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html#random.choice][choice]]
	70	function used above. This is the crux of the generation and can also be
	71	examined for more detailed analysis on its reliability. As far as
	72	auditing goes, we will trust that these functions are mathematically
	73	random.
	74
	75	** Sample Sizes
	76
	77	As mentioned in the intro, sampling is only an effective method of
	78	auditing when it truly represents the entire population. While some
	79	audit departments or firms may consider certain judgmental sample sizes
	80	to be adequate, you may need to rely on statistically-significant
	81	confidence levels of sample testing at certain points. I will
	82	demonstrate both here. For statistically-significant confidence levels,
	83	most people will assume a 90% - 99% confidence level. In order to
	84	actually calculate the correct sample size, it is best to use
	85	statistical tools due to the tedious math work required. For example,
	86	for a population of 1000, and a 90% confidence level that no more than
	87	5% of the items are nonconforming, you would sample 45 items.
	88
	89	However, in my personal experience, many audit departments and firms do
	90	not use statistical sampling. Most people use a predetermined, often
	91	proprietary, table that will instruct auditors which sample sizes to
	92	choose. This allows for uniform testing and reduces overall workload.
	93	See the table below for a common implementation of sample sizes:
92	94
93	95	Control Frequency Sample Size - High Risk Sample Size - Low Risk
94	96
95		---
	97	--------------
96	98
97	99	More Than Daily 40 25 Daily 40 25 Weekly 12 5 Monthly 5 3 Quarterly 2 2
98	100	Semi-Annually 1 1 Annually 1 1 Ad-hoc 1 1
99	101
100		### Sampling with Python & Pandas
	102	*** Sampling with Python & Pandas
101	103
102		In this section, I am going to cover a few basic audit situations that require
103		sampling. While some situations may require more effort, the syntax,
104		organization, and intellect used remain largely the same. If you've never used
105		Python before, note that lines starting with a '`#`' symbol are called comments,
106		and they will be skipped by Python. I highly recommend taking a quick tutorial
107		online to understand the basics of Python if any of the code below is confusing
108		to you.
	104	In this section, I am going to cover a few basic audit situations that
	105	require sampling. While some situations may require more effort, the
	106	syntax, organization, and intellect used remain largely the same. If
	107	you've never used Python before, note that lines starting with a '=#='
	108	symbol are called comments, and they will be skipped by Python. I highly
	109	recommend taking a quick tutorial online to understand the basics of
	110	Python if any of the code below is confusing to you.
109	111
110		## Simple Random Sample
	112	** Simple Random Sample
111	113
112		First, let's look at a simple, random sample. The code block below will import
113		the `pandas` module, load a data file, sample the data, and export the sample to
114		a file.
	114	First, let's look at a simple, random sample. The code block below will
	115	import the =pandas= module, load a data file, sample the data, and
	116	export the sample to a file.
115	117
116		```python
	118	#+begin_src python
117	119	# Import the Pandas module
118	120	import pandas
119	121
		@@ -131,14 +133,14 @@ sample = df.sample(n=25, random_state=0)
131	133
132	134	# Save the sample to Excel
133	135	sample.to_excel(file_output)
134		```
	136	#+end_src
135	137
136		## Simple Random Sample: Using Multiple Input Files
	138	** Simple Random Sample: Using Multiple Input Files
137	139
138		Now that we've created a simple sample, let's create a sample from multiple
139		files.
	140	Now that we've created a simple sample, let's create a sample from
	141	multiple files.
140	142
141		```python
	143	#+begin_src python
142	144	# Import the Pandas module
143	145	import pandas
144	146
		@@ -165,15 +167,15 @@ sample = pandas.concat([sample_01, sample_02, sample_03], ignore_index=True)
165	167
166	168	# Save the sample to Excel
167	169	sample.to_excel(file_output)
168		```
	170	#+end_src
169	171
170		## Stratified Random Sample
	172	** Stratified Random Sample
171	173
172		Well, what if you need to sample distinct parts of a single file? For example,
173		let's write some code to separate our data by "Region" and sample those regions
174		independently.
	174	Well, what if you need to sample distinct parts of a single file? For
	175	example, let's write some code to separate our data by "Region" and
	176	sample those regions independently.
175	177
176		```python
	178	#+begin_src python
177	179	# Import the Pandas module
178	180	import pandas
179	181
		@@ -199,16 +201,16 @@ sample = pandas.concat([sample_east, sample_west], ignore_index=True)
199	201
200	202	# Save the sample to Excel
201	203	sample.to_excel(file_output)
202		```
	204	#+end_src
203	205
204		## Stratified Systematic Sample
	206	** Stratified Systematic Sample
205	207
206		This next example is quite useful if you need audit coverage over a certain time
207		period. This code will generate samples for each month in the data and combine
208		them all together at the end. Obviously, this code can be modified to stratify
209		by something other than months, if needed.
	208	This next example is quite useful if you need audit coverage over a
	209	certain time period. This code will generate samples for each month in
	210	the data and combine them all together at the end. Obviously, this code
	211	can be modified to stratify by something other than months, if needed.
210	212
211		```python
	213	#+begin_src python
212	214	# Import the Pandas module
213	215	import pandas
214	216
		@@ -248,21 +250,21 @@ def monthly_stratified_sample(df: pandas.DataFrame, date_column: str, num_select
248	250	sample_size = 3
249	251	sample = monthly_stratified_sample(df, 'Date of Sale', sample_size)
250	252	sample.to_excel(file_output)
251		```
252
253		### Documenting the Results
254
255		Once you've generated a proper sample, there are a few things left to do in
256		order to properly ensure your process is reproducible.
257
258		1. Document the sample. Make sure the resulting file is readable and includes
259		the documentation listed in the next bullet.
260		2. Include documentation around the data source, extraction techniques, any
261		modifications made to the data, and be sure to include a copy of the script
262		itself.
263		3. Whenever possible, perform a completeness and accuracy test to ensure your
264		sample is coming from a complete and accurate population. To ensure
265		completeness, compare the record count from the data source to the record
266		count loaded into Python. To ensure accuracy, test a small sample against the
267		source data (e.g., test 5 sales against the database to see if the details
268		are accurate).
	253	#+end_src
	254
	255	*** Documenting the Results
	256
	257	Once you've generated a proper sample, there are a few things left to do
	258	in order to properly ensure your process is reproducible.
	259
	260	1. Document the sample. Make sure the resulting file is readable and
	261	includes the documentation listed in the next bullet.
	262	2. Include documentation around the data source, extraction techniques,
	263	any modifications made to the data, and be sure to include a copy of
	264	the script itself.
	265	3. Whenever possible, perform a completeness and accuracy test to ensure
	266	your sample is coming from a complete and accurate population. To
	267	ensure completeness, compare the record count from the data source to
	268	the record count loaded into Python. To ensure accuracy, test a small
	269	sample against the source data (e.g., test 5 sales against the
	270	database to see if the details are accurate).

content/blog/2021-10-09-apache-redirect.md deleted −45

		@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-10-09
3		title = "Apache Redirect HTML Files to a Directory"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Problem
9
10		After recently switching static site generators (SSG), my blog URLs changed with
11		no option to preserve the classic `.html` extension at the end of my blog post
12		URLs.
13
14		I really disliked using my old SSG ([Jekyll](https://jekyllrb.com)) and prefer
15		my new tool ([Zola](https://www.getzola.org)) much more, so I was determined to
16		figure out a way to get the proper redirect set up so that people who find my
17		posts online aren't constantly met by 404 errors.
18
19		# The Solution
20
21		To solve this problem, I really needed to solve two pieces:
22
23		1. Redirect all blog post URL requests from `/blog/some-post.html` to
24		`/blog/some-post/`.
25		2. Ensure that no other `.html` files are redirected, such as `index.html`.
26
27		After _a lot_ of tweaking and testing, I believe I have finally found the
28		solution. The solution is shown below.
29
30		```conf
31		RewriteEngine On
32		RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !\index.html$ [NC]
33		RewriteRule ^(.*).html$ https://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
34		```
35
36		This piece of code in the Apache `.conf` or `.htaccess` file will do the
37		following:
38
39		1. Turn on the RewriteEngine so that we can modify URLs.
40		2. Ignore any `index.html` files from the rule we are about to specify.
41		3. Find any `.html` files within the website directory and redirect it to
42		exclude the file extension.
43		4. The final piece is adding the trailing slash (`/`) at the end of the URL -
44		you'll notice that I don't have an Apache rule for that since Apache handles
45		that automatically.

content/blog/2021-10-09-apache-redirect.org added +45

		@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-10-09>
	2	#+title: Apache Redirect HTML Files to a Directory
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Problem
	7
	8	After recently switching static site generators (SSG), my blog URLs
	9	changed with no option to preserve the classic =.html= extension at the
	10	end of my blog post URLs.
	11
	12	I really disliked using my old SSG ([[https://jekyllrb.com][Jekyll]])
	13	and prefer my new tool ([[https://www.getzola.org][Zola]]) much more, so
	14	I was determined to figure out a way to get the proper redirect set up
	15	so that people who find my posts online aren't constantly met by 404
	16	errors.
	17
	18	* The Solution
	19
	20	To solve this problem, I really needed to solve two pieces:
	21
	22	1. Redirect all blog post URL requests from =/blog/some-post.html= to
	23	=/blog/some-post/=.
	24	2. Ensure that no other =.html= files are redirected, such as
	25	=index.html=.
	26
	27	After /a lot/ of tweaking and testing, I believe I have finally found
	28	the solution. The solution is shown below.
	29
	30	#+begin_src conf
	31	RewriteEngine On
	32	RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !\index.html$ [NC]
	33	RewriteRule ^(.*).html$ https://example.com/$1 [R=301,L]
	34	#+end_src
	35
	36	This piece of code in the Apache =.conf= or =.htaccess= file will do the
	37	following:
	38
	39	1. Turn on the RewriteEngine so that we can modify URLs.
	40	2. Ignore any =index.html= files from the rule we are about to specify.
	41	3. Find any =.html= files within the website directory and redirect it
	42	to exclude the file extension.
	43	4. The final piece is adding the trailing slash (=/=) at the end of the
	44	URL - you'll notice that I don't have an Apache rule for that since
	45	Apache handles that automatically.

content/blog/2021-12-04-cisa.md deleted −193

		@@ -1,193 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2021-12-04
3		title = "I Passed the CISA!"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is the CISA?
9
10		For those of you lucky enough not to be knee-deep in the world of IT/IS
11		Auditing, [CISA](https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa) stands for Certified
12		Information Systems Auditor. This certification and exam are part of ISACA's
13		suite of certifications. As I often explain it to people like my family, it
14		basically means you're employed to use your knowledge of information systems,
15		regulations, common threats, risks, etc. in order to assess an organization's
16		current control of their risk. If a risk isn't controlled (and the company
17		doesn't want to accept the risk), an IS auditor will suggest implementing a
18		control to address that risk.
19
20		Now, the CISA certification itself is, in my opinion, the main certification for
21		this career. While certifications such as the CPA or CISSP are beneficial,
22		nothing matches the power of the CISA for an IS auditor when it comes to getting
23		hired, getting a raise/bonus, or earning respect in the field.
24
25		However, to be honest, I am a skeptic of most certifications. I understand the
26		value they hold in terms of how much you need to commit to studying or learning
27		on the job, as well as the market value for certifications such as the CISA. But
28		I also have known some very ~~incompetent~~ _less than stellar_ auditors who
29		have CPAs, CISAs, CIAs, etc.
30
31		The same goes for most industries: if a person is good at studying, they can
32		earn the certification. However, that knowledge means nothing unless you're
33		actually able to use it in real life and perform as expected of a certification
34		holder. The challenge comes when people are hired or connected strictly because
35		of their certifications or resume; you need to see a person work before you can
36		assume them having a CISA means they're better than someone without the CISA.
37
38		Okay, rant over. Certifications are generally accepted as a measuring stick of
39		commitment and quality of an employee, so I am accepting it too.
40
41		# Exam Content
42
43		The CISA is broken down into five sections, each weighted with a percentage of
44		test questions that may appear.
45
46		Since the exam contains 150 questions, here's how those sections break down:
47
48		\| Exam Section \| Percentage of Exam \| Questions \|
49		\| --------------- \| ------------------ \| --------- \|
50		\| 1 \| 21% \| 32 \|
51		\| 2 \| 17% \| 26 \|
52		\| 3 \| 12% \| 18 \|
53		\| 4 \| 23% \| 34 \|
54		\| 5 \| 27% \| 40 \|
55		\| Grand Total \| 100% \| 150 \|
56
57		# My Studying Habits
58
59		This part is a little hard for me to break down into specific detail due to the
60		craziness of the last year. While I officially purchased my studying materials
61		in December 2020 and opened them to "start studying" in January 2021, I really
62		wasn't able to study much due to the demands of my job and personal life.
63
64		Let me approach this from a few different viewpoints.
65
66		## Study Materials
67
68		Let's start by discussing the study materials I purchased. I'll be referring to
69		#1 as the CRM and #2 as the QAE.
70
71		1. [CISA Review Manual, 27th Edition \|
72		Print](https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2S4w000004KoCbEAK)
73		2. [CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 12th Edition \|
74		Print](https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2S4w000004KoCcEAK)
75
76		The CRM is an excellent source of information and could honestly be used as a
77		reference for most IS auditors as a learning reference during their daily audit
78		responsibilities. However, it is full of information and can be overloading
79		if you're not good at filtering out useless information while studying.
80
81		The QAE is the real star of the show here. This book contains 1000 questions,
82		separated by exam section, and a practice exam. My only complaint about the QAE
83		is that each question is immediately followed with the correct answer and
84		explanations below it, which means I had to use something to constantly cover
85		the answers while I was studying.
86
87		I didn't use the online database version of the QAE, but I've heard that it's
88		easier to use than the printed book. However, it is more expensive ($299
89		database vs $129 book) which might be important if you're paying for materials
90		yourself.
91
92		In terms of question difficulty, I felt that the QAE was a good representation
93		of the actual exam. I've seen a lot of people online say it wasn't accurate to
94		the exam or that it was much easier/harder, but I disagree with all of those.
95		The exam was fairly similar to the QAE, just focusing on whichever topics they
96		chose for my version of the exam.
97
98		If you understand the concepts, skim the CRM (and read in-depth on topics you
99		struggle with), and use the QAE to continue practicing exam-like questions, you
100		should be fine. I didn't use any online courses, videos, etc. - the ISACA
101		materials are more than enough.
102
103		## Studying Process
104
105		While I was able to briefly read through sections 1 and 2 in early 2021, I had
106		to stop and take a break from February/March to September. I switched jobs in
107		September, which allowed me a lot more free time to study.
108
109		In September, I studied sections 3-5, took notes, and did a quick review of the
110		section topics. Once I felt comfortable with my notes, I took a practice exam
111		from the QAE manual and scored 70% (105/150).
112
113		Here's a breakdown of my initial practice exam:
114
115		\| Exam Section \| Incorrect \| Correct \| Grand Total \| Percent \|
116		\| --------------- \| --------- \| ------- \| ----------- \| ------- \|
117		\| 1 \| 8 \| 25 \| 33 \| 76% \|
118		\| 2 \| 5 \| 20 \| 25 \| 80% \|
119		\| 3 \| 6 \| 12 \| 18 \| 67% \|
120		\| 4 \| 10 \| 23 \| 33 \| 70% \|
121		\| 5 \| 16 \| 25 \| 41 \| 61% \|
122		\| Grand Total \| 45 \| 105 \| 150 \| 70% \|
123
124		As I expected, my toughest sections were related to project management,
125		development, implementation, and security.
126
127		This just leaves October and November. For these months, I tried to practice
128		every few days, doing 10 questions for each section, until the exam. This came
129		out to 13 practice sessions, ~140 questions per section, and ~700 questions
130		total.
131
132		While some practice sessions were worse and some were better, the final results
133		were similar to my practice exam results. As you can see below, my averages were
134		slightly worse than my practice exam. However, I got in over 700 questions of
135		practice and, most importantly, _I read through the explanations every time I
136		answered incorrectly and learned from my mistakes_.
137
138		\| Exam Section \| Incorrect \| Correct \| Grand Total \| Percent \|
139		\| --------------- \| --------- \| ------- \| ----------- \| ------- \|
140		\| 1 \| 33 \| 108 \| 141 \| 77% \|
141		\| 2 \| 33 \| 109 \| 142 \| 77% \|
142		\| 3 \| 55 \| 89 \| 144 \| 62% \|
143		\| 4 \| 52 \| 88 \| 140 \| 63% \|
144		\| 5 \| 55 \| 85 \| 140 \| 61% \|
145		\| Grand Total \| 228 \| 479 \| 707 \| 68% \|
146
147		# Results
148
149		Now, how do the practice scores reflect my actual results? After all, it's hard
150		to tell how good a practice regimen is unless you see how it turns out.
151
152		\| Exam Section \| Section Name \| Score \|
153		\| ------------ \| ---------------------------------------------------------------- \| ----- \|
154		\| 1 \| Information Systems Auditing Process \| 678 \|
155		\| 2 \| Governance and Management of IT \| 590 \|
156		\| 3 \| Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation \| 721 \|
157		\| 4 \| Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience \| 643 \|
158		\| 5 \| Protection of Information Assets \| 511 \|
159
160		Now, in order to pass the CISA, you need at least 450 on a sliding scale of
161		200-800. Personally, I really have no clue what an average CISA score is. After
162		a _very_ brief look online, I can see that the high end is usually in the low
163		700s. In addition, only about 50-60% of people pass the exam.
164
165		Given this information, I feel great about my scores. 616 may not be phenomenal,
166		and I wish I had done better on sections 2 & 5, but my practicing seems to have
167		worked very well overall.
168
169		However, the practice results do not conform to the actual results. Section 2
170		was one of my highest practice sections and was my second-lowest score in the
171		exam. Conversely, section 3 was my second-lowest practice section and turned out
172		to be my highest actual score!
173
174		After reflecting, it is obvious that if you have any background on the CISA
175		topics at all, the most important part of studying is doing practice questions.
176		You really need to understand how to read the questions critically and pick the
177		best answer.
178
179		# Looking Forward
180
181		I am extremely happy that I was finally able to pass the CISA. Looking to the
182		future, I'm not sure what's next in terms of professional learning. My current
183		company offers internal learning courses, so I will most likely focus on that if
184		I need to gain more knowledge in certain areas.
185
186		To be fair, even if you pass the CISA, it's hard to become an expert on any
187		specific topic found within. My career may take me in a different direction, and
188		I might need to focus more on security or networking certifications (or possibly
189		building a better analysis/visualization portfolio if I want to go into data
190		analysis/science).
191
192		All I know is that I am content at the moment and extremely proud of my
193		accomplishment.

content/blog/2021-12-04-cisa.org added +205

		@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
	1	#+date: <2021-12-04>
	2	#+title: I Passed the CISA!
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is the CISA?
	7
	8	For those of you lucky enough not to be knee-deep in the world of IT/IS
	9	Auditing, [[https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa][CISA]] stands for
	10	Certified Information Systems Auditor. This certification and exam are
	11	part of ISACA's suite of certifications. As I often explain it to people
	12	like my family, it basically means you're employed to use your knowledge
	13	of information systems, regulations, common threats, risks, etc. in
	14	order to assess an organization's current control of their risk. If a
	15	risk isn't controlled (and the company doesn't want to accept the risk),
	16	an IS auditor will suggest implementing a control to address that risk.
	17
	18	Now, the CISA certification itself is, in my opinion, the main
	19	certification for this career. While certifications such as the CPA or
	20	CISSP are beneficial, nothing matches the power of the CISA for an IS
	21	auditor when it comes to getting hired, getting a raise/bonus, or
	22	earning respect in the field.
	23
	24	However, to be honest, I am a skeptic of most certifications. I
	25	understand the value they hold in terms of how much you need to commit
	26	to studying or learning on the job, as well as the market value for
	27	certifications such as the CISA. But I also have known some very
	28	+incompetent+ /less than stellar/ auditors who have CPAs, CISAs, CIAs,
	29	etc.
	30
	31	The same goes for most industries: if a person is good at studying, they
	32	can earn the certification. However, that knowledge means nothing unless
	33	you're actually able to use it in real life and perform as expected of a
	34	certification holder. The challenge comes when people are hired or
	35	connected strictly because of their certifications or resume; you need
	36	to see a person work before you can assume them having a CISA means
	37	they're better than someone without the CISA.
	38
	39	Okay, rant over. Certifications are generally accepted as a measuring
	40	stick of commitment and quality of an employee, so I am accepting it
	41	too.
	42
	43	* Exam Content
	44
	45	The CISA is broken down into five sections, each weighted with a
	46	percentage of test questions that may appear.
	47
	48	Since the exam contains 150 questions, here's how those sections break
	49	down:
	50
	51	\| Exam Section \| Percentage of Exam \| Questions \|
	52	\|---------------+--------------------+-----------\|
	53	\| 1 \| 21% \| 32 \|
	54	\| 2 \| 17% \| 26 \|
	55	\| 3 \| 12% \| 18 \|
	56	\| 4 \| 23% \| 34 \|
	57	\| 5 \| 27% \| 40 \|
	58	\| Grand Total \| 100% \| 150 \|
	59
	60	* My Studying Habits
	61
	62	This part is a little hard for me to break down into specific detail due
	63	to the craziness of the last year. While I officially purchased my
	64	studying materials in December 2020 and opened them to "start studying"
	65	in January 2021, I really wasn't able to study much due to the demands
	66	of my job and personal life.
	67
	68	Let me approach this from a few different viewpoints.
	69
	70	** Study Materials
	71
	72	Let's start by discussing the study materials I purchased. I'll be
	73	referring to #1 as the CRM and #2 as the QAE.
	74
	75	1. [[https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2S4w000004KoCbEAK][CISA
	76	Review Manual, 27th Edition \| Print]]
	77	2. [[https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2S4w000004KoCcEAK][CISA
	78	Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual, 12th Edition \|
	79	Print]]
	80
	81	The CRM is an excellent source of information and could honestly be used
	82	as a reference for most IS auditors as a learning reference during their
	83	daily audit responsibilities. However, it is full of information and
	84	can be overloading if you're not good at filtering out useless
	85	information while studying.
	86
	87	The QAE is the real star of the show here. This book contains 1000
	88	questions, separated by exam section, and a practice exam. My only
	89	complaint about the QAE is that each question is immediately followed
	90	with the correct answer and explanations below it, which means I had to
	91	use something to constantly cover the answers while I was studying.
	92
	93	I didn't use the online database version of the QAE, but I've heard that
	94	it's easier to use than the printed book. However, it is more expensive
	95	($299 database vs $129 book) which might be important if you're paying
	96	for materials yourself.
	97
	98	In terms of question difficulty, I felt that the QAE was a good
	99	representation of the actual exam. I've seen a lot of people online say
	100	it wasn't accurate to the exam or that it was much easier/harder, but I
	101	disagree with all of those. The exam was fairly similar to the QAE, just
	102	focusing on whichever topics they chose for my version of the exam.
	103
	104	If you understand the concepts, skim the CRM (and read in-depth on
	105	topics you struggle with), and use the QAE to continue practicing
	106	exam-like questions, you should be fine. I didn't use any online
	107	courses, videos, etc. - the ISACA materials are more than enough.
	108
	109	** Studying Process
	110
	111	While I was able to briefly read through sections 1 and 2 in early 2021,
	112	I had to stop and take a break from February/March to September. I
	113	switched jobs in September, which allowed me a lot more free time to
	114	study.
	115
	116	In September, I studied sections 3-5, took notes, and did a quick review
	117	of the section topics. Once I felt comfortable with my notes, I took a
	118	practice exam from the QAE manual and scored 70% (105/150).
	119
	120	Here's a breakdown of my initial practice exam:
	121
	122	\| Exam Section \| Incorrect \| Correct \| Grand Total \| Percent \|
	123	\|---------------+-----------+---------+-------------+---------\|
	124	\| 1 \| 8 \| 25 \| 33 \| 76% \|
	125	\| 2 \| 5 \| 20 \| 25 \| 80% \|
	126	\| 3 \| 6 \| 12 \| 18 \| 67% \|
	127	\| 4 \| 10 \| 23 \| 33 \| 70% \|
	128	\| 5 \| 16 \| 25 \| 41 \| 61% \|
	129	\| Grand Total \| 45 \| 105 \| 150 \| 70% \|
	130
	131	As I expected, my toughest sections were related to project management,
	132	development, implementation, and security.
	133
	134	This just leaves October and November. For these months, I tried to
	135	practice every few days, doing 10 questions for each section, until the
	136	exam. This came out to 13 practice sessions, ~140 questions per section,
	137	and ~700 questions total.
	138
	139	While some practice sessions were worse and some were better, the final
	140	results were similar to my practice exam results. As you can see below,
	141	my averages were slightly worse than my practice exam. However, I got in
	142	over 700 questions of practice and, most importantly, /I read through
	143	the explanations every time I answered incorrectly and learned from my
	144	mistakes/.
	145
	146	\| Exam Section \| Incorrect \| Correct \| Grand Total \| Percent \|
	147	\|---------------+-----------+---------+-------------+---------\|
	148	\| 1 \| 33 \| 108 \| 141 \| 77% \|
	149	\| 2 \| 33 \| 109 \| 142 \| 77% \|
	150	\| 3 \| 55 \| 89 \| 144 \| 62% \|
	151	\| 4 \| 52 \| 88 \| 140 \| 63% \|
	152	\| 5 \| 55 \| 85 \| 140 \| 61% \|
	153	\| Grand Total \| 228 \| 479 \| 707 \| 68% \|
	154
	155	* Results
	156
	157	Now, how do the practice scores reflect my actual results? After all,
	158	it's hard to tell how good a practice regimen is unless you see how it
	159	turns out.
	160
	161	\| Exam Section \| Section Name \| Score \|
	162	\|--------------+------------------------------------------------------------------+-------\|
	163	\| 1 \| Information Systems Auditing Process \| 678 \|
	164	\| 2 \| Governance and Management of IT \| 590 \|
	165	\| 3 \| Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation \| 721 \|
	166	\| 4 \| Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience \| 643 \|
	167	\| 5 \| Protection of Information Assets \| 511 \|
	168
	169	Now, in order to pass the CISA, you need at least 450 on a sliding scale
	170	of 200-800. Personally, I really have no clue what an average CISA score
	171	is. After a /very/ brief look online, I can see that the high end is
	172	usually in the low 700s. In addition, only about 50-60% of people pass
	173	the exam.
	174
	175	Given this information, I feel great about my scores. 616 may not be
	176	phenomenal, and I wish I had done better on sections 2 & 5, but my
	177	practicing seems to have worked very well overall.
	178
	179	However, the practice results do not conform to the actual results.
	180	Section 2 was one of my highest practice sections and was my
	181	second-lowest score in the exam. Conversely, section 3 was my
	182	second-lowest practice section and turned out to be my highest actual
	183	score!
	184
	185	After reflecting, it is obvious that if you have any background on the
	186	CISA topics at all, the most important part of studying is doing
	187	practice questions. You really need to understand how to read the
	188	questions critically and pick the best answer.
	189
	190	* Looking Forward
	191
	192	I am extremely happy that I was finally able to pass the CISA. Looking
	193	to the future, I'm not sure what's next in terms of professional
	194	learning. My current company offers internal learning courses, so I will
	195	most likely focus on that if I need to gain more knowledge in certain
	196	areas.
	197
	198	To be fair, even if you pass the CISA, it's hard to become an expert on
	199	any specific topic found within. My career may take me in a different
	200	direction, and I might need to focus more on security or networking
	201	certifications (or possibly building a better analysis/visualization
	202	portfolio if I want to go into data analysis/science).
	203
	204	All I know is that I am content at the moment and extremely proud of my
	205	accomplishment.

content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md deleted −207

		@@ -1,207 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-10
3		title = "Leaving Office-Based Work in the Past"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Working World is Changing
9
10		There has been a trend for the past few years of companies slowly realizing that
11		the pandemic is not just a temporary state that will go away eventually and let
12		everything return to the way it was before. In terms of business and employment,
13		this means that more and more jobs are being offered as permanently remote
14		roles.
15
16		I had always dreamt of working from home but thought of it as a fantasy,
17		especially since I did not want to move over into the software development
18		field. However, I have found that almost all roles being sent to me via
19		recruiters are permanently remote (although most are limited to US citizens or
20		even region-locked for companies who only operate in select states).
21
22		I decided to take a look back at my relatively short career so far and compare
23		the positive and negative effects of the different work environments I've been
24		in.
25
26		# In-Person Offices
27
28		## Retail Internship
29
30		I started my first job as a management intern at a busy retail pharmacy, working
31		my 40-hour weeks on my feet. As these retail stores don't believe in resting or
32		sitting down, you can guarantee that you will spend entire shifts standing,
33		walking, or running around the store. Unfortunately, I worked at a time when our
34		store didn't have enough managers, so I spent the majority of my tenure at the
35		store running and breaking a sweat.
36
37		Now, things aren't all bad in retail stores like this. It is definitely tiring
38		and inefficient to force employees to work constantly, or pretend to work if
39		there's nothing to do, and not allow anyone to sit down. However, if you are
40		able to operate a retail store with a limited crew and provide enough comfort
41		and support, I believe these jobs could be both comfortable and efficient.
42
43		## Semi-Private Cubicles
44
45		After about a year, I was able to find another internship - this time, it was in
46		my field of interest: internal auditing. This was for a life insurance company
47		that was well over 100 years old. The age of the company shows if you work
48		there, as most people in management are well into their 40s-60s with little to
49		no youthful leadership in the company. Likewise, they owned a large headquarters
50		in a nice area of town with plenty of space, parking, etc.
51
52		One upside is that each person gets their own large L-shaped desk, formed into
53		cubicles that house 4 desks/employees. These "pods" of 4-person cubicles are
54		linked throughout each floor of the headquarters (except the sales people, who
55		had that open-floor concept going on). The walls of the cubicle were tall and
56		provided a lot of privacy and sound-proofing, except when I used the standing
57		desk feature (I'm over 6 feet tall, so probably not an issue for most people).
58
59		I loved this environment, it allowed me to focus on my work with minimal
60		distractions, but also allowed easy access, so I could spin around in my chair
61		and chat with my friends without leaving my chair. This is the closest I've been
62		to a home office environment (which is my personal favorite, as I'll get to
63		later in this post).
64
65		## Semi-Open Floor Concept
66
67		When I shifted to my first full-time internal audit job out of college, I was
68		working at a company that was headquartered on a floor in a downtown high-rise
69		building. The company was only about 20 years old when I worked there and were
70		trying a lot of new things to attract young talent, one of which was a semi-open
71		floor concept for the office. My department worked just around the hallway
72		corner from the executive offices and used that "modern" layout young tech
73		companies started using in the 2000s/2010s.
74
75		Each desk was brief, and you could look most coworkers in the face without
76		moving from your chair, I hated this so much. Directly to my left was the Chief
77		Audit Executive (our department's leading boss), and his desk was pointed so
78		that his face would stare straight at my desk all day. I spent more time
79		thinking about who was looking at me or checking on me than actually working.
80
81		The other annoying part of the open concept they used was that the kitchen area
82		and pathways were too close to everyone's desks (since the desks were spread
83		out, to provide space or something), so noise and conversation would be constant
84		throughout the day while you try to work. For someone like me, who needs silence
85		to get work done, that was a non-starter.
86
87		## Hotel Office Concept
88
89		I currently work for a company remotely (for now) and travel to the office every
90		once in a while for events and to help coach the staff underneath me. The office
91		I visit uses the hotel desk concept, where you need to check in at a touch
92		screen when you enter the office and "rent" a desk for the day. The same goes
93		for offices and meeting rooms.
94
95		These desks are flat-top only and do not have any walls at all. In addition,
96		they're stacked with one row of 4 desks facing another row of 4 desks. These
97		pairs of desk rows are repeated through the office.
98
99		This means that when I go, I need to rent a random desk or try to remember the
100		unique ID numbers on desks I like. Once I rent it, I have to make sure no one
101		sat down in that desk without renting it. Then, I can sit down and work, but
102		will probably need to adjust the monitors so that I'm not staring in the face of
103		the person across from me all day. Finally, I need to wear headphones as this
104		environment does nothing to provide you with peace or quiet.
105
106		Luckily, you can rent offices with doors that offer quiet and privacy, which can
107		be very nice if you have a lot of meetings or webinars on a certain day.
108
109		# Home Office
110
111		Okay, now let's finally get to the home office concept. I have worked from home
112		for a little over two years at this point, across three different
113		jobs/employers. Over this time, I have experimented with a plethora of different
114		organizational ideas, desks, and room layouts to find what works best for me.
115
116		These things might not apply to you, and that's fine. Everyone has a different
117		situation, and I really don't think you'll know what works until you try.
118
119		## Tip #1
120
121		Let's start with my top rule for a home office:
122
123		> If you live with others, working in a shared space is not effective.
124
125		It just does not work. If you have another person sleeping in your bedroom, it
126		is difficult to manage your work schedule with their sleeping/work/school
127		schedule. If they wake up after you need to start work, you might wake them up
128		or have to suffer the agony of staring at bright screens in a dark room.
129
130		In a similar vein, working from a location such as the living room likely won't
131		work either. Distractions will come far more frequently: televisions, cooking,
132		cleaning, deliveries, etc. If you're like me, you'll end up playing a game
133		instead of actually doing any work.
134
135		## Tip #2
136
137		Okay, the second thing I've discovered that works for me:
138
139		> Use the pomodoro method (or something similar) to balance work tasks with
140		> personal tasks.
141
142		I use a very casual version of the pomodoro method where I will work for 1-2
143		hours (usually set in strict intervals like 1, 1.5, 2 hours) and then will allow
144		myself 30-60 minutes for personal tasks. This schedule works for me, since my
145		work schedule really only comes to 3-6 hours of work per day.
146
147		In this case, I'll work through my list of tasks for an hour or two and then
148		give myself personal time to get drinks and food, wash dishes, put clothes in
149		the washer, get the mail, etc. If you're in a convenient location, this usually
150		gives time for things like getting groceries (as long as you're not a slow
151		shopper).
152
153		## Tip #3
154
155		While I listed this one as number three, I don't think I'd accomplish anything
156		without it:
157
158		> Document everything: even things you didn't before - such as task lists and
159		> notes from casual calls or meetings.
160
161		I've noticed that staying in an office gave me more constant reminders of
162		outstanding tasks or facts I had learned in a conversation. Translating
163		everything to a digital world has made me lose a bit of that focus (perhaps
164		since I don't have visual reminders?).
165
166		Keeping a running task list of all things I have to do - even potential tasks! -
167		has helped me keep up without missing anything small. Likewise, keeping notes
168		for ALL meetings and calls, no matter how casual/quick, has improved my
169		retention immensely. Beyond helping my mental recollection, it has saved me
170		numerous times when I need to do a keyword search for some topic that was
171		discussed 6+ months ago.
172
173		## Tip #4
174
175		Okay, last one for now.
176
177		> Keep your work area clean.
178
179		This one is straightforward, but I know some people struggle with cleanliness or
180		may not believe it makes a difference. Trust me, keeping your desk area clean
181		and organized makes a huge difference, both mentally and emotionally.
182
183		Just think about it, you walk into your home office and see a clean desk with a
184		laptop, dock, monitors, keyboard, mouse, and a notepad with a pen on top.
185
186		Now imagine the opposite, there's an office with the same equipment, but there
187		are clothes hanging on the chair, empty drink bottles, candy wrappers and dirty
188		plates. This can take both a mental and emotional toll by bringing constant
189		disarray and stress into your working environment.
190
191		Just keep things clean each day, and you won't need to do any big cleaning days
192		to recover.
193
194		# My Preferences
195
196		I've talked about the different environments I've worked in and expressed some
197		honest thoughts on pros or cons to each, but what do I prefer? Well, if you're
198		reading along, you should be able to tell that I much prefer a home office above
199		all else.
200
201		Being able to control my own day and allot my time as needed has brought a
202		calmness to my life and has allowed me to maximize each day. I feel far more
203		effective and efficient in a home office than any other office, especially
204		open-office layouts.
205
206		If I do need to return to an office part-time in the future, I really hope the
207		office will have privacy and quietness in order for me to get my work done.

content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.org added +231

		@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-02-10>
	2	#+title: Leaving Office-Based Work in the Past
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Working World is Changing
	7
	8	There has been a trend for the past few years of companies slowly
	9	realizing that the pandemic is not just a temporary state that will go
	10	away eventually and let everything return to the way it was before. In
	11	terms of business and employment, this means that more and more jobs are
	12	being offered as permanently remote roles.
	13
	14	I had always dreamt of working from home but thought of it as a fantasy,
	15	especially since I did not want to move over into the software
	16	development field. However, I have found that almost all roles being
	17	sent to me via recruiters are permanently remote (although most are
	18	limited to US citizens or even region-locked for companies who only
	19	operate in select states).
	20
	21	I decided to take a look back at my relatively short career so far and
	22	compare the positive and negative effects of the different work
	23	environments I've been in.
	24
	25	* In-Person Offices
	26
	27	** Retail Internship
	28
	29	I started my first job as a management intern at a busy retail pharmacy,
	30	working my 40-hour weeks on my feet. As these retail stores don't
	31	believe in resting or sitting down, you can guarantee that you will
	32	spend entire shifts standing, walking, or running around the store.
	33	Unfortunately, I worked at a time when our store didn't have enough
	34	managers, so I spent the majority of my tenure at the store running and
	35	breaking a sweat.
	36
	37	Now, things aren't all bad in retail stores like this. It is definitely
	38	tiring and inefficient to force employees to work constantly, or pretend
	39	to work if there's nothing to do, and not allow anyone to sit down.
	40	However, if you are able to operate a retail store with a limited crew
	41	and provide enough comfort and support, I believe these jobs could be
	42	both comfortable and efficient.
	43
	44	** Semi-Private Cubicles
	45
	46	After about a year, I was able to find another internship - this time,
	47	it was in my field of interest: internal auditing. This was for a life
	48	insurance company that was well over 100 years old. The age of the
	49	company shows if you work there, as most people in management are well
	50	into their 40s-60s with little to no youthful leadership in the company.
	51	Likewise, they owned a large headquarters in a nice area of town with
	52	plenty of space, parking, etc.
	53
	54	One upside is that each person gets their own large L-shaped desk,
	55	formed into cubicles that house 4 desks/employees. These "pods" of
	56	4-person cubicles are linked throughout each floor of the headquarters
	57	(except the sales people, who had that open-floor concept going on). The
	58	walls of the cubicle were tall and provided a lot of privacy and
	59	sound-proofing, except when I used the standing desk feature (I'm over 6
	60	feet tall, so probably not an issue for most people).
	61
	62	I loved this environment, it allowed me to focus on my work with minimal
	63	distractions, but also allowed easy access, so I could spin around in my
	64	chair and chat with my friends without leaving my chair. This is the
	65	closest I've been to a home office environment (which is my personal
	66	favorite, as I'll get to later in this post).
	67
	68	** Semi-Open Floor Concept
	69
	70	When I shifted to my first full-time internal audit job out of college,
	71	I was working at a company that was headquartered on a floor in a
	72	downtown high-rise building. The company was only about 20 years old
	73	when I worked there and were trying a lot of new things to attract young
	74	talent, one of which was a semi-open floor concept for the office. My
	75	department worked just around the hallway corner from the executive
	76	offices and used that "modern" layout young tech companies started using
	77	in the 2000s/2010s.
	78
	79	Each desk was brief, and you could look most coworkers in the face
	80	without moving from your chair, I hated this so much. Directly to my
	81	left was the Chief Audit Executive (our department's leading boss), and
	82	his desk was pointed so that his face would stare straight at my desk
	83	all day. I spent more time thinking about who was looking at me or
	84	checking on me than actually working.
	85
	86	The other annoying part of the open concept they used was that the
	87	kitchen area and pathways were too close to everyone's desks (since the
	88	desks were spread out, to provide space or something), so noise and
	89	conversation would be constant throughout the day while you try to work.
	90	For someone like me, who needs silence to get work done, that was a
	91	non-starter.
	92
	93	** Hotel Office Concept
	94
	95	I currently work for a company remotely (for now) and travel to the
	96	office every once in a while for events and to help coach the staff
	97	underneath me. The office I visit uses the hotel desk concept, where you
	98	need to check in at a touch screen when you enter the office and "rent"
	99	a desk for the day. The same goes for offices and meeting rooms.
	100
	101	These desks are flat-top only and do not have any walls at all. In
	102	addition, they're stacked with one row of 4 desks facing another row of
	103	4 desks. These pairs of desk rows are repeated through the office.
	104
	105	This means that when I go, I need to rent a random desk or try to
	106	remember the unique ID numbers on desks I like. Once I rent it, I have
	107	to make sure no one sat down in that desk without renting it. Then, I
	108	can sit down and work, but will probably need to adjust the monitors so
	109	that I'm not staring in the face of the person across from me all day.
	110	Finally, I need to wear headphones as this environment does nothing to
	111	provide you with peace or quiet.
	112
	113	Luckily, you can rent offices with doors that offer quiet and privacy,
	114	which can be very nice if you have a lot of meetings or webinars on a
	115	certain day.
	116
	117	* Home Office
	118
	119	Okay, now let's finally get to the home office concept. I have worked
	120	from home for a little over two years at this point, across three
	121	different jobs/employers. Over this time, I have experimented with a
	122	plethora of different organizational ideas, desks, and room layouts to
	123	find what works best for me.
	124
	125	These things might not apply to you, and that's fine. Everyone has a
	126	different situation, and I really don't think you'll know what works
	127	until you try.
	128
	129	** Tip #1
	130
	131	Let's start with my top rule for a home office:
	132
	133	#+begin_quote
	134	If you live with others, working in a shared space is not effective.
	135	#+end_quote
	136
	137	It just does not work. If you have another person sleeping in your
	138	bedroom, it is difficult to manage your work schedule with their
	139	sleeping/work/school schedule. If they wake up after you need to start
	140	work, you might wake them up or have to suffer the agony of staring at
	141	bright screens in a dark room.
	142
	143	In a similar vein, working from a location such as the living room
	144	likely won't work either. Distractions will come far more frequently:
	145	televisions, cooking, cleaning, deliveries, etc. If you're like me,
	146	you'll end up playing a game instead of actually doing any work.
	147
	148	** Tip #2
	149
	150	Okay, the second thing I've discovered that works for me:
	151
	152	#+begin_quote
	153	Use the pomodoro method (or something similar) to balance work tasks
	154	with personal tasks.
	155	#+end_quote
	156
	157	I use a very casual version of the pomodoro method where I will work for
	158	1-2 hours (usually set in strict intervals like 1, 1.5, 2 hours) and
	159	then will allow myself 30-60 minutes for personal tasks. This schedule
	160	works for me, since my work schedule really only comes to 3-6 hours of
	161	work per day.
	162
	163	In this case, I'll work through my list of tasks for an hour or two and
	164	then give myself personal time to get drinks and food, wash dishes, put
	165	clothes in the washer, get the mail, etc. If you're in a convenient
	166	location, this usually gives time for things like getting groceries (as
	167	long as you're not a slow shopper).
	168
	169	** Tip #3
	170
	171	While I listed this one as number three, I don't think I'd accomplish
	172	anything without it:
	173
	174	#+begin_quote
	175	Document everything: even things you didn't before - such as task lists
	176	and notes from casual calls or meetings.
	177	#+end_quote
	178
	179	I've noticed that staying in an office gave me more constant reminders
	180	of outstanding tasks or facts I had learned in a conversation.
	181	Translating everything to a digital world has made me lose a bit of that
	182	focus (perhaps since I don't have visual reminders?).
	183
	184	Keeping a running task list of all things I have to do - even potential
	185	tasks! - has helped me keep up without missing anything small. Likewise,
	186	keeping notes for ALL meetings and calls, no matter how casual/quick,
	187	has improved my retention immensely. Beyond helping my mental
	188	recollection, it has saved me numerous times when I need to do a keyword
	189	search for some topic that was discussed 6+ months ago.
	190
	191	** Tip #4
	192
	193	Okay, last one for now.
	194
	195	#+begin_quote
	196	Keep your work area clean.
	197	#+end_quote
	198
	199	This one is straightforward, but I know some people struggle with
	200	cleanliness or may not believe it makes a difference. Trust me, keeping
	201	your desk area clean and organized makes a huge difference, both
	202	mentally and emotionally.
	203
	204	Just think about it, you walk into your home office and see a clean desk
	205	with a laptop, dock, monitors, keyboard, mouse, and a notepad with a pen
	206	on top.
	207
	208	Now imagine the opposite, there's an office with the same equipment, but
	209	there are clothes hanging on the chair, empty drink bottles, candy
	210	wrappers and dirty plates. This can take both a mental and emotional
	211	toll by bringing constant disarray and stress into your working
	212	environment.
	213
	214	Just keep things clean each day, and you won't need to do any big
	215	cleaning days to recover.
	216
	217	* My Preferences
	218
	219	I've talked about the different environments I've worked in and
	220	expressed some honest thoughts on pros or cons to each, but what do I
	221	prefer? Well, if you're reading along, you should be able to tell that I
	222	much prefer a home office above all else.
	223
	224	Being able to control my own day and allot my time as needed has brought
	225	a calmness to my life and has allowed me to maximize each day. I feel
	226	far more effective and efficient in a home office than any other office,
	227	especially open-office layouts.
	228
	229	If I do need to return to an office part-time in the future, I really
	230	hope the office will have privacy and quietness in order for me to get
	231	my work done.

content/blog/2022-02-10-njalla-dns-api.md → content/blog/2022-02-10-njalla-dns-api.org renamed +81 −79

		@@ -1,104 +1,106 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-10
3		title = "Dynamic DNS with Njalla API"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-02-10>
	2	#+title: Dynamic DNS with Njalla API
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Njalla's API
9	5
10		As noted in my recent post about [switching to Njalla from
11		Cloudflare](file:///blog/ditching-cloudflare/), I was searching for a way to
12		replace my very easy-to-use bash script to [update Cloudflare's DNS via their
13		API](file:///blog/cloudflare-dns-api/).
	6	* Njalla's API
14	7
15		To reiterate what I said in those posts, this is a common necessity for those of
16		us who have non-static IP addresses that can change at any moment due to ISP
17		policy.
	8	As noted in my recent post about
	9	[[file:///blog/ditching-cloudflare/][switching to Njalla from
	10	Cloudflare]], I was searching for a way to replace my very easy-to-use
	11	bash script to [[file:///blog/cloudflare-dns-api/][update Cloudflare's
	12	DNS via their API]].
18	13
19		In order to keep a home server running smoothly, the server admin needs to have
20		a process to constantly monitor their public IP address and update their
21		domain's DNS records if it changes.
	14	To reiterate what I said in those posts, this is a common necessity for
	15	those of us who have non-static IP addresses that can change at any
	16	moment due to ISP policy.
22	17
23		This post explains how to use Python to update Njalla's DNS records whenever a
24		machine's public IP address changes.
	18	In order to keep a home server running smoothly, the server admin needs
	19	to have a process to constantly monitor their public IP address and
	20	update their domain's DNS records if it changes.
25	21
26		## Creating a Token
	22	This post explains how to use Python to update Njalla's DNS records
	23	whenever a machine's public IP address changes.
27	24
28		To use Njalla's API, you will first need to create a token that will be used to
29		authenticate you every time you call the API. Luckily, this is very easy to do
30		if you have an account with Njalla.
	25	** Creating a Token
31	26
32		Simply go the [API Settings](https://njal.la/settings/api/) page and click the
33		`Add Token` button. Next, enter a name for the token and click `Add`.
	27	To use Njalla's API, you will first need to create a token that will be
	28	used to authenticate you every time you call the API. Luckily, this is
	29	very easy to do if you have an account with Njalla.
34	30
35		Finally, click the `Manage` button next to your newly created token and copy the
36		`API Token` field.
	31	Simply go the [[https://njal.la/settings/api/][API Settings]] page and
	32	click the =Add Token= button. Next, enter a name for the token and click
	33	=Add=.
37	34
38		## Finding the Correct API Request
	35	Finally, click the =Manage= button next to your newly created token and
	36	copy the =API Token= field.
39	37
40		Once you have a token, you're ready to call the Njalla API for any number of
41		requests. For a full listing of available requests, see the [Njalla API
42		Documentation](https://njal.la/api/).
	38	** Finding the Correct API Request
43	39
44		For this demo, we are using the `list-records` and `edit-record` requests.
	40	Once you have a token, you're ready to call the Njalla API for any
	41	number of requests. For a full listing of available requests, see the
	42	[[https://njal.la/api/][Njalla API Documentation]].
45	43
46		The `list-records` request requires the following payload to be sent when
47		calling the API:
	44	For this demo, we are using the =list-records= and =edit-record=
	45	requests.
	46
	47	The =list-records= request requires the following payload to be sent
	48	when calling the API:
48	49
49		```txt
	50	#+begin_src txt
50	51	params: {
51	52	domain: string
52	53	}
53		```
	54	#+end_src
54	55
55		The `edit-record` request requires the following payload to be sent when calling
56		the API:
	56	The =edit-record= request requires the following payload to be sent when
	57	calling the API:
57	58
58		```txt
	59	#+begin_src txt
59	60	params: {
60	61	domain: string
61	62	id: int
62	63	content: string
63	64	}
64		```
	65	#+end_src
65	66
66		# Server Set-Up
	67	* Server Set-Up
67	68
68		To create this script, we will be using Python. By default, I use Python 3 on my
69		servers, so please note that I did not test this in Python 2, and I do not know
70		if Python 2 will work for this.
	69	To create this script, we will be using Python. By default, I use Python
	70	3 on my servers, so please note that I did not test this in Python 2,
	71	and I do not know if Python 2 will work for this.
71	72
72		## Creating the Script
	73	** Creating the Script
73	74
74		First, find a suitable place to create your script. Personally, I just create a
75		directory called `ddns` in my home directory:
	75	First, find a suitable place to create your script. Personally, I just
	76	create a directory called =ddns= in my home directory:
76	77
77		```sh
	78	#+begin_src sh
78	79	mkdir ~/ddns
79		```
	80	#+end_src
80	81
81	82	Next, create a Python script file:
82	83
83		```sh
	84	#+begin_src sh
84	85	nano ~/ddns/ddns.py
85		```
	86	#+end_src
86	87
87		The following code snippet is quite long, so I won't go into depth on each part.
88		However, I suggest you read through the entire script before running it; it is
89		quite simple and contains comments to help explain each code block.
	88	The following code snippet is quite long, so I won't go into depth on
	89	each part. However, I suggest you read through the entire script before
	90	running it; it is quite simple and contains comments to help explain
	91	each code block.
90	92
91		:warning: Note: You will need to update the following variables for this to
92		work:
	93	:warning: Note: You will need to update the following variables for
	94	this to work:
93	95
94		- `token`: This is the Njalla API token you created earlier.
95		- `user_domain`: This is the top-level domain you want to modify.
96		- `include_subdomains`: Set this to `True` if you also want to modify
97		subdomains found under the TLD.
98		- `subdomains`: If `include_subdomains` = `True`, you can include your list of
99		subdomains to be modified here.
	96	- =token=: This is the Njalla API token you created earlier.
	97	- =user_domain=: This is the top-level domain you want to modify.
	98	- =include_subdomains=: Set this to =True= if you also want to modify
	99	subdomains found under the TLD.
	100	- =subdomains=: If =include_subdomains= = =True=, you can include your
	101	list of subdomains to be modified here.
100	102
101		```python
	103	#+begin_src python
102	104	#!/usr/bin/python
103	105	# -- coding: utf-8 --
104	106	# Import Python modules
		@@ -177,29 +179,29 @@ for record in data['records']:
177	179	'does not match Njalla's value of',
178	180	record['content'], '. Updating...')
179	181	update_record(user_domain, record['id'], ipv6)
180		```
	182	#+end_src
181	183
182		## Running the Script
	184	** Running the Script
183	185
184		Once you've created the script and are ready to test it, run the following
185		command:
	186	Once you've created the script and are ready to test it, run the
	187	following command:
186	188
187		```sh
	189	#+begin_src sh
188	190	python3 ~/ddns/ddns.py
189		```
	191	#+end_src
190	192
191		## Setting the Script to Run Automatically
	193	** Setting the Script to Run Automatically
192	194
193		To make sure the scripts run automatically, add it to the `cron` file so that it
194		will run on a schedule. To do this, open the `cron` file:
	195	To make sure the scripts run automatically, add it to the =cron= file so
	196	that it will run on a schedule. To do this, open the =cron= file:
195	197
196		```sh
	198	#+begin_src sh
197	199	crontab -e
198		```
	200	#+end_src
199	201
200		In the cron file, paste the following at the bottom of the editor in order to
201		check the IP every five minutes:
	202	In the cron file, paste the following at the bottom of the editor in
	203	order to check the IP every five minutes:
202	204
203		```sh
204		/5 * ** python3 /home/<your_username>/ddns/ddns.py
205		```
	205	#+begin_src sh
	206	,/5 * ** python3 /home/<your_username>/ddns/ddns.py
	207	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-02-16-debian-and-nginx.md deleted −164

		@@ -1,164 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-16
3		title = "Migrating to a New Web Server Setup with Debian, Nginx, and Agate"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Server OS: Debian
9
10		I've used various Linux distributions throughout the years, but I've never used
11		anything except Ubuntu for my servers. Why? I really have no idea, mostly just
12		comfort around the commands and software availability.
13
14		However, I have always wanted to try Debian as a server OS after testing it out
15		in a VM a few years ago (side-note: I'd love to try Alpine too, but I always
16		struggle with compatibility). So, I decided to launch a new VPS and use
17		[Debian](https://www.debian.org) 11 as the OS. Spoiler alert: it feels identical
18		to Ubuntu for my purposes.
19
20		I did the normal things when first launching the VPS, such as adding a new user,
21		locking down SSH, etc. If you want to see that level of detail, read my other
22		post about [How to Set Up a VPS Web
23		Server](https://cleberg.net/blog/how-to-set-up-a-vps-web-server/).
24
25		All of this has been similar, apart from small things such as the location of
26		users' home folders. No complaints at all from me - Debian seems great.
27
28		# Web Server: Nginx
29
30		Once I had the baseline server configuration set-up for Debian, I moved on to
31		trying out [Nginx](https://nginx.org) as my web server software. This required
32		me to install the `nginx` and `ufw` packages, as well as setting up the initial
33		UFW config:
34
35		```sh
36		sudo apt install nginx ufw
37		sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
38		sudo ufw allow SSH
39		sudo ufw enable
40		sudo ufw status
41		sudo systemctl status nginx
42		```
43
44		Once I had the firewall set, I moved on to creating the directories and files
45		for my website. This is very easy and is basically the same as setting up an
46		Apache server, so no struggles here.
47
48		```sh
49		sudo mkdir -p /var/www/your_domain/html
50		sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/your_domain/html
51		sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/your_domain
52		nano /var/www/your_domain/html/index.html
53		```
54
55		The next part, creating the Nginx configuration files, is quite a bit different
56		from Apache. First, you need to create the files in the `sites-available` folder
57		and symlink it the `sites-enabled` folder.
58
59		Creating the config file for your domain:
60
61		```sh
62		sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain
63		```
64
65		Default content for an Nginx config file:
66
67		```sh
68		server {
69		listen 80;
70		listen [::]:80;
71
72		root /var/www/your_domain/html;
73		index index.html index.htm index.nginx-debian.html;
74
75		server_name your_domain www.your_domain;
76
77		location / {
78		try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
79		}
80		}
81		```
82
83		Finally, symlink it together:
84
85		```sh
86		sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
87		```
88
89		This will make your site available to the public (as long as you have
90		`your_domain` DNS records pointed at the server's IP address)!
91
92		Next, I used [certbot](https://certbot.eff.org/) to issue an HTTPS certificate
93		for my domains using the following commands:
94
95		```sh
96		sudo apt install snapd; sudo snap install core; sudo snap refresh core
97		sudo snap install --classic certbot
98		sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
99		sudo certbot --nginx
100		```
101
102		Now that certbot ran successfully and updated my Nginx config files to include a
103		`443` server block of code, I went back in and edited the config file to include
104		security HTTP headers. This part is optional, but is recommended for security
105		purposes; you can even test a website's HTTP header security at [Security
106		Headers](https://securityheaders.com/).
107
108		The configuration below shows a set-up where you only want your website to serve
109		content from its own domain, except for images and scripts, which may come from
110		`nullitics.com`. All other content would be blocked from loading in a browser.
111
112		```sh
113		sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain
114		```
115
116		```sh
117		server {
118		...
119		add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'none'; img-src 'self' https://nullitics.com; script-src 'self' https://nullitics.com; style-src 'self'; font-src 'self'";
120		add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff";
121		add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
122		add_header X-Frame-Options "DENY";
123		add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains";
124		add_header Referrer-Policy "no-referrer";
125		...
126		}
127		```
128
129		```sh
130		sudo systemctl restart nginx
131		```
132
133		## Nginx vs. Apache
134
135		As I stated at the beginning, my historical hesitation with trying Nginx was
136		that the differences in configuration formats scared me away from leaving
137		Apache. However, I prefer Nginx to Apache for a few reasons:
138
139		1. Nginx uses only one config file (`your_domain`) vs. Apache's two-file
140		approach for HTTP vs. HTTPS (`your_domain.conf` and
141		`your_domain-le-ssl.conf`).
142		2. Symlinking new configurations files and reloading Nginx are way easier than
143		Apache's process of having to enable headers with `a2enmod mod_headers`,
144		enable PHP with `a2enmod php` (plus any other mods you need), and then
145		enabling sites with `a2ensite`, and THEN reloading Apache.
146		3. The contents of the Nginx config files seem more organized and logical with
147		the curly-bracket approach. This is a minor reason, but everything just felt
148		cleaner while I was installing my sites and that had a big quality of life
149		impact on the installation for me.
150
151		They're both great software packages, but Nginx just seems more organized and
152		easier to use these days. I will certainly be exploring the Nginx docs to see
153		what other fun things I can do with all of this.
154
155		# Gemini Server: Agate
156
157		Finally, I set up the Agate software on this server again to host my Gemini
158		server content, using Rust as I have before. You can read my other post for more
159		information on installing Agate: [Hosting a Gemini
160		Server](https://cleberg.net/blog/hosting-a-gemini-server/).
161
162		All in all, Debian + Nginx is very slick and I prefer it over my old combination
163		of Ubuntu + Apache (although it's really just Nginx > Apache for me, since
164		Debian seems mostly the same as Ubuntu is so far).

content/blog/2022-02-16-debian-and-nginx.org added +167

		@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-02-16>
	2	#+title: Migrating to a New Web Server Setup with Debian, Nginx, and Agate
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Server OS: Debian
	7
	8	I've used various Linux distributions throughout the years, but I've
	9	never used anything except Ubuntu for my servers. Why? I really have no
	10	idea, mostly just comfort around the commands and software availability.
	11
	12	However, I have always wanted to try Debian as a server OS after testing
	13	it out in a VM a few years ago (side-note: I'd love to try Alpine too,
	14	but I always struggle with compatibility). So, I decided to launch a new
	15	VPS and use [[https://www.debian.org][Debian]] 11 as the OS. Spoiler
	16	alert: it feels identical to Ubuntu for my purposes.
	17
	18	I did the normal things when first launching the VPS, such as adding a
	19	new user, locking down SSH, etc. If you want to see that level of
	20	detail, read my other post about
	21	[[https://cleberg.net/blog/how-to-set-up-a-vps-web-server/][How to Set
	22	Up a VPS Web Server]].
	23
	24	All of this has been similar, apart from small things such as the
	25	location of users' home folders. No complaints at all from me - Debian
	26	seems great.
	27
	28	* Web Server: Nginx
	29
	30	Once I had the baseline server configuration set-up for Debian, I moved
	31	on to trying out [[https://nginx.org][Nginx]] as my web server software.
	32	This required me to install the =nginx= and =ufw= packages, as well as
	33	setting up the initial UFW config:
	34
	35	#+begin_src sh
	36	sudo apt install nginx ufw
	37	sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
	38	sudo ufw allow SSH
	39	sudo ufw enable
	40	sudo ufw status
	41	sudo systemctl status nginx
	42	#+end_src
	43
	44	Once I had the firewall set, I moved on to creating the directories and
	45	files for my website. This is very easy and is basically the same as
	46	setting up an Apache server, so no struggles here.
	47
	48	#+begin_src sh
	49	sudo mkdir -p /var/www/your_domain/html
	50	sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/your_domain/html
	51	sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/your_domain
	52	nano /var/www/your_domain/html/index.html
	53	#+end_src
	54
	55	The next part, creating the Nginx configuration files, is quite a bit
	56	different from Apache. First, you need to create the files in the
	57	=sites-available= folder and symlink it the =sites-enabled= folder.
	58
	59	Creating the config file for your domain:
	60
	61	#+begin_src sh
	62	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain
	63	#+end_src
	64
	65	Default content for an Nginx config file:
	66
	67	#+begin_src sh
	68	server {
	69	listen 80;
	70	listen [::]:80;
	71
	72	root /var/www/your_domain/html;
	73	index index.html index.htm index.nginx-debian.html;
	74
	75	server_name your_domain www.your_domain;
	76
	77	location / {
	78	try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
	79	}
	80	}
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	Finally, symlink it together:
	84
	85	#+begin_src sh
	86	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
	87	#+end_src
	88
	89	This will make your site available to the public (as long as you have
	90	=your_domain= DNS records pointed at the server's IP address)!
	91
	92	Next, I used [[https://certbot.eff.org/][certbot]] to issue an HTTPS
	93	certificate for my domains using the following commands:
	94
	95	#+begin_src sh
	96	sudo apt install snapd; sudo snap install core; sudo snap refresh core
	97	sudo snap install --classic certbot
	98	sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
	99	sudo certbot --nginx
	100	#+end_src
	101
	102	Now that certbot ran successfully and updated my Nginx config files to
	103	include a =443= server block of code, I went back in and edited the
	104	config file to include security HTTP headers. This part is optional, but
	105	is recommended for security purposes; you can even test a website's HTTP
	106	header security at [[https://securityheaders.com/][Security Headers]].
	107
	108	The configuration below shows a set-up where you only want your website
	109	to serve content from its own domain, except for images and scripts,
	110	which may come from =nullitics.com=. All other content would be blocked
	111	from loading in a browser.
	112
	113	#+begin_src sh
	114	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain
	115	#+end_src
	116
	117	#+begin_src sh
	118	server {
	119	...
	120	add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'none'; img-src 'self' https://nullitics.com; script-src 'self' https://nullitics.com; style-src 'self'; font-src 'self'";
	121	add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff";
	122	add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
	123	add_header X-Frame-Options "DENY";
	124	add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains";
	125	add_header Referrer-Policy "no-referrer";
	126	...
	127	}
	128	#+end_src
	129
	130	#+begin_src sh
	131	sudo systemctl restart nginx
	132	#+end_src
	133
	134	** Nginx vs. Apache
	135
	136	As I stated at the beginning, my historical hesitation with trying Nginx
	137	was that the differences in configuration formats scared me away from
	138	leaving Apache. However, I prefer Nginx to Apache for a few reasons:
	139
	140	1. Nginx uses only one config file (=your_domain=) vs. Apache's two-file
	141	approach for HTTP vs. HTTPS (=your_domain.conf= and
	142	=your_domain-le-ssl.conf=).
	143	2. Symlinking new configurations files and reloading Nginx are way
	144	easier than Apache's process of having to enable headers with
	145	=a2enmod mod_headers=, enable PHP with =a2enmod php= (plus any other
	146	mods you need), and then enabling sites with =a2ensite=, and THEN
	147	reloading Apache.
	148	3. The contents of the Nginx config files seem more organized and
	149	logical with the curly-bracket approach. This is a minor reason, but
	150	everything just felt cleaner while I was installing my sites and that
	151	had a big quality of life impact on the installation for me.
	152
	153	They're both great software packages, but Nginx just seems more
	154	organized and easier to use these days. I will certainly be exploring
	155	the Nginx docs to see what other fun things I can do with all of this.
	156
	157	* Gemini Server: Agate
	158
	159	Finally, I set up the Agate software on this server again to host my
	160	Gemini server content, using Rust as I have before. You can read my
	161	other post for more information on installing Agate:
	162	[[https://cleberg.net/blog/hosting-a-gemini-server/][Hosting a Gemini
	163	Server]].
	164
	165	All in all, Debian + Nginx is very slick and I prefer it over my old
	166	combination of Ubuntu + Apache (although it's really just Nginx > Apache
	167	for me, since Debian seems mostly the same as Ubuntu is so far).

content/blog/2022-02-17-exiftool.md deleted −59

		@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-17
3		title = "Stripping Image Metadata with Exiftool"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		## Why Strip Metadata?
9
10		Okay, so you want to strip metadata from your photos. Perhaps you take pictures
11		of very rare birds, and the location metadata is a gold mine for poachers, or
12		perhaps you're just privacy-oriented like me and prefer to strip metadata from
13		publicly-available images.
14
15		There are various components of image metadata that you may want to delete
16		before releasing a photo to the public. Here's an incomplete list of things I
17		could easily see just by inspecting a photo on my laptop:
18
19		- Location (Latitude & Longitude)
20		- Dimensions
21		- Device Make & Model
22		- Color Space
23		- Color Profile
24		- Focal Length
25		- Alpha Channel
26		- Red Eye
27		- Metering Mode
28		- F Number
29
30		Regardless of your reasoning, I'm going to explain how I used the `exiftool`
31		package in Linux to automatically strip metadata from all images in a directory
32		(+ subdirectories).
33
34		## Installing `exiftool`
35
36		First things first: we need to install the tool. I'm running Debian 11 on my
37		server (Ubuntu will work the same), so the command is as simple as:
38
39		```sh
40		sudo apt install exiftool
41		```
42
43		There are different tools that can accomplish the same thing across
44		distributions, but I really only care to test out this one package.
45
46		## Recursively Strip Data
47
48		I actually use this tool extensively to strip any photos uploaded to the website
49		that serves all the images for my blog (`img.cleberg.net`).
50
51		The following command is incredibly useful and can be modified to include any
52		image extensions that `exiftool` supports:
53
54		```sh
55		exiftool -r -all= -ext jpg -ext png /path/to/directory/
56		```
57
58		The output of the command will let you know how many directories were scanned,
59		how many images were updated, and how many images were unchanged.

content/blog/2022-02-17-exiftool.org added +59

		@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-02-17>
	2	#+title: Stripping Image Metadata with Exiftool
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	** Why Strip Metadata?
	7
	8	Okay, so you want to strip metadata from your photos. Perhaps you take
	9	pictures of very rare birds, and the location metadata is a gold mine
	10	for poachers, or perhaps you're just privacy-oriented like me and prefer
	11	to strip metadata from publicly-available images.
	12
	13	There are various components of image metadata that you may want to
	14	delete before releasing a photo to the public. Here's an incomplete list
	15	of things I could easily see just by inspecting a photo on my laptop:
	16
	17	- Location (Latitude & Longitude)
	18	- Dimensions
	19	- Device Make & Model
	20	- Color Space
	21	- Color Profile
	22	- Focal Length
	23	- Alpha Channel
	24	- Red Eye
	25	- Metering Mode
	26	- F Number
	27
	28	Regardless of your reasoning, I'm going to explain how I used the
	29	=exiftool= package in Linux to automatically strip metadata from all
	30	images in a directory (+ subdirectories).
	31
	32	** Installing =exiftool=
	33
	34	First things first: we need to install the tool. I'm running Debian 11
	35	on my server (Ubuntu will work the same), so the command is as simple
	36	as:
	37
	38	#+begin_src sh
	39	sudo apt install exiftool
	40	#+end_src
	41
	42	There are different tools that can accomplish the same thing across
	43	distributions, but I really only care to test out this one package.
	44
	45	** Recursively Strip Data
	46
	47	I actually use this tool extensively to strip any photos uploaded to the
	48	website that serves all the images for my blog (=img.cleberg.net=).
	49
	50	The following command is incredibly useful and can be modified to
	51	include any image extensions that =exiftool= supports:
	52
	53	#+begin_src sh
	54	exiftool -r -all= -ext jpg -ext png /path/to/directory/
	55	#+end_src
	56
	57	The output of the command will let you know how many directories were
	58	scanned, how many images were updated, and how many images were
	59	unchanged.

content/blog/2022-02-20-nginx-caching.md deleted −65

		@@ -1,65 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-20
3		title = "Caching Static Content with Nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Update Your Nginx Config to Cache Static Files
9
10		If you run a website on Nginx that serves static content (i.e., content that is
11		not dynamic and changing with interactions from the user), you would likely
12		benefit from caching that content on the client-side. If you're used to Apache
13		and looking for the Nginx equivalent, this post should help.
14
15		Luckily, setting up the cache is as easy as identifying the file types you want
16		to cache and determining the expiration length. To include more file types,
17		simply use the bar separator (`\|`) and type the new file extension you want to
18		include.
19
20		```config
21		server {
22		...
23
24		location ~** .(css\|js\|jpg\|jpeg\|gif\|png\|ico)$ {
25		expires 30d;
26		}
27
28		...
29		}
30		```
31
32		I have seen some people who prefer to set `expires` as `365d` or even `max`, but
33		that is only for stable, infrequently changing websites. As my site often
34		changes (i.e., I'm never content with my website), I need to know that my
35		readers are seeing the new content without waiting too long.
36
37		So, I went ahead and set the expiration date at `30d`, which is short enough to
38		refresh for readers but long enough that clients/browsers won't be re-requesting
39		the static files too often, hopefully resulting in faster loading times, as
40		images should be the only thing slowing down my site.
41
42		# Testing Results
43
44		To test my changes to the Nginx configuration, I used the [HTTP Header
45		Live](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/http-header-live/)
46		extension on my Gecko browser and used the sidebar to inspect the headers of a
47		recent image from my blog.
48
49		In the image below, you can see that the `Cache-Control` header is now present
50		and set to 2592000, which is 30 days represented in seconds (30 days \_ 24
51		hours/day \_ 60 minutes/hour \\ 60 seconds/minute = 2,592,000 seconds).
52
53		The `Expires` field is now showing 22 March 2022, which is 30 days from the day
54		of this post, 20 February 2022.
55
56		# Caveats
57
58		Remember that this caching system is client-side, which means that content
59		is only cached for as long as a client allows it. For example, my browser purges
60		all caches, data, etc. upon exit, so this caching policy will only work as long
61		as my browser remains open and running.
62
63		If you need to test updates to your site, you'll need to clear the cache to see
64		updates for any file extension you configured. This can often be done with the
65		`Shift + F5` or `Ctrl + F5` key combinations in most browsers.

content/blog/2022-02-20-nginx-caching.org added +68

		@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-02-20>
	2	#+title: Caching Static Content with Nginx
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Update Your Nginx Config to Cache Static Files
	7
	8	If you run a website on Nginx that serves static content (i.e., content
	9	that is not dynamic and changing with interactions from the user), you
	10	would likely benefit from caching that content on the client-side. If
	11	you're used to Apache and looking for the Nginx equivalent, this post
	12	should help.
	13
	14	Luckily, setting up the cache is as easy as identifying the file types
	15	you want to cache and determining the expiration length. To include more
	16	file types, simply use the bar separator (=\|=) and type the new file
	17	extension you want to include.
	18
	19	#+begin_src config
	20	server {
	21	...
	22
	23	location ~** .(css\|js\|jpg\|jpeg\|gif\|png\|ico)$ {
	24	expires 30d;
	25	}
	26
	27	...
	28	}
	29	#+end_src
	30
	31	I have seen some people who prefer to set =expires= as =365d= or even
	32	=max=, but that is only for stable, infrequently changing websites. As
	33	my site often changes (i.e., I'm never content with my website), I need
	34	to know that my readers are seeing the new content without waiting too
	35	long.
	36
	37	So, I went ahead and set the expiration date at =30d=, which is short
	38	enough to refresh for readers but long enough that clients/browsers
	39	won't be re-requesting the static files too often, hopefully resulting
	40	in faster loading times, as images should be the only thing slowing down
	41	my site.
	42
	43	* Testing Results
	44
	45	To test my changes to the Nginx configuration, I used the
	46	[[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/http-header-live/][HTTP
	47	Header Live]] extension on my Gecko browser and used the sidebar to
	48	inspect the headers of a recent image from my blog.
	49
	50	In the image below, you can see that the =Cache-Control= header is now
	51	present and set to 2592000, which is 30 days represented in seconds (30
	52	days _ 24 hours/day _ 60 minutes/hour ** 60 seconds/minute = 2,592,000
	53	seconds).
	54
	55	The =Expires= field is now showing 22 March 2022, which is 30 days from
	56	the day of this post, 20 February 2022.
	57
	58	* Caveats
	59
	60	Remember that this caching system is client-side, which means that
	61	content is only cached for as long as a client allows it. For example,
	62	my browser purges all caches, data, etc. upon exit, so this caching
	63	policy will only work as long as my browser remains open and running.
	64
	65	If you need to test updates to your site, you'll need to clear the cache
	66	to see updates for any file extension you configured. This can often be
	67	done with the =Shift + F5= or =Ctrl + F5= key combinations in most
	68	browsers.

content/blog/2022-02-22-tuesday.md deleted −35

		@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-02-22
3		title = "Tuesday"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Tuesday, Twosday
9
10		I'm taking a break from my usual technology-related posts and writing about
11		something a little more enjoyable today.
12
13		Today is Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022. Today is 02-22-2022. Today is Twosday.
14
15		Let's look at everything that fell in place today:
16
17		1. Written in the `m-dd-yy` or `dd-m-yy` formats, today is 2-22-22 or 22-2-22,
18		which is a neat little palindrome in either format. (The last ubiquitous
19		six-digit palindrome was 1-11-11.)
20		2. Today is Tuesday, which is why everyone is using the nickname Twosday to call
21		out these similarities.
22		3. Falling on Tuesday means today is the 2nd day of the week (for most cultures.
23		For the US, it's the 3rd day of the week since we start on Sunday).
24		4. The only culture I could find with a connection to a `2` is that some Slavic
25		languages derived their version of Tuesday from the Old Church Slavonic word
26		`въторъ`, meaning "the second."
27		5. Written in the classic monospaced, digital font (think of digital clocks from
28		the 80s/90s), there is nice symmetry to the numbers ([view the image
29		here](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220222-tuesday/digital_font.png)!).
30		6. This one isn't naturally-occurring, but it seems people around the world are
31		celebrating the day. For example, a group is putting together [a wedding of
32		222 couples at the California State Capitol in
33		Sacramento](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2-22-22-a-collective-wedding-ceremony-at-the-state-capitol-tickets-211434605597),
34		concluding at exactly 2:22 PM. These couples will record their marriage dates
35		as 2-22-22 2:22 PM. Tickets were on sale for $222.22.

content/blog/2022-02-22-tuesday.org added +38

		@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-02-22>
	2	#+title: Tuesday
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Tuesday, Twosday
	7
	8	I'm taking a break from my usual technology-related posts and writing
	9	about something a little more enjoyable today.
	10
	11	Today is Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022. Today is 02-22-2022. Today is
	12	Twosday.
	13
	14	Let's look at everything that fell in place today:
	15
	16	1. Written in the =m-dd-yy= or =dd-m-yy= formats, today is 2-22-22 or
	17	22-2-22, which is a neat little palindrome in either format. (The
	18	last ubiquitous six-digit palindrome was 1-11-11.)
	19	2. Today is Tuesday, which is why everyone is using the nickname Twosday
	20	to call out these similarities.
	21	3. Falling on Tuesday means today is the 2nd day of the week (for most
	22	cultures. For the US, it's the 3rd day of the week since we start on
	23	Sunday).
	24	4. The only culture I could find with a connection to a =2= is that some
	25	Slavic languages derived their version of Tuesday from the Old Church
	26	Slavonic word =въторъ=, meaning "the second."
	27	5. Written in the classic monospaced, digital font (think of digital
	28	clocks from the 80s/90s), there is nice symmetry to the numbers
	29	([[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220222-tuesday/digital_font.png][view
	30	the image here]]!).
	31	6. This one isn't naturally-occurring, but it seems people around the
	32	world are celebrating the day. For example, a group is putting
	33	together
	34	[[https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2-22-22-a-collective-wedding-ceremony-at-the-state-capitol-tickets-211434605597][a
	35	wedding of 222 couples at the California State Capitol in
	36	Sacramento]], concluding at exactly 2:22 PM. These couples will
	37	record their marriage dates as 2-22-22 2:22 PM. Tickets were on sale
	38	for $222.22.

content/blog/2022-03-02-reliable-notes.md deleted −127

		@@ -1,127 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-02
3		title = "Easy, Reliable Note-Taking"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Choosing Durable File Formats
9
10		> TL;DR: Write in a format that can be easily rendered and read in plain-text
11		> mode (e.g., `.txt`, `.md`, etc.).
12
13		As I've written more and more over the years, I've found that my love of
14		note-taking is always growing. Everything I learn or need to remember can be
15		written down in a note and saved digitally, with no cost to myself. Unlike paper
16		copies that need physical storage space, digital files simply need space on your
17		local disk or cloud storage, which is fairly abundant these days.
18
19		However, I had a historical struggle with migration of notes between different
20		apps that require different formats and applied proprietary styling. This meant
21		that I had to go through each note during migration and edit the file to look
22		presentable again.
23
24		For the last year or two, I have written everything exclusively in
25		[Markdown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown) format. Small notes,
26		long-form writings, and even these blog posts are all written in Markdown.
27
28		Why Markdown? While I do appreciate the simplicity of plain-text files without
29		any formatting, I often need visual cues such as heading and code blocks to keep
30		my thoughts straight. Markdown provides a minimal set of styling indicators for
31		me to style my notes without adding any proprietary, embedded data into the
32		files. If I want a top-level heading, I simply add a hash (`#`) before the line.
33		An added bonus is that even if a system doesn't understand Markdown, it will
34		render it as plain-text and I can read it just as easily.
35
36		For example, here's how TextEdit on macOS will open and display a Markdown file
37		in plain-text, since it does contain any features to preview Markdown as HTML:
38
39		![Plain Text
40		Markdown](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/plain_markdown.png)
41
42		## Saving & Syncing Files
43
44		In order to read and edit my notes across platforms, I use my personal cloud
45		storage through Tresorit due to its native integration with macOS and iOS file
46		managers. In addition, Tresorit works well on Debian-based Linux distros, which
47		I used before macOS (and will likely switch back to in a few years).
48
49		You can use whatever sync software you want - syncing plain-text or markdown
50		files is incredibly easy and fast, since the files are generally tiny.
51
52		Since the cloud storage syncs files automatically, there is no need for me to
53		sync anything manually or kick-off a sync job to update my files. This means
54		that I can edit on mobile, and it takes about 5-10 seconds to see the changes on
55		desktop.
56
57		### Version Control with Git
58
59		A different approach I've contemplated is storing my notes and attachments is
60		using a hosted Git repository to track changes to the files. However, I don't
61		want to rely on an external service that could potentially see into my data,
62		even if the repository is private.
63
64		I might just do `git init` locally and then commit my changes each time I write
65		or update a note, but that seems to be a lot of work just for tracking changes -
66		which I don't necessarily care to know.
67
68		### Backups!
69
70		One small addition to the storage/sync conversation is the idea of backups.
71		Personally, I manually create periodic backups of my entire cloud storage,
72		compress it into an archive, and store it on my home server.
73
74		To improve my workflow, I am going to be exploring options to automatically
75		compress the mounted cloud directory and send it over to my server on a set
76		schedule.
77
78		## Writing on Desktop
79
80		> Update (06.14.22): Since writing this post, I have reverted to simply
81		> keeping my `notes` folder open and opening notes individually in TextEdit for
82		> a more minimal and relaxing writing experience on the desktop.
83
84		The bulk of my writing occurs in a desktop environment, with a full keyboard
85		layout and wide screen. I don't illustrate with a smart pen, I rarely use
86		embedded images, and I love being able to see all of my notes/directories in a
87		sidebar.
88
89		With this simple set of requirements, I chose [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) as
90		my desktop text editor. Obsidian has some in-depth tools like a graph view,
91		command palette, mentions, etc., but I've found that using it as a simple
92		Markdown editor is incredibly easy and straightforward.
93
94		Here's an example of how my Markdown notes look when opened in plain-text mode:
95
96		![Obsidian Markdown Source
97		Mode](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/obsidian_source_mode.png)
98
99		Here's the "live preview" version, where the Markdown is rendered into its HTML
100		format:
101
102		![Obsidian Markdown Live
103		Preview](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/obsidian_live_preview.png)
104
105		### Programming on Desktop
106
107		While I was writing this, I realized I should specify that I don't use the same
108		editor for writing notes and for writing code. For programming purposes, I use
109		[VSCodium](https://vscodium.com) as my development IDE.
110
111		## Writing on Mobile
112
113		Personally, I write very little on mobile, except when needing to take important
114		notes on-the-go. Any long-form writing, journals, etc. are done at home, where I
115		always have my laptop available.
116
117		I wanted a simple and foolproof editor for iOS, preferably open-source. After a
118		long journey of testing the few (& terrible) open-source iOS note-taking apps, I
119		finally found a phenomenal one:
120		[Runestone](https://github.com/simonbs/runestone). This app is fantastic for
121		note-taking, has plenty of optional features, and integrates natively with the
122		iOS file manager.
123
124		This app opens the iOS file manager and allows you to click any file you want,
125		opens it up in an editor, and lets me save and close out of that note.
126
127		Quite simple but effective.

content/blog/2022-03-02-reliable-notes.org added +156

		@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-03-02>
	2	#+title: Easy, Reliable Note-Taking
	3	#+description:
	4
	5	* Choosing Durable File Formats
	6	:PROPERTIES:
	7	:CUSTOM_ID: choosing-durable-file-formats
	8	:END:
	9
	10	#+begin_quote
	11	TL;DR: Write in a format that can be easily rendered and read in
	12	plain-text mode (e.g., =.txt=, =.md=, etc.).
	13	#+end_quote
	14
	15	As I've written more and more over the years, I've found that my love of
	16	note-taking is always growing. Everything I learn or need to remember
	17	can be written down in a note and saved digitally, with no cost to
	18	myself. Unlike paper copies that need physical storage space, digital
	19	files simply need space on your local disk or cloud storage, which is
	20	fairly abundant these days.
	21
	22	However, I had a historical struggle with migration of notes between
	23	different apps that require different formats and applied proprietary
	24	styling. This meant that I had to go through each note during migration
	25	and edit the file to look presentable again.
	26
	27	For the last year or two, I have written everything exclusively in
	28	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown][Markdown]] format. Small
	29	notes, long-form writings, and even these blog posts are all written in
	30	Markdown.
	31
	32	Why Markdown? While I do appreciate the simplicity of plain-text files
	33	without any formatting, I often need visual cues such as heading and
	34	code blocks to keep my thoughts straight. Markdown provides a minimal
	35	set of styling indicators for me to style my notes without adding any
	36	proprietary, embedded data into the files. If I want a top-level
	37	heading, I simply add a hash (=#=) before the line. An added bonus is
	38	that even if a system doesn't understand Markdown, it will render it as
	39	plain-text and I can read it just as easily.
	40
	41	For example, here's how TextEdit on macOS will open and display a
	42	Markdown file in plain-text, since it does contain any features to
	43	preview Markdown as HTML:
	44
	45	#+caption: Plain Text Markdown
	46	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/plain_markdown.png]]
	47
	48	** Saving & Syncing Files
	49	:PROPERTIES:
	50	:CUSTOM_ID: saving-syncing-files
	51	:END:
	52	In order to read and edit my notes across platforms, I use my personal
	53	cloud storage through Tresorit due to its native integration with macOS
	54	and iOS file managers. In addition, Tresorit works well on Debian-based
	55	Linux distros, which I used before macOS (and will likely switch back to
	56	in a few years).
	57
	58	You can use whatever sync software you want - syncing plain-text or
	59	markdown files is incredibly easy and fast, since the files are
	60	generally tiny.
	61
	62	Since the cloud storage syncs files automatically, there is no need for
	63	me to sync anything manually or kick-off a sync job to update my files.
	64	This means that I can edit on mobile, and it takes about 5-10 seconds to
	65	see the changes on desktop.
	66
	67	*** Version Control with Git
	68	:PROPERTIES:
	69	:CUSTOM_ID: version-control-with-git
	70	:END:
	71	A different approach I've contemplated is storing my notes and
	72	attachments is using a hosted Git repository to track changes to the
	73	files. However, I don't want to rely on an external service that could
	74	potentially see into my data, even if the repository is private.
	75
	76	I might just do =git init= locally and then commit my changes each time
	77	I write or update a note, but that seems to be a lot of work just for
	78	tracking changes - which I don't necessarily care to know.
	79
	80	*** Backups!
	81	:PROPERTIES:
	82	:CUSTOM_ID: backups
	83	:END:
	84	One small addition to the storage/sync conversation is the idea of
	85	backups. Personally, I manually create periodic backups of my entire
	86	cloud storage, compress it into an archive, and store it on my home
	87	server.
	88
	89	To improve my workflow, I am going to be exploring options to
	90	automatically compress the mounted cloud directory and send it over to
	91	my server on a set schedule.
	92
	93	** Writing on Desktop
	94	:PROPERTIES:
	95	:CUSTOM_ID: writing-on-desktop
	96	:END:
	97
	98	#+begin_quote
	99	Update (06.14.22): Since writing this post, I have reverted to simply
	100	keeping my =notes= folder open and opening notes individually in
	101	TextEdit for a more minimal and relaxing writing experience on the
	102	desktop.
	103	#+end_quote
	104
	105	The bulk of my writing occurs in a desktop environment, with a full
	106	keyboard layout and wide screen. I don't illustrate with a smart pen, I
	107	rarely use embedded images, and I love being able to see all of my
	108	notes/directories in a sidebar.
	109
	110	With this simple set of requirements, I chose
	111	[[https://obsidian.md][Obsidian]] as my desktop text editor. Obsidian
	112	has some in-depth tools like a graph view, command palette, mentions,
	113	etc., but I've found that using it as a simple Markdown editor is
	114	incredibly easy and straightforward.
	115
	116	Here's an example of how my Markdown notes look when opened in
	117	plain-text mode:
	118
	119	#+caption: Obsidian Markdown Source Mode
	120	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/obsidian_source_mode.png]]
	121
	122	Here's the "live preview" version, where the Markdown is rendered into
	123	its HTML format:
	124
	125	#+caption: Obsidian Markdown Live Preview
	126	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220302-easy-reliable-note-taking/obsidian_live_preview.png]]
	127
	128	*** Programming on Desktop
	129	:PROPERTIES:
	130	:CUSTOM_ID: programming-on-desktop
	131	:END:
	132	While I was writing this, I realized I should specify that I don't use
	133	the same editor for writing notes and for writing code. For programming
	134	purposes, I use [[https://vscodium.com][VSCodium]] as my development
	135	IDE.
	136
	137	** Writing on Mobile
	138	:PROPERTIES:
	139	:CUSTOM_ID: writing-on-mobile
	140	:END:
	141	Personally, I write very little on mobile, except when needing to take
	142	important notes on-the-go. Any long-form writing, journals, etc. are
	143	done at home, where I always have my laptop available.
	144
	145	I wanted a simple and foolproof editor for iOS, preferably open-source.
	146	After a long journey of testing the few (& terrible) open-source iOS
	147	note-taking apps, I finally found a phenomenal one:
	148	[[https://github.com/simonbs/runestone][Runestone]]. This app is
	149	fantastic for note-taking, has plenty of optional features, and
	150	integrates natively with the iOS file manager.
	151
	152	This app opens the iOS file manager and allows you to click any file you
	153	want, opens it up in an editor, and lets me save and close out of that
	154	note.
	155
	156	Quite simple but effective.

content/blog/2022-03-03-financial-database.md → content/blog/2022-03-03-financial-database.org renamed +132 −113

		@@ -1,66 +1,75 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-03
3		title = "Maintaining a Personal Financial Database"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Personal Financial Tracking
9
10		For the last 6-ish years, I've tracked my finances in a spreadsheet. This is
11		common practice in the business world, but any good dev will cringe at the
12		thought of storing long-term data in a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is not for
13		long-term storage or as a source of data to pull data/reports.
14
15		As I wanted to expand the functionality of my financial data (e.g., adding more
16		reports), I decided to migrate the data into a database. To run reports, I would
17		query the database and use a language like Python or Javascript to process the
18		data, perform calculations, and visualize the data.
19
20		# SQLite
21
22		When choosing the type of database I wanted to use for this project, I was split
23		between three options:
24
25		1. MySQL: The database I have the most experience with and have used for years.
26		2. PostgreSQL: A database I'm new to, but want to learn.
27		3. SQLite: A database that I've used for a couple projects and have moderate
28		experience.
29
30		I ended up choosing SQLite since it can be maintained within a single `.sqlite`
31		file, which allows me more flexibility for storage and backup. I keep this file
32		in my cloud storage and pull it up whenever needed.
33
34		## GUI Editing
35
36		Since I didn't want to try and import 1000--1500 records into my new database
37		via the command line, I opted to use [DB Browser for SQLite
38		(DB4S)](https://sqlitebrowser.org/) as a GUI tool. This application is
39		excellent, and I don't see myself going back to the CLI when working in this
40		database.
	1	#+date: <2022-03-03>
	2	#+title: Maintaining a Personal Financial Database
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Personal Financial Tracking
	7	:PROPERTIES:
	8	:CUSTOM_ID: personal-financial-tracking
	9	:END:
	10	For the last 6-ish years, I've tracked my finances in a spreadsheet.
	11	This is common practice in the business world, but any good dev will
	12	cringe at the thought of storing long-term data in a spreadsheet. A
	13	spreadsheet is not for long-term storage or as a source of data to pull
	14	data/reports.
	15
	16	As I wanted to expand the functionality of my financial data (e.g.,
	17	adding more reports), I decided to migrate the data into a database. To
	18	run reports, I would query the database and use a language like Python
	19	or Javascript to process the data, perform calculations, and visualize
	20	the data.
	21
	22	* SQLite
	23	:PROPERTIES:
	24	:CUSTOM_ID: sqlite
	25	:END:
	26	When choosing the type of database I wanted to use for this project, I
	27	was split between three options:
	28
	29	1. MySQL: The database I have the most experience with and have used for
	30	years.
	31	2. PostgreSQL: A database I'm new to, but want to learn.
	32	3. SQLite: A database that I've used for a couple projects and have
	33	moderate experience.
	34
	35	I ended up choosing SQLite since it can be maintained within a single
	36	=.sqlite= file, which allows me more flexibility for storage and backup.
	37	I keep this file in my cloud storage and pull it up whenever needed.
	38
	39	** GUI Editing
	40	:PROPERTIES:
	41	:CUSTOM_ID: gui-editing
	42	:END:
	43	Since I didn't want to try and import 1000--1500 records into my new
	44	database via the command line, I opted to use
	45	[[https://sqlitebrowser.org/][DB Browser for SQLite (DB4S)]] as a GUI
	46	tool. This application is excellent, and I don't see myself going back
	47	to the CLI when working in this database.
41	48
42	49	DB4S allows you to copy a range of cells from a spreadsheet and paste it
43		straight into the SQL table. I used this process for all 36 accounts, 1290
44		account statements, and 126 pay statements. Overall, I'm guessing this took
45		anywhere between 4--8 hours. In comparison, it probably took me 2-3 days to
46		initially create the spreadsheet.
47
48		## Schema
	50	straight into the SQL table. I used this process for all 36 accounts,
	51	1290 account statements, and 126 pay statements. Overall, I'm guessing
	52	this took anywhere between 4--8 hours. In comparison, it probably took
	53	me 2-3 days to initially create the spreadsheet.
49	54
50		The schema for this database is actually extremely simple and involves only
51		three tables (for now):
	55	** Schema
	56	:PROPERTIES:
	57	:CUSTOM_ID: schema
	58	:END:
	59	The schema for this database is actually extremely simple and involves
	60	only three tables (for now):
52	61
53		1. Accounts
54		2. Statements
55		3. Payroll
	62	1. Accounts
	63	2. Statements
	64	3. Payroll
56	65
57		Accounts
	66	Accounts
58	67
59		The Accounts table contains summary information about an account, such as a car
60		loan or a credit card. By viewing this table, you can find high-level data, such
61		as interest rate, credit line, or owner.
	68	The Accounts table contains summary information about an account, such
	69	as a car loan or a credit card. By viewing this table, you can find
	70	high-level data, such as interest rate, credit line, or owner.
62	71
63		```sql
	72	#+begin_src sql
64	73	CREATE TABLE "Accounts" (
65	74	"AccountID" INTEGER NOT NULL UNIQUE,
66	75	"AccountType" TEXT,
		@@ -72,16 +81,16 @@ CREATE TABLE "Accounts" (
72	81	"Co-Owner" TEXT,
73	82	PRIMARY KEY("AccountID" AUTOINCREMENT)
74	83	)
75		```
	84	#+end_src
76	85
77		Statements
	86	Statements
78	87
79		The Statements table uses the same unique identifier as the Accounts table,
80		meaning you can join the tables to find a monthly statement for any of the
81		accounts listed in the Accounts table. Each statement has an account ID,
82		statement date, and total balance.
	88	The Statements table uses the same unique identifier as the Accounts
	89	table, meaning you can join the tables to find a monthly statement for
	90	any of the accounts listed in the Accounts table. Each statement has an
	91	account ID, statement date, and total balance.
83	92
84		```sql
	93	#+begin_src sql
85	94	CREATE TABLE "Statements" (
86	95	"StatementID" INTEGER NOT NULL UNIQUE,
87	96	"AccountID" INTEGER,
		@@ -90,16 +99,16 @@ CREATE TABLE "Statements" (
90	99	PRIMARY KEY("StatementID" AUTOINCREMENT),
91	100	FOREIGN KEY("AccountID") REFERENCES "Accounts"("AccountID")
92	101	)
93		```
	102	#+end_src
94	103
95		Payroll
	104	Payroll
96	105
97		The Payroll table is a separate entity, unrelated to the Accounts or Statements
98		tables. This table contains all information you would find on a pay statement
99		from an employer. As you change employers or obtain new perks/benefits, just add
100		new columns to adapt to the new data.
	106	The Payroll table is a separate entity, unrelated to the Accounts or
	107	Statements tables. This table contains all information you would find on
	108	a pay statement from an employer. As you change employers or obtain new
	109	perks/benefits, just add new columns to adapt to the new data.
101	110
102		```sql
	111	#+begin_src sql
103	112	CREATE TABLE "Payroll" (
104	113	"PaycheckID" INTEGER NOT NULL UNIQUE,
105	114	"PayDate" TEXT,
		@@ -129,23 +138,28 @@ CREATE TABLE "Payroll" (
129	138	"TaxState" NUMERIC,
130	139	PRIMARY KEY("PaycheckID" AUTOINCREMENT)
131	140	)
132		```
133
134		## Python Reporting
135
136		Once I created the database tables and imported all my data, the only step left
137		was to create a process to report and visualize on various aspects of the data.
138
139		In order to explore and create the reports I'm interested in, I utilized a
140		two-part process involving Jupyter Notebooks and Python scripts.
141
142		### Step 1: Jupyter Notebooks
143
	141	#+end_src
	142
	143	** Python Reporting
	144	:PROPERTIES:
	145	:CUSTOM_ID: python-reporting
	146	:END:
	147	Once I created the database tables and imported all my data, the only
	148	step left was to create a process to report and visualize on various
	149	aspects of the data.
	150
	151	In order to explore and create the reports I'm interested in, I utilized
	152	a two-part process involving Jupyter Notebooks and Python scripts.
	153
	154	*** Step 1: Jupyter Notebooks
	155	:PROPERTIES:
	156	:CUSTOM_ID: step-1-jupyter-notebooks
	157	:END:
144	158	When I need to explore data, try different things, and re-run my code
145		cell-by-cell, I use Jupyter Notebooks. For example, I explored the `Accounts`
146		table until I found the following useful information:
	159	cell-by-cell, I use Jupyter Notebooks. For example, I explored the
	160	=Accounts= table until I found the following useful information:
147	161
148		```python
	162	#+begin_src python
149	163	import sqlite3
150	164	import pandas as pd
151	165	import matplotlib
		@@ -165,14 +179,17 @@ matplotlib.rcParams['legend.labelcolor'] = 'black'
165	179
166	180	# Display graph
167	181	df.groupby(['AccountType']).sum().plot.pie(title='Credit Line by Account Type', y='CreditLine', figsize=(5,5), autopct='%1.1f%%')
168		```
169
170		### Step 2: Python Scripts
	182	#+end_src
171	183
172		Once I explored enough through the notebooks and had a list of reports I wanted,
173		I moved on to create a Python project with the following structure:
	184	*** Step 2: Python Scripts
	185	:PROPERTIES:
	186	:CUSTOM_ID: step-2-python-scripts
	187	:END:
	188	Once I explored enough through the notebooks and had a list of reports I
	189	wanted, I moved on to create a Python project with the following
	190	structure:
174	191
175		```txt
	192	#+begin_src txt
176	193	finance/
177	194	├── notebooks/
178	195	│ │ ├── account_summary.ipynb
		@@ -189,23 +206,24 @@ finance/
189	206	├── process.py
190	207	├── requirements.txt
191	208	└── README.md
192		```
	209	#+end_src
193	210
194	211	This structure allows me to:
195	212
196		1. Compile all required python packages into `requirements.txt` for easy
197		installation if I move to a new machine.
198		2. Activate a virtual environment in `venv/` so I don't need to maintain a
199		system-wide Python environment just for this project.
200		3. Keep my `notebooks/` folder to continuously explore the data as I see fit.
201		4. Maintain a local copy of the database in `src/` for easy access.
202		5. Export reports, images, HTML files, etc. to `public/`.
	213	1. Compile all required python packages into =requirements.txt= for easy
	214	installation if I move to a new machine.
	215	2. Activate a virtual environment in =venv/= so I don't need to maintain
	216	a system-wide Python environment just for this project.
	217	3. Keep my =notebooks/= folder to continuously explore the data as I see
	218	fit.
	219	4. Maintain a local copy of the database in =src/= for easy access.
	220	5. Export reports, images, HTML files, etc. to =public/=.
203	221
204		Now, onto the differences between the code in a Jupyter Notebook and the actual
205		Python files. To create the report in the Notebook snippet above, I created the
206		following function inside `process.py`:
	222	Now, onto the differences between the code in a Jupyter Notebook and the
	223	actual Python files. To create the report in the Notebook snippet above,
	224	I created the following function inside =process.py=:
207	225
208		```python
	226	#+begin_src python
209	227	# Create summary pie chart
210	228	def summary_data(accounts: pandas.DataFrame) -> None:
211	229	accounts_01 = accounts[accounts["Owner"] == "Person01"]
		@@ -231,19 +249,20 @@ def summary_data(accounts: pandas.DataFrame) -> None:
231	249	)
232	250	)
233	251	summary_chart.figure.savefig(f"public/summary_chart_{x}.png", dpi=1200)
234		```
	252	#+end_src
235	253
236	254	The result? A high-quality pie chart that is read directly by the
237		`public/index.html` template I use.
	255	=public/index.html= template I use.
238	256
239	257	Other charts generated by this project include:
240	258
241		- Charts of account balances over time.
242		- Line chart of effective tax rate (taxes divided by taxable income).
243		- Salary projections and error limits using past income and inflation rates.
244		- Multi-line chart of gross income, taxable income, and net income.
	259	- Charts of account balances over time.
	260	- Line chart of effective tax rate (taxes divided by taxable income).
	261	- Salary projections and error limits using past income and inflation
	262	rates.
	263	- Multi-line chart of gross income, taxable income, and net income.
245	264
246		The best thing about this project? I can improve it at any given time, shaping
247		it into whatever helps me the most for that time. I imagine that I will be
248		introducing an asset tracking table soon to track the depreciating value of
249		cars, houses, etc. Who knows what's next?
	265	The best thing about this project? I can improve it at any given time,
	266	shaping it into whatever helps me the most for that time. I imagine that
	267	I will be introducing an asset tracking table soon to track the
	268	depreciating value of cars, houses, etc. Who knows what's next?

content/blog/2022-03-08-plex-migration.md deleted −218

		@@ -1,218 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-08
3		title = "Migrating Plex to a New Server with Nvidia GPU Transcoding"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Migration Phases
9
10		I recently decided to migrate my server from an old OptiPlex desktop machine to
11		a custom-built tower with better hardware in every category. In order to do
12		this, I would need to properly migrate a full Plex installation.
13
14		The second part of this migration is that the new server uses an Nvidia GPU and
15		does not have any integrated graphics, which requires extra work for
16		installation, but provides much better hardware transcoding options for Plex.
17
18		Therefore, I have broken this migration down into three phases:
19
20		1. Configure the New Server
21		2. Migrate Plex Data & Devices
22		3. Configure GPU Transcoding
23
24		# Phase 1: Configure the New Server
25
26		## Choosing an OS
27
28		In order to migrate Plex to my new server, I first needed to choose an
29		appropriate operating system (OS) and install it on the machine. Given that I
30		have encountered numerous issues installing other Linux distributions properly
31		with Nvidia graphics, I chose [Ubuntu
32		Server](https://ubuntu.com/download/server).
33
34		The first step is to create a bootable USB with Ubuntu Server. This is easy with
35		[Etcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/), an app that runs on many different
36		platforms. Just download the Ubuntu Server `.iso` image, launch Etcher, and
37		install the `.iso` on the USB.
38
39		Once the USB is created, insert it into my server, reboot, and click `Esc` (or
40		any of the `F1-12` keys) until the BIOS menu appears. Finally, launch the USB
41		boot drive.
42
43		## Booting with Nvidia
44
45		In order to install Ubuntu Server with an Nvidia Graphics card (and no
46		integrated graphics on this device for some reason), you'll have to configure
47		the boot menu to allow different graphics drivers to be loaded.
48
49		When booting from the USB, the machine will launch the initial installation
50		menu. From this menu, type `e` to view the default command options that come
51		with the device - it's a good idea to take a photo of this screen, so you can
52		enter these commands on the next screen (along with adding support for Nvidia).
53
54		Finally, type `Ctrl + C` to enter the command line. From this command line,
55		enter the commands found on the `e` screen. _Remember to add `nomodeset` to the
56		`linux ...` line so that your Nvidia device will display the installation
57		screens properly!_
58
59		Here's an example of the commands I pulled from the `e` screen and entered on
60		the command line.
61
62		```sh
63		setparams 'Install Ubuntu Server'
64		setgfxpayload=keep
65		linux /casper/vmlinuz quiet nomodeset ---
66		initrd /casper/initrd
67		boot
68		```
69
70		Once the machine is rebooted, enter the `e` screen again and add `nomodeset` to
71		the `linux ...` line again and press `Ctrl + X` to save the boot options.
72
73		The machine is now fully installed and can properly display on an external
74		display using the Nvidia GPU.
75
76		Always remember to update and upgrade on a new installation:
77
78		```sh
79		sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y; sudo apt autoremove -y
80		```
81
82		# Phase 2: Migrate Plex Data & Devices
83
84		This phase uses the great Plex article on migrations ([Move an Installation to
85		Another
86		System](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/))
87		and adds a bit more information to help with commands and context.
88
89		## Terminology
90
91		Source: The original server that is being replaced.\
92		Destination: The new server.\
93		Client: Any application that can be used to modify settings for both
94		source/destination.
95
96		## Step 01: [Client] Update Settings
97
98		Open up a Plex app and _disable_ the `Account` > `Library` > `Empty trash
99		automatically after every scan` preference for the source server.
100
101		## Step 02: [Destination] Install Plex
102
103		Open up the [Plex Media Server download
104		page](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/) and copy the link for the
105		appropriate platform.
106
107		Execute the following commands on the destination server to install Plex:
108
109		```sh
110		wget <url>
111		sudo dpkg -i <filename>
112		sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver.service
113		```
114
115		## Step 03: [Source] Stop Plex & Migrate Data
116
117		First, stop the Plex service so that no data is created or modified during the
118		migration.
119
120		```sh
121		sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver.service
122		```
123
124		Next, copy the data to the new server. To find where the Plex data directory is
125		located, Plex has another excellent article available: [Where is the Plex Media
126		Server data directory
127		located?](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/).
128
129		There are many ways to copy the data to the new server and will largely depend
130		on the size of the folder being copied. Personally, my data folder was ~23GB and
131		I opted to simply use the `scp` command to copy the files over SSH.
132
133		This process was throttled by the old server's slow HDD and ports and took
134		approximately 90 minutes to complete. In comparison, moving the data from the
135		new server's `home/user/` directory to the `/var/.../Plex Media Server`
136		directory took 2-3 minutes.
137
138		```sh
139		scp -r "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server" your_user@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:"'/path/to/destination/'"
140		```
141
142		## Step 04: [Destination] Update File Permissions
143
144		In case you move the data directory to a common area on the new server, it will
145		have to be moved to the proper location before Plex can function properly:
146
147		```sh
148		mv "Plex Media Server" /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/
149		```
150
151		To ensure permissions were retained properly, the server will need to show that
152		all files and folders in the data directory are owned by `plex:plex` (or
153		whichever user is running the Plex application).
154
155		```sh
156		sudo chown -R plex:plex "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"
157		```
158
159		Finally, start the service and check the status.
160
161		```sh
162		sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver.service
163		sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver.service
164		```
165
166		## Step 05: [Client] Update Libraries & Metadata
167
168		The first step - now that the new server is up and running - is to sign out of
169		the client and sign back in. Once this is done, update any library locations, if
170		necessary. This was unnecessary in my case since I simply moved my storage
171		drives from the source server to the destination server.
172
173		Next, perform the following actions in the client:
174
175		1. On the left sidebar, click `More` > Three-Dot Menu > `Scan Library Files`
176		2. _Enable_ the `Account` > `Library` > `Empty trash automatically after every
177		scan` preference for the source server.
178		3. On the left sidebar, click `More` > Three-Dot Menu > `Manage Server` > `Empty
179		Trash`
180		4. On the left sidebar, click `More` > Three-Dot Menu > `Manage Server` > `Clean
181		Bundles`
182		5. On the left sidebar, click `More` > Three-Dot Menu > `Manage Server` >
183		`Optimize Database`
184
185		Finally, double-check the Remote Access settings to make sure no changes have
186		caused issues with accessing the server from outside the network.
187
188		In my case, I use a single port forwarding rule in my router and needed to
189		update the Local LAN IP Address to the new server IP address.
190
191		# Phase 3: Configure GPU Transcoding
192
193		The final piece to the migration is enabling hardware transcoding so that Plex
194		can fully utilize the new Nvidia GPU available in the server. The first step is
195		to install Nvidia graphics drivers. This process may take a few minutes, but the
196		commands are pretty simple:
197
198		```sh
199		sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
200		sudo apt update
201		sudo apt-get install ubuntu-drivers-common
202		sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
203		```
204
205		Finally, reboot so that the changes are loaded:
206
207		```sh
208		sudo reboot now
209		```
210
211		To ensure that the Nvidia graphics drivers are working properly, run the
212		following command to view the available GPUs, statistics, and processes:
213
214		```sh
215		sudo nvidia-smi
216		```
217
218		Finally, enable hardware transcoding settings in the Plex application to finish the process.

content/blog/2022-03-08-plex-migration.org added +252

		@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-03-08>
	2	#+title: Migrating Plex to a New Server with Nvidia GPU Transcoding
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Migration Phases
	7	:PROPERTIES:
	8	:CUSTOM_ID: migration-phases
	9	:END:
	10	I recently decided to migrate my server from an old OptiPlex desktop
	11	machine to a custom-built tower with better hardware in every category.
	12	In order to do this, I would need to properly migrate a full Plex
	13	installation.
	14
	15	The second part of this migration is that the new server uses an Nvidia
	16	GPU and does not have any integrated graphics, which requires extra work
	17	for installation, but provides much better hardware transcoding options
	18	for Plex.
	19
	20	Therefore, I have broken this migration down into three phases:
	21
	22	1. Configure the New Server
	23	2. Migrate Plex Data & Devices
	24	3. Configure GPU Transcoding
	25
	26	* Phase 1: Configure the New Server
	27	:PROPERTIES:
	28	:CUSTOM_ID: phase-1-configure-the-new-server
	29	:END:
	30	** Choosing an OS
	31	:PROPERTIES:
	32	:CUSTOM_ID: choosing-an-os
	33	:END:
	34	In order to migrate Plex to my new server, I first needed to choose an
	35	appropriate operating system (OS) and install it on the machine. Given
	36	that I have encountered numerous issues installing other Linux
	37	distributions properly with Nvidia graphics, I chose
	38	[[https://ubuntu.com/download/server][Ubuntu Server]].
	39
	40	The first step is to create a bootable USB with Ubuntu Server. This is
	41	easy with [[https://www.balena.io/etcher/][Etcher]], an app that runs on
	42	many different platforms. Just download the Ubuntu Server =.iso= image,
	43	launch Etcher, and install the =.iso= on the USB.
	44
	45	Once the USB is created, insert it into my server, reboot, and click
	46	=Esc= (or any of the =F1-12= keys) until the BIOS menu appears. Finally,
	47	launch the USB boot drive.
	48
	49	** Booting with Nvidia
	50	:PROPERTIES:
	51	:CUSTOM_ID: booting-with-nvidia
	52	:END:
	53	In order to install Ubuntu Server with an Nvidia Graphics card (and no
	54	integrated graphics on this device for some reason), you'll have to
	55	configure the boot menu to allow different graphics drivers to be
	56	loaded.
	57
	58	When booting from the USB, the machine will launch the initial
	59	installation menu. From this menu, type =e= to view the default command
	60	options that come with the device - it's a good idea to take a photo of
	61	this screen, so you can enter these commands on the next screen (along
	62	with adding support for Nvidia).
	63
	64	Finally, type =Ctrl + C= to enter the command line. From this command
	65	line, enter the commands found on the =e= screen. /Remember to add
	66	=nomodeset= to the =linux ...= line so that your Nvidia device will
	67	display the installation screens properly!/
	68
	69	Here's an example of the commands I pulled from the =e= screen and
	70	entered on the command line.
	71
	72	#+begin_src sh
	73	setparams 'Install Ubuntu Server'
	74	setgfxpayload=keep
	75	linux /casper/vmlinuz quiet nomodeset ---
	76	initrd /casper/initrd
	77	boot
	78	#+end_src
	79
	80	Once the machine is rebooted, enter the =e= screen again and add
	81	=nomodeset= to the =linux ...= line again and press =Ctrl + X= to save
	82	the boot options.
	83
	84	The machine is now fully installed and can properly display on an
	85	external display using the Nvidia GPU.
	86
	87	Always remember to update and upgrade on a new installation:
	88
	89	#+begin_src sh
	90	sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y; sudo apt autoremove -y
	91	#+end_src
	92
	93	* Phase 2: Migrate Plex Data & Devices
	94	:PROPERTIES:
	95	:CUSTOM_ID: phase-2-migrate-plex-data-devices
	96	:END:
	97	This phase uses the great Plex article on migrations
	98	([[https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/][Move
	99	an Installation to Another System]]) and adds a bit more information to
	100	help with commands and context.
	101
	102	** Terminology
	103	:PROPERTIES:
	104	:CUSTOM_ID: terminology
	105	:END:
	106	Source: The original server that is being replaced.\\
	107	Destination: The new server.\\
	108	Client: Any application that can be used to modify settings for both
	109	source/destination.
	110
	111	** Step 01: [Client] Update Settings
	112	:PROPERTIES:
	113	:CUSTOM_ID: step-01-client-update-settings
	114	:END:
	115	Open up a Plex app and /disable/ the =Account= > =Library= >
	116	=Empty trash automatically after every scan= preference for the source
	117	server.
	118
	119	** Step 02: [Destination] Install Plex
	120	:PROPERTIES:
	121	:CUSTOM_ID: step-02-destination-install-plex
	122	:END:
	123	Open up the [[https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/][Plex Media
	124	Server download page]] and copy the link for the appropriate platform.
	125
	126	Execute the following commands on the destination server to install
	127	Plex:
	128
	129	#+begin_src sh
	130	wget <url>
	131	sudo dpkg -i <filename>
	132	sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver.service
	133	#+end_src
	134
	135	** Step 03: [Source] Stop Plex & Migrate Data
	136	:PROPERTIES:
	137	:CUSTOM_ID: step-03-source-stop-plex-migrate-data
	138	:END:
	139	First, stop the Plex service so that no data is created or modified
	140	during the migration.
	141
	142	#+begin_src sh
	143	sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver.service
	144	#+end_src
	145
	146	Next, copy the data to the new server. To find where the Plex data
	147	directory is located, Plex has another excellent article available:
	148	[[https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/][Where
	149	is the Plex Media Server data directory located?]].
	150
	151	There are many ways to copy the data to the new server and will largely
	152	depend on the size of the folder being copied. Personally, my data
	153	folder was ~23GB and I opted to simply use the =scp= command to copy the
	154	files over SSH.
	155
	156	This process was throttled by the old server's slow HDD and ports and
	157	took approximately 90 minutes to complete. In comparison, moving the
	158	data from the new server's =home/user/= directory to the
	159	=/var/.../Plex Media Server= directory took 2-3 minutes.
	160
	161	#+begin_src sh
	162	scp -r "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server" your_user@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:"'/path/to/destination/'"
	163	#+end_src
	164
	165	** Step 04: [Destination] Update File Permissions
	166	:PROPERTIES:
	167	:CUSTOM_ID: step-04-destination-update-file-permissions
	168	:END:
	169	In case you move the data directory to a common area on the new server,
	170	it will have to be moved to the proper location before Plex can function
	171	properly:
	172
	173	#+begin_src sh
	174	mv "Plex Media Server" /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/
	175	#+end_src
	176
	177	To ensure permissions were retained properly, the server will need to
	178	show that all files and folders in the data directory are owned by
	179	=plex:plex= (or whichever user is running the Plex application).
	180
	181	#+begin_src sh
	182	sudo chown -R plex:plex "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server"
	183	#+end_src
	184
	185	Finally, start the service and check the status.
	186
	187	#+begin_src sh
	188	sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver.service
	189	sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver.service
	190	#+end_src
	191
	192	** Step 05: [Client] Update Libraries & Metadata
	193	:PROPERTIES:
	194	:CUSTOM_ID: step-05-client-update-libraries-metadata
	195	:END:
	196	The first step - now that the new server is up and running - is to sign
	197	out of the client and sign back in. Once this is done, update any
	198	library locations, if necessary. This was unnecessary in my case since I
	199	simply moved my storage drives from the source server to the destination
	200	server.
	201
	202	Next, perform the following actions in the client:
	203
	204	1. On the left sidebar, click =More= > Three-Dot Menu >
	205	=Scan Library Files=
	206	2. /Enable/ the =Account= > =Library= >
	207	=Empty trash automatically after every scan= preference for the
	208	source server.
	209	3. On the left sidebar, click =More= > Three-Dot Menu > =Manage Server=
	210	> =Empty Trash=
	211	4. On the left sidebar, click =More= > Three-Dot Menu > =Manage Server=
	212	> =Clean Bundles=
	213	5. On the left sidebar, click =More= > Three-Dot Menu > =Manage Server=
	214	> =Optimize Database=
	215
	216	Finally, double-check the Remote Access settings to make sure no changes
	217	have caused issues with accessing the server from outside the network.
	218
	219	In my case, I use a single port forwarding rule in my router and needed
	220	to update the Local LAN IP Address to the new server IP address.
	221
	222	* Phase 3: Configure GPU Transcoding
	223	:PROPERTIES:
	224	:CUSTOM_ID: phase-3-configure-gpu-transcoding
	225	:END:
	226	The final piece to the migration is enabling hardware transcoding so
	227	that Plex can fully utilize the new Nvidia GPU available in the server.
	228	The first step is to install Nvidia graphics drivers. This process may
	229	take a few minutes, but the commands are pretty simple:
	230
	231	#+begin_src sh
	232	sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
	233	sudo apt update
	234	sudo apt-get install ubuntu-drivers-common
	235	sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
	236	#+end_src
	237
	238	Finally, reboot so that the changes are loaded:
	239
	240	#+begin_src sh
	241	sudo reboot now
	242	#+end_src
	243
	244	To ensure that the Nvidia graphics drivers are working properly, run the
	245	following command to view the available GPUs, statistics, and processes:
	246
	247	#+begin_src sh
	248	sudo nvidia-smi
	249	#+end_src
	250
	251	Finally, enable hardware transcoding settings in the Plex application to
	252	finish the process.

content/blog/2022-03-23-cloudflare-dns-api.md → content/blog/2022-03-23-cloudflare-dns-api.org renamed +48 −45

		@@ -1,39 +1,42 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-23
3		title = "Dynamic DNS with Cloudflare API"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-03-23>
	2	#+title: Dynamic DNS with Cloudflare API
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# DDNS: Dynamic DNS
9	5
10		If you're hosting a service from a location with dynamic DNS (where your IP may
11		change at any time), you must have a solution to update the DNS so that you can
12		access your service even when the IP of the server changes.
	6	* DDNS: Dynamic DNS
	7	:PROPERTIES:
	8	:CUSTOM_ID: ddns-dynamic-dns
	9	:END:
	10	If you're hosting a service from a location with dynamic DNS (where your
	11	IP may change at any time), you must have a solution to update the DNS
	12	so that you can access your service even when the IP of the server
	13	changes.
13	14
14		The process below uses the [Cloudflare API](https://api.cloudflare.com/) to
15		update DNS `A` and `AAAA` records with the server's current IP. If you use
16		another DNS provider, you will have to find a way to update your DNS (or find a
17		way to get a static IP).
	15	The process below uses the [[https://api.cloudflare.com/][Cloudflare
	16	API]] to update DNS =A= and =AAAA= records with the server's current IP.
	17	If you use another DNS provider, you will have to find a way to update
	18	your DNS (or find a way to get a static IP).
18	19
19		First, install `jq` since we will use it in the next script:
	20	First, install =jq= since we will use it in the next script:
20	21
21		```sh
	22	#+begin_src sh
22	23	sudo apt install jq
23		```
	24	#+end_src
24	25
25		Next, create a location for your DDNS update scripts and open the first script:
	26	Next, create a location for your DDNS update scripts and open the first
	27	script:
26	28
27		```sh
	29	#+begin_src sh
28	30	mkdir ~/ddns
29	31	nano ~/ddns/update.sh
30		```
	32	#+end_src
31	33
32		The following `update.sh` script will take all of your domains and subdomains
33		and check Cloudflare to see if the current `A` and `AAAA` records match your
34		server's IP address. If not, it will update the records.
	34	The following =update.sh= script will take all of your domains and
	35	subdomains and check Cloudflare to see if the current =A= and =AAAA=
	36	records match your server's IP address. If not, it will update the
	37	records.
35	38
36		```sh
	39	#+begin_src sh
37	40	# file: update.sh
38	41	#!/bin/bash
39	42
		@@ -55,20 +58,20 @@ do
55	58	echo -e "\nUpdating $subdomain..."
56	59	zone_name=$domain dns_record=$subdomain /home/<your-username>/ddns/ddns.sh
57	60	done
58		```
	61	#+end_src
59	62
60		Next, open up the `ddns.sh` script. Paste the following into the script and
61		update the `api_token` and `email` variables.
	63	Next, open up the =ddns.sh= script. Paste the following into the script
	64	and update the =api_token= and =email= variables.
62	65
63		```sh
	66	#+begin_src sh
64	67	nano ~/ddns/ddns.sh
65		```
	68	#+end_src
66	69
67		Note: If you want your DNS records to be proxied through Cloudflare, find
68		and update the following snippet: `"proxied":false}"` to say `true` instead of
69		`false`.
	70	Note: If you want your DNS records to be proxied through Cloudflare,
	71	find and update the following snippet: ="proxied":false}"= to say =true=
	72	instead of =false=.
70	73
71		```sh
	74	#+begin_src sh
72	75	# file: ddns.sh
73	76	#!/bin/bash
74	77	# based on https://gist.github.com/Tras2/cba88201b17d765ec065ccbedfb16d9a
		@@ -161,30 +164,30 @@ then
161	164	else
162	165	echo "There is a problem with either the email or the password"
163	166	fi
164		```
	167	#+end_src
165	168
166	169	Once the script is saved and closed, make the scripts executable:
167	170
168		```sh
	171	#+begin_src sh
169	172	chmod +x ~/ddns/ddns.sh
170	173	chmod +x ~/ddns/update.sh
171		```
	174	#+end_src
172	175
173	176	You can test the script by running it manually:
174	177
175		```sh
	178	#+begin_src sh
176	179	./update.sh
177		```
	180	#+end_src
178	181
179		To make sure the scripts run automatically, add it to the `cron` file so that it
180		will run on a schedule. To do this, open the cron file:
	182	To make sure the scripts run automatically, add it to the =cron= file so
	183	that it will run on a schedule. To do this, open the cron file:
181	184
182		```sh
	185	#+begin_src sh
183	186	crontab -e
184		```
	187	#+end_src
185	188
186	189	In the cron file, paste the following at the bottom of the editor:
187	190
188		```sh
189		/5 * ** bash /home/<your_username>/ddns/update.sh
190		```
	191	#+begin_src sh
	192	,/5 * ** bash /home/<your_username>/ddns/update.sh
	193	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-03-23-nextcloud-on-ubuntu.md → content/blog/2022-03-23-nextcloud-on-ubuntu.org renamed +93 −73

		@@ -1,80 +1,92 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-23
3		title = "Self-Hosting Nextcloud"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-03-23>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Nextcloud
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# What is Nextcloud?
9	5
10		[Nextcloud](https://nextcloud.com/) is a self-hosted solution for storage,
11		communications, editing, calendar, contacts, and more.
	6	* What is Nextcloud?
	7	:PROPERTIES:
	8	:CUSTOM_ID: what-is-nextcloud
	9	:END:
	10	[[https://nextcloud.com/][Nextcloud]] is a self-hosted solution for
	11	storage, communications, editing, calendar, contacts, and more.
12	12
13	13	This tutorial assumes that you have an Ubuntu server and a domain name
14	14	configured to point toward the server.
15	15
16		# Install Dependencies
17
	16	* Install Dependencies
	17	:PROPERTIES:
	18	:CUSTOM_ID: install-dependencies
	19	:END:
18	20	To start, you will need to install the packages that Nextcloud requires:
19	21
20		```sh
	22	#+begin_src sh
21	23	sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server libapache2-mod-php7.4
22	24	sudo apt install php7.4-gd php7.4-mysql php7.4-curl php7.4-mbstring php7.4-intl
23	25	sudo apt install php7.4-gmp php7.4-bcmath php-imagick php7.4-xml php7.4-zip
24		```
25
26		# Set Up MySQL
	26	#+end_src
27	27
28		Next, you will need to log in to MySQL as the `root` user of the machine.
	28	* Set Up MySQL
	29	:PROPERTIES:
	30	:CUSTOM_ID: set-up-mysql
	31	:END:
	32	Next, you will need to log in to MySQL as the =root= user of the
	33	machine.
29	34
30		```sh
	35	#+begin_src sh
31	36	sudo mysql -uroot -p
32		```
	37	#+end_src
33	38
34		Once you've logged in, you must create a new user so that Nextcloud can manage
35		the database. You will also create a `nextcloud` database and assign privileges:
	39	Once you've logged in, you must create a new user so that Nextcloud can
	40	manage the database. You will also create a =nextcloud= database and
	41	assign privileges:
36	42
37		```sql
	43	#+begin_src sql
38	44	CREATE USER 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
39	45	CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS nextcloud CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
40	46	GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON nextcloud.** TO 'username'@'localhost';
41	47	FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
42	48	quit;
43		```
44
45		# Download & Install Nextcloud
46
47		To download Nextcloud, go the [Nextcloud downloads
48		page](https://nextcloud.com/install/#instructions-server), click on `Archive
49		File` and right-click the big blue button to copy the link.
50
51		Then, go to your server and enter the following commands to download, unzip, and
52		move the files to your destination directory. This example uses `example.com` as
53		the destination, but you can put it wherever you want to server your files from.
54
55		```sh
	49	#+end_src
	50
	51	* Download & Install Nextcloud
	52	:PROPERTIES:
	53	:CUSTOM_ID: download-install-nextcloud
	54	:END:
	55	To download Nextcloud, go the
	56	[[https://nextcloud.com/install/#instructions-server][Nextcloud
	57	downloads page]], click on =Archive File= and right-click the big blue
	58	button to copy the link.
	59
	60	Then, go to your server and enter the following commands to download,
	61	unzip, and move the files to your destination directory. This example
	62	uses =example.com= as the destination, but you can put it wherever you
	63	want to server your files from.
	64
	65	#+begin_src sh
56	66	wget https://download.nextcloud.com/server/releases/nextcloud-23.0.3.zip
57	67	sudo apt install unzip
58	68	unzip nextcloud-23.0.3.zip
59	69	sudo cp -r nextcloud /var/www/example.com
60		```
	70	#+end_src
61	71
62		# Configure the Apache Web Server
63
64		Now that the database is set up and Nextcloud is installed, you need to set up
65		the Apache configuration files to tell the server how to handle requests for
66		`example.com/nextcloud`.
	72	* Configure the Apache Web Server
	73	:PROPERTIES:
	74	:CUSTOM_ID: configure-the-apache-web-server
	75	:END:
	76	Now that the database is set up and Nextcloud is installed, you need to
	77	set up the Apache configuration files to tell the server how to handle
	78	requests for =example.com/nextcloud=.
67	79
68	80	First, open the following file in the editor:
69	81
70		```sh
	82	#+begin_src sh
71	83	sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/nextcloud.conf
72		```
	84	#+end_src
73	85
74		Once the editor is open, paste the following information in. Then, save and
75		close the file.
	86	Once the editor is open, paste the following information in. Then, save
	87	and close the file.
76	88
77		```config
	89	#+begin_src config
78	90	<VirtualHost *:80>
79	91	DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com
80	92	ServerName example.com
		@@ -93,57 +105,65 @@ close the file.
93	105	</IfModule>
94	106	</Directory>
95	107	</VirtualHost>
96		```
	108	#+end_src
97	109
98	110	Once the file is saved, enable it with Apache:
99	111
100		```sh
	112	#+begin_src sh
101	113	sudo a2ensite nextcloud.conf
102		```
	114	#+end_src
103	115
104	116	Next, enable the Apache mods required by Nextcloud:
105	117
106		```sh
	118	#+begin_src sh
107	119	sudo a2enmod rewrite headers env dir mime
108		```
	120	#+end_src
109	121
110		Finally, restart Apache. If any errors arise, you must solve those before
111		continuing.
	122	Finally, restart Apache. If any errors arise, you must solve those
	123	before continuing.
112	124
113		```sh
	125	#+begin_src sh
114	126	sudo systemctl restart apache2
115		```
	127	#+end_src
116	128
117	129	For the app to work, you must have the correct file permissions on your
118		`nextcloud` directory. Set the owner to be `www-data`:
	130	=nextcloud= directory. Set the owner to be =www-data=:
119	131
120		```sh
	132	#+begin_src sh
121	133	sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/example.com/nextcloud/
122		```
123
124		# DNS
	134	#+end_src
125	135
	136	* DNS
	137	:PROPERTIES:
	138	:CUSTOM_ID: dns
	139	:END:
126	140	If you do not have a static IP address, you will need to update your DNS
127		settings (at your DNS provider) whenever your dynamic IP address changes.
128
129		For an example on how I do that with Cloudflare, see my other post: [Updating
130		Dynamic DNS with Cloudflare API](../updating-dynamic-dns-with-cloudflare-api/)
	141	settings (at your DNS provider) whenever your dynamic IP address
	142	changes.
131	143
132		# Certbot
	144	For an example on how I do that with Cloudflare, see my other post:
	145	[[../updating-dynamic-dns-with-cloudflare-api/][Updating Dynamic DNS
	146	with Cloudflare API]]
133	147
134		If you want to serve Nextcloud from HTTPS rather than plain HTTP, use the
135		following commands to issue Let's Encrypt SSL certificates:
	148	* Certbot
	149	:PROPERTIES:
	150	:CUSTOM_ID: certbot
	151	:END:
	152	If you want to serve Nextcloud from HTTPS rather than plain HTTP, use
	153	the following commands to issue Let's Encrypt SSL certificates:
136	154
137		```sh
	155	#+begin_src sh
138	156	sudo apt install snapd
139	157	sudo snap install core
140	158	sudo snap refresh core
141	159	sudo snap install --classic certbot
142	160	sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
143	161	sudo certbot --apache
144		```
145
146		# Results
147
148		Voilà! You're all done and should be able to access Nextcloud from your domain
149		or IP address.
	162	#+end_src
	163
	164	* Results
	165	:PROPERTIES:
	166	:CUSTOM_ID: results
	167	:END:
	168	Voilà! You're all done and should be able to access Nextcloud from your
	169	domain or IP address.

content/blog/2022-03-24-server-hardening.md deleted −345

		@@ -1,345 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-24
3		title = "Hardening a Public-Facing Home Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Post Updates
9
10		> After reviewing this post today (2022-10-04), I noticed quite a few gaps in my
11		> write-up and wanted to add a few things, even though this blog is really just
12		> a retrospective and knowledge dump for myself. I left things intact and simply
13		> crossed them out (~~like this~~) for posterity.
14
15		# Planning Data Flows & Security
16
17		## My Personal Data Flow
18
19		```txt
20		┌───────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
21		┌──► VLAN1 ├───► Private Devices │
22		│ └───────┘ └─────────────────┘
23		┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ │
24		│ Internet ├───► Router ├───► Firewall ├───► Switch ├──┤
25		└──────────┘ └────────┘ └──────────┘ └────────┘ │
26		│ ┌───────┐ ┌───────────────┐
27		└──► VLAN2 ├───► Public Server │
28		└───────┘ └───────────────┘
29		```
30
31		## Thought Process
32
33		To serve content from your home server and harden your security posture, you
34		have to think about the transport of data from `server` to `client`.
35
36		Let's start with the actual server itself. Think about the following:
37
38		- Do I have a firewall enabled? Do I need to update this to allow new ports or
39		IPs?
40		- Do I have an IPS/IDS that may prevent outside traffic?
41		- Do I have any other security software installed?
42		- Are the services hosted inside Docker containers, behind a reverse proxy, or
43		virtualized? If so, are they configured to allow outside traffic?
44
45		Once the data leaves the server, where does it go? In my case, it goes to a
46		managed switch. In this case, I asked the following:
47
48		- What configurations is the switch using?
49		- Am I using VLANs?
50		- Yes, I am using 802.1Q VLANs.
51		- Are the VLANs configured properly?
52		- Yes, as shown in the Switch section below, I have a separate VLAN to
53		allow outside traffic to and from the server alone. No other devices,
54		except for a service port, and in that VLAN.
55
56		At this point, the data has been processed through the switch. Where does it go
57		next? In my case, it's pretty simple: it goes to the router/modem device.
58
59		- Does my ISP block any ports that I need?
60		- This is an important step that a lot of people run into when
61		self-hosting at home. Use an online port-checker tool for your IP or
62		call your ISP if you think ports are blocked.
63		- Is there a router firewall?
64		- Yes, I checked that it's configured to allow the ports I need to run my
65		services publicly. Common web servers and reverse proxies require ports
66		80 and 443, but other services like media servers or games can require
67		unique ports, so be sure to check the documentation for your service(s).
68		- Are there any other settings affecting inbound/outbound traffic?
69		- Schedules or access blocks
70		- Static Routing
71		- QoS
72		- Port Forwarding
73		- DMZ Hosting
74		- Remote Management (this can sometimes mess with services that also
75		require the use of ports 80 and 443)
76
77		Once the data leaves my router, it goes to the upstream ISP and can be accessed
78		publicly.
79
80		### Server
81
82		+The services I run on my server are installed straight into the OS, without any
83		use of Docker or VMs, so I don't need any extra application configuration to
84		make them accessible to the outside world.+
85
86		As of 2022-10-04, the paragraph above is no longer true as I now run a reverse
87		proxy with Nginx and host many services inside Docker. However, it doesn't
88		change anything regarding this post as I still just need to open ports 80 & 443
89		and create the necessary website configuration files.
90
91		When creating new services - either installed directly on bare metal or within
92		something like Docker - I ensure that I read through the documentation
93		thoroughly to understand a few key things: - What network activities should this
94		app perform (if any)? Using which ports and protocols? - Does this app require
95		any commands/services to be run as `root`? - Does this app log errors,
96		authentication failures/successes, or anything else that would be useful for an
97		investigation?
98
99		For extra security, I use limit all incoming connections to SSH connections
100		through my server firewall (`ufw`) and disable common SSH settings. After all of
101		that, I use `fail2ban` as a preventative measure against brute-force login
102		attempts.
103
104		As another piece of security, you can randomize your SSH port to ensure that
105		random scanners or attackers can't easily try to force their way into your
106		network. For example, you can edit the port rules in your server to block all
107		connection requests to port `22` but forward all remote connections from port
108		`12345` to your server's port `22`. Then you just need to SSH to your network
109		via your randomized port.
110
111		## `ufw`
112
113		To see how to configure `ufw`, see my other post: [Secure Your Network with the
114		Uncomplicated
115		Firewall](../secure-your-network-with-the-uncomplicated-firewall/).
116
117		The general notion with an on-device firewall is that you want to deny all
118		incoming connections by default and then selectively open certain ports for
119		services or users that you know need access.
120
121		If you know that you will only be logging into this server from a certain set or
122		list of IPs, you can always set the firewall to only allow connections to port
123		22 from those IPs.
124
125		For a quick start to only allow SSH connections to the server, use this:
126
127		```sh
128		sudo ufw default deny incoming
129		sudo ufw default allow outgoing
130		sudo ufw allow 22
131		sudo ufw enable
132		```
133
134		## `ssh`
135
136		1. Using SSH Keys
137
138		First, make sure you have an SSH keypair generated on the device(s) that
139		you'll be using to log in to the server. If you don't have an SSH key, run
140		this command:
141
142		```sh
143		ssh-keygen
144		```
145
146		Now that we have an SSH key, copy it to the server with the following
147		command, which will ask for the user's password before accepting the key:
148
149		```sh
150		ssh-copy-id my_user@my_server
151		```
152
153		If you have multiple keys, you'll need to specify which to use. After it's
154		complete, `ssh` back into the server as that user and make sure it doesn't
155		ask for a password.
156
157		2. Disable Password & Root Authentication
158
159		Now that we can access the server without a password, we will disable
160		password authentication and disable anyone from using `ssh` to login as
161		`root`.
162
163		To do this, open the `sshd_config` file:
164
165		```sh
166		sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
167		```
168
169		You'll need to update the parameters to the values below. If one of these
170		rules is commented-out or doesn't exist, create the rule at the bottom of
171		the file.
172
173		```config
174		PermitRootLogin no
175		PasswordAuthentication no
176		PubkeyAuthentication yes
177		```
178
179		Finally, restart the `ssh` service:
180
181		```sh
182		sudo systemctl restart sshd.service
183		```
184
185		To test that everything's working so far, open ANOTHER terminal and try
186		logging in as `root` over SSH. It is very important that you keep your
187		current SSH session open and test with an additional session, or you will
188		lock yourself out at some point and will need to use a recovery method
189		(e.g., hooking monitor up to home server) to get yourself back in.
190
191		3. Enable MFA for `ssh`
192
193		This part is optional, but I highly recommend it. So far, we've ensured that
194		no one can log into our user on the server without using our secret key, and
195		we've ensured that no one can log in remotely as `root`. Next, you can
196		enable MFA authentication for `ssh` connections.
197
198		This process involves editing a couple files and installing an MFA package,
199		so I will not include all the details in this post. To see how to configure
200		MFA for `ssh`, see my other post: [Enabling MFA for
201		SSH](../enable-totp-mfa-for-ssh/).
202
203		## `fail2ban`
204
205		I haven't written a post on how I use `fail2ban`, but it's quite simple. I use
206		the default `sshd` jail, but you can always create new jails for respective
207		applications or ports. For example, if you use Nginx as your web server, you can
208		use the `nginx-http-auth` jail.
209
210		In order to get it up and running, use the following commands:
211
212		```sh
213		sudo apt install fail2ban
214		sudo fail2ban-client start sshd
215		sudo fail2ban-client status sshd
216		```
217
218		This should be used as a last-resort defense and shouldn't be a replacement for
219		the security measures mentioned above.
220
221		# Switch
222
223		Between the router and any local devices is my managed switch, which is used to
224		create VLANs. The example below shows how I would isolate the VLANs if I were
225		starting to host a single service at home.
226
227		## 802.1Q VLAN Configuration
228
229		In this configuration, port 8 is the public server that needs to be accessed
230		from the outside. Port 23 is my 'dedicated service port' for this server. In
231		order to SSH to this server, I need to plug my laptop into port 23 or else I
232		cannot SSH. Otherwise, I'd need to hook up a monitor and keyboard directly to
233		the server to manage it.
234
235		\|
236
237		\| VLAN ID \| VLAN Name \| Member Ports \| Tagged Ports \| Untagged Ports \|
238		\| ------- \| --------- \| ------------ \| ------------ \| -------------- \|
239		\| 1 \| Default \| 1-24 \| 1-24 \| \|
240		\| 2 \| Server \| 1,8,23 \| 1,8,23 \| \|
241
242		## 802.1Q VLAN PVID Setting
243
244		Once the VLAN is created, I simply add the `VLAN ID` of `2` as the `PVID` for
245		any related ports (in this case, see that ports `8` and `23` have a PVID of
246		`2`).
247
248		\| Port \| PVID \|
249		\| ---- \| ---- \|
250		\| 1 \| 1 \|
251		\| 2 \| 1 \|
252		\| 3 \| 1 \|
253		\| 4 \| 1 \|
254		\| 5 \| 1 \|
255		\| 6 \| 1 \|
256		\| 7 \| 1 \|
257		\| 8 \| 2 \|
258		\| 9 \| 1 \|
259		\| 10 \| 1 \|
260		\| 11 \| 1 \|
261		\| 12 \| 1 \|
262		\| 13 \| 1 \|
263		\| 14 \| 1 \|
264		\| 15 \| 1 \|
265		\| 16 \| 1 \|
266		\| 17 \| 1 \|
267		\| 18 \| 1 \|
268		\| 19 \| 1 \|
269		\| 20 \| 1 \|
270		\| 21 \| 1 \|
271		\| 22 \| 1 \|
272		\| 23 \| 2 \|
273		\| 24 \| 1 \|
274
275		# Router
276
277		On my router, the configuration was as easy as opening the firewall settings and
278		unblocking the ports I needed for my services (e.g., HTTP/S, Plex, SSH, MySQL,
279		etc.).
280
281		_Since I'm relying on an ISP-provided modem/router combo for now (not by
282		choice), I do not use any other advanced settings on my router that would
283		inhibit any valid traffic to these services._
284
285		The paragraph above regarding the ISP-owned router is no longer accurate as I
286		now use the Ubiquiti Unifi Dream Machine Pro as my router. Within this router, I
287		enabled port forwarding/firewall rules, segregate the network based on the
288		device, and enable traffic restrictions (e.g., silently drop traffic from
289		certain countries and threat categories).
290
291		If you have the option with your ISP, I recommend using a personal router with
292		software that you are familiar with so that you can explore all the options
293		available to you.
294
295		# Physical Security
296
297		One large piece of self-hosting that people generally don't discuss online is
298		physical security. However, physical security is very important for everyone who
299		hosts a server like this. Exactly _how_ important it is depends on the server
300		use/purpose.
301
302		If you self-host customer applications that hold protected data (HIPAA, GDPR,
303		COPPA, etc.), then physical security is extremely important and cannot be
304		ignored. If you simply host a blog and some hobby sites, then it's a relatively
305		minor consideration, but one you still need to think about.
306
307		## Location
308
309		The first consideration is quite simple: location.
310
311		- Is the server within a property you own or housed on someone else's
312		property?
313		- Is it nearby (in your house, in your work office, in your neighbor's garage,
314		in a storage unit, etc.)?
315		- Do you have 24/7 access to the server?
316		- Are there climate considerations, such as humidity, fires, tornadoes,
317		monsoons?
318		- Do you have emergency equipment nearby in case of emergency?
319
320		## Hardware Ownership
321
322		Secondly, consider the hardware itself:
323
324		- Do you own the server in its entirety?
325		- Are any other users able to access the server, even if your data/space is
326		segregated?
327		- If you're utilizing a third party, do they have any documentation to show
328		responsibility? This could be a SOC 1/2/3 report, ISO compliance report,
329		internal security/safety documentation.
330
331		## Physical Controls
332
333		Regardless of who owns the hardware, ensure that there are adequate safeguards
334		in place, if necessary. These usually don't apply to small home servers and are
335		usually covered already if you're utilizing a third party.
336
337		These can include:
338
339		- Server bezel locks
340		- Server room locks - physical, digital, or biometric authentication
341		- Security cameras
342		- Raised floors/lowered ceilings with proper guards/gates in-place within the
343		floors or ceilings
344		- Security personnel
345		- Log sheets and/or guest badges

content/blog/2022-03-24-server-hardening.org added +341

		@@ -0,0 +1,341 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-03-24>
	2	#+title: Hardening a Public-Facing Home Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Post Updates
	7
	8	#+begin_quote
	9	After reviewing this post today (2022-10-04), I noticed quite a few gaps in my
	10	write-up and wanted to add a few things, even though this blog is really just a
	11	retrospective and knowledge dump for myself. I left things intact and simply
	12	crossed them out (+like this+) for posterity.
	13	#+end_quote
	14
	15	* Planning Data Flows & Security
	16
	17	** My Personal Data Flow
	18
	19	#+begin_src
	20	┌───────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
	21	┌──► VLAN1 ├───► Private Devices │
	22	│ └───────┘ └─────────────────┘
	23	┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ │
	24	│ Internet ├───► Router ├───► Firewall ├───► Switch ├──┤
	25	└──────────┘ └────────┘ └──────────┘ └────────┘ │
	26	│ ┌───────┐ ┌───────────────┐
	27	└──► VLAN2 ├───► Public Server │
	28	└───────┘ └───────────────┘
	29	#+end_src
	30
	31	** Thought Process
	32
	33	To serve content from your home server and harden your security posture, you
	34	have to think about the transport of data from =server= to =client=.
	35
	36	Let's start with the actual server itself. Think about the following:
	37
	38	- Do I have a firewall enabled? Do I need to update this to allow new ports or
	39	IPs?
	40	- Do I have an IPS/IDS that may prevent outside traffic?
	41	- Do I have any other security software installed?
	42	- Are the services hosted inside Docker containers, behind a reverse proxy, or
	43	virtualized? If so, are they configured to allow outside traffic?
	44
	45	Once the data leaves the server, where does it go? In my case, it goes to a
	46	managed switch. In this case, I asked the following:
	47
	48	- What configurations is the switch using?
	49	- Am I using VLANs?
	50	- Yes, I am using 802.1Q VLANs.
	51	- Are the VLANs configured properly?
	52	- Yes, as shown in the Switch section below, I have a separate VLAN to allow
	53	outside traffic to and from the server alone. No other devices, except for a
	54	service port, and in that VLAN.
	55
	56	At this point, the data has been processed through the switch. Where does it go
	57	next? In my case, it's pretty simple: it goes to the router/modem device.
	58
	59	- Does my ISP block any ports that I need?
	60	- This is an important step that a lot of people run into when self-hosting at
	61	home. Use an online port-checker tool for your IP or call your ISP if you
	62	think ports are blocked.
	63	- Is there a router firewall?
	64	- Yes, I checked that it's configured to allow the ports I need to run my
	65	services publicly. Common web servers and reverse proxies require ports 80
	66	and 443, but other services like media servers or games can require unique
	67	ports, so be sure to check the documentation for your service(s).
	68	- Are there any other settings affecting inbound/outbound traffic?
	69	- Schedules or access blocks
	70	- Static Routing
	71	- QoS
	72	- Port Forwarding
	73	- DMZ Hosting
	74	- Remote Management (this can sometimes mess with services that also require
	75	the use of ports 80 and 443)
	76
	77	Once the data leaves my router, it goes to the upstream ISP and can be accessed
	78	publicly.
	79
	80	*** Server
	81
	82	The services I run on my server are installed straight into the OS, without any
	83	use of Docker or VMs, so I don't need any extra application configuration to
	84	make them accessible to the outside world.+
	85
	86	As of 2022-10-04, the paragraph above is no longer true as I now run a reverse
	87	proxy with Nginx and host many services inside Docker. However, it doesn't
	88	change anything regarding this post as I still just need to open ports 80 & 443
	89	and create the necessary website configuration files.
	90
	91	When creating new services - either installed directly on bare metal or within
	92	something like Docker - I ensure that I read through the documentation
	93	thoroughly to understand a few key things: - What network activities should this
	94	app perform (if any)? Using which ports and protocols? - Does this app require
	95	any commands/services to be run as =root=? - Does this app log errors,
	96	authentication failures/successes, or anything else that would be useful for an
	97	investigation?
	98
	99	For extra security, I use limit all incoming connections to SSH connections
	100	through my server firewall (=ufw=) and disable common SSH settings. After all of
	101	that, I use =fail2ban= as a preventative measure against brute-force login
	102	attempts.
	103
	104	As another piece of security, you can randomize your SSH port to ensure that
	105	random scanners or attackers can't easily try to force their way into your
	106	network. For example, you can edit the port rules in your server to block all
	107	connection requests to port =22= but forward all remote connections from port
	108	=12345= to your server's port =22=. Then you just need to SSH to your network
	109	via your randomized port.
	110
	111	** =ufw=
	112
	113	To see how to configure =ufw=, see my other post: [[/blog/ufw.html][Secure Your
	114	Network with the Uncomplicated Firewall]].
	115
	116	The general notion with an on-device firewall is that you want to deny all
	117	incoming connections by default and then selectively open certain ports for
	118	services or users that you know need access.
	119
	120	If you know that you will only be logging into this server from a certain set or
	121	list of IPs, you can always set the firewall to only allow connections to port
	122	22 from those IPs.
	123
	124	For a quick start to only allow SSH connections to the server, use this:
	125
	126	#+begin_src sh
	127	sudo ufw default deny incoming
	128	sudo ufw default allow outgoing
	129	sudo ufw allow 22
	130	sudo ufw enable
	131	#+end_src
	132
	133	** =ssh=
	134
	135	1. Using SSH Keys
	136
	137	First, make sure you have an SSH keypair generated on the device(s) that
	138	you'll be using to log in to the server. If you don't have an SSH key, run
	139	this command:
	140
	141	#+begin_src sh
	142	ssh-keygen
	143	#+end_src
	144
	145	Now that we have an SSH key, copy it to the server with the following
	146	command, which will ask for the user's password before accepting the key:
	147
	148	#+begin_src sh
	149	ssh-copy-id my_user@my_server
	150	#+end_src
	151
	152	If you have multiple keys, you'll need to specify which to use. After it's
	153	complete, =ssh= back into the server as that user and make sure it doesn't
	154	ask for a password.
	155
	156	2. Disable Password & Root Authentication
	157
	158	Now that we can access the server without a password, we will disable
	159	password authentication and disable anyone from using =ssh= to login as
	160	=root=.
	161
	162	To do this, open the =sshd_config= file:
	163
	164	#+begin_src sh
	165	sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
	166	#+end_src
	167
	168	You'll need to update the parameters to the values below. If one of these
	169	rules is commented-out or doesn't exist, create the rule at the bottom of the
	170	file.
	171
	172	#+begin_src config
	173	PermitRootLogin no
	174	PasswordAuthentication no
	175	PubkeyAuthentication yes
	176	#+end_src
	177
	178	Finally, restart the =ssh= service:
	179
	180	#+begin_src sh
	181	sudo systemctl restart sshd.service
	182	#+end_src
	183
	184	To test that everything's working so far, open ANOTHER terminal and try
	185	logging in as =root= over SSH. It is very important that you keep your
	186	current SSH session open and test with an additional session, or you will
	187	lock yourself out at some point and will need to use a recovery method (e.g.,
	188	hooking monitor up to home server) to get yourself back in.
	189
	190	3. Enable MFA for =ssh=
	191
	192	This part is optional, but I highly recommend it. So far, we've ensured that
	193	no one can log into our user on the server without using our secret key, and
	194	we've ensured that no one can log in remotely as =root=. Next, you can enable
	195	MFA authentication for =ssh= connections.
	196
	197	This process involves editing a couple files and installing an MFA package,
	198	so I will not include all the details in this post. To see how to configure
	199	MFA for =ssh=, see my other post: [[/blog/ssh-mfa.html][Enabling MFA for
	200	SSH]].
	201
	202	** =fail2ban=
	203
	204	I haven't written a post on how I use =fail2ban=, but it's quite simple. I use
	205	the default =sshd= jail, but you can always create new jails for respective
	206	applications or ports. For example, if you use Nginx as your web server, you can
	207	use the =nginx-http-auth= jail.
	208
	209	In order to get it up and running, use the following commands:
	210
	211	#+begin_src sh
	212	sudo apt install fail2ban
	213	sudo fail2ban-client start sshd
	214	sudo fail2ban-client status sshd
	215	#+end_src
	216
	217	This should be used as a last-resort defense and shouldn't be a replacement for
	218	the security measures mentioned above.
	219
	220	* Switch
	221
	222	Between the router and any local devices is my managed switch, which is used to
	223	create VLANs. The example below shows how I would isolate the VLANs if I were
	224	starting to host a single service at home.
	225
	226	** 802.1Q VLAN Configuration
	227
	228	In this configuration, port 8 is the public server that needs to be accessed
	229	from the outside. Port 23 is my 'dedicated service port' for this server. In
	230	order to SSH to this server, I need to plug my laptop into port 23 or else I
	231	cannot SSH. Otherwise, I'd need to hook up a monitor and keyboard directly to
	232	the server to manage it.
	233
	234	\| VLAN ID \| VLAN Name \| Member Ports \| Tagged Ports \| Untagged Ports \|
	235	\|---------+-----------+--------------+--------------+----------------\|
	236	\| 1 \| Default \| 1-24 \| 1-24 \| \|
	237	\| 2 \| Server \| 1,8,23 \| 1,8,23 \| \|
	238
	239	** 802.1Q VLAN PVID Setting
	240
	241	Once the VLAN is created, I simply add the =VLAN ID= of =2= as the =PVID= for
	242	any related ports (in this case, see that ports =8= and =23= have a PVID of
	243	=2=).
	244
	245	\| Port \| PVID \|
	246	\|------+------\|
	247	\| 1 \| 1 \|
	248	\| 2 \| 1 \|
	249	\| 3 \| 1 \|
	250	\| 4 \| 1 \|
	251	\| 5 \| 1 \|
	252	\| 6 \| 1 \|
	253	\| 7 \| 1 \|
	254	\| 8 \| 2 \|
	255	\| 9 \| 1 \|
	256	\| 10 \| 1 \|
	257	\| 11 \| 1 \|
	258	\| 12 \| 1 \|
	259	\| 13 \| 1 \|
	260	\| 14 \| 1 \|
	261	\| 15 \| 1 \|
	262	\| 16 \| 1 \|
	263	\| 17 \| 1 \|
	264	\| 18 \| 1 \|
	265	\| 19 \| 1 \|
	266	\| 20 \| 1 \|
	267	\| 21 \| 1 \|
	268	\| 22 \| 1 \|
	269	\| 23 \| 2 \|
	270	\| 24 \| 1 \|
	271
	272	* Router
	273
	274	On my router, the configuration was as easy as opening the firewall settings and
	275	unblocking the ports I needed for my services (e.g., HTTP/S, Plex, SSH, MySQL,
	276	etc.).
	277
	278	Since I'm relying on an ISP-provided modem/router combo for now (not by
	279	choice), I do not use any other advanced settings on my router that would
	280	inhibit any valid traffic to these services.
	281
	282	The paragraph above regarding the ISP-owned router is no longer accurate as I
	283	now use the Ubiquiti Unifi Dream Machine Pro as my router. Within this router, I
	284	enabled port forwarding/firewall rules, segregate the network based on the
	285	device, and enable traffic restrictions (e.g., silently drop traffic from
	286	certain countries and threat categories).
	287
	288	If you have the option with your ISP, I recommend using a personal router with
	289	software that you are familiar with so that you can explore all the options
	290	available to you.
	291
	292	* Physical Security
	293
	294	One large piece of self-hosting that people generally don't discuss online is
	295	physical security. However, physical security is very important for everyone who
	296	hosts a server like this. Exactly /how/ important it is depends on the server
	297	use/purpose.
	298
	299	If you self-host customer applications that hold protected data (HIPAA, GDPR,
	300	COPPA, etc.), then physical security is extremely important and cannot be
	301	ignored. If you simply host a blog and some hobby sites, then it's a relatively
	302	minor consideration, but one you still need to think about.
	303
	304	** Location
	305
	306	The first consideration is quite simple: location.
	307
	308	- Is the server within a property you own or housed on someone else's property?
	309	- Is it nearby (in your house, in your work office, in your neighbor's garage,
	310	in a storage unit, etc.)?
	311	- Do you have 24/7 access to the server?
	312	- Are there climate considerations, such as humidity, fires, tornadoes,
	313	monsoons?
	314	- Do you have emergency equipment nearby in case of emergency?
	315
	316	** Hardware Ownership
	317
	318	Secondly, consider the hardware itself:
	319
	320	- Do you own the server in its entirety?
	321	- Are any other users able to access the server, even if your data/space is
	322	segregated?
	323	- If you're utilizing a third party, do they have any documentation to show
	324	responsibility? This could be a SOC 1/2/3 report, ISO compliance report,
	325	internal security/safety documentation.
	326
	327	** Physical Controls
	328
	329	Regardless of who owns the hardware, ensure that there are adequate safeguards
	330	in place, if necessary. These usually don't apply to small home servers and are
	331	usually covered already if you're utilizing a third party.
	332
	333	These can include:
	334
	335	- Server bezel locks
	336	- Server room locks - physical, digital, or biometric authentication
	337	- Security cameras
	338	- Raised floors/lowered ceilings with proper guards/gates in-place within the
	339	floors or ceilings
	340	- Security personnel
	341	- Log sheets and/or guest badges

content/blog/2022-03-26-ssh-mfa.md → content/blog/2022-03-26-ssh-mfa.org renamed +89 −89

		@@ -1,82 +1,82 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-03-26
3		title = "Enable TOTP MFA for SSH"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-03-26>
	2	#+title: Enable TOTP MFA for SSH
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Why Do I Need MFA for SSH?
9	5
10		If you are a sysadmin of a server anywhere (that includes at home!), you may
11		want an added layer of protection against intruders. This is not a replacement
12		for other security measures, such as:
	6	* Why Do I Need MFA for SSH?
13	7
14		- Disable root SSH
15		- Disable SSH password authentication
16		- Allow only certain users to login via SSH
17		- Allow SSH only from certain IPs
	8	If you are a sysadmin of a server anywhere (that includes at home!), you
	9	may want an added layer of protection against intruders. This is not a
	10	replacement for other security measures, such as:
18	11
19		However, MFA can be added as an additional security measure to ensure that your
20		server is protected. This is especially important if you need to allow password
21		authentication for SSH.
	12	- Disable root SSH
	13	- Disable SSH password authentication
	14	- Allow only certain users to login via SSH
	15	- Allow SSH only from certain IPs
22	16
23		For more guidance on server security measures, see my other post: [Hardening a
24		Public-Facing Home Server](../hardening-a-public-facing-home-server/).
	17	However, MFA can be added as an additional security measure to ensure
	18	that your server is protected. This is especially important if you need
	19	to allow password authentication for SSH.
25	20
26		# Install MFA PAM Module
	21	For more guidance on server security measures, see my other post:
	22	[[../hardening-a-public-facing-home-server/][Hardening a Public-Facing
	23	Home Server]].
27	24
28		PAM, which stands for Pluggable Authentication Module, is an authentication
29		infrastructure used on Linux systems to authenticate a user. In order to use
30		this technology, let's install the `libpam-google-authenticator` package:
	25	* Install MFA PAM Module
31	26
32		```sh
	27	PAM, which stands for Pluggable Authentication Module, is an
	28	authentication infrastructure used on Linux systems to authenticate a
	29	user. In order to use this technology, let's install the
	30	=libpam-google-authenticator= package:
	31
	32	#+begin_src sh
33	33	sudo apt-get update
34		```
	34	#+end_src
35	35
36		```sh
	36	#+begin_src sh
37	37	sudo apt-get install libpam-google-authenticator
38		```
	38	#+end_src
39	39
40		# Initialize the PAM Module
	40	* Initialize the PAM Module
41	41
42		## Interactive Method
	42	** Interactive Method
43	43
44		Once the package is installed, initialize it and following the interactive
45		prompts to generate your OTP or TOTP:
	44	Once the package is installed, initialize it and following the
	45	interactive prompts to generate your OTP or TOTP:
46	46
47		```sh
	47	#+begin_src sh
48	48	google-authenticator
49		```
	49	#+end_src
50	50
51		If you are not sure how to answer, read the prompts carefully and think about
52		having to how each situation would affect your normal login attempts. If you are
53		still not sure, use my default responses below.
	51	If you are not sure how to answer, read the prompts carefully and think
	52	about having to how each situation would affect your normal login
	53	attempts. If you are still not sure, use my default responses below.
54	54
55		```txt
	55	#+begin_src txt
56	56	OUTPUT
57	57
58	58	Do you want authentication tokens to be time-based (y/n) y
59		```
	59	#+end_src
60	60
61		At this point, use an authenticator app somewhere one of your devices to scan
62		the QR code. Any future login attempts after our upcoming configuration changes
63		will require that TOTP.
	61	At this point, use an authenticator app somewhere one of your devices to
	62	scan the QR code. Any future login attempts after our upcoming
	63	configuration changes will require that TOTP.
64	64
65		```txt
	65	#+begin_src txt
66	66	OUTPUT
67	67
68	68	Do you want me to update your "/home/user/.google_authenticator" file? (y/n) y
69		```
	69	#+end_src
70	70
71		```txt
	71	#+begin_src txt
72	72	OUTPUT
73	73
74	74	Do you want to disallow multiple uses of the same authentication
75	75	token? This restricts you to one login about every 30s, but it increases
76	76	your chances to notice or even prevent man-in-the-middle attacks (y/n) y
77		```
	77	#+end_src
78	78
79		```txt
	79	#+begin_src txt
80	80	OUTPUT
81	81
82	82	By default, a new token is generated every 30 seconds by the mobile app.
		@@ -89,30 +89,30 @@ code, the next code) to 17 permitted codes (the 8 previous codes, the current
89	89	code, and the 8 next codes). This will permit for a time skew of up to 4 minutes
90	90	between client and server.
91	91	Do you want to do so? (y/n) n
92		```
	92	#+end_src
93	93
94		```txt
	94	#+begin_src txt
95	95	OUTPUT
96	96
97	97	If the computer that you are logging into isn't hardened against brute-force
98	98	login attempts, you can enable rate-limiting for the authentication module.
99	99	By default, this limits attackers to no more than 3 login attempts every 30s.
100	100	Do you want to enable rate-limiting? (y/n) y
101		```
	101	#+end_src
102	102
103		## Non-Interactive Method
	103	** Non-Interactive Method
104	104
105		If you need to do this quickly, know your responses to the prompts, or are
106		setting this up for numerous users, the non-interactive method can be much
107		faster:
	105	If you need to do this quickly, know your responses to the prompts, or
	106	are setting this up for numerous users, the non-interactive method can
	107	be much faster:
108	108
109		```sh
	109	#+begin_src sh
110	110	google-authenticator -t -d -f -r 3 -R 30 -w 3
111		```
	111	#+end_src
112	112
113	113	The options referenced above are as follows:
114	114
115		```txt
	115	#+begin_src txt
116	116	google-authenticator [<options>]
117	117	-h, --help Print this message
118	118	-c, --counter-based Set up counter-based (HOTP) verification
		@@ -132,65 +132,65 @@ google-authenticator [<options>]
132	132	-w, --window-size=W Set window of concurrently valid codes
133	133	-W, --minimal-window Disable window of concurrently valid codes
134	134	-e, --emergency-codes=N Number of emergency codes to generate
135		```
	135	#+end_src
136	136
137		This fully configures the authenticator, saves it to a file, and then outputs
138		the secret key, QR code, and recovery codes. (If you add the flag `-q`, then
139		there won't be any output). If you use this command in an automated fashion,
140		make sure your script captures the secret key and/or recovery codes and makes
141		them available to the user.
	137	This fully configures the authenticator, saves it to a file, and then
	138	outputs the secret key, QR code, and recovery codes. (If you add the
	139	flag =-q=, then there won't be any output). If you use this command in
	140	an automated fashion, make sure your script captures the secret key
	141	and/or recovery codes and makes them available to the user.
142	142
143		# PAM Configuration Settings
	143	* PAM Configuration Settings
144	144
145		Once you've enabled the T/OTP and have it saved to an MFA app on your phone or
146		other device, open the PAM `sshd` file:
	145	Once you've enabled the T/OTP and have it saved to an MFA app on your
	146	phone or other device, open the PAM =sshd= file:
147	147
148		```sh
	148	#+begin_src sh
149	149	sudo nano /etc/pam.d/sshd
150		```
	150	#+end_src
151	151
152		You need to do two things in this file. First, add the following lines to the
153		bottom of the file:
	152	You need to do two things in this file. First, add the following lines
	153	to the bottom of the file:
154	154
155		```config
	155	#+begin_src config
156	156	auth required pam_google_authenticator.so nullok
157	157	auth required pam_permit.so
158		```
	158	#+end_src
159	159
160	160	Second, comment-out the following line near the top of the file.
161	161
162		If you leave this line uncommented, every SSH login attempt will ask for the
163		following three authentication factors:
	162	If you leave this line uncommented, every SSH login attempt will ask for
	163	the following three authentication factors:
164	164
165		1. Publickey
166		2. Password
167		3. T/OTP code
	165	1. Publickey
	166	2. Password
	167	3. T/OTP code
168	168
169		```config
	169	#+begin_src config
170	170	#@include common-auth
171		```
	171	#+end_src
172	172
173		# SSH Configuration Settings
	173	* SSH Configuration Settings
174	174
175		Finally, edit the `sshd_config` file again:
	175	Finally, edit the =sshd_config= file again:
176	176
177		```sh
	177	#+begin_src sh
178	178	sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
179		```
	179	#+end_src
180	180
181		You'll need to change `ChallengeResponseAuthentication` to yes and add the
182		`AuthenticationMethods` line to the bottom of the file.
	181	You'll need to change =ChallengeResponseAuthentication= to yes and add
	182	the =AuthenticationMethods= line to the bottom of the file.
183	183
184		```config
	184	#+begin_src config
185	185	ChallengeResponseAuthentication yes
186	186	AuthenticationMethods publickey,password publickey,keyboard-interactive
187		```
	187	#+end_src
188	188
189		Finally, restart the `ssh` service:
	189	Finally, restart the =ssh= service:
190	190
191		```sh
	191	#+begin_src sh
192	192	sudo systemctl restart sshd.service
193		```
	193	#+end_src
194	194
195	195	The next time you log in, you should be greeted with a verification code
196	196	request!

content/blog/2022-04-02-nginx-reverse-proxy.md deleted −226

		@@ -1,226 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-04-02
3		title = "Set-Up a Reverse Proxy with Nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is a Reverse Proxy?
9
10		A reverse proxy is a server that is placed between local servers or services and
11		clients/users (e.g., the internet). The reverse proxy intercepts all requests
12		from clients at the network edge and uses its configuration files to determine
13		where each request should be sent.
14
15		## A Brief Example
16
17		For example, let's say that I run three servers in my home:
18
19		- Server01 (`example.com`)
20		- Server02 (`service01.example.com`)
21		- Server03 (`service02.example.com`)
22
23		I also run a reverse proxy in my home that intercepts all public traffic:
24
25		- Reverse Proxy
26
27		Assume that I have a domain name (`example.com`) that allows clients to request
28		websites or services from my home servers.
29
30		In this case, the reverse proxy will intercept all traffic from `example.com`
31		that enters my network and determine if the client is requesting valid data,
32		based on my configuration.
33
34		If the user is requesting `example.com` and my configuration files say that
35		Server~01~ holds that data, Nginx will send the user to Server~01~. If I were to
36		change the configuration so that `example.com` is routed to Server~02~, that
37		same user would be sent to Server~02~ instead.
38
39		```txt
40		┌──────┐ ┌───────────┐
41		│ User │─┐ ┌──► Server_01 │
42		└──────┘ │ │ └───────────┘
43		│ ┌──────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ │ ┌───────────┐
44		├────► Internet ├───► Reverse Proxy ├─────├──► Server_02 │
45		│ └──────────┘ └───────────────┘ │ └───────────┘
46		┌──────┐ │ │ ┌───────────┐
47		│ User │─┘ └──► Server_03 │
48		└──────┘ └───────────┘
49		```
50
51		# Reverse Proxy Options
52
53		There are a lot of options when it comes to reverse proxy servers, so I'm just
54		going to list a few of the options I've heard recommended over the last few
55		years:
56
57		- [Nginx](https://nginx.com)
58		- [Caddy](https://caddyserver.com)
59		- [Traefik](https://traefik.io/)
60		- [HAProxy](https://www.haproxy.org/)
61		- [Squid](https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/proxy-servers-squid)
62
63		In this post, we will be using Nginx as our reverse proxy, running on Ubuntu
64		Server 20.04.4 LTS.
65
66		# Nginx Reverse Proxy Example
67
68		## Local Applications
69
70		You may be like me and have a lot of applications running on your local network
71		that you'd like to expose publicly with a domain.
72
73		In my case, I have services running in multiple Docker containers within a
74		single server and want a way to visit those services from anywhere with a URL.
75		For example, on my local network, [Dashy](https://dashy.to) runs through port
76		4000 (`localhost:4000`) and [Uptime
77		Kuma](https://github.com/louislam/uptime-kuma) runs through port 3001
78		(`localhost:3001`).
79
80		In order to expose these services to the public, I will need to do the
81		following:
82
83		1. Set up DNS records for a domain or subdomain (one per service) to point
84		toward the IP address of the server.
85		2. Open up the server network's HTTP and HTTPS ports (80 & 443) so that the
86		reverse proxy can accept traffic and determine where to send it.
87		3. Install the reverse proxy software.
88		4. Configure the reverse proxy to recognize which service should get traffic
89		from any of the domains or subdomains.
90
91		## Step 1: DNS Configuration
92
93		To start, update your DNS configuration so that you have an `A` record for each
94		domain or subdomain.
95
96		The `A` records should point toward the public IP address of the server. If you
97		don't know the public IP address, log in to the server and run the following
98		command:
99
100		```sh
101		curl ifconfig.co
102		```
103
104		In the DNS example below, `xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx` is the public IP address of the
105		server.
106
107		```conf
108		example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
109		uptime.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
110		dashy.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
111		www CNAME example.com
112		```
113
114		Finally, ensure the DNS has propagated correctly with [DNS
115		Checker](https://dnschecker.org) by entering your domains or subdomains in the
116		search box and ensuring the results are showing the correct IP address.
117
118		## Step 2: Open Network Ports
119
120		This step will be different depending on which router you have in your home. If
121		you're not sure, try to visit [192.168.1.1](http://192.168.1.1) in your browser.
122		Login credentials are usually written on a sticker somewhere on your
123		modem/router.
124
125		Once you're able to log in to your router, find the Port Forwarding settings.
126		You will need to forward ports `80` and `443` to whichever machine is running
127		the reverse proxy.
128
129		In my case, the table below shows the port-forwarding rules I've created. In
130		this table, `xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx` is the local device IP of the reverse proxy
131		server, it will probably be an IP between `192.168.1.1` and `192.168.1.255`.
132
133		\| NAME \| FROM PORT \| DEST PORT/IP \| ENABLED \|
134		\| ----- \| --------- \| --------------- \| ------- \|
135		\| HTTP \| 80 \| xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx \| TRUE \|
136		\| HTTPS \| 443 \| xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx \| TRUE \|
137
138		Once configured, these rules will direct all web traffic to your reverse proxy.
139
140		## Step 3: Nginx Installation
141
142		To install Nginx, simply run the following command:
143
144		```sh
145		sudo apt install nginx
146		```
147
148		If you have a firewall enabled, open up ports `80` and `443` on your server so
149		that Nginx can accept web traffic from the router.
150
151		For example, if you want to use `ufw` for web traffic and SSH, run the following
152		commands:
153
154		```sh
155		sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
156		sudo ufw allow SSH
157		sudo ufw enable
158		```
159
160		## Step 4: Nginx Configuration
161
162		Now that we have domains pointing toward the server, the only step left is to
163		configure the reverse proxy to direct traffic from domains to local services.
164
165		To start, you'll need to create a configuration file for each domain in
166		`/etc/nginx/sites-available/`. They will look identical except for the
167		`server_name` variable and the `proxy_pass` port.
168
169		Dashy:
170
171		```sh
172		nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/dashy.example.com
173		```
174
175		```config
176		server {
177		listen 80;
178		server_name dashy.example.com;
179
180		location / {
181		proxy_pass http://localhost:4000;
182		}
183		}
184		```
185
186		Uptime:
187
188		```sh
189		nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/uptime.example.com
190		```
191
192		```config
193		server {
194		listen 80;
195		server_name uptime.example.com;
196
197		location / {
198		proxy_pass http://localhost:3001;
199		}
200		}
201		```
202
203		Once the configuration files are created, you will need to enable them with the
204		`symlink` command:
205
206		```sh
207		sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/dashy.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
208		```
209
210		Voilà! Your local services should now be available through their URLs.
211
212		# HTTPS with Certbot
213
214		If you've followed along, you'll notice that your services are only available
215		via HTTP (not HTTPS).
216
217		If you want to enable HTTPS for your new domains, you will need to generate
218		SSL/TLS certificates for them. The easiest way to generate certificates on Nginx
219		is [Certbot](https://certbot.eff.org):
220
221		```sh
222		sudo apt install snapd; sudo snap install core; sudo snap refresh core
223		sudo snap install --classic certbot
224		sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
225		sudo certbot --nginx
226		```

content/blog/2022-04-02-nginx-reverse-proxy.org added +230

		@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-04-02>
	2	#+title: Set-Up a Reverse Proxy with Nginx
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is a Reverse Proxy?
	7
	8	A reverse proxy is a server that is placed between local servers or
	9	services and clients/users (e.g., the internet). The reverse proxy
	10	intercepts all requests from clients at the network edge and uses its
	11	configuration files to determine where each request should be sent.
	12
	13	** A Brief Example
	14
	15	For example, let's say that I run three servers in my home:
	16
	17	- Server01 (=example.com=)
	18	- Server02 (=service01.example.com=)
	19	- Server03 (=service02.example.com=)
	20
	21	I also run a reverse proxy in my home that intercepts all public
	22	traffic:
	23
	24	- Reverse Proxy
	25
	26	Assume that I have a domain name (=example.com=) that allows clients to
	27	request websites or services from my home servers.
	28
	29	In this case, the reverse proxy will intercept all traffic from
	30	=example.com= that enters my network and determine if the client is
	31	requesting valid data, based on my configuration.
	32
	33	If the user is requesting =example.com= and my configuration files say
	34	that Server_{01} holds that data, Nginx will send the user to
	35	Server_{01}. If I were to change the configuration so that =example.com=
	36	is routed to Server_{02}, that same user would be sent to Server_{02}
	37	instead.
	38
	39	#+begin_src txt
	40	┌──────┐ ┌───────────┐
	41	│ User │─┐ ┌──► Server_01 │
	42	└──────┘ │ │ └───────────┘
	43	│ ┌──────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ │ ┌───────────┐
	44	├────► Internet ├───► Reverse Proxy ├─────├──► Server_02 │
	45	│ └──────────┘ └───────────────┘ │ └───────────┘
	46	┌──────┐ │ │ ┌───────────┐
	47	│ User │─┘ └──► Server_03 │
	48	└──────┘ └───────────┘
	49	#+end_src
	50
	51	* Reverse Proxy Options
	52
	53	There are a lot of options when it comes to reverse proxy servers, so
	54	I'm just going to list a few of the options I've heard recommended over
	55	the last few years:
	56
	57	- [[https://nginx.com][Nginx]]
	58	- [[https://caddyserver.com][Caddy]]
	59	- [[https://traefik.io/][Traefik]]
	60	- [[https://www.haproxy.org/][HAProxy]]
	61	- [[https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/proxy-servers-squid][Squid]]
	62
	63	In this post, we will be using Nginx as our reverse proxy, running on
	64	Ubuntu Server 20.04.4 LTS.
	65
	66	* Nginx Reverse Proxy Example
	67
	68	** Local Applications
	69
	70	You may be like me and have a lot of applications running on your local
	71	network that you'd like to expose publicly with a domain.
	72
	73	In my case, I have services running in multiple Docker containers within
	74	a single server and want a way to visit those services from anywhere
	75	with a URL. For example, on my local network,
	76	[[https://dashy.to][Dashy]] runs through port 4000 (=localhost:4000=)
	77	and [[https://github.com/louislam/uptime-kuma][Uptime Kuma]] runs
	78	through port 3001 (=localhost:3001=).
	79
	80	In order to expose these services to the public, I will need to do the
	81	following:
	82
	83	1. Set up DNS records for a domain or subdomain (one per service) to
	84	point toward the IP address of the server.
	85	2. Open up the server network's HTTP and HTTPS ports (80 & 443) so that
	86	the reverse proxy can accept traffic and determine where to send it.
	87	3. Install the reverse proxy software.
	88	4. Configure the reverse proxy to recognize which service should get
	89	traffic from any of the domains or subdomains.
	90
	91	** Step 1: DNS Configuration
	92
	93	To start, update your DNS configuration so that you have an =A= record
	94	for each domain or subdomain.
	95
	96	The =A= records should point toward the public IP address of the server.
	97	If you don't know the public IP address, log in to the server and run
	98	the following command:
	99
	100	#+begin_src sh
	101	curl ifconfig.co
	102	#+end_src
	103
	104	In the DNS example below, =xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx= is the public IP address of
	105	the server.
	106
	107	#+begin_src conf
	108	example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	109	uptime.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	110	dashy.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	111	www CNAME example.com
	112	#+end_src
	113
	114	Finally, ensure the DNS has propagated correctly with
	115	[[https://dnschecker.org][DNS Checker]] by entering your domains or
	116	subdomains in the search box and ensuring the results are showing the
	117	correct IP address.
	118
	119	** Step 2: Open Network Ports
	120
	121	This step will be different depending on which router you have in your
	122	home. If you're not sure, try to visit
	123	[[http://192.168.1.1][192.168.1.1]] in your browser. Login credentials
	124	are usually written on a sticker somewhere on your modem/router.
	125
	126	Once you're able to log in to your router, find the Port Forwarding
	127	settings. You will need to forward ports =80= and =443= to whichever
	128	machine is running the reverse proxy.
	129
	130	In my case, the table below shows the port-forwarding rules I've
	131	created. In this table, =xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx= is the local device IP of the
	132	reverse proxy server, it will probably be an IP between =192.168.1.1=
	133	and =192.168.1.255=.
	134
	135	\| NAME \| FROM PORT \| DEST PORT/IP \| ENABLED \|
	136	\|-------+-----------+-----------------+---------\|
	137	\| HTTP \| 80 \| xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx \| TRUE \|
	138	\| HTTPS \| 443 \| xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx \| TRUE \|
	139
	140	Once configured, these rules will direct all web traffic to your reverse
	141	proxy.
	142
	143	** Step 3: Nginx Installation
	144
	145	To install Nginx, simply run the following command:
	146
	147	#+begin_src sh
	148	sudo apt install nginx
	149	#+end_src
	150
	151	If you have a firewall enabled, open up ports =80= and =443= on your
	152	server so that Nginx can accept web traffic from the router.
	153
	154	For example, if you want to use =ufw= for web traffic and SSH, run the
	155	following commands:
	156
	157	#+begin_src sh
	158	sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
	159	sudo ufw allow SSH
	160	sudo ufw enable
	161	#+end_src
	162
	163	** Step 4: Nginx Configuration
	164
	165	Now that we have domains pointing toward the server, the only step left
	166	is to configure the reverse proxy to direct traffic from domains to
	167	local services.
	168
	169	To start, you'll need to create a configuration file for each domain in
	170	=/etc/nginx/sites-available/=. They will look identical except for the
	171	=server_name= variable and the =proxy_pass= port.
	172
	173	Dashy:
	174
	175	#+begin_src sh
	176	nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/dashy.example.com
	177	#+end_src
	178
	179	#+begin_src config
	180	server {
	181	listen 80;
	182	server_name dashy.example.com;
	183
	184	location / {
	185	proxy_pass http://localhost:4000;
	186	}
	187	}
	188	#+end_src
	189
	190	Uptime:
	191
	192	#+begin_src sh
	193	nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/uptime.example.com
	194	#+end_src
	195
	196	#+begin_src config
	197	server {
	198	listen 80;
	199	server_name uptime.example.com;
	200
	201	location / {
	202	proxy_pass http://localhost:3001;
	203	}
	204	}
	205	#+end_src
	206
	207	Once the configuration files are created, you will need to enable them
	208	with the =symlink= command:
	209
	210	#+begin_src sh
	211	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/dashy.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
	212	#+end_src
	213
	214	Voilà! Your local services should now be available through their URLs.
	215
	216	* HTTPS with Certbot
	217
	218	If you've followed along, you'll notice that your services are only
	219	available via HTTP (not HTTPS).
	220
	221	If you want to enable HTTPS for your new domains, you will need to
	222	generate SSL/TLS certificates for them. The easiest way to generate
	223	certificates on Nginx is [[https://certbot.eff.org][Certbot]]:
	224
	225	#+begin_src sh
	226	sudo apt install snapd; sudo snap install core; sudo snap refresh core
	227	sudo snap install --classic certbot
	228	sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
	229	sudo certbot --nginx
	230	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-04-09-pinetime.md deleted −134

		@@ -1,134 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-04-09
3		title = "PineTime: An Open-Source Smart Watch"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# PineTime Product Information
9
10		## Overview
11
12		The [PineTime](https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/) is an open-source smartwatch,
13		created by [PINE64](https://www.pine64.org). Originally announced in September
14		2019, this ARM-based watch is a fantastic option for users who want the benefits
15		of a modern smartwatch with the backing of open-source components and software.
16
17		## Product Specifications
18
19		I won't dive into too many details that you can find on [the product
20		page](https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/), but I wanted to point out the prices
21		for each watch and the primary functions:
22
23		1. Price:
24
25		- $26.99 (Sealed)
26		- $24.99 (Dev Kit)
27		- $51.98 (One Sealed + One Dev Kit)
28
29		2. Primary Functionality:
30
31		- Clock (+ Smartphone Sync)
32		- Pedometer
33		- Heart Rate Monitor
34		- Sleep Monitor
35		- Calories burned
36		- Messaging
37		- Smartphone Notifications
38		- Media Controls
39
40		# Unboxing
41
42		Now, my PineTime was ordered on 2022-02-17, shipped on 2022-02-22, and was
43		delivered on 2022-03-23. With the current delays on shipping times around the
44		world (and the semiconductor shortage), a month for delivery from China seems
45		reasonable to me.
46
47		The packaging is simple, and the watch comes with instructions, technical
48		information, the watch, and a charger (it does not include a USB wall adapter).
49
50		The watch itself was able to turn on immediately when I pulled it out of the
51		box, but the battery was depleted and required charging right away.
52
53		# Software
54
55		## Watch OS: InfiniTime
56
57		While turning on the watch for the first time, some of the main design choices
58		you can see in the watch OS,
59		[InfiniTime](https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/InfiniTime), are:
60
61		- A square bezel, not too thin against the sides of the watch.
62		- A simple, rubber band.
63		- Basic font and screen pixel design.
64		- Swipe gestures to access other screens.
65
66		The OS itself is fantastic in terms of functionality for me. It does exactly
67		what a smartwatch should do - track time, steps, heart rates, and connect to
68		another smart device, without being overly burdensome to the user.
69
70		My only gripe so far is that it's _really_ difficult to swipe to different
71		screens, such as pulling down the notification tray. I'm not sure if this is an
72		OS or hardware issue, but it makes it quite hard to quickly move around the
73		screens.
74
75		However, my absolute favorite design choice is that the button the side turns
76		the screen on and off and tilting/waving my wrist doesn't accidentally turn on
77		the screen. With other watches, I absolutely hated not being able to turn off
78		the raise-to-wake or wave features (i.e., blinding myself while wearing a watch
79		at night because I moved my arm).
80
81		## iOS App: InfiniLink
82
83		Since I am using iOS as my primary mobile device OS, I am using the
84		[InfiniLink](https://github.com/xan-m/InfiniLink) app to connect my watch.
85
86		This app provides the following for PineTime owners:
87
88		- Firmware updates
89		- Steps
90		- Charts
91		- Notifications
92
93		Another big feature of InfiniLink is the ability to track pedometer steps in a
94		collection of beautiful graphs, with the option to change your step goal and add
95		in manual steps.
96
97		Finally, there are charts to display the battery percentage and heart rates over
98		time. This area also comes with an option to clear data.
99
100		# Final Thoughts
101
102		## Pros
103
104		After wearing my watch for a few weeks, I have mostly positive thoughts about
105		the watch so far. In the past, I have owned smartwatches by FitBit, Fossil,
106		Apple, etc. - but I prefer the PineTime over all of those watches.
107
108		The PineTime strips out all the unnecessary features and performs the functions
109		that it provides effectively and efficiently.
110
111		The battery life is amazing on this device. By default, the watch seems to last
112		anywhere from a few days to a week before dying.
113
114		And of course, it's open source and backed by some of the most dedicated
115		enthusiasts and developers I've seen. Watching the Matrix channel, forums, and
116		website have been exciting to see.
117
118		## Cons
119
120		If I had to complain about anything, it would simply be the small bugs in some
121		features that can be contributed to the companion apps more than the watch
122		itself.
123
124		A regular user would want native notification support out-of-the-box, which is
125		the biggest item not working for me at the moment.
126
127		My only other complaint is that the battery indicator on the watch doesn't seem
128		accurate when it's nearing depletion - it seems that there's a bit of battery
129		life left and then my watch is dead very suddenly after. This could just be me
130		misinterpreting the battery level icons, but it has fooled me a few times into
131		thinking I had more battery left than I actually did.
132
133		Other than those small items, I really do love this watch and am glad I replaced
134		my Apple Watch with the PineTime.

content/blog/2022-04-09-pinetime.org added +138

		@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-04-09>
	2	#+title: PineTime: An Open-Source Smart Watch
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* PineTime Product Information
	7
	8	** Overview
	9
	10	The [[https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/][PineTime]] is an open-source
	11	smartwatch, created by [[https://www.pine64.org][PINE64]]. Originally
	12	announced in September 2019, this ARM-based watch is a fantastic option
	13	for users who want the benefits of a modern smartwatch with the backing
	14	of open-source components and software.
	15
	16	** Product Specifications
	17
	18	I won't dive into too many details that you can find on
	19	[[https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/][the product page]], but I wanted to
	20	point out the prices for each watch and the primary functions:
	21
	22	1. Price:
	23
	24	- $26.99 (Sealed)
	25	- $24.99 (Dev Kit)
	26	- $51.98 (One Sealed + One Dev Kit)
	27
	28	2. Primary Functionality:
	29
	30	- Clock (+ Smartphone Sync)
	31	- Pedometer
	32	- Heart Rate Monitor
	33	- Sleep Monitor
	34	- Calories burned
	35	- Messaging
	36	- Smartphone Notifications
	37	- Media Controls
	38
	39	* Unboxing
	40
	41	Now, my PineTime was ordered on 2022-02-17, shipped on 2022-02-22, and
	42	was delivered on 2022-03-23. With the current delays on shipping times
	43	around the world (and the semiconductor shortage), a month for delivery
	44	from China seems reasonable to me.
	45
	46	The packaging is simple, and the watch comes with instructions,
	47	technical information, the watch, and a charger (it does not include a
	48	USB wall adapter).
	49
	50	The watch itself was able to turn on immediately when I pulled it out of
	51	the box, but the battery was depleted and required charging right away.
	52
	53	* Software
	54
	55	** Watch OS: InfiniTime
	56
	57	While turning on the watch for the first time, some of the main design
	58	choices you can see in the watch OS,
	59	[[https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/InfiniTime][InfiniTime]], are:
	60
	61	- A square bezel, not too thin against the sides of the watch.
	62	- A simple, rubber band.
	63	- Basic font and screen pixel design.
	64	- Swipe gestures to access other screens.
	65
	66	The OS itself is fantastic in terms of functionality for me. It does
	67	exactly what a smartwatch should do - track time, steps, heart rates,
	68	and connect to another smart device, without being overly burdensome to
	69	the user.
	70
	71	My only gripe so far is that it's /really/ difficult to swipe to
	72	different screens, such as pulling down the notification tray. I'm not
	73	sure if this is an OS or hardware issue, but it makes it quite hard to
	74	quickly move around the screens.
	75
	76	However, my absolute favorite design choice is that the button the side
	77	turns the screen on and off and tilting/waving my wrist doesn't
	78	accidentally turn on the screen. With other watches, I absolutely hated
	79	not being able to turn off the raise-to-wake or wave features (i.e.,
	80	blinding myself while wearing a watch at night because I moved my arm).
	81
	82	** iOS App: InfiniLink
	83
	84	Since I am using iOS as my primary mobile device OS, I am using the
	85	[[https://github.com/xan-m/InfiniLink][InfiniLink]] app to connect my
	86	watch.
	87
	88	This app provides the following for PineTime owners:
	89
	90	- Firmware updates
	91	- Steps
	92	- Charts
	93	- Notifications
	94
	95	Another big feature of InfiniLink is the ability to track pedometer
	96	steps in a collection of beautiful graphs, with the option to change
	97	your step goal and add in manual steps.
	98
	99	Finally, there are charts to display the battery percentage and heart
	100	rates over time. This area also comes with an option to clear data.
	101
	102	* Final Thoughts
	103
	104	** Pros
	105
	106	After wearing my watch for a few weeks, I have mostly positive thoughts
	107	about the watch so far. In the past, I have owned smartwatches by
	108	FitBit, Fossil, Apple, etc. - *but I prefer the PineTime over all of
	109	those watches*.
	110
	111	The PineTime strips out all the unnecessary features and performs the
	112	functions that it provides effectively and efficiently.
	113
	114	The battery life is amazing on this device. By default, the watch seems
	115	to last anywhere from a few days to a week before dying.
	116
	117	And of course, it's open source and backed by some of the most dedicated
	118	enthusiasts and developers I've seen. Watching the Matrix channel,
	119	forums, and website have been exciting to see.
	120
	121	** Cons
	122
	123	If I had to complain about anything, it would simply be the small bugs
	124	in some features that can be contributed to the companion apps more than
	125	the watch itself.
	126
	127	A regular user would want native notification support out-of-the-box,
	128	which is the biggest item not working for me at the moment.
	129
	130	My only other complaint is that the battery indicator on the watch
	131	doesn't seem accurate when it's nearing depletion - it seems that
	132	there's a bit of battery life left and then my watch is dead very
	133	suddenly after. This could just be me misinterpreting the battery level
	134	icons, but it has fooled me a few times into thinking I had more battery
	135	left than I actually did.
	136
	137	Other than those small items, I really do love this watch and am glad I
	138	replaced my Apple Watch with the PineTime.

content/blog/2022-06-01-ditching-cloudflare.md deleted −89

		@@ -1,89 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-06-01
3		title = "Ditching Cloudflare for Njalla"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Registrar
9
10		After spending a year or so using Cloudflare for DNS only - no proxying or
11		applications - I spent the last few months using Cloudflare Tunnels and
12		Cloudflare Access to protect my self-hosted websites and applications via their
13		proxy traffic model.
14
15		However, I have never liked using Cloudflare due to their increasingly large
16		share of control over web traffic, as well as their business model of being a
17		MITM for all of your traffic.
18
19		So, as of today, I have switched over to [Njalla](https://njal.la) as my
20		registrar and DNS manager. I was able to easily transfer my domains over
21		rapidly, with only one domain taking more than 15-30 minutes to propagate.
22
23		+I do still have two domains sitting at Cloudflare for the moment while I decide
24		if they're worth the higher rates (one domain is 30€ and the other is 45€).+
25
26		> Update (2022.06.03): I ended up transferring my final two domains over to
27		> Njalla, clearing my Cloudflare account of personal data, and deleting the
28		> Cloudflare account entirely. _I actually feel relieved to have moved on to a
29		> provider I trust._
30
31		# DNS
32
33		As noted above, I'm using Njalla exclusively for DNS configurations on my
34		domains.
35
36		However, the transfer process was not ideal. As soon as the domains transferred
37		over, I switched the nameservers from Cloudflare to Njalla and lost most of the
38		associated DNS records. So, the majority of the time spent during the migration
39		was simply re-typing all the DNS records back in one-by-one.
40
41		This would be much simpler if I were able to edit the plain-text format of the
42		DNS configuration. I was able to do that at a past registrar (perhaps it was
43		[Gandi.net](https://gandi.net/)?) and it made life a lot easier.
44
45		## Dynamic DNS Updates
46
47		I have built an easy Python script to run (or set-up in `cron` to run
48		automatically) that will check my server's IPv4 and IPv6, compare it to Njalla,
49		and update the DNS records if they don't match. You can see the full script and
50		process in my other post: [Updating Dynamic DNS with Njalla
51		API](../njalla-dns-api/).
52
53		I haven't used this other method, but I do know that you can create `Dynamic`
54		DNS records with Njalla that [work for updating dynamic
55		subdomains](https://njal.la/docs/ddns/).
56
57		## Njalla's DNS Tool
58
59		One neat upside to Njalla is that they have a [DNS lookup
60		tool](https://check.njal.la/dns/) that provides a lot of great information for
61		those of you (AKA: me) who hate using the `dig` command.
62
63		This was very useful for monitoring a couple of my transferred domains to see
64		when the changes in nameservers, records, and DNSSEC went into effect.
65
66		# Tunnel
67
68		Cloudflare Tunnel is a service that acts as a reverse-proxy (hosted on
69		Cloudflare's servers) and allowed me to mask the private IP address of the
70		server hosting my various websites and apps.
71
72		However, as I was moving away from Cloudflare, I was not able to find a suitable
73		replacement that was both inexpensive and simple. So, I simply went back to
74		hosting [my own reverse proxy with
75		Nginx](file:///blog/set-up-nginx-reverse-proxy/). With the recent additions of
76		Unifi hardware in my server/network rack, I am much more protected against spam
77		and malicious attacks at the network edge than I was before I switched to
78		Cloudflare.
79
80		# Access
81
82		Cloudflare Access, another app I used in combination with Cloudflare Tunnel,
83		provided an authentication screen that required you to enter valid credentials
84		before Cloudflare would forward you to the actual website or app (if the
85		website/app has their own authentication, you'd then have to authenticate a
86		second time).
87
88		I did not replace this service with anything since I only host a handful of
89		non-sensitive apps that don't require duplicate authentication.

content/blog/2022-06-01-ditching-cloudflare.org added +95

		@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-06-01>
	2	#+title: Ditching Cloudflare for Njalla
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Registrar
	7
	8	After spending a year or so using Cloudflare for DNS only - no proxying
	9	or applications - I spent the last few months using Cloudflare Tunnels
	10	and Cloudflare Access to protect my self-hosted websites and
	11	applications via their proxy traffic model.
	12
	13	However, I have never liked using Cloudflare due to their increasingly
	14	large share of control over web traffic, as well as their business model
	15	of being a MITM for all of your traffic.
	16
	17	So, as of today, I have switched over to [[https://njal.la][Njalla]] as
	18	my registrar and DNS manager. I was able to easily transfer my domains
	19	over rapidly, with only one domain taking more than 15-30 minutes to
	20	propagate.
	21
	22	+I do still have two domains sitting at Cloudflare for the moment while
	23	I decide if they're worth the higher rates (one domain is 30€ and the
	24	other is 45€).+
	25
	26	#+begin_quote
	27	Update (2022.06.03): I ended up transferring my final two domains over
	28	to Njalla, clearing my Cloudflare account of personal data, and deleting
	29	the Cloudflare account entirely. /I actually feel relieved to have moved
	30	on to a provider I trust./
	31	#+end_quote
	32
	33	* DNS
	34
	35	As noted above, I'm using Njalla exclusively for DNS configurations on
	36	my domains.
	37
	38	However, the transfer process was not ideal. As soon as the domains
	39	transferred over, I switched the nameservers from Cloudflare to Njalla
	40	and lost most of the associated DNS records. So, the majority of the
	41	time spent during the migration was simply re-typing all the DNS records
	42	back in one-by-one.
	43
	44	This would be much simpler if I were able to edit the plain-text format
	45	of the DNS configuration. I was able to do that at a past registrar
	46	(perhaps it was [[https://gandi.net/][Gandi.net]]?) and it made life a
	47	lot easier.
	48
	49	** Dynamic DNS Updates
	50
	51	I have built an easy Python script to run (or set-up in =cron= to run
	52	automatically) that will check my server's IPv4 and IPv6, compare it to
	53	Njalla, and update the DNS records if they don't match. You can see the
	54	full script and process in my other post: [[../njalla-dns-api/][Updating
	55	Dynamic DNS with Njalla API]].
	56
	57	I haven't used this other method, but I do know that you can create
	58	=Dynamic= DNS records with Njalla that
	59	[[https://njal.la/docs/ddns/][work for updating dynamic subdomains]].
	60
	61	** Njalla's DNS Tool
	62
	63	One neat upside to Njalla is that they have a
	64	[[https://check.njal.la/dns/][DNS lookup tool]] that provides a lot of
	65	great information for those of you (AKA: me) who hate using the =dig=
	66	command.
	67
	68	This was very useful for monitoring a couple of my transferred domains
	69	to see when the changes in nameservers, records, and DNSSEC went into
	70	effect.
	71
	72	* Tunnel
	73
	74	Cloudflare Tunnel is a service that acts as a reverse-proxy (hosted on
	75	Cloudflare's servers) and allowed me to mask the private IP address of
	76	the server hosting my various websites and apps.
	77
	78	However, as I was moving away from Cloudflare, I was not able to find a
	79	suitable replacement that was both inexpensive and simple. So, I simply
	80	went back to hosting [[file:///blog/set-up-nginx-reverse-proxy/][my own
	81	reverse proxy with Nginx]]. With the recent additions of Unifi hardware
	82	in my server/network rack, I am much more protected against spam and
	83	malicious attacks at the network edge than I was before I switched to
	84	Cloudflare.
	85
	86	* Access
	87
	88	Cloudflare Access, another app I used in combination with Cloudflare
	89	Tunnel, provided an authentication screen that required you to enter
	90	valid credentials before Cloudflare would forward you to the actual
	91	website or app (if the website/app has their own authentication, you'd
	92	then have to authenticate a second time).
	93
	94	I did not replace this service with anything since I only host a handful
	95	of non-sensitive apps that don't require duplicate authentication.

content/blog/2022-06-07-self-hosting-freshrss.md deleted −238

		@@ -1,238 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-06-07
3		title = "Self-Hosting FreshRSS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Why RSS?
9
10		After noticing that I have collected 50+ blogs as bookmarks, I decided to
11		migrate back to using RSS feeds to stay up-to-date with my favorite websites.
12		Using RSS allows me to read all of these posts in a single app (on both mobile &
13		desktop) and allows me to be notified when new posts are available.
14
15		However, I ran into one issue: syncing subscriptions and read/unread posts
16		across devices. Since I want to be able to easily read on both mobile and
17		desktop, I decided to look for a self-hosted RSS solution.
18
19		Thus, I found [FreshRSS](https://www.freshrss.org/) and was able to successfully
20		install it on my server in about 30 minutes.
21
22		# Documentation
23
24		While it's certainly not robust, the [FreshRSS
25		documentation](https://freshrss.github.io/FreshRSS/) is helpful for figuring out
26		basic information about the service.
27
28		However, I wanted to install this service as a Docker container and stumbled
29		across the [Docker
30		README](https://github.com/FreshRSS/FreshRSS/tree/edge/Docker) within the GitHub
31		repository.
32
33		This README was the documentation I actually needed. However, as you'll see
34		below, I still had to manually edit one file (`config.php`) to access the API
35		externally via my RSS apps.
36
37		# Installation
38
39		## DNS
40
41		The first step, as required by any external web service, was assigning a domain
42		name to use. I chose to use a subdomain, like `rss.example.com`.
43
44		To assign this, I created an `A` record in my DNS settings with the IPv4 address
45		of the server and an `AAAA` record with the IPv6 address of the server. Note:
46		assigning an IPv6 (`AAAA`) record is optional, but I like to enable IPV6 for my
47		services.
48
49		```config
50		rss.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
51		rss.example.com AAAA xxxx:xxxx: ... :xxxx
52		```
53
54		## Docker
55
56		I initially tried to set up a `docker-compose.yml` file with a `.env` file
57		because I prefer to have a file I can look back at later to see how I initially
58		started the container, but it simply wouldn't work for me. I'm not sure why, but
59		I assume I wasn't telling `docker-compose` where the `.env` file was.
60
61		Regardless, I chose to simply run the service with `docker run`. See the
62		following command for my `docker run` configuration:
63
64		```sh
65		sudo docker run -d --restart unless-stopped --log-opt max-size=10m \
66		-p 8080:80 \
67		-e TZ=America/Chicago \
68		-e 'CRON_MIN=1,31' \
69		-v freshrss_data:/var/www/FreshRSS/data \
70		-v freshrss_extensions:/var/www/FreshRSS/extensions \
71		--name freshrss \
72		freshrss/freshrss
73		```
74
75		This started the container successfully and allowed me to visit the FreshRSS
76		instance at `localhost:8080`.
77
78		## Fresh RSS Set-Up
79
80		I HIGHLY suggest that you set up your user account prior to exposing this
81		service to the public. It's unlikely that someone is trying to access the exact
82		domain or IP/port you're assigning here, but as soon as you expose this service,
83		the first person to open the URL will be able to create the admin user.
84
85		In order to set up your FreshRSS service, open the `localhost:8080` URL in your
86		browser (you may need to use a local IP instead of `localhost` if you're
87		accessing the page from a different machine on the network - e.g.,
88		`192.168.1.20:8080`).
89
90		Once the page loads, set up your default user with a strong username and
91		password. You may also choose to configure other settings prior to exposing this
92		service.
93
94		## Nginx Reverse-Proxy
95
96		In order to access this service outside my home, I needed to set up a
97		reverse-proxy to connect `localhost:8080` to `rss.example.com`.
98
99		First, I created a new Nginx configuration file:
100
101		```sh
102		sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/rss.example.com
103		```
104
105		Within the config file, I pasted the following code:
106
107		```config
108		upstream freshrss {
109		server 127.0.0.1:8080;
110		keepalive 64;
111		}
112
113		server {
114		server_name rss.example.com;
115		listen 80;
116
117		location / {
118		# The final `/` is important.
119		proxy_pass http://localhost:8080/;
120		add_header X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN;
121		add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
122		proxy_redirect off;
123		proxy_buffering off;
124		proxy_set_header Host $host;
125		proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
126		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
127		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
128		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;
129		proxy_read_timeout 90;
130
131		# Forward the Authorization header for the Google Reader API.
132		proxy_set_header Authorization $http_authorization;
133		proxy_pass_header Authorization;
134		}
135		}
136		```
137
138		Finally, restart Nginx and you will be able to access your service via HTTP:
139
140		```sh
141		sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
142		```
143
144		## HTTPS
145
146		However, I don't want to access my RSS feeds via HTTP. I want it available only
147		via HTTPS. In order to do this, I ran the [certbot](https://certbot.eff.org/)
148		program to generate SSL certificates for me:
149
150		```sh
151		sudo certbot --nginx
152		```
153
154		This process will automatically generate an SSL certificate for you and modify
155		the Nginx configuration file to include a redirect from HTTP to HTTPS.
156
157		# Post-Installation Fixes
158
159		At this point, we have a functional FreshRSS website, available from anywhere
160		and secured with HTTPS. However, attempting to connect this service to an RSS
161		app resulted in many errors regarding unavailable URLs and incorrect
162		credentials.
163
164		## API Set-Up
165
166		First, you need to open your user profile in FreshRSS (`Settings` > `Profile`)
167		and set an API password in the field at the bottom. This is the password you
168		will need to provide to your RSS apps.
169
170		Once that is set and saved, click the link below the API password field to open
171		the API check tool. It should look something like `https://localhost:8080/api/`
172		or `https://rss.example.com/api/`.
173
174		Within this page, you _should_ see your correct external URL and "PASS" at the
175		bottom of each API type. This would mean everything is set up correctly, and you
176		can now move on and login to any RSS apps that support self-hosted options.
177
178		In my case, the URL showed an internal URL and I had a warning that the
179		`base_url` variable may be misconfigured. If this is the case, see the next
180		section for a fix.
181
182		## Base URL Fix
183
184		In order to fix the `base_url` for the API, I opened up my docker container with
185		the following command:
186
187		```sh
188		sudo docker exec -it freshrss bash
189		```
190
191		Within this container, update the packages and install an editor:
192
193		```sh
194		apt-get update
195		apt-get install nano
196		```
197
198		Finally, open up `config.php` in the `data` directory:
199
200		```sh
201		nano data/config.php
202		```
203
204		Within `config.php`, you will need to update the `base_url` variable and update
205		it to match your external URL. In my case, I simply commented-out the incorrect
206		URL with `//` and added the correct one on a new line:
207
208		```php
209		<?php
210		return array (
211		...
212		// 'base_url' => 'http://localhost:8080',
213		'base_url' => 'https://rss.example.com',
214		...
215		)
216		>
217		```
218
219		You can now exit the file with `Ctrl + x`, press `y` to save the file, and then
220		click `Enter` to keep the same file name.
221
222		Finally, just exit out of the docker container:
223
224		```sh
225		exit
226		```
227
228		Next, just restart the container:
229
230		```sh
231		sudo docker restart freshrss
232		```
233
234		Voilà! Your API check should now "PASS" and you should be able to use one of the
235		API URLs in your RSS apps.
236
237		In my case, I use [NetNewsWire](https://netnewswire.com) on my desktop and
238		phone.

content/blog/2022-06-07-self-hosting-freshrss.org added +243

		@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-06-07>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting FreshRSS
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Why RSS?
	7
	8	After noticing that I have collected 50+ blogs as bookmarks, I decided
	9	to migrate back to using RSS feeds to stay up-to-date with my favorite
	10	websites. Using RSS allows me to read all of these posts in a single app
	11	(on both mobile & desktop) and allows me to be notified when new posts
	12	are available.
	13
	14	However, I ran into one issue: syncing subscriptions and read/unread
	15	posts across devices. Since I want to be able to easily read on both
	16	mobile and desktop, I decided to look for a self-hosted RSS solution.
	17
	18	Thus, I found [[https://www.freshrss.org/][FreshRSS]] and was able to
	19	successfully install it on my server in about 30 minutes.
	20
	21	* Documentation
	22
	23	While it's certainly not robust, the
	24	[[https://freshrss.github.io/FreshRSS/][FreshRSS documentation]] is
	25	helpful for figuring out basic information about the service.
	26
	27	However, I wanted to install this service as a Docker container and
	28	stumbled across the
	29	[[https://github.com/FreshRSS/FreshRSS/tree/edge/Docker][Docker README]]
	30	within the GitHub repository.
	31
	32	This README was the documentation I actually needed. However, as you'll
	33	see below, I still had to manually edit one file (=config.php=) to
	34	access the API externally via my RSS apps.
	35
	36	* Installation
	37
	38	** DNS
	39
	40	The first step, as required by any external web service, was assigning a
	41	domain name to use. I chose to use a subdomain, like =rss.example.com=.
	42
	43	To assign this, I created an =A= record in my DNS settings with the IPv4
	44	address of the server and an =AAAA= record with the IPv6 address of the
	45	server. Note: assigning an IPv6 (=AAAA=) record is optional, but I like
	46	to enable IPV6 for my services.
	47
	48	#+begin_src config
	49	rss.example.com A xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
	50	rss.example.com AAAA xxxx:xxxx: ... :xxxx
	51	#+end_src
	52
	53	** Docker
	54
	55	I initially tried to set up a =docker-compose.yml= file with a =.env=
	56	file because I prefer to have a file I can look back at later to see how
	57	I initially started the container, but it simply wouldn't work for me.
	58	I'm not sure why, but I assume I wasn't telling =docker-compose= where
	59	the =.env= file was.
	60
	61	Regardless, I chose to simply run the service with =docker run=. See the
	62	following command for my =docker run= configuration:
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	sudo docker run -d --restart unless-stopped --log-opt max-size=10m \
	66	-p 8080:80 \
	67	-e TZ=America/Chicago \
	68	-e 'CRON_MIN=1,31' \
	69	-v freshrss_data:/var/www/FreshRSS/data \
	70	-v freshrss_extensions:/var/www/FreshRSS/extensions \
	71	--name freshrss \
	72	freshrss/freshrss
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	This started the container successfully and allowed me to visit the
	76	FreshRSS instance at =localhost:8080=.
	77
	78	** Fresh RSS Set-Up
	79
	80	I HIGHLY suggest that you set up your user account prior to exposing
	81	this service to the public. It's unlikely that someone is trying to
	82	access the exact domain or IP/port you're assigning here, but as soon as
	83	you expose this service, the first person to open the URL will be able
	84	to create the admin user.
	85
	86	In order to set up your FreshRSS service, open the =localhost:8080= URL
	87	in your browser (you may need to use a local IP instead of =localhost=
	88	if you're accessing the page from a different machine on the network -
	89	e.g., =192.168.1.20:8080=).
	90
	91	Once the page loads, set up your default user with a strong username and
	92	password. You may also choose to configure other settings prior to
	93	exposing this service.
	94
	95	** Nginx Reverse-Proxy
	96
	97	In order to access this service outside my home, I needed to set up a
	98	reverse-proxy to connect =localhost:8080= to =rss.example.com=.
	99
	100	First, I created a new Nginx configuration file:
	101
	102	#+begin_src sh
	103	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/rss.example.com
	104	#+end_src
	105
	106	Within the config file, I pasted the following code:
	107
	108	#+begin_src config
	109	upstream freshrss {
	110	server 127.0.0.1:8080;
	111	keepalive 64;
	112	}
	113
	114	server {
	115	server_name rss.example.com;
	116	listen 80;
	117
	118	location / {
	119	# The final `/` is important.
	120	proxy_pass http://localhost:8080/;
	121	add_header X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN;
	122	add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
	123	proxy_redirect off;
	124	proxy_buffering off;
	125	proxy_set_header Host $host;
	126	proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
	127	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
	128	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
	129	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;
	130	proxy_read_timeout 90;
	131
	132	# Forward the Authorization header for the Google Reader API.
	133	proxy_set_header Authorization $http_authorization;
	134	proxy_pass_header Authorization;
	135	}
	136	}
	137	#+end_src
	138
	139	Finally, restart Nginx and you will be able to access your service via
	140	HTTP:
	141
	142	#+begin_src sh
	143	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
	144	#+end_src
	145
	146	** HTTPS
	147
	148	However, I don't want to access my RSS feeds via HTTP. I want it
	149	available only via HTTPS. In order to do this, I ran the
	150	[[https://certbot.eff.org/][certbot]] program to generate SSL
	151	certificates for me:
	152
	153	#+begin_src sh
	154	sudo certbot --nginx
	155	#+end_src
	156
	157	This process will automatically generate an SSL certificate for you and
	158	modify the Nginx configuration file to include a redirect from HTTP to
	159	HTTPS.
	160
	161	* Post-Installation Fixes
	162
	163	At this point, we have a functional FreshRSS website, available from
	164	anywhere and secured with HTTPS. However, attempting to connect this
	165	service to an RSS app resulted in many errors regarding unavailable URLs
	166	and incorrect credentials.
	167
	168	** API Set-Up
	169
	170	First, you need to open your user profile in FreshRSS (=Settings= >
	171	=Profile=) and set an API password in the field at the bottom. This is
	172	the password you will need to provide to your RSS apps.
	173
	174	Once that is set and saved, click the link below the API password field
	175	to open the API check tool. It should look something like
	176	=https://localhost:8080/api/= or =https://rss.example.com/api/=.
	177
	178	Within this page, you /should/ see your correct external URL and "PASS"
	179	at the bottom of each API type. This would mean everything is set up
	180	correctly, and you can now move on and login to any RSS apps that
	181	support self-hosted options.
	182
	183	In my case, the URL showed an internal URL and I had a warning that the
	184	=base_url= variable may be misconfigured. If this is the case, see the
	185	next section for a fix.
	186
	187	** Base URL Fix
	188
	189	In order to fix the =base_url= for the API, I opened up my docker
	190	container with the following command:
	191
	192	#+begin_src sh
	193	sudo docker exec -it freshrss bash
	194	#+end_src
	195
	196	Within this container, update the packages and install an editor:
	197
	198	#+begin_src sh
	199	apt-get update
	200	apt-get install nano
	201	#+end_src
	202
	203	Finally, open up =config.php= in the =data= directory:
	204
	205	#+begin_src sh
	206	nano data/config.php
	207	#+end_src
	208
	209	Within =config.php=, you will need to update the =base_url= variable and
	210	update it to match your external URL. In my case, I simply commented-out
	211	the incorrect URL with =//= and added the correct one on a new line:
	212
	213	#+begin_src php
	214	<?php
	215	return array (
	216	...
	217	// 'base_url' => 'http://localhost:8080',
	218	'base_url' => 'https://rss.example.com',
	219	...
	220	)
	221	>
	222	#+end_src
	223
	224	You can now exit the file with =Ctrl + x=, press =y= to save the file,
	225	and then click =Enter= to keep the same file name.
	226
	227	Finally, just exit out of the docker container:
	228
	229	#+begin_src sh
	230	exit
	231	#+end_src
	232
	233	Next, just restart the container:
	234
	235	#+begin_src sh
	236	sudo docker restart freshrss
	237	#+end_src
	238
	239	Voilà! Your API check should now "PASS" and you should be able to use
	240	one of the API URLs in your RSS apps.
	241
	242	In my case, I use [[https://netnewswire.com][NetNewsWire]] on my desktop
	243	and phone.

content/blog/2022-06-16-terminal-lifestyle.md deleted −189

		@@ -1,189 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-06-16
3		title = "A Terminal Lifestyle"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Text-Based Simplicity
9
10		I've detailed my views on web-based minimalism and related topics in other posts
11		throughout the years; e.g., JavaScript/CSS bloat slowing down websites that are
12		essentially a text document. However, I have never really expanded beyond
13		talking about the web and describing how I focus on minimizing distractions in
14		other digital environments.
15
16		This post is going to set the baseline for how I _try_ to live my digital life.
17		It does not necessarily get into my physical life, which is often harder to
18		control and contain all the noise in our modern world.
19
20		While there are new things to do every day in our digital world, I find that
21		keeping a core set of values and interests can ground you and keep you mindful
22		of _why_ you are participating in the digital world. For example, if - at your
23		core - you have no interest in what strangers think about random topics, it
24		would be unwise to start participating in social media. However, I am someone
25		who has been dragged in by effective advertising to participate in communities
26		that I realize I do not care for.
27
28		I won't dive much further into explaining the philosophy of all this, but I will
29		link a few helpful articles that may pique your interest if you're in search of
30		more meaningful experiences:
31
32		- [Mindfulness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness)
33		- [Minimalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimalism)
34		- [Stoicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism)
35
36		# Living Life in the Terminal
37
38		My personal approach to reducing digital distractions and increasing my focus on
39		the task at hand is to use a terminal for as much as I possibly can.
40
41		Most days, this means that I have a few tabs open constantly in my terminal:
42
43		1. A web browser
44		2. A chat client
45		3. An email client
46		4. An RSS feed reader
47		5. A local shell for navigating my computer's files
48		6. A remote shell for managing servers and other machines
49
50		Beyond this, I rarely open other tabs or GUI applications, unless absolutely
51		necessary. If you look, you may be surprised what can be accomplished in the
52		terminal.
53
54		For example, I have moved my music and entertainment downloads to the terminal,
55		along with my device VPN connections. I am exploring options for moving my RSS
56		subscriptions to something like [Newsboat](https://newsboat.org/), so that I can
57		read my daily articles without all the fuss.
58
59		Now that we have some examples out of the way, let's dive into the specifics.
60
61		## Browsing the Web
62
63		I'm going to start off with a hard topic for those who prefer to live in the
64		terminal: web browsing. This task is made hard mostly by websites and web apps
65		that require JavaScript to run. The other difficult part is that if you're using
66		a text-based browser, that means images won't load (hopefully that's obvious).
67
68		I am using [Lynx](https://lynx.invisible-island.net), a text-based browser that
69		runs quickly and easily in the terminal. Lynx allows me to browser most websites
70		by simply typing `g` and then typing in the URL I want.
71
72		If you need a search engine while in Lynx, I recommend [DuckDuckGo
73		(Lite)](https://lite.duckduckgo.com/lite/), which allows you to search the web
74		using their text-only interface.
75
76		Eventually, you will run into websites that don't work (or are just too ugly and
77		messy) in a text-only mode, and you'll be forced to switch over to a GUI browser
78		to look at that site. Personally, I don't mind this as it doesn't happen as
79		often as I thought it would.
80
81		The only time I need to do this is when I want to browse an image/video-focused
82		webpage or if I need to log in to a site, and it doesn't support a text-only
83		login page. For example, I am able to easily log in to
84		[Sourcehut](https://sr.ht) in lynx.
85
86		## Chatting with Friends
87
88		After web browsing activities, my main form of terminal communication is Matrix.
89		I use the [gomuks](https://docs.mau.fi/gomuks/) client currently.
90
91		This was incredibly easy to install on macOS (but I will need to see if it'll be
92		just as easy on Linux when my new laptop arrives):
93
94		```sh
95		brew install gomuks
96		```
97
98		Once you launch gomuks, it will sync and require your username and password to
99		login. After doing so, the only problem I ran into was verifying my gomuks
100		client so that I could participate in rooms with E2EE.
101
102		Finally, I was able to verify the session by opening the Element desktop app (I
103		assume you can do this in the browser and mobile app too, but I'm not sure) and
104		manually verifying myself with this process:
105
106		1. Open the Element desktop app
107		2. Open a room I was a member of
108		3. Open the `Room Info` pane
109		4. Open the `People` menu and search for myself
110		5. Click on my profile name
111		6. Click on the session link under the `Security` section and follow the prompts
112		to manually verify the session
113
114		Overall, I like gomuks and am able to enjoy all the features I was using in
115		Element. The only hiccup I have occurred is manually downloading images to view
116		them, which can be annoying.
117
118		## Email
119
120		Moving email to the terminal has been the hardest of the tasks for me. Unlike
121		web browsing, where I can simply decide to not look at a website that does not
122		work in the terminal, I cannot simply ignore emails sent to me.
123
124		Personally, I am experimenting with [neomutt](https://neomutt.org/) as a
125		potential email client.
126
127		However, this requires a TON of configuration and tweaking to get right.
128		Even when I was able to set up neomutt, configure my email account, and
129		customize a few personal preferences, a lot of emails still do not display
130		correctly (mostly due to HTML and images).
131
132		I won't get into the details of configuring `neomutt`; I mostly followed this
133		blog post: [Email in the Terminal: Configuring
134		Neomutt](https://gideonwolfe.com/posts/workflow/neomutt/intro/).
135
136		Finally, I have yet to figure out how to connect my GPG keys to `neomutt`, but
137		that's a problem for another day.
138
139		## RSS Feed Reader
140
141		I have just started using [Newsboat](https://newsboat.org/) to read articles in
142		my terminal and have found quick success with it.
143
144		The configuration was super easy for this app; I simply installed the app,
145		created a file for URLs, and imported my OPML subscriptions that I had exported
146		out of my old feed reader:
147
148		```sh
149		brew install newsboat
150		```
151
152		```sh
153		touch ~/.newsboat/urls
154		```
155
156		```sh
157		newsboat -i=my_subscriptions.opml
158		```
159
160		## Writing & Programming
161
162		Unfortunately, the weak link in my terminal-based environment right now is my
163		grasp of the possibilities of editing files within a shell.
164
165		I am used to the easy extensions found in VSCodium and Kate, so I am slowly
166		learning how to mold the default editing tools to my needs. Currently, this
167		means I am using `nano` with the following configuration:
168
169		```config
170		set breaklonglines
171		set autoindent
172		set linenumbers
173		set tabstospaces
174		set tabsize 2
175		set fill 80
176		```
177
178		This configuration allows nano to automatically hard-wrap lines at 80
179		characters, autoindent the wrapped lines (if the previous line was indented),
180		use 2 spaces per tab, and display line numbers within each file I open.
181
182		I am currently looking to see if `vim` or `emacs` would be more useful for my
183		current needs, but I'm not in any rush, so I don't expect to find an answer
184		anytime soon.
185
186		With my current life demands, I am not programming at the moment and have not
187		explored the best terminal set-up for programming. However, I have seen many
188		peers find success configuring `vim` and `emacs`, so that's where I will start
189		when I pick my projects back up.

content/blog/2022-06-16-terminal-lifestyle.org added +201

		@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-06-16>
	2	#+title: A Terminal Lifestyle
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Text-Based Simplicity
	7
	8	I've detailed my views on web-based minimalism and related topics in
	9	other posts throughout the years; e.g., JavaScript/CSS bloat slowing
	10	down websites that are essentially a text document. However, I have
	11	never really expanded beyond talking about the web and describing how I
	12	focus on minimizing distractions in other digital environments.
	13
	14	This post is going to set the baseline for how I /try/ to live my
	15	digital life. It does not necessarily get into my physical life, which
	16	is often harder to control and contain all the noise in our modern
	17	world.
	18
	19	While there are new things to do every day in our digital world, I find
	20	that keeping a core set of values and interests can ground you and keep
	21	you mindful of /why/ you are participating in the digital world. For
	22	example, if - at your core - you have no interest in what strangers
	23	think about random topics, it would be unwise to start participating in
	24	social media. However, I am someone who has been dragged in by effective
	25	advertising to participate in communities that I realize I do not care
	26	for.
	27
	28	I won't dive much further into explaining the philosophy of all this,
	29	but I will link a few helpful articles that may pique your interest if
	30	you're in search of more meaningful experiences:
	31
	32	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness][Mindfulness]]
	33	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimalism][Minimalism]]
	34	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism][Stoicism]]
	35
	36	* Living Life in the Terminal
	37
	38	My personal approach to reducing digital distractions and increasing my
	39	focus on the task at hand is to use a terminal for as much as I possibly
	40	can.
	41
	42	Most days, this means that I have a few tabs open constantly in my
	43	terminal:
	44
	45	1. A web browser
	46	2. A chat client
	47	3. An email client
	48	4. An RSS feed reader
	49	5. A local shell for navigating my computer's files
	50	6. A remote shell for managing servers and other machines
	51
	52	Beyond this, I rarely open other tabs or GUI applications, unless
	53	absolutely necessary. If you look, you may be surprised what can be
	54	accomplished in the terminal.
	55
	56	For example, I have moved my music and entertainment downloads to the
	57	terminal, along with my device VPN connections. I am exploring options
	58	for moving my RSS subscriptions to something like
	59	[[https://newsboat.org/][Newsboat]], so that I can read my daily
	60	articles without all the fuss.
	61
	62	Now that we have some examples out of the way, let's dive into the
	63	specifics.
	64
	65	** Browsing the Web
	66
	67	I'm going to start off with a hard topic for those who prefer to live in
	68	the terminal: web browsing. This task is made hard mostly by websites
	69	and web apps that require JavaScript to run. The other difficult part is
	70	that if you're using a text-based browser, that means images won't load
	71	(hopefully that's obvious).
	72
	73	I am using [[https://lynx.invisible-island.net][Lynx]], a text-based
	74	browser that runs quickly and easily in the terminal. Lynx allows me to
	75	browser most websites by simply typing =g= and then typing in the URL I
	76	want.
	77
	78	If you need a search engine while in Lynx, I recommend
	79	[[https://lite.duckduckgo.com/lite/][DuckDuckGo (Lite)]], which allows
	80	you to search the web using their text-only interface.
	81
	82	Eventually, you will run into websites that don't work (or are just too
	83	ugly and messy) in a text-only mode, and you'll be forced to switch over
	84	to a GUI browser to look at that site. Personally, I don't mind this as
	85	it doesn't happen as often as I thought it would.
	86
	87	The only time I need to do this is when I want to browse an
	88	image/video-focused webpage or if I need to log in to a site, and it
	89	doesn't support a text-only login page. For example, I am able to easily
	90	log in to [[https://sr.ht][Sourcehut]] in lynx.
	91
	92	** Chatting with Friends
	93
	94	After web browsing activities, my main form of terminal communication is
	95	Matrix. I use the [[https://docs.mau.fi/gomuks/][gomuks]] client
	96	currently.
	97
	98	This was incredibly easy to install on macOS (but I will need to see if
	99	it'll be just as easy on Linux when my new laptop arrives):
	100
	101	#+begin_src sh
	102	brew install gomuks
	103	#+end_src
	104
	105	Once you launch gomuks, it will sync and require your username and
	106	password to login. After doing so, the only problem I ran into was
	107	verifying my gomuks client so that I could participate in rooms with
	108	E2EE.
	109
	110	Finally, I was able to verify the session by opening the Element desktop
	111	app (I assume you can do this in the browser and mobile app too, but I'm
	112	not sure) and manually verifying myself with this process:
	113
	114	1. Open the Element desktop app
	115	2. Open a room I was a member of
	116	3. Open the =Room Info= pane
	117	4. Open the =People= menu and search for myself
	118	5. Click on my profile name
	119	6. Click on the session link under the =Security= section and follow the
	120	prompts to manually verify the session
	121
	122	Overall, I like gomuks and am able to enjoy all the features I was using
	123	in Element. The only hiccup I have occurred is manually downloading
	124	images to view them, which can be annoying.
	125
	126	** Email
	127
	128	Moving email to the terminal has been the hardest of the tasks for me.
	129	Unlike web browsing, where I can simply decide to not look at a website
	130	that does not work in the terminal, I cannot simply ignore emails sent
	131	to me.
	132
	133	Personally, I am experimenting with [[https://neomutt.org/][neomutt]] as
	134	a potential email client.
	135
	136	However, this requires a TON of configuration and tweaking to get
	137	right. Even when I was able to set up neomutt, configure my email
	138	account, and customize a few personal preferences, a lot of emails still
	139	do not display correctly (mostly due to HTML and images).
	140
	141	I won't get into the details of configuring =neomutt=; I mostly followed
	142	this blog post:
	143	[[https://gideonwolfe.com/posts/workflow/neomutt/intro/][Email in the
	144	Terminal: Configuring Neomutt]].
	145
	146	Finally, I have yet to figure out how to connect my GPG keys to
	147	=neomutt=, but that's a problem for another day.
	148
	149	** RSS Feed Reader
	150
	151	I have just started using [[https://newsboat.org/][Newsboat]] to read
	152	articles in my terminal and have found quick success with it.
	153
	154	The configuration was super easy for this app; I simply installed the
	155	app, created a file for URLs, and imported my OPML subscriptions that I
	156	had exported out of my old feed reader:
	157
	158	#+begin_src sh
	159	brew install newsboat
	160	#+end_src
	161
	162	#+begin_src sh
	163	touch ~/.newsboat/urls
	164	#+end_src
	165
	166	#+begin_src sh
	167	newsboat -i=my_subscriptions.opml
	168	#+end_src
	169
	170	** Writing & Programming
	171
	172	Unfortunately, the weak link in my terminal-based environment right now
	173	is my grasp of the possibilities of editing files within a shell.
	174
	175	I am used to the easy extensions found in VSCodium and Kate, so I am
	176	slowly learning how to mold the default editing tools to my needs.
	177	Currently, this means I am using =nano= with the following
	178	configuration:
	179
	180	#+begin_src config
	181	set breaklonglines
	182	set autoindent
	183	set linenumbers
	184	set tabstospaces
	185	set tabsize 2
	186	set fill 80
	187	#+end_src
	188
	189	This configuration allows nano to automatically hard-wrap lines at 80
	190	characters, autoindent the wrapped lines (if the previous line was
	191	indented), use 2 spaces per tab, and display line numbers within each
	192	file I open.
	193
	194	I am currently looking to see if =vim= or =emacs= would be more useful
	195	for my current needs, but I'm not in any rush, so I don't expect to find
	196	an answer anytime soon.
	197
	198	With my current life demands, I am not programming at the moment and
	199	have not explored the best terminal set-up for programming. However, I
	200	have seen many peers find success configuring =vim= and =emacs=, so
	201	that's where I will start when I pick my projects back up.

content/blog/2022-06-22-daily-poetry.md deleted −213

		@@ -1,213 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-06-22
3		title = "Daily Plaintext Poetry via Email"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Source Code
9
10		I don't want to bury the lede here, so if you'd like to see the full source code
11		I use to email myself plaintext poems daily, visit the repository:
12		[daily-poem.git](https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/daily-poem).
13
14		# My Daily Dose of Poetry
15
16		Most of my programming projects are small, random projects that are made
17		strictly to fix some small problem I have or enhance my quality of life.
18
19		In this case, I was looking for a simply and easy way to get a daily dose of
20		literature or poetry to read in the mornings.
21
22		However, I don't want to sign up for a random mailing list on just any website.
23		I also don't want to have to work to find the reading content each morning, as I
24		know I would simply give up and stop reading daily.
25
26		Thus, I found a way to deliver poetry to myself in plain-text format, on a daily
27		basis, and scheduled to deliver automatically.
28
29		# Prerequisites
30
31		This solution uses Python and email, so the following process requires the
32		following to be installed:
33
34		1. An SMTP server, which can be as easy as installing `mailutils` if you're on a
35		Debian-based distro.
36		2. Python (& pip!)
37		3. The following Python packages: `email`, `smtplib`, `json`, and `requests`
38
39		# Breaking Down the Logic
40
41		I want to break down the logic for this program, as it's quite simple and
42		informational.
43
44		## Required Packages
45
46		This program starts with a simple import of the required packages, so I wanted
47		to explain why each package is used:
48
49		```python
50		from email.mime.text import MIMEText # Required for translating MIMEText
51		import smtplib # Required to process the SMTP mail delivery
52		import json # Required to parse the poetry API results
53		import requests # Required to send out a request to the API
54		```
55
56		## Sending the API Request
57
58		Next, we need to actually send the API request. In my case, I'm calling a random
59		poem from the entire API. If you want, you can call specific poems or authors
60		from this API.
61
62		```python
63		json_data = requests.get('https://poetrydb.org/random').json()
64		```
65
66		This gives us the following result in JSON:
67
68		```json
69		[
70		{
71		"title": "Sonnet XXII: With Fools and Children",
72		"author": "Michael Drayton",
73		"lines": [
74		"To Folly",
75		"",
76		"With fools and children, good discretion bears;",
77		"Then, honest people, bear with Love and me,",
78		"Nor older yet, nor wiser made by years,",
79		"Amongst the rest of fools and children be;",
80		"Love, still a baby, plays with gauds and toys,",
81		"And, like a wanton, sports with every feather,",
82		"And idiots still are running after boys,",
83		"Then fools and children fitt'st to go together.",
84		"He still as young as when he first was born,",
85		"No wiser I than when as young as he;",
86		"You that behold us, laugh us not to scorn;",
87		"Give Nature thanks you are not such as we.",
88		"Yet fools and children sometimes tell in play",
89		"Some, wise in show, more fools indeed than they."
90		],
91		"linecount": "15"
92		}
93		]
94		```
95
96		## Parsing the API Results
97
98		In order to parse this into a readable format, we need to use the `json` package
99		and extract the fields we want. In the example below, I am grabbing every field
100		presented by the API.
101
102		For the actual poem content, we need to loop over each line in the `lines`
103		variable since each line is a separate string by default.
104
105		> You _could_ also extract the title or author and make another call out to the
106		> API to avoid having to build the plaintext poem with a loop, but it just
107		> doesn't make sense to me to send multiple requests when we can create a simple
108		> loop on our local machine to work with the data we already have.
109		>
110		> For
111		> [example](https://poetrydb.org/title/Sonnet%20XXII:%20With%20Fools%20and%20Children/lines.text),
112		> look at the raw data response of this link to see the poem's lines returned in
113		> plaintext.
114
115		```python
116		title = json_data[0]['title']
117		author = json_data[0]['author']
118		line_count = json_data[0]['linecount']
119		lines = ''
120		for line in json_data[0]['lines']:
121		lines = lines + line + "\n"
122		```
123
124		## Composing the Email
125
126		Now that I have all the data I need, I just need to compose it into a message
127		and prepare the message metadata.
128
129		For my daily email, I want to see the title of the poem first, followed by the
130		author, then a blank line, and finally the full poem. This code snippet combines
131		that data and packages it into a MIMEText container, ready to be emailed.
132
133		```python
134		msg_body = title + "\n" + author + "\n\n" + lines
135		msg = MIMEText(msg_body)
136		```
137
138		Before we send the email, we need to prepare the metadata (subject, from, to,
139		etc.):
140
141		```python
142		sender_email = 'example@server.local'
143		recipient_emails = ['user@example.com']
144		msg['Subject'] = 'Your Daily Poem (' + line_count + ' lines)'
145		msg['From'] = sender_email
146		msg['To'] = recipient_email
147		```
148
149		## Sending the Email
150
151		Now that I have everything ready to be emailed, the last step is to simply
152		connect to an SMTP server and send the email out to the recipients. In my case,
153		I installed `mailutils` on Ubuntu and let my SMTP server be `localhost`.
154
155		```python
156		smtp_server = 'localhost'
157		s = smtplib.SMTP(smtp_server)
158		s.sendmail(sender_email, recipient_emails, msg.as_string())
159		s.quit()
160		```
161
162		# The Result!
163
164		Instead of including a screenshot, I've copied the contents of the email that
165		was delivered to my inbox below since I set this process up in plaintext format.
166
167		```txt
168		Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:37:19 +0000 (UTC)
169		From: REDACTED
170		To: REDACTED
171		Subject: Your Daily Poem (36 lines)
172		MIME-Version: 1.0
173		Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
174		Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
175
176		Sonnet XXII: With Fools and Children
177		Michael Drayton
178
179		With fools and children, good discretion bears;
180		Then, honest people, bear with Love and me,
181		Nor older yet, nor wiser made by years,
182		Amongst the rest of fools and children be;
183		Love, still a baby, plays with gauds and toys,
184		And, like a wanton, sports with every feather,
185		And idiots still are running after boys,
186		Then fools and children fitt'st to go together.
187		He still as young as when he first was born,
188		No wiser I than when as young as he;
189		You that behold us, laugh us not to scorn;
190		Give Nature thanks you are not such as we.
191		Yet fools and children sometimes tell in play
192		Some, wise in show, more fools indeed than they.
193		```
194
195		# Scheduling the Daily Email
196
197		Last, but not least, is scheduling this Python script with `crontab`. To
198		schedule a script to run daily, you can add it to the `crontab` file. To do
199		this, open `crontab` in editing mode:
200
201		```sh
202		crontab -e
203		```
204
205		In the file, simply paste the following snippet at the bottom of the file and
206		ensure that the file path is correctly pointing to wherever you saved your
207		Python script:
208
209		```config
210		0 8 ** python3 /home/<your_user>/dailypoem/main.py
211		```
212
213		We have now set up the script and scheduled it to run daily at 08:00!

content/blog/2022-06-22-daily-poetry.org added +218

		@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-06-22>
	2	#+title: Daily Plaintext Poetry via Email
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Source Code
	7
	8	I don't want to bury the lede here, so if you'd like to see the full
	9	source code I use to email myself plaintext poems daily, visit the
	10	repository: [[https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/daily-poem][daily-poem.git]].
	11
	12	* My Daily Dose of Poetry
	13
	14	Most of my programming projects are small, random projects that are made
	15	strictly to fix some small problem I have or enhance my quality of life.
	16
	17	In this case, I was looking for a simply and easy way to get a daily
	18	dose of literature or poetry to read in the mornings.
	19
	20	However, I don't want to sign up for a random mailing list on just any
	21	website. I also don't want to have to work to find the reading content
	22	each morning, as I know I would simply give up and stop reading daily.
	23
	24	Thus, I found a way to deliver poetry to myself in plain-text format, on
	25	a daily basis, and scheduled to deliver automatically.
	26
	27	* Prerequisites
	28
	29	This solution uses Python and email, so the following process requires
	30	the following to be installed:
	31
	32	1. An SMTP server, which can be as easy as installing =mailutils= if
	33	you're on a Debian-based distro.
	34	2. Python (& pip!)
	35	3. The following Python packages: =email=, =smtplib=, =json=, and
	36	=requests=
	37
	38	* Breaking Down the Logic
	39
	40	I want to break down the logic for this program, as it's quite simple
	41	and informational.
	42
	43	** Required Packages
	44
	45	This program starts with a simple import of the required packages, so I
	46	wanted to explain why each package is used:
	47
	48	#+begin_src python
	49	from email.mime.text import MIMEText # Required for translating MIMEText
	50	import smtplib # Required to process the SMTP mail delivery
	51	import json # Required to parse the poetry API results
	52	import requests # Required to send out a request to the API
	53	#+end_src
	54
	55	** Sending the API Request
	56
	57	Next, we need to actually send the API request. In my case, I'm calling
	58	a random poem from the entire API. If you want, you can call specific
	59	poems or authors from this API.
	60
	61	#+begin_src python
	62	json_data = requests.get('https://poetrydb.org/random').json()
	63	#+end_src
	64
	65	This gives us the following result in JSON:
	66
	67	#+begin_src json
	68	[
	69	{
	70	"title": "Sonnet XXII: With Fools and Children",
	71	"author": "Michael Drayton",
	72	"lines": [
	73	"To Folly",
	74	"",
	75	"With fools and children, good discretion bears;",
	76	"Then, honest people, bear with Love and me,",
	77	"Nor older yet, nor wiser made by years,",
	78	"Amongst the rest of fools and children be;",
	79	"Love, still a baby, plays with gauds and toys,",
	80	"And, like a wanton, sports with every feather,",
	81	"And idiots still are running after boys,",
	82	"Then fools and children fitt'st to go together.",
	83	"He still as young as when he first was born,",
	84	"No wiser I than when as young as he;",
	85	"You that behold us, laugh us not to scorn;",
	86	"Give Nature thanks you are not such as we.",
	87	"Yet fools and children sometimes tell in play",
	88	"Some, wise in show, more fools indeed than they."
	89	],
	90	"linecount": "15"
	91	}
	92	]
	93	#+end_src
	94
	95	** Parsing the API Results
	96
	97	In order to parse this into a readable format, we need to use the =json=
	98	package and extract the fields we want. In the example below, I am
	99	grabbing every field presented by the API.
	100
	101	For the actual poem content, we need to loop over each line in the
	102	=lines= variable since each line is a separate string by default.
	103
	104	#+begin_quote
	105	You /could/ also extract the title or author and make another call out
	106	to the API to avoid having to build the plaintext poem with a loop, but
	107	it just doesn't make sense to me to send multiple requests when we can
	108	create a simple loop on our local machine to work with the data we
	109	already have.
	110
	111	For
	112	[[https://poetrydb.org/title/Sonnet%20XXII:%20With%20Fools%20and%20Children/lines.text][example]],
	113	look at the raw data response of this link to see the poem's lines
	114	returned in plaintext.
	115	#+end_quote
	116
	117	#+begin_src python
	118	title = json_data[0]['title']
	119	author = json_data[0]['author']
	120	line_count = json_data[0]['linecount']
	121	lines = ''
	122	for line in json_data[0]['lines']:
	123	lines = lines + line + "\n"
	124	#+end_src
	125
	126	** Composing the Email
	127
	128	Now that I have all the data I need, I just need to compose it into a
	129	message and prepare the message metadata.
	130
	131	For my daily email, I want to see the title of the poem first, followed
	132	by the author, then a blank line, and finally the full poem. This code
	133	snippet combines that data and packages it into a MIMEText container,
	134	ready to be emailed.
	135
	136	#+begin_src python
	137	msg_body = title + "\n" + author + "\n\n" + lines
	138	msg = MIMEText(msg_body)
	139	#+end_src
	140
	141	Before we send the email, we need to prepare the metadata (subject,
	142	from, to, etc.):
	143
	144	#+begin_src python
	145	sender_email = 'example@server.local'
	146	recipient_emails = ['user@example.com']
	147	msg['Subject'] = 'Your Daily Poem (' + line_count + ' lines)'
	148	msg['From'] = sender_email
	149	msg['To'] = recipient_email
	150	#+end_src
	151
	152	** Sending the Email
	153
	154	Now that I have everything ready to be emailed, the last step is to
	155	simply connect to an SMTP server and send the email out to the
	156	recipients. In my case, I installed =mailutils= on Ubuntu and let my
	157	SMTP server be =localhost=.
	158
	159	#+begin_src python
	160	smtp_server = 'localhost'
	161	s = smtplib.SMTP(smtp_server)
	162	s.sendmail(sender_email, recipient_emails, msg.as_string())
	163	s.quit()
	164	#+end_src
	165
	166	* The Result!
	167
	168	Instead of including a screenshot, I've copied the contents of the email
	169	that was delivered to my inbox below since I set this process up in
	170	plaintext format.
	171
	172	#+begin_src txt
	173	Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:37:19 +0000 (UTC)
	174	From: REDACTED
	175	To: REDACTED
	176	Subject: Your Daily Poem (36 lines)
	177	MIME-Version: 1.0
	178	Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
	179	Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
	180
	181	Sonnet XXII: With Fools and Children
	182	Michael Drayton
	183
	184	With fools and children, good discretion bears;
	185	Then, honest people, bear with Love and me,
	186	Nor older yet, nor wiser made by years,
	187	Amongst the rest of fools and children be;
	188	Love, still a baby, plays with gauds and toys,
	189	And, like a wanton, sports with every feather,
	190	And idiots still are running after boys,
	191	Then fools and children fitt'st to go together.
	192	He still as young as when he first was born,
	193	No wiser I than when as young as he;
	194	You that behold us, laugh us not to scorn;
	195	Give Nature thanks you are not such as we.
	196	Yet fools and children sometimes tell in play
	197	Some, wise in show, more fools indeed than they.
	198	#+end_src
	199
	200	* Scheduling the Daily Email
	201
	202	Last, but not least, is scheduling this Python script with =crontab=. To
	203	schedule a script to run daily, you can add it to the =crontab= file. To
	204	do this, open =crontab= in editing mode:
	205
	206	#+begin_src sh
	207	crontab -e
	208	#+end_src
	209
	210	In the file, simply paste the following snippet at the bottom of the
	211	file and ensure that the file path is correctly pointing to wherever you
	212	saved your Python script:
	213
	214	#+begin_src config
	215	0 8 ** python3 /home/<your_user>/dailypoem/main.py
	216	#+end_src
	217
	218	We have now set up the script and scheduled it to run daily at 08:00!

content/blog/2022-06-24-fedora-i3.md deleted −153

		@@ -1,153 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-06-24
3		title = "Rebooting My Love Affair with Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Leaving macOS
9
10		As I noted [in a recent post](../foss-macos-apps), I have been planning on
11		migrating from macOS back to a Linux-based OS. I am happy to say that I have
12		finally completed my migration and am now stuck in the wonderful world of Linux
13		again.
14
15		My decision to leave macOS really came down to just a few important things:
16
17		- Apple Security (Gatekeeper) restricting me from running any software I want.
18		Even if you disable Gatekeeper and allow software to bypass the rest of the
19		device installation security, you still have to repeat that process every
20		time the allowed software is updated.
21		- macOS sends out nearly constant connections, pings, telemetry, etc. to a
22		myriad of mysterious Apple services. I'm not even going to dive into how
23		many macOS apps have constant telemetry on, as well.
24		- Lastly, I just _really_ missed the customization and freedom that comes with
25		Linux. Being able to switch to entirely new kernel, OS, or desktop within
26		minutes is a freedom I took for granted when I switched to macOS.
27
28		Now that I've covered macOS, I'm going to move on to more exciting topics: my
29		personal choice of OS, DE, and various customizations I'm using.
30
31		# Fedora
32
33		After trying a ton of distros (I think I booted and tested around 20-25
34		distros), I finally landed on [Fedora Linux](https://getfedora.org/). I have
35		quite a bit of experience with Fedora and enjoy the `dnf` package manager.
36		Fedora allows me to keep up-to-date with recent software (I'm looking at you,
37		Debian), but still provides a level of stability you don't find in every distro.
38
39		In a very close second place was Arch Linux, as well as its spin-off: Garuda
40		Linux (Garuda w/ sway is _beautiful_). Arch is great for compatibility and the
41		massive community it has, but I have just never had the time to properly sit
42		down and learn the methodology behind their packaging systems.
43
44		Basically, everything else I tested was unacceptable in at least one way or
45		another. Void (`glibc`) was great, but doesn't support all the software I need.
46		Slackware worked well as a tui, but I wasn't skilled enough to get a tiling
47		window manager (WM) working on it.
48
49		## i3
50
51		One of the reasons I settled on Fedora is that it comes with an official i3
52		spin. Being able to use a tiling WM, such as i3 or sway, is one of the biggest
53		things I wanted to do as soon as I adopted Linux again.
54
55		I will probably set up a dotfile repository soon, so that I don't lose any of my
56		configurations, but nothing big has been configured thus far.
57
58		The two main things I have updated in i3wm are natural scrolling and binding my
59		brightness keys to the `brightnessctl` program.
60
61		1. Natural Scrolling
62
63		You can enable natural scrolling by opening the following file:
64
65		```sh
66		sudo nano /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf
67		```
68
69		Within the `40-libinput.conf` file, find the following input sections and
70		enable the natural scrolling option.
71
72		This is the `pointer` section:
73
74		```conf
75		Section "InputClass"
76		Identifier "libinput pointer catchall"
77		MatchIsPointer "on"
78		MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
79		Driver "libinput"
80		Option "NaturalScrolling" "True"
81		EndSection
82		```
83
84		This is the `touchpad` section:
85
86		```conf
87		Section "InputClass"
88		Identifier "libinput touchpad catchall"
89		MatchIsTouchpad "on"
90		MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
91		Driver "libinput"
92		Option "NaturalScrolling" "True"
93		EndSection
94		```
95
96		2. Enabling Brightness Keys
97
98		Likewise, enabling brightness key functionality is as simple as binding the
99		keys to the `brightnessctl` program.
100
101		To do this, open up your i3 config file. Mine is located here:
102
103		```sh
104		nano /home/<my-user>/.config/i3/config
105		```
106
107		```conf
108		# Use brightnessctl to adjust brightness.
109		bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id brightnessctl --min-val=2 -q set 3%-
110		bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec --no-startup-id brightnessctl -q set 3%+
111		```
112
113		3. `polybar`
114
115		Instead of using the default `i3status` bar, I have opted to use `polybar`
116		instead (as you can also see in the screenshot above).
117
118		My config for this menu bar is basically just the default settings with
119		modified colors and an added battery block to quickly show me the machine's
120		battery info.
121
122		4. `alacritty`
123
124		Not much to say on this part yet, as I haven't configured it much, but I
125		installed `alacritty` as my default terminal, and I am using `zsh` and the
126		shell.
127
128		# Software Choices
129
130		Again, I'm not going to say much that I haven't said yet in other blog posts, so
131		I'll just do a quick rundown of the apps I installed immediately after I set up
132		the environment.
133
134		Flatpak Apps:
135
136		- Cryptomator
137		- pCloud
138		- Signal
139
140		Fedora Packages:
141
142		- gomuks
143		- neomutt
144		- neofetch
145		- Firefox
146		- uBlock Origin
147		- Bitwarden
148		- Stylus
149		- Privacy Redirect
150
151		Other:
152
153		- exiftool

content/blog/2022-06-24-fedora-i3.org added +156

		@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-06-24>
	2	#+title: Rebooting My Love Affair with Linux
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Leaving macOS
	7
	8	As I noted [[../foss-macos-apps][in a recent post]], I have been
	9	planning on migrating from macOS back to a Linux-based OS. I am happy to
	10	say that I have finally completed my migration and am now stuck in the
	11	wonderful world of Linux again.
	12
	13	My decision to leave macOS really came down to just a few important
	14	things:
	15
	16	- Apple Security (Gatekeeper) restricting me from running any software I
	17	want. Even if you disable Gatekeeper and allow software to bypass the
	18	rest of the device installation security, you still have to repeat
	19	that process every time the allowed software is updated.
	20	- macOS sends out nearly constant connections, pings, telemetry, etc. to
	21	a myriad of mysterious Apple services. I'm not even going to dive into
	22	how many macOS apps have constant telemetry on, as well.
	23	- Lastly, I just /really/ missed the customization and freedom that
	24	comes with Linux. Being able to switch to entirely new kernel, OS, or
	25	desktop within minutes is a freedom I took for granted when I switched
	26	to macOS.
	27
	28	Now that I've covered macOS, I'm going to move on to more exciting
	29	topics: my personal choice of OS, DE, and various customizations I'm
	30	using.
	31
	32	* Fedora
	33
	34	After trying a ton of distros (I think I booted and tested around 20-25
	35	distros), I finally landed on [[https://getfedora.org/][Fedora Linux]].
	36	I have quite a bit of experience with Fedora and enjoy the =dnf= package
	37	manager. Fedora allows me to keep up-to-date with recent software (I'm
	38	looking at you, Debian), but still provides a level of stability you
	39	don't find in every distro.
	40
	41	In a very close second place was Arch Linux, as well as its spin-off:
	42	Garuda Linux (Garuda w/ sway is /beautiful/). Arch is great for
	43	compatibility and the massive community it has, but I have just never
	44	had the time to properly sit down and learn the methodology behind their
	45	packaging systems.
	46
	47	Basically, everything else I tested was unacceptable in at least one way
	48	or another. Void (=glibc=) was great, but doesn't support all the
	49	software I need. Slackware worked well as a tui, but I wasn't skilled
	50	enough to get a tiling window manager (WM) working on it.
	51
	52	** i3
	53
	54	One of the reasons I settled on Fedora is that it comes with an official
	55	i3 spin. Being able to use a tiling WM, such as i3 or sway, is one of
	56	the biggest things I wanted to do as soon as I adopted Linux again.
	57
	58	I will probably set up a dotfile repository soon, so that I don't lose
	59	any of my configurations, but nothing big has been configured thus far.
	60
	61	The two main things I have updated in i3wm are natural scrolling and
	62	binding my brightness keys to the =brightnessctl= program.
	63
	64	1. Natural Scrolling
	65
	66	You can enable natural scrolling by opening the following file:
	67
	68	#+begin_src sh
	69	sudo nano /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf
	70	#+end_src
	71
	72	Within the =40-libinput.conf= file, find the following input sections
	73	and enable the natural scrolling option.
	74
	75	This is the =pointer= section:
	76
	77	#+begin_src conf
	78	Section "InputClass"
	79	Identifier "libinput pointer catchall"
	80	MatchIsPointer "on"
	81	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
	82	Driver "libinput"
	83	Option "NaturalScrolling" "True"
	84	EndSection
	85	#+end_src
	86
	87	This is the =touchpad= section:
	88
	89	#+begin_src conf
	90	Section "InputClass"
	91	Identifier "libinput touchpad catchall"
	92	MatchIsTouchpad "on"
	93	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
	94	Driver "libinput"
	95	Option "NaturalScrolling" "True"
	96	EndSection
	97	#+end_src
	98
	99	2. Enabling Brightness Keys
	100
	101	Likewise, enabling brightness key functionality is as simple as
	102	binding the keys to the =brightnessctl= program.
	103
	104	To do this, open up your i3 config file. Mine is located here:
	105
	106	#+begin_src sh
	107	nano /home/<my-user>/.config/i3/config
	108	#+end_src
	109
	110	#+begin_src conf
	111	# Use brightnessctl to adjust brightness.
	112	bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id brightnessctl --min-val=2 -q set 3%-
	113	bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec --no-startup-id brightnessctl -q set 3%+
	114	#+end_src
	115
	116	3. =polybar=
	117
	118	Instead of using the default =i3status= bar, I have opted to use
	119	=polybar= instead (as you can also see in the screenshot above).
	120
	121	My config for this menu bar is basically just the default settings
	122	with modified colors and an added battery block to quickly show me
	123	the machine's battery info.
	124
	125	4. =alacritty=
	126
	127	Not much to say on this part yet, as I haven't configured it much,
	128	but I installed =alacritty= as my default terminal, and I am using
	129	=zsh= and the shell.
	130
	131	* Software Choices
	132
	133	Again, I'm not going to say much that I haven't said yet in other blog
	134	posts, so I'll just do a quick rundown of the apps I installed
	135	immediately after I set up the environment.
	136
	137	Flatpak Apps:
	138
	139	- Cryptomator
	140	- pCloud
	141	- Signal
	142
	143	Fedora Packages:
	144
	145	- gomuks
	146	- neomutt
	147	- neofetch
	148	- Firefox
	149	- uBlock Origin
	150	- Bitwarden
	151	- Stylus
	152	- Privacy Redirect
	153
	154	Other:
	155
	156	- exiftool

content/blog/2022-07-01-git-server.md deleted −624

		@@ -1,624 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-07-01
3		title = "Self-Hosting a Personal Git Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# My Approach to Self-Hosting Git
9
10		I have often tried to self-host my Git repositories, but have always fallen
11		short when I tried to find a suitable web interface to show on the front-end.
12
13		After a few years, I have finally found a combination of methods that allow me
14		to easily self-host my projects, view them on the web, and access them from
15		anywhere.
16
17		Before I dive into the details, I want to state a high-level summary of my
18		self-hosted Git approach:
19
20		- This method uses the `ssh://` (read & write) and `git://` (read-only)
21		protocols for push and pull access.
22		- For the `git://` protocol, I create a `git-daemon-export-ok` file in any
23		repository that I want to be cloneable by anyone.
24		- The web interface I am using (`cgit`) allows simple HTTP cloning by
25		default. I do not disable this setting as I want beginners to be able to
26		clone one of my repositories even if they don't know the proper method.
27		- I am not enabling Smart HTTPS for any repositories. Updates to repositories
28		must be pushed via SSH.
29		- Beyond the actual repository management, I am using `cgit` for the front-end
30		web interface.
31		- If you use the `scan-path=<path>` configuration in the `cgitrc`
32		configuration file to automatically find repositories, you can't exclude
33		a repository from `cgit` if it's stored within the path that `cgit`
34		reads. To host private repositories, you'd need to set up another
35		directory that `cgit` can't read.
36
37		# Assumptions
38
39		For the purposes of this walkthrough, I am assuming you have a URL
40		(`git.example.com`) or IP address (`207.84.26.991`) addressed to the server that
41		you will be using to host your git repositories.
42
43		# Adding a Git User
44
45		In order to use the SSH method associated with git, we will need to add a user
46		named `git`. If you have used the SSH method for other git hosting sites, you
47		are probably used to the following syntax:
48
49		```sh
50		git clone [user@]server:project.git
51		```
52
53		The syntax above is an `scp`-like syntax for using SSH on the `git` user on the
54		server to access your repository.
55
56		Let's delete any remnants of an old `git` user, if any, and create the new user
57		account:
58
59		```sh
60		sudo deluser --remove-home git
61		sudo adduser git
62		```
63
64		## Import Your SSH Keys to the Git User
65
66		Once the `git` user is created, you will need to copy your public SSH key on
67		your local development machine to the `git` user on the server.
68
69		If you don't have an SSH key yet, create one with this command:
70
71		```sh
72		ssh-keygen
73		```
74
75		Once you create the key pair, the public should be saved to `~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub`.
76
77		If your server still has password-based authentication available, you can copy
78		it over to your user's home directory like this:
79
80		```sh
81		ssh-copy-id git@server
82		```
83
84		Otherwise, copy it over to any user that you can access.
85
86		```sh
87		scp ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub your_user@your_server:
88		```
89
90		Once on the server, you will need to copy the contents into the `git` user's
91		`authorized_keys` file:
92
93		```sh
94		cat id_rsa.pub > /home/git/.ssh/authorized_keys
95		```
96
97		## (Optional) Disable Password-Based SSH
98
99		If you want to lock down your server and ensure that no one can authenticate in
100		via SSH with a password, you will need to edit your SSH configuration.
101
102		```sh
103		sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
104		```
105
106		Within this file, find the following settings and set them to the values I am
107		showing below:
108
109		```conf
110		PermitRootLogin no
111		PasswordAuthentication no
112		AuthenticationMethods publickey
113		```
114
115		You may have other Authentication Methods required in your personal set-up, so
116		the key here is just to ensure that `AuthenticationMethods` does not allow
117		passwords.
118
119		### Setting up the Base Directory
120
121		Now that we have set up a `git` user to handle all transport methods, we need to
122		set up the directory that we will be using as our base of all repositories.
123
124		In my case, I am using `/git` as my source folder. To create this folder and
125		assign it to the user we created, execute the following commands:
126
127		```sh
128		sudo mkdir /git
129		sudo chown -R git:git /git
130		```
131
132		### Creating a Test Repository
133
134		On your server, switch over to the `git` user in order to start managing git
135		files.
136
137		```sh
138		su git
139		```
140
141		Once logged-in as the `git` user, go to your base directory and create a test
142		repository.
143
144		```sh
145		cd /git
146		mkdir test.git && cd test.git
147		git init --bare
148		```
149
150		If you want to make this repo viewable/cloneable to the public via the `git://`
151		protocol, you need to create a `git-daemon-export-ok` file inside the
152		repository.
153
154		```sh
155		touch git-daemon-export-ok
156		```
157
158		# Change the Login Shell for `git`
159
160		To make sure that the `git` user is only used for git operations and nothing
161		else, you need to change the user's login shell. To do this, simply use the
162		`chsh` command:
163
164		```sh
165		sudo chsh git
166		```
167
168		The interactive prompt will ask which shell you want the `git` user to use. You
169		must use the following value:
170
171		```sh
172		/usr/bin/git-shell
173		```
174
175		Once done, no one will be able to SSH to the `git` user or execute commands
176		other than the standard git commands.
177
178		# Opening the Firewall
179
180		Don't forget to open up ports on the device firewall and network firewall if you
181		want to access these repositories publicly. If you're using default ports,
182		forward ports `22` (ssh) and `9418` (git) from your router to your server's IP
183		address.
184
185		If your server also has a firewall, ensure that the firewall allows the same
186		ports that are forwarded from the router. For example, if you use `ufw`:
187
188		```sh
189		sudo ufw allow 22
190		sudo ufw allow 9418
191		```
192
193		## Non-Standard SSH Ports
194
195		If you use a non-standard port for SSH, such as `9876`, you will need to create
196		an SSH configuration file on your local development machine in order to connect
197		to your server's git repositories.
198
199		To do this, you'll need to define your custom port on your client machine in
200		your `~/.ssh/config` file:
201
202		```sh
203		nano ~/.ssh/config
204		```
205
206		```conf
207		Host git.example.com
208		# HostName can be a URL or an IP address
209		HostName git.example.com
210		Port 9876
211		User git
212		```
213
214		## Testing SSH
215
216		There are two main syntaxes you can use to manage git over SSH:
217
218		- `git clone [user@]server:project.git`
219		- `git clone ssh://[user@]server/project.git`
220
221		I prefer the first, which is an `scp`-like syntax. To test it, try to clone the
222		test repository you set up on the server:
223
224		```sh
225		git clone git@git.example.com:/git/test.git
226		```
227
228		# Enabling Read-Only Access
229
230		If you want people to be able to clone any repository where you've placed a
231		`git-daemon-export-ok` file, you will need to start the git daemon.
232
233		To do this on a system with `systemd`, create a service file:
234
235		```sh
236		sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/git-daemon.service
237		```
238
239		Inside the `git-daemon.service` file, paste the following:
240
241		```conf
242		[Unit]
243		Description=Start Git Daemon
244
245		[Service]
246		ExecStart=/usr/bin/git daemon --reuseaddr --base-path=/git/ /git/
247
248		Restart=always
249		RestartSec=500ms
250
251		StandardOutput=syslog
252		StandardError=syslog
253		SyslogIdentifier=git-daemon
254
255		User=git
256		Group=git
257
258		[Install]
259		WantedBy=multi-user.target
260		```
261
262		Once created, enable and start the service:
263
264		```sh
265		sudo systemctl enable git-daemon.service
266		sudo systemctl start git-daemon.service
267		```
268
269		To clone read-only via the `git://` protocol, you can use the following syntax:
270
271		```sh
272		git clone git://git.example.com/test.git
273		```
274
275		# Migrating Repositories
276
277		At this point, we have a working git server that works with both SSH and
278		read-only access.
279
280		For each of the repositories I had hosted a different provider, I executed the
281		following commands in order to place a copy on my server as my new source of
282		truth:
283
284		Server:
285
286		```sh
287		su git
288		mkdir /git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git && cd /git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git
289		git init --bare
290
291		# If you want to make this repo viewable/cloneable to the public
292		touch git-daemon-export-ok
293		```
294
295		Client:
296
297		```sh
298		git clone git@<PREVIOUS_HOST>:<REPOSITORY_NAME>
299		git remote set-url origin git@git.EXAMPLE.COM:/git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git
300		git push
301		```
302
303		# Optional Web View: `cgit`
304
305		If you want a web viewer for your repositories, you can use various tools, such
306		as `gitweb`, `cgit`, or `klaus`. I chose `cgit` due to its simple interface and
307		fairly easy set-up (compared to others). Not to mention that the [Linux kernel
308		uses `cgit`](https://git.kernel.org/).
309
310		## Docker Compose
311
312		Instead of using my previous method of using a `docker run` command, I've
313		updated this section to use `docker-compose` instead for an easier installation
314		and simpler management and configuration.
315
316		In order to use Docker Compose, you will set up a `docker-compose.yml` file to
317		automatically connect resources like the repositories, `cgitrc`, and various
318		files or folders to the `cgit` container you're creating:
319
320		```sh
321		mkdir ~/cgit && cd ~/cgit
322		nano docker-compose.yml
323		```
324
325		```conf
326		# docker-compose.yml
327		version: '3'
328
329		services:
330		cgit:
331		image: invokr/cgit
332		volumes:
333		- /git:/git
334		- ./cgitrc:/etc/cgitrc
335		- ./logo.png:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/logo.png
336		- ./favicon.png:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/favicon.png
337		- ./filters:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters
338		ports:
339		- "8763:80"
340		restart: always
341		```
342
343		Then, just start the container:
344
345		```sh
346		sudo docker-compose up -d
347		```
348
349		Once it's finished installing, you can access the site at `<SERVER_IP>:8763` or
350		use a reverse-proxy service to forward `cgit` to a URL, such as
351		`git.example.com`. See the next section for more details on reverse proxying a
352		URL to a local port.
353
354		## Nginx Reverse Proxy
355
356		I am using Nginx as my reverse proxy so that the `cgit` Docker container can use
357		`git.example.com` as its URL. To do so, I simply created the following
358		configuration file:
359
360		```sh
361		sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com
362		```
363
364		```conf
365		server {
366		listen 80;
367		server_name git.example.com;
368
369		if ($host = git.example.com) {
370		return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
371		}
372
373		return 404;
374		}
375
376		server {
377		server_name git.example.com;
378		listen 443 ssl http2;
379
380		location / {
381		# The final `/` is important.
382		proxy_pass http://localhost:8763/;
383		add_header X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN;
384		add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
385		proxy_redirect off;
386		proxy_buffering off;
387		proxy_set_header Host $host;
388		proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
389		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
390		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
391		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;
392		}
393
394		# INCLUDE ANY SSL CERTS HERE
395		include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
396		ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
397		}
398		```
399
400		Once created, symlink it and restart the web server.
401
402		```sh
403		sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
404		sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
405		```
406
407		As we can see below, my site at `git.example.com` is available and running:
408
409		## Settings Up Git Details
410
411		Once you have `cgit` running, you can add some small details, such as repository
412		owners and descriptions by editing the following files within each repository.
413
414		Alternatively, you can use the `cgitrc` file to edit these details if you only
415		care to edit them for the purpose of seeing them on your website.
416
417		The `description` file within the repository on your server will display the
418		description online.
419
420		```sh
421		cd /git/example.git
422		nano description
423		```
424
425		You can add a `[gitweb]` block to the `config` file in order to display the
426		owner of the repository.
427
428		```sh
429		cd /git/example.git
430		nano config
431		```
432
433		```conf
434		[gitweb]
435		owner = "YourName"
436		```
437
438		Note that you can ignore the configuration within each repository and simply set
439		up this information in the `cgitrc` file, if you want to do it that way.
440
441		## Editing `cgit`
442
443		In order to edit certain items within `cgit`, you need to edit the `cgitrc`
444		file.
445
446		```sh
447		nano ~/cgit/cgitrc
448		```
449
450		Below is an example configuration for `cgitrc`. You can find all the
451		configuration options within the [configuration manual]
452		(<https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/cgitrc.5.txt>).
453
454		```conf
455		css=/cgit.css
456		logo=/logo.png
457		favicon=/favicon.png
458		robots=noindex, nofollow
459
460		enable-index-links=1
461		enable-commit-graph=1
462		enable-blame=1
463		enable-log-filecount=1
464		enable-log-linecount=1
465		enable-git-config=1
466
467		clone-url=git://git.example.com/$CGIT_REPO_URL ssh://git@git.example.com:/git/$CGIT_REPO_URL
468
469		root-title=My Git Website
470		root-desc=My personal git repositories.
471
472		# Allow download of tar.gz, tar.bz2 and zip-files
473		snapshots=tar.gz tar.bz2 zip
474
475		##
476		## List of common mimetypes
477		##
478		mimetype.gif=image/gif
479		mimetype.html=text/html
480		mimetype.jpg=image/jpeg
481		mimetype.jpeg=image/jpeg
482		mimetype.pdf=application/pdf
483		mimetype.png=image/png
484		mimetype.svg=image/svg+xml
485
486		# Highlight source code
487		# source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.sh
488		source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.py
489
490		# Format markdown, restructuredtext, manpages, text files, and html files
491		# through the right converters
492		about-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/about-formatting.sh
493
494		##
495		## Search for these files in the root of the default branch of repositories
496		## for coming up with the about page:
497		##
498		readme=:README.md
499		readme=:readme.md
500		readme=:README.mkd
501		readme=:readme.mkd
502		readme=:README.rst
503		readme=:readme.rst
504		readme=:README.html
505		readme=:readme.html
506		readme=:README.htm
507		readme=:readme.htm
508		readme=:README.txt
509		readme=:readme.txt
510		readme=:README
511		readme=:readme
512
513		# Repositories
514
515		# Uncomment the following line to scan a path instead of adding repositories manually
516		# scan-path=/git
517
518		## Test Section
519		section=git/test-section
520
521		repo.url=test.git
522		repo.path=/git/test.git
523		repo.readme=:README.md
524		repo.owner=John Doe
525		repo.desc=An example repository!
526		```
527
528		## Final Fixes: Syntax Highlighting & README Rendering
529
530		After completing my initial install and playing around with it for a few days, I
531		noticed two issues:
532
533		1. Syntax highlighting did not work when viewing the source code within a file.
534		2. The `about` tab within a repository was not rendered to HTML.
535
536		The following process fixes these issues. To start, let's go to the `cgit`
537		directory where we were editing our configuration file earlier.
538
539		```sh
540		cd ~/cgit
541		```
542
543		In here, create two folders that will hold our syntax files:
544
545		```sh
546		mkdir filters && mkdir filters/html-converters && cd filters
547		```
548
549		Next, download the default filters:
550
551		```sh
552		curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/about-formatting.sh > about-formatting.sh
553		chmod 755 about-formatting.sh
554		curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/syntax-highlighting.py > syntax-highlighting.py
555		chmod 755 syntax-highlighting.py
556		```
557
558		Finally, download the HTML conversion files you need. The example below
559		downloads the Markdown converter:
560
561		```sh
562		cd html-converters
563		curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/html-converters/md2html > md2html
564		chmod 755 md2html
565		```
566
567		If you need other filters or html-converters found within [the cgit project
568		files](https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/tree/filters), repeat the `curl` and `chmod`
569		process above for whichever files you need.
570
571		However, formatting will not work quite yet since the Docker cgit container
572		we're using doesn't have the formatting package installed. You can install this
573		easily by install Python 3+ and the `pygments` package:
574
575		```sh
576		# Enter the container's command line
577		sudo docker exec -it cgit bash
578		```
579
580		```sh
581		# Install the necessary packages and then exit
582		yum update -y && \
583		yum upgrade -y && \
584		yum install python3 python3-pip -y && \
585		pip3 install markdown pygments && \
586		exit
587		```
588
589		**You will need to enter the cgit docker container and re-run these `yum`
590		commands every time you kill and restart the container!**
591
592		If not done already, we need to add the following variables to our `cgitrc` file
593		in order for `cgit` to know where our filtering files are:
594
595		```conf
596		# Highlight source code with python pygments-based highlighter
597		source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.py
598
599		# Format markdown, restructuredtext, manpages, text files, and html files
600		# through the right converters
601		about-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/about-formatting.sh
602		```
603
604		Now you should see that syntax highlighting and README rendering to the `about`
605		tab is fixed.
606
607		## Theming
608
609		I won't go into much detail in this section, but you can fully theme your
610		installation of `cgit` since you have access to the `cgit.css` file in your web
611		root. This is another file you can add as a volume to the `docker-compose.yml`
612		file if you want to edit this without entering the container's command line.
613
614		### :warning: Remember to Back Up Your Data!
615
616		The last thing to note is that running services on your own equipment means that
617		you're assuming a level of risk that exists regarding data loss, catastrophes,
618		etc. In order to reduce the impact of any such occurrence, I suggest backing up
619		your data regularly.
620
621		Backups can be automated via `cron`, by hooking your base directory up to a
622		cloud provider, or even setting up hooks to push all repository info to git
623		mirrors on other git hosts. Whatever the method, make sure that your data
624		doesn't vanish in the event that your drives or servers fail.

content/blog/2022-07-01-git-server.org added +638

		@@ -0,0 +1,638 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-07-01>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting a Personal Git Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* My Approach to Self-Hosting Git
	7
	8	I have often tried to self-host my Git repositories, but have always
	9	fallen short when I tried to find a suitable web interface to show on
	10	the front-end.
	11
	12	After a few years, I have finally found a combination of methods that
	13	allow me to easily self-host my projects, view them on the web, and
	14	access them from anywhere.
	15
	16	Before I dive into the details, I want to state a high-level summary of
	17	my self-hosted Git approach:
	18
	19	- This method uses the =ssh://= (read & write) and =git://= (read-only)
	20	protocols for push and pull access.
	21	- For the =git://= protocol, I create a =git-daemon-export-ok= file in
	22	any repository that I want to be cloneable by anyone.
	23	- The web interface I am using (=cgit=) allows simple HTTP cloning by
	24	default. I do not disable this setting as I want beginners to be
	25	able to clone one of my repositories even if they don't know the
	26	proper method.
	27	- I am not enabling Smart HTTPS for any repositories. Updates to
	28	repositories must be pushed via SSH.
	29	- Beyond the actual repository management, I am using =cgit= for the
	30	front-end web interface.
	31	- If you use the =scan-path=<path>= configuration in the =cgitrc=
	32	configuration file to automatically find repositories, you can't
	33	exclude a repository from =cgit= if it's stored within the path that
	34	=cgit= reads. To host private repositories, you'd need to set up
	35	another directory that =cgit= can't read.
	36
	37	* Assumptions
	38
	39	For the purposes of this walkthrough, I am assuming you have a URL
	40	(=git.example.com=) or IP address (=207.84.26.991=) addressed to the
	41	server that you will be using to host your git repositories.
	42
	43	* Adding a Git User
	44
	45	In order to use the SSH method associated with git, we will need to add
	46	a user named =git=. If you have used the SSH method for other git
	47	hosting sites, you are probably used to the following syntax:
	48
	49	#+begin_src sh
	50	git clone [user@]server:project.git
	51	#+end_src
	52
	53	The syntax above is an =scp=-like syntax for using SSH on the =git= user
	54	on the server to access your repository.
	55
	56	Let's delete any remnants of an old =git= user, if any, and create the
	57	new user account:
	58
	59	#+begin_src sh
	60	sudo deluser --remove-home git
	61	sudo adduser git
	62	#+end_src
	63
	64	** Import Your SSH Keys to the Git User
	65
	66	Once the =git= user is created, you will need to copy your public SSH
	67	key on your local development machine to the =git= user on the server.
	68
	69	If you don't have an SSH key yet, create one with this command:
	70
	71	#+begin_src sh
	72	ssh-keygen
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	Once you create the key pair, the public should be saved to
	76	=~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub=.
	77
	78	If your server still has password-based authentication available, you
	79	can copy it over to your user's home directory like this:
	80
	81	#+begin_src sh
	82	ssh-copy-id git@server
	83	#+end_src
	84
	85	Otherwise, copy it over to any user that you can access.
	86
	87	#+begin_src sh
	88	scp ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub your_user@your_server:
	89	#+end_src
	90
	91	Once on the server, you will need to copy the contents into the =git=
	92	user's =authorized_keys= file:
	93
	94	#+begin_src sh
	95	cat id_rsa.pub > /home/git/.ssh/authorized_keys
	96	#+end_src
	97
	98	** (Optional) Disable Password-Based SSH
	99
	100	If you want to lock down your server and ensure that no one can
	101	authenticate in via SSH with a password, you will need to edit your SSH
	102	configuration.
	103
	104	#+begin_src sh
	105	sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
	106	#+end_src
	107
	108	Within this file, find the following settings and set them to the values
	109	I am showing below:
	110
	111	#+begin_src conf
	112	PermitRootLogin no
	113	PasswordAuthentication no
	114	AuthenticationMethods publickey
	115	#+end_src
	116
	117	You may have other Authentication Methods required in your personal
	118	set-up, so the key here is just to ensure that =AuthenticationMethods=
	119	does not allow passwords.
	120
	121	*** Setting up the Base Directory
	122
	123	Now that we have set up a =git= user to handle all transport methods, we
	124	need to set up the directory that we will be using as our base of all
	125	repositories.
	126
	127	In my case, I am using =/git= as my source folder. To create this folder
	128	and assign it to the user we created, execute the following commands:
	129
	130	#+begin_src sh
	131	sudo mkdir /git
	132	sudo chown -R git:git /git
	133	#+end_src
	134
	135	*** Creating a Test Repository
	136
	137	On your server, switch over to the =git= user in order to start managing
	138	git files.
	139
	140	#+begin_src sh
	141	su git
	142	#+end_src
	143
	144	Once logged-in as the =git= user, go to your base directory and create a
	145	test repository.
	146
	147	#+begin_src sh
	148	cd /git
	149	mkdir test.git && cd test.git
	150	git init --bare
	151	#+end_src
	152
	153	If you want to make this repo viewable/cloneable to the public via the
	154	=git://= protocol, you need to create a =git-daemon-export-ok= file
	155	inside the repository.
	156
	157	#+begin_src sh
	158	touch git-daemon-export-ok
	159	#+end_src
	160
	161	* Change the Login Shell for =git=
	162
	163	To make sure that the =git= user is only used for git operations and
	164	nothing else, you need to change the user's login shell. To do this,
	165	simply use the =chsh= command:
	166
	167	#+begin_src sh
	168	sudo chsh git
	169	#+end_src
	170
	171	The interactive prompt will ask which shell you want the =git= user to
	172	use. You must use the following value:
	173
	174	#+begin_src sh
	175	/usr/bin/git-shell
	176	#+end_src
	177
	178	Once done, no one will be able to SSH to the =git= user or execute
	179	commands other than the standard git commands.
	180
	181	* Opening the Firewall
	182
	183	Don't forget to open up ports on the device firewall and network
	184	firewall if you want to access these repositories publicly. If you're
	185	using default ports, forward ports =22= (ssh) and =9418= (git) from your
	186	router to your server's IP address.
	187
	188	If your server also has a firewall, ensure that the firewall allows the
	189	same ports that are forwarded from the router. For example, if you use
	190	=ufw=:
	191
	192	#+begin_src sh
	193	sudo ufw allow 22
	194	sudo ufw allow 9418
	195	#+end_src
	196
	197	** Non-Standard SSH Ports
	198
	199	If you use a non-standard port for SSH, such as =9876=, you will need to
	200	create an SSH configuration file on your local development machine in
	201	order to connect to your server's git repositories.
	202
	203	To do this, you'll need to define your custom port on your client
	204	machine in your =~/.ssh/config= file:
	205
	206	#+begin_src sh
	207	nano ~/.ssh/config
	208	#+end_src
	209
	210	#+begin_src conf
	211	Host git.example.com
	212	# HostName can be a URL or an IP address
	213	HostName git.example.com
	214	Port 9876
	215	User git
	216	#+end_src
	217
	218	** Testing SSH
	219
	220	There are two main syntaxes you can use to manage git over SSH:
	221
	222	- =git clone [user@]server:project.git=
	223	- =git clone ssh://[user@]server/project.git=
	224
	225	I prefer the first, which is an =scp=-like syntax. To test it, try to
	226	clone the test repository you set up on the server:
	227
	228	#+begin_src sh
	229	git clone git@git.example.com:/git/test.git
	230	#+end_src
	231
	232	* Enabling Read-Only Access
	233
	234	If you want people to be able to clone any repository where you've
	235	placed a =git-daemon-export-ok= file, you will need to start the git
	236	daemon.
	237
	238	To do this on a system with =systemd=, create a service file:
	239
	240	#+begin_src sh
	241	sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/git-daemon.service
	242	#+end_src
	243
	244	Inside the =git-daemon.service= file, paste the following:
	245
	246	#+begin_src conf
	247	[Unit]
	248	Description=Start Git Daemon
	249
	250	[Service]
	251	ExecStart=/usr/bin/git daemon --reuseaddr --base-path=/git/ /git/
	252
	253	Restart=always
	254	RestartSec=500ms
	255
	256	StandardOutput=syslog
	257	StandardError=syslog
	258	SyslogIdentifier=git-daemon
	259
	260	User=git
	261	Group=git
	262
	263	[Install]
	264	WantedBy=multi-user.target
	265	#+end_src
	266
	267	Once created, enable and start the service:
	268
	269	#+begin_src sh
	270	sudo systemctl enable git-daemon.service
	271	sudo systemctl start git-daemon.service
	272	#+end_src
	273
	274	To clone read-only via the =git://= protocol, you can use the following
	275	syntax:
	276
	277	#+begin_src sh
	278	git clone git://git.example.com/test.git
	279	#+end_src
	280
	281	* Migrating Repositories
	282
	283	At this point, we have a working git server that works with both SSH and
	284	read-only access.
	285
	286	For each of the repositories I had hosted a different provider, I
	287	executed the following commands in order to place a copy on my server as
	288	my new source of truth:
	289
	290	Server:
	291
	292	#+begin_src sh
	293	su git
	294	mkdir /git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git && cd /git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git
	295	git init --bare
	296
	297	# If you want to make this repo viewable/cloneable to the public
	298	touch git-daemon-export-ok
	299	#+end_src
	300
	301	Client:
	302
	303	#+begin_src sh
	304	git clone git@<PREVIOUS_HOST>:<REPOSITORY_NAME>
	305	git remote set-url origin git@git.EXAMPLE.COM:/git/<REPOSITORY_NAME>.git
	306	git push
	307	#+end_src
	308
	309	* Optional Web View: =cgit=
	310
	311	If you want a web viewer for your repositories, you can use various
	312	tools, such as =gitweb=, =cgit=, or =klaus=. I chose =cgit= due to its
	313	simple interface and fairly easy set-up (compared to others). Not to
	314	mention that the [[https://git.kernel.org/][Linux kernel uses =cgit=]].
	315
	316	** Docker Compose
	317
	318	Instead of using my previous method of using a =docker run= command,
	319	I've updated this section to use =docker-compose= instead for an easier
	320	installation and simpler management and configuration.
	321
	322	In order to use Docker Compose, you will set up a =docker-compose.yml=
	323	file to automatically connect resources like the repositories, =cgitrc=,
	324	and various files or folders to the =cgit= container you're creating:
	325
	326	#+begin_src sh
	327	mkdir ~/cgit && cd ~/cgit
	328	nano docker-compose.yml
	329	#+end_src
	330
	331	#+begin_src conf
	332	# docker-compose.yml
	333	version: '3'
	334
	335	services:
	336	cgit:
	337	image: invokr/cgit
	338	volumes:
	339	- /git:/git
	340	- ./cgitrc:/etc/cgitrc
	341	- ./logo.png:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/logo.png
	342	- ./favicon.png:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/favicon.png
	343	- ./filters:/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters
	344	ports:
	345	- "8763:80"
	346	restart: always
	347	#+end_src
	348
	349	Then, just start the container:
	350
	351	#+begin_src sh
	352	sudo docker-compose up -d
	353	#+end_src
	354
	355	Once it's finished installing, you can access the site at
	356	=<SERVER_IP>:8763= or use a reverse-proxy service to forward =cgit= to a
	357	URL, such as =git.example.com=. See the next section for more details on
	358	reverse proxying a URL to a local port.
	359
	360	** Nginx Reverse Proxy
	361
	362	I am using Nginx as my reverse proxy so that the =cgit= Docker container
	363	can use =git.example.com= as its URL. To do so, I simply created the
	364	following configuration file:
	365
	366	#+begin_src sh
	367	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com
	368	#+end_src
	369
	370	#+begin_src conf
	371	server {
	372	listen 80;
	373	server_name git.example.com;
	374
	375	if ($host = git.example.com) {
	376	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
	377	}
	378
	379	return 404;
	380	}
	381
	382	server {
	383	server_name git.example.com;
	384	listen 443 ssl http2;
	385
	386	location / {
	387	# The final `/` is important.
	388	proxy_pass http://localhost:8763/;
	389	add_header X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN;
	390	add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
	391	proxy_redirect off;
	392	proxy_buffering off;
	393	proxy_set_header Host $host;
	394	proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
	395	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
	396	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
	397	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Port $server_port;
	398	}
	399
	400	# INCLUDE ANY SSL CERTS HERE
	401	include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
	402	ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
	403	}
	404	#+end_src
	405
	406	Once created, symlink it and restart the web server.
	407
	408	#+begin_src sh
	409	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
	410	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
	411	#+end_src
	412
	413	As we can see below, my site at =git.example.com= is available and
	414	running:
	415
	416	** Settings Up Git Details
	417
	418	Once you have =cgit= running, you can add some small details, such as
	419	repository owners and descriptions by editing the following files within
	420	each repository.
	421
	422	Alternatively, you can use the =cgitrc= file to edit these details if
	423	you only care to edit them for the purpose of seeing them on your
	424	website.
	425
	426	The =description= file within the repository on your server will display
	427	the description online.
	428
	429	#+begin_src sh
	430	cd /git/example.git
	431	nano description
	432	#+end_src
	433
	434	You can add a =[gitweb]= block to the =config= file in order to display
	435	the owner of the repository.
	436
	437	#+begin_src sh
	438	cd /git/example.git
	439	nano config
	440	#+end_src
	441
	442	#+begin_src conf
	443	[gitweb]
	444	owner = "YourName"
	445	#+end_src
	446
	447	Note that you can ignore the configuration within each repository and
	448	simply set up this information in the =cgitrc= file, if you want to do
	449	it that way.
	450
	451	** Editing =cgit=
	452
	453	In order to edit certain items within =cgit=, you need to edit the
	454	=cgitrc= file.
	455
	456	#+begin_src sh
	457	nano ~/cgit/cgitrc
	458	#+end_src
	459
	460	Below is an example configuration for =cgitrc=. You can find all the
	461	configuration options within the [configuration manual]
	462	([[https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/cgitrc.5.txt]]).
	463
	464	#+begin_src conf
	465	css=/cgit.css
	466	logo=/logo.png
	467	favicon=/favicon.png
	468	robots=noindex, nofollow
	469
	470	enable-index-links=1
	471	enable-commit-graph=1
	472	enable-blame=1
	473	enable-log-filecount=1
	474	enable-log-linecount=1
	475	enable-git-config=1
	476
	477	clone-url=git://git.example.com/$CGIT_REPO_URL ssh://git@git.example.com:/git/$CGIT_REPO_URL
	478
	479	root-title=My Git Website
	480	root-desc=My personal git repositories.
	481
	482	# Allow download of tar.gz, tar.bz2 and zip-files
	483	snapshots=tar.gz tar.bz2 zip
	484
	485	##
	486	## List of common mimetypes
	487	##
	488	mimetype.gif=image/gif
	489	mimetype.html=text/html
	490	mimetype.jpg=image/jpeg
	491	mimetype.jpeg=image/jpeg
	492	mimetype.pdf=application/pdf
	493	mimetype.png=image/png
	494	mimetype.svg=image/svg+xml
	495
	496	# Highlight source code
	497	# source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.sh
	498	source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.py
	499
	500	# Format markdown, restructuredtext, manpages, text files, and html files
	501	# through the right converters
	502	about-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/about-formatting.sh
	503
	504	##
	505	## Search for these files in the root of the default branch of repositories
	506	## for coming up with the about page:
	507	##
	508	readme=:README.md
	509	readme=:readme.md
	510	readme=:README.mkd
	511	readme=:readme.mkd
	512	readme=:README.rst
	513	readme=:readme.rst
	514	readme=:README.html
	515	readme=:readme.html
	516	readme=:README.htm
	517	readme=:readme.htm
	518	readme=:README.txt
	519	readme=:readme.txt
	520	readme=:README
	521	readme=:readme
	522
	523	# Repositories
	524
	525	# Uncomment the following line to scan a path instead of adding repositories manually
	526	# scan-path=/git
	527
	528	## Test Section
	529	section=git/test-section
	530
	531	repo.url=test.git
	532	repo.path=/git/test.git
	533	repo.readme=:README.md
	534	repo.owner=John Doe
	535	repo.desc=An example repository!
	536	#+end_src
	537
	538	** Final Fixes: Syntax Highlighting & README Rendering
	539
	540	After completing my initial install and playing around with it for a few
	541	days, I noticed two issues:
	542
	543	1. Syntax highlighting did not work when viewing the source code within
	544	a file.
	545	2. The =about= tab within a repository was not rendered to HTML.
	546
	547	The following process fixes these issues. To start, let's go to the
	548	=cgit= directory where we were editing our configuration file earlier.
	549
	550	#+begin_src sh
	551	cd ~/cgit
	552	#+end_src
	553
	554	In here, create two folders that will hold our syntax files:
	555
	556	#+begin_src sh
	557	mkdir filters && mkdir filters/html-converters && cd filters
	558	#+end_src
	559
	560	Next, download the default filters:
	561
	562	#+begin_src sh
	563	curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/about-formatting.sh > about-formatting.sh
	564	chmod 755 about-formatting.sh
	565	curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/syntax-highlighting.py > syntax-highlighting.py
	566	chmod 755 syntax-highlighting.py
	567	#+end_src
	568
	569	Finally, download the HTML conversion files you need. The example below
	570	downloads the Markdown converter:
	571
	572	#+begin_src sh
	573	cd html-converters
	574	curl https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/plain/filters/html-converters/md2html > md2html
	575	chmod 755 md2html
	576	#+end_src
	577
	578	If you need other filters or html-converters found within
	579	[[https://git.zx2c4.com/cgit/tree/filters][the cgit project files]],
	580	repeat the =curl= and =chmod= process above for whichever files you
	581	need.
	582
	583	However, formatting will not work quite yet since the Docker cgit
	584	container we're using doesn't have the formatting package installed. You
	585	can install this easily by install Python 3+ and the =pygments= package:
	586
	587	#+begin_src sh
	588	# Enter the container's command line
	589	sudo docker exec -it cgit bash
	590	#+end_src
	591
	592	#+begin_src sh
	593	# Install the necessary packages and then exit
	594	yum update -y && \
	595	yum upgrade -y && \
	596	yum install python3 python3-pip -y && \
	597	pip3 install markdown pygments && \
	598	exit
	599	#+end_src
	600
	601	*You will need to enter the cgit docker container and re-run these =yum=
	602	commands every time you kill and restart the container!*
	603
	604	If not done already, we need to add the following variables to our
	605	=cgitrc= file in order for =cgit= to know where our filtering files are:
	606
	607	#+begin_src conf
	608	# Highlight source code with python pygments-based highlighter
	609	source-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/syntax-highlighting.py
	610
	611	# Format markdown, restructuredtext, manpages, text files, and html files
	612	# through the right converters
	613	about-filter=/var/www/htdocs/cgit/filters/about-formatting.sh
	614	#+end_src
	615
	616	Now you should see that syntax highlighting and README rendering to the
	617	=about= tab is fixed.
	618
	619	** Theming
	620
	621	I won't go into much detail in this section, but you can fully theme
	622	your installation of =cgit= since you have access to the =cgit.css= file
	623	in your web root. This is another file you can add as a volume to the
	624	=docker-compose.yml= file if you want to edit this without entering the
	625	container's command line.
	626
	627	*** :warning: Remember to Back Up Your Data!
	628
	629	The last thing to note is that running services on your own equipment
	630	means that you're assuming a level of risk that exists regarding data
	631	loss, catastrophes, etc. In order to reduce the impact of any such
	632	occurrence, I suggest backing up your data regularly.
	633
	634	Backups can be automated via =cron=, by hooking your base directory up
	635	to a cloud provider, or even setting up hooks to push all repository
	636	info to git mirrors on other git hosts. Whatever the method, make sure
	637	that your data doesn't vanish in the event that your drives or servers
	638	fail.

content/blog/2022-07-14-gnupg.md deleted −300

		@@ -1,300 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-07-14
3		title = "GNU Privacy Guard (GPG)"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The History of GPG
9
10		[GNU Privacy Guard](https://gnupg.org/), also known as GnuPG and GPG, is a free
11		("free" as in both speech and beer) software that fully implements the OpenPGP
12		Message Format documented in [RFC 4880](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4880).
13
14		I won't go in-depth on the full history of the software in this post, but it is
15		important to understand that GPG is not the same as PGP (Pretty Good Privacy),
16		which is a different implementation of RFC 4880. However, GPG was designed to
17		interoperate with PGP.
18
19		GPG was originally developed in the late 1990s by [Werner
20		Koch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Koch) and has historically been
21		funded generously by the German government.
22
23		Now that we have all the high-level info out of the way, let's dive into the
24		different aspects of GPG and its uses.
25
26		# Encryption Algorithms
27
28		GPG supports a wide range of different encryption algorithms, including
29		public-key, cipher, hash, and compression algorithms. The support for these
30		algorithms has grown since the adoption of the Libgcrypt library in the 2.x
31		versions of GPG.
32
33		As you will be able to see below in an example of a full key generation with the
34		GPG command line tool, GPG recommends the following algorithms to new users:
35
36		```sh
37		Please select what kind of key you want:
38		(1) RSA and RSA
39		(2) DSA and Elgamal
40		(3) DSA (sign only)
41		(4) RSA (sign only)
42		(9) ECC (sign and encrypt) default
43		(10) ECC (sign only)
44		```
45
46		I am not doing an in-depth explanation here in order to keep the focus on GPG
47		and not encryption algorithms. If you want a deep dive into cryptography or
48		encryption algorithms, please read my other posts:
49
50		- [AES Encryption](../aes-encryption/) (2018)
51		- [Cryptography Basics](../cryptography-basics/) (2020)
52
53		## Vulnerabilities
54
55		As of 2022-07-14, there are a few different vulnerabilities associated with GPG
56		or the libraries it uses:
57
58		- GPG versions 1.0.2--1.2.3 contains a bug where "as soon as one
59		(GPG-generated) ElGamal signature of an arbitrary message is released, one
60		can recover the signer's private key in less than a second on a PC."
61		([Source](https://www.di.ens.fr/~pnguyen/pub_Ng04.htm))
62		- GPG versions prior to 1.4.2.1 contain a false positive signature
63		verification bug.
64		([Source](https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-announce/2006q1/000211.html))
65		- GPG versions prior to 1.4.2.2 cannot detect injection of unsigned data. (
66		[Source](https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-announce/2006q1/000218.html))
67		- Libgcrypt, a library used by GPG, contained a bug which enabled full key
68		recovery for RSA-1024 and some RSA-2048 keys. This was resolved in a GPG
69		update in 2017. ([Source](https://lwn.net/Articles/727179/))
70		- The [ROCA Vulnerability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROCA_vulnerability)
71		affects RSA keys generated by YubiKey 4 tokens.
72		([Source](https://crocs.fi.muni.cz/_media/public/papers/nemec_roca_ccs17_preprint.pdf))
73		- The [SigSpoof Attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SigSpoof) allows an
74		attacker to spoof digital signatures.
75		([Source](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/06/decades-old-pgp-bug-allowed-hackers-to-spoof-just-about-anyones-signature/))
76		- Libgcrypt 1.9.0 contains a severe flaw related to a heap buffer overflow,
77		fixed in Libgcrypt 1.9.1
78		([Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20210221012505/https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/29/severe_libgcrypt_bug/))
79
80		### Platforms
81
82		Originally developed as a command-line program for \*nix systems, GPG now has a
83		wealth of front-end applications and libraries available for end-users. However,
84		the most recommended programs remain the same:
85
86		- [GnuPG](https://gnupg.org) for Linux (depending on distro)
87		- [Gpg4win](https://gpg4win.org) for Windows
88		- [GPGTools](https://gpgtools.org) for macOS
89
90		# Creating a Key Pair
91
92		In order to create a GPG key pair, a user would first need to install GPG on
93		their system. If we're assuming that the user is on Fedora Linux, they would
94		execute the following:
95
96		```sh
97		sudo dnf install gpg
98		```
99
100		Once installed, a user can create a new key pair with the following command(s):
101
102		```sh
103		gpg --full-generate-key
104		```
105
106		GPG will walk the user through an interactive setup that asks for an algorithm
107		preference, expiration date, name, and email to associate with this key.
108
109		See the following example key set-up for a default key generation using the
110		GnuPG command-line interface:
111
112		```sh
113		gpg (GnuPG) 2.3.6; Copyright (C) 2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
114		This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
115		There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
116
117		Please select what kind of key you want:
118		(1) RSA and RSA
119		(2) DSA and Elgamal
120		(3) DSA (sign only)
121		(4) RSA (sign only)
122		(9) ECC (sign and encrypt) default
123		(10) ECC (sign only)
124		(14) Existing key from card
125		Your selection? 9
126		Please select which elliptic curve you want:
127		(1) Curve 25519 default
128		(4) NIST P-384
129		Your selection? 1
130		Please specify how long the key should be valid.
131		0 = key does not expire
132		<n> = key expires in n days
133		<n>w = key expires in n weeks
134		<n>m = key expires in n months
135		<n>y = key expires in n years
136		Key is valid for? (0) 0
137		Key does not expire at all
138		Is this correct? (y/N) y
139
140		GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.
141
142		Real name: John Doe
143		Email address: johndoe@example.com
144		Comment: test key
145		You selected this USER-ID:
146		"John Doe (test key) <johndoe@example.com>"
147
148		Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
149		We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
150		some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
151		disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
152		generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.
153		We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
154		some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
155		disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
156		generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.
157		gpg: revocation certificate stored as 'example.rev'
158		public and secret key created and signed.
159
160		pub ed25519 2022-07-14 [SC]
161		E955B7700FFC11EF51C2BA1FE096AACDD4C32E9C
162		uid John Doe (test key) <johndoe@example.com>
163		sub cv25519 2022-07-14 [E]
164		```
165
166		Please note that GUI apps may differ slightly from the GPG command-line
167		interface.
168
169		# Common Usage
170
171		As noted in RFC 4880, the general functions of OpenPGP are as follows:
172
173		- digital signatures
174		- encryption
175		- compression
176		- Radix-64 conversion
177		- key management and certificate services
178
179		From this, you can probably gather that the main use of GPG is for encrypting
180		data and/or signing the data with a key. The purpose of encrypting data with GPG
181		is to ensure that no one except the intended recipient(s) can access the data.
182
183		Let's explore some specific GPG use-cases.
184
185		## Email
186
187		One of the more popular uses of GPG is to sign and/or encrypt emails. With the
188		use of a GPG keypair, you can encrypt a message, its subject, and even the
189		attachments within.
190
191		The first process, regarding the signing of a message without any encryption, is
192		generally used to provide assurance that an email is truly coming from the
193		sender that the message claims. When I send an email, and it's signed with my
194		public key, the recipient(s) of the message can verify that the message was
195		signed with my personal key.
196
197		The second process, regarding the actual encryption of the message and its
198		contents, works by using a combination of the sender's keys and the recipient's
199		keys. This process may vary slightly by implementation, but it most commonly
200		uses asymmetric cryptography, also known as public-key cryptography. In this
201		version of encryption, the sender's private key to sign the message and a
202		combination of the sender's keys and the recipient's public key to encrypt the
203		message.
204
205		If two people each have their own private keys and exchange their public keys,
206		they can send encrypted messages back and forth with GPG. This is also possible
207		with symmetric cryptography, but the process differs since there are no key
208		pairs.
209
210		Implementation of email encryption varies greatly between email clients, so you
211		will need to reference your email client's documentation to ensure you are
212		setting it up correctly for that specific client.
213
214		## File Encryption
215
216		As noted in the section above regarding emails, GPG enables users to be able to
217		send a message to each other if they are both set-up with GPG keys. In this
218		example, I am going to show how a user could send a file called
219		`example_file.txt` to another user via the recipient's email.
220
221		The sender would find the file they want to send and execute the following
222		command:
223
224		```sh
225		gpg --encrypt --output example_file.txt.gpg --recipient \
226		recipient@example.com example_file.txt
227		```
228
229		Once received, the recipient can decrypt the file with the following command:
230
231		```sh
232		gpg --decrypt --output example_file.txt example_file.txt.gpg
233		```
234
235		## Ownership Signatures
236
237		One important aspect of GPG, especially for developers, is the ability to sign
238		data without encrypting it. For example, developers often sign code changes when
239		they commit the changes back to a central repository, in order to display
240		ownership of who made the changes. This allows other users to look at a code
241		change and determine that the change was valid.
242
243		In order to do this using [Git](https://git-scm.com), the developer simply needs
244		to alter the `git commit` command to include the `-S` flag. Here's an example:
245
246		```sh
247		git commit -S -m "my commit message"
248		```
249
250		As an expansion of the example above, Git users can configure their environment
251		with a default key to use by adding their GPG signature:
252
253		```sh
254		git config --global user.signingkey XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
255		```
256
257		If you're not sure what your signature is, you can find it titled `sig` in the
258		output of this command:
259
260		```sh
261		gpg --list-signatures
262		```
263
264		## File Integrity
265
266		When a person generates a signature for data, they are allowing users the
267		ability to verify the signature on that data in the future to ensure the data
268		has not been corrupted. This is most common with software applications hosted on
269		the internet - developers provide signatures so that users can verify a website
270		was not hijacked and download links replaced with dangerous software.
271
272		In order to verify signed data, a user needs to have:
273
274		1. The signed data
275		2. A signature file
276		3. The public GPG key of the signer
277
278		Once the signer's public key is imported on the user's system, and they have the
279		data and signature, they can verify the data with the following commands:
280
281		```sh
282		# If the signature is attached to the data
283		gpg --verify [signature-file]
284
285		# If the signature is detached as a separate file from the data
286		gpg --verify [signature-file] [original-file]
287		```
288
289		### Finding Public Keys
290
291		In order to use GPG with others, a user needs to know the other user(s) keys.
292		This is easy to do if the user knows the other user(s) in person, but may be
293		hard if the relationship is strictly digital. Luckily, there are a few options.
294		The first option is to look at a user's web page or social pages if they have
295		them.
296
297		Otherwise, the best option is to use a keyserver, such as:
298
299		- [pgp.mit.edu](https://pgp.mit.edu)
300		- [keys.openpgp.org](https://keys.openpgp.org)

content/blog/2022-07-14-gnupg.org added +308

		@@ -0,0 +1,308 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-07-14>
	2	#+title: GNU Privacy Guard (GPG)
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The History of GPG
	7
	8	[[https://gnupg.org/][GNU Privacy Guard]], also known as GnuPG and GPG,
	9	is a free ("free" as in both speech and beer) software that fully
	10	implements the OpenPGP Message Format documented in
	11	[[https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4880][RFC 4880]].
	12
	13	I won't go in-depth on the full history of the software in this post,
	14	but it is important to understand that GPG is not the same as PGP
	15	(Pretty Good Privacy), which is a different implementation of RFC 4880.
	16	However, GPG was designed to interoperate with PGP.
	17
	18	GPG was originally developed in the late 1990s by
	19	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Koch][Werner Koch]] and has
	20	historically been funded generously by the German government.
	21
	22	Now that we have all the high-level info out of the way, let's dive into
	23	the different aspects of GPG and its uses.
	24
	25	* Encryption Algorithms
	26
	27	GPG supports a wide range of different encryption algorithms, including
	28	public-key, cipher, hash, and compression algorithms. The support for
	29	these algorithms has grown since the adoption of the Libgcrypt library
	30	in the 2.x versions of GPG.
	31
	32	As you will be able to see below in an example of a full key generation
	33	with the GPG command line tool, GPG recommends the following algorithms
	34	to new users:
	35
	36	#+begin_src sh
	37	Please select what kind of key you want:
	38	(1) RSA and RSA
	39	(2) DSA and Elgamal
	40	(3) DSA (sign only)
	41	(4) RSA (sign only)
	42	(9) ECC (sign and encrypt) default
	43	(10) ECC (sign only)
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	I am not doing an in-depth explanation here in order to keep the focus
	47	on GPG and not encryption algorithms. If you want a deep dive into
	48	cryptography or encryption algorithms, please read my other posts:
	49
	50	- [[../aes-encryption/][AES Encryption]] (2018)
	51	- [[../cryptography-basics/][Cryptography Basics]] (2020)
	52
	53	** Vulnerabilities
	54
	55	As of 2022-07-14, there are a few different vulnerabilities associated
	56	with GPG or the libraries it uses:
	57
	58	- GPG versions 1.0.2--1.2.3 contains a bug where "as soon as one
	59	(GPG-generated) ElGamal signature of an arbitrary message is released,
	60	one can recover the signer's private key in less than a second on a
	61	PC." ([[https://www.di.ens.fr/~pnguyen/pub_Ng04.htm][Source]])
	62	- GPG versions prior to 1.4.2.1 contain a false positive signature
	63	verification bug.
	64	([[https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-announce/2006q1/000211.html][Source]])
	65	- GPG versions prior to 1.4.2.2 cannot detect injection of unsigned
	66	data. (
	67	[[https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-announce/2006q1/000218.html][Source]])
	68	- Libgcrypt, a library used by GPG, contained a bug which enabled full
	69	key recovery for RSA-1024 and some RSA-2048 keys. This was resolved in
	70	a GPG update in 2017. ([[https://lwn.net/Articles/727179/][Source]])
	71	- The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROCA_vulnerability][ROCA
	72	Vulnerability]] affects RSA keys generated by YubiKey 4 tokens.
	73	([[https://crocs.fi.muni.cz/_media/public/papers/nemec_roca_ccs17_preprint.pdf][Source]])
	74	- The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SigSpoof][SigSpoof Attack]] allows
	75	an attacker to spoof digital signatures.
	76	([[https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/06/decades-old-pgp-bug-allowed-hackers-to-spoof-just-about-anyones-signature/][Source]])
	77	- Libgcrypt 1.9.0 contains a severe flaw related to a heap buffer
	78	overflow, fixed in Libgcrypt 1.9.1
	79	([[https://web.archive.org/web/20210221012505/https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/29/severe_libgcrypt_bug/][Source]])
	80
	81	*** Platforms
	82
	83	Originally developed as a command-line program for *nix systems, GPG now
	84	has a wealth of front-end applications and libraries available for
	85	end-users. However, the most recommended programs remain the same:
	86
	87	- [[https://gnupg.org][GnuPG]] for Linux (depending on distro)
	88	- [[https://gpg4win.org][Gpg4win]] for Windows
	89	- [[https://gpgtools.org][GPGTools]] for macOS
	90
	91	* Creating a Key Pair
	92
	93	In order to create a GPG key pair, a user would first need to install
	94	GPG on their system. If we're assuming that the user is on Fedora Linux,
	95	they would execute the following:
	96
	97	#+begin_src sh
	98	sudo dnf install gpg
	99	#+end_src
	100
	101	Once installed, a user can create a new key pair with the following
	102	command(s):
	103
	104	#+begin_src sh
	105	gpg --full-generate-key
	106	#+end_src
	107
	108	GPG will walk the user through an interactive setup that asks for an
	109	algorithm preference, expiration date, name, and email to associate with
	110	this key.
	111
	112	See the following example key set-up for a default key generation using
	113	the GnuPG command-line interface:
	114
	115	#+begin_src sh
	116	gpg (GnuPG) 2.3.6; Copyright (C) 2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
	117	This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
	118	There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
	119
	120	Please select what kind of key you want:
	121	(1) RSA and RSA
	122	(2) DSA and Elgamal
	123	(3) DSA (sign only)
	124	(4) RSA (sign only)
	125	(9) ECC (sign and encrypt) default
	126	(10) ECC (sign only)
	127	(14) Existing key from card
	128	Your selection? 9
	129	Please select which elliptic curve you want:
	130	(1) Curve 25519 default
	131	(4) NIST P-384
	132	Your selection? 1
	133	Please specify how long the key should be valid.
	134	0 = key does not expire
	135	<n> = key expires in n days
	136	<n>w = key expires in n weeks
	137	<n>m = key expires in n months
	138	<n>y = key expires in n years
	139	Key is valid for? (0) 0
	140	Key does not expire at all
	141	Is this correct? (y/N) y
	142
	143	GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.
	144
	145	Real name: John Doe
	146	Email address: johndoe@example.com
	147	Comment: test key
	148	You selected this USER-ID:
	149	"John Doe (test key) <johndoe@example.com>"
	150
	151	Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
	152	We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
	153	some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
	154	disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
	155	generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.
	156	We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
	157	some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
	158	disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
	159	generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.
	160	gpg: revocation certificate stored as 'example.rev'
	161	public and secret key created and signed.
	162
	163	pub ed25519 2022-07-14 [SC]
	164	E955B7700FFC11EF51C2BA1FE096AACDD4C32E9C
	165	uid John Doe (test key) <johndoe@example.com>
	166	sub cv25519 2022-07-14 [E]
	167	#+end_src
	168
	169	Please note that GUI apps may differ slightly from the GPG command-line
	170	interface.
	171
	172	* Common Usage
	173
	174	As noted in RFC 4880, the general functions of OpenPGP are as follows:
	175
	176	- digital signatures
	177	- encryption
	178	- compression
	179	- Radix-64 conversion
	180	- key management and certificate services
	181
	182	From this, you can probably gather that the main use of GPG is for
	183	encrypting data and/or signing the data with a key. The purpose of
	184	encrypting data with GPG is to ensure that no one except the intended
	185	recipient(s) can access the data.
	186
	187	Let's explore some specific GPG use-cases.
	188
	189	** Email
	190
	191	One of the more popular uses of GPG is to sign and/or encrypt emails.
	192	With the use of a GPG keypair, you can encrypt a message, its subject,
	193	and even the attachments within.
	194
	195	The first process, regarding the signing of a message without any
	196	encryption, is generally used to provide assurance that an email is
	197	truly coming from the sender that the message claims. When I send an
	198	email, and it's signed with my public key, the recipient(s) of the
	199	message can verify that the message was signed with my personal key.
	200
	201	The second process, regarding the actual encryption of the message and
	202	its contents, works by using a combination of the sender's keys and the
	203	recipient's keys. This process may vary slightly by implementation, but
	204	it most commonly uses asymmetric cryptography, also known as public-key
	205	cryptography. In this version of encryption, the sender's private key to
	206	sign the message and a combination of the sender's keys and the
	207	recipient's public key to encrypt the message.
	208
	209	If two people each have their own private keys and exchange their public
	210	keys, they can send encrypted messages back and forth with GPG. This is
	211	also possible with symmetric cryptography, but the process differs since
	212	there are no key pairs.
	213
	214	Implementation of email encryption varies greatly between email clients,
	215	so you will need to reference your email client's documentation to
	216	ensure you are setting it up correctly for that specific client.
	217
	218	** File Encryption
	219
	220	As noted in the section above regarding emails, GPG enables users to be
	221	able to send a message to each other if they are both set-up with GPG
	222	keys. In this example, I am going to show how a user could send a file
	223	called =example_file.txt= to another user via the recipient's email.
	224
	225	The sender would find the file they want to send and execute the
	226	following command:
	227
	228	#+begin_src sh
	229	gpg --encrypt --output example_file.txt.gpg --recipient \
	230	recipient@example.com example_file.txt
	231	#+end_src
	232
	233	Once received, the recipient can decrypt the file with the following
	234	command:
	235
	236	#+begin_src sh
	237	gpg --decrypt --output example_file.txt example_file.txt.gpg
	238	#+end_src
	239
	240	** Ownership Signatures
	241
	242	One important aspect of GPG, especially for developers, is the ability
	243	to sign data without encrypting it. For example, developers often sign
	244	code changes when they commit the changes back to a central repository,
	245	in order to display ownership of who made the changes. This allows other
	246	users to look at a code change and determine that the change was valid.
	247
	248	In order to do this using [[https://git-scm.com][Git]], the developer
	249	simply needs to alter the =git commit= command to include the =-S= flag.
	250	Here's an example:
	251
	252	#+begin_src sh
	253	git commit -S -m "my commit message"
	254	#+end_src
	255
	256	As an expansion of the example above, Git users can configure their
	257	environment with a default key to use by adding their GPG signature:
	258
	259	#+begin_src sh
	260	git config --global user.signingkey XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
	261	#+end_src
	262
	263	If you're not sure what your signature is, you can find it titled =sig=
	264	in the output of this command:
	265
	266	#+begin_src sh
	267	gpg --list-signatures
	268	#+end_src
	269
	270	** File Integrity
	271
	272	When a person generates a signature for data, they are allowing users
	273	the ability to verify the signature on that data in the future to ensure
	274	the data has not been corrupted. This is most common with software
	275	applications hosted on the internet - developers provide signatures so
	276	that users can verify a website was not hijacked and download links
	277	replaced with dangerous software.
	278
	279	In order to verify signed data, a user needs to have:
	280
	281	1. The signed data
	282	2. A signature file
	283	3. The public GPG key of the signer
	284
	285	Once the signer's public key is imported on the user's system, and they
	286	have the data and signature, they can verify the data with the following
	287	commands:
	288
	289	#+begin_src sh
	290	# If the signature is attached to the data
	291	gpg --verify [signature-file]
	292
	293	# If the signature is detached as a separate file from the data
	294	gpg --verify [signature-file] [original-file]
	295	#+end_src
	296
	297	*** Finding Public Keys
	298
	299	In order to use GPG with others, a user needs to know the other user(s)
	300	keys. This is easy to do if the user knows the other user(s) in person,
	301	but may be hard if the relationship is strictly digital. Luckily, there
	302	are a few options. The first option is to look at a user's web page or
	303	social pages if they have them.
	304
	305	Otherwise, the best option is to use a keyserver, such as:
	306
	307	- [[https://pgp.mit.edu][pgp.mit.edu]]
	308	- [[https://keys.openpgp.org][keys.openpgp.org]]

content/blog/2022-07-25-curseradio.md deleted −98

		@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-07-25
3		title = "CurseRadio: Listening to the Radio on the Command Line"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		While exploring some interesting Linux applications, I stumbled across
11		[curseradio](https://github.com/chronitis/curseradio), a command-line radio
12		player based on Python.
13
14		This application is fantastic and incredibly easy to install, so I wanted to
15		dedicate a post today to this app. Let's look at the features within the app and
16		then walk through the installation process I took to get `curseradio` working.
17
18		# Features
19
20		The radio player itself is quite minimal. As you can see in the screenshot
21		above, it contains a simple plaintext list of all available categories, which
22		can be broken down further and further. In addition, radio shows are available
23		for listening, alongside regular radio stations.
24
25		For example, the `Sports` > `Pro Basketball` > `Shows` category contains a
26		number of specific shows related to Professional Basketball.
27
28		Aside from being able to play any of the listed stations/shows, you can make a
29		channel your favorite by pressing `f`. It will now show up at the top of the
30		radio player in the `Favourites` category.
31
32		## Commands/Shortcuts
33
34		\| Key(s) \| Command \|
35		\| ---------- \| ------------------------------- \|
36		\| ↑, ↓ \| navigate \|
37		\| PgUp, PgDn \| navigate quickly \|
38		\| Home, End \| to top/bottom \|
39		\| Enter \| open/close folders, play stream \|
40		\| k \| stop playing stream \|
41		\| q \| quit \|
42		\| f \| toggle favourite \|
43
44		# Installation
45
46		## Dependencies
47
48		Before installing `curseradio`, a handful of system and Python packages are
49		required. To get started, install `python3`, `pip3`, and `mpv` on your system.
50		In this example, I'm using Fedora Linux, which uses the `dnf` package manager.
51		You may need to adjust this if you're using a different system.
52
53		```sh
54		sudo dnf install python3 pip3 mpv
55		```
56
57		Next, use `pip3` to install `requests`, `xdg`, and `lxml`:
58
59		```sh
60		pip3 install requests xdg lxml
61		```
62
63		## Repository Source Installation
64
65		Once all the dependencies are installed, we can clone the source code and enter
66		that directory:
67
68		```sh
69		git clone https://github.com/chronitis/curseradio && cd curseradio
70		```
71
72		Once you're within the `curseradio` directory, you can install the application
73		with the provided `setup.py` script.
74
75		```sh
76		sudo python3 setup.py install
77		```
78
79		In my case, I ran into a few errors and needed to create the folders that
80		curseradio wanted to use for its installation. If you don't get any errors, you
81		can skip this and run the app.
82
83		```sh
84		sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib/python3.10/
85		sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/
86		```
87
88		```sh
89		sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /usr/local/lib/python3.10/
90		```
91
92		# Run the Application
93
94		Once fully installed without errors, you can run the application!
95
96		```sh
97		python3 /usr/local/bin/curseradio
98		```

content/blog/2022-07-25-curseradio.org added +99

		@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-07-25>
	2	#+title: CurseRadio: Listening to the Radio on the Command Line
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	While exploring some interesting Linux applications, I stumbled across
	9	[[https://github.com/chronitis/curseradio][curseradio]], a command-line
	10	radio player based on Python.
	11
	12	This application is fantastic and incredibly easy to install, so I
	13	wanted to dedicate a post today to this app. Let's look at the features
	14	within the app and then walk through the installation process I took to
	15	get =curseradio= working.
	16
	17	* Features
	18
	19	The radio player itself is quite minimal. As you can see in the
	20	screenshot above, it contains a simple plaintext list of all available
	21	categories, which can be broken down further and further. In addition,
	22	radio shows are available for listening, alongside regular radio
	23	stations.
	24
	25	For example, the =Sports= > =Pro Basketball= > =Shows= category contains
	26	a number of specific shows related to Professional Basketball.
	27
	28	Aside from being able to play any of the listed stations/shows, you can
	29	make a channel your favorite by pressing =f=. It will now show up at the
	30	top of the radio player in the =Favourites= category.
	31
	32	** Commands/Shortcuts
	33
	34	\| Key(s) \| Command \|
	35	\|------------+---------------------------------\|
	36	\| ↑, ↓ \| navigate \|
	37	\| PgUp, PgDn \| navigate quickly \|
	38	\| Home, End \| to top/bottom \|
	39	\| Enter \| open/close folders, play stream \|
	40	\| k \| stop playing stream \|
	41	\| q \| quit \|
	42	\| f \| toggle favourite \|
	43
	44	* Installation
	45
	46	** Dependencies
	47
	48	Before installing =curseradio=, a handful of system and Python packages
	49	are required. To get started, install =python3=, =pip3=, and =mpv= on
	50	your system. In this example, I'm using Fedora Linux, which uses the
	51	=dnf= package manager. You may need to adjust this if you're using a
	52	different system.
	53
	54	#+begin_src sh
	55	sudo dnf install python3 pip3 mpv
	56	#+end_src
	57
	58	Next, use =pip3= to install =requests=, =xdg=, and =lxml=:
	59
	60	#+begin_src sh
	61	pip3 install requests xdg lxml
	62	#+end_src
	63
	64	** Repository Source Installation
	65
	66	Once all the dependencies are installed, we can clone the source code
	67	and enter that directory:
	68
	69	#+begin_src sh
	70	git clone https://github.com/chronitis/curseradio && cd curseradio
	71	#+end_src
	72
	73	Once you're within the =curseradio= directory, you can install the
	74	application with the provided =setup.py= script.
	75
	76	#+begin_src sh
	77	sudo python3 setup.py install
	78	#+end_src
	79
	80	In my case, I ran into a few errors and needed to create the folders
	81	that curseradio wanted to use for its installation. If you don't get any
	82	errors, you can skip this and run the app.
	83
	84	#+begin_src sh
	85	sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib/python3.10/
	86	sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/
	87	#+end_src
	88
	89	#+begin_src sh
	90	sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /usr/local/lib/python3.10/
	91	#+end_src
	92
	93	* Run the Application
	94
	95	Once fully installed without errors, you can run the application!
	96
	97	#+begin_src sh
	98	python3 /usr/local/bin/curseradio
	99	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-07-30-flac-to-opus.md → content/blog/2022-07-30-flac-to-opus.org renamed +68 −68

		@@ -1,68 +1,68 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-07-30
3		title = "Recursive Command-Line FLAC to Opus Conversion"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-07-30>
	2	#+title: Recursive Command-Line FLAC to Opus Conversion
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Converting FLAC to OPUS
	5
	6	* Converting FLAC to OPUS
9	7
10	8	I am currently rebuilding my music library from scratch so that I can
11		effectively archive all the music I own in the [FLAC file
12		format](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC), a lossless audio codec.
	9	effectively archive all the music I own in the
	10	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC][FLAC file format]], a lossless
	11	audio codec.
13	12
14		However, streaming FLAC files outside the home can be difficult due to the size
15		of the files, especially if you're using a weak connection.
	13	However, streaming FLAC files outside the home can be difficult due to
	14	the size of the files, especially if you're using a weak connection.
16	15
17		So, in order to archive the music in a lossless format and still be able to
18		stream it easily, I opted to create a copy of my FLAC files in the [Opus audio
19		codec](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_(audio_format)>). This allows me to
20		archive a quality, lossless version of the music and then point my streaming
21		service to the smaller, stream-ready version.
	16	So, in order to archive the music in a lossless format and still be able
	17	to stream it easily, I opted to create a copy of my FLAC files in the
	18	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_(audio_format)][Opus audio codec]].
	19	This allows me to archive a quality, lossless version of the music and
	20	then point my streaming service to the smaller, stream-ready version.
22	21
23		## Dependencies
	22	** Dependencies
24	23
25		The process I follow utilizes the `opus-tools` package in Ubuntu. Before
	24	The process I follow utilizes the =opus-tools= package in Ubuntu. Before
26	25	proceeding, install the package:
27	26
28		```sh
	27	#+begin_src sh
29	28	sudo apt install opus-tools
30		```
	29	#+end_src
31	30
32		If you want to use a different conversion method, such as `ffmpeg` or `avconv`,
33		simply install that package instead.
	31	If you want to use a different conversion method, such as =ffmpeg= or
	32	=avconv=, simply install that package instead.
34	33
35		## Conversion Process
	34	** Conversion Process
36	35
37		The script I'm using is stored in my home directory, but feel free to create it
38		wherever you want. It does not need to be in the same directory as your music
39		files.
	36	The script I'm using is stored in my home directory, but feel free to
	37	create it wherever you want. It does not need to be in the same
	38	directory as your music files.
40	39
41		```sh
	40	#+begin_src sh
42	41	cd ~ && nano transform.sh
43		```
	42	#+end_src
44	43
45		Once you have your new bash script opened in an editor, go ahead and paste the
46		following logic into the script.
	44	Once you have your new bash script opened in an editor, go ahead and
	45	paste the following logic into the script.
47	46
48		You MUST edit the following variables in order for it to work:
	47	You MUST edit the following variables in order for it to work:
49	48
50		- `source`: The source directory where your FLAC files are stored.
51		- `dest`: The destination directory where you want the resulting Opus files to
52		be stored.
	49	- =source=: The source directory where your FLAC files are stored.
	50	- =dest=: The destination directory where you want the resulting Opus
	51	files to be stored.
53	52
54		You MAY want to edit the following variables to suit your needs:
	53	You MAY want to edit the following variables to suit your needs:
55	54
56		- `filename`: If you are converting to a file format other than Opus, you'll
57		need to edit this so that your resulting files have the correct filename
58		extension.
59		- `reldir`: This variable can be edited to strip out more leading directories
60		in the file path. As you'll see later, I ignore this for now and simply
61		clean it up afterward.
62		- `opusenc`: This is the actual conversion process. You may want to edit the
63		bitrate to suit your needs. I set mine at 128 but some prefer 160 or higher.
	55	- =filename=: If you are converting to a file format other than Opus,
	56	you'll need to edit this so that your resulting files have the correct
	57	filename extension.
	58	- =reldir=: This variable can be edited to strip out more leading
	59	directories in the file path. As you'll see later, I ignore this for
	60	now and simply clean it up afterward.
	61	- =opusenc=: This is the actual conversion process. You may want to edit
	62	the bitrate to suit your needs. I set mine at 128 but some prefer 160
	63	or higher.
64	64
65		```sh
	65	#+begin_src sh
66	66	#!/bin/bash
67	67	## - The IFS takes care of spaces in file and dirnames
68	68	## - your folders may vary
		@@ -124,51 +124,51 @@ opusenc --vbr --bitrate 128 --date "$DATE" \
124	124	## just for testing
125	125	# sleep 1
126	126	done
127		```
	127	#+end_src
128	128
129		Once you're done, simply save the file and exit your editor. Don't forget to
130		enable execution of the script:
	129	Once you're done, simply save the file and exit your editor. Don't
	130	forget to enable execution of the script:
131	131
132		```sh
	132	#+begin_src sh
133	133	chmod +x transform.sh
134		```
	134	#+end_src
135	135
136	136	Finally, you may now run the script:
137	137
138		```sh
	138	#+begin_src sh
139	139	./transform.sh
140		```
	140	#+end_src
141	141
142		If you used `opusenc`, you'll see the conversions happen within the terminal as
143		it progresses. You will also see variables printed if you uncommented any of the
144		bash script's comments.
	142	If you used =opusenc=, you'll see the conversions happen within the
	143	terminal as it progresses. You will also see variables printed if you
	144	uncommented any of the bash script's comments.
145	145
146		## Cleanup
	146	** Cleanup
147	147
148		As I noted above, I didn't customize my `reldir` variable in the script, which
149		caused my output directory to be `/mnt/music/library/archives` instead of
150		`/mnt/music/library`. So, I moved the output up one level and deleted the
151		accidental directory.
	148	As I noted above, I didn't customize my =reldir= variable in the script,
	149	which caused my output directory to be =/mnt/music/library/archives=
	150	instead of =/mnt/music/library=. So, I moved the output up one level and
	151	deleted the accidental directory.
152	152
153		```sh
	153	#+begin_src sh
154	154	cd /mnt/music/library
155	155	mv archives/** .
156	156	rm -rf archives
157		```
	157	#+end_src
158	158
159		## Check the Resulting Size
	159	** Check the Resulting Size
160	160
161		If you want to see what kind of file size savings you've gained, you can always
162		use the `du` command to check:
	161	If you want to see what kind of file size savings you've gained, you can
	162	always use the =du= command to check:
163	163
164		```sh
	164	#+begin_src sh
165	165	cd /mnt/music
166	166	du -h --max-depth=1 .
167		```
	167	#+end_src
168	168
169	169	In my case, my small library went from 78GB to 6.3GB!
170	170
171		```txt
	171	#+begin_src txt
172	172	78G ./archives
173	173	6.3G ./library
174		```
	174	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-07-31-bash-it.md deleted −237

		@@ -1,237 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-07-31
3		title = "Upgrade Bash with Bash-It and Ble.sh"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Bash
9
10		For those who are not familiar,
11		[Bash](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)>) is a Unix shell that
12		is used as the default login shell for most Linux distributions. This shell and
13		command processor should be familiar if you've used Linux (or older version of
14		macOS) before.
15
16		However, bash is not the only option. There are numerous other shells that
17		exist. Here are some popular examples:
18
19		- [zsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell)
20		- [fish](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_(Unix_shell)>)
21		- [oksh](https://github.com/ibara/oksh)
22		- [mksh](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Mksh)
23		- [dash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian_Almquist_shell)
24
25		While each shell has its differences, bash is POSIX compliant and the default
26		for many Linux users. Because of this, I am going to explore a program called
27		`bash-it` below that helps bash users increase the utility of their shell
28		without installing a completely new shell.
29
30		## Installation
31
32		First, if bash is not already installed on your system, you can [download bash
33		from GNU](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/) or use your package manager to
34		install it.
35
36		For example, this is how you can install bash on Fedora Linux:
37
38		```sh
39		sudo dnf install bash
40		```
41
42		If you are not using bash as your default shell, use the `chsh` command to
43		change your shell:
44
45		```sh
46		chsh
47		```
48
49		You should see a prompt like the one below. If the brackets (`[]`) contain
50		`bash` already, you're done, and you can simply continue by hitting the Enter
51		key.
52
53		If the brackets contain another shell path (e.g. `/usr/bin/zsh`), enter the path
54		to the bash program on your system (it's most likely located at
55		`/usr/bin/bash`).
56
57		```sh
58		Changing shell for <user>.
59		New shell [/usr/bin/bash]:
60		```
61
62		You must log out or restart the machine in order for the login shell to be
63		refreshed. You can do it now or wait until you're finished customizing the
64		shell.
65
66		```sh
67		sudo reboot now
68		```
69
70		# Bash-it
71
72		As noted on the [Bash-it](https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it) repository:
73
74		> Bash-it is a collection of community Bash commands and scripts for Bash 3.2+.
75		> (And a shameless ripoff of oh-my-zsh 😃)
76
77		Bash-it makes it easy to install plugins, set up aliases for common commands,
78		and easily change the visual theme of your shell.
79
80		## Installation
81
82		To install the framework, simply copy the repository files and use the
83		`install.sh` script provided. If you want, you can (and should!) inspect the
84		contents of the installation script before you run it.
85
86		```sh
87		git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it.git ~/.bash_it
88		~/.bash_it/install.sh
89		```
90
91		If you didn't restart your session after making bash the default, and are
92		currently working within another shell, be sure to enter a bash session before
93		using `bash-it`:
94
95		```sh
96		bash
97		```
98
99		## Aliases
100
101		Bash-it contains a number of aliases for common commands to help improve
102		efficiency in the terminal. To list all available options, use the following
103		command:
104
105		```sh
106		bash-it show aliases
107		```
108
109		This will provide you a list that looks like the following text block. Within
110		this screen, you will be able to see all available options and which ones are
111		currently enabled.
112
113		```txt
114		Alias Enabled? Description
115		ag [ ] the silver searcher (ag) aliases
116		ansible [ ] ansible abbreviations
117		apt [ ] Apt and dpkg aliases for Ubuntu and Debian distros.
118		atom [ ] Atom.io editor abbreviations
119		bash-it [ ] Aliases for the bash-it command (these aliases are automatically included with the "general" aliases)
120		bolt [ ] puppet bolt aliases
121		bundler [ ] ruby bundler
122		clipboard [ ] xclip shortcuts
123		composer [ ] common composer abbreviations
124		curl [x] Curl aliases for convenience.
125		...
126		```
127
128		To enable an alias, do:
129
130		```sh
131		bash-it enable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it enable alias all
132		```
133
134		To disable an alias, do:
135
136		```sh
137		bash-it disable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it disable alias all
138		```
139
140		## Plugins
141
142		Similar to aliases, plugins are available with bash-it. You can find a complete
143		list of plugins in the same way as aliases. Simply execute the following:
144
145		```sh
146		bash-it show plugins
147		```
148
149		You will see the following output showing enabled and disabled plugins:
150
151		```txt
152		Plugin Enabled? Description
153		alias-completion [ ]
154		autojump [ ] Autojump configuration, see https://github.com/wting/autojump for more details
155		aws [ ] AWS helper functions
156		base [x] miscellaneous tools
157		basher [ ] initializes basher, the shell package manager
158		battery [x] display info about your battery charge level
159		blesh [ ] load ble.sh, the Bash line editor!
160		boot2docker [ ] Helpers to get Docker setup correctly for boot2docker
161		browser [ ] render commandline output in your browser
162		```
163
164		To enable a plugin, do:
165
166		```sh
167		bash-it enable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it enable plugin all
168		```
169
170		To disable a plugin, do:
171
172		```sh
173		bash-it disable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it disable plugin all
174		```
175
176		## Themes
177
178		There are quite a few pre-defined
179		[themes](https://bash-it.readthedocs.io/en/latest/themes-list/#list-of-themes)
180		available with bash-it.
181
182		To list all themes:
183
184		```sh
185		ls ~/.bash_it/themes/
186		```
187
188		To use a new theme, you'll need to edit `.bashrc` and alter the `BASH_IT_THEME`
189		variable to your desired theme. For example, I am using the `zork` theme.
190
191		```sh
192		nano ~/.bashrc
193		```
194
195		```sh
196		export BASH_IT_THEME='zork'
197		```
198
199		Once you save your changes, you just need to exit your terminal and create a new
200		one in order to see your changes to the `.bashrc` file. You can also `source`
201		the file to see changes, but I recommend starting a completely new shell
202		instead.
203
204		### ble.sh
205
206		One big feature I was missing in Bash that both `zsh` and `fish` have is an
207		autosuggestion feature. To explain: as you type, an autosuggestion feature in
208		the shell will offer suggestions in a lighter font color beyond the characters
209		already typed. Once you see the command you want, you can click the right arrow
210		and have the shell auto-complete that line for you.
211
212		Luckily, the [Bash Line Editor](https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh) (ble.sh)
213		exists! This program provides a wonderful autosuggestions feature perfectly,
214		among other features that I haven't tested yet.
215
216		In order to install ble.sh, execute the following:
217
218		```sh
219		git clone --recursive https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh.git
220		make -C ble.sh install PREFIX=~/.local
221		echo 'source ~/.local/share/blesh/ble.sh' >> ~/.bashrc
222		```
223
224		Again, exit the terminal and open a new one in order to see the newly-configured
225		shell.
226
227		# Restart the Session
228
229		Finally, as mentioned above, you'll need to restart the session to ensure that
230		your user is using bash by default.
231
232		You will also need to exit and re-open a shell (e.g., terminal or terminal tab)
233		any time you make changes to the `.bashrc` file.
234
235		```sh
236		sudo reboot now
237		```

content/blog/2022-07-31-bash-it.org added +241

		@@ -0,0 +1,241 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-07-31>
	2	#+title: Upgrade Bash with Bash-It and Ble.sh
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Bash
	7
	8	For those who are not familiar,
	9	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)][Bash]] is a Unix
	10	shell that is used as the default login shell for most Linux
	11	distributions. This shell and command processor should be familiar if
	12	you've used Linux (or older version of macOS) before.
	13
	14	However, bash is not the only option. There are numerous other shells
	15	that exist. Here are some popular examples:
	16
	17	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell][zsh]]
	18	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_(Unix_shell)][fish]]
	19	- [[https://github.com/ibara/oksh][oksh]]
	20	- [[https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Mksh][mksh]]
	21	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian_Almquist_shell][dash]]
	22
	23	While each shell has its differences, bash is POSIX compliant and the
	24	default for many Linux users. Because of this, I am going to explore a
	25	program called =bash-it= below that helps bash users increase the
	26	utility of their shell without installing a completely new shell.
	27
	28	** Installation
	29
	30	First, if bash is not already installed on your system, you can
	31	[[https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/][download bash from GNU]] or use
	32	your package manager to install it.
	33
	34	For example, this is how you can install bash on Fedora Linux:
	35
	36	#+begin_src sh
	37	sudo dnf install bash
	38	#+end_src
	39
	40	If you are not using bash as your default shell, use the =chsh= command
	41	to change your shell:
	42
	43	#+begin_src sh
	44	chsh
	45	#+end_src
	46
	47	You should see a prompt like the one below. If the brackets (=[]=)
	48	contain =bash= already, you're done, and you can simply continue by
	49	hitting the Enter key.
	50
	51	If the brackets contain another shell path (e.g. =/usr/bin/zsh=), enter
	52	the path to the bash program on your system (it's most likely located at
	53	=/usr/bin/bash=).
	54
	55	#+begin_src sh
	56	Changing shell for <user>.
	57	New shell [/usr/bin/bash]:
	58	#+end_src
	59
	60	You must log out or restart the machine in order for the login shell to
	61	be refreshed. You can do it now or wait until you're finished
	62	customizing the shell.
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	sudo reboot now
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	* Bash-it
	69
	70	As noted on the [[https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it][Bash-it]]
	71	repository:
	72
	73	#+begin_quote
	74	Bash-it is a collection of community Bash commands and scripts for Bash
	75	3.2+. (And a shameless ripoff of oh-my-zsh 😃)
	76	#+end_quote
	77
	78	Bash-it makes it easy to install plugins, set up aliases for common
	79	commands, and easily change the visual theme of your shell.
	80
	81	** Installation
	82
	83	To install the framework, simply copy the repository files and use the
	84	=install.sh= script provided. If you want, you can (and should!) inspect
	85	the contents of the installation script before you run it.
	86
	87	#+begin_src sh
	88	git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/Bash-it/bash-it.git ~/.bash_it
	89	~/.bash_it/install.sh
	90	#+end_src
	91
	92	If you didn't restart your session after making bash the default, and
	93	are currently working within another shell, be sure to enter a bash
	94	session before using =bash-it=:
	95
	96	#+begin_src sh
	97	bash
	98	#+end_src
	99
	100	** Aliases
	101
	102	Bash-it contains a number of aliases for common commands to help improve
	103	efficiency in the terminal. To list all available options, use the
	104	following command:
	105
	106	#+begin_src sh
	107	bash-it show aliases
	108	#+end_src
	109
	110	This will provide you a list that looks like the following text block.
	111	Within this screen, you will be able to see all available options and
	112	which ones are currently enabled.
	113
	114	#+begin_src txt
	115	Alias Enabled? Description
	116	ag [ ] the silver searcher (ag) aliases
	117	ansible [ ] ansible abbreviations
	118	apt [ ] Apt and dpkg aliases for Ubuntu and Debian distros.
	119	atom [ ] Atom.io editor abbreviations
	120	bash-it [ ] Aliases for the bash-it command (these aliases are automatically included with the "general" aliases)
	121	bolt [ ] puppet bolt aliases
	122	bundler [ ] ruby bundler
	123	clipboard [ ] xclip shortcuts
	124	composer [ ] common composer abbreviations
	125	curl [x] Curl aliases for convenience.
	126	...
	127	#+end_src
	128
	129	To enable an alias, do:
	130
	131	#+begin_src sh
	132	bash-it enable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it enable alias all
	133	#+end_src
	134
	135	To disable an alias, do:
	136
	137	#+begin_src sh
	138	bash-it disable alias <alias name> [alias name]... -or- $ bash-it disable alias all
	139	#+end_src
	140
	141	** Plugins
	142
	143	Similar to aliases, plugins are available with bash-it. You can find a
	144	complete list of plugins in the same way as aliases. Simply execute the
	145	following:
	146
	147	#+begin_src sh
	148	bash-it show plugins
	149	#+end_src
	150
	151	You will see the following output showing enabled and disabled plugins:
	152
	153	#+begin_src txt
	154	Plugin Enabled? Description
	155	alias-completion [ ]
	156	autojump [ ] Autojump configuration, see https://github.com/wting/autojump for more details
	157	aws [ ] AWS helper functions
	158	base [x] miscellaneous tools
	159	basher [ ] initializes basher, the shell package manager
	160	battery [x] display info about your battery charge level
	161	blesh [ ] load ble.sh, the Bash line editor!
	162	boot2docker [ ] Helpers to get Docker setup correctly for boot2docker
	163	browser [ ] render commandline output in your browser
	164	#+end_src
	165
	166	To enable a plugin, do:
	167
	168	#+begin_src sh
	169	bash-it enable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it enable plugin all
	170	#+end_src
	171
	172	To disable a plugin, do:
	173
	174	#+begin_src sh
	175	bash-it disable plugin <plugin name> [plugin name]... -or- $ bash-it disable plugin all
	176	#+end_src
	177
	178	** Themes
	179
	180	There are quite a few pre-defined
	181	[[https://bash-it.readthedocs.io/en/latest/themes-list/#list-of-themes][themes]]
	182	available with bash-it.
	183
	184	To list all themes:
	185
	186	#+begin_src sh
	187	ls ~/.bash_it/themes/
	188	#+end_src
	189
	190	To use a new theme, you'll need to edit =.bashrc= and alter the
	191	=BASH_IT_THEME= variable to your desired theme. For example, I am using
	192	the =zork= theme.
	193
	194	#+begin_src sh
	195	nano ~/.bashrc
	196	#+end_src
	197
	198	#+begin_src sh
	199	export BASH_IT_THEME='zork'
	200	#+end_src
	201
	202	Once you save your changes, you just need to exit your terminal and
	203	create a new one in order to see your changes to the =.bashrc= file. You
	204	can also =source= the file to see changes, but I recommend starting a
	205	completely new shell instead.
	206
	207	*** ble.sh
	208
	209	One big feature I was missing in Bash that both =zsh= and =fish= have is
	210	an autosuggestion feature. To explain: as you type, an autosuggestion
	211	feature in the shell will offer suggestions in a lighter font color
	212	beyond the characters already typed. Once you see the command you want,
	213	you can click the right arrow and have the shell auto-complete that line
	214	for you.
	215
	216	Luckily, the [[https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh][Bash Line Editor]]
	217	(ble.sh) exists! This program provides a wonderful autosuggestions
	218	feature perfectly, among other features that I haven't tested yet.
	219
	220	In order to install ble.sh, execute the following:
	221
	222	#+begin_src sh
	223	git clone --recursive https://github.com/akinomyoga/ble.sh.git
	224	make -C ble.sh install PREFIX=~/.local
	225	echo 'source ~/.local/share/blesh/ble.sh' >> ~/.bashrc
	226	#+end_src
	227
	228	Again, exit the terminal and open a new one in order to see the
	229	newly-configured shell.
	230
	231	* Restart the Session
	232
	233	Finally, as mentioned above, you'll need to restart the session to
	234	ensure that your user is using bash by default.
	235
	236	You will also need to exit and re-open a shell (e.g., terminal or
	237	terminal tab) any time you make changes to the =.bashrc= file.
	238
	239	#+begin_src sh
	240	sudo reboot now
	241	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-08-31-privacy-com-changes.md deleted −92

		@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-08-31
3		title = "Concerning Changes on Privacy.com"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Privacy.com Changes Their Terms
9
10		Recently, Privacy.com reached out to their customers regarding a change in their
11		terms of use. Further, all customers are required to agree to the changes in
12		order to continue using their accounts.
13
14		[You can view the new cardholder agreement
15		here](https://privacy.com/commercial-cardholder-agreement).
16
17		When you log in, you'll be greeted with a pop-up window asking you to review and
18		agree to the new terms of use. You will also not be able to open any new cards
19		until the terms are agreed to.
20
21		## Changing from a "Prepaid Debit" Model to a "Charge Card" Model
22
23		The actual content of the changes is interesting. While the historical model of
24		using Privacy.com was akin to prepaid debit cards, the new model is very similar
25		to a credit card (they use the term "charge card").
26
27		I have used Privacy.com for 1-2 years, and the process was always that you would
28		create a single-use or merchant-locked card. This card could be used for any
29		dollar limit you set and would immediately draw the funds from whatever funding
30		source you connected, e.g. PayPal account or a bank account.
31
32		The benefit this service provides with a premium account is masking the merchant
33		names from your funding source. If you have a concern that your bank account
34		uses merchant data from your account, you could direct all charges through
35		Privacy.com and set the merchant as one of their pre-set options, such as
36		"Smiley's Corner Store" or "NSA Gift Shop."
37
38		The new model still works with a bank account as a funding source, but the model
39		is changed so that you get a "line of credit" set according to a 14-day billing
40		cycle. It seems that Privacy.com will now allow charges to be incurred without
41		being immediately paid.
42
43		## Daily Payments and Available Credit
44
45		Instead of paying as charges are incurred, you must make a "Daily Payment" and
46		your "Available Credit" will be locked until you make that payment. There are
47		also "End of Billing Cycle Payments" that are assigned a due date.
48
49		Further, Privacy.com will decline charges that would cause you to exceed your
50		Available Credit or Credit Limit.
51
52		One particular interesting section states the following:
53
54		> YOUR OBLIGATION TO PAY US BACK FOR ALL CARD TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
55		> YOU INCUR IS SECURED BY THE SECURED ACCOUNT. IF YOU DO NOT PAY US BACK FOR ANY
56		> AMOUNT YOU OWE US WHEN YOUR PAYMENTS ARE DUE, WE WILL EXERCISE OUR INTEREST
57		> AND DEBIT THE SECURED ACCOUNT, AND YOU WILL LOSE THE MONEY IN THE SECURED
58		> ACCOUNT. SEE SECTION 8: SECURITY AGREEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
59
60		## Personal Information
61
62		Now that Privacy.com is more of a financial institution, they are obligated to
63		comply with the [know your
64		customer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_your_customer) guidelines/laws.
65
66		I did not proceed with the change to my Privacy.com account, but I have heard
67		from some peers that the changes require more personal information to be
68		submitted, such as SSN. I am not aware of all new personal information required
69		or if the funding source is now required to only be a bank account.
70
71		## Fees
72
73		Luckily, the fees section did not change much. The subscription fees for a
74		premium account are still the only fees.
75
76		# My Thoughts
77
78		Personally, I wiped my personal information from my account and then permanently
79		deleted it when I heard about these changes. I have no interest in yet another
80		method of credit lending offered by private companies. While I accepted that
81		they would have access to my bank account information for the purposes of paying
82		off my prepaid debit payments, I have no interest in incurring charges that will
83		need to be paid back at a later date. I also have no interest in submitting
84		personal information to Privacy.com.
85
86		This type of change toward a "buy it now, pay us later" model is concerning, and
87		I will be watching Privacy.com to see if they further their interests in the
88		credit model as time goes on.
89
90		Could we see them start charging interest, fees, etc.? I'm not sure, but this
91		change does not inspire confidence in their mission as a privacy-focused
92		company.

content/blog/2022-08-31-privacy-com-changes.org added +99

		@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-08-31>
	2	#+title: Concerning Changes on Privacy.com
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Privacy.com Changes Their Terms
	7
	8	Recently, Privacy.com reached out to their customers regarding a change
	9	in their terms of use. Further, all customers are required to agree to
	10	the changes in order to continue using their accounts.
	11
	12	[[https://privacy.com/commercial-cardholder-agreement][You can view the
	13	new cardholder agreement here]].
	14
	15	When you log in, you'll be greeted with a pop-up window asking you to
	16	review and agree to the new terms of use. You will also not be able to
	17	open any new cards until the terms are agreed to.
	18
	19	** Changing from a "Prepaid Debit" Model to a "Charge Card" Model
	20
	21	The actual content of the changes is interesting. While the historical
	22	model of using Privacy.com was akin to prepaid debit cards, the new
	23	model is very similar to a credit card (they use the term "charge
	24	card").
	25
	26	I have used Privacy.com for 1-2 years, and the process was always that
	27	you would create a single-use or merchant-locked card. This card could
	28	be used for any dollar limit you set and would immediately draw the
	29	funds from whatever funding source you connected, e.g. PayPal account or
	30	a bank account.
	31
	32	The benefit this service provides with a premium account is masking the
	33	merchant names from your funding source. If you have a concern that your
	34	bank account uses merchant data from your account, you could direct all
	35	charges through Privacy.com and set the merchant as one of their pre-set
	36	options, such as "Smiley's Corner Store" or "NSA Gift Shop."
	37
	38	The new model still works with a bank account as a funding source, but
	39	the model is changed so that you get a "line of credit" set according to
	40	a 14-day billing cycle. It seems that Privacy.com will now allow charges
	41	to be incurred without being immediately paid.
	42
	43	** Daily Payments and Available Credit
	44
	45	Instead of paying as charges are incurred, you must make a "Daily
	46	Payment" and your "Available Credit" will be locked until you make that
	47	payment. There are also "End of Billing Cycle Payments" that are
	48	assigned a due date.
	49
	50	Further, Privacy.com will decline charges that would cause you to exceed
	51	your Available Credit or Credit Limit.
	52
	53	One particular interesting section states the following:
	54
	55	#+begin_quote
	56	YOUR OBLIGATION TO PAY US BACK FOR ALL CARD TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER
	57	OBLIGATIONS YOU INCUR IS SECURED BY THE SECURED ACCOUNT. IF YOU DO NOT
	58	PAY US BACK FOR ANY AMOUNT YOU OWE US WHEN YOUR PAYMENTS ARE DUE, WE
	59	WILL EXERCISE OUR INTEREST AND DEBIT THE SECURED ACCOUNT, AND YOU WILL
	60	LOSE THE MONEY IN THE SECURED ACCOUNT. SEE SECTION 8: SECURITY AGREEMENT
	61	FOR MORE INFORMATION.
	62	#+end_quote
	63
	64	** Personal Information
	65
	66	Now that Privacy.com is more of a financial institution, they are
	67	obligated to comply with the
	68	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_your_customer][know your customer]]
	69	guidelines/laws.
	70
	71	I did not proceed with the change to my Privacy.com account, but I have
	72	heard from some peers that the changes require more personal information
	73	to be submitted, such as SSN. I am not aware of all new personal
	74	information required or if the funding source is now required to only be
	75	a bank account.
	76
	77	** Fees
	78
	79	Luckily, the fees section did not change much. The subscription fees for
	80	a premium account are still the only fees.
	81
	82	* My Thoughts
	83
	84	Personally, I wiped my personal information from my account and then
	85	permanently deleted it when I heard about these changes. I have no
	86	interest in yet another method of credit lending offered by private
	87	companies. While I accepted that they would have access to my bank
	88	account information for the purposes of paying off my prepaid debit
	89	payments, I have no interest in incurring charges that will need to be
	90	paid back at a later date. I also have no interest in submitting
	91	personal information to Privacy.com.
	92
	93	This type of change toward a "buy it now, pay us later" model is
	94	concerning, and I will be watching Privacy.com to see if they further
	95	their interests in the credit model as time goes on.
	96
	97	Could we see them start charging interest, fees, etc.? I'm not sure, but
	98	this change does not inspire confidence in their mission as a
	99	privacy-focused company.

content/blog/2022-09-17-serenity-os.md deleted −104

		@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-09-17
3		title = "Serenity OS: Testing Out a Unique System"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		[SerenityOS](https://serenityos.org) is a unique operating system (OS) that I
11		have seen pop up in my news feed a few times over the last few years, but I have
12		never had time to test it out until now.
13
14		Testing out this system brought back fond memories of yellowed,
15		modem-screeching, 100-pound computers that brought so many fond memories to my
16		youth.
17
18		Per their website:
19
20		> A graphical Unix-like operating system for desktop computers!
21		>
22		> SerenityOS is a love letter to '90s user interfaces with a custom Unix-like
23		> core. It flatters with sincerity by stealing beautiful ideas from various
24		> other systems.
25		>
26		> Roughly speaking, the goal is a marriage between the aesthetic of late-1990s
27		> productivity software and the power-user accessibility of late-2000s \*nix.
28		>
29		> This is a system by us, for us, based on the things we like.
30
31		# Building
32
33		Your first question may be "Where's the iso?" and the answer is... there are
34		none. SerenityOS does not provide pre-built images for testing. You must build
35		the images yourself. This seems intentionally to limit participation to only
36		those who are truly interested enough to learn how to build the OS.
37
38		## Clone
39
40		In order to get started, you'll need to clone the source repository:
41
42		```sh
43		git clone https://github.com/SerenityOS/serenity && cd serenity
44		```
45
46		## Build
47
48		Note that I followed the [Build
49		Instructions](https://github.com/SerenityOS/serenity/blob/master/Documentation/BuildInstructions.md)
50		in the SerenityOS repository as of commit
51		`660d2b53b1206e868d5470eee80b5e62d7e30da7`. Things may have changed since my
52		installation, and you should double-check the instructions first.
53
54		Regardless, I want to repeat my steps here to illustrate any errors or differing
55		commands I needed to run in order to build and run SerenityOS.
56
57		Since I am running Fedora, I needed to install these packages in order to build
58		the OS images:
59
60		```sh
61		sudo dnf install texinfo binutils-devel curl cmake mpfr-devel libmpc-devel gmp-devel e2fsprogs ninja-build patch ccache rsync @"C Development Tools and Libraries" @Virtualization
62		```
63
64		Next, make sure you're inside the `serenity` directory created earlier during
65		the git cloning process and process to build the toolchain:
66
67		```sh
68		Meta/serenity.sh rebuild-toolchain
69		```
70
71		Once the toolchain is built, you can Build and run the OS!
72
73		```sh
74		Meta/serenity.sh run
75		```
76
77		After this process is completed, the image should run automatically and launch.
78
79		# Issues
80
81		I played around in SerenityOS for an hour or two in order to see what I could do
82		and had a lot of fun with it. The only issue I ran into was a lack of working
83		internet. I didn't try very hard, but I could tell that the main network link
84		wasn't connecting to my Fedora host properly.
85
86		# Screenshots
87
88		The initial launch of the image displays the SerenityOS desktop, with a simple
89		terminal already launched.
90
91		There is also a "Fire" application (literally just shows fire burning), a
92		browser with the local Serenity Browser page loaded, and a text editor.
93
94		I also poked around the system utilities and found most tools you'd expect to
95		find within a standard desktop, such as a system monitoring tool.
96
97		Lastly, I noted that the default desktop contains numerous pre-defined themes to
98		choose from. This is a small piece, but it's actually wonderful to see desktop
99		developers consider theming directly out of the box rather than using an
100		addon-based mentality.
101
102		I didn't take a screenshot of the other pre-installed games, but I did spend
103		nearly 30 minutes playing Solitaire before remembering that I was supposed to be
104		writing a post about the OS.

content/blog/2022-09-17-serenity-os.org added +110

		@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-09-17>
	2	#+title: Serenity OS: Testing Out a Unique System
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	[[https://serenityos.org][SerenityOS]] is a unique operating system (OS)
	9	that I have seen pop up in my news feed a few times over the last few
	10	years, but I have never had time to test it out until now.
	11
	12	Testing out this system brought back fond memories of yellowed,
	13	modem-screeching, 100-pound computers that brought so many fond memories
	14	to my youth.
	15
	16	Per their website:
	17
	18	#+begin_quote
	19	A graphical Unix-like operating system for desktop computers!
	20
	21	SerenityOS is a love letter to '90s user interfaces with a custom
	22	Unix-like core. It flatters with sincerity by stealing beautiful ideas
	23	from various other systems.
	24
	25	Roughly speaking, the goal is a marriage between the aesthetic of
	26	late-1990s productivity software and the power-user accessibility of
	27	late-2000s *nix.
	28
	29	This is a system by us, for us, based on the things we like.
	30	#+end_quote
	31
	32	* Building
	33
	34	Your first question may be "Where's the iso?" and the answer is... there
	35	are none. SerenityOS does not provide pre-built images for testing. You
	36	must build the images yourself. This seems intentionally to limit
	37	participation to only those who are truly interested enough to learn how
	38	to build the OS.
	39
	40	** Clone
	41
	42	In order to get started, you'll need to clone the source repository:
	43
	44	#+begin_src sh
	45	git clone https://github.com/SerenityOS/serenity && cd serenity
	46	#+end_src
	47
	48	** Build
	49
	50	Note that I followed the
	51	[[https://github.com/SerenityOS/serenity/blob/master/Documentation/BuildInstructions.md][Build
	52	Instructions]] in the SerenityOS repository as of commit
	53	=660d2b53b1206e868d5470eee80b5e62d7e30da7=. Things may have changed
	54	since my installation, and you should double-check the instructions
	55	first.
	56
	57	Regardless, I want to repeat my steps here to illustrate any errors or
	58	differing commands I needed to run in order to build and run SerenityOS.
	59
	60	Since I am running Fedora, I needed to install these packages in order
	61	to build the OS images:
	62
	63	#+begin_src sh
	64	sudo dnf install texinfo binutils-devel curl cmake mpfr-devel libmpc-devel gmp-devel e2fsprogs ninja-build patch ccache rsync @"C Development Tools and Libraries" @Virtualization
	65	#+end_src
	66
	67	Next, make sure you're inside the =serenity= directory created earlier
	68	during the git cloning process and process to build the toolchain:
	69
	70	#+begin_src sh
	71	Meta/serenity.sh rebuild-toolchain
	72	#+end_src
	73
	74	Once the toolchain is built, you can Build and run the OS!
	75
	76	#+begin_src sh
	77	Meta/serenity.sh run
	78	#+end_src
	79
	80	After this process is completed, the image should run automatically and
	81	launch.
	82
	83	* Issues
	84
	85	I played around in SerenityOS for an hour or two in order to see what I
	86	could do and had a lot of fun with it. The only issue I ran into was a
	87	lack of working internet. I didn't try very hard, but I could tell that
	88	the main network link wasn't connecting to my Fedora host properly.
	89
	90	* Screenshots
	91
	92	The initial launch of the image displays the SerenityOS desktop, with a
	93	simple terminal already launched.
	94
	95	There is also a "Fire" application (literally just shows fire burning),
	96	a browser with the local Serenity Browser page loaded, and a text
	97	editor.
	98
	99	I also poked around the system utilities and found most tools you'd
	100	expect to find within a standard desktop, such as a system monitoring
	101	tool.
	102
	103	Lastly, I noted that the default desktop contains numerous pre-defined
	104	themes to choose from. This is a small piece, but it's actually
	105	wonderful to see desktop developers consider theming directly out of the
	106	box rather than using an addon-based mentality.
	107
	108	I didn't take a screenshot of the other pre-installed games, but I did
	109	spend nearly 30 minutes playing Solitaire before remembering that I was
	110	supposed to be writing a post about the OS.

content/blog/2022-09-21-graphene-os.md deleted −159

		@@ -1,159 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-09-21
3		title = "Installing Graphene OS on the Pixel 6 Pro"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Introduction
9
10		After using iOS for a couple of years, I finally took the plunge and purchased a
11		Pixel 6 Pro in order to test and use [GrapheneOS] (<https://grapheneos.org>).
12
13		The installation process was rather quick once you have the tools and files you
14		need. Overall, it can be done in just a few minutes.
15
16		# Gathering Tools & Files
17
18		## Android Tools
19
20		First, in order to interact with the device, we will need the [Android platform
21		tools](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html). Find
22		the Linux download and save the ZIP folder to your preferred location.
23
24		Once we've downloaded the files, we will need to unzip them, enter the
25		directory, and move the necessary executables to a central location, such as
26		`/usr/bin/`. For this installation, we only need the `fastboot` and `adb`
27		executables.
28
29		```sh
30		cd ~/Downloads
31		```
32
33		```sh
34		unzip platform-tools_r33.0.3-linux.zip
35		cd platform-tools
36		sudo mv fastboot /usr/bin/
37		sudo mv adb /usr/bin
38		```
39
40		## GrapheneOS Files
41
42		Next, we need the [GrapheneOS files](https://grapheneos.org/releases) for our
43		device and model. For example, the Pixel 6 Pro is codenamed `raven` on the
44		release page.
45
46		Once we have the links, let's download them to our working directory:
47
48		```sh
49		curl -O https://releases.grapheneos.org/factory.pub
50		curl -0 https://releases.grapheneos.org/raven-factory-2022091400.zip
51		curl -0 https://releases.grapheneos.org/raven-factory-2022091400.zip.sig
52		```
53
54		1. Validate Integrity
55
56		In order to validate the integrity of the downloaded files, we will need the
57		`signify` package and Graphene's `factory.pub` file.
58
59		```sh
60		sudo dnf install signify
61		```
62
63		```sh
64		curl -O https://releases.grapheneos.org/factory.pub
65		```
66
67		Then we can validate the files and ensure that no data was corrupted or
68		modified before it was saved to our device.
69
70		```sh
71		signify -Cqp factory.pub -x raven-factory-2022091400.zip.sig && echo verified
72		```
73
74		2. Unzip Files
75
76		Once the files are verified, we can unzip the Graphene image and enter the
77		directory:
78
79		```sh
80		unzip raven-factory-2022091400.zip && cd raven-factory-2022091400
81		```
82
83		# Installation Process
84
85		## Enable Developer Debugging & OEM Unlock
86
87		Before we can actually flash anything to the phone, we will need to enable OEM
88		Unlocking, as well as either USB Debugging or Wireless Debugging, depending on
89		which method we will be using.
90
91		To start, enable developer mode by going to `Settings` > `About` and tapping
92		`Build Number` seven (7) times. You may need to enter your PIN to enable this
93		mode.
94
95		Once developer mode is enabled, go to `Settings` > `System` > `Devloper Options`
96		and enable OEM Unlocking, as well as USB or Wireless Debugging. In my case, I
97		chose USB Debugging and performed all actions via USB cable.
98
99		Once these options are enabled, plug the phone into the computer and execute the
100		following command:
101
102		```sh
103		adb devices
104		```
105
106		If an unauthorized error occurs, make sure the USB mode on the phone is changed
107		from charging to something like "File Transfer" or "PTP." You can find the USB
108		mode in the notification tray.
109
110		## Reboot Device
111
112		Once we have found the device via `adb`, we can either boot into the bootloader
113		interface by holding the volume down button while the phone reboots or by
114		executing the following command:
115
116		```sh
117		adb reboot bootloader
118		```
119
120		## Unlock the Bootloader
121
122		The phone will reboot and load the bootloader screen upon startup. At this
123		point, we are ready to start the actual flashing of GrapheneOS onto the device.
124
125		NOTE: In my situation, I needed to use `sudo` with every `fastboot` command,
126		but not with `adb` commands. I am not sure if this is standard or a Fedora
127		quirk, but I'm documenting my commands verbatim in this post.
128
129		First, we start by unlocking the bootloader so that we can load other ROMs:
130
131		```sh
132		sudo fastboot flashing unlock
133		```
134
135		## Flashing Factory Images
136
137		Once the phone is unlocked, we can flash it with the `flash-all.sh` script found
138		inside the `raven-factory-2022091400` folder we entered earlier:
139
140		```sh
141		sudo ./flash-all.sh
142		```
143
144		This process should take a few minutes and will print informational messages as
145		things progress. Avoid doing anything on the phone while this process is
146		operating.
147
148		## Lock the Bootloader
149
150		If everything was successful, the phone should reboot a few times and finally
151		land back on the bootloader screen. At this point, we can re-lock the bootloader
152		to enable full verified boot and protect the device from unwanted flashing or
153		erasure of data.
154
155		```sh
156		sudo fastboot flashing lock
157		```
158
159		Once done, the device will be wiped and ready for a fresh set-up!

content/blog/2022-09-21-graphene-os.org added +164

		@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-09-21>
	2	#+title: Installing Graphene OS on the Pixel 6 Pro
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Introduction
	7
	8	After using iOS for a couple of years, I finally took the plunge and
	9	purchased a Pixel 6 Pro in order to test and use [GrapheneOS]
	10	([[https://grapheneos.org]]).
	11
	12	The installation process was rather quick once you have the tools and
	13	files you need. Overall, it can be done in just a few minutes.
	14
	15	* Gathering Tools & Files
	16
	17	** Android Tools
	18
	19	First, in order to interact with the device, we will need the
	20	[[https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html][Android
	21	platform tools]]. Find the Linux download and save the ZIP folder to
	22	your preferred location.
	23
	24	Once we've downloaded the files, we will need to unzip them, enter the
	25	directory, and move the necessary executables to a central location,
	26	such as =/usr/bin/=. For this installation, we only need the =fastboot=
	27	and =adb= executables.
	28
	29	#+begin_src sh
	30	cd ~/Downloads
	31	#+end_src
	32
	33	#+begin_src sh
	34	unzip platform-tools_r33.0.3-linux.zip
	35	cd platform-tools
	36	sudo mv fastboot /usr/bin/
	37	sudo mv adb /usr/bin
	38	#+end_src
	39
	40	** GrapheneOS Files
	41
	42	Next, we need the [[https://grapheneos.org/releases][GrapheneOS files]]
	43	for our device and model. For example, the Pixel 6 Pro is codenamed
	44	=raven= on the release page.
	45
	46	Once we have the links, let's download them to our working directory:
	47
	48	#+begin_src sh
	49	curl -O https://releases.grapheneos.org/factory.pub
	50	curl -0 https://releases.grapheneos.org/raven-factory-2022091400.zip
	51	curl -0 https://releases.grapheneos.org/raven-factory-2022091400.zip.sig
	52	#+end_src
	53
	54	1. Validate Integrity
	55
	56	In order to validate the integrity of the downloaded files, we will
	57	need the =signify= package and Graphene's =factory.pub= file.
	58
	59	#+begin_src sh
	60	sudo dnf install signify
	61	#+end_src
	62
	63	#+begin_src sh
	64	curl -O https://releases.grapheneos.org/factory.pub
	65	#+end_src
	66
	67	Then we can validate the files and ensure that no data was corrupted
	68	or modified before it was saved to our device.
	69
	70	#+begin_src sh
	71	signify -Cqp factory.pub -x raven-factory-2022091400.zip.sig && echo verified
	72	#+end_src
	73
	74	2. Unzip Files
	75
	76	Once the files are verified, we can unzip the Graphene image and
	77	enter the directory:
	78
	79	#+begin_src sh
	80	unzip raven-factory-2022091400.zip && cd raven-factory-2022091400
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	* Installation Process
	84
	85	** Enable Developer Debugging & OEM Unlock
	86
	87	Before we can actually flash anything to the phone, we will need to
	88	enable OEM Unlocking, as well as either USB Debugging or Wireless
	89	Debugging, depending on which method we will be using.
	90
	91	To start, enable developer mode by going to =Settings= > =About= and
	92	tapping =Build Number= seven (7) times. You may need to enter your PIN
	93	to enable this mode.
	94
	95	Once developer mode is enabled, go to =Settings= > =System= >
	96	=Devloper Options= and enable OEM Unlocking, as well as USB or Wireless
	97	Debugging. In my case, I chose USB Debugging and performed all actions
	98	via USB cable.
	99
	100	Once these options are enabled, plug the phone into the computer and
	101	execute the following command:
	102
	103	#+begin_src sh
	104	adb devices
	105	#+end_src
	106
	107	If an unauthorized error occurs, make sure the USB mode on the phone is
	108	changed from charging to something like "File Transfer" or "PTP." You
	109	can find the USB mode in the notification tray.
	110
	111	** Reboot Device
	112
	113	Once we have found the device via =adb=, we can either boot into the
	114	bootloader interface by holding the volume down button while the phone
	115	reboots or by executing the following command:
	116
	117	#+begin_src sh
	118	adb reboot bootloader
	119	#+end_src
	120
	121	** Unlock the Bootloader
	122
	123	The phone will reboot and load the bootloader screen upon startup. At
	124	this point, we are ready to start the actual flashing of GrapheneOS onto
	125	the device.
	126
	127	NOTE: In my situation, I needed to use =sudo= with every =fastboot=
	128	command, but not with =adb= commands. I am not sure if this is standard
	129	or a Fedora quirk, but I'm documenting my commands verbatim in this
	130	post.
	131
	132	First, we start by unlocking the bootloader so that we can load other
	133	ROMs:
	134
	135	#+begin_src sh
	136	sudo fastboot flashing unlock
	137	#+end_src
	138
	139	** Flashing Factory Images
	140
	141	Once the phone is unlocked, we can flash it with the =flash-all.sh=
	142	script found inside the =raven-factory-2022091400= folder we entered
	143	earlier:
	144
	145	#+begin_src sh
	146	sudo ./flash-all.sh
	147	#+end_src
	148
	149	This process should take a few minutes and will print informational
	150	messages as things progress. Avoid doing anything on the phone while
	151	this process is operating.
	152
	153	** Lock the Bootloader
	154
	155	If everything was successful, the phone should reboot a few times and
	156	finally land back on the bootloader screen. At this point, we can
	157	re-lock the bootloader to enable full verified boot and protect the
	158	device from unwanted flashing or erasure of data.
	159
	160	#+begin_src sh
	161	sudo fastboot flashing lock
	162	#+end_src
	163
	164	Once done, the device will be wiped and ready for a fresh set-up!

content/blog/2022-10-04-mtp-linux.md deleted −78

		@@ -1,78 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-10-04
3		title = "How to Mount an MTP Mobile Device on Fedora Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		I recently ran into trouble attempting to mount my GrapheneOS phone to my laptop
9		running Fedora Linux via the [Media Transfer
10		Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_transfer_protocol) (MTP) and
11		discovered a simple and effective solution.
12
13		# Use a USB 3.0 Port
14
15		First, ensure that the device was plugged in to the laptop through a USB 3.0
16		port, if possible. From a brief glance online, it seems that USB 2.0 ports may
17		cause issues with dropped connections over MTP. This is purely anecdotal since I
18		don't have any evidence to link showing that USB 2.0 causes issues, but I can
19		confirm that switching to a USB 3.0 port seemed to cut out most of my issues.
20
21		# Switch USB Preferences to MTP
22
23		Secondly, you need to ensure that the phone's USB preferences/mode is changed to
24		MTP or File Transfer once the phone is plugged in. Other modes will not allow
25		you to access the phone's file system.
26
27		# Install `jmtpfs`
28
29		Next, I used the `jmtpfs` package to mount my phone to my laptop. There are
30		other packages that exist, but this one worked perfectly for me. On Fedora
31		Linux, you can install it like this:
32
33		```sh
34		sudo dnf install jmtpfs -y
35		```
36
37		# Create a Mount Point
38
39		Once you have the package installed, you just need to create a folder for the
40		device to use as a mount point. In my case, I used `/mnt/pixel`:
41
42		```sh
43		sudo mkdir /mnt/pixel
44		sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /mnt/pixel
45		```
46
47		# Mount & Access the Phone's File System
48
49		Finally, plug-in and mount the device, and you should be able to see all storage
50		(internal and external) inside your new folder!
51
52		```sh
53		jmtpfs /mnt/pixel
54		```
55
56		The output should look something like this:
57
58		```sh
59		Device 0 (VID=18d1 and PID=4ee1) is a Google Inc Nexus/Pixel (MTP).
60		Android device detected, assigning default bug flags
61		```
62
63		Now you are mounted and can do anything you'd like with the device's files:
64
65		```sh
66		cd /mnt/pixel
67		ls -lha
68		```
69
70		From here, you will be able to see any internal or external storage available on
71		the device:
72
73		```sh
74		total 0
75		drwxr-xr-x. 3 user user 0 Jan 1 1970 .
76		drwxr-xr-x. 1 root root 10 Oct 4 13:29 ..
77		drwxr-xr-x. 16 user user 0 Apr 21 4426383 'Internal shared storage'
78		```

content/blog/2022-10-04-mtp-linux.org added +78

		@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-10-04>
	2	#+title: How to Mount an MTP Mobile Device on Fedora Linux
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	I recently ran into trouble attempting to mount my GrapheneOS phone to
	7	my laptop running Fedora Linux via the
	8	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_transfer_protocol][Media Transfer
	9	Protocol]] (MTP) and discovered a simple and effective solution.
	10
	11	* Use a USB 3.0 Port
	12
	13	First, ensure that the device was plugged in to the laptop through a USB
	14	3.0 port, if possible. From a brief glance online, it seems that USB 2.0
	15	ports may cause issues with dropped connections over MTP. This is purely
	16	anecdotal since I don't have any evidence to link showing that USB 2.0
	17	causes issues, but I can confirm that switching to a USB 3.0 port seemed
	18	to cut out most of my issues.
	19
	20	* Switch USB Preferences to MTP
	21
	22	Secondly, you need to ensure that the phone's USB preferences/mode is
	23	changed to MTP or File Transfer once the phone is plugged in. Other
	24	modes will not allow you to access the phone's file system.
	25
	26	* Install =jmtpfs=
	27
	28	Next, I used the =jmtpfs= package to mount my phone to my laptop. There
	29	are other packages that exist, but this one worked perfectly for me. On
	30	Fedora Linux, you can install it like this:
	31
	32	#+begin_src sh
	33	sudo dnf install jmtpfs -y
	34	#+end_src
	35
	36	* Create a Mount Point
	37
	38	Once you have the package installed, you just need to create a folder
	39	for the device to use as a mount point. In my case, I used =/mnt/pixel=:
	40
	41	#+begin_src sh
	42	sudo mkdir /mnt/pixel
	43	sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /mnt/pixel
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	* Mount & Access the Phone's File System
	47
	48	Finally, plug-in and mount the device, and you should be able to see all
	49	storage (internal and external) inside your new folder!
	50
	51	#+begin_src sh
	52	jmtpfs /mnt/pixel
	53	#+end_src
	54
	55	The output should look something like this:
	56
	57	#+begin_src sh
	58	Device 0 (VID=18d1 and PID=4ee1) is a Google Inc Nexus/Pixel (MTP).
	59	Android device detected, assigning default bug flags
	60	#+end_src
	61
	62	Now you are mounted and can do anything you'd like with the device's
	63	files:
	64
	65	#+begin_src sh
	66	cd /mnt/pixel
	67	ls -lha
	68	#+end_src
	69
	70	From here, you will be able to see any internal or external storage
	71	available on the device:
	72
	73	#+begin_src sh
	74	total 0
	75	drwxr-xr-x. 3 user user 0 Jan 1 1970 .
	76	drwxr-xr-x. 1 root root 10 Oct 4 13:29 ..
	77	drwxr-xr-x. 16 user user 0 Apr 21 4426383 'Internal shared storage'
	78	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md deleted −169

		@@ -1,169 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-10-04
3		title = "Syncthing: A Minimal Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Solution"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# An Overview of Syncthing
9
10		If you've been looking around the self-hosted cloud storage space for a while,
11		you've undoubtedly run into someone suggesting
12		[Syncthing](https://syncthing.net) as an option. However, it is an unusual
13		alternative for those users out there who are used to having a centralized cloud
14		server that serves as the "controller" of the data and interacts with clients on
15		devices to fetch files.
16
17		This post is a walkthrough of the Syncthing software, how I set up my personal
18		storage, and some pros and cons of using the software.
19
20		# Installing Syncthing
21
22		To install Syncthing, visit the [Downloads](https://syncthing.net/downloads/)
23		page or install via your device's package manager.
24
25		## Server & Desktop
26
27		You can install Syncthing on servers and desktops via the Downloads page linked
28		above or via the command-line.
29
30		For Debian-based distros:
31
32		```sh
33		sudo apt install syncthing
34		```
35
36		For Fedora-based distros:
37
38		```sh
39		sudo dnf install syncthing
40		```
41
42		## Mobile
43
44		Syncthing for Android is available on
45		[F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/) and
46		[Google
47		Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nutomic.syncthingandroid).
48		Syncthing does not have an official iOS client, but there is a third-party
49		client called [Möbius
50		Sync](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/m%C3%B6bius-sync/id1539203216).
51
52		# How Does Syncthing Work?
53
54		To start, I wanted to include the main marketing blurb from their website:
55
56		> Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes files
57		> between two or more computers in real time, safely protected from prying eyes.
58		> Your data is your data alone, and you deserve to choose where it is stored,
59		> whether it is shared with some third party, and how it's transmitted over the
60		> internet.
61
62		Let's break this apart and add in some other details to help explain what
63		exactly Syncthing does in order to sync files between devices.
64
65		## Local Syncthing Server(s)
66
67		Syncthing syncs files between multiple devices by creating a local server on
68		each device. These local servers handle a few different things, such as watching
69		files and directories for changes, hosting an administrative GUI website, and
70		authenticating with connected devices.
71
72		You can also start, stop, and restart the Syncthing server via the command-line
73		or web dashboard. If you're running Syncthing on a device with `systemd`, you
74		can use the following commands:
75
76		```sh
77		sudo systemctl start syncthing@username.service
78		sudo systemctl restart syncthing@username.service
79		sudo systemctl stop syncthing@username.service
80		```
81
82		## Syncthing Dashboard
83
84		This biggest part of Syncthing is the admin GUI website that runs on each device
85		(note that mobile devices will use the Syncthing app rather than the web GUI).
86		The admin GUI is available through the web browser on the local device that is
87		running Syncthing - simply go to `http://localhost:8384` or
88		`http://127.0.0.1:8384`. This web page is the place where you will change
89		settings, add/modify synced files, and add/modify connected devices.
90
91		Here's an example web GUI dashboard:
92
93		![Syncthing
94		Dashboard](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20221020-syncthing/syncthing_gui.png)
95
96		## Remote Devices
97
98		A cloud storage solution wouldn't be very useful if you aren't able to share
99		data among various devices. Syncthing does this by sharing Device IDs to connect
100		servers, and then by manually sharing Folders with devices that have been
101		connected.
102
103		For instance, if you have a laptop running Syncthing and then install the
104		Syncthing mobile app on a phone, you could scan the laptop's QR code for Device
105		ID and then accept the authentication on the laptop's dashboard. Next, you can
106		use either device to select a folder for sharing and dictating which device
107		should send, receive, or both.
108
109		When you connect devices, you can set one device as an "Introducer," which can
110		add devices from the introducer to the device list, for mutually shared folders.
111		You can also configure Auto Accept, compression, rate limits, and more settings
112		per device.
113
114		# My Personal Cloud Storage Set-up
115
116		Personally, I use a model similar to a traditional cloud storage service. I have
117		a "centralized" server running 24/7 that acts as an Introducer for my Syncthing
118		network. I think of this as my main storage and all other devices as tertiary
119		client devices. I will likely add additional servers as backups as time goes on
120		so that I don't have to rely on my laptop or phone as the only backups.
121
122		Currently, I have one desktop and one mobile device connected to the network,
123		both running intermittently as they are not powered-on 24/7.
124
125		The initial set-up of the software was easy enough, but data transfer rates were
126		incredibly slow for me due to the Wi-Fi. Instead, I plugged my laptop into the
127		ethernet network that my server is on and manually copied my folders over to the
128		server with `scp`. Once complete, Syncthing validated that all files were there
129		and not missing, and it did not need to transfer any data through the WAN.
130
131		As slow as the transfer was going, this probably saved me a few days of waiting
132		for my ~100GB sync.
133
134		# Pros & Cons
135
136		I've put together a short list of pros and cons for Syncthing. I thought about
137		my experiences with Nextcloud, WebDAV, proprietary services (Google Drive,
138		iCloud, etc.), and privacy-focused cloud solutions (pCloud, Tresorit, etc.).
139
140		Pros:
141
142		- I've faced no data loss at all through my two-month trial run.
143		- No third-parties store your data on their servers.
144		- You have full control over your data and can take your data and leave at any
145		time.
146		- It's possible to encrypt client-side easily with software like Cryptomator.
147		- No proprietary clients or mounted volumes, just plain files and folders.
148
149		Cons:
150
151		- The learning curve is steeper than traditional cloud services and is focused
152		on a technical audience.
153		- If a device needs to modify files in a Folder, the devices will need to sync
154		ALL files from the folder, which may be large. To avoid size restraints,
155		split large folders into smaller folders for syncing.
156		- Syncing can be slow due to the clients/servers initially connecting or
157		re-connecting after sleeping.
158		- Multiple personal devices are required and require the user to own or rent
159		them as no third-party servers are involved in the storage of data.
160
161		Overall, I've had a great experience with Syncthing so far. I've had no data
162		loss, syncing has been quick and easy when changes are made to files, device
163		connections are reliable, and I love the freedom of controlling the clients and
164		servers as I choose.
165
166		Not to mention that I appreciate that I - or someone else - could pull the
167		Syncthing [source code](https://github.com/syncthing) and continue
168		development/support if the Syncthing Foundation decides to stop developing the
169		software or sells the business.

content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.org added +179

		@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-10-04>
	2	#+title: Syncthing: A Minimal Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Solution
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* An Overview of Syncthing
	7
	8	If you've been looking around the self-hosted cloud storage space for a
	9	while, you've undoubtedly run into someone suggesting
	10	[[https://syncthing.net][Syncthing]] as an option. However, it is an
	11	unusual alternative for those users out there who are used to having a
	12	centralized cloud server that serves as the "controller" of the data and
	13	interacts with clients on devices to fetch files.
	14
	15	This post is a walkthrough of the Syncthing software, how I set up my
	16	personal storage, and some pros and cons of using the software.
	17
	18	* Installing Syncthing
	19
	20	To install Syncthing, visit the
	21	[[https://syncthing.net/downloads/][Downloads]] page or install via your
	22	device's package manager.
	23
	24	** Server & Desktop
	25
	26	You can install Syncthing on servers and desktops via the Downloads page
	27	linked above or via the command-line.
	28
	29	For Debian-based distros:
	30
	31	#+begin_src sh
	32	sudo apt install syncthing
	33	#+end_src
	34
	35	For Fedora-based distros:
	36
	37	#+begin_src sh
	38	sudo dnf install syncthing
	39	#+end_src
	40
	41	** Mobile
	42
	43	Syncthing for Android is available on
	44	[[https://f-droid.org/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/][F-Droid]]
	45	and
	46	[[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nutomic.syncthingandroid][Google
	47	Play]]. Syncthing does not have an official iOS client, but there is a
	48	third-party client called
	49	[[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/m%C3%B6bius-sync/id1539203216][Möbius
	50	Sync]].
	51
	52	* How Does Syncthing Work?
	53
	54	To start, I wanted to include the main marketing blurb from their
	55	website:
	56
	57	#+begin_quote
	58	Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes
	59	files between two or more computers in real time, safely protected from
	60	prying eyes. Your data is your data alone, and you deserve to choose
	61	where it is stored, whether it is shared with some third party, and how
	62	it's transmitted over the internet.
	63	#+end_quote
	64
	65	Let's break this apart and add in some other details to help explain
	66	what exactly Syncthing does in order to sync files between devices.
	67
	68	** Local Syncthing Server(s)
	69
	70	Syncthing syncs files between multiple devices by creating a local
	71	server on each device. These local servers handle a few different
	72	things, such as watching files and directories for changes, hosting an
	73	administrative GUI website, and authenticating with connected devices.
	74
	75	You can also start, stop, and restart the Syncthing server via the
	76	command-line or web dashboard. If you're running Syncthing on a device
	77	with =systemd=, you can use the following commands:
	78
	79	#+begin_src sh
	80	sudo systemctl start syncthing@username.service
	81	sudo systemctl restart syncthing@username.service
	82	sudo systemctl stop syncthing@username.service
	83	#+end_src
	84
	85	** Syncthing Dashboard
	86
	87	This biggest part of Syncthing is the admin GUI website that runs on
	88	each device (note that mobile devices will use the Syncthing app rather
	89	than the web GUI). The admin GUI is available through the web browser on
	90	the local device that is running Syncthing - simply go to
	91	=http://localhost:8384= or =http://127.0.0.1:8384=. This web page is the
	92	place where you will change settings, add/modify synced files, and
	93	add/modify connected devices.
	94
	95	Here's an example web GUI dashboard:
	96
	97	#+caption: Syncthing Dashboard
	98	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20221020-syncthing/syncthing_gui.png]]
	99
	100	** Remote Devices
	101
	102	A cloud storage solution wouldn't be very useful if you aren't able to
	103	share data among various devices. Syncthing does this by sharing Device
	104	IDs to connect servers, and then by manually sharing Folders with
	105	devices that have been connected.
	106
	107	For instance, if you have a laptop running Syncthing and then install
	108	the Syncthing mobile app on a phone, you could scan the laptop's QR code
	109	for Device ID and then accept the authentication on the laptop's
	110	dashboard. Next, you can use either device to select a folder for
	111	sharing and dictating which device should send, receive, or both.
	112
	113	When you connect devices, you can set one device as an "Introducer,"
	114	which can add devices from the introducer to the device list, for
	115	mutually shared folders. You can also configure Auto Accept,
	116	compression, rate limits, and more settings per device.
	117
	118	* My Personal Cloud Storage Set-up
	119
	120	Personally, I use a model similar to a traditional cloud storage
	121	service. I have a "centralized" server running 24/7 that acts as an
	122	Introducer for my Syncthing network. I think of this as my main storage
	123	and all other devices as tertiary client devices. I will likely add
	124	additional servers as backups as time goes on so that I don't have to
	125	rely on my laptop or phone as the only backups.
	126
	127	Currently, I have one desktop and one mobile device connected to the
	128	network, both running intermittently as they are not powered-on 24/7.
	129
	130	The initial set-up of the software was easy enough, but data transfer
	131	rates were incredibly slow for me due to the Wi-Fi. Instead, I plugged
	132	my laptop into the ethernet network that my server is on and manually
	133	copied my folders over to the server with =scp=. Once complete,
	134	Syncthing validated that all files were there and not missing, and it
	135	did not need to transfer any data through the WAN.
	136
	137	As slow as the transfer was going, this probably saved me a few days of
	138	waiting for my ~100GB sync.
	139
	140	* Pros & Cons
	141
	142	I've put together a short list of pros and cons for Syncthing. I thought
	143	about my experiences with Nextcloud, WebDAV, proprietary services
	144	(Google Drive, iCloud, etc.), and privacy-focused cloud solutions
	145	(pCloud, Tresorit, etc.).
	146
	147	Pros:
	148
	149	- I've faced no data loss at all through my two-month trial run.
	150	- No third-parties store your data on their servers.
	151	- You have full control over your data and can take your data and leave
	152	at any time.
	153	- It's possible to encrypt client-side easily with software like
	154	Cryptomator.
	155	- No proprietary clients or mounted volumes, just plain files and
	156	folders.
	157
	158	Cons:
	159
	160	- The learning curve is steeper than traditional cloud services and is
	161	focused on a technical audience.
	162	- If a device needs to modify files in a Folder, the devices will need
	163	to sync ALL files from the folder, which may be large. To avoid size
	164	restraints, split large folders into smaller folders for syncing.
	165	- Syncing can be slow due to the clients/servers initially connecting or
	166	re-connecting after sleeping.
	167	- Multiple personal devices are required and require the user to own or
	168	rent them as no third-party servers are involved in the storage of
	169	data.
	170
	171	Overall, I've had a great experience with Syncthing so far. I've had no
	172	data loss, syncing has been quick and easy when changes are made to
	173	files, device connections are reliable, and I love the freedom of
	174	controlling the clients and servers as I choose.
	175
	176	Not to mention that I appreciate that I - or someone else - could pull
	177	the Syncthing [[https://github.com/syncthing][source code]] and continue
	178	development/support if the Syncthing Foundation decides to stop
	179	developing the software or sells the business.

content/blog/2022-10-22-alpine-linux.md deleted −266

		@@ -1,266 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-10-22
3		title = "Alpine Linux: My New Server OS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Alpine Linux
9
10		[Alpine Linux](https://alpinelinux.org) is a very small distro, built on musl
11		libc and busybox. It uses ash as the default shell, OpenRC as the init system,
12		and apk as the package manager. According to their website, an Alpine container
13		"requires no more than 8 MB and a minimal installation to disk requires around
14		130 MB of storage." An actual bare metal machine is recommended to have 100 MB
15		of RAM and 0-700 MB of storage space.
16
17		Historically, I've used Ubuntu's minimal installation image as my server OS for
18		the last five years. Ubuntu worked well and helped as my original server
19		contained an nVidia GPU and no onboard graphics, so quite a few distros won't
20		boot or install without a lot of tinkering.
21
22		Alpine has given me a huge increase in performance across my Docker apps and
23		Nginx websites. CPU load for the new server I'm using to test Alpine hovers
24		around 0-5% on average with an Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6100 CPU @ 3.70GHz.
25
26		The only services I haven't moved over to Alpine are Plex Media Server and
27		Syncthing, which may increase CPU load quite a bit depending on how many streams
28		are running.
29
30		## Installation
31
32		In terms of installation, Alpine has an incredibly useful
33		[wiki](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Installation) that will guide a user
34		throughout the installation and post-installation processes, as well as various
35		other articles and guides.
36
37		To install Alpine, find an appropriate [image to
38		download](https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/) and flash it to a USB using
39		software such as Rufus or Etcher. I opted to use the Standard image for my
40		x86~64~ architecture.
41
42		Once the USB is ready, plug it into the machine and reboot. Note that you may
43		have to use a key such as `Esc` or `F1-12` to access the boot menu. The Alpine
44		Linux terminal will load quickly and for a login.
45
46		To log in to the installation image, use the `root` account; there is no
47		password. Once logged-in, execute the setup command:
48
49		```sh
50		setup-alpine
51		```
52
53		The setup script will ask a series of questions to configure the system. Be sure
54		to answer carefully or else you may have to re-configure the system after boot.
55
56		- Keyboard Layout (Local keyboard language and usage mode, e.g., us and
57		variant of us-nodeadkeys.)
58		- Hostname (The name for the computer.)
59		- Network (For example, automatic IP address discovery with the "DHCP"
60		protocol.)
61		- DNS Servers (Domain Name Servers to query. For privacy reasons, it is NOT
62		recommended to route every local request to servers like Google's 8.8.8.8.)
63		- Timezone
64		- Proxy (Proxy server to use for accessing the web. Use "none" for direct
65		connections to the internet.)
66		- Mirror (From where to download packages. Choose the organization you trust
67		giving your usage patterns to.)
68		- SSH (Secure SHell remote access server. "Openssh" is part of the default
69		install image. Use "none" to disable remote login, e.g. on laptops.)
70		- NTP (Network Time Protocol client used for keeping the system clock in sync
71		with a time-server. Package "chrony" is part of the default install image.)
72		- Disk Mode (Select between diskless (disk="none"), "data" or "sys", as
73		described above.)
74
75		Once the setup script is finished, be sure to reboot the machine and remove the
76		USB device.
77
78		```sh
79		reboot
80		```
81
82		## Post-Installation
83
84		There are many things you can do once your Alpine Linux system is up and
85		running, and it largely depends on what you'll use the machine for. I'm going to
86		walk through my personal post-installation setup for my web server.
87
88		1. Upgrade the System
89
90		First, login as `root` in order to update and upgrade the system:
91
92		```sh
93		apk -U upgrade
94		```
95
96		2. Adding a User
97
98		I needed to add a user so that I don't need to log in as root. Note that if
99		you're used to using the `sudo` command, you will now need to use the `doas`
100		command on Alpine Linux.
101
102		```sh
103		apk add doas
104		adduser <username>
105		adduser <username> wheel
106		```
107
108		You can now log out and log back in using the newly-created user:
109
110		```sh
111		exit
112		```
113
114		3. Enable Community Packages
115
116		In order to install more common packages that aren't found in the `main`
117		repository, you will need to enable the `community` repository:
118
119		```sh
120		doas nano /etc/apk/repositories
121		```
122
123		Uncomment the community line for whichever version of Alpine you're running:
124
125		```sh
126		/media/usb/apks
127		http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.16/main
128		http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.16/community
129		#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main
130		#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community
131		#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing
132		```
133
134		4. Install Required Packages
135
136		Now that the community packages are available, you can install any packages
137		you need. In my case, I installed the web server packages I need for my
138		services:
139
140		```sh
141		doas apk add nano nginx docker docker-compose ufw
142		```
143
144		5. SSH
145
146		If you didn't install OpenSSH as part of the installation, you can do so
147		now:
148
149		```sh
150		doas apk add openssh
151		```
152
153		Next, either create a new key or copy your SSH key to the server from your
154		current machines:
155
156		```sh
157		# Create a new key
158		ssh-keygen
159		```
160
161		If you need to copy an existing SSH key from a current machine:
162
163		```sh
164		# Copy key from existing machines
165		ssh-copy-id <username>@<ip_address>
166		```
167
168		6. Firewall
169
170		Lastly, I installed `ufw` above as my firewall. To set up, default to deny
171		incoming and allow outgoing connections. Then selectively allow other ports
172		or apps as needed.
173
174		```sh
175		doas ufw default deny incoming
176		doas ufw default allow outgoing
177		doas ufw allow SSH
178		doas ufw allow "WWW Full"
179		doas ufw allow 9418 # Git server port
180		```
181
182		7. Change Hostname
183
184		If you don't like the hostname set during installation, you just need to
185		edit two files. First, edit the simple hostname file:
186
187		```sh
188		doas nano /etc/hostname
189		```
190
191		```sh
192		<hostname>
193		```
194
195		Next, edit the `hosts` file:
196
197		```sh
198		doas nano /etc/hosts
199		```
200
201		```sh
202		127.0.0.1 <hostname>.local <hostname> localhost.local localhost
203		::1 <hostname> <hostname>.local
204		```
205
206		# Nginx Web Server
207
208		To set up my web server, I simply created the `www` user and created the
209		necessary files.
210
211		```sh
212		doas adduser -D -g 'www' www
213		mkdir /www
214		doas mkdir /www
215		doas chown -R www:www /var/lib/nginx/
216		doas chown -R www:www /www
217		```
218
219		If you're running a simple webroot, you can alter the main `nginx.conf` file.
220		Otherwise, you can drop configuration files in the following directory. You
221		don't need to enable or symlink the configuration file like you do in other
222		systems.
223
224		```sh
225		doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example_website.conf
226		```
227
228		Once the configuration is set and pointed at the `/www` directory to serve
229		files, enable the Nginx service:
230
231		```sh
232		# Note that 'default' must be included or Nginx will not start on boot
233		doas rc-update add nginx default
234		```
235
236		# Docker Containers
237
238		Docker works exactly the same as other systems. Either execute a `docker run`
239		command or create a `docker-compose.yml` file and do `docker-compose up -d`.
240
241		# Git Server
242
243		I went in-depth on how to self-host a git server in another post: [Self-Hosting
244		a Personal Git Server](../git-server/).
245
246		However, there are a few differences with Alpine. First note that in order to
247		change the `git` user's shell, you must do a few things a little different:
248
249		```sh
250		doas apk add libuser
251		doas touch /etc/login.defs
252		doas mkdir /etc/default
253		doas touch /etc/default/useradd
254		doas lchsh git
255		```
256
257		# Thoughts on Alpine
258
259		So far, I love Alpine Linux. I have no complaints about anything at this point,
260		but I'm not completely finished with the migration yet. Once I'm able to upgrade
261		my hardware to a rack-mounted server, I will migrate Plex and Syncthing over to
262		Alpine as well - possibly putting Plex into a container or VM.
263
264		The performance is stellar, the `apk` package manager is seamless, and system
265		administration tasks are effortless. My only regret is that I didn't install
266		Alpine sooner.

content/blog/2022-10-22-alpine-linux.org added +276

		@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-10-22>
	2	#+title: Alpine Linux: My New Server OS
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Alpine Linux
	7
	8	[[https://alpinelinux.org][Alpine Linux]] is a very small distro, built
	9	on musl libc and busybox. It uses ash as the default shell, OpenRC as
	10	the init system, and apk as the package manager. According to their
	11	website, an Alpine container "requires no more than 8 MB and a minimal
	12	installation to disk requires around 130 MB of storage." An actual bare
	13	metal machine is recommended to have 100 MB of RAM and 0-700 MB of
	14	storage space.
	15
	16	Historically, I've used Ubuntu's minimal installation image as my server
	17	OS for the last five years. Ubuntu worked well and helped as my original
	18	server contained an nVidia GPU and no onboard graphics, so quite a few
	19	distros won't boot or install without a lot of tinkering.
	20
	21	Alpine has given me a huge increase in performance across my Docker apps
	22	and Nginx websites. CPU load for the new server I'm using to test Alpine
	23	hovers around 0-5% on average with an Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-6100 CPU @
	24	3.70GHz.
	25
	26	The only services I haven't moved over to Alpine are Plex Media Server
	27	and Syncthing, which may increase CPU load quite a bit depending on how
	28	many streams are running.
	29
	30	** Installation
	31
	32	In terms of installation, Alpine has an incredibly useful
	33	[[https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Installation][wiki]] that will guide
	34	a user throughout the installation and post-installation processes, as
	35	well as various other articles and guides.
	36
	37	To install Alpine, find an appropriate
	38	[[https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/][image to download]] and flash it
	39	to a USB using software such as Rufus or Etcher. I opted to use the
	40	Standard image for my x86_{64} architecture.
	41
	42	Once the USB is ready, plug it into the machine and reboot. Note that
	43	you may have to use a key such as =Esc= or =F1-12= to access the boot
	44	menu. The Alpine Linux terminal will load quickly and for a login.
	45
	46	To log in to the installation image, use the =root= account; there is no
	47	password. Once logged-in, execute the setup command:
	48
	49	#+begin_src sh
	50	setup-alpine
	51	#+end_src
	52
	53	The setup script will ask a series of questions to configure the system.
	54	Be sure to answer carefully or else you may have to re-configure the
	55	system after boot.
	56
	57	- Keyboard Layout (Local keyboard language and usage mode, e.g., us and
	58	variant of us-nodeadkeys.)
	59	- Hostname (The name for the computer.)
	60	- Network (For example, automatic IP address discovery with the "DHCP"
	61	protocol.)
	62	- DNS Servers (Domain Name Servers to query. For privacy reasons, it is
	63	NOT recommended to route every local request to servers like Google's
	64	8.8.8.8.)
	65	- Timezone
	66	- Proxy (Proxy server to use for accessing the web. Use "none" for
	67	direct connections to the internet.)
	68	- Mirror (From where to download packages. Choose the organization you
	69	trust giving your usage patterns to.)
	70	- SSH (Secure SHell remote access server. "Openssh" is part of the
	71	default install image. Use "none" to disable remote login, e.g. on
	72	laptops.)
	73	- NTP (Network Time Protocol client used for keeping the system clock in
	74	sync with a time-server. Package "chrony" is part of the default
	75	install image.)
	76	- Disk Mode (Select between diskless (disk="none"), "data" or "sys", as
	77	described above.)
	78
	79	Once the setup script is finished, be sure to reboot the machine and
	80	remove the USB device.
	81
	82	#+begin_src sh
	83	reboot
	84	#+end_src
	85
	86	** Post-Installation
	87
	88	There are many things you can do once your Alpine Linux system is up and
	89	running, and it largely depends on what you'll use the machine for. I'm
	90	going to walk through my personal post-installation setup for my web
	91	server.
	92
	93	1. Upgrade the System
	94
	95	First, login as =root= in order to update and upgrade the system:
	96
	97	#+begin_src sh
	98	apk -U upgrade
	99	#+end_src
	100
	101	2. Adding a User
	102
	103	I needed to add a user so that I don't need to log in as root. Note
	104	that if you're used to using the =sudo= command, you will now need to
	105	use the =doas= command on Alpine Linux.
	106
	107	#+begin_src sh
	108	apk add doas
	109	adduser <username>
	110	adduser <username> wheel
	111	#+end_src
	112
	113	You can now log out and log back in using the newly-created user:
	114
	115	#+begin_src sh
	116	exit
	117	#+end_src
	118
	119	3. Enable Community Packages
	120
	121	In order to install more common packages that aren't found in the
	122	=main= repository, you will need to enable the =community=
	123	repository:
	124
	125	#+begin_src sh
	126	doas nano /etc/apk/repositories
	127	#+end_src
	128
	129	Uncomment the community line for whichever version of Alpine you're
	130	running:
	131
	132	#+begin_src sh
	133	/media/usb/apks
	134	http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.16/main
	135	http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.16/community
	136	#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main
	137	#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community
	138	#http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing
	139	#+end_src
	140
	141	4. Install Required Packages
	142
	143	Now that the community packages are available, you can install any
	144	packages you need. In my case, I installed the web server packages I
	145	need for my services:
	146
	147	#+begin_src sh
	148	doas apk add nano nginx docker docker-compose ufw
	149	#+end_src
	150
	151	5. SSH
	152
	153	If you didn't install OpenSSH as part of the installation, you can do
	154	so now:
	155
	156	#+begin_src sh
	157	doas apk add openssh
	158	#+end_src
	159
	160	Next, either create a new key or copy your SSH key to the server from
	161	your current machines:
	162
	163	#+begin_src sh
	164	# Create a new key
	165	ssh-keygen
	166	#+end_src
	167
	168	If you need to copy an existing SSH key from a current machine:
	169
	170	#+begin_src sh
	171	# Copy key from existing machines
	172	ssh-copy-id <username>@<ip_address>
	173	#+end_src
	174
	175	6. Firewall
	176
	177	Lastly, I installed =ufw= above as my firewall. To set up, default to
	178	deny incoming and allow outgoing connections. Then selectively allow
	179	other ports or apps as needed.
	180
	181	#+begin_src sh
	182	doas ufw default deny incoming
	183	doas ufw default allow outgoing
	184	doas ufw allow SSH
	185	doas ufw allow "WWW Full"
	186	doas ufw allow 9418 # Git server port
	187	#+end_src
	188
	189	7. Change Hostname
	190
	191	If you don't like the hostname set during installation, you just need
	192	to edit two files. First, edit the simple hostname file:
	193
	194	#+begin_src sh
	195	doas nano /etc/hostname
	196	#+end_src
	197
	198	#+begin_src sh
	199	<hostname>
	200	#+end_src
	201
	202	Next, edit the =hosts= file:
	203
	204	#+begin_src sh
	205	doas nano /etc/hosts
	206	#+end_src
	207
	208	#+begin_src sh
	209	127.0.0.1 <hostname>.local <hostname> localhost.local localhost
	210	::1 <hostname> <hostname>.local
	211	#+end_src
	212
	213	* Nginx Web Server
	214
	215	To set up my web server, I simply created the =www= user and created the
	216	necessary files.
	217
	218	#+begin_src sh
	219	doas adduser -D -g 'www' www
	220	mkdir /www
	221	doas mkdir /www
	222	doas chown -R www:www /var/lib/nginx/
	223	doas chown -R www:www /www
	224	#+end_src
	225
	226	If you're running a simple webroot, you can alter the main =nginx.conf=
	227	file. Otherwise, you can drop configuration files in the following
	228	directory. You don't need to enable or symlink the configuration file
	229	like you do in other systems.
	230
	231	#+begin_src sh
	232	doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example_website.conf
	233	#+end_src
	234
	235	Once the configuration is set and pointed at the =/www= directory to
	236	serve files, enable the Nginx service:
	237
	238	#+begin_src sh
	239	# Note that 'default' must be included or Nginx will not start on boot
	240	doas rc-update add nginx default
	241	#+end_src
	242
	243	* Docker Containers
	244
	245	Docker works exactly the same as other systems. Either execute a
	246	=docker run= command or create a =docker-compose.yml= file and do
	247	=docker-compose up -d=.
	248
	249	* Git Server
	250
	251	I went in-depth on how to self-host a git server in another post:
	252	[[../git-server/][Self-Hosting a Personal Git Server]].
	253
	254	However, there are a few differences with Alpine. First note that in
	255	order to change the =git= user's shell, you must do a few things a
	256	little different:
	257
	258	#+begin_src sh
	259	doas apk add libuser
	260	doas touch /etc/login.defs
	261	doas mkdir /etc/default
	262	doas touch /etc/default/useradd
	263	doas lchsh git
	264	#+end_src
	265
	266	* Thoughts on Alpine
	267
	268	So far, I love Alpine Linux. I have no complaints about anything at this
	269	point, but I'm not completely finished with the migration yet. Once I'm
	270	able to upgrade my hardware to a rack-mounted server, I will migrate
	271	Plex and Syncthing over to Alpine as well - possibly putting Plex into a
	272	container or VM.
	273
	274	The performance is stellar, the =apk= package manager is seamless, and
	275	system administration tasks are effortless. My only regret is that I
	276	didn't install Alpine sooner.

content/blog/2022-10-30-linux-display-manager.md deleted −77

		@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-10-30
3		title = "How to Disable or Change the Display Manager on Void Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Display Manager Services
9
10		In order to change the [display
11		manager](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_manager) on Void Linux - or any
12		other Linux distro - you need to identify the currently enabled display manager.
13
14		## Disabling the Current Display Manager
15
16		Void Linux only has one ISO available for download with a pre-built display
17		manager at the time of this post: the XFCE ISO. If you've installed this
18		version, the pre-assigned display manager is `lxdm`. If you installed another
19		display manager, replace `lxdm` in the following command with the display
20		manager you have installed.
21
22		To disable `lxdm`, simply remove the service symlink:
23
24		```sh
25		sudo rm /var/service/lxdm
26		```
27
28		## Enabling a New Display Manager
29
30		If you want to enable a new display manager, you can do so after `lxdm` is
31		disabled. Make sure to replace `<new_display_manager>` with your new DM, such as
32		`gdm`, `xdm`, etc.
33
34		```sh
35		sudo ln -s /etc/sv/<new_display_manager> /var/service
36		```
37
38		# Set Up `.xinitrc`
39
40		Depending on your setup, you may need to create a few X files, such as
41		`~/.xinitrc`. For my personal set-up, I created this file to launch the i3wm as
42		my desktop.
43
44		```sh
45		nano ~/.xinitrc
46		```
47
48		```sh
49		#!/bin/sh
50
51		exec i3
52		```
53
54		If you run a desktop other than i3, simply replace `i3` with the shell command
55		that launches that desktop.
56
57		# Set Up Your Shell Profile
58
59		Finally, in order to automatically launch an X session upon login, you will need
60		to edit the `.bash_profile` (bash) or `.zprofile` (zsh) files for your shell:
61
62		```sh
63		nano ~/.zprofile
64		```
65
66		Add the following snippet to the end of the shell profile file. This will
67		execute the `startx` command upon login.
68
69		```sh
70		if [ -z "${DISPLAY}" ] && [ "${XDG_VTNR}" -eq 1 ]; then
71		exec startx
72		fi
73		```
74
75		Alternatively, you can ignore this step and simply choose to manually execute
76		`startx` upon login. This can be useful if you have issues with your desktop or
77		like to manually launch different desktops by choice.

content/blog/2022-10-30-linux-display-manager.org added +77

		@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-10-30>
	2	#+title: How to Disable or Change the Display Manager on Void Linux
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Display Manager Services
	7
	8	In order to change the
	9	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_manager][display manager]] on
	10	Void Linux - or any other Linux distro - you need to identify the
	11	currently enabled display manager.
	12
	13	** Disabling the Current Display Manager
	14
	15	Void Linux only has one ISO available for download with a pre-built
	16	display manager at the time of this post: the XFCE ISO. If you've
	17	installed this version, the pre-assigned display manager is =lxdm=. If
	18	you installed another display manager, replace =lxdm= in the following
	19	command with the display manager you have installed.
	20
	21	To disable =lxdm=, simply remove the service symlink:
	22
	23	#+begin_src sh
	24	sudo rm /var/service/lxdm
	25	#+end_src
	26
	27	** Enabling a New Display Manager
	28
	29	If you want to enable a new display manager, you can do so after =lxdm=
	30	is disabled. Make sure to replace =<new_display_manager>= with your new
	31	DM, such as =gdm=, =xdm=, etc.
	32
	33	#+begin_src sh
	34	sudo ln -s /etc/sv/<new_display_manager> /var/service
	35	#+end_src
	36
	37	* Set Up =.xinitrc=
	38
	39	Depending on your setup, you may need to create a few X files, such as
	40	=~/.xinitrc=. For my personal set-up, I created this file to launch the
	41	i3wm as my desktop.
	42
	43	#+begin_src sh
	44	nano ~/.xinitrc
	45	#+end_src
	46
	47	#+begin_src sh
	48	#!/bin/sh
	49
	50	exec i3
	51	#+end_src
	52
	53	If you run a desktop other than i3, simply replace =i3= with the shell
	54	command that launches that desktop.
	55
	56	* Set Up Your Shell Profile
	57
	58	Finally, in order to automatically launch an X session upon login, you
	59	will need to edit the =.bash_profile= (bash) or =.zprofile= (zsh) files
	60	for your shell:
	61
	62	#+begin_src sh
	63	nano ~/.zprofile
	64	#+end_src
	65
	66	Add the following snippet to the end of the shell profile file. This
	67	will execute the =startx= command upon login.
	68
	69	#+begin_src sh
	70	if [ -z "${DISPLAY}" ] && [ "${XDG_VTNR}" -eq 1 ]; then
	71	exec startx
	72	fi
	73	#+end_src
	74
	75	Alternatively, you can ignore this step and simply choose to manually
	76	execute =startx= upon login. This can be useful if you have issues with
	77	your desktop or like to manually launch different desktops by choice.

content/blog/2022-11-07-self-hosting-matrix.md → content/blog/2022-11-07-self-hosting-matrix.org renamed +88 −85

		@@ -1,103 +1,104 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-11-07
3		title = "Self-Hosting Matrix Synapse on Alpine Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-11-07>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Matrix Synapse on Alpine Linux
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Synapse
	5
	6	* Synapse
9	7
10	8	If you're reading this, you likely know that
11		[Synapse](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/) is a popular
12		[Matrix](https://matrix.org/) home server software that allows users to run
13		their own Matrix home server.
	9	[[https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/][Synapse]] is a popular
	10	[[https://matrix.org/][Matrix]] home server software that allows users
	11	to run their own Matrix home server.
14	12
15		This post is a short guide describing how I was able to get Synapse working in a
16		minimally-usable state on Alpine Linux.
	13	This post is a short guide describing how I was able to get Synapse
	14	working in a minimally-usable state on Alpine Linux.
17	15
18		# Installation Process
	16	* Installation Process
19	17
20		## Dependencies
	18	** Dependencies
21	19
22		First, since there is no Alpine-specific package for Synapse, we need to ensure
23		that Alpine has the required dependencies for the Python-based installation
24		method.
	20	First, since there is no Alpine-specific package for Synapse, we need to
	21	ensure that Alpine has the required dependencies for the Python-based
	22	installation method.
25	23
26		```sh
	24	#+begin_src sh
27	25	doas apk -U update
28	26	doas apk add python3 py3-virtualenv
29		```
	27	#+end_src
30	28
31	29	Next, we need to set up a Python virtual environment for Synapse:
32	30
33		```sh
	31	#+begin_src sh
34	32	mkdir -p ~/synapse && cd ~/synapse
35	33	virtualenv -p python3 ~/synapse/env
36	34	source ~/synapse/env/bin/activate
37	35	pip install --upgrade pip
38	36	pip install --upgrade setuptools
39	37	pip install matrix-synapse
40		```
	38	#+end_src
41	39
42		## Running Synapse
	40	** Running Synapse
43	41
44		Once installed, running Synapse is easy. Simply execute the following command,
45		replacing `example.com` with the domain name that will be used with this home
46		server. This will generate the configuration files needed to run the server.
	42	Once installed, running Synapse is easy. Simply execute the following
	43	command, replacing =example.com= with the domain name that will be used
	44	with this home server. This will generate the configuration files needed
	45	to run the server.
47	46
48		```sh
	47	#+begin_src sh
49	48	python -m synapse.app.homeserver \
50	49	--server-name example.com \
51	50	--config-path homeserver.yaml \
52	51	--generate-config \
53	52	--report-stats=no
54		```
	53	#+end_src
55	54
56	55	Once the configuration is generated, we can start up the Synapse server:
57	56
58		```sh
	57	#+begin_src sh
59	58	synctl start
60		```
	59	#+end_src
61	60
62		## Configuring Synapse
	61	** Configuring Synapse
63	62
64		To make any change to Synapse, we need to edit the `YAML` configuration file:
	63	To make any change to Synapse, we need to edit the =YAML= configuration
	64	file:
65	65
66		```sh
	66	#+begin_src sh
67	67	nano ~/synapse/homeserver.yaml
68		```
	68	#+end_src
69	69
70		For now, we just need to ensure the `server_name` is accurate. However, there
71		are a lot of other configuration options found in the [Configuring
72		Synapse](https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/develop/usage/configuration/config_documentation.html)
73		documentation that can be enabled/disabled at any point.
	70	For now, we just need to ensure the =server_name= is accurate. However,
	71	there are a lot of other configuration options found in the
	72	[[https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/develop/usage/configuration/config_documentation.html][Configuring
	73	Synapse]] documentation that can be enabled/disabled at any point.
74	74
75		```yaml
	75	#+begin_src yaml
76	76	server_name: "example.com"
77		```
	77	#+end_src
78	78
79	79	Make sure to restart Synapse when you make changes to the configuration:
80	80
81		```sh
	81	#+begin_src sh
82	82	synctl restart
83		```
	83	#+end_src
84	84
85		## Nginx Reverse-Proxy
	85	** Nginx Reverse-Proxy
86	86
87		To ensure that Synapse is reachable from the public, we need to connect our
88		domain to the Synapse server. In my case, I use a Nginx reverse-proxy for this
89		purpose.
	87	To ensure that Synapse is reachable from the public, we need to connect
	88	our domain to the Synapse server. In my case, I use a Nginx
	89	reverse-proxy for this purpose.
90	90
91	91	To use Nginx, we need to create a reverse-proxy configuration file:
92	92
93		```sh
	93	#+begin_src sh
94	94	doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example.com.conf
95		```
	95	#+end_src
96	96
97		If you already have TLS certificates for this domain (`example.com`), you can
98		simply use the SSL configuration and point toward your TLS certificates.
	97	If you already have TLS certificates for this domain (=example.com=),
	98	you can simply use the SSL configuration and point toward your TLS
	99	certificates.
99	100
100		```conf
	101	#+begin_src conf
101	102	server {
102	103	listen 443 ssl http2;
103	104	listen [::]:443 ssl http2;
		@@ -136,14 +137,15 @@ server {
136	137	listen 80;
137	138	return 404;
138	139	}
139		```
	140	#+end_src
140	141
141	142	If you need to generate TLS certificates (I recommend
142		[Certbot](https://certbot.eff.org/)), you'll need a more minimal Nginx conf file
143		before you can use the TLS-enabled example above. Instead, use this
144		configuration file during the Certbot certificate generation process:
	143	[[https://certbot.eff.org/][Certbot]]), you'll need a more minimal Nginx
	144	conf file before you can use the TLS-enabled example above. Instead, use
	145	this configuration file during the Certbot certificate generation
	146	process:
145	147
146		```conf
	148	#+begin_src conf
147	149	server {
148	150	server_name example.com;
149	151	location / {
		@@ -151,62 +153,63 @@ server {
151	153	}
152	154	listen 80;
153	155	}
154		```
	156	#+end_src
155	157
156	158	Once you're done editing the Nginx conf file, restart Nginx:
157	159
158		```sh
	160	#+begin_src sh
159	161	doas rc-service nginx restart
160		```
	162	#+end_src
161	163
162		If you still need to generate TLS certificates, run `certbot` now and obtain the
163		certificates. Certbot will ask if you want to use a webroot or spin up a
164		temporary web server. I highly recommend using the temporary web server due
165		to the many issues with using a webroot.
	164	If you still need to generate TLS certificates, run =certbot= now and
	165	obtain the certificates. Certbot will ask if you want to use a webroot
	166	or spin up a temporary web server. I highly recommend using the
	167	temporary web server due to the many issues with using a webroot.
166	168
167		You will need to stop Nginx in order to user the temporary web server option
168		with Certbot:
	169	You will need to stop Nginx in order to user the temporary web server
	170	option with Certbot:
169	171
170		```sh
	172	#+begin_src sh
171	173	# Stop Nginx so certbot can spin up a temp webserver for cert generation
172	174	doas rc-service nginx stop
173	175	doas certbot certonly -v
174	176	doas rc-service nginx start
175		```
	177	#+end_src
176	178
177		## Open Firewall & Router Ports
	179	** Open Firewall & Router Ports
178	180
179		If you use a firewall on the server, open the `8448` port for discovery and
180		federation, as well as the normal web server ports if you're using a reverse
181		proxy. If you want additional services, such as voice calls, you will need to
182		read the Synapse documentation to see which ports need to be opened for those
183		features.
	181	If you use a firewall on the server, open the =8448= port for discovery
	182	and federation, as well as the normal web server ports if you're using a
	183	reverse proxy. If you want additional services, such as voice calls, you
	184	will need to read the Synapse documentation to see which ports need to
	185	be opened for those features.
184	186
185	187	Here's an example of the Universal Firewall (UFW) software:
186	188
187		```sh
	189	#+begin_src sh
188	190	# Matrix port
189	191	doas ufw allow 8448
190	192	# Standard web server ports
191	193	doas ufw allow "Nginx Full"
192		```
	194	#+end_src
193	195
194		Remember to forward any Synapse ports, such as `8448`, `80`, and `443`, in your
195		Router from the internet to your server's IP address.
	196	Remember to forward any Synapse ports, such as =8448=, =80=, and =443=,
	197	in your Router from the internet to your server's IP address.
196	198
197		## Adding Matrix Users
	199	** Adding Matrix Users
198	200
199		Finally, if you didn't enable public registration in the `homeserver.yaml` file,
200		you can manually create users via the command-line:
	201	Finally, if you didn't enable public registration in the
	202	=homeserver.yaml= file, you can manually create users via the
	203	command-line:
201	204
202		```sh
	205	#+begin_src sh
203	206	cd ~/synapse
204	207	register_new_matrix_user -c homeserver.yaml
205		```
	208	#+end_src
206	209
207	210	Remember that the format for federated Matrix usernames is
208		`@username:example.com` when logging in to client applications.
	211	=@username:example.com= when logging in to client applications.
209	212
210		Once Synapse is running, and you have a username, you are ready to log in to a
211		Matrix client and start sending messages, joining rooms, and utilizing your very
212		own Matrix server.
	213	Once Synapse is running, and you have a username, you are ready to log
	214	in to a Matrix client and start sending messages, joining rooms, and
	215	utilizing your very own Matrix server.

content/blog/2022-11-11-nginx-tmp-errors.md deleted −77

		@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-11-11
3		title = "Fixing Permission Errors in /var/lib/nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		_This is a brief post so that I personally remember the solution as it has
9		occurred multiple times for me._
10
11		# The Problem
12
13		After migrating to a new server OS, I started receiving quite a few permission
14		errors like the one below. These popped up for various different websites I'm
15		serving via Nginx on this server, but did not prevent the website from loading.
16
17		I found the errors in the standard log file:
18
19		```sh
20		cat /var/log/nginx/error.log
21		```
22
23		```sh
24		2022/11/11 11:30:34 [crit] 8970#8970: *10 open() "/var/lib/nginx/tmp/proxy/3/00/0000000003" failed (13: Permission denied) while reading upstream, client: 169.150.203.10, server: cyberchef.example.com, request: "GET /assets/main.css HTTP/2.0", upstream: "http://127.0.0.1:8111/assets/main.css", host: "cyberchef.example.com", referrer: "https://cyberchef.example.com/"
25		```
26
27		You can see that the error is `13: Permission denied` and it occurs in the
28		`/var/lib/nginx/tmp/` directory. In my case, I had thousands of errors where
29		Nginx was denied permission to read/write files in this directory.
30
31		So how do I fix it?
32
33		# The Solution
34
35		In order to resolve the issue, I had to ensure the `/var/lib/nginx` directory is
36		owned by Nginx. Mine was owned by the `www` user and Nginx was not able to read
37		or write files within that directory. This prevented Nginx from caching
38		temporary files.
39
40		```sh
41		# Alpine Linux
42		doas chown -R nginx:nginx /var/lib/nginx
43
44		# Other Distros
45		sudo chown -R nginx:nginx /var/lib/nginx
46		```
47
48		You _may_ also be able to change the `proxy_temp_path` in your Nginx config, but
49		I did not try this. Here's a suggestion I found online that may work if the
50		above solution does not:
51
52		```sh
53		nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example.com.conf
54		```
55
56		```conf
57		server {
58		...
59
60		# Set the proxy_temp_path to your preference, make sure it's owned by the
61		# `nginx` user
62		proxy_temp_path /tmp;
63
64		...
65		}
66		```
67
68		Finally, restart Nginx and your server should be able to cache temporary files
69		again.
70
71		```sh
72		# Alpine Linux (OpenRC)
73		doas rc-service nginx restart
74
75		# Other Distros (systemd)
76		sudo systemctl restart nginx
77		```

content/blog/2022-11-11-nginx-tmp-errors.org added +77

		@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-11-11>
	2	#+title: Fixing Permission Errors in /var/lib/nginx
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	/This is a brief post so that I personally remember the solution as it
	7	has occurred multiple times for me./
	8
	9	* The Problem
	10
	11	After migrating to a new server OS, I started receiving quite a few
	12	permission errors like the one below. These popped up for various
	13	different websites I'm serving via Nginx on this server, but did not
	14	prevent the website from loading.
	15
	16	I found the errors in the standard log file:
	17
	18	#+begin_src sh
	19	cat /var/log/nginx/error.log
	20	#+end_src
	21
	22	#+begin_src sh
	23	2022/11/11 11:30:34 [crit] 8970#8970: *10 open() "/var/lib/nginx/tmp/proxy/3/00/0000000003" failed (13: Permission denied) while reading upstream, client: 169.150.203.10, server: cyberchef.example.com, request: "GET /assets/main.css HTTP/2.0", upstream: "http://127.0.0.1:8111/assets/main.css", host: "cyberchef.example.com", referrer: "https://cyberchef.example.com/"
	24	#+end_src
	25
	26	You can see that the error is =13: Permission denied= and it occurs in
	27	the =/var/lib/nginx/tmp/= directory. In my case, I had thousands of
	28	errors where Nginx was denied permission to read/write files in this
	29	directory.
	30
	31	So how do I fix it?
	32
	33	* The Solution
	34
	35	In order to resolve the issue, I had to ensure the =/var/lib/nginx=
	36	directory is owned by Nginx. Mine was owned by the =www= user and Nginx
	37	was not able to read or write files within that directory. This
	38	prevented Nginx from caching temporary files.
	39
	40	#+begin_src sh
	41	# Alpine Linux
	42	doas chown -R nginx:nginx /var/lib/nginx
	43
	44	# Other Distros
	45	sudo chown -R nginx:nginx /var/lib/nginx
	46	#+end_src
	47
	48	You /may/ also be able to change the =proxy_temp_path= in your Nginx
	49	config, but I did not try this. Here's a suggestion I found online that
	50	may work if the above solution does not:
	51
	52	#+begin_src sh
	53	nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example.com.conf
	54	#+end_src
	55
	56	#+begin_src conf
	57	server {
	58	...
	59
	60	# Set the proxy_temp_path to your preference, make sure it's owned by the
	61	# `nginx` user
	62	proxy_temp_path /tmp;
	63
	64	...
	65	}
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	Finally, restart Nginx and your server should be able to cache temporary
	69	files again.
	70
	71	#+begin_src sh
	72	# Alpine Linux (OpenRC)
	73	doas rc-service nginx restart
	74
	75	# Other Distros (systemd)
	76	sudo systemctl restart nginx
	77	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-11-27-server-build.md deleted −143

		@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-11-27
3		title = "Building a Custom Rack-Mounted Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Dilemma
9
10		For years, I have been using desktops and a Raspberry Pi as the backbone of my
11		homelab. I have always wanted to move toward a single dedicated server that
12		could handle all of my tasks, but was often put off by the complexity of the
13		choices (and financial roadblocks at some times).
14
15		However, after purchasing a small server rack this past year, I have been
16		researching to see what kind of rack-mounted server I could buy. I initially
17		bought a Dell R720XD loaded up with everything I could ever want in a server -
18		but I did not care for it. It was far too loud, and the age of the CPU/RAM was
19		something I wanted to improve upon.
20
21		After returning the R720XD, I decided that I wanted to build my own server with
22		modern, consumer-grade PC components. This time, I am very happy with the
23		results of my server.
24
25		# Components
26
27		I'll start by listing all the components I used for this server build:
28
29		- Case: [Rosewill RSV-R4100U 4U Server Chassis Rackmount
30		Case](https://www.rosewill.com/rosewill-rsv-r4100u-black/p/9SIA072GJ92825)
31		- Motherboard: [NZXT B550](https://nzxt.com/product/n7-b550)
32		- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
33		- GPU: N/A - I specifically chose one of the few AMD CPUs that support
34		onboard graphics.
35		- RAM: 64GB RAM (2x32GB) _Max of 128GB RAM on this motherboard_
36		- Boot Drive: Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME SSD
37		- HDD Bay:
38		- 10TB WD White _(shucked, moved from previous server)_
39		- 8TB WD White _(shucked, moved from previous server)_
40		- 2 x 8TB WD Red Plus _(Black Friday lined up perfectly with this build,
41		so I grabbed two of these)_
42		- PSU: Corsair RM850 PSU
43		- Extras:
44		- Corsair TM3Q Thermal Paste
45		- Noctua 120mm fan _(replacement for front case fan)_
46		- 2 x Noctua 80mm fans _(replacement for rear case fans)_
47		- CableMatters 6Gbps SATA Cables
48
49		# Building the Server
50
51		This took quite a while for me to build (in my opinion of time), totaling around
52		3 hours from start to finish. The case has some peculiar construction, so you
53		have to completely remove the ODD & HDD cages to install the motherboard and
54		other components first.
55
56		Now, I've never built a computer of any kind before, so I was quite nervous.
57		Personally, the only challenging part was getting the CPU cooler to screw into
58		the motherboard without sliding the thermal paste around too much underneath.
59		I'm still not entirely sure if I did a great job of it, but nothing's broken
60		yet.
61
62		The main components were all fine and simple. However, installing the hard
63		drives is slightly tedious as I need to power off the server and completely
64		unscrew the HDD cage to install or remove any drives. Additionally, the drives
65		are screwed directly into the metal cage with small screws, which are quite a
66		bit different from the HDD trays I'm used to in other machines.
67
68		Seeing that the cases with hot-swap bays were 3-4x the price, I'm okay dealing
69		with the tedium of removing the cage to install new drives.
70
71		# Software
72
73		I'm not going to dive into the software as I have done so in other recent posts.
74		However, I wanted to note that I am using Alpine Linux on this server and
75		hosting most services inside Docker. No virtual machines (VMs) and very few
76		bare-metal services.
77
78		# The Results
79
80		How did my build turn out? Well, after migrating my other servers and their
81		services over, I found that my server is blazing fast. The heaviest of my
82		applications, Plex, is handled with ease. Even 4k streaming seems to be
83		effortless.
84
85		I am very happy with the results and will likely continue to improve on this
86		server as the years go by rather than buying another used server online.
87
88		## Mistakes I Made
89
90		This post wouldn't be complete unless I wrote about the mistakes I made while
91		building. The only real mistake I made beyond a "whoops I dropped a screw"
92		related to airflow and fan direction.
93
94		While installing the two new hard drives that showed up on 2022-11-30 and
95		getting ready to install the case in my rack, I noticed that the hard drive
96		temperatures were quite high.
97
98		I used the `smartctl` command for each of my drives (`/dev/sda` through
99		`/dev/sdd`):
100
101		```sh
102		doas smartctl -a /dev/sda \| grep Temperature_Celsius
103		```
104
105		The results were unusual - all four drives were idling at ~44-46 degrees
106		Celsius. The only drive that was cooler was my 10TB drive, which was at 38
107		degrees Celsius. I noted that this 10TB drive was also closest to the case fan.
108
109		```sh
110		ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
111		# /dev/sda
112		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 147 147 000 Old_age Always - 44 (Min/Max 22/46)
113		# /dev/sdb
114		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 141 141 000 Old_age Always - 46 (Min/Max 21/48)
115		# /dev/sdc
116		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 144 144 000 Old_age Always - 45 (Min/Max 19/61)
117		# /dev/sdd
118		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 171 171 000 Old_age Always - 38 (Min/Max 14/56)
119		```
120
121		After looking to see if I could fit more fans into the case, I noticed that the
122		120mm fan used for intake from the front of the case was actually pushing air
123		out of the case by mistake. This fan sits right in front of the hard drive bay.
124
125		Once I flipped the fan around to act as an intake fan, the temperatures dropped
126		immediately! They are now idling at ~31-33 degrees Celsius. A single fan
127		spinning the wrong way caused my drives to idle 10-15 degrees higher than they
128		should have.
129
130		```sh
131		ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
132		# /dev/sda
133		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 209 209 000 Old_age Always - 31 (Min/Max 14/56)
134		# /dev/sdb
135		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 196 196 000 Old_age Always - 33 (Min/Max 19/61)
136		# /dev/sdc
137		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 203 203 000 Old_age Always - 32 (Min/Max 21/48)
138		# /dev/sdd
139		194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 196 196 000 Old_age Always - 33 (Min/Max 22/46)
140		```
141
142		This was a silly error to make, but I'm glad I found it today before I screwed
143		the case into the rack and made things a lot more tedious to fix.

content/blog/2022-11-27-server-build.org added +147

		@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-11-27>
	2	#+title: Building a Custom Rack-Mounted Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Dilemma
	7
	8	For years, I have been using desktops and a Raspberry Pi as the backbone
	9	of my homelab. I have always wanted to move toward a single dedicated
	10	server that could handle all of my tasks, but was often put off by the
	11	complexity of the choices (and financial roadblocks at some times).
	12
	13	However, after purchasing a small server rack this past year, I have
	14	been researching to see what kind of rack-mounted server I could buy. I
	15	initially bought a Dell R720XD loaded up with everything I could ever
	16	want in a server - but I did not care for it. It was far too loud, and
	17	the age of the CPU/RAM was something I wanted to improve upon.
	18
	19	After returning the R720XD, I decided that I wanted to build my own
	20	server with modern, consumer-grade PC components. This time, I am very
	21	happy with the results of my server.
	22
	23	* Components
	24
	25	I'll start by listing all the components I used for this server build:
	26
	27	- Case:
	28	[[https://www.rosewill.com/rosewill-rsv-r4100u-black/p/9SIA072GJ92825][Rosewill
	29	RSV-R4100U 4U Server Chassis Rackmount Case]]
	30	- Motherboard: [[https://nzxt.com/product/n7-b550][NZXT B550]]
	31	- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
	32	- GPU: N/A - I specifically chose one of the few AMD CPUs that support
	33	onboard graphics.
	34	- RAM: 64GB RAM (2x32GB) /Max of 128GB RAM on this motherboard/
	35	- Boot Drive: Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME SSD
	36	- HDD Bay:
	37	- 10TB WD White /(shucked, moved from previous server)/
	38	- 8TB WD White /(shucked, moved from previous server)/
	39	- 2 x 8TB WD Red Plus /(Black Friday lined up perfectly with this
	40	build, so I grabbed two of these)/
	41	- PSU: Corsair RM850 PSU
	42	- Extras:
	43	- Corsair TM3Q Thermal Paste
	44	- Noctua 120mm fan /(replacement for front case fan)/
	45	- 2 x Noctua 80mm fans /(replacement for rear case fans)/
	46	- CableMatters 6Gbps SATA Cables
	47
	48	* Building the Server
	49
	50	This took quite a while for me to build (in my opinion of time),
	51	totaling around 3 hours from start to finish. The case has some peculiar
	52	construction, so you have to completely remove the ODD & HDD cages to
	53	install the motherboard and other components first.
	54
	55	Now, I've never built a computer of any kind before, so I was quite
	56	nervous. Personally, the only challenging part was getting the CPU
	57	cooler to screw into the motherboard without sliding the thermal paste
	58	around too much underneath. I'm still not entirely sure if I did a great
	59	job of it, but nothing's broken yet.
	60
	61	The main components were all fine and simple. However, installing the
	62	hard drives is slightly tedious as I need to power off the server and
	63	completely unscrew the HDD cage to install or remove any drives.
	64	Additionally, the drives are screwed directly into the metal cage with
	65	small screws, which are quite a bit different from the HDD trays I'm
	66	used to in other machines.
	67
	68	Seeing that the cases with hot-swap bays were 3-4x the price, I'm okay
	69	dealing with the tedium of removing the cage to install new drives.
	70
	71	* Software
	72
	73	I'm not going to dive into the software as I have done so in other
	74	recent posts. However, I wanted to note that I am using Alpine Linux on
	75	this server and hosting most services inside Docker. No virtual machines
	76	(VMs) and very few bare-metal services.
	77
	78	* The Results
	79
	80	How did my build turn out? Well, after migrating my other servers and
	81	their services over, I found that my server is blazing fast. The
	82	heaviest of my applications, Plex, is handled with ease. Even 4k
	83	streaming seems to be effortless.
	84
	85	I am very happy with the results and will likely continue to improve on
	86	this server as the years go by rather than buying another used server
	87	online.
	88
	89	** Mistakes I Made
	90
	91	This post wouldn't be complete unless I wrote about the mistakes I made
	92	while building. The only real mistake I made beyond a "whoops I dropped
	93	a screw" related to airflow and fan direction.
	94
	95	While installing the two new hard drives that showed up on 2022-11-30
	96	and getting ready to install the case in my rack, I noticed that the
	97	hard drive temperatures were quite high.
	98
	99	I used the =smartctl= command for each of my drives (=/dev/sda= through
	100	=/dev/sdd=):
	101
	102	#+begin_src sh
	103	doas smartctl -a /dev/sda \| grep Temperature_Celsius
	104	#+end_src
	105
	106	The results were unusual - all four drives were idling at ~44-46 degrees
	107	Celsius. The only drive that was cooler was my 10TB drive, which was at
	108	38 degrees Celsius. I noted that this 10TB drive was also closest to the
	109	case fan.
	110
	111	#+begin_src sh
	112	ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
	113	# /dev/sda
	114	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 147 147 000 Old_age Always - 44 (Min/Max 22/46)
	115	# /dev/sdb
	116	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 141 141 000 Old_age Always - 46 (Min/Max 21/48)
	117	# /dev/sdc
	118	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 144 144 000 Old_age Always - 45 (Min/Max 19/61)
	119	# /dev/sdd
	120	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 171 171 000 Old_age Always - 38 (Min/Max 14/56)
	121	#+end_src
	122
	123	After looking to see if I could fit more fans into the case, I noticed
	124	that the 120mm fan used for intake from the front of the case was
	125	actually pushing air out of the case by mistake. This fan sits right in
	126	front of the hard drive bay.
	127
	128	Once I flipped the fan around to act as an intake fan, the temperatures
	129	dropped immediately! They are now idling at ~31-33 degrees Celsius. A
	130	single fan spinning the wrong way caused my drives to idle 10-15 degrees
	131	higher than they should have.
	132
	133	#+begin_src sh
	134	ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
	135	# /dev/sda
	136	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 209 209 000 Old_age Always - 31 (Min/Max 14/56)
	137	# /dev/sdb
	138	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 196 196 000 Old_age Always - 33 (Min/Max 19/61)
	139	# /dev/sdc
	140	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 203 203 000 Old_age Always - 32 (Min/Max 21/48)
	141	# /dev/sdd
	142	194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0002 196 196 000 Old_age Always - 33 (Min/Max 22/46)
	143	#+end_src
	144
	145	This was a silly error to make, but I'm glad I found it today before I
	146	screwed the case into the rack and made things a lot more tedious to
	147	fix.

content/blog/2022-11-29-nginx-referrer-ban-list.md deleted −136

		@@ -1,136 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-11-29
3		title = "Creating a Referrer Ban List in Nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Creating the Ban List
9
10		In order to ban list referral domains or websites with Nginx, you need to create
11		a ban list file. The file below will accept regexes for different domains or
12		websites you wish to block.
13
14		First, create the file in your nginx directory:
15
16		```sh
17		doas nano /etc/nginx/banlist.conf
18		```
19
20		Next, paste the following contents in and fill out the regexes with whichever
21		domains you're blocking.
22
23		```conf
24		# /etc/nginx/banlist.conf
25
26		map $http_referer $bad_referer {
27		hostnames;
28
29		default 0;
30
31		# Put regexes for undesired referrers here
32		"~news.ycombinator.com" 1;
33		}
34		```
35
36		# Configuring Nginx
37
38		In order for the ban list to work, Nginx needs to know it exists and how to
39		handle it. For this, edit the `nginx.conf` file.
40
41		```sh
42		doas nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
43		```
44
45		Within this file, find the `http` block and add your ban list file location to
46		the end of the block.
47
48		```conf
49		# /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
50
51		http {
52		...
53
54		# Include ban list
55		include /etc/nginx/banlist.conf;
56		}
57		```
58
59		# Enabling the Ban List
60
61		Finally, we need to take action when a bad referral site is found. To do so,
62		edit the configuration file for your website. For example, I have all website
63		configuration files in the `http.d` directory. You may have them in the
64		`sites-available` directory on some distributions.
65
66		```sh
67		doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example.com.conf
68		```
69
70		Within each website's configuration file, edit the `server` blocks that are
71		listening to ports 80 and 443 and create a check for the `$bad_referrer`
72		variable we created in the ban list file.
73
74		If a matching site is found, you can return any [HTTP Status
75		Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HTTP_status_codes) you want. Code
76		403 (Forbidden) is logical in this case since you are preventing a client
77		connection due to a banned domain.
78
79		```conf
80		server {
81		...
82
83		# If a referral site is banned, return an error
84		if ($bad_referer) {
85		return 403;
86		}
87
88		...
89		}
90		```
91
92		# Restart Nginx
93
94		Lastly, restart Nginx to enable all changes made.
95
96		```sh
97		doas rc-service nginx restart
98		```
99
100		# Testing Results
101
102		In order to test the results, let's curl the contents of our site. To start,
103		I'll curl the site normally:
104
105		```sh
106		curl https://cleberg.net
107		```
108
109		The HTML contents of the page come back successfully:
110
111		```html
112		<!doctype html>...</html>
113		```
114
115		Next, let's include a banned referrer:
116
117		```sh
118		curl --referer https://news.ycombinator.com https://cleberg.net
119		```
120
121		This time, I'm met with a 403 Forbidden response page. That means we are
122		successful and any clients being referred from a banned domain will be met with
123		this same response code.
124
125		```html
126		<html>
127		<head>
128		<title>403 Forbidden</title>
129		</head>
130		<body>
131		<center><h1>403 Forbidden</h1></center>
132		<hr />
133		<center>nginx</center>
134		</body>
135		</html>
136		```

content/blog/2022-11-29-nginx-referrer-ban-list.org added +134

		@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-11-29>
	2	#+title: Creating a Referrer Ban List in Nginx
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Creating the Ban List
	7
	8	In order to ban list referral domains or websites with Nginx, you need
	9	to create a ban list file. The file below will accept regexes for
	10	different domains or websites you wish to block.
	11
	12	First, create the file in your nginx directory:
	13
	14	#+begin_src sh
	15	doas nano /etc/nginx/banlist.conf
	16	#+end_src
	17
	18	Next, paste the following contents in and fill out the regexes with
	19	whichever domains you're blocking.
	20
	21	#+begin_src conf
	22	# /etc/nginx/banlist.conf
	23
	24	map $http_referer $bad_referer {
	25	hostnames;
	26
	27	default 0;
	28
	29	# Put regexes for undesired referrers here
	30	"~news.ycombinator.com" 1;
	31	}
	32	#+end_src
	33
	34	* Configuring Nginx
	35
	36	In order for the ban list to work, Nginx needs to know it exists and how
	37	to handle it. For this, edit the =nginx.conf= file.
	38
	39	#+begin_src sh
	40	doas nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
	41	#+end_src
	42
	43	Within this file, find the =http= block and add your ban list file
	44	location to the end of the block.
	45
	46	#+begin_src conf
	47	# /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
	48
	49	http {
	50	...
	51
	52	# Include ban list
	53	include /etc/nginx/banlist.conf;
	54	}
	55	#+end_src
	56
	57	* Enabling the Ban List
	58
	59	Finally, we need to take action when a bad referral site is found. To do
	60	so, edit the configuration file for your website. For example, I have
	61	all website configuration files in the =http.d= directory. You may have
	62	them in the =sites-available= directory on some distributions.
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/example.com.conf
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	Within each website's configuration file, edit the =server= blocks that
	69	are listening to ports 80 and 443 and create a check for the
	70	=$bad_referrer= variable we created in the ban list file.
	71
	72	If a matching site is found, you can return any
	73	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HTTP_status_codes][HTTP Status
	74	Code]] you want. Code 403 (Forbidden) is logical in this case since you
	75	are preventing a client connection due to a banned domain.
	76
	77	#+begin_src conf
	78	server {
	79	...
	80
	81	# If a referral site is banned, return an error
	82	if ($bad_referer) {
	83	return 403;
	84	}
	85
	86	...
	87	}
	88	#+end_src
	89
	90	* Restart Nginx
	91
	92	Lastly, restart Nginx to enable all changes made.
	93
	94	#+begin_src sh
	95	doas rc-service nginx restart
	96	#+end_src
	97
	98	* Testing Results
	99
	100	In order to test the results, let's curl the contents of our site. To
	101	start, I'll curl the site normally:
	102
	103	#+begin_src sh
	104	curl https://cleberg.net
	105	#+end_src
	106
	107	The HTML contents of the page come back successfully:
	108
	109	#+begin_src html
	110	<!doctype html>...</html>
	111	#+end_src
	112
	113	Next, let's include a banned referrer:
	114
	115	#+begin_src sh
	116	curl --referer https://news.ycombinator.com https://cleberg.net
	117	#+end_src
	118
	119	This time, I'm met with a 403 Forbidden response page. That means we are
	120	successful and any clients being referred from a banned domain will be
	121	met with this same response code.
	122
	123	#+begin_src html
	124	<html>
	125	<head>
	126	<title>403 Forbidden</title>
	127	</head>
	128	<body>
	129	<center><h1>403 Forbidden</h1></center>
	130	<hr />
	131	<center>nginx</center>
	132	</body>
	133	</html>
	134	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-12-01-nginx-compression.md deleted −76

		@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-12-01
3		title = "Enable GZIP Compression in Nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Text Compression
9
10		Text compression allows a web server to serve text-based resources faster than
11		uncompressed data. This can speed up things like First Contentful Paint, Tie to
12		Interactive, and Speed Index.
13
14		# Enable Nginx Compression with gzip
15
16		In order to enable text compression on Nginx, we need to enable it within the
17		configuration file:
18
19		```sh
20		nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
21		```
22
23		Within the `http` block, find the section that shows something like the block
24		below. This is the default gzip configuration I found in my `nginx.conf` file on
25		Alpine Linux 3.17. Yours may look slightly different, just make sure that you're
26		not creating any duplicate gzip options.
27
28		```conf
29		# Enable gzipping of responses.
30		#gzip on;
31
32		# Set the Vary HTTP header as defined in the RFC 2616. Default is 'off'.
33		gzip_vary on;
34		```
35
36		Remove the default gzip lines and replace them with the following:
37
38		```conf
39		# Enable gzipping of responses.
40		gzip on;
41		gzip_vary on;
42		gzip_min_length 10240;
43		gzip_proxied expired no-cache no-store private auth;
44		gzip_types text/plain text/css text/xml text/javascript application/x-javascript application/xml;
45		gzip_disable "MSIE [1-6]";
46		```
47
48		# Explanations of ngx~httpgzipmodule~ Options
49
50		Each of the lines above enables a different aspect of the gzip response for
51		Nginx. Here are the full explanations:
52
53		- `gzip` -- Enables or disables gzipping of responses.
54		- `gzip_vary` -- Enables or disables inserting the "Vary: Accept-Encoding"
55		response header field if the directives gzip, gzip~static~, or gunzip are
56		active.
57		- `gzip_min_length` -- Sets the minimum length of a response that will be
58		gzipped. The length is determined only from the "Content-Length" response
59		header field.
60		- `gzip_proxied` -- Enables or disables gzipping of responses for proxied
61		requests depending on the request and response. The fact that the request is
62		proxied is determined by the presence of the "Via" request header field.
63		- `gzip_types` -- Enables gzipping of responses for the specified MIME types
64		in addition to "text/html". The special value "\*" matches any MIME type
65		(0.8.29). Responses with the "text/html" type are always compressed.
66		- `gzip_disable` -- Disables gzipping of responses for requests with
67		"User-Agent" header fields matching any of the specified regular
68		expressions.
69		- The special mask "msie6" (0.7.12) corresponds to the regular expression
70		"MSIE [4-6].", but works faster. Starting from version 0.8.11, "MSIE
71		6.0; ... SV1" is excluded from this mask.
72
73		More information on these directives and their options can be found on the
74		[Module
75		ngx~httpgzipmodule~](https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/ngx_http_gzip_module.html)
76		page in Nginx's documentation.

content/blog/2022-12-01-nginx-compression.org added +76

		@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-12-01>
	2	#+title: Enable GZIP Compression in Nginx
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Text Compression
	7
	8	Text compression allows a web server to serve text-based resources
	9	faster than uncompressed data. This can speed up things like First
	10	Contentful Paint, Tie to Interactive, and Speed Index.
	11
	12	* Enable Nginx Compression with gzip
	13
	14	In order to enable text compression on Nginx, we need to enable it
	15	within the configuration file:
	16
	17	#+begin_src sh
	18	nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
	19	#+end_src
	20
	21	Within the =http= block, find the section that shows something like the
	22	block below. This is the default gzip configuration I found in my
	23	=nginx.conf= file on Alpine Linux 3.17. Yours may look slightly
	24	different, just make sure that you're not creating any duplicate gzip
	25	options.
	26
	27	#+begin_src conf
	28	# Enable gzipping of responses.
	29	#gzip on;
	30
	31	# Set the Vary HTTP header as defined in the RFC 2616. Default is 'off'.
	32	gzip_vary on;
	33	#+end_src
	34
	35	Remove the default gzip lines and replace them with the following:
	36
	37	#+begin_src conf
	38	# Enable gzipping of responses.
	39	gzip on;
	40	gzip_vary on;
	41	gzip_min_length 10240;
	42	gzip_proxied expired no-cache no-store private auth;
	43	gzip_types text/plain text/css text/xml text/javascript application/x-javascript application/xml;
	44	gzip_disable "MSIE [1-6]";
	45	#+end_src
	46
	47	* Explanations of ngx_{httpgzipmodule} Options
	48
	49	Each of the lines above enables a different aspect of the gzip response
	50	for Nginx. Here are the full explanations:
	51
	52	- =gzip= -- Enables or disables gzipping of responses.
	53	- =gzip_vary= -- Enables or disables inserting the "Vary:
	54	Accept-Encoding" response header field if the directives gzip,
	55	gzip_{static}, or gunzip are active.
	56	- =gzip_min_length= -- Sets the minimum length of a response that will
	57	be gzipped. The length is determined only from the "Content-Length"
	58	response header field.
	59	- =gzip_proxied= -- Enables or disables gzipping of responses for
	60	proxied requests depending on the request and response. The fact that
	61	the request is proxied is determined by the presence of the "Via"
	62	request header field.
	63	- =gzip_types= -- Enables gzipping of responses for the specified MIME
	64	types in addition to "text/html". The special value "*" matches any
	65	MIME type (0.8.29). Responses with the "text/html" type are always
	66	compressed.
	67	- =gzip_disable= -- Disables gzipping of responses for requests with
	68	"User-Agent" header fields matching any of the specified regular
	69	expressions.
	70	- The special mask "msie6" (0.7.12) corresponds to the regular
	71	expression "MSIE [4-6].", but works faster. Starting from version
	72	0.8.11, "MSIE 6.0; ... SV1" is excluded from this mask.
	73
	74	More information on these directives and their options can be found on
	75	the [[https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/ngx_http_gzip_module.html][Module
	76	ngx_{httpgzipmodule}]] page in Nginx's documentation.

content/blog/2022-12-07-nginx-wildcard-redirect.md → content/blog/2022-12-07-nginx-wildcard-redirect.org renamed +49 −49

		@@ -1,26 +1,24 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-12-07
3		title = "Redirect Nginx Subdomains and Trailing Content with Regex"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-12-07>
	2	#+title: Redirect Nginx Subdomains and Trailing Content with Regex
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Problem
9	5
10		I recently migrated domains and replaced the old webpage with a simple info page
11		with instructions to users on how to edit their bookmarks and URLs to get to the
12		page they were seeking.
	6	* Problem
13	7
14		This was not ideal as it left the work up to the user and may have caused
15		friction for users who accessed my RSS feed.
	8	I recently migrated domains and replaced the old webpage with a simple
	9	info page with instructions to users on how to edit their bookmarks and
	10	URLs to get to the page they were seeking.
16	11
17		# Solution
	12	This was not ideal as it left the work up to the user and may have
	13	caused friction for users who accessed my RSS feed.
18	14
19		Instead, I finally found a solution that allows me to redirect both subdomains
20		AND trailing content. For example, both of these URLs now redirect properly
21		using the logic I'll explain below:
	15	* Solution
22	16
23		```txt
	17	Instead, I finally found a solution that allows me to redirect both
	18	subdomains AND trailing content. For example, both of these URLs now
	19	redirect properly using the logic I'll explain below:
	20
	21	#+begin_src txt
24	22	# Example 1 - Simple base domain redirect with trailing content
25	23	https://domain1.com/blog/alpine-linux/ -> https://domain2.com/blog/alpine-linux/
26	24
		@@ -28,23 +26,23 @@ https://domain1.com/blog/alpine-linux/ -> https://domain2.com/blog/alpine-linux/
28	26	https://libreddit.domain1.com/r/history/comments/7z8cbg/new_discovery_mode_turns_video_game_assassins/
29	27	->
30	28	https://libreddit.domain2.com/r/history/comments/7z8cbg/new_discovery_mode_turns_video_game_assassins/
31		```
	29	#+end_src
32	30
33	31	Go ahead, try the URLs if you want to test them.
34	32
35		## Nginx Config
	33	** Nginx Config
36	34
37		To make this possible. I needed to configure a proper redirect scheme in my
38		Nginx configuration.
	35	To make this possible. I needed to configure a proper redirect scheme in
	36	my Nginx configuration.
39	37
40		```sh
	38	#+begin_src sh
41	39	doas nano /etc/nginx/http.d/domain1.conf
42		```
	40	#+end_src
43	41
44		Within this file, I had one block configured to redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS
45		for the base domain and all subdomains.
	42	Within this file, I had one block configured to redirect HTTP requests
	43	to HTTPS for the base domain and all subdomains.
46	44
47		```conf
	45	#+begin_src conf
48	46	server {
49	47	listen [::]:80;
50	48	listen 80;
		@@ -60,13 +58,14 @@ server {
60	58
61	59	return 404;
62	60	}
63		```
	61	#+end_src
64	62
65		For the base domain, I have another `server` block dedicated to redirecting all
66		base domain requests. You can see that the `rewrite` line is instructing Nginx
67		to gather all trailing content and append it to the new `domain2.com` URL.
	63	For the base domain, I have another =server= block dedicated to
	64	redirecting all base domain requests. You can see that the =rewrite=
	65	line is instructing Nginx to gather all trailing content and append it
	66	to the new =domain2.com= URL.
68	67
69		```conf
	68	#+begin_src conf
70	69	server {
71	70	listen [::]:443 ssl http2;
72	71	listen 443 ssl http2;
		@@ -78,20 +77,21 @@ server {
78	77	ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/domain1.com/fullchain.pem;
79	78	ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/domain1.com/privkey.pem;
80	79	}
81		```
	80	#+end_src
82	81
83		Finally, the tricky part is figuring out how to tell Nginx to redirect while
84		keeping both a subdomain and trailing content intact. I found that the easiest
85		way to do this is to give it a `server` block of its own.
	82	Finally, the tricky part is figuring out how to tell Nginx to redirect
	83	while keeping both a subdomain and trailing content intact. I found that
	84	the easiest way to do this is to give it a =server= block of its own.
86	85
87		Within this block, we need to do some regex on the `server_name` line before we
88		can rewrite anything. This creates a variable called `subdomain`.
	86	Within this block, we need to do some regex on the =server_name= line
	87	before we can rewrite anything. This creates a variable called
	88	=subdomain=.
89	89
90		Once the server gets to the `rewrite` line, it pulls the `subdomain` variable
91		from above and uses it on the new `domain2.com` domain before appending the
92		trailing content (`$request_uri`).
	90	Once the server gets to the =rewrite= line, it pulls the =subdomain=
	91	variable from above and uses it on the new =domain2.com= domain before
	92	appending the trailing content (=$request_uri=).
93	93
94		```conf
	94	#+begin_src conf
95	95	server {
96	96	listen [::]:443 ssl http2;
97	97	listen 443 ssl http2;
		@@ -103,17 +103,17 @@ server {
103	103	ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/domain1.com/fullchain.pem;
104	104	ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/domain1.com/privkey.pem;
105	105	}
106		```
	106	#+end_src
107	107
108		That's all there is to it. With this, I simply restarted Nginx and watched the
109		redirections work in-action.
	108	That's all there is to it. With this, I simply restarted Nginx and
	109	watched the redirections work in-action.
110	110
111		```sh
	111	#+begin_src sh
112	112	doas rc-service nginx restart
113		```
	113	#+end_src
114	114
115		Looking back on it, I wish I had done this sooner. Who knows how many people
116		went looking for my sites or bookmarks and gave up when they saw the redirect
117		instructions page.
	115	Looking back on it, I wish I had done this sooner. Who knows how many
	116	people went looking for my sites or bookmarks and gave up when they saw
	117	the redirect instructions page.
118	118
119	119	Oh well, it's done now. Live and learn.

content/blog/2022-12-17-st.md deleted −91

		@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-12-17
3		title = "Simple Terminal"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# st
9
10		[st](https://st.suckless.org) standards for Simple Terminal, a simple terminal
11		implementation for X made by the [suckless](https://suckless.org) team.
12
13		This post walks through the dependencies needed and process to build and install
14		`st` on Fedora Workstation.
15
16		## Obtain Files
17
18		To start, obtain the source files for `st` via `git clone`.
19
20		```sh
21		mkdir ~/suckless && cd ~/suckless
22		git clone https://git.suckless.org/st && cd st
23		```
24
25		## Dependencies
26
27		Once you have the files and are in the `st` directory, ensure the following
28		packages are installed.
29
30		```sh
31		sudo dnf update && sudo dnf upgrade
32		sudo dnf install gcc patch libX11-devel libXft-devel
33		```
34
35		## Building
36
37		Before building, ensure that you read the README file.
38
39		```sh
40		cat README
41		```
42
43		Once you've read the instructions, open the `config.mk` file and ensure it
44		matches your setup. If you're not sure, leave the default options within the
45		file.
46
47		Finally, you can build `st` with the following command. Ensure you run as root
48		(e.g., `sudo`) or else you may not end up with a usable application file.
49
50		```sh
51		sudo make clean install
52		```
53
54		## Customization (Patches)
55
56		Note that customizing `st` requires you to modify the source files or to
57		download one of the [available patches](https://st.suckless.org/patches/) for
58		suckless.org.
59
60		If you've already installed `st` and want to customize or install a patch, start
61		by uninstalling the current program.
62
63		```sh
64		cd ~/suckless/st
65		sudo make uninstall
66		```
67
68		Next, grab the `<path>.diff` file from the page of the patch you chose. For
69		example, I will be using the
70		[defaultfontsize](https://st.suckless.org/patches/defaultfontsize/) patch in the
71		below example.
72
73		```sh
74		wget https://st.suckless.org/patches/defaultfontsize/st-defaultfontsize-20210225-4ef0cbd.diff
75		```
76
77		Once the file is downloaded inside the `st` folder, apply the patch and
78		re-install the program. You may need to install the `patch` command if you don't
79		have it installed already (you should have installed it above).
80
81		```sh
82		patch -i st-defaultfontsize-20210225-4ef0cbd.diff
83		sudo make clean install
84		```
85
86		Once installed, you can use the default font size patch to launch `st` with any
87		font size you wish:
88
89		```sh
90		st -z 16
91		```

content/blog/2022-12-17-st.org added +92

		@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
	1	#+date: <2022-12-17>
	2	#+title: Simple Terminal
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* st
	7
	8	[[https://st.suckless.org][st]] standards for Simple Terminal, a simple
	9	terminal implementation for X made by the
	10	[[https://suckless.org][suckless]] team.
	11
	12	This post walks through the dependencies needed and process to build and
	13	install =st= on Fedora Workstation.
	14
	15	** Obtain Files
	16
	17	To start, obtain the source files for =st= via =git clone=.
	18
	19	#+begin_src sh
	20	mkdir ~/suckless && cd ~/suckless
	21	git clone https://git.suckless.org/st && cd st
	22	#+end_src
	23
	24	** Dependencies
	25
	26	Once you have the files and are in the =st= directory, ensure the
	27	following packages are installed.
	28
	29	#+begin_src sh
	30	sudo dnf update && sudo dnf upgrade
	31	sudo dnf install gcc patch libX11-devel libXft-devel
	32	#+end_src
	33
	34	** Building
	35
	36	Before building, ensure that you read the README file.
	37
	38	#+begin_src sh
	39	cat README
	40	#+end_src
	41
	42	Once you've read the instructions, open the =config.mk= file and ensure
	43	it matches your setup. If you're not sure, leave the default options
	44	within the file.
	45
	46	Finally, you can build =st= with the following command. Ensure you run
	47	as root (e.g., =sudo=) or else you may not end up with a usable
	48	application file.
	49
	50	#+begin_src sh
	51	sudo make clean install
	52	#+end_src
	53
	54	** Customization (Patches)
	55
	56	Note that customizing =st= requires you to modify the source files or to
	57	download one of the [[https://st.suckless.org/patches/][available
	58	patches]] for suckless.org.
	59
	60	If you've already installed =st= and want to customize or install a
	61	patch, start by uninstalling the current program.
	62
	63	#+begin_src sh
	64	cd ~/suckless/st
	65	sudo make uninstall
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	Next, grab the =<path>.diff= file from the page of the patch you chose.
	69	For example, I will be using the
	70	[[https://st.suckless.org/patches/defaultfontsize/][defaultfontsize]]
	71	patch in the below example.
	72
	73	#+begin_src sh
	74	wget https://st.suckless.org/patches/defaultfontsize/st-defaultfontsize-20210225-4ef0cbd.diff
	75	#+end_src
	76
	77	Once the file is downloaded inside the =st= folder, apply the patch and
	78	re-install the program. You may need to install the =patch= command if
	79	you don't have it installed already (you should have installed it
	80	above).
	81
	82	#+begin_src sh
	83	patch -i st-defaultfontsize-20210225-4ef0cbd.diff
	84	sudo make clean install
	85	#+end_src
	86
	87	Once installed, you can use the default font size patch to launch =st=
	88	with any font size you wish:
	89
	90	#+begin_src sh
	91	st -z 16
	92	#+end_src

content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.md → content/blog/2022-12-23-alpine-desktop.org renamed +104 −102

		@@ -1,90 +1,89 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2022-12-23
3		title = "Alpine Linux as a Desktop OS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2022-12-23>
	2	#+title: Alpine Linux as a Desktop OS
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Isn't Alpine Linux for Servers?
9	5
10		This is a question I see a lot when people are presented with an example of
11		Alpine Linux running as a desktop OS.
	6	* Isn't Alpine Linux for Servers?
12	7
13		While Alpine is small, fast, and minimal, that doesn't stop it from functioning
14		at a productive level for desktop users.
	8	This is a question I see a lot when people are presented with an example
	9	of Alpine Linux running as a desktop OS.
15	10
16		This post is documentation of how I installed and modified Alpine Linux to
17		become my daily desktop OS.
	11	While Alpine is small, fast, and minimal, that doesn't stop it from
	12	functioning at a productive level for desktop users.
18	13
19		# Installation
	14	This post is documentation of how I installed and modified Alpine Linux
	15	to become my daily desktop OS.
20	16
21		Note that I cover the installation of Alpine Linux in my other post, so I won't
22		repeat it here: [Alpine Linux: My New Server OS](../alpine-linux/).
	17	* Installation
23	18
24		Basically, get a bootable USB or whatever you prefer with Alpine on it, boot the
25		ISO, and run the setup script.
	19	Note that I cover the installation of Alpine Linux in my other post, so
	20	I won't repeat it here: [[../alpine-linux/][Alpine Linux: My New Server
	21	OS]].
26	22
27		```sh
	23	Basically, get a bootable USB or whatever you prefer with Alpine on it,
	24	boot the ISO, and run the setup script.
	25
	26	#+begin_src sh
28	27	setup-alpine
29		```
	28	#+end_src
30	29
31		Once you have gone through all the options and installer finishes without
32		errors, reboot.
	30	Once you have gone through all the options and installer finishes
	31	without errors, reboot.
33	32
34		```sh
	33	#+begin_src sh
35	34	reboot
36		```
	35	#+end_src
37	36
38		# Initial Setup
	37	* Initial Setup
39	38
40	39	Once Alpine is installed and the machine has rebooted, login is as root
41		initially or `su` to root once you log in as your user. From here, you should
42		start by updating and upgrading the system in case the ISO was not fully
43		up-to-date.
	40	initially or =su= to root once you log in as your user. From here, you
	41	should start by updating and upgrading the system in case the ISO was
	42	not fully up-to-date.
44	43
45		```sh
	44	#+begin_src sh
46	45	# Update and upgrade system
47	46	apk -U update && apk -U upgrade
48	47
49	48	# Add an editor so we can enable the community repository
50	49	apk add nano
51		```
	50	#+end_src
52	51
53		You need to uncomment the `community` repository for your version of Alpine
54		Linux.
	52	You need to uncomment the =community= repository for your version of
	53	Alpine Linux.
55	54
56		For v3.17, the `repositories` file should look like this:
	55	For v3.17, the =repositories= file should look like this:
57	56
58		```sh
	57	#+begin_src sh
59	58	nano /etc/apk/repositories
60		```
	59	#+end_src
61	60
62		```conf
	61	#+begin_src conf
63	62	#/media/sda/apks
64	63	http://mirrors.gigenet.com/alpinelinux/v3.17/main
65	64	http://mirrors.gigenet.com/alpinelinux/v3.17/community
66	65	#http://mirrors.gigenet.com/alpinelinux/edge/main
67	66	#http://mirrors.gigenet.com/alpinelinux/edge/community
68	67	#http://mirrors.gigenet.com/alpinelinux/edge/testing
69		```
	68	#+end_src
70	69
71		```sh
	70	#+begin_src sh
72	71	# Add the rest of your packages
73	72	apk add linux-firmware iwd doas git curl wget
74	73
75	74	# Add yourself to the wheel group so you can use the doas command
76	75	adduser $USER wheel
77		```
	76	#+end_src
78	77
79		# Window Manager (Desktop)
	78	* Window Manager (Desktop)
80	79
81		The [Sway installation guide](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Sway) has
82		everything you need to get Sway working on Alpine.
	80	The [[https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Sway][Sway installation guide]]
	81	has everything you need to get Sway working on Alpine.
83	82
84		However, I'll include a brief list of the commands I ran and their purpose for
85		posterity here.
	83	However, I'll include a brief list of the commands I ran and their
	84	purpose for posterity here.
86	85
87		```sh
	86	#+begin_src sh
88	87	# Add eudev and set it up
89	88	apk add eudev
90	89	setup-devd udev
		@@ -121,21 +120,21 @@ apk add \ # Install optional dependencies:
121	120	swaylock swaylockd \ # lockscreen tool
122	121	swaybg \ # wallpaper daemon
123	122	swayidle # idle management (DPMS) daemon
124		```
	123	#+end_src
125	124
126	125	Once you have the packages installed and set-up, you need to export the
127		`XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` upon login. To do this, edit your `.profile` file.
	126	=XDG_RUNTIME_DIR= upon login. To do this, edit your =.profile= file.
128	127
129		If you use another shell, such as `zsh`, you need to edit that shell's profile
130		(e.g., `~/.zprofile`)!
	128	If you use another shell, such as =zsh=, you need to edit that shell's
	129	profile (e.g., =~/.zprofile=)!
131	130
132		```sh
	131	#+begin_src sh
133	132	nano ~/.profile
134		```
	133	#+end_src
135	134
136	135	Within the file, paste this:
137	136
138		```sh
	137	#+begin_src sh
139	138	if test -z "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"; then
140	139	export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/tmp/$(id -u)-runtime-dir
141	140	if ! test -d "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"; then
		@@ -143,19 +142,20 @@ if test -z "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"; then
143	142	chmod 0700 "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"
144	143	fi
145	144	fi
146		```
	145	#+end_src
147	146
148	147	Once that's complete, you can launch Sway manually.
149	148
150		```sh
	149	#+begin_src sh
151	150	dbus-run-session -- sway
152		```
	151	#+end_src
153	152
154		## Personal Touches
	153	** Personal Touches
155	154
156		I also added the following packages, per my personal preferences and situation.
	155	I also added the following packages, per my personal preferences and
	156	situation.
157	157
158		```sh
	158	#+begin_src sh
159	159	doas apk add brightnessctl \ # Brightness controller
160	160	zsh \ # Shell
161	161	firefox \ # Browser
		@@ -165,90 +165,92 @@ doas apk add brightnessctl \ # Brightness controller
165	165	neomutt \ # CLI email client
166	166	thunderbird \ # GUI email client
167	167	gnupg # GPG key manager
168		```
	168	#+end_src
169	169
170		From here, I use my Syncthing storage to pull all the configuration files I
171		stored from prior desktops, such as [my
172		dotfiles](https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/dotfiles).
	170	From here, I use my Syncthing storage to pull all the configuration
	171	files I stored from prior desktops, such as
	172	[[https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/dotfiles][my dotfiles]].
173	173
174		# Resolving Issues
	174	* Resolving Issues
175	175
176		## WiFi Issues
	176	** WiFi Issues
177	177
178		I initially tried to set up my Wi-Fi the standard way with `iwd`, but it didn't
179		work.
	178	I initially tried to set up my Wi-Fi the standard way with =iwd=, but it
	179	didn't work.
180	180
181		Here is what I initially tried (I did all of this as `root`):
	181	Here is what I initially tried (I did all of this as =root=):
182	182
183		```sh
	183	#+begin_src sh
184	184	apk add iwd
185	185	rc-service iwd start
186	186	iwctl station wlan0 connect <SSID> # This will prompt for the password
187	187	rc-update add iwd boot && rc-update add dbus boot
188		```
	188	#+end_src
189	189
190		Then, I added the Wi-Fi entry to the bottom of the networking interface file:
	190	Then, I added the Wi-Fi entry to the bottom of the networking interface
	191	file:
191	192
192		```sh
	193	#+begin_src sh
193	194	nano /etc/network/interfaces
194		```
	195	#+end_src
195	196
196		```conf
	197	#+begin_src conf
197	198	auto wlan0
198	199	iface wlan0 inet dhcp
199		```
	200	#+end_src
200	201
201	202	Finally, restart the networking service:
202	203
203		```sh
	204	#+begin_src sh
204	205	rc-service networking restart
205		```
	206	#+end_src
206	207
207		My Wi-Fi interface would receive an IP address from the router, but it could not
208		ping anything in the network. To solve the Wi-Fi issues, I originally upgraded
209		to Alpine's `edge` repositories, which was unnecessary.
	208	My Wi-Fi interface would receive an IP address from the router, but it
	209	could not ping anything in the network. To solve the Wi-Fi issues, I
	210	originally upgraded to Alpine's =edge= repositories, which was
	211	unnecessary.
210	212
211		Really, the solution was to enable the `NameResolvingService=resolvconf` in
212		`/etc/iwd/main.conf`.
	213	Really, the solution was to enable the =NameResolvingService=resolvconf=
	214	in =/etc/iwd/main.conf=.
213	215
214		```sh
	216	#+begin_src sh
215	217	doas nano /etc/iwd/main.conf
216		```
	218	#+end_src
217	219
218		```conf
	220	#+begin_src conf
219	221	[Network]
220	222
221	223	NameResolvingService=resolvconf
222		```
	224	#+end_src
223	225
224	226	Once I finished this process, my Wi-Fi is working flawlessly.
225	227
226		## Sound Issues
	228	** Sound Issues
227	229
228		Same as with the Wi-Fi, I had no sound and could not control the mute/unmute or
229		volume buttons on my laptop.
	230	Same as with the Wi-Fi, I had no sound and could not control the
	231	mute/unmute or volume buttons on my laptop.
230	232
231	233	To resolve this, I installed
232		[pipewire](https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/PipeWire).
	234	[[https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/PipeWire][pipewire]].
233	235
234		```sh
	236	#+begin_src sh
235	237	# Add your user to the following groups
236	238	addgroup $USER audio
237	239	addgroup $USER video
238	240
239	241	# Install pipewire and other useful packages
240	242	apk add pipewire wireplumber pipewire-pulse pipewire-jack pipewire-alsa
241		```
	243	#+end_src
242	244
243		Finally, I needed to add `/usr/libexec/pipewire-launcher` to my
244		`.config/sway/config` file so that Pipewire would run every time I launched
245		sway.
	245	Finally, I needed to add =/usr/libexec/pipewire-launcher= to my
	246	=.config/sway/config= file so that Pipewire would run every time I
	247	launched sway.
246	248
247		```sh
	249	#+begin_src sh
248	250	nano ~/.config/sway/config
249		```
	251	#+end_src
250	252
251		```conf
	253	#+begin_src conf
252	254	# Run pipewire audio server
253	255	exec /usr/libexec/pipewire-launcher
254	256
		@@ -257,10 +259,10 @@ bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT
257	259	bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -5%
258	260	bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
259	261	bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-source-mute @DEFAULT_SOURCE@ toggle
260		```
	262	#+end_src
261	263
262		Note that I do not use bluetooth or screen sharing, so I won't cover those
263		options in this post.
	264	Note that I do not use bluetooth or screen sharing, so I won't cover
	265	those options in this post.
264	266
265		Other than these issues, I have a working Alpine desktop. No other complaints
266		thus far!
	267	Other than these issues, I have a working Alpine desktop. No other
	268	complaints thus far!

content/blog/2023-01-03-recent-website-changes.md deleted −82

		@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-03
3		title = "Recent Website Changes"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The State of This Website
9
10		Over the years, this website has changed URLs, styles, content focus, and much
11		more. However, it seems that I am never done, as I am yet again changing this
12		page to fit my current needs and wants.
13
14		While this site was already minimal (~12kb), it contained a lot of disorganized
15		content and some poorly chosen color schemes.
16
17		The recent updates attempt to fix these items while focusing on what I truly
18		care about here: the content within each page.
19
20		# Recent Changes
21
22		I've made quite a few changes to the style of this website today, both in the
23		CSS and in the HTML.
24
25		Here are some of the key takeaways from today's changes:
26
27		1. Reduce the width of the website from `60em` to `40em`.
28		2. Remove breadcrumb navigation and replaced with a simple "Return Home" link
29		when visiting anything other than the homepage.
30		3. Remove syntax highlighting from code blocks. CSS now loads from a single
31		file.
32		4. Move blog posts on the homepage to the top, pushing tertiary content down.
33		5. Update font-family from `monospace` to `sans-serif` for readability.
34
35		# Future Focus
36
37		## Accessibility
38
39		My main focus amidst all the changes this past year was accessibility. I tried
40		to improve the accessibility of all pages on this site as well as I know how.
41		For example, I added aria labels to identify different navigation menus in
42		November.
43
44		I want to continue this in 2023 and learn more about the accessibility features
45		I can utilize to help those who may need them.
46
47		## Content First
48
49		Beyond accessibility, I am making a concerted effort to bring the content of
50		this site to the forefront and push the tertiary information (e.g., About Me,
51		Services, etc.) down below the content.
52
53		Further, I want to review and edit previous blog posts for grammar, accuracy,
54		dead links, and more. Where necessary, I may even add a blurb at the top of old
55		posts that are no longer accurate or helpful.
56
57		## Style
58
59		As always, I will be searching for ways to reduce distractions and bring a
60		minimalistic approach to this site. While there are certainly more drastic
61		measures I could take, such as making this a [Shinobi
62		Website](https://shinobi.bt.ht) or a [No CSS Website](https://nocss.club), I
63		prefer to keep some modern features here.
64
65		Two ideas have been floating around in my head, but I am not sure how I feel
66		about these approaches yet:
67
68		1. Going all-in with Emacs org-mode and creating a script to auto-publish all my
69		blog posts from org-mode to plain HTML files and then letting my CSS style it
70		after the fact.
71		2. Focus on publishing for Gemini or Gopher and then utilize a conversion
72		program to translate the pages to HTML.
73
74		# Looking Back
75
76		As I sit here and finalize the changes, as well as this post, I am happy with
77		the current state of this website. It's certainly a long way from my first
78		attempts (parallax background images, anyone?) and it's good to see the
79		progress.
80
81		I can only hope and work hard to ensure that I make more meaningful progress by
82		this time next year.

content/blog/2023-01-03-recent-website-changes.org added +81

		@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-01-03>
	2	#+title: Recent Website Changes
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The State of This Website
	7
	8	Over the years, this website has changed URLs, styles, content focus,
	9	and much more. However, it seems that I am never done, as I am yet again
	10	changing this page to fit my current needs and wants.
	11
	12	While this site was already minimal (~12kb), it contained a lot of
	13	disorganized content and some poorly chosen color schemes.
	14
	15	The recent updates attempt to fix these items while focusing on what I
	16	truly care about here: the content within each page.
	17
	18	* Recent Changes
	19
	20	I've made quite a few changes to the style of this website today, both
	21	in the CSS and in the HTML.
	22
	23	Here are some of the key takeaways from today's changes:
	24
	25	1. Reduce the width of the website from =60em= to =40em=.
	26	2. Remove breadcrumb navigation and replaced with a simple "Return Home"
	27	link when visiting anything other than the homepage.
	28	3. Remove syntax highlighting from code blocks. CSS now loads from a
	29	single file.
	30	4. Move blog posts on the homepage to the top, pushing tertiary content
	31	down.
	32	5. Update font-family from =monospace= to =sans-serif= for readability.
	33
	34	* Future Focus
	35
	36	** Accessibility
	37
	38	My main focus amidst all the changes this past year was accessibility. I
	39	tried to improve the accessibility of all pages on this site as well as
	40	I know how. For example, I added aria labels to identify different
	41	navigation menus in November.
	42
	43	I want to continue this in 2023 and learn more about the accessibility
	44	features I can utilize to help those who may need them.
	45
	46	** Content First
	47
	48	Beyond accessibility, I am making a concerted effort to bring the
	49	content of this site to the forefront and push the tertiary information
	50	(e.g., About Me, Services, etc.) down below the content.
	51
	52	Further, I want to review and edit previous blog posts for grammar,
	53	accuracy, dead links, and more. Where necessary, I may even add a blurb
	54	at the top of old posts that are no longer accurate or helpful.
	55
	56	** Style
	57
	58	As always, I will be searching for ways to reduce distractions and bring
	59	a minimalistic approach to this site. While there are certainly more
	60	drastic measures I could take, such as making this a
	61	[[https://shinobi.bt.ht][Shinobi Website]] or a [[https://nocss.club][No
	62	CSS Website]], I prefer to keep some modern features here.
	63
	64	Two ideas have been floating around in my head, but I am not sure how I
	65	feel about these approaches yet:
	66
	67	1. Going all-in with Emacs org-mode and creating a script to
	68	auto-publish all my blog posts from org-mode to plain HTML files and
	69	then letting my CSS style it after the fact.
	70	2. Focus on publishing for Gemini or Gopher and then utilize a
	71	conversion program to translate the pages to HTML.
	72
	73	* Looking Back
	74
	75	As I sit here and finalize the changes, as well as this post, I am happy
	76	with the current state of this website. It's certainly a long way from
	77	my first attempts (parallax background images, anyone?) and it's good to
	78	see the progress.
	79
	80	I can only hope and work hard to ensure that I make more meaningful
	81	progress by this time next year.

content/blog/2023-01-05-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts.md deleted −92

		@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-05
3		title = " How to Easily Mass Unlike Tumblr Posts with Javascript"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Dilemma
9
10		The dilemma I had was pretty simple: I wanted to unlike all the posts I have
11		liked on Tumblr so that I could follow a new focus on blogs and start fresh.
12		Otherwise, Tumblr will keep recommending content based on your previous likes.
13
14		# The Solution
15
16		I searched the web for a while and noted that most solutions referenced Tumblr
17		setting and dashboard pages that no longer exist. Additionally, I did not want
18		to install a third party extension to do this, as some suggested.
19
20		Luckily, I used Javascript for a while a few years ago and figured it would be
21		easy enough to script a solution, as long as Tumblr had a system for the unlike
22		buttons.
23
24		## Identifying Unlike Buttons
25
26		Tumblr's unlike buttons are structured as you can see in the following code
27		block. All unlike buttons have an `aria-label` with a value of `Unlike`.
28
29		```html
30		<button class="TRX6J" aria-label="Unlike">
31		<span class="EvhBA B1Z5w ztpfZ" tabindex="-1">
32		<svg
33		xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
34		height="21"
35		width="23"
36		role="presentation"
37		>
38		<use href="#managed-icon__like-filled"></use>
39		</svg>
40		</span>
41		</button>
42		```
43
44		## Running a Script to Unlike All Likes
45
46		To run this script, you will need to load the [Likes \\|
47		Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/likes) page while logged in to your account.
48
49		Further, be sure to scroll down to the bottom and force Tumblr to load more
50		posts so that this script unlikes more posts at a time.
51
52		Once you are logged in and the page is loaded, open the Developer Tools and be
53		sure you're on the "Console" tab. It should look something like this (this is in
54		Firefox, Chromium should be similar):
55
56		![Firefox Dev
57		!Tools](https:///img.cleberg.net/blog/20230105-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts/dev_console.png)
58
59		All you need to do is paste the following snippet into the dev console. This
60		code will collect all unlike buttons (`elements`) and then click each button to
61		unlike it.
62
63		Optionally, you can comment-out the line `elements[i].click();` and uncomment
64		the `console.log()` lines to simply print out information without performing any
65		actions. This can be useful to debug issues or confirm that the code below isn't
66		doing anything you don't want it to.
67
68		```javascript
69		const elements = document.querySelectorAll('[aria-label="Unlike"]');
70		// console.log(elements); // 👉 [button]
71
72		for (let i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
73		// console.log(elements[i]);
74		elements[i].click();
75		}
76		```
77
78		# Results
79
80		The results were quick for my situation, as it unliked ~200 posts within 2-3
81		seconds. I am not sure how this will perform on larger sets of likes (or if
82		Tumblr has a limit to unliking posts).
83
84		You can see the below screenshot showing that I pasted the snippet into the
85		console, pressed Enter, and then the posts are automatically unliked.
86
87		![Script
88		!Results](https:///img.cleberg.net/blog/20230105-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts/script_results.png)
89
90		Thinking about this further, I would bet that this would be fairly simple to
91		package into a browser add-on so that users could install the add-on, go to
92		their Likes page, and click a button to run the script. Food for thought.

content/blog/2023-01-05-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts.org added +96

		@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-01-05>
	2	#+title: How to Easily Mass Unlike Tumblr Posts with Javascript
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Dilemma
	7
	8	The dilemma I had was pretty simple: I wanted to unlike all the posts I
	9	have liked on Tumblr so that I could follow a new focus on blogs and
	10	start fresh. Otherwise, Tumblr will keep recommending content based on
	11	your previous likes.
	12
	13	* The Solution
	14
	15	I searched the web for a while and noted that most solutions referenced
	16	Tumblr setting and dashboard pages that no longer exist. Additionally, I
	17	did not want to install a third party extension to do this, as some
	18	suggested.
	19
	20	Luckily, I used Javascript for a while a few years ago and figured it
	21	would be easy enough to script a solution, as long as Tumblr had a
	22	system for the unlike buttons.
	23
	24	** Identifying Unlike Buttons
	25
	26	Tumblr's unlike buttons are structured as you can see in the following
	27	code block. All unlike buttons have an =aria-label= with a value of
	28	=Unlike=.
	29
	30	#+begin_src html
	31	<button class="TRX6J" aria-label="Unlike">
	32	<span class="EvhBA B1Z5w ztpfZ" tabindex="-1">
	33	<svg
	34	xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
	35	height="21"
	36	width="23"
	37	role="presentation"
	38	>
	39	<use href="#managed-icon__like-filled"></use>
	40	</svg>
	41	</span>
	42	</button>
	43	#+end_src
	44
	45	** Running a Script to Unlike All Likes
	46
	47	To run this script, you will need to load the
	48	[[https://www.tumblr.com/likes][Likes \| Tumblr]] page while logged in to
	49	your account.
	50
	51	Further, be sure to scroll down to the bottom and force Tumblr to load
	52	more posts so that this script unlikes more posts at a time.
	53
	54	Once you are logged in and the page is loaded, open the Developer Tools
	55	and be sure you're on the "Console" tab. It should look something like
	56	this (this is in Firefox, Chromium should be similar):
	57
	58	#+caption: Firefox Dev !Tools
	59	[[https:///img.cleberg.net/blog/20230105-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts/dev_console.png]]
	60
	61	All you need to do is paste the following snippet into the dev console.
	62	This code will collect all unlike buttons (=elements=) and then click
	63	each button to unlike it.
	64
	65	Optionally, you can comment-out the line =elements[i].click();= and
	66	uncomment the =console.log()= lines to simply print out information
	67	without performing any actions. This can be useful to debug issues or
	68	confirm that the code below isn't doing anything you don't want it to.
	69
	70	#+begin_src javascript
	71	const elements = document.querySelectorAll('[aria-label="Unlike"]');
	72	// console.log(elements); // 👉 [button]
	73
	74	for (let i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
	75	// console.log(elements[i]);
	76	elements[i].click();
	77	}
	78	#+end_src
	79
	80	* Results
	81
	82	The results were quick for my situation, as it unliked ~200 posts within
	83	2-3 seconds. I am not sure how this will perform on larger sets of likes
	84	(or if Tumblr has a limit to unliking posts).
	85
	86	You can see the below screenshot showing that I pasted the snippet into
	87	the console, pressed Enter, and then the posts are automatically
	88	unliked.
	89
	90	#+caption: Script !Results
	91	[[https:///img.cleberg.net/blog/20230105-mass-unlike-tumblr-posts/script_results.png]]
	92
	93	Thinking about this further, I would bet that this would be fairly
	94	simple to package into a browser add-on so that users could install the
	95	add-on, go to their Likes page, and click a button to run the script.
	96	Food for thought.

content/blog/2023-01-08-fedora-login-manager.md deleted −45

		@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-08
3		title = "How to Remove the Login Manager from Fedora i3"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Fedora i3's Login Manager
9
10		Since I use the i3 spin of Fedora Workstation, I don't like to have a login
11		manager installed by default. As of the current version of Fedora i3, the
12		default login manager is LightDM.
13
14		If this is no longer the case, you can search for currently-installed packages
15		with the following command and see if you can identify a different login
16		manager.
17
18		```sh
19		sudo dnf list installed
20		```
21
22		# Removing the Login Manager
23
24		In order to remove the login manager, simply uninstall the package.
25
26		```sh
27		sudo dnf remove lightdm
28		```
29
30		# Launching i3 Manually
31
32		In order to launch i3 manually, you need to set up your X session properly. To
33		start, create or edit the `~/.xinitrc` file to include the following at the
34		bottom.
35
36		```config
37		exec i3
38		```
39
40		Now, whenever you log in to the TTY, you can launch your desktop with the
41		following command.
42
43		```sh
44		startx
45		```

content/blog/2023-01-08-fedora-login-manager.org added +43

		@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-01-08>
	2	#+title: How to Remove the Login Manager from Fedora i3
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Fedora i3's Login Manager
	7
	8	Since I use the i3 spin of Fedora Workstation, I don't like to have a
	9	login manager installed by default. As of the current version of Fedora
	10	i3, the default login manager is LightDM.
	11
	12	If this is no longer the case, you can search for currently-installed
	13	packages with the following command and see if you can identify a
	14	different login manager.
	15
	16	#+begin_src sh
	17	sudo dnf list installed
	18	#+end_src
	19
	20	* Removing the Login Manager
	21
	22	In order to remove the login manager, simply uninstall the package.
	23
	24	#+begin_src sh
	25	sudo dnf remove lightdm
	26	#+end_src
	27
	28	* Launching i3 Manually
	29
	30	In order to launch i3 manually, you need to set up your X session
	31	properly. To start, create or edit the =~/.xinitrc= file to include the
	32	following at the bottom.
	33
	34	#+begin_src config
	35	exec i3
	36	#+end_src
	37
	38	Now, whenever you log in to the TTY, you can launch your desktop with
	39	the following command.
	40
	41	#+begin_src sh
	42	startx
	43	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-01-21-flatpak-symlinks.md deleted −46

		@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-21
3		title = "Running Flatpak Apps with Symlinks"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Running Flatpak Apps Should Be Faster
9
10		If you're like me and use Flatpak for those pesky apps that cannot run on your
11		system for one reason or another, you likely get annoyed with opening a terminal
12		and manually running the Flatpak app with the lengthy `flatpak run ...` command.
13
14		In the past, I manually created aliases in my `.zshrc` file for certain apps.
15		For example, an alias would look like the example below.
16
17		This would allow me to run the command fast within the terminal, but it wouldn't
18		allow me to run it in an application launcher.
19
20		```sh
21		# ~/.zshrc
22		alias librewolf = "flatpak run io.gitlab.librewolf-community"
23		```
24
25		However, I now use a much faster and better method that integrates with the
26		tiling WMs I use and their application launchers - `dmenu` and `bemenu`.
27
28		# Creating Symlinks for Flatpak Apps
29
30		Let's use the example of Librewolf below. I can install the application like so:
31
32		```sh
33		flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.librewolf-community
34		```
35
36		Once installed, I can create a symlink to link the flatpak app to my new symlink
37		in a location commonly included in your PATH. In this case, I chose `/usr/bin`.
38		You may need to choose a different location if `/usr/bin` isn't in your PATH.
39
40		```sh
41		ln -s /var/lib/flatpak/exports/bin/io.gitlab.librewolf-community /usr/bin/librewolf
42		```
43
44		Once complete, you should be able to launch the app using the command name you
45		chose above in the symlink (`librewolf`) from a terminal or from your
46		application launcher!

content/blog/2023-01-21-flatpak-symlinks.org added +48

		@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-01-21>
	2	#+title: Running Flatpak Apps with Symlinks
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Running Flatpak Apps Should Be Faster
	7
	8	If you're like me and use Flatpak for those pesky apps that cannot run
	9	on your system for one reason or another, you likely get annoyed with
	10	opening a terminal and manually running the Flatpak app with the lengthy
	11	=flatpak run ...= command.
	12
	13	In the past, I manually created aliases in my =.zshrc= file for certain
	14	apps. For example, an alias would look like the example below.
	15
	16	This would allow me to run the command fast within the terminal, but it
	17	wouldn't allow me to run it in an application launcher.
	18
	19	#+begin_src sh
	20	# ~/.zshrc
	21	alias librewolf = "flatpak run io.gitlab.librewolf-community"
	22	#+end_src
	23
	24	However, I now use a much faster and better method that integrates with
	25	the tiling WMs I use and their application launchers - =dmenu= and
	26	=bemenu=.
	27
	28	* Creating Symlinks for Flatpak Apps
	29
	30	Let's use the example of Librewolf below. I can install the application
	31	like so:
	32
	33	#+begin_src sh
	34	flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.librewolf-community
	35	#+end_src
	36
	37	Once installed, I can create a symlink to link the flatpak app to my new
	38	symlink in a location commonly included in your PATH. In this case, I
	39	chose =/usr/bin=. You may need to choose a different location if
	40	=/usr/bin= isn't in your PATH.
	41
	42	#+begin_src sh
	43	ln -s /var/lib/flatpak/exports/bin/io.gitlab.librewolf-community /usr/bin/librewolf
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	Once complete, you should be able to launch the app using the command
	47	name you chose above in the symlink (=librewolf=) from a terminal or
	48	from your application launcher!

content/blog/2023-01-23-random-wireguard.md → content/blog/2023-01-23-random-wireguard.org renamed +53 −53

		@@ -1,47 +1,47 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-23
3		title = "Connecting to a Random Mullvad Wireguard Host on Boot"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-01-23>
	2	#+title: Connecting to a Random Mullvad Wireguard Host on Boot
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Mullvad Wireguard
9	5
10		If you're using an OS that does not support one of Mullvad's apps, you're likely
11		using the Wireguard configuration files instead.
	6	* Mullvad Wireguard
12	7
13		If not, the first step is to visit Mullvad's [Wireguard configuration
14		files](https://mullvad.net/en/account/#/wireguard-config) page and download a
15		ZIP of the configuration files you want to use.
	8	If you're using an OS that does not support one of Mullvad's apps,
	9	you're likely using the Wireguard configuration files instead.
16	10
17		Personally, I downloaded all configuration files across the world and chose my
18		connections using the script below.
	11	If not, the first step is to visit Mullvad's
	12	[[https://mullvad.net/en/account/#/wireguard-config][Wireguard
	13	configuration files]] page and download a ZIP of the configuration files
	14	you want to use.
19	15
20		Once the files are downloaded, unzip them and move them to your preferred
21		location:
	16	Personally, I downloaded all configuration files across the world and
	17	chose my connections using the script below.
22	18
23		```sh
	19	Once the files are downloaded, unzip them and move them to your
	20	preferred location:
	21
	22	#+begin_src sh
24	23	cd Downloads
25	24	unzip mullvad_wireguard_linux_all_all.zip
26	25	mkdir ~/mullvad && mv ~/Downloads/*.conf ~/mullvad/
27		```
	26	#+end_src
28	27
29		### Creating a Script to Connect to a Random Host
	28	*** Creating a Script to Connect to a Random Host
30	29
31		Once you have a folder of Wireguard configuration files from Mullvad, you can
32		create a script to randomly connect to any one of the locations.
	30	Once you have a folder of Wireguard configuration files from Mullvad,
	31	you can create a script to randomly connect to any one of the locations.
33	32
34		Start by creating a shell script - mine is called `vpn.sh`.
	33	Start by creating a shell script - mine is called =vpn.sh=.
35	34
36		```sh
	35	#+begin_src sh
37	36	nano ~/vpn.sh
38		```
	37	#+end_src
39	38
40		Within this script, you can paste the following info. Note that I specify `us-*`
41		in my script, which means that it will only consider US-based VPN locations. You
42		can alter this or simply change it `*` to consider all locations.
	39	Within this script, you can paste the following info. Note that I
	40	specify =us-*= in my script, which means that it will only consider
	41	US-based VPN locations. You can alter this or simply change it =*= to
	42	consider all locations.
43	43
44		```sh
	44	#+begin_src sh
45	45	#!/bin/sh
46	46
47	47	ls /home/$USER/mullvad/us-** \|sort -R \|tail -n 1 \|while read file; do
		@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ ls /home/$USER/mullvad/us-** \|sort -R \|tail -n 1 \|while read file; do
52	52	printf "\n\nPrinting new IP info:\n"
53	53	curl https://am.i.mullvad.net/connected
54	54	done
55		```
	55	#+end_src
56	56
57		Once you've modified the script to your liking, add executable permissions and
58		run the script:
	57	Once you've modified the script to your liking, add executable
	58	permissions and run the script:
59	59
60		```sh
	60	#+begin_src sh
61	61	chmod +x ~/vpn.sh
62	62	~/vpn.sh
63		```
	63	#+end_src
64	64
65	65	The output should look like the following:
66	66
67		```txt
	67	#+begin_src txt
68	68	doas (user@host) password:
69	69
70	70	# ... The script will process all of the iptables and wg commands here
		@@ -73,40 +73,40 @@ Created Mullvad wireguard connection with file: /home/user/mullvad/us-nyc-wg-210
73	73
74	74	Printing new IP info:
75	75	You are connected to Mullvad (server country-city-wg-num). Your IP address is 12.345.678.99
76		```
	76	#+end_src
77	77
78		That's all there is to it. You can see your new location and IP via the `printf`
79		and `curl` commands included in the script.
	78	That's all there is to it. You can see your new location and IP via the
	79	=printf= and =curl= commands included in the script.
80	80
81		You can also go to the [Connection Check \\|
82		Mullvad](https://mullvad.net/en/check/) page to see if you are fully connected
83		to Mullvad and if any leaks exist.
	81	You can also go to the [[https://mullvad.net/en/check/][Connection Check
	82	\| Mullvad]] page to see if you are fully connected to Mullvad and if any
	83	leaks exist.
84	84
85		# Disconnecting from the Wireguard Connection
	85	* Disconnecting from the Wireguard Connection
86	86
87		If you forget which connection you're using, you can execute the following
88		command to see where Wireguard is currently connected:
	87	If you forget which connection you're using, you can execute the
	88	following command to see where Wireguard is currently connected:
89	89
90		```sh
	90	#+begin_src sh
91	91	wg show
92		```
	92	#+end_src
93	93
94	94	This command will show you the Wireguard interfaces and should output a
95		connection like so: `interface: us-lax-wg-104`.
	95	connection like so: =interface: us-lax-wg-104=.
96	96
97	97	Once you have this, just disconnect using that files' full path:
98	98
99		```sh
	99	#+begin_src sh
100	100	wg-quick down /home/user/mullvad/us-lax-wg-104.conf
101		```
	101	#+end_src
102	102
103		I have a TODO item on figuring out how to easily export an environment variable
104		that contains the configuration file's full name, so that I can just execute the
105		following:
	103	I have a TODO item on figuring out how to easily export an environment
	104	variable that contains the configuration file's full name, so that I can
	105	just execute the following:
106	106
107		```sh
	107	#+begin_src sh
108	108	# Ideal situation if I can export the $file variable to the environment
109	109	wg-quick down $file
110		```
	110	#+end_src
111	111
112	112	If you have an idea on how to do this, email me!

content/blog/2023-01-28-self-hosting-wger.md deleted −142

		@@ -1,142 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-01-28
3		title = "Self-Hosting Wger Workout Manager"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Wger: The Self-Hosted Workout Manager
9
10		[Wger Workout Manager](https://wger.de) is a fitness tracking tool for those who
11		enjoy self-hosting their data. You can also register an account on their main
12		website if you'd prefer to try without self-hosting.
13
14		## Features
15
16		I didn't see a full listing of features anywhere, so I compiled this list of my
17		own after installing wger:
18
19		1. Dashboard
20
21		- Dashboard view of Workout Schedule, Nutrition Plan, Weight Graph, & last
22		5 Weight Logs
23
24		2. Training
25
26		- Workout Log
27		- Workout Schedule
28		- Calendar (shows weight logs and Bad/Neutral/Good days)
29		- Gallery (shows images you upload)
30		- Workout templates
31		- Public templates
32		- Exercises
33
34		3. Nutrition
35
36		- Nutrition plans
37		- BMI calculator
38		- Daily calories calculator
39		- Ingredient overview
40
41		4. Body Weight
42
43		- Weight overview
44
45		## Documentation
46
47		In order to self-host wger, I opted to use the Docker version of the
48		application. You can read the README within the
49		[wger-project/docker](https://github.com/wger-project/docker) project on GitHub
50		for information and installation instructions.
51
52		## Installation
53
54		To start the installation, I created a folder for wger and started creating the
55		three necessary files:
56
57		```sh
58		mkdir ~/wger && mkdir ~/wger/config
59		touch ~/wger/docker-compose.yml && \
60		touch ~/wger/config/prod.env && \
61		touch ~/wger/config/nginx.conf
62		```
63
64		Once you have the folders and files created, you will need to copy the contents
65		of the `docker-compose.yml`, `prod.env`, and `nginx.conf` from the GitHub link
66		above.
67
68		A few notes to explain the changes I made to the default files:
69
70		- I updated the `ALLOW_REGISTRAION` variable in `prod.env` to `False` after I
71		created an account via my LAN connection, before I connected this app to
72		a publicly-available domain.
73		- I uncommented and updated `CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS` to be equal to the public
74		version of this app: `https://wger.example.com`.
75		- I updated the port within `docker-compose.yml`, within the `nginx` block.
76		The port I updated this to will be reflected in my nginx configuration file
77		on the server (NOT the wger nginx.conf file).
78
79		## Deploy
80
81		Once all files are created and modified to your needs, simply start the
82		container.
83
84		```sh
85		docker-compose up -d
86		```
87
88		You can now visit the website on your LAN by going to `localhost:YOUR_PORT` or
89		by the server's IP, if you're not on the same machine that is running the
90		container.
91
92		If you wish to connect this app to a public domain name, you'll need to point an
93		`A` DNS record from the domain to your server's public IP. You'll then need to
94		create a configuration file for whichever web server or reverse proxy you're
95		using.
96
97		Wger's README suggests the following reverse proxy configuration for Nginx:
98
99		```conf
100		upstream wger {
101		# This port should match the port in the `nginx` block of docker-compose.yml
102		# If the container is running on this same machine, replace this with
103		# server 127.0.0.1:8080
104		server 123.456.789.0:8080;
105		}
106
107		server {
108		listen 80;
109		listen [::]:443 ssl;
110		listen 443 ssl;
111
112		location / {
113		proxy_pass http://wger;
114		proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
115		proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
116		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
117		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
118		proxy_redirect off;
119		}
120
121		server_name my.domain.example.com;
122
123		ssl_certificate /path/to/https/certificate.crt;
124		ssl_certificate_key /path/to/https/certificate.key;
125		}
126		```
127
128		# Thoughts on Wger
129
130		I'm still playing around with the app itself, but it seems to be a solid
131		all-around workout manager, weight log, and food log.
132
133		I like that the weight log graph is fluid and updates quickly. You can also
134		import or export data in CSV format if you'd like to move your data elsewhere.
135
136		The workout manager is slightly odd, as it requires you to enter sets and reps
137		for each exercise when you enter it into the plan. Then, when you add a log
138		entry for performing a workout, you then add what you actually performed, in
139		terms of reps and weight.
140
141		I haven't tried the food log yet and I likely will not, at least for a while. I
142		have no need for a food log or calorie tracker at the moment.

content/blog/2023-01-28-self-hosting-wger.org added +143

		@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-01-28>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Wger Workout Manager
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Wger: The Self-Hosted Workout Manager
	7
	8	[[https://wger.de][Wger Workout Manager]] is a fitness tracking tool for
	9	those who enjoy self-hosting their data. You can also register an
	10	account on their main website if you'd prefer to try without
	11	self-hosting.
	12
	13	** Features
	14
	15	I didn't see a full listing of features anywhere, so I compiled this
	16	list of my own after installing wger:
	17
	18	1. Dashboard
	19
	20	- Dashboard view of Workout Schedule, Nutrition Plan, Weight Graph, &
	21	last 5 Weight Logs
	22
	23	2. Training
	24
	25	- Workout Log
	26	- Workout Schedule
	27	- Calendar (shows weight logs and Bad/Neutral/Good days)
	28	- Gallery (shows images you upload)
	29	- Workout templates
	30	- Public templates
	31	- Exercises
	32
	33	3. Nutrition
	34
	35	- Nutrition plans
	36	- BMI calculator
	37	- Daily calories calculator
	38	- Ingredient overview
	39
	40	4. Body Weight
	41
	42	- Weight overview
	43
	44	** Documentation
	45
	46	In order to self-host wger, I opted to use the Docker version of the
	47	application. You can read the README within the
	48	[[https://github.com/wger-project/docker][wger-project/docker]] project
	49	on GitHub for information and installation instructions.
	50
	51	** Installation
	52
	53	To start the installation, I created a folder for wger and started
	54	creating the three necessary files:
	55
	56	#+begin_src sh
	57	mkdir ~/wger && mkdir ~/wger/config
	58	touch ~/wger/docker-compose.yml && \
	59	touch ~/wger/config/prod.env && \
	60	touch ~/wger/config/nginx.conf
	61	#+end_src
	62
	63	Once you have the folders and files created, you will need to copy the
	64	contents of the =docker-compose.yml=, =prod.env=, and =nginx.conf= from
	65	the GitHub link above.
	66
	67	A few notes to explain the changes I made to the default files:
	68
	69	- I updated the =ALLOW_REGISTRAION= variable in =prod.env= to =False=
	70	after I created an account via my LAN connection, before I connected
	71	this app to a publicly-available domain.
	72	- I uncommented and updated =CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS= to be equal to the
	73	public version of this app: =https://wger.example.com=.
	74	- I updated the port within =docker-compose.yml=, within the =nginx=
	75	block. The port I updated this to will be reflected in my nginx
	76	configuration file on the server (NOT the wger nginx.conf file).
	77
	78	** Deploy
	79
	80	Once all files are created and modified to your needs, simply start the
	81	container.
	82
	83	#+begin_src sh
	84	docker-compose up -d
	85	#+end_src
	86
	87	You can now visit the website on your LAN by going to
	88	=localhost:YOUR_PORT= or by the server's IP, if you're not on the same
	89	machine that is running the container.
	90
	91	If you wish to connect this app to a public domain name, you'll need to
	92	point an =A= DNS record from the domain to your server's public IP.
	93	You'll then need to create a configuration file for whichever web server
	94	or reverse proxy you're using.
	95
	96	Wger's README suggests the following reverse proxy configuration for
	97	Nginx:
	98
	99	#+begin_src conf
	100	upstream wger {
	101	# This port should match the port in the `nginx` block of docker-compose.yml
	102	# If the container is running on this same machine, replace this with
	103	# server 127.0.0.1:8080
	104	server 123.456.789.0:8080;
	105	}
	106
	107	server {
	108	listen 80;
	109	listen [::]:443 ssl;
	110	listen 443 ssl;
	111
	112	location / {
	113	proxy_pass http://wger;
	114	proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
	115	proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
	116	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
	117	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
	118	proxy_redirect off;
	119	}
	120
	121	server_name my.domain.example.com;
	122
	123	ssl_certificate /path/to/https/certificate.crt;
	124	ssl_certificate_key /path/to/https/certificate.key;
	125	}
	126	#+end_src
	127
	128	* Thoughts on Wger
	129
	130	I'm still playing around with the app itself, but it seems to be a solid
	131	all-around workout manager, weight log, and food log.
	132
	133	I like that the weight log graph is fluid and updates quickly. You can
	134	also import or export data in CSV format if you'd like to move your data
	135	elsewhere.
	136
	137	The workout manager is slightly odd, as it requires you to enter sets
	138	and reps for each exercise when you enter it into the plan. Then, when
	139	you add a log entry for performing a workout, you then add what you
	140	actually performed, in terms of reps and weight.
	141
	142	I haven't tried the food log yet and I likely will not, at least for a
	143	while. I have no need for a food log or calorie tracker at the moment.

content/blog/2023-02-02-exploring-hare.md deleted −161

		@@ -1,161 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-02-02
3		title = "Exploring the Hare Programming Language"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# A Quick Note
9
10		By no means am I a professional developer, so this post will be rather short. I
11		won't be going into depth on the specification or anything that technical.
12
13		Instead, I will simply be talking about how I (a relatively basic hobbyist
14		programmer) have been playing with Hare and what intrigues me about the
15		language.
16
17		# Hare
18
19		The [Hare](https://harelang.org) programming language is a straightforward
20		language that should look familiar if you've ever programmed with C, Rust, or
21		other languages that aim to build software at the system-level.
22
23		The Hare homepage states the following:
24
25		> Hare is a systems programming language designed to be simple, stable, and
26		> robust. Hare uses a static type system, manual memory management, and minimal
27		> runtime. It is well-suited to writing operating systems, system tools,
28		> compilers, networking software, and other low-level, high performance tasks.
29
30		I have found this all to be true while playing with it for the first time today.
31		In the next few sections, I'm going to walk through my installation and first
32		program.
33
34		## Installation
35
36		I'm currently running Alpine Linux on my Thinkpad, so the installation was quite
37		easy as there is a package for Hare in the `apk` repositories.
38
39		```sh
40		doas apk add hare hare-doc
41		```
42
43		However, I was able to install Hare from scratch on Fedora Linux a short while
44		ago, which was also very easy to do. If you need further instructions and Hare
45		doesn't have a package on your system, take a look at the [Hare
46		Installation](https://harelang.org/installation/) page.
47
48		## Creating a Test Project
49
50		In order to play with the language, I created
51		[hare-test](https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/learning-hare) and will be putting any of my
52		Hare-related adventures in here.
53
54		> Update: I also created a simple Hare program for creating a file from user
55		> input:
56		> [files.ha](hhttps://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/learning-hare/blob/main/files/files.ha)
57
58		Luckily, Hare doesn't require any complex set-up tools or build environment.
59		Once you have Hare installed, you simply need to create a file ending with `.ha`
60		and you can run a Hare program.
61
62		I created a file called `rgb.ha` in order to test out the random number
63		generation and passing parameters between functions.
64
65		```sh
66		nano rgb.ha
67		```
68
69		Within this file, I was able to easily import a few of the [standard library
70		modules](https://harelang.org/tutorials/stdlib/): `fmt`, `math::random`, and
71		`datetime`.
72
73		With these modules, I created two functions:
74
75		1. `main`: This function calls the `generate_rgb` function and then prints out
76		the returned values.
77		2. `generate_rgb`: This function uses the current Unix epoch time to generate a
78		pseudo-random value and uses this value to create three more random values
79		between 0 and 255. These three numbers represent a color in RGB format.
80
81		> Note: Some syntax coloring may look odd, as Zola currently doesn't have a
82		> syntax highlighting theme for Hare. Instead, I'm using the C theme, which may
83		> not be exactly accurate when coloring the code below.
84
85		```c
86		use datetime;
87		use fmt;
88		use math::random;
89
90		export fn main() void = {
91		const rgb = generate_rgb();
92		fmt::printfln("RGB: ({}, {}, {})", rgb[0], rgb[1], rgb[2])!;
93		};
94
95		fn generate_rgb() []u64 = {
96		// Use the current Unix epoch time as the seed value
97		let datetime = datetime::epochunix(&datetime::now());
98
99		// Generate initial pseudo-random value
100		// You must cast the datetime from int to u64
101		let x = random::init(datetime: u64);
102
103		// Generate RGB values between (0, 255) using pseudo-random init value
104		let r = random::u64n(&x, 255);
105		let g = random::u64n(&x, 255);
106		let b = random::u64n(&x, 255);
107
108		// Structure data as array and return
109		let rgb_array: [3]u64 = [r, g, b];
110		return rgb_array;
111		};
112		```
113
114		## Running a Program
115
116		Once you have a Hare file written and ready to run, you simply need to run it:
117
118		```sh
119		hare run file.ha
120		```
121
122		You can also compile the program into an executable:
123
124		```sh
125		hare build -o example file.ha
126		./example
127		```
128
129		## Initial Thoughts
130
131		1. Documentation Improvements Would Help
132
133		While I was able to piece everything together eventually, the biggest
134		downfall right now in Hare's documentation. For such a new project, the
135		documentation is in a great spot. However, bare specifications don't help as
136		much as a brief examples section would.
137
138		For example, it took me a while to figure out what the `u64n` function was
139		looking for. I could tell that it took two parameters and the second was my
140		max value (255), but couldn't figure out what the first value should be.
141		Eventually, I inspected the `random.ha` file in the [Hare source
142		code](https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/hare/tree/master/item/math/random/random.ha)
143		and found the test suite that helped me discover that it needed an `init()`
144		value in the form of `&var`.
145
146		2. More Basic Modules
147
148		This is another point that comes from Hare being new and awaiting more
149		contributions, but there are some basic functions that I would personally
150		enjoy seeing in Hare, such as one to convert decimal (base 10) values to
151		hexadecimal (base 16).
152
153		If I'm feeling comfortable with my math, I may work on the list of functions
154		I want and see if any can make it into the Hare source code.
155
156		3. Overall Thoughts
157
158		Overall, I actually really enjoy Hare. It's not as tedious to get a project
159		up and running as Rust, but it's also simpler and more user-friendly than
160		learning C. I am going to continue playing with it and see if I can make
161		anything of particular value.

content/blog/2023-02-02-exploring-hare.org added +172

		@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-02-02>
	2	#+title: Exploring the Hare Programming Language
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* A Quick Note
	7
	8	By no means am I a professional developer, so this post will be rather
	9	short. I won't be going into depth on the specification or anything that
	10	technical.
	11
	12	Instead, I will simply be talking about how I (a relatively basic
	13	hobbyist programmer) have been playing with Hare and what intrigues me
	14	about the language.
	15
	16	* Hare
	17
	18	The [[https://harelang.org][Hare]] programming language is a
	19	straightforward language that should look familiar if you've ever
	20	programmed with C, Rust, or other languages that aim to build software
	21	at the system-level.
	22
	23	The Hare homepage states the following:
	24
	25	#+begin_quote
	26	Hare is a systems programming language designed to be simple, stable,
	27	and robust. Hare uses a static type system, manual memory management,
	28	and minimal runtime. It is well-suited to writing operating systems,
	29	system tools, compilers, networking software, and other low-level, high
	30	performance tasks.
	31	#+end_quote
	32
	33	I have found this all to be true while playing with it for the first
	34	time today. In the next few sections, I'm going to walk through my
	35	installation and first program.
	36
	37	** Installation
	38
	39	I'm currently running Alpine Linux on my Thinkpad, so the installation
	40	was quite easy as there is a package for Hare in the =apk= repositories.
	41
	42	#+begin_src sh
	43	doas apk add hare hare-doc
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	However, I was able to install Hare from scratch on Fedora Linux a short
	47	while ago, which was also very easy to do. If you need further
	48	instructions and Hare doesn't have a package on your system, take a look
	49	at the [[https://harelang.org/installation/][Hare Installation]] page.
	50
	51	** Creating a Test Project
	52
	53	In order to play with the language, I created
	54	[[https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/learning-hare][hare-test]] and will be
	55	putting any of my Hare-related adventures in here.
	56
	57	#+begin_quote
	58	Update: I also created a simple Hare program for creating a file from
	59	user input:
	60	[[https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/learning-hare/blob/main/files/files.ha][files.ha]]
	61	#+end_quote
	62
	63	Luckily, Hare doesn't require any complex set-up tools or build
	64	environment. Once you have Hare installed, you simply need to create a
	65	file ending with =.ha= and you can run a Hare program.
	66
	67	I created a file called =rgb.ha= in order to test out the random number
	68	generation and passing parameters between functions.
	69
	70	#+begin_src sh
	71	nano rgb.ha
	72	#+end_src
	73
	74	Within this file, I was able to easily import a few of the
	75	[[https://harelang.org/tutorials/stdlib/][standard library modules]]:
	76	=fmt=, =math::random=, and =datetime=.
	77
	78	With these modules, I created two functions:
	79
	80	1. =main=: This function calls the =generate_rgb= function and then
	81	prints out the returned values.
	82	2. =generate_rgb=: This function uses the current Unix epoch time to
	83	generate a pseudo-random value and uses this value to create three
	84	more random values between 0 and 255. These three numbers represent a
	85	color in RGB format.
	86
	87	#+begin_quote
	88	Note: Some syntax coloring may look odd, as Zola currently doesn't
	89	have a syntax highlighting theme for Hare. Instead, I'm using the C
	90	theme, which may not be exactly accurate when coloring the code below.
	91	#+end_quote
	92
	93	#+begin_src C
	94	use datetime;
	95	use fmt;
	96	use math::random;
	97
	98	export fn main() void = {
	99	const rgb = generate_rgb();
	100	fmt::printfln("RGB: ({}, {}, {})", rgb[0], rgb[1], rgb[2])!;
	101	};
	102
	103	fn generate_rgb() []u64 = {
	104	// Use the current Unix epoch time as the seed value
	105	let datetime = datetime::epochunix(&datetime::now());
	106
	107	// Generate initial pseudo-random value
	108	// You must cast the datetime from int to u64
	109	let x = random::init(datetime: u64);
	110
	111	// Generate RGB values between (0, 255) using pseudo-random init value
	112	let r = random::u64n(&x, 255);
	113	let g = random::u64n(&x, 255);
	114	let b = random::u64n(&x, 255);
	115
	116	// Structure data as array and return
	117	let rgb_array: [3]u64 = [r, g, b];
	118	return rgb_array;
	119	};
	120	#+end_src
	121
	122	** Running a Program
	123
	124	Once you have a Hare file written and ready to run, you simply need to
	125	run it:
	126
	127	#+begin_src sh
	128	hare run file.ha
	129	#+end_src
	130
	131	You can also compile the program into an executable:
	132
	133	#+begin_src sh
	134	hare build -o example file.ha
	135	./example
	136	#+end_src
	137
	138	** Initial Thoughts
	139
	140	1. Documentation Improvements Would Help
	141
	142	While I was able to piece everything together eventually, the biggest
	143	downfall right now in Hare's documentation. For such a new project,
	144	the documentation is in a great spot. However, bare specifications
	145	don't help as much as a brief examples section would.
	146
	147	For example, it took me a while to figure out what the =u64n=
	148	function was looking for. I could tell that it took two parameters
	149	and the second was my max value (255), but couldn't figure out what
	150	the first value should be. Eventually, I inspected the =random.ha=
	151	file in the
	152	[[https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/hare/tree/master/item/math/random/random.ha][Hare
	153	source code]] and found the test suite that helped me discover that
	154	it needed an =init()= value in the form of =&var=.
	155
	156	2. More Basic Modules
	157
	158	This is another point that comes from Hare being new and awaiting
	159	more contributions, but there are some basic functions that I would
	160	personally enjoy seeing in Hare, such as one to convert decimal
	161	(base 10) values to hexadecimal (base 16).
	162
	163	If I'm feeling comfortable with my math, I may work on the list of
	164	functions I want and see if any can make it into the Hare source
	165	code.
	166
	167	3. Overall Thoughts
	168
	169	Overall, I actually really enjoy Hare. It's not as tedious to get a
	170	project up and running as Rust, but it's also simpler and more
	171	user-friendly than learning C. I am going to continue playing with it
	172	and see if I can make anything of particular value.

content/blog/2023-05-22-burnout.md deleted −45

		@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-05-22
3		title = "RE: Burnout"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# RE: Burnout
9
10		I recently read [Drew DeVault's post on
11		burnout](https://drewdevault.com/2023/05/01/2023-05-01-Burnout.html) around the
12		same time I was pulling out of a burnout rut myself earlier this month. Finally,
13		seeing the light at the end of my burnout tunnel made me want to write my first
14		post back on this topic.
15
16		# Busy Seasons on Busy Seasons
17
18		My career deals with busy seasons, generally driven by client demand. This last
19		year, I dealt with a harsh busy season from Aug to Oct 2022 to issue a few SOC
20		reports for the period ending 2022-09-30. Immediately following that, I had to
21		pivot and found another busy season from Oct to Jan for financial statement
22		audits ending on 2022-12-31. Then again, supporting other clients from Jan to
23		Mar 2023, followed by my current client workload aiming for SOC reports due on
24		2023-06-30.
25
26		The result? A busy season that has lasted from August 2022 through today. I will
27		likely be rushing throughout the next month or two before I have a brief break
28		and need to focus on the 2023-09-30 SOC reports again. While auditing and
29		consulting always involve a busy season, this is the first time I've had one
30		last 9+ months without a break.
31
32		While it's been tough, I have a handful of breaks pre-planned throughout this
33		next cycle and should be able to moderate the level of commitment required for
34		each client.
35
36		# Refocusing
37
38		Outside of work, I finally have time to work on hobbies such as this website,
39		programming, athletics, games, etc.
40
41		You may have noticed my absence if you're in the same channels, forums, and
42		rooms that I am, but I should finally be active again.
43
44		I'm hoping to break an item out of my backlog soon and start working on building
45		a new project or hack around with a stale one.

content/blog/2023-05-22-burnout.org added +44

		@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-05-22>
	2	#+title: RE: Burnout
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* RE: Burnout
	7
	8	I recently read
	9	[[https://drewdevault.com/2023/05/01/2023-05-01-Burnout.html][Drew
	10	DeVault's post on burnout]] around the same time I was pulling out of a
	11	burnout rut myself earlier this month. Finally, seeing the light at the
	12	end of my burnout tunnel made me want to write my first post back on
	13	this topic.
	14
	15	* Busy Seasons on Busy Seasons
	16
	17	My career deals with busy seasons, generally driven by client demand.
	18	This last year, I dealt with a harsh busy season from Aug to Oct 2022 to
	19	issue a few SOC reports for the period ending 2022-09-30. Immediately
	20	following that, I had to pivot and found another busy season from Oct to
	21	Jan for financial statement audits ending on 2022-12-31. Then again,
	22	supporting other clients from Jan to Mar 2023, followed by my current
	23	client workload aiming for SOC reports due on 2023-06-30.
	24
	25	The result? A busy season that has lasted from August 2022 through
	26	today. I will likely be rushing throughout the next month or two before
	27	I have a brief break and need to focus on the 2023-09-30 SOC reports
	28	again. While auditing and consulting always involve a busy season, this
	29	is the first time I've had one last 9+ months without a break.
	30
	31	While it's been tough, I have a handful of breaks pre-planned throughout
	32	this next cycle and should be able to moderate the level of commitment
	33	required for each client.
	34
	35	* Refocusing
	36
	37	Outside of work, I finally have time to work on hobbies such as this
	38	website, programming, athletics, games, etc.
	39
	40	You may have noticed my absence if you're in the same channels, forums,
	41	and rooms that I am, but I should finally be active again.
	42
	43	I'm hoping to break an item out of my backlog soon and start working on
	44	building a new project or hack around with a stale one.

content/blog/2023-06-08-goaccess-geoip.md deleted −52

		@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-08
3		title = "Inspecting Nginx Logs with GoAccess and MaxMind GeoIP Data"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		[GoAccess](https://goaccess.io/) is an open source real-time web log analyzer
11		and interactive viewer that runs in a terminal in \*nix systems or through your
12		browser.
13
14		# Installation
15
16		To start, you'll need to install GoAccess for your OS. Here's an example for
17		Debian-based distros:
18
19		```sh
20		sudo apt install goaccess
21		```
22
23		Next, find any number of the MaxMind GeoIP database files on GitHub or another
24		file hosting website. We're going to use P3TERX's version in this example:
25
26		```sh
27		wget https://github.com/P3TERX/GeoLite.mmdb/raw/download/GeoLite2-City.mmdb
28		```
29
30		Be sure to save this file in an easy to remember location!
31
32		# Usage
33
34		In order to utilize the full capabilities of GoAccess and MMDB, start with the
35		command template below and customize as necessary. This will export an HTML view
36		of the GoAccess dashboard, showing all relevant information related to that
37		site's access log. You can also omit the `-o output.html` parameter if you
38		prefer to view the data within the CLI instead of creating an HTML file.
39
40		With the addition of the GeoIP Database parameter, section `16 - Geo Location`
41		will be added with the various countries that are associated with the collected
42		IP addresses.
43
44		```sh
45		zcat /var/log/nginx/example.access.log.*.gz \| goaccess \
46		--geoip-database=/home/user/GeoLite2-City.mmdb \
47		--date-format=%d/%b/%Y \
48		--time-format=%H:%M:%S \
49		--log-format=COMBINED \
50		-o output.html \
51		/var/log/nginx/example.access.log -
52		```
		\ No newline at end of file

content/blog/2023-06-08-goaccess-geoip.org added +52

		@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-06-08>
	2	#+title: Inspecting Nginx Logs with GoAccess and MaxMind GeoIP Data
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	[[https://goaccess.io/][GoAccess]] is an open source real-time web log
	9	analyzer and interactive viewer that runs in a terminal in *nix systems
	10	or through your browser.
	11
	12	* Installation
	13
	14	To start, you'll need to install GoAccess for your OS. Here's an example
	15	for Debian-based distros:
	16
	17	#+begin_src sh
	18	sudo apt install goaccess
	19	#+end_src
	20
	21	Next, find any number of the MaxMind GeoIP database files on GitHub or
	22	another file hosting website. We're going to use P3TERX's version in
	23	this example:
	24
	25	#+begin_src sh
	26	wget https://github.com/P3TERX/GeoLite.mmdb/raw/download/GeoLite2-City.mmdb
	27	#+end_src
	28
	29	Be sure to save this file in an easy to remember location!
	30
	31	* Usage
	32
	33	In order to utilize the full capabilities of GoAccess and MMDB, start
	34	with the command template below and customize as necessary. This will
	35	export an HTML view of the GoAccess dashboard, showing all relevant
	36	information related to that site's access log. You can also omit the
	37	=-o output.html= parameter if you prefer to view the data within the CLI
	38	instead of creating an HTML file.
	39
	40	With the addition of the GeoIP Database parameter, section
	41	=16 - Geo Location= will be added with the various countries that are
	42	associated with the collected IP addresses.
	43
	44	#+begin_src sh
	45	zcat /var/log/nginx/example.access.log.*.gz \| goaccess \
	46	--geoip-database=/home/user/GeoLite2-City.mmdb \
	47	--date-format=%d/%b/%Y \
	48	--time-format=%H:%M:%S \
	49	--log-format=COMBINED \
	50	-o output.html \
	51	/var/log/nginx/example.access.log -
	52	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-06-08-self-hosting-baikal.md → content/blog/2023-06-08-self-hosting-baikal.org renamed +71 −71

		@@ -1,34 +1,32 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-08
3		title = "Self-Hosting Baikal Server (CalDAV & CardDAV)"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-06-08>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Baikal Server (CalDAV & CardDAV)
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# What is Baikal?
9	5
10		[Baikal](https://sabre.io/baikal/) is a lightweight CalDAV + CardDAV server that
11		you can self-host on your own machine. While I have tried (& failed) to get this
12		CalDAV + CardDAV server running before, it was quite easy this time. Not really
13		sure what I did differently this time, but I'm documenting my process here to
14		ensure I don't forget.
	6	* What is Baikal?
15	7
16		# Installation
	8	[[https://sabre.io/baikal/][Baikal]] is a lightweight CalDAV + CardDAV
	9	server that you can self-host on your own machine. While I have tried (&
	10	failed) to get this CalDAV + CardDAV server running before, it was quite
	11	easy this time. Not really sure what I did differently this time, but
	12	I'm documenting my process here to ensure I don't forget.
17	13
18		First, create a folder on your server and open a `docker-compose.yml` file for
19		editing:
	14	* Installation
20	15
21		```sh
	16	First, create a folder on your server and open a =docker-compose.yml=
	17	file for editing:
	18
	19	#+begin_src sh
22	20	mkdir baikal && cd baikal
23	21	nano docker-compose.yml
24		```
	22	#+end_src
25	23
26		Within this file, you'll need to paste the information below. You can customize
27		the `ports` section to use any port on your server to pass through to port 80 in
28		the container. You can also edit the `volumes` section to use docker volumes
29		instead of local folders.
	24	Within this file, you'll need to paste the information below. You can
	25	customize the =ports= section to use any port on your server to pass
	26	through to port 80 in the container. You can also edit the =volumes=
	27	section to use docker volumes instead of local folders.
30	28
31		```conf
	29	#+begin_src conf
32	30	version: "2"
33	31	services:
34	32	baikal:
		@@ -39,58 +37,59 @@ services:
39	37	volumes:
40	38	- ./config:/var/www/baikal/config
41	39	- ./data:/var/www/baikal/Specific
42		```
	40	#+end_src
43	41
44		Once finished with editing, save and close the file. Then, launch the docker
45		container:
	42	Once finished with editing, save and close the file. Then, launch the
	43	docker container:
46	44
47		```sh
	45	#+begin_src sh
48	46	sudo docker-compose up -d
49		```
	47	#+end_src
50	48
51		# Intial Setup
	49	* Intial Setup
52	50
53		As long as no issues came up when starting the container, you should be able to
54		visit the server's set-up page at `http://<server_ip>:<port>`. The application
55		will ask you to create an administrator account and choose the database type for
56		your storage. Personally, I opted to use SQLite.
	51	As long as no issues came up when starting the container, you should be
	52	able to visit the server's set-up page at =http://<server_ip>:<port>=.
	53	The application will ask you to create an administrator account and
	54	choose the database type for your storage. Personally, I opted to use
	55	SQLite.
57	56
58		Make sure the administrator credentials are adequate to protect against common
59		attacks.
	57	Make sure the administrator credentials are adequate to protect against
	58	common attacks.
60	59
61		# Creating Users
	60	* Creating Users
62	61
63		Once you've set up the application, you will be greeted by the Dashboard page,
64		which will show the version of the app, status of the admin/CalDAV/CardDAV
65		services, and the number of users, calendars, events, address books, and
66		contacts.
	62	Once you've set up the application, you will be greeted by the Dashboard
	63	page, which will show the version of the app, status of the
	64	admin/CalDAV/CardDAV services, and the number of users, calendars,
	65	events, address books, and contacts.
67	66
68		To create a new user, navigate to the `Users and resources` page. This process
69		is as simple as entering a username, password, and email.
	67	To create a new user, navigate to the =Users and resources= page. This
	68	process is as simple as entering a username, password, and email.
70	69
71		Once a user has been created, you can create any number of calendars and address
72		books for user, as well as inspect their information.
	70	Once a user has been created, you can create any number of calendars and
	71	address books for user, as well as inspect their information.
73	72
74		# Setting Up a Public URL
	73	* Setting Up a Public URL
75	74
76		Once your application is working locally, you can open access remotely via a URL
77		by using a reverse-proxy like Nginx.
	75	Once your application is working locally, you can open access remotely
	76	via a URL by using a reverse-proxy like Nginx.
78	77
79		As a prerequisite, you must own a domain name and set up DNS records to point a
80		domain name to the server hosting Baikal.
	78	As a prerequisite, you must own a domain name and set up DNS records to
	79	point a domain name to the server hosting Baikal.
81	80
82		Start by navigating to your web server's configuration directory and create a
83		new file for this application.
	81	Start by navigating to your web server's configuration directory and
	82	create a new file for this application.
84	83
85		```sh
	84	#+begin_src sh
86	85	cd /etc/nginx/sites-available/
87	86	nano dav
88		```
	87	#+end_src
89	88
90	89	Within this file, paste in the configuration from below and change
91		`dav.example.com` to match the URL you'll be using.
	90	=dav.example.com= to match the URL you'll be using.
92	91
93		```conf
	92	#+begin_src conf
94	93	server {
95	94	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
96	95	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -120,34 +119,35 @@ server {
120	119	include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
121	120	ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
122	121	}
123		```
	122	#+end_src
124	123
125		For Nginx on Ubuntu, you'll need to symlink the configuration file to the
126		`sites-enabled` directory and then restart Nginx.
	124	For Nginx on Ubuntu, you'll need to symlink the configuration file to
	125	the =sites-enabled= directory and then restart Nginx.
127	126
128		```sh
	127	#+begin_src sh
129	128	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/dav /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/dav
130	129	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
131		```
	130	#+end_src
132	131
133		At this point, the Baikal server should be available over the internet at the
134		URL configured above!
	132	At this point, the Baikal server should be available over the internet
	133	at the URL configured above!
135	134
136		# Configuring Clients
	135	* Configuring Clients
137	136
138		Lastly, configuring clients and applications is essential to making sure the DAV
139		server is being fully utilized.
	137	Lastly, configuring clients and applications is essential to making sure
	138	the DAV server is being fully utilized.
140	139
141		You can also use the `Users and resources` page to inspect a user's personal
142		link to their calendars and address books by clicking the info (i) button. It
143		will show a URI like `/dav.php/calendars/your-user/default/`.
	140	You can also use the =Users and resources= page to inspect a user's
	141	personal link to their calendars and address books by clicking the info
	142	(i) button. It will show a URI like
	143	=/dav.php/calendars/your-user/default/=.
144	144
145	145	However, I found that the following URL works for most applications:
146		`/dav.php/principals/your-user/`.
	146	=/dav.php/principals/your-user/=.
147	147
148		I used the `principals` URL above for Thunderbird (calendar, tasks, and
149		contacts), as well as iOS (calendar, tasks, and contacts) and everything works
150		flawlessly so far.
	148	I used the =principals= URL above for Thunderbird (calendar, tasks, and
	149	contacts), as well as iOS (calendar, tasks, and contacts) and everything
	150	works flawlessly so far.
151	151
152	152	Syncing is quick between the server and clients, and I haven't seen any
153	153	disruptions in the service or data integrity.

content/blog/2023-06-18-unifi-ip-blocklist.md deleted −70

		@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-18
3		title = "Block IP Addresses and Subnets with Unifi Network Firewall"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Identifying Abusive IPs
9
10		If you're like me and use Unifi network equipment at the edge of the network you
11		manage, you may know that Unifi is only somewhat decent at identifying and
12		blocking IPs that represent abusive or threat actors.
13
14		While Unifi has a [threat
15		management](https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006893234-UniFi-Gateway-Threat-Management)
16		tool inside their Network application, it can be lacking in functionality and
17		identification. For example, I have my UDM Pro set to identify and block almost
18		all categories of threats available within the Unifi settings. However, I
19		regularly identify abusive actors on my web server via the server logs.
20
21		In addition, I have identified IP addresses and subnets directly within Unifi's
22		logs that the UDM did not block for whatever reason.
23
24		This guide is meant to be another step in the process to manually block abusive
25		IP addresses or subnets that you have identified but are not being automatically
26		blocked yet.
27
28		# Create an IP Group Profile
29
30		To start, login to the Unifi machine's web GUI and navigate to the Network app > Settings > Profiles.
31
32		Within this page, choose the `IP Groups` tab and click `Create New`.
33
34		Each IP Group profile can be used as one of three options:
35
36		1. Port Group
37		2. IPv4 Address/Subnet
38		3. IPv6 Address/Subnet
39
40		In this example, I'm creating an IPv4 Address/Subnet group and adding a few
41		different IP addresses and a subnet. Once you've added all IP addresses and
42		subnets, click the `Apply` button that should appear at the bottom.
43
44		At this point, the IPv4 Address/Subnet has been created but not yet used.
45
46		# Drop IP Group Profile via the Unifi Firewall
47
48		To instruct the Unifi machine to block the profile we just created, we need to
49		navigate to the Network app > Settings > Firewall & Security.
50
51		Within this screen, find the Firewall Rules table and click `Create Entry`. This
52		entry should contain the following settings:
53
54		- Type: `Internet In`
55		- Description: `<Your Custom Rule>`
56		- Rule Applied: `Before Predefined Rules`
57		- Action: `Drop`
58		- Source Type: `Port/IP Group`
59		- IPv4 Address Group: `<Name of the Group Profile You Created Above>`
60
61		Customize the remaining configurations to your liking, and then save and enable
62		the firewall rule.
63
64		Once enabled, the Unifi machine will be able to drop all incoming connections
65		from the defined IP addresses and subnets within the created profile.
66
67		> As a personal aside to this topic, I'm looking for a convenient way to update
68		> the firewall rules or profiles remotely (within the LAN) from the web server
69		> to accelerate this process. If you have an idea on how to automatically update
70		> Unifi IP groups or firewall rules, let me know!

content/blog/2023-06-18-unifi-ip-blocklist.org added +75

		@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-06-18>
	2	#+title: Block IP Addresses and Subnets with Unifi Network Firewall
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Identifying Abusive IPs
	7
	8	If you're like me and use Unifi network equipment at the edge of the
	9	network you manage, you may know that Unifi is only somewhat decent at
	10	identifying and blocking IPs that represent abusive or threat actors.
	11
	12	While Unifi has a
	13	[[https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006893234-UniFi-Gateway-Threat-Management][threat
	14	management]] tool inside their Network application, it can be lacking in
	15	functionality and identification. For example, I have my UDM Pro set to
	16	identify and block almost all categories of threats available within the
	17	Unifi settings. However, I regularly identify abusive actors on my web
	18	server via the server logs.
	19
	20	In addition, I have identified IP addresses and subnets directly within
	21	Unifi's logs that the UDM did not block for whatever reason.
	22
	23	This guide is meant to be another step in the process to manually block
	24	abusive IP addresses or subnets that you have identified but are not
	25	being automatically blocked yet.
	26
	27	* Create an IP Group Profile
	28
	29	To start, login to the Unifi machine's web GUI and navigate to the
	30	Network app > Settings > Profiles.
	31
	32	Within this page, choose the =IP Groups= tab and click =Create New=.
	33
	34	Each IP Group profile can be used as one of three options:
	35
	36	1. Port Group
	37	2. IPv4 Address/Subnet
	38	3. IPv6 Address/Subnet
	39
	40	In this example, I'm creating an IPv4 Address/Subnet group and adding a
	41	few different IP addresses and a subnet. Once you've added all IP
	42	addresses and subnets, click the =Apply= button that should appear at
	43	the bottom.
	44
	45	At this point, the IPv4 Address/Subnet has been created but not yet
	46	used.
	47
	48	* Drop IP Group Profile via the Unifi Firewall
	49
	50	To instruct the Unifi machine to block the profile we just created, we
	51	need to navigate to the Network app > Settings > Firewall & Security.
	52
	53	Within this screen, find the Firewall Rules table and click
	54	=Create Entry=. This entry should contain the following settings:
	55
	56	- Type: =Internet In=
	57	- Description: =<Your Custom Rule>=
	58	- Rule Applied: =Before Predefined Rules=
	59	- Action: =Drop=
	60	- Source Type: =Port/IP Group=
	61	- IPv4 Address Group: =<Name of the Group Profile You Created Above>=
	62
	63	Customize the remaining configurations to your liking, and then save and
	64	enable the firewall rule.
	65
	66	Once enabled, the Unifi machine will be able to drop all incoming
	67	connections from the defined IP addresses and subnets within the created
	68	profile.
	69
	70	#+begin_quote
	71	As a personal aside to this topic, I'm looking for a convenient way to
	72	update the firewall rules or profiles remotely (within the LAN) from the
	73	web server to accelerate this process. If you have an idea on how to
	74	automatically update Unifi IP groups or firewall rules, let me know!
	75	#+end_quote

content/blog/2023-06-20-audit-review-template.md deleted −77

		@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-20
3		title = "Audit Testing Review Template"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		This post is a _very_ brief overview on the basic process to review audit test
11		results, focusing on work done as part of a financial statement audit (FSA) or
12		service organization controls (SOC) report.
13
14		While there are numerous different things to review and look for - all varying
15		wildly depending on the report, client, and tester - this list serves as a solid
16		base foundation for a reviewer.
17
18		I have used this throughout my career as a starting point to my reviews, and it
19		has worked wonders for creating a consistent and objective template to my
20		reviews. The goal is to keep this base high-level enough to be used on a wide
21		variety of engagements, while still ensuring that all key areas are covered.
22
23		# Review Template
24
25		1. [ ] Check all documents for spelling and grammar.
26		2. [ ] Ensure all acronyms are fully explained upon first use.
27		3. [ ] For all people referenced, use their full names and job titles upon first
28		use.
29		4. [ ] All supporting documents must cross-reference to the lead sheet and
30		vice-versa.
31		5. [ ] Verify that the control has been adequately tested:
32		- [ ] Test of Design: Did the tester obtain information regarding how
33		the control should perform normally and abnormally (e.g., emergency
34		scenarios)?
35		- [ ] Test of Operating Effectiveness: Did the tester inquire, observe,
36		inspect, or re-perform sufficient evidence to support their conclusion
37		over the control? Inquiry alone is not adequate!
38		6. [ ] For any information used in the control, whether by the control operator
39		or by the tester, did the tester appropriately document the source
40		(system or person), extraction method, parameters, and completeness and
41		accuracy (C&A)?
42		- [ ] For any reports, queries, etc. used in the extraction, did the tester
43		include a copy and notate C&A considerations?
44		7. [ ] Did the tester document the specific criteria that the control is being
45		tested against?
46		8. [ ] Did the tester notate in the supporting documents where each criterion
47		was satisfied?
48		9. [ ] If testing specific policies or procedures, are the documents adequate?
49		- [ ] e.g., a test to validate that a review of policy XYZ occurs
50		periodically should also evaluate the sufficiency of the policy
51		itself, if meant to cover the risk that such a policy does not exist
52		and is not reviewed.
53		10. [ ] Does the test cover the appropriate period under review?
54		- [ ] If the test is meant to cover only a portion of the audit period, do
55		other controls exist to mitigate the risks that exist for the
56		remainder of the period?
57		11. [ ] For any computer-aided audit tools (CAATs) or other automation
58		techniques used in the test, is the use of such tools explained and
59		appropriately documented?
60		12. [ ] If prior-period documentation exists, are there any missing pieces of
61		evidence that would further enhance the quality of the test?
62		13. [ ] Was any information discovered during the walkthrough or inquiry phase
63		that was not incorporated into the test?
64		14. [ ] Are there new rules or expectations from your company's internal
65		guidance or your regulatory bodies that would affect the audit approach
66		for this control?
67		15. [ ] Was an exception, finding, or deficiency identified as a result of this
68		test?
69		- [ ] Was the control deficient in design, operation, or both?
70		- [ ] What was the root cause of the finding?
71		- [ ] Does the finding indicate other findings or potential fraud?
72		- [ ] What's the severity and scope of the finding?
73		- [ ] Do other controls exist as a form of compensation against the
74		finding's severity, and do they mitigate the risk within the control
75		objective?
76		- [ ] Does the finding exist at the end of the period, or was it resolved
77		within the audit period?

content/blog/2023-06-20-audit-review-template.org added +78

		@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-06-20>
	2	#+title: Audit Testing Review Template
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	This post is a /very/ brief overview on the basic process to review
	9	audit test results, focusing on work done as part of a financial
	10	statement audit (FSA) or service organization controls (SOC) report.
	11
	12	While there are numerous different things to review and look for - all
	13	varying wildly depending on the report, client, and tester - this list
	14	serves as a solid base foundation for a reviewer.
	15
	16	I have used this throughout my career as a starting point to my reviews,
	17	and it has worked wonders for creating a consistent and objective
	18	template to my reviews. The goal is to keep this base high-level enough
	19	to be used on a wide variety of engagements, while still ensuring that
	20	all key areas are covered.
	21
	22	* Review Template
	23
	24	1. [ ] Check all documents for spelling and grammar.
	25	2. [ ] Ensure all acronyms are fully explained upon first use.
	26	3. [ ] For all people referenced, use their full names and job titles
	27	upon first use.
	28	4. [ ] All supporting documents must cross-reference to the lead sheet
	29	and vice-versa.
	30	5. [ ] Verify that the control has been adequately tested:
	31	- [ ] Test of Design: Did the tester obtain information regarding
	32	how the control should perform normally and abnormally (e.g.,
	33	emergency scenarios)?
	34	- [ ] Test of Operating Effectiveness: Did the tester inquire,
	35	observe, inspect, or re-perform sufficient evidence to support
	36	their conclusion over the control? Inquiry alone is not adequate!
	37	6. [ ] For any information used in the control, whether by the control
	38	operator or by the tester, did the tester appropriately document the
	39	source (system or person), extraction method, parameters, and
	40	completeness and accuracy (C&A)?
	41	- [ ] For any reports, queries, etc. used in the extraction, did the
	42	tester include a copy and notate C&A considerations?
	43	7. [ ] Did the tester document the specific criteria that the control is
	44	being tested against?
	45	8. [ ] Did the tester notate in the supporting documents where each
	46	criterion was satisfied?
	47	9. [ ] If testing specific policies or procedures, are the documents
	48	adequate?
	49	- [ ] e.g., a test to validate that a review of policy XYZ occurs
	50	periodically should also evaluate the sufficiency of the policy
	51	itself, if meant to cover the risk that such a policy does not
	52	exist and is not reviewed.
	53	10. [ ] Does the test cover the appropriate period under review?
	54	- [ ] If the test is meant to cover only a portion of the audit
	55	period, do other controls exist to mitigate the risks that exist
	56	for the remainder of the period?
	57	11. [ ] For any computer-aided audit tools (CAATs) or other automation
	58	techniques used in the test, is the use of such tools explained and
	59	appropriately documented?
	60	12. [ ] If prior-period documentation exists, are there any missing
	61	pieces of evidence that would further enhance the quality of the
	62	test?
	63	13. [ ] Was any information discovered during the walkthrough or inquiry
	64	phase that was not incorporated into the test?
	65	14. [ ] Are there new rules or expectations from your company's internal
	66	guidance or your regulatory bodies that would affect the audit
	67	approach for this control?
	68	15. [ ] Was an exception, finding, or deficiency identified as a result
	69	of this test?
	70	- [ ] Was the control deficient in design, operation, or both?
	71	- [ ] What was the root cause of the finding?
	72	- [ ] Does the finding indicate other findings or potential fraud?
	73	- [ ] What's the severity and scope of the finding?
	74	- [ ] Do other controls exist as a form of compensation against the
	75	finding's severity, and do they mitigate the risk within the
	76	control objective?
	77	- [ ] Does the finding exist at the end of the period, or was it
	78	resolved within the audit period?

content/blog/2023-06-23-byobu.md → content/blog/2023-06-23-byobu.org renamed +26 −26

		@@ -1,44 +1,44 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-23
3		title = "Byobu"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-06-23>
	2	#+title: Byobu
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Byobu
9	5
10		[byobu](https://www.byobu.org) is a command-line tool that allows you to use
11		numerous screens within a single terminal emulator instance. More specifically,
12		it's a text based window manager, using either `screen` or `tmux`.
	6	* Byobu
13	7
14		This post is mostly just a self-reference as I explore byobu, so I may come back
15		later and update this post with more content.
	8	[[https://www.byobu.org][byobu]] is a command-line tool that allows you
	9	to use numerous screens within a single terminal emulator instance. More
	10	specifically, it's a text based window manager, using either =screen= or
	11	=tmux=.
16	12
17		## Screenshot
	13	This post is mostly just a self-reference as I explore byobu, so I may
	14	come back later and update this post with more content.
18	15
19		Take a look below at my current multi-window set-up in byobu while I write this
20		blog post:
	16	** Screenshot
21	17
22		![byobu](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-byobu/byobu.png)
	18	Take a look below at my current multi-window set-up in byobu while I
	19	write this blog post:
23	20
24		### Keybindings
	21	#+caption: byobu
	22	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-byobu/byobu.png]]
25	23
26		You can open the help menu with either of the following commands; they will both
27		open the same manpage:
	24	*** Keybindings
28	25
29		```sh
	26	You can open the help menu with either of the following commands; they
	27	will both open the same manpage:
	28
	29	#+begin_src sh
30	30	byobu --help
31	31	# or
32	32	man byobu
33		```
	33	#+end_src
34	34
35		While the manpage contains a ton of information about the functionality of byobu
36		(such as status notifications, sessions, and windows), the first location to
37		explore should be the keybindings section.
	35	While the manpage contains a ton of information about the functionality
	36	of byobu (such as status notifications, sessions, and windows), the
	37	first location to explore should be the keybindings section.
38	38
39	39	The keybindings are configured as follows:
40	40
41		```txt
	41	#+begin_src txt
42	42	byobu keybindings can be user defined in /usr/share/byobu/keybindings/ (or
43	43	within .screenrc if byobu-export was used). The common key bindings are:
44	44
		@@ -66,4 +66,4 @@ Ctrl-a R - Reload profile
66	66	Ctrl-a ! - Toggle key bindings on and off
67	67	Ctrl-a k - Kill the current window
68	68	Ctrl-a ~ - Save the current window's scrollback buffer
69		```
	69	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-06-23-self-hosting-convos.md deleted −161

		@@ -1,161 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-23
3		title = "Self-Hosting Convos IRC Web Client"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Convos
9
10		[Convos](https://convos.chat/) is an always-online web client for IRC. It has a
11		few features that made it attractive to me as a self-hosted option:
12
13		- Extremely simple Docker Compose installation method.
14		- Runs in the background and monitors chats even while you're not logged in.
15		- Neatly organized sidebar for conversation and client settings.
16		- Ability to connect to different hosts and create profiles for hosts.
17		- By default, registration is closed to the public. You can enable public
18		registration on the Settings page or generate invitation links on the Users
19		page.
20		- Customization of the client theme, organization name and URL, admin email,
21		and video service.
22
23		# Docker Installation
24
25		To install Convos, simply create a directory and a `docker-compose.yml` file:
26
27		```sh
28		mkdir ~/convos && cd ~/convos
29		nano docker-compose.yml
30		```
31
32		With the `docker-compose.yml` file open, paste the configuration below into the
33		file. You can customize the host port to be something unique, such as
34		`21897:3000`. You can also change the `data` folder to be a docker volume
35		instead, if you prefer.
36
37		```config
38		version: '3'
39
40		services:
41		convos:
42		image: 'convos/convos:stable'
43		ports:
44		- '3000:3000'
45		volumes:
46		- './data:/data'
47		environment:
48		- CONVOS_REVERSE_PROXY=1
49		restart: always
50		```
51
52		Save the `docker-compose.yml` file and bring the container up:
53
54		```sh
55		sudo docker-compose up -d
56		```
57
58		At this point, Convos is available at `<server_ip>:3000` but not available to
59		the public.
60
61		# Nginx Reverse Proxy
62
63		If you're using Nginx, you can create a configuration file for the convos
64		application. Start by opening the file:
65
66		```sh
67		nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/convos
68		```
69
70		Within the nginx configuration file, paste the following content and be sure to
71		update `convos.example.com` to match your domain and `127.0.0.1:3000` to match
72		the port you opened in the `docker-compose.yml` file.
73
74		```config
75		# Host and port where convos is running
76		upstream convos_upstream { server 127.0.0.1:3000; }
77
78		server {
79		if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
80		return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
81		}
82
83		listen [::]:80;
84		listen 80;
85		server_name convos.example.com;
86		return 404;
87		}
88
89		server {
90		listen [::]:443 ssl http2;
91		listen 443 ssl http2;
92		server_name convos.example.com;
93		access_log /var/log/nginx/convos.access.log;
94		error_log /var/log/nginx/convos.error.log;
95
96		location / {
97		proxy_pass http://convos_upstream;
98		proxy_http_version 1.1;
99		proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
100		proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
101		client_max_body_size 0;
102		proxy_set_header Host $host;
103		proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
104		proxy_set_header X-Request-Base "$scheme://$host/";
105		}
106
107		ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem;
108		ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.pem;
109		include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
110		ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
111		}
112		```
113
114		Once the file is saved, link it to the `sites-enabled` directory and restart
115		Nginx.
116
117		```sh
118		sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/convos /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/convos
119		sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
120		```
121
122		# Screenshots
123
124		See the screenshots below for an example of the Convos homepage and an excerpt
125		of the chat screen.
126
127		There are numerous themes to choose from; the theme shown in the images below is
128		Dracula.
129
130		![Convos Home](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-convos/convos_home.png)
131
132		![Convos Chat](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-convos/convos_chat.png)
133
134		# Registering a Nickname
135
136		Hop into the server channel so that you can message NickServ. In the case of
137		Convos, the default sever is libera.chat. Simply click the `libera` conversation
138		at the top of the sidebar to open it. Once the chat is open, you can claim a
139		nickname by typing:
140
141		```txt
142		/nick <nick>
143		```
144
145		If the nickname is available, and you'd like to register the nickname to
146		yourself, you'll need to type another command:
147
148		```txt
149		/msg NickServ REGISTER
150		<password> <email>
151		```
152
153		On libera.chat, the server will send a confirmation email with a command that
154		you must message in IRC to verify registration of the nickname:
155
156		```txt
157		/msg NickServ VERIFY REGISTER <nick> <verification_code>
158		```
159
160		Once entered, the server should confirm registration of the nickname to the
161		supplied email with the password specified.

content/blog/2023-06-23-self-hosting-convos.org added +165

		@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-06-23>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Convos IRC Web Client
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Convos
	7
	8	[[https://convos.chat/][Convos]] is an always-online web client for IRC.
	9	It has a few features that made it attractive to me as a self-hosted
	10	option:
	11
	12	- Extremely simple Docker Compose installation method.
	13	- Runs in the background and monitors chats even while you're not logged
	14	in.
	15	- Neatly organized sidebar for conversation and client settings.
	16	- Ability to connect to different hosts and create profiles for hosts.
	17	- By default, registration is closed to the public. You can enable
	18	public registration on the Settings page or generate invitation links
	19	on the Users page.
	20	- Customization of the client theme, organization name and URL, admin
	21	email, and video service.
	22
	23	* Docker Installation
	24
	25	To install Convos, simply create a directory and a =docker-compose.yml=
	26	file:
	27
	28	#+begin_src sh
	29	mkdir ~/convos && cd ~/convos
	30	nano docker-compose.yml
	31	#+end_src
	32
	33	With the =docker-compose.yml= file open, paste the configuration below
	34	into the file. You can customize the host port to be something unique,
	35	such as =21897:3000=. You can also change the =data= folder to be a
	36	docker volume instead, if you prefer.
	37
	38	#+begin_src config
	39	version: '3'
	40
	41	services:
	42	convos:
	43	image: 'convos/convos:stable'
	44	ports:
	45	- '3000:3000'
	46	volumes:
	47	- './data:/data'
	48	environment:
	49	- CONVOS_REVERSE_PROXY=1
	50	restart: always
	51	#+end_src
	52
	53	Save the =docker-compose.yml= file and bring the container up:
	54
	55	#+begin_src sh
	56	sudo docker-compose up -d
	57	#+end_src
	58
	59	At this point, Convos is available at =<server_ip>:3000= but not
	60	available to the public.
	61
	62	* Nginx Reverse Proxy
	63
	64	If you're using Nginx, you can create a configuration file for the
	65	convos application. Start by opening the file:
	66
	67	#+begin_src sh
	68	nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/convos
	69	#+end_src
	70
	71	Within the nginx configuration file, paste the following content and be
	72	sure to update =convos.example.com= to match your domain and
	73	=127.0.0.1:3000= to match the port you opened in the
	74	=docker-compose.yml= file.
	75
	76	#+begin_src config
	77	# Host and port where convos is running
	78	upstream convos_upstream { server 127.0.0.1:3000; }
	79
	80	server {
	81	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
	82	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
	83	}
	84
	85	listen [::]:80;
	86	listen 80;
	87	server_name convos.example.com;
	88	return 404;
	89	}
	90
	91	server {
	92	listen [::]:443 ssl http2;
	93	listen 443 ssl http2;
	94	server_name convos.example.com;
	95	access_log /var/log/nginx/convos.access.log;
	96	error_log /var/log/nginx/convos.error.log;
	97
	98	location / {
	99	proxy_pass http://convos_upstream;
	100	proxy_http_version 1.1;
	101	proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
	102	proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
	103	client_max_body_size 0;
	104	proxy_set_header Host $host;
	105	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
	106	proxy_set_header X-Request-Base "$scheme://$host/";
	107	}
	108
	109	ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem;
	110	ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.pem;
	111	include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
	112	ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
	113	}
	114	#+end_src
	115
	116	Once the file is saved, link it to the =sites-enabled= directory and
	117	restart Nginx.
	118
	119	#+begin_src sh
	120	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/convos /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/convos
	121	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
	122	#+end_src
	123
	124	* Screenshots
	125
	126	See the screenshots below for an example of the Convos homepage and an
	127	excerpt of the chat screen.
	128
	129	There are numerous themes to choose from; the theme shown in the images
	130	below is Dracula.
	131
	132	#+caption: Convos Home
	133	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-convos/convos_home.png]]
	134
	135	#+caption: Convos Chat
	136	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20230623-convos/convos_chat.png]]
	137
	138	* Registering a Nickname
	139
	140	Hop into the server channel so that you can message NickServ. In the
	141	case of Convos, the default sever is libera.chat. Simply click the
	142	=libera= conversation at the top of the sidebar to open it. Once the
	143	chat is open, you can claim a nickname by typing:
	144
	145	#+begin_src txt
	146	/nick <nick>
	147	#+end_src
	148
	149	If the nickname is available, and you'd like to register the nickname to
	150	yourself, you'll need to type another command:
	151
	152	#+begin_src txt
	153	/msg NickServ REGISTER
	154	<password> <email>
	155	#+end_src
	156
	157	On libera.chat, the server will send a confirmation email with a command
	158	that you must message in IRC to verify registration of the nickname:
	159
	160	#+begin_src txt
	161	/msg NickServ VERIFY REGISTER <nick> <verification_code>
	162	#+end_src
	163
	164	Once entered, the server should confirm registration of the nickname to
	165	the supplied email with the password specified.

content/blog/2023-06-28-backblaze-b2.md deleted −181

		@@ -1,181 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-28
3		title = "Getting Started with Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Overview
9
10		Backblaze [B2 Cloud Storage](https://www.backblaze.com/b2/cloud-storage.html) is
11		an inexpensive and reliable on-demand cloud storage and backup solution.
12
13		The service starts at $5/TB/month ($0.005/GB/month) with a download rate of
14		$0.01/GB/month.
15
16		However, there are free tiers:
17
18		- The first 10 GB of storage is free.
19		- The first 1 GB of data downloaded each day is free.
20		- Class A transactions are free.
21		- The first 2500 Class B transactions each day are free.
22		- The first 2500 Class C transactions each day are free.
23
24		You can see which API calls fall into categories A, B, or C here: [Pricing
25		Organized by API
26		Calls](https://www.backblaze.com/b2/b2-transactions-price.html).
27
28		For someone like me, who wants an offsite backup of their server's `/home/`
29		directory and various other server configs that fall under 10 GB total,
30		Backblaze is a great solution from a financial perspective.
31
32		# Create An Account
33
34		To start with Backblaze, you'll need to [create a free
35		account](https://www.backblaze.com/b2/sign-up.html) - no payment method is
36		required to sign up.
37
38		Once you have an account, you can test out the service with their web GUI, their
39		mobile app, or their CLI tool. I'm going to use the CLI tool below to test a
40		file upload and then sync an entire directory to my Backblaze bucket.
41
42		# Create a Bucket
43
44		Before you can start uploading, you need to create a bucket. If you're familiar
45		with other object storage services, this will feel familiar. If not, it's pretty
46		simple to create one.
47
48		As their webpage says:
49
50		> A bucket is a container that holds files that are uploaded into B2 Cloud
51		> Storage. The bucket name must be globally unique and must have a minimum of 6
52		> characters. A limit of 100 buckets may be created per account. An unlimited
53		> number of files may be uploaded into a bucket.
54
55		Once you click the `Create a Bucket` button on their webpage or mobile app, you
56		need to provide the following:
57
58		- Bucket Unique Name
59		- Files in Bucket are: `Private` or `Public`
60		- Default Encryption: `Disable` or `Enable`
61		- Object Lock: `Disable` or `Enable`
62
63		For my bucket, I created a private bucket with encryption enabled and object
64		lock disabled.
65
66		Once your bucket is created, you can test the upload/download feature on their
67		web GUI or mobile app! At this point, you have a fully functional bucket and
68		account.
69
70		# Linux CLI Tool
71
72		## Installation
73
74		To install the `b2` CLI tool, you'll need to download it from the [CLI
75		Tools](https://www.backblaze.com/docs/cloud-storage-command-line-tools) page. I
76		recommend copying the URL from the link that says `Linux` and using wget to
77		download it, as shown below.
78
79		Once downloaded, make the file executable and move it to a location on your
80		`$PATH`, so that you can execute that command from anywhere on the machine.
81
82		```sh
83		wget <b2_cli_url>
84		chmod +x b2_linux
85		mv b2_linux /usr/bin/b2
86		```
87
88		## Log In
89
90		The first step after installation is to log in. To do this, execute the
91		following command and provide your `<applicationKeyId>` and `<applicationKey>`.
92
93		If you don't want to provide these values in the command itself, you can simply
94		execute the base command and it will request them in an interactive prompt.
95
96		```sh
97		# if you want to provide the keys directly:
98		b2 authorize-account [<applicationKeyId>] [<applicationKey>]
99
100		# or, if you don't want your keys in your shell history:
101		b2 authorize-account
102		```
103
104		## Upload a Test File
105
106		In order to test the functionality of the CLI tool, I'll start by uploading a
107		single test file to the bucket I created above. We can do this with the
108		`upload_file` function.
109
110		The command is issued as follows:
111
112		```sh
113		b2 upload_file <bucket_name> <local_file> <remote_file>
114		```
115
116		In my situation, I executed the following command with my username.
117
118		```sh
119		b2 upload_file my_unique_bucket /home/<user>/test.md test.md
120		```
121
122		To confirm that the file was uploaded successfully, list the files in your
123		bucket:
124
125		```sh
126		b2 ls <bucket_name>
127		```
128
129		```txt
130		test.md
131		```
132
133		## Sync a Directory
134
135		If you have numerous files, you can use the `sync` function to perform
136		functionality similar to `rsync`, where you can check what's in your bucket and
137		sync anything that is new or modified.
138
139		The command is issued as follows:
140
141		```sh
142		b2 sync <source file location> <B2 bucket destination>
143		```
144
145		In my case, I can sync my user's entire home directory to my bucket without
146		specifying any of the files directly:
147
148		```sh
149		b2 sync /home/<user>/ "b2://<bucketName>/home/<user>"
150		```
151
152		# Caveats
153
154		## Timing of Updates to the Web GUI
155
156		When performing actions over a bucket, there is a slight delay in the web GUI
157		when inspecting a bucket or its file. Note that simple actions such as uploading
158		or deleting files may have a delay of a few minutes up to 24 hours. In my
159		experience (\<10 GB and ~20,000 files), any actions took only a few minutes to
160		update across clients.
161
162		## Symlinks
163
164		Note that symlinks are resolved by b2, so if you have a link from
165		`/home/<user>/nas-storage` that symlinks out to a `/mnt/nas-storage` folder that
166		has 10TB of data, `b2` will resolve that link and start uploading all 10TB of
167		data linked within the folder.
168
169		If you're not sure if you have any symlinks, a symlink will look like this (note
170		the `->` symbol):
171
172		```sh
173		> ls -lha
174		lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 20 Jun 28 13:32 nas -> /mnt/nas-storage/
175		```
176
177		You can recursively find symlink in a path with the following command:
178
179		```sh
180		ls -lR /path/to/search \| grep '^l'
181		```

content/blog/2023-06-28-backblaze-b2.org added +186

		@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-06-28>
	2	#+title: Getting Started with Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Overview
	7
	8	Backblaze [[https://www.backblaze.com/b2/cloud-storage.html][B2 Cloud
	9	Storage]] is an inexpensive and reliable on-demand cloud storage and
	10	backup solution.
	11
	12	The service starts at $5/TB/month ($0.005/GB/month) with a download rate
	13	of $0.01/GB/month.
	14
	15	However, there are free tiers:
	16
	17	- The first 10 GB of storage is free.
	18	- The first 1 GB of data downloaded each day is free.
	19	- Class A transactions are free.
	20	- The first 2500 Class B transactions each day are free.
	21	- The first 2500 Class C transactions each day are free.
	22
	23	You can see which API calls fall into categories A, B, or C here:
	24	[[https://www.backblaze.com/b2/b2-transactions-price.html][Pricing
	25	Organized by API Calls]].
	26
	27	For someone like me, who wants an offsite backup of their server's
	28	=/home/= directory and various other server configs that fall under 10
	29	GB total, Backblaze is a great solution from a financial perspective.
	30
	31	* Create An Account
	32
	33	To start with Backblaze, you'll need to
	34	[[https://www.backblaze.com/b2/sign-up.html][create a free account]] -
	35	no payment method is required to sign up.
	36
	37	Once you have an account, you can test out the service with their web
	38	GUI, their mobile app, or their CLI tool. I'm going to use the CLI tool
	39	below to test a file upload and then sync an entire directory to my
	40	Backblaze bucket.
	41
	42	* Create a Bucket
	43
	44	Before you can start uploading, you need to create a bucket. If you're
	45	familiar with other object storage services, this will feel familiar. If
	46	not, it's pretty simple to create one.
	47
	48	As their webpage says:
	49
	50	#+begin_quote
	51	A bucket is a container that holds files that are uploaded into B2 Cloud
	52	Storage. The bucket name must be globally unique and must have a minimum
	53	of 6 characters. A limit of 100 buckets may be created per account. An
	54	unlimited number of files may be uploaded into a bucket.
	55	#+end_quote
	56
	57	Once you click the =Create a Bucket= button on their webpage or mobile
	58	app, you need to provide the following:
	59
	60	- Bucket Unique Name
	61	- Files in Bucket are: =Private= or =Public=
	62	- Default Encryption: =Disable= or =Enable=
	63	- Object Lock: =Disable= or =Enable=
	64
	65	For my bucket, I created a private bucket with encryption enabled and
	66	object lock disabled.
	67
	68	Once your bucket is created, you can test the upload/download feature on
	69	their web GUI or mobile app! At this point, you have a fully functional
	70	bucket and account.
	71
	72	* Linux CLI Tool
	73
	74	** Installation
	75
	76	To install the =b2= CLI tool, you'll need to download it from the
	77	[[https://www.backblaze.com/docs/cloud-storage-command-line-tools][CLI
	78	Tools]] page. I recommend copying the URL from the link that says
	79	=Linux= and using wget to download it, as shown below.
	80
	81	Once downloaded, make the file executable and move it to a location on
	82	your =$PATH=, so that you can execute that command from anywhere on the
	83	machine.
	84
	85	#+begin_src sh
	86	wget <b2_cli_url>
	87	chmod +x b2_linux
	88	mv b2_linux /usr/bin/b2
	89	#+end_src
	90
	91	** Log In
	92
	93	The first step after installation is to log in. To do this, execute the
	94	following command and provide your =<applicationKeyId>= and
	95	=<applicationKey>=.
	96
	97	If you don't want to provide these values in the command itself, you can
	98	simply execute the base command and it will request them in an
	99	interactive prompt.
	100
	101	#+begin_src sh
	102	# if you want to provide the keys directly:
	103	b2 authorize-account [<applicationKeyId>] [<applicationKey>]
	104
	105	# or, if you don't want your keys in your shell history:
	106	b2 authorize-account
	107	#+end_src
	108
	109	** Upload a Test File
	110
	111	In order to test the functionality of the CLI tool, I'll start by
	112	uploading a single test file to the bucket I created above. We can do
	113	this with the =upload_file= function.
	114
	115	The command is issued as follows:
	116
	117	#+begin_src sh
	118	b2 upload_file <bucket_name> <local_file> <remote_file>
	119	#+end_src
	120
	121	In my situation, I executed the following command with my username.
	122
	123	#+begin_src sh
	124	b2 upload_file my_unique_bucket /home/<user>/test.md test.md
	125	#+end_src
	126
	127	To confirm that the file was uploaded successfully, list the files in
	128	your bucket:
	129
	130	#+begin_src sh
	131	b2 ls <bucket_name>
	132	#+end_src
	133
	134	#+begin_src txt
	135	test.md
	136	#+end_src
	137
	138	** Sync a Directory
	139
	140	If you have numerous files, you can use the =sync= function to perform
	141	functionality similar to =rsync=, where you can check what's in your
	142	bucket and sync anything that is new or modified.
	143
	144	The command is issued as follows:
	145
	146	#+begin_src sh
	147	b2 sync <source file location> <B2 bucket destination>
	148	#+end_src
	149
	150	In my case, I can sync my user's entire home directory to my bucket
	151	without specifying any of the files directly:
	152
	153	#+begin_src sh
	154	b2 sync /home/<user>/ "b2://<bucketName>/home/<user>"
	155	#+end_src
	156
	157	* Caveats
	158
	159	** Timing of Updates to the Web GUI
	160
	161	When performing actions over a bucket, there is a slight delay in the
	162	web GUI when inspecting a bucket or its file. Note that simple actions
	163	such as uploading or deleting files may have a delay of a few minutes up
	164	to 24 hours. In my experience (<10 GB and ~20,000 files), any actions
	165	took only a few minutes to update across clients.
	166
	167	** Symlinks
	168
	169	Note that symlinks are resolved by b2, so if you have a link from
	170	=/home/<user>/nas-storage= that symlinks out to a =/mnt/nas-storage=
	171	folder that has 10TB of data, =b2= will resolve that link and start
	172	uploading all 10TB of data linked within the folder.
	173
	174	If you're not sure if you have any symlinks, a symlink will look like
	175	this (note the =->= symbol):
	176
	177	#+begin_src sh
	178	> ls -lha
	179	lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 20 Jun 28 13:32 nas -> /mnt/nas-storage/
	180	#+end_src
	181
	182	You can recursively find symlink in a path with the following command:
	183
	184	#+begin_src sh
	185	ls -lR /path/to/search \| grep '^l'
	186	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-06-30-self-hosting-voyager.md → content/blog/2023-06-30-self-hosting-voyager.org renamed +50 −50

		@@ -1,54 +1,53 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-06-30
3		title = "Self-Hosting Voyager - A Lemmy Web Client"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-06-30>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Voyager - A Lemmy Web Client
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Installation Guide
9	5
10		[Voyager](https://github.com/aeharding/voyager) is a mobile-first Lemmy web
11		client, based on iOS design standards. It follows very closely to Apollo's
12		design.
	6	* Installation Guide
13	7
14		This post is a guide showing how I was able to build and launch my own instance
15		of Voyager via Docker Compose.
	8	[[https://github.com/aeharding/voyager][Voyager]] is a mobile-first
	9	Lemmy web client, based on iOS design standards. It follows very closely
	10	to Apollo's design.
16	11
17		## Clone the Repository
	12	This post is a guide showing how I was able to build and launch my own
	13	instance of Voyager via Docker Compose.
	14
	15	** Clone the Repository
18	16
19	17	Start by cloning the repository and entering it:
20	18
21		```sh
	19	#+begin_src sh
22	20	git clone https://github.com/aeharding/voyager
23	21	cd voyager
24		```
	22	#+end_src
25	23
26		## Build the Image
	24	** Build the Image
27	25
28		With this repository, you can build the image yourself without any further
29		configuration. When complete, it'll give you the image ID for you to run.
	26	With this repository, you can build the image yourself without any
	27	further configuration. When complete, it'll give you the image ID for
	28	you to run.
30	29
31		```sh
	30	#+begin_src sh
32	31	sudo docker build .
33	32	# Successfully built 5f00723cb5be
34		```
	33	#+end_src
35	34
36		With the image ID above, you can run the container and pass the requested port
37		`5314` through or use a custom port, if you wish.
	35	With the image ID above, you can run the container and pass the
	36	requested port =5314= through or use a custom port, if you wish.
38	37
39		You can also set the `CUSTOM_LEMMY_SERVERS` environment variable if you want to
40		add to the default suggested login servers. This must be set with a comma
41		separated list of suggested servers. The first instance in the list will be the
42		default view for logged-out users.
	38	You can also set the =CUSTOM_LEMMY_SERVERS= environment variable if you
	39	want to add to the default suggested login servers. This must be set
	40	with a comma separated list of suggested servers. The first instance in
	41	the list will be the default view for logged-out users.
43	42
44		I will be using a `docker-compose.yml` file to run this container, instead of a
45		`docker run` command.
	43	I will be using a =docker-compose.yml= file to run this container,
	44	instead of a =docker run= command.
46	45
47		```sh
	46	#+begin_src sh
48	47	nano docker-compose.yml
49		```
	48	#+end_src
50	49
51		```conf
	50	#+begin_src conf
52	51	version: "2"
53	52	services:
54	53	voyager:
		@@ -58,29 +57,30 @@ services:
58	57	- "<custom_port>:5314"
59	58	environment:
60	59	- CUSTOM_LEMMY_SERVERS=lemmy.dbzer0.com,lemmy.world,lemmy.ml,beehaw.org
61		```
	60	#+end_src
62	61
63		```sh
	62	#+begin_src sh
64	63	sudo docker-compose up -d
65		```
	64	#+end_src
66	65
67	66	The web app will now be available at the following address:
68		`<machine_ip>:<custom_port>`. If you are running it on your local device, try
69		`localhost:<custom_port>`.
	67	=<machine_ip>:<custom_port>=. If you are running it on your local
	68	device, try =localhost:<custom_port>=.
70	69
71		## Reverse Proxy
	70	** Reverse Proxy
72	71
73		If you want to visit this app via an external URL or domain name, you'll need to
74		set up a reverse proxy. The example below uses Nginx as a reverse proxy.
	72	If you want to visit this app via an external URL or domain name, you'll
	73	need to set up a reverse proxy. The example below uses Nginx as a
	74	reverse proxy.
75	75
76		Simply create the configuration file, paste the contents below, save the file,
77		symlink the file, and restart Nginx.
	76	Simply create the configuration file, paste the contents below, save the
	77	file, symlink the file, and restart Nginx.
78	78
79		```sh
	79	#+begin_src sh
80	80	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/voyager
81		```
	81	#+end_src
82	82
83		```conf
	83	#+begin_src conf
84	84	server {
85	85	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
86	86	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@ server {
110	110	include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
111	111	ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
112	112	}
113		```
	113	#+end_src
114	114
115		```sh
	115	#+begin_src sh
116	116	sudo ln sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/voyager /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/voyager
117	117	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
118		```
	118	#+end_src
119	119
120		The site will now be available at the `server_name` you specified above!
	120	The site will now be available at the =server_name= you specified above!
121	121
122		You can visit my instance at [voyager.cleberg.net](https://voyager.cleberg.net)
123		for an example.
	122	You can visit my instance at
	123	[[https://voyager.cleberg.net][voyager.cleberg.net]] for an example.

content/blog/2023-07-12-wireguard-lan.md → content/blog/2023-07-12-wireguard-lan.org renamed +62 −58

		@@ -1,31 +1,30 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-07-12
3		title = "Enable LAN Access in Mullvad Wireguard Configuration Files"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-07-12>
	2	#+title: Enable LAN Access in Mullvad Wireguard Configuration Files
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Download Configuration Files from Mullvad
9	5
10		To begin, you'll need [Wireguard configuration files from
11		Mullvad](https://mullvad.net/account/wireguard-config). You can choose any of
12		the options as you download them. For example, I enabled the kill switch,
13		selected all countries, and selected a few content filters.
	6	* Download Configuration Files from Mullvad
14	7
15		Once downloaded, unzip the files and move them to the Wireguard folder on your
16		system.
	8	To begin, you'll need
	9	[[https://mullvad.net/account/wireguard-config][Wireguard configuration
	10	files from Mullvad]]. You can choose any of the options as you download
	11	them. For example, I enabled the kill switch, selected all countries,
	12	and selected a few content filters.
17	13
18		```sh
	14	Once downloaded, unzip the files and move them to the Wireguard folder
	15	on your system.
	16
	17	#+begin_src sh
19	18	cd ~/Downloads
20	19	unzip mullvad_wireguard_linux_all_all.zip
21	20	doas mv *.conf /etc/wireguard/
22		```
	21	#+end_src
23	22
24		## Configuration File Layout
	23	** Configuration File Layout
25	24
26	25	The default configuration files will look something like this:
27	26
28		```conf
	27	#+begin_src conf
29	28	[Interface]
30	29	# Device: <redacted>
31	30	PrivateKey = <redacted>
		@@ -38,42 +37,46 @@ PreDown = iptables -D OUTPUT ! -o %i -m mark ! --mark $(wg show %i fwmark) -m ad
38	37	PublicKey = <redacted>
39	38	AllowedIPs = <redacted>
40	39	Endpoint = <redacted>
41		```
	40	#+end_src
42	41
43		> Note: If you didn't select the kill switch option, you won't see the `PostUp`
44		> and `PreDown` lines. In this case, you'll need to modify the script below to
45		> simply append those lines to the `[Interface]` block.
	42	#+begin_quote
	43	Note: If you didn't select the kill switch option, you won't see the
	44	=PostUp= and =PreDown= lines. In this case, you'll need to modify the
	45	script below to simply append those lines to the =[Interface]= block.
	46	#+end_quote
46	47
47		# Editing the Configuration Files
	48	* Editing the Configuration Files
48	49
49		Once you have the files, you'll need to edit them and replace the `PostUp` and
50		`PreDown` lines to enable LAN access.
	50	Once you have the files, you'll need to edit them and replace the
	51	=PostUp= and =PreDown= lines to enable LAN access.
51	52
52		I recommend that you do this process as root, since you'll need to be able to
53		access files in `/etc/wireguard`, which are generally owned by root. You can
54		also try using `sudo` or `doas`, but I didn't test that scenario so you may need
55		to adjust, as necessary.
	53	I recommend that you do this process as root, since you'll need to be
	54	able to access files in =/etc/wireguard=, which are generally owned by
	55	root. You can also try using =sudo= or =doas=, but I didn't test that
	56	scenario so you may need to adjust, as necessary.
56	57
57		```sh
	58	#+begin_src sh
58	59	su
59		```
	60	#+end_src
60	61
61		Create the Python file that we'll be using to update the Wireguard configuration
62		files.
	62	Create the Python file that we'll be using to update the Wireguard
	63	configuration files.
63	64
64		```sh
	65	#+begin_src sh
65	66	nano replace.py
66		```
	67	#+end_src
67	68
68		Within the Python file, copy and paste the logic below. This script will open a
69		directory, loop through every configuration file within the directory, and
70		replace the `PostUp` and `PreDown` lines with the new LAN-enabled iptables
71		commands.
	69	Within the Python file, copy and paste the logic below. This script will
	70	open a directory, loop through every configuration file within the
	71	directory, and replace the =PostUp= and =PreDown= lines with the new
	72	LAN-enabled iptables commands.
72	73
73		> Note: If your LAN is on a subnet other than `192.168.1.0/24`, you'll need to
74		> update the Python script below appropriately.
	74	#+begin_quote
	75	Note: If your LAN is on a subnet other than =192.168.1.0/24=, you'll
	76	need to update the Python script below appropriately.
	77	#+end_quote
75	78
76		```python
	79	#+begin_src python
77	80	import os
78	81	import fileinput
79	82
		@@ -92,25 +95,25 @@ for file in os.listdir(dir):
92	95	print(line, end="")
93	96
94	97	print("--- done ---")
95		```
	98	#+end_src
96	99
97		Once you're done, save and close the file. You can now run the Python script and
98		watch as each file is updated.
	100	Once you're done, save and close the file. You can now run the Python
	101	script and watch as each file is updated.
99	102
100		```sh
	103	#+begin_src sh
101	104	python3 replace.py
102		```
	105	#+end_src
103	106
104		To confirm it worked, you can `cat` one of the configuration files to inspect
105		the new logic and connect to one to test it out.
	107	To confirm it worked, you can =cat= one of the configuration files to
	108	inspect the new logic and connect to one to test it out.
106	109
107		```sh
	110	#+begin_src sh
108	111	cat /etc/wireguard/us-chi-wg-001.conf
109		```
	112	#+end_src
110	113
111	114	The configuration files should now look like this:
112	115
113		```conf
	116	#+begin_src conf
114	117	[Interface]
115	118	# Device: <redacted>
116	119	PrivateKey = <redacted>
		@@ -123,19 +126,20 @@ PreDown = iptables -D OUTPUT ! -o %i -m mark ! --mark $(wg show %i fwmark) -m ad
123	126	PublicKey = <redacted>
124	127	AllowedIPs = <redacted>
125	128	Endpoint = <redacted>
126		```
	129	#+end_src
127	130
128		If you connect to a Wireguard interface, such as `us-chi-wg-001`, you can test
129		your SSH functionality and see that it works even while on the VPN.
	131	If you connect to a Wireguard interface, such as =us-chi-wg-001=, you
	132	can test your SSH functionality and see that it works even while on the
	133	VPN.
130	134
131		```sh
	135	#+begin_src sh
132	136	wg-quick up us-chi-wg-001
133	137	ssh user@lan-host
134		```
	138	#+end_src
135	139
136	140	To confirm your VPN connection, you can curl Mullvad's connection API:
137	141
138		```sh
	142	#+begin_src sh
139	143	curl https://am.i.mullvad.net/connected
140	144	# You are connected to Mullvad (server us-chi-wg-001). Your IP address is <redacted>
141		```
	145	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-07-19-plex-transcoder-errors.md → content/blog/2023-07-19-plex-transcoder-errors.org renamed +38 −37

		@@ -1,61 +1,62 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-07-19
3		title = "How to Avoid Plex Error: 'Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up.'"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-07-19>
	2	#+title: How to Avoid Plex Error: 'Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up.'
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Plex Transcoder Error
9	5
10		Occasionally, you may see an error in your Plex client that references a failure
11		with the transcoder conversion process. The specific error wording is:
	6	* Plex Transcoder Error
12	7
13		```txt
	8	Occasionally, you may see an error in your Plex client that references a
	9	failure with the transcoder conversion process. The specific error
	10	wording is:
	11
	12	#+begin_src txt
14	13	Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up.
15		```
	14	#+end_src
16	15
17		# Debugging the Cause
	16	* Debugging the Cause
18	17
19		In order to get a better look at what is causing the error, I'm going to observe
20		the Plex console while the error occurs. To do this, open the Plex web client,
21		go to `Settings` > `Manage` > `Console`. Now, try to play the title again and
22		watch to see which errors occur.
	18	In order to get a better look at what is causing the error, I'm going to
	19	observe the Plex console while the error occurs. To do this, open the
	20	Plex web client, go to =Settings= > =Manage= > =Console=. Now, try to
	21	play the title again and watch to see which errors occur.
23	22
24		In my case, you can see the errors below are related to a subtitle file (`.srt`)
25		causing the transcoder to crash.
	23	In my case, you can see the errors below are related to a subtitle file
	24	(=.srt=) causing the transcoder to crash.
26	25
27		```txt
	26	#+begin_src txt
28	27	Jul 19, 2023 16:49:34.945 [140184571120440] Error — Couldn't find the file to stream: /movies/Movie Title (2021)/Movie Title (2021).srt
29	28	Jul 19, 2023 16:49:34.947 [140184532732728] Error — [Req#7611/Transcode/42935159-67C1-4192-9336-DDC6F7BC9330] Error configuring transcoder: TPU: Failed to download sub-stream to temporary file
30	29	Jul 19, 2023 16:49:35.225 [140184532732728] Warning — [Req#760d/Transcode] Got a request to stop a transcode session without a valid session GUID.
31	30	Jul 19, 2023 16:49:45.561 [140184532732728] Info — [Req#7648] AutoUpdate: no updates available
32	31	Jul 19, 2023 16:51:23.402 [140184510081848] Info — Library section 1 (Movies) will be updated because of a change in "/movies/Movie Title (2021)/Movie Title (2021).srt"
33		```
	32	#+end_src
34	33
35		# Solving the Error
	34	* Solving the Error
36	35
37		In my case, I simply removed the subtitle file because it was not critical to
38		keep. You may also avoid this by turning off subtitles if you don't want to
39		delete the file.
	36	In my case, I simply removed the subtitle file because it was not
	37	critical to keep. You may also avoid this by turning off subtitles if
	38	you don't want to delete the file.
40	39
41		```sh
	40	#+begin_src sh
42	41	rm -rf "/movies/Movie Title (2021)/Movie Title (2021).srt"
43		```
	42	#+end_src
44	43
45		Once the subtitle is removed from the directory or subtitles are turned off, try
46		to play the title again. At this point, it should play without error. If not,
47		reopen or refresh your Plex client and the Plex server:
	44	Once the subtitle is removed from the directory or subtitles are turned
	45	off, try to play the title again. At this point, it should play without
	46	error. If not, reopen or refresh your Plex client and the Plex server:
48	47
49		```sh
	48	#+begin_src sh
50	49	sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver.service
51		```
	50	#+end_src
52	51
53		# Related Discussion
	52	* Related Discussion
54	53
55		Looking at [a related Plex forum
56		post](https://forums.plex.tv/t/subtitles-crashing-plex-transcoder-samsung-q80-tv-with-or-without-hardware-transcode/741441/2),
57		it seems that `.srt` subtitles are the core issue here. However, Plex does not
58		seem to have a resolution that fixes these errors.
	54	Looking at
	55	[[https://forums.plex.tv/t/subtitles-crashing-plex-transcoder-samsung-q80-tv-with-or-without-hardware-transcode/741441/2][a
	56	related Plex forum post]], it seems that =.srt= subtitles are the core
	57	issue here. However, Plex does not seem to have a resolution that fixes
	58	these errors.
59	59
60	60	Unfortunately, I would suggest converting subtitle formats, burning the
61		subtitles into the title, or simply removing subtitles when they cause crashes.
	61	subtitles into the title, or simply removing subtitles when they cause
	62	crashes.

content/blog/2023-08-18-agile-auditing.md deleted −150

		@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-08-18
3		title = "Agile Auditing: An Introduction"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# What is Agile Auditing?
9
10		[Agile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development), the
11		collaborative philosophy behind many software development methods, has been
12		picking up steam as a beneficial tool to use in the external and internal
13		auditing world.
14
15		This blog post will walk through commonly used terms within Agile, Scrum, and
16		Kanban in order to translate these terms and roles into audit-specific terms.
17
18		Whether your team is in charge of a financial statement audit, an attestation
19		(SOC 1, SOC 2, etc.), or a unique internal audit, the terms used throughout this
20		post should still apply.
21
22		# Agile
23
24		To start, I'll take a look at Agile.
25
26		> The Agile methodology is a project management approach that involves breaking
27		> the project into phases and emphasizes continuous collaboration and
28		> improvement. Teams follow a cycle of planning, executing, and evaluating.
29
30		While this approach may seem familiar to what audit teams have historically
31		done, an audit team must make distinct changes in their mentality and how they
32		approach and manage a project.
33
34		## Agile Values
35
36		The Agile Manifesto, written in 2001 at a summit in Utah, contain a set of four
37		main values that comprise the Agile approach:
38
39		1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
40		2. Working software over comprehensive documentation.
41		3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
42		4. Responding to change over following a plan.
43
44		Beyond the four values, [twelve
45		principles](https://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html) were also written as
46		part of the summit.
47
48		In order to relate these values to an audit or attestation engagement, we need
49		to shift the focus from software development to the main goal of an engagement:
50		completing sufficient audit testing to address to relevant risks over the
51		processes and controls at hand.
52
53		Audit Examples:
54
55		- Engagement teams must value the team members, client contacts, and their
56		interactions over the historical processes and tools that have been used.
57		- Engagement teams must value a final report that contains sufficient audit
58		documentation over excessive documentation or scope creep.
59		- Engagement teams must collaborate with the audit clients as much as feasible
60		to ensure that both sides are constantly updated with current knowledge of
61		the engagement's status and any potential findings, rather than waiting for
62		pre-set meetings or the end of the engagement to communicate.
63		- Engagement teams must be able to respond to change in an engagement's
64		schedule, scope, or environment to ensure that the project is completed in a
65		timely manner and that all relevant areas are tested.
66		- In terms of an audit department's portfolio, they must be able to
67		respond to changes in their company's or client's environment and be
68		able to dynamically change their audit plan accordingly.
69
70		# Scrum
71
72		The above section discusses the high-level details of the Agile philosophy and
73		how an audit team can potentially mold that mindset into the audit world, but
74		how does a team implement these ideas?
75
76		There are many methods that use an Agile mindset, but I prefer
77		[Scrum](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_(software_development)>). Scrum is
78		a framework based on Agile that enables a team to work through a project through
79		a series of roles, ceremonies, artifacts, and values.
80
81		Let's dive into each of these individually.
82
83		## Scrum Team
84
85		A scrum project is only as good as the team running the project. Standard scrum
86		teams are separated into three distinct areas:
87
88		1. Product Owner (Client Contact): The client contact is the audit
89		equivalent of the product owner in Scrum. They are responsible for partnering
90		with the engagement or audit team to ensure progress is being made,
91		priorities are established, and clear guidance is given when questions or
92		findings arise within each sprint.
93		2. Scrum Master (Engagement Lead): The engagement or audit team lead is
94		responsible for coaching the team and the client contact on the scrum
95		process, tracking team progress against plan, scheduling necessary resources,
96		and helping remove obstacles.
97		3. Scrum Developers (Engagement Members): The engagement or audit team is
98		the set of team members responsible for getting the work done. These team
99		members will work on each task, report progress, resolve obstacles, and
100		collaborate with other team members and the client contact to ensure goals
101		are being met.
102
103		## Scrum Ceremonies
104
105		Scrum ceremonies are events that are performed on a regular basis.
106
107		1. Sprint Planning: The team works together to plan the upcoming sprint goal
108		and which user stories (tasks) will be added to the sprint to achieve that
109		goal.
110		2. Sprint: The time period, typically at least one week and no more than one
111		month in length, where the team works on the stories and anything in the
112		backlog.
113		3. Daily Scrum: A very short meeting held each day, typically 15 minutes, to
114		quickly emphasize alignment on the sprint goal and plan the next 24 hours.
115		Each team member may share what they did the day before, what they'll do
116		today, and any obstacles to their work.
117		4. Sprint Review: At the end of each sprint, the team will gather and
118		discuss the progress, obstacles, and backlog from the previous sprint.
119		5. Sprint Retrospective: More specific than the sprint review, the
120		retrospective is meant to discuss what worked and what did not work during
121		the sprint. This may be processes, tools, people, or even things related to
122		the Scrum ceremonies.
123
124		One additional ceremony that may be applicable is organizing the backlog. This
125		is typically the responsibility of the engagement leader and is meant to
126		prioritize and clarify what needs to be done to complete items in the backlog.
127
128		## Artifacts
129
130		While artifacts are generally not customizable in the audit world (i.e., each
131		control test must include some kind of working paper with evidence supporting
132		the test results), I wanted to include some quick notes on associating scrum
133		artifact terms with an audit.
134
135		1. Product Backlog: This is the overall backlog of unfinished audit tasks
136		from all prior sprints.
137		2. Sprint Backlog: This is the backlog of unfinished audit tasks from one
138		individual sprint.
139		3. Increment: This is the output of each sprint - generally this is best
140		thought of as any documentation prepared during the sprint, such as risk
141		assessments, control working papers, deficiency analysis, etc.
142
143		# Kanban
144
145		Last but not least, Kanban is a methodology that relies on boards to categorize
146		work into distinct, descriptive categories that allow an agile or scrum team to
147		effectively plan the work of a sprint or project.
148
149		See Atlassian's [Kanban](https://www.atlassian.com/agile/kanban) page for more
150		information.

content/blog/2023-08-18-agile-auditing.org added +157

		@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-08-18>
	2	#+title: Agile Auditing: An Introduction
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* What is Agile Auditing?
	7
	8	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development][Agile]], the
	9	collaborative philosophy behind many software development methods, has
	10	been picking up steam as a beneficial tool to use in the external and
	11	internal auditing world.
	12
	13	This blog post will walk through commonly used terms within Agile,
	14	Scrum, and Kanban in order to translate these terms and roles into
	15	audit-specific terms.
	16
	17	Whether your team is in charge of a financial statement audit, an
	18	attestation (SOC 1, SOC 2, etc.), or a unique internal audit, the terms
	19	used throughout this post should still apply.
	20
	21	* Agile
	22
	23	To start, I'll take a look at Agile.
	24
	25	#+begin_quote
	26	The Agile methodology is a project management approach that involves
	27	breaking the project into phases and emphasizes continuous collaboration
	28	and improvement. Teams follow a cycle of planning, executing, and
	29	evaluating.
	30	#+end_quote
	31
	32	While this approach may seem familiar to what audit teams have
	33	historically done, an audit team must make distinct changes in their
	34	mentality and how they approach and manage a project.
	35
	36	** Agile Values
	37
	38	The Agile Manifesto, written in 2001 at a summit in Utah, contain a set
	39	of four main values that comprise the Agile approach:
	40
	41	1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
	42	2. Working software over comprehensive documentation.
	43	3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
	44	4. Responding to change over following a plan.
	45
	46	Beyond the four values,
	47	[[https://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html][twelve principles]] were
	48	also written as part of the summit.
	49
	50	In order to relate these values to an audit or attestation engagement,
	51	we need to shift the focus from software development to the main goal of
	52	an engagement: completing sufficient audit testing to address to
	53	relevant risks over the processes and controls at hand.
	54
	55	Audit Examples:
	56
	57	- Engagement teams must value the team members, client contacts, and
	58	their interactions over the historical processes and tools that have
	59	been used.
	60	- Engagement teams must value a final report that contains sufficient
	61	audit documentation over excessive documentation or scope creep.
	62	- Engagement teams must collaborate with the audit clients as much as
	63	feasible to ensure that both sides are constantly updated with current
	64	knowledge of the engagement's status and any potential findings,
	65	rather than waiting for pre-set meetings or the end of the engagement
	66	to communicate.
	67	- Engagement teams must be able to respond to change in an engagement's
	68	schedule, scope, or environment to ensure that the project is
	69	completed in a timely manner and that all relevant areas are tested.
	70	- In terms of an audit department's portfolio, they must be able to
	71	respond to changes in their company's or client's environment and be
	72	able to dynamically change their audit plan accordingly.
	73
	74	* Scrum
	75
	76	The above section discusses the high-level details of the Agile
	77	philosophy and how an audit team can potentially mold that mindset into
	78	the audit world, but how does a team implement these ideas?
	79
	80	There are many methods that use an Agile mindset, but I prefer
	81	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_(software_development)][Scrum]].
	82	Scrum is a framework based on Agile that enables a team to work through
	83	a project through a series of roles, ceremonies, artifacts, and values.
	84
	85	Let's dive into each of these individually.
	86
	87	** Scrum Team
	88
	89	A scrum project is only as good as the team running the project.
	90	Standard scrum teams are separated into three distinct areas:
	91
	92	1. Product Owner (Client Contact): The client contact is the audit
	93	equivalent of the product owner in Scrum. They are responsible for
	94	partnering with the engagement or audit team to ensure progress is
	95	being made, priorities are established, and clear guidance is given
	96	when questions or findings arise within each sprint.
	97	2. Scrum Master (Engagement Lead): The engagement or audit team lead
	98	is responsible for coaching the team and the client contact on the
	99	scrum process, tracking team progress against plan, scheduling
	100	necessary resources, and helping remove obstacles.
	101	3. Scrum Developers (Engagement Members): The engagement or audit team
	102	is the set of team members responsible for getting the work done.
	103	These team members will work on each task, report progress, resolve
	104	obstacles, and collaborate with other team members and the client
	105	contact to ensure goals are being met.
	106
	107	** Scrum Ceremonies
	108
	109	Scrum ceremonies are events that are performed on a regular basis.
	110
	111	1. Sprint Planning: The team works together to plan the upcoming
	112	sprint goal and which user stories (tasks) will be added to the
	113	sprint to achieve that goal.
	114	2. Sprint: The time period, typically at least one week and no more
	115	than one month in length, where the team works on the stories and
	116	anything in the backlog.
	117	3. Daily Scrum: A very short meeting held each day, typically 15
	118	minutes, to quickly emphasize alignment on the sprint goal and plan
	119	the next 24 hours. Each team member may share what they did the day
	120	before, what they'll do today, and any obstacles to their work.
	121	4. Sprint Review: At the end of each sprint, the team will gather and
	122	discuss the progress, obstacles, and backlog from the previous
	123	sprint.
	124	5. Sprint Retrospective: More specific than the sprint review, the
	125	retrospective is meant to discuss what worked and what did not work
	126	during the sprint. This may be processes, tools, people, or even
	127	things related to the Scrum ceremonies.
	128
	129	One additional ceremony that may be applicable is organizing the
	130	backlog. This is typically the responsibility of the engagement leader
	131	and is meant to prioritize and clarify what needs to be done to complete
	132	items in the backlog.
	133
	134	** Artifacts
	135
	136	While artifacts are generally not customizable in the audit world (i.e.,
	137	each control test must include some kind of working paper with evidence
	138	supporting the test results), I wanted to include some quick notes on
	139	associating scrum artifact terms with an audit.
	140
	141	1. Product Backlog: This is the overall backlog of unfinished audit
	142	tasks from all prior sprints.
	143	2. Sprint Backlog: This is the backlog of unfinished audit tasks from
	144	one individual sprint.
	145	3. Increment: This is the output of each sprint - generally this is
	146	best thought of as any documentation prepared during the sprint, such
	147	as risk assessments, control working papers, deficiency analysis,
	148	etc.
	149
	150	* Kanban
	151
	152	Last but not least, Kanban is a methodology that relies on boards to
	153	categorize work into distinct, descriptive categories that allow an
	154	agile or scrum team to effectively plan the work of a sprint or project.
	155
	156	See Atlassian's [[https://www.atlassian.com/agile/kanban][Kanban]] page
	157	for more information.

content/blog/2023-09-15-self-hosting-gitweb.md → content/blog/2023-09-15-self-hosting-gitweb.org renamed +30 −30

		@@ -1,36 +1,35 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-09-15
3		title = "Self-Hosting Gitweb via Nginx"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-09-15>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Gitweb via Nginx
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
9	5
10		[GitWeb](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-on-the-Server-GitWeb) is a simple
11		web-based visualizer for git repositories. By default, GitWeb will only run with
12		the `lighttpd` or `webrick` web servers.
	6	* Overview
13	7
14		However, this guide will show you how to keep GitWeb running in the background
15		and display information for all repositories in a chosen directory.
	8	[[https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-on-the-Server-GitWeb][GitWeb]] is a
	9	simple web-based visualizer for git repositories. By default, GitWeb
	10	will only run with the =lighttpd= or =webrick= web servers.
16	11
17		# Install Dependencies
	12	However, this guide will show you how to keep GitWeb running in the
	13	background and display information for all repositories in a chosen
	14	directory.
	15
	16	* Install Dependencies
18	17
19	18	To start, you'll need install the following packages:
20	19
21		```sh
	20	#+begin_src sh
22	21	sudo apt install git gitweb fcgiwrap nginx
23		```
	22	#+end_src
24	23
25		# Configure Nginx
	24	* Configure Nginx
26	25
27	26	Once installed, create an Nginx configuration file.
28	27
29		```sh
	28	#+begin_src sh
30	29	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com
31		```
	30	#+end_src
32	31
33		```conf
	32	#+begin_src conf
34	33	server {
35	34	listen 80;
36	35	server_name example.com;
		@@ -49,23 +48,24 @@ server {
49	48	index index.cgi;
50	49	}
51	50	}
52		```
	51	#+end_src
53	52
54		To make the configuration active, you need to symlink it and then restart Nginx.
	53	To make the configuration active, you need to symlink it and then
	54	restart Nginx.
55	55
56		```sh
	56	#+begin_src sh
57	57	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/git.example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/git.example.com
58	58	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
59		```
	59	#+end_src
60	60
61		The GitWeb application should now be available via the URL you set in the Nginx
62		configuration above.
	61	The GitWeb application should now be available via the URL you set in
	62	the Nginx configuration above.
63	63
64		# Customize GitWeb
	64	* Customize GitWeb
65	65
66		If you need to, you can customize many things about Gitweb by editing the
67		[gitweb.conf](https://git-scm.com/docs/gitweb.conf) file.
	66	If you need to, you can customize many things about Gitweb by editing
	67	the [[https://git-scm.com/docs/gitweb.conf][gitweb.conf]] file.
68	68
69		```sh
	69	#+begin_src sh
70	70	sudo nano /etc/gitweb.conf
71		```
	71	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-09-19-audit-sql-scripts.md → content/blog/2023-09-19-audit-sql-scripts.org renamed +62 −59

		@@ -1,24 +1,23 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-09-19
3		title = "Useful SQL Scripts for Auditing Logical Access"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-09-19>
	2	#+title: Useful SQL Scripts for Auditing Logical Access
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
9	5
10		When you have to scope a database into your engagement, you may be curious how
11		to best extract the information from the database. While there are numerous
12		different methods to extract this type of information, I'm going to show an
13		example of how to gather all users and privileges from three main database
14		types: Oracle, Microsoft SQL, and MySQL.
	6	* Overview
15	7
16		# Oracle
	8	When you have to scope a database into your engagement, you may be
	9	curious how to best extract the information from the database. While
	10	there are numerous different methods to extract this type of
	11	information, I'm going to show an example of how to gather all users and
	12	privileges from three main database types: Oracle, Microsoft SQL, and
	13	MySQL.
17	14
18		You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their privileges in an
19		Oracle database:
	15	* Oracle
20	16
21		```sql
	17	You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their
	18	privileges in an Oracle database:
	19
	20	#+begin_src sql
22	21	SELECT
23	22	grantee AS "User",
24	23	privilege AS "Privilege"
		@@ -34,37 +33,39 @@ FROM
34	33	dba_tab_privs
35	34	WHERE
36	35	grantee IN (SELECT DISTINCT grantee FROM dba_tab_privs);
37		```
	36	#+end_src
38	37
39		This script queries the `dba_sys_privs` and `dba_tab_privs` views to retrieve
40		system and table-level privileges respectively. It then combines the results
41		using `UNION ALL` to show all users and their associated privileges. Please note
42		that this method does not extract information from the `dba_role_privs` table -
43		use the method below for that data.
	38	This script queries the =dba_sys_privs= and =dba_tab_privs= views to
	39	retrieve system and table-level privileges respectively. It then
	40	combines the results using =UNION ALL= to show all users and their
	41	associated privileges. Please note that this method does not extract
	42	information from the =dba_role_privs= table - use the method below for
	43	that data.
44	44
45		Please note that you might need appropriate privileges (e.g., DBA privileges) to
46		access these views, and you should exercise caution when querying system tables
47		in a production Oracle database.
	45	Please note that you might need appropriate privileges (e.g., DBA
	46	privileges) to access these views, and you should exercise caution when
	47	querying system tables in a production Oracle database.
48	48
49		## Alternative Oracle Query
	49	** Alternative Oracle Query
50	50
51		You can also extract each table's information separately and perform processing
52		outside the database to explore and determine the information necessary for the
53		audit:
	51	You can also extract each table's information separately and perform
	52	processing outside the database to explore and determine the information
	53	necessary for the audit:
54	54
55		```sql
	55	#+begin_src sql
56	56	SELECT ** FROM sys.dba_role_privs;
57	57	SELECT ** FROM sys.dba_sys_privs;
58	58	SELECT ** FROM sys.dba_tab_privs;
59	59	SELECT ** FROM sys.dba_users;
60		```
	60	#+end_src
61	61
62		# Microsoft SQL
	62	* Microsoft SQL
63	63
64		You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their privileges in a
65		Microsoft SQL Server database ([source](https://stackoverflow.com/a/30040784)):
	64	You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their
	65	privileges in a Microsoft SQL Server database
	66	([[https://stackoverflow.com/a/30040784][source]]):
66	67
67		```sql
	68	#+begin_src sql
68	69	/*
69	70	Security Audit Report
70	71	1) List all access provisioned to a sql user or windows user/group directly
		@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ ObjectName : Name of the object that the user/role is assigned permissions
95	96	definitions.
96	97	ColumnName : Name of the column of the object that the user/role is assigned permissions on. This value
97	98	is only populated if the object is a table, view or a table value function.
98		*/
	99	,*/
99	100
100	101	--List all access provisioned to a sql user or windows user/group directly
101	102	SELECT
		@@ -209,41 +210,43 @@ ORDER BY
209	210	perm.[permission_name],
210	211	perm.[state_desc],
211	212	obj.type_desc--perm.[class_desc]
212		```
	213	#+end_src
213	214
214		# MySQL
	215	* MySQL
215	216
216		You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their privileges in a
217		MySQL database:
	217	You can use the following SQL script to see all users and their
	218	privileges in a MySQL database:
218	219
219		```sh
	220	#+begin_src sh
220	221	mysql -u root -p
221		```
	222	#+end_src
222	223
223	224	Find all users and hosts with access to the database:
224	225
225		```sql
	226	#+begin_src sql
226	227	SELECT ** FROM information_schema.user_privileges;
227		```
	228	#+end_src
228	229
229		This script retrieves user information and their associated database-level
230		privileges from the `information_schema.user_privileges` table in MySQL. It
231		lists various privileges such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, and
232		more for each user and database combination.
	230	This script retrieves user information and their associated
	231	database-level privileges from the =information_schema.user_privileges=
	232	table in MySQL. It lists various privileges such as SELECT, INSERT,
	233	UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, and more for each user and database combination.
233	234
234		Please note that you may need appropriate privileges (e.g., `SELECT` privileges
235		on `information_schema.user_privileges`) to access this information in a MySQL
236		database. Additionally, some privileges like GRANT OPTION, EXECUTE, EVENT, and
237		TRIGGER may not be relevant for all users and databases.
	235	Please note that you may need appropriate privileges (e.g., =SELECT=
	236	privileges on =information_schema.user_privileges=) to access this
	237	information in a MySQL database. Additionally, some privileges like
	238	GRANT OPTION, EXECUTE, EVENT, and TRIGGER may not be relevant for all
	239	users and databases.
238	240
239		## Alternative MySQL Query
	241	** Alternative MySQL Query
240	242
241		You can also grab individual sets of data from MySQL if you prefer to join them
242		after extraction. I have marked the queries below with `SELECT ...` and excluded
243		most `WHERE` clauses for brevity. You should determine the relevant privileges
244		in-scope and query for those privileges to reduce the length of time to query.
	243	You can also grab individual sets of data from MySQL if you prefer to
	244	join them after extraction. I have marked the queries below with
	245	=SELECT ...= and excluded most =WHERE= clauses for brevity. You should
	246	determine the relevant privileges in-scope and query for those
	247	privileges to reduce the length of time to query.
245	248
246		```sql
	249	#+begin_src sql
247	250	-- Global Permissions
248	251	SELECT ... FROM mysql.user;
249	252
		@@ -262,4 +265,4 @@ WHERE db = @db_name;
262	265	-- Password Configuration
263	266	SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'validate_password%';
264	267	SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'validate_password%';
265		```
	268	#+end_src

content/blog/2023-10-04-digital-minimalism.md deleted −99

		@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-10-04
3		title = "Digital Minimalism"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		I've written [a note about minimalism](file:///wiki/#digital-garden) before, but
9		I wanted to dedicate some time to reflect on digital minimalism and how I've
10		been able to minimize the impact of digital devices in my life.
11
12		> These changes crept up on us and happened fast, before we had a chance to step
13		> back and ask what we really wanted out of the rapid advances of the past
14		> decade. We added new technologies to the periphery of our experience for minor
15		> reasons, then woke one morning to discover that they had colonized the core of
16		> our daily life. We didn't, in other words, sign up for the digital world in
17		> which we're currently entrenched; we seem to have stumbled backward into it.
18		>
19		> _(Digital Minimalism, 2019)_
20
21		# The Principles of Digital Minimalism
22
23		As noted in Cal Newport's book, _Digital Minimalism_, there are three main
24		principles to digital minimalism that I tend to agree with:
25
26		1. Clutter is costly.
27		- Digital minimalists recognize that cluttering their time and attention
28		with too many devices, apps, and services creates an overall negative
29		cost that can swamp the small benefits that each individual item
30		provides in isolation.
31		2. Optimization is important.
32		- Digital minimalists believe that deciding a particular technology
33		supports something they value is only the first step. To truly extract
34		its full potential benefit, it's necessary to think carefully about how
35		they'll use the technology.
36		3. Intentionality is satisfying.
37		- Digital minimalists derive significant satisfaction from their general
38		commitment to being more intentional about how they engage with new
39		technologies. This source of satisfaction is independent of the specific
40		decisions they make and is one of the biggest reasons that minimalism
41		tends to be immensely meaningful to its practitioners.
42
43		# Taking Action
44
45		In order to put the logic into practice, I've created a few new habits and
46		continued performing old habits that are working well:
47
48		## Using Devices With Intention
49
50		- I already rarely use "social media", mostly limited to forums such as Hacker
51		News and Tildes, so I've just tweaked my behavior to stop looking for
52		content in those places when I'm bored.
53		- Use devices with intention. Each time I pick up a digital device, there
54		should be an intention to use the device to improve my current situation. No
55		more endless scrolling or searching for something to interest me.
56
57		## Prevent Distractions
58
59		- Disable (most) notifications on all devices. I spent 15-30 minutes going
60		through the notifications on my phone, watch, and computer to ensure that
61		only a select few apps have the ability to interrupt me: Calendar, Messages,
62		Phone, Reminders, & Signal.
63		- Disable badges for any apps except the ones mentioned in the bullet above.
64		- Set-up focus profiles across devices so that I can enable different modes,
65		such as Personal when I only want to see notifications from people I care
66		about or Do Not Disturb, where absolutely nothing can interrupt me.
67		- Clean up my home screens. This one was quite easy as I already maintain a
68		minimalist set-up, but I went extreme by limiting my phone to just eight
69		apps on the home screen and four in the dock. If I need another app, I'll
70		have to search or use the app library.
71		- Remove the work profile from my phone. This was a tough decision as having
72		my work profile on my device definitely makes my life easier at times, but
73		it also has quite a negative effect when I'm "always online" and can see the
74		notifications and team activity 24/7. I believe creating a distinct barrier
75		between my work and personal devices will be beneficial in the end.
76
77		## Creating Alternative Activities
78
79		This is the most difficult piece, as most of my hobbies and interests lie in the
80		digital world. However, I'm making a concerted effort to put devices down unless
81		necessary and force myself to perform other activities in the physical world
82		instead.
83
84		I've started with a few basics that are always readily available to me:
85
86		- Do a chore, such as organizing or cleaning.
87		- Read a book, study a piece of art, etc.
88		- Exercise or get outdoors.
89		- Participate in a hobby, such as photography, birding, disc golf, etc.
90		- Let yourself be bored and wander into creativity.
91
92		# Making Progress
93
94		I'll be taking notes as I continue down this journey and hope to see positive
95		trends. I've always been a minimalist in the physical world and it feels
96		refreshing to filter out the clutter that has come to dominate my digital life
97		over the years.
98
99		I'm excited to see where this journey leads.

content/blog/2023-10-04-digital-minimalism.org added +106

		@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-10-04>
	2	#+title: Digital Minimalism
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	I've written [[file:///wiki/#digital-garden][a note about minimalism]]
	7	before, but I wanted to dedicate some time to reflect on digital
	8	minimalism and how I've been able to minimize the impact of digital
	9	devices in my life.
	10
	11	#+begin_quote
	12	These changes crept up on us and happened fast, before we had a chance
	13	to step back and ask what we really wanted out of the rapid advances of
	14	the past decade. We added new technologies to the periphery of our
	15	experience for minor reasons, then woke one morning to discover that
	16	they had colonized the core of our daily life. We didn't, in other
	17	words, sign up for the digital world in which we're currently
	18	entrenched; we seem to have stumbled backward into it.
	19
	20	/(Digital Minimalism, 2019)/
	21	#+end_quote
	22
	23	* The Principles of Digital Minimalism
	24
	25	As noted in Cal Newport's book, /Digital Minimalism/, there are three
	26	main principles to digital minimalism that I tend to agree with:
	27
	28	1. Clutter is costly.
	29	- Digital minimalists recognize that cluttering their time and
	30	attention with too many devices, apps, and services creates an
	31	overall negative cost that can swamp the small benefits that each
	32	individual item provides in isolation.
	33	2. Optimization is important.
	34	- Digital minimalists believe that deciding a particular technology
	35	supports something they value is only the first step. To truly
	36	extract its full potential benefit, it's necessary to think
	37	carefully about how they'll use the technology.
	38	3. Intentionality is satisfying.
	39	- Digital minimalists derive significant satisfaction from their
	40	general commitment to being more intentional about how they engage
	41	with new technologies. This source of satisfaction is independent
	42	of the specific decisions they make and is one of the biggest
	43	reasons that minimalism tends to be immensely meaningful to its
	44	practitioners.
	45
	46	* Taking Action
	47
	48	In order to put the logic into practice, I've created a few new habits
	49	and continued performing old habits that are working well:
	50
	51	** Using Devices With Intention
	52
	53	- I already rarely use "social media", mostly limited to forums such as
	54	Hacker News and Tildes, so I've just tweaked my behavior to stop
	55	looking for content in those places when I'm bored.
	56	- Use devices with intention. Each time I pick up a digital device,
	57	there should be an intention to use the device to improve my current
	58	situation. No more endless scrolling or searching for something to
	59	interest me.
	60
	61	** Prevent Distractions
	62
	63	- Disable (most) notifications on all devices. I spent 15-30 minutes
	64	going through the notifications on my phone, watch, and computer to
	65	ensure that only a select few apps have the ability to interrupt me:
	66	Calendar, Messages, Phone, Reminders, & Signal.
	67	- Disable badges for any apps except the ones mentioned in the bullet
	68	above.
	69	- Set-up focus profiles across devices so that I can enable different
	70	modes, such as Personal when I only want to see notifications from
	71	people I care about or Do Not Disturb, where absolutely nothing can
	72	interrupt me.
	73	- Clean up my home screens. This one was quite easy as I already
	74	maintain a minimalist set-up, but I went extreme by limiting my phone
	75	to just eight apps on the home screen and four in the dock. If I need
	76	another app, I'll have to search or use the app library.
	77	- Remove the work profile from my phone. This was a tough decision as
	78	having my work profile on my device definitely makes my life easier at
	79	times, but it also has quite a negative effect when I'm "always
	80	online" and can see the notifications and team activity 24/7. I
	81	believe creating a distinct barrier between my work and personal
	82	devices will be beneficial in the end.
	83
	84	** Creating Alternative Activities
	85
	86	This is the most difficult piece, as most of my hobbies and interests
	87	lie in the digital world. However, I'm making a concerted effort to put
	88	devices down unless necessary and force myself to perform other
	89	activities in the physical world instead.
	90
	91	I've started with a few basics that are always readily available to me:
	92
	93	- Do a chore, such as organizing or cleaning.
	94	- Read a book, study a piece of art, etc.
	95	- Exercise or get outdoors.
	96	- Participate in a hobby, such as photography, birding, disc golf, etc.
	97	- Let yourself be bored and wander into creativity.
	98
	99	* Making Progress
	100
	101	I'll be taking notes as I continue down this journey and hope to see
	102	positive trends. I've always been a minimalist in the physical world and
	103	it feels refreshing to filter out the clutter that has come to dominate
	104	my digital life over the years.
	105
	106	I'm excited to see where this journey leads.

content/blog/2023-10-11-self-hosting-authelia.md → content/blog/2023-10-11-self-hosting-authelia.org renamed +111 −109

		@@ -1,55 +1,54 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-10-11
3		title = "Self-Hosting Authelia"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-10-11>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting Authelia
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
9	5
10		[Authelia](https://www.authelia.com/) is an open-source authentication service
11		that allows you to place a portal between end users on the internet and
12		self-hosted services on your server.
	6	* Overview
13	7
14		You can require one factor (username+password) or two factor authentication for
15		any such user before allowing them to access a specific service on your domain.
	8	[[https://www.authelia.com/][Authelia]] is an open-source authentication
	9	service that allows you to place a portal between end users on the
	10	internet and self-hosted services on your server.
	11
	12	You can require one factor (username+password) or two factor
	13	authentication for any such user before allowing them to access a
	14	specific service on your domain.
16	15
17	16	This guide will walk through a standard installation of Authelia for
18		`example.com`, using `auth.example.com` as Authelia's authentication domain and
19		`teddit.example.com` as the website we want to protect behind the authentication
20		portal.
	17	=example.com=, using =auth.example.com= as Authelia's authentication
	18	domain and =teddit.example.com= as the website we want to protect behind
	19	the authentication portal.
21	20
22		# Prerequisites
	21	* Prerequisites
23	22
24	23	This guide assumes you have the following already set-up:
25	24
26		- A registered domain with DNS pointing to your server.
27		- A subdomain for Authelia (`auth.example.com`) and a subdomain to protect via
28		Authelia (`app.example.com`).
29		- A working Nginx web server.
30		- Docker and docker-compose installed.
	25	- A registered domain with DNS pointing to your server.
	26	- A subdomain for Authelia (=auth.example.com=) and a subdomain to
	27	protect via Authelia (=app.example.com=).
	28	- A working Nginx web server.
	29	- Docker and docker-compose installed.
31	30
32		# Installation
	31	* Installation
33	32
34		This guide will walk through each installation step one-by-one, starting with
35		the container and finishing by cleaning up external access via an Nginx reverse
36		proxy.
	33	This guide will walk through each installation step one-by-one, starting
	34	with the container and finishing by cleaning up external access via an
	35	Nginx reverse proxy.
37	36
38		## Docker-Compose
	37	** Docker-Compose
39	38
40		To start, create a directory for Authelia and create a `docker-compose.yml`
41		file.
	39	To start, create a directory for Authelia and create a
	40	=docker-compose.yml= file.
42	41
43		```sh
	42	#+begin_src sh
44	43	mkdir ~/authelia
45	44	nano ~/authelia/docker-compose.yml
46		```
	45	#+end_src
47	46
48		Within this file, paste the following content. If you prefer a different local
49		port, modify the port on the left side of the colon on the `9091:9091` line. Be
50		sure to modify the `TZ` variable to your timezone.
	47	Within this file, paste the following content. If you prefer a different
	48	local port, modify the port on the left side of the colon on the
	49	=9091:9091= line. Be sure to modify the =TZ= variable to your timezone.
51	50
52		```yml
	51	#+begin_src yml
53	52	version: "3.3"
54	53
55	54	services:
		@@ -62,51 +61,53 @@ services:
62	61	- 9091:9091
63	62	environment:
64	63	- TZ=America/Chicago
65		```
	64	#+end_src
66	65
67	66	Start the container with docker-compose:
68	67
69		```sh
	68	#+begin_src sh
70	69	sudo docker-compose up -d
71		```
	70	#+end_src
72	71
73		After the first start, the container will automatically exit and require you to
74		modify the app's configuration files before continuing. Read on to learn more.
	72	After the first start, the container will automatically exit and require
	73	you to modify the app's configuration files before continuing. Read on
	74	to learn more.
75	75
76		## Authelia Configuration
	76	** Authelia Configuration
77	77
78		To configure Authelia before we restart the container, we need to open the
79		`config` directory and modify the files. Start by editing the
80		`configuration.yml` file, where all of Authelia's settings are stored.
	78	To configure Authelia before we restart the container, we need to open
	79	the =config= directory and modify the files. Start by editing the
	80	=configuration.yml= file, where all of Authelia's settings are stored.
81	81
82		My personal preference is to copy the original configuration file to a backup
83		file and edit a fresh copy.
	82	My personal preference is to copy the original configuration file to a
	83	backup file and edit a fresh copy.
84	84
85		```sh
	85	#+begin_src sh
86	86	sudo cp ~/authelia/config/configuration.yml ~/authelia/config/configuration.yml.bk
87	87	sudo nano ~/authelia/config/configuration.yml
88		```
	88	#+end_src
89	89
90		Within the blank `configuration.yml` file, paste the following information. You
91		will need to make quite a few updates, so be sure to read each line carefully
92		and modify as necessary.
	90	Within the blank =configuration.yml= file, paste the following
	91	information. You will need to make quite a few updates, so be sure to
	92	read each line carefully and modify as necessary.
93	93
94	94	The major required changes are:
95	95
96		- Any instances of `example.com` should be replaced by your domain.
97		- `jwt_secret` - Use the `pwgen 40 1` command to generate a secret for
98		yourself.
99		- `access_control` - Set the Authelia domain to bypass here, as well as any
100		subdomains you want to protect.
101		- `session` > `secret` - Use the `pwgen 40 1` command to generate a secret for
102		yourself.
103		- `regulation` - Set the variables here to restrict login attempts and bans.
104		- `storage` > `encryption_key` - Use the `pwgen 40 1` command to generate a
105		secret for yourself.
106		- `smtp` - If you have access to an SMTP service, set up the information here
107		to active outgoing emails.
108
109		```yml
	96	- Any instances of =example.com= should be replaced by your domain.
	97	- =jwt_secret= - Use the =pwgen 40 1= command to generate a secret for
	98	yourself.
	99	- =access_control= - Set the Authelia domain to bypass here, as well as
	100	any subdomains you want to protect.
	101	- =session= > =secret= - Use the =pwgen 40 1= command to generate a
	102	secret for yourself.
	103	- =regulation= - Set the variables here to restrict login attempts and
	104	bans.
	105	- =storage= > =encryption_key= - Use the =pwgen 40 1= command to
	106	generate a secret for yourself.
	107	- =smtp= - If you have access to an SMTP service, set up the information
	108	here to active outgoing emails.
	109
	110	#+begin_src yml
110	111	# yamllint disable rule:comments-indentation
111	112	---
112	113	###############################################################################
		@@ -194,25 +195,26 @@ notifier:
194	195	tls:
195	196	skip_verify: false
196	197	minimum_version: TLS1.2
197		```
	198	#+end_src
198	199
199		## Authelia Users
	200	** Authelia Users
200	201
201	202	Next, create the users file for authentication.
202	203
203		```sh
	204	#+begin_src sh
204	205	sudo nano ~/authelia/config/users_database.yml
205		```
	206	#+end_src
206	207
207		Within the file, you will need to create an entry for each user that needs
208		access to Authelia. The `my_username` entry will be the username used on the
209		login page.
	208	Within the file, you will need to create an entry for each user that
	209	needs access to Authelia. The =my_username= entry will be the username
	210	used on the login page.
210	211
211		To generate the password, go to [Argon2 Hash Generator](https://argon2.online),
212		generate a random salt, and make sure the rest of the settings match the
213		`authentication_backend` section of `configuration.yml` file.
	212	To generate the password, go to [[https://argon2.online][Argon2 Hash
	213	Generator]], generate a random salt, and make sure the rest of the
	214	settings match the =authentication_backend= section of
	215	=configuration.yml= file.
214	216
215		```yaml
	217	#+begin_src yaml
216	218	users:
217	219	my_username:
218	220	displayname: "My User"
		@@ -223,31 +225,31 @@ users:
223	225	groups:
224	226	- admins
225	227	- dev
226		```
	228	#+end_src
227	229
228	230	Once the app is configured, restart the container from scratch.
229	231
230		```sh
	232	#+begin_src sh
231	233	cd ~/authelia
232	234	sudo docker-compose down && sudo docker-compose up -d
233		```
	235	#+end_src
234	236
235		## Nginx: Authelia Domain
	237	** Nginx: Authelia Domain
236	238
237		Once the container is running and configured, the final step is to configure
238		external access to the server via Nginx reverse proxy.
	239	Once the container is running and configured, the final step is to
	240	configure external access to the server via Nginx reverse proxy.
239	241
240	242	Start by creating the Authelia domain.
241	243
242		```sh
	244	#+begin_src sh
243	245	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/auth
244		```
	246	#+end_src
245	247
246	248	Within this file, paste the following information and be sure to update
247		`example.com` to your domain. Make sure the `$upstream_authelia` variable
248		matches the location of your Authelia container.
	249	=example.com= to your domain. Make sure the =$upstream_authelia=
	250	variable matches the location of your Authelia container.
249	251
250		```conf
	252	#+begin_src conf
251	253	server {
252	254	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
253	255	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -299,30 +301,30 @@ server {
299	301	}
300	302
301	303	}
302		```
	304	#+end_src
303	305
304		Next, symlink the file and restart Nginx. If there are errors, be sure to
305		resolve those before moving on.
	306	Next, symlink the file and restart Nginx. If there are errors, be sure
	307	to resolve those before moving on.
306	308
307		```sh
	309	#+begin_src sh
308	310	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/auth /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/auth
309	311	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
310		```
	312	#+end_src
311	313
312		## Nginx: Protected Domain(s)
	314	** Nginx: Protected Domain(s)
313	315
314		Now that Authelia is accessible externally, you need to configure the domain you
315		intend to protect with Authelia. In this example, I'm protecting
316		`teddit.example.com`.
	316	Now that Authelia is accessible externally, you need to configure the
	317	domain you intend to protect with Authelia. In this example, I'm
	318	protecting =teddit.example.com=.
317	319
318	320	Similar to the process above, paste the content and update the relevant
319	321	variables.
320	322
321		```sh
	323	#+begin_src sh
322	324	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/teddit
323		```
	325	#+end_src
324	326
325		```conf
	327	#+begin_src conf
326	328	server {
327	329	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
328	330	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -424,26 +426,26 @@ server {
424	426	proxy_buffers 64 256k;
425	427	}
426	428	}
427		```
	429	#+end_src
428	430
429	431	Same as before, symlink the file and restart Nginx.
430	432
431		```sh
	433	#+begin_src sh
432	434	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/teddit /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/teddit
433	435	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
434		```
	436	#+end_src
435	437
436		# Results
	438	* Results
437	439
438	440	When visiting the protected domain, you will now be redirected to your
439	441	authentication domain and presented with the Authelia login portal.
440	442
441		![Authelia
442		Portal](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20231010-authelia/authelia_portal.png)
	443	#+caption: Authelia Portal
	444	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20231010-authelia/authelia_portal.png]]
443	445
444		Once you've successfully authenticated, you can visit your authentication domain
445		directly and see that you're currently authenticated to any domain protected by
446		Authelia.
	446	Once you've successfully authenticated, you can visit your
	447	authentication domain directly and see that you're currently
	448	authenticated to any domain protected by Authelia.
447	449
448		![Authelia
449		Success](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20231010-authelia/authelia_success.png)
	450	#+caption: Authelia Success
	451	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20231010-authelia/authelia_success.png]]

content/blog/2023-10-15-alpine-ssh-hardening.md → content/blog/2023-10-15-alpine-ssh-hardening.org renamed +35 −37

		@@ -1,69 +1,67 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-10-15
3		title = "SSH Hardening for Alpine Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-10-15>
	2	#+title: SSH Hardening for Alpine Linux
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
	5
	6	* Overview
9	7
10	8	This guide follows the standard
11		[ssh-audit](https://www.ssh-audit.com/hardening_guides.html) hardening guide,
12		tweaked for Alpine Linux.
	9	[[https://www.ssh-audit.com/hardening_guides.html][ssh-audit]] hardening
	10	guide, tweaked for Alpine Linux.
13	11
14		# Hardening Guide
	12	* Hardening Guide
15	13
16		These steps must be performed as root. You can try to use `doas` or `sudo`, but
17		there may be issues.
	14	These steps must be performed as root. You can try to use =doas= or
	15	=sudo=, but there may be issues.
18	16
19		1. Re-generate the RSA and ED25519 keys
	17	1. Re-generate the RSA and ED25519 keys
20	18
21		```sh
	19	#+begin_src sh
22	20	rm /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*
23	21	ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key -N ""
24	22	ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key -N ""
25		```
	23	#+end_src
26	24
27		2. Remove small Diffie-Hellman moduli
	25	2. [@2] Remove small Diffie-Hellman moduli
28	26
29		```sh
	27	#+begin_src sh
30	28	awk '$5 >= 3071' /etc/ssh/moduli > /etc/ssh/moduli.safe
31	29	mv /etc/ssh/moduli.safe /etc/ssh/moduli
32		```
	30	#+end_src
33	31
34		3. Enable the RSA and ED25519 HostKey directives in the /etc/ssh/sshd~config~
35		file
	32	3. [@3] Enable the RSA and ED25519 HostKey directives in the
	33	/etc/ssh/sshd_{config} file
36	34
37		```sh
	35	#+begin_src sh
38	36	sed -i 's/^\#HostKey \/etc\/ssh\/ssh_host_$rsa\\|ed25519$_key$/HostKey \/etc\/ssh\/ssh_host_\1_key/g' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
39		```
	37	#+end_src
40	38
41		4. Restrict supported key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms
	39	4. [@4] Restrict supported key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms
42	40
43		```sh
	41	#+begin_src sh
44	42	echo -e "\n# Restrict key exchange, cipher, and MAC algorithms, as per sshaudit.com\n# hardening guide.\nKexAlgorithms sntrup761x25519-sha512@openssh.com,curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha256@libssh.org,diffie-hellman-group16-sha512,diffie-hellman-group18-sha512,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256\nCiphers chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes128-ctr\nMACs hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com\nHostKeyAlgorithms ssh-ed25519,ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com" > /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/ssh-audit_hardening.conf
45		```
	43	#+end_src
46	44
47		5. Include the /etc/ssh/sshd~config~.d directory
	45	5. [@5] Include the /etc/ssh/sshd_{config}.d directory
48	46
49		```sh
	47	#+begin_src sh
50	48	echo -e "Include /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/*.conf" > /etc/ssh/sshd_config
51		```
	49	#+end_src
52	50
53		6. Restart OpenSSH server
	51	6. [@6] Restart OpenSSH server
54	52
55		```sh
	53	#+begin_src sh
56	54	rc-service sshd restart
57		```
	55	#+end_src
58	56
59		# Testing SSH
	57	* Testing SSH
60	58
61		You can test the results with the `ssh-audit` python script.
	59	You can test the results with the =ssh-audit= python script.
62	60
63		```sh
	61	#+begin_src sh
64	62	pip3 install ssh-audit
65	63	ssh-audit localhost
66		```
	64	#+end_src
67	65
68		If everything succeeded, the results will show as all green. If anything is
69		yellow, orange, or red, you may need to tweak additional settings.
	66	If everything succeeded, the results will show as all green. If anything
	67	is yellow, orange, or red, you may need to tweak additional settings.

content/blog/2023-10-17-self-hosting-anonymousoverflow.md → content/blog/2023-10-17-self-hosting-anonymousoverflow.org renamed +39 −40

		@@ -1,34 +1,33 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-10-17
3		title = "Self-Hosting AnonymousOverflow"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-10-17>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting AnonymousOverflow
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
	5
	6	* Overview
9	7
10	8	I recently launched an instance of AnonymousOverflow at
11		[ao.cleberg.net](https://ao.cleberg.net) and wanted to write a brief post on how
12		easy it is to install with Docker Compose and Nginx.
	9	[[https://ao.cleberg.net][ao.cleberg.net]] and wanted to write a brief
	10	post on how easy it is to install with Docker Compose and Nginx.
13	11
14		This guide uses Ubuntu server, Docker Compose, and Nginx as a reverse proxy.
	12	This guide uses Ubuntu server, Docker Compose, and Nginx as a reverse
	13	proxy.
15	14
16		# Installation
	15	* Installation
17	16
18		## Docker Compose
	17	** Docker Compose
19	18
20		To install AnonymousOverflow, start by creating a directory for the application
21		and create its `docker-compose.yml` file.
	19	To install AnonymousOverflow, start by creating a directory for the
	20	application and create its =docker-compose.yml= file.
22	21
23		```sh
	22	#+begin_src sh
24	23	mkdir ~/anonymousoverflow && cd ~/anonymousoverflow
25	24	nano docker-compose.yml
26		```
	25	#+end_src
27	26
28	27	Within this file, paste the following information. Be sure to change the
29		`APP_URL`, `JWT_SIGNING_SECRET`, and `ports` to match your needs.
	28	=APP_URL=, =JWT_SIGNING_SECRET=, and =ports= to match your needs.
30	29
31		```yaml
	30	#+begin_src yaml
32	31	version: "3"
33	32
34	33	services:
		@@ -41,31 +40,31 @@ services:
41	40	ports:
42	41	- "9380:8080"
43	42	restart: "always"
44		```
	43	#+end_src
45	44
46		Save and exit the file when complete. You can now launch the container and
47		access it via your local network.
	45	Save and exit the file when complete. You can now launch the container
	46	and access it via your local network.
48	47
49		```sh
	48	#+begin_src sh
50	49	sudo docker-compose up -d
51		```
	50	#+end_src
52	51
53		## Nginx Reverse Proxy
	52	** Nginx Reverse Proxy
54	53
55		If you want to access this service outside the local network, I recommend using
56		Nginx as a reverse proxy.
	54	If you want to access this service outside the local network, I
	55	recommend using Nginx as a reverse proxy.
57	56
58	57	Let's start by creating a configuration file.
59	58
60		```sh
	59	#+begin_src sh
61	60	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/ao
62		```
	61	#+end_src
63	62
64		Within this file, paste the following content and repace `ao.example.com` with
65		your URL. You may need to update the SSL certificate statements if your
66		certificates are in a different location.
	63	Within this file, paste the following content and repace
	64	=ao.example.com= with your URL. You may need to update the SSL
	65	certificate statements if your certificates are in a different location.
67	66
68		```conf
	67	#+begin_src conf
69	68	server {
70	69	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.cleberg\.net$) {
71	70	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -117,16 +116,16 @@ server {
117	116	proxy_buffers 64 256k;
118	117	}
119	118	}
120		```
	119	#+end_src
121	120
122		Save and exit the file when complete. On Ubuntu, you will need to symlink the
123		configuration file before it will be recognized by Nginx. Once complete, simply
124		restart the web server.
	121	Save and exit the file when complete. On Ubuntu, you will need to
	122	symlink the configuration file before it will be recognized by Nginx.
	123	Once complete, simply restart the web server.
125	124
126		```sh
	125	#+begin_src sh
127	126	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/ao /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ao
128	127	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
129		```
	128	#+end_src
130	129
131		The website will now be available publicly. Visit [my
132		instance](https://ao.cleberg.net) for an example.
	130	The website will now be available publicly. Visit
	131	[[https://ao.cleberg.net][my instance]] for an example.

content/blog/2023-11-08-scli.md deleted −147

		@@ -1,147 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-11-08
3		title = "Installing scli on Alpine Linux (musl)"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		[scli](https://github.com/isamert/scli) is a command-line tool that allows you
9		to connect to your Signal messenger account. This program utilizes a two-pane
10		display that shows you chats on the left and the focused conversation on the
11		right.
12
13		This guide will show you how to install `scli` and its dependencies on Alpine
14		Linux, which requires some extra work due to musl.
15
16		If you're using a non-musl system, you can likely following the `scli` README
17		and download the packaged binaries for an easier installation process.
18
19		# Dependencies
20
21		In order to use `scli`, you need a few dependencies:
22
23		- `openjdk17-jre` - Used as a dependency for the `signal-cli` tool. Version
24		may vary.
25		- `signal-cli` - Used as the backbone of the `scli` tool.
26		- `findutils` - Replaces the standard Busybox version of `xargs`.
27		- `urwid` - A console user interface library for Python.
28		- `urwid-readline` - For GNU emacs-like keybinds on the input line.
29		- `qrencode` - Displays a QR code in the terminal to link the device using
30		your phone. Not necessary if you're only linking on desktop and can
31		copy/paste the connection URL.
32
33		Let's start by installing the packages available via Alpine's repositories. Be
34		sure to install the latest version of `openjdk`. If you run into Java-related
35		issues, uninstall `openjdk` and install an older version.
36
37		```sh
38		doas apk add openjdk17-jre findutils qrencode
39		```
40
41		Next, let's install `signal-cli`. Be sure to export the version of `signal-cli`
42		that you want. I use version `0.12.4` below, but that may be outdated by the
43		time you're reading this.
44
45		```sh
46		export VERSION="0.12.4"
47		wget https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases/download/v"${VERSION}"/signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz
48		doas tar xf signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz -C /opt
49		doas ln -sf /opt/signal-cli-${VERSION}"/bin/signal/cli /usr/local/bin
50		```
51
52		Finally, install the `urwid` packages using the Python packaging utility.
53
54		```sh
55		pip3 install urwid urwid-readline
56		```
57
58		# Installation
59
60		Now that we have all of the dependencies we need, we can install `scli`. Start
61		by simply cloning the repository.
62
63		```sh
64		git clone https://github.com/isamert/scli
65		```
66
67		When I cloned this repository on 2023-11-08, I found a bug in the logic that
68		required a fix. You must edit the `scli` file and replace the one instance of
69		`RLIMIT_OFILE` with `RLIMIT_NOFILE`.
70
71		```sh
72		cd scli
73		nano scli
74		```
75
76		Once complete, you can move this program to anywhere on your `$PATH`. I chose
77		the following directory.
78
79		```sh
80		doas mv scli /usr/local/bin/scli
81		```
82
83		# Initial Setup
84
85		Now that everything is installed, we can login and configure the client. Start
86		by generating a connection link.
87
88		```sh
89		signal-cli link -n "YOUR-DEVICE-NICKNAME" \| tee >(xargs -L 1 qrencode -t utf8)
90		```
91
92		This will generate a connection link and related QR code for you to use to link
93		the devices together. Once complete, wait patiently for the connection
94		process to finish.
95
96		Once it completes, it will exit and return you to the prompt. From here, you
97		need to perform an initial `receive` command to start things off. The `USERNAME`
98		variable should be your phone number, such as `+15551237890`.
99
100		```sh
101		signal-cli -u USERNAME receive
102		```
103
104		Also be sure to test the daemon to ensure it works properly. If no errors occur,
105		it's working. If you run into errors because you're not running a DBUS session,
106		see my notes below.
107
108		```sh
109		signal-cli -u USERNAME daemon
110		```
111
112		Once the initial reception is complete, you are ready to use `scli`.
113
114		This process will differ depending on your desktop environment (DE). If you are
115		running a DE, you likely have a DBUS session running already and can simply
116		launch the program.
117
118		However, if you're like me and running your computer straight on the TTY without
119		a DE, you'll need to start a DBUS session for this program.
120
121		```sh
122		# If you're not running a DBUS session yet, you need to start one for scli
123		dbus-run-session -- scli
124
125		# OR - If you're already running a DBUS session, simply run scli
126		scli
127		```
128
129		# Configuration
130
131		Lastly, there are a number of configuration options that you can pass via the
132		command or in the `~/.config/sclirc` file. See the Github README for more
133		information on configuration options.
134
135		```sh
136		nano ~/.config/sclirc
137		```
138
139		```conf
140		# ~/.config/sclirc
141
142		wrap-at = 80
143		enable-notifications = true
144		```
145
146		That's it! Following this guide, I have a functional `scli` program that
147		successfully sends messages to my contacts and myself!

content/blog/2023-11-08-scli.org added +149

		@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
	1	#+date: <2023-11-08>
	2	#+title: Installing scli on Alpine Linux (musl)
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	[[https://github.com/isamert/scli][scli]] is a command-line tool that
	7	allows you to connect to your Signal messenger account. This program
	8	utilizes a two-pane display that shows you chats on the left and the
	9	focused conversation on the right.
	10
	11	This guide will show you how to install =scli= and its dependencies on
	12	Alpine Linux, which requires some extra work due to musl.
	13
	14	If you're using a non-musl system, you can likely following the =scli=
	15	README and download the packaged binaries for an easier installation
	16	process.
	17
	18	* Dependencies
	19
	20	In order to use =scli=, you need a few dependencies:
	21
	22	- =openjdk17-jre= - Used as a dependency for the =signal-cli= tool.
	23	Version may vary.
	24	- =signal-cli= - Used as the backbone of the =scli= tool.
	25	- =findutils= - Replaces the standard Busybox version of =xargs=.
	26	- =urwid= - A console user interface library for Python.
	27	- =urwid-readline= - For GNU emacs-like keybinds on the input line.
	28	- =qrencode= - Displays a QR code in the terminal to link the device
	29	using your phone. Not necessary if you're only linking on desktop and
	30	can copy/paste the connection URL.
	31
	32	Let's start by installing the packages available via Alpine's
	33	repositories. Be sure to install the latest version of =openjdk=. If you
	34	run into Java-related issues, uninstall =openjdk= and install an older
	35	version.
	36
	37	#+begin_src sh
	38	doas apk add openjdk17-jre findutils qrencode
	39	#+end_src
	40
	41	Next, let's install =signal-cli=. Be sure to export the version of
	42	=signal-cli= that you want. I use version =0.12.4= below, but that may
	43	be outdated by the time you're reading this.
	44
	45	#+begin_src sh
	46	export VERSION="0.12.4"
	47	wget https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases/download/v"${VERSION}"/signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz
	48	doas tar xf signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz -C /opt
	49	doas ln -sf /opt/signal-cli-${VERSION}"/bin/signal/cli /usr/local/bin
	50	#+end_src
	51
	52	Finally, install the =urwid= packages using the Python packaging
	53	utility.
	54
	55	#+begin_src sh
	56	pip3 install urwid urwid-readline
	57	#+end_src
	58
	59	* Installation
	60
	61	Now that we have all of the dependencies we need, we can install =scli=.
	62	Start by simply cloning the repository.
	63
	64	#+begin_src sh
	65	git clone https://github.com/isamert/scli
	66	#+end_src
	67
	68	When I cloned this repository on 2023-11-08, I found a bug in the logic
	69	that required a fix. You must edit the =scli= file and replace the one
	70	instance of =RLIMIT_OFILE= with =RLIMIT_NOFILE=.
	71
	72	#+begin_src sh
	73	cd scli
	74	nano scli
	75	#+end_src
	76
	77	Once complete, you can move this program to anywhere on your =$PATH=. I
	78	chose the following directory.
	79
	80	#+begin_src sh
	81	doas mv scli /usr/local/bin/scli
	82	#+end_src
	83
	84	* Initial Setup
	85
	86	Now that everything is installed, we can login and configure the client.
	87	Start by generating a connection link.
	88
	89	#+begin_src sh
	90	signal-cli link -n "YOUR-DEVICE-NICKNAME" \| tee >(xargs -L 1 qrencode -t utf8)
	91	#+end_src
	92
	93	This will generate a connection link and related QR code for you to use
	94	to link the devices together. Once complete, wait patiently for the
	95	connection process to finish.
	96
	97	Once it completes, it will exit and return you to the prompt. From here,
	98	you need to perform an initial =receive= command to start things off.
	99	The =USERNAME= variable should be your phone number, such as
	100	=+15551237890=.
	101
	102	#+begin_src sh
	103	signal-cli -u USERNAME receive
	104	#+end_src
	105
	106	Also be sure to test the daemon to ensure it works properly. If no
	107	errors occur, it's working. If you run into errors because you're not
	108	running a DBUS session, see my notes below.
	109
	110	#+begin_src sh
	111	signal-cli -u USERNAME daemon
	112	#+end_src
	113
	114	Once the initial reception is complete, you are ready to use =scli=.
	115
	116	This process will differ depending on your desktop environment (DE). If
	117	you are running a DE, you likely have a DBUS session running already and
	118	can simply launch the program.
	119
	120	However, if you're like me and running your computer straight on the TTY
	121	without a DE, you'll need to start a DBUS session for this program.
	122
	123	#+begin_src sh
	124	# If you're not running a DBUS session yet, you need to start one for scli
	125	dbus-run-session -- scli
	126
	127	# OR - If you're already running a DBUS session, simply run scli
	128	scli
	129	#+end_src
	130
	131	* Configuration
	132
	133	Lastly, there are a number of configuration options that you can pass
	134	via the command or in the =~/.config/sclirc= file. See the Github README
	135	for more information on configuration options.
	136
	137	#+begin_src sh
	138	nano ~/.config/sclirc
	139	#+end_src
	140
	141	#+begin_src conf
	142	# ~/.config/sclirc
	143
	144	wrap-at = 80
	145	enable-notifications = true
	146	#+end_src
	147
	148	That's it! Following this guide, I have a functional =scli= program that
	149	successfully sends messages to my contacts and myself!

content/blog/2023-12-03-unifi-nextdns.md → content/blog/2023-12-03-unifi-nextdns.org renamed +80 −79

		@@ -1,102 +1,103 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2023-12-03
3		title = "How to Install NextDNS on the Unifi Dream Machine"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2023-12-03>
	2	#+title: How to Install NextDNS on the Unifi Dream Machine
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# Overview
	5
	6	* Overview
9	7
10	8	I recently installed NextDNS on my Unifi Dream Machine router using the
11		[UnifiOS](https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/wiki/UnifiOS) wiki page on
12		NextDNS's GitHub repository.
	9	[[https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/wiki/UnifiOS][UnifiOS]] wiki page
	10	on NextDNS's GitHub repository.
13	11
14		As a result of this, I wanted to write down the process in case the wiki or
15		installer ever gets lost.
	12	As a result of this, I wanted to write down the process in case the wiki
	13	or installer ever gets lost.
16	14
17		# Wiki
	15	* Wiki
18	16
19		The following is copied from the wiki page linked above, with one difference in
20		the `ssh` command.
	17	The following is copied from the wiki page linked above, with one
	18	difference in the =ssh= command.
21	19
22		Install instructions for Unifi Dream Machine (UDM) standard and pro routers.
	20	Install instructions for Unifi Dream Machine (UDM) standard and pro
	21	routers.
23	22
24		## Install
	23	** Install
25	24
26	25	Enable SSH:
27	26
28		- Go to your unifi admin interface and select your device (not the controller
29		settings, but the Dream Machine settings)
30		- Click on "Settings" at the bottom of the page
31		- Go to the "Advanced" section on the left pan
32		- Enable SSH
33		- Set a SSH password
	27	- Go to your unifi admin interface and select your device (not the
	28	controller settings, but the Dream Machine settings)
	29	- Click on "Settings" at the bottom of the page
	30	- Go to the "Advanced" section on the left pan
	31	- Enable SSH
	32	- Set a SSH password
34	33
35		Connect to your router using `ssh root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx` with the password you
36		configured.
	34	Connect to your router using =ssh root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx= with the
	35	password you configured.
37	36
38	37	Run the following command and follow the instructions:
39	38
40		```sh
	39	#+begin_src sh
41	40	sh -c 'sh -c "$(curl -sL https://nextdns.io/install)"'
42		```
	41	#+end_src
43	42
44		Note: Queries from the UDM itself won't be routed to NextDNS nor encrypted due
45		to current system limitation. All traffic from other devices on then network
46		will.
	43	Note: Queries from the UDM itself won't be routed to NextDNS nor
	44	encrypted due to current system limitation. All traffic from other
	45	devices on then network will.
47	46
48		## Upgrade
	47	** Upgrade
49	48
50		To upgrade to the last version, simply re-run the installer above. If a new
51		version is available, the upgrade action will added to the list of possible
52		actions.
	49	To upgrade to the last version, simply re-run the installer above. If a
	50	new version is available, the upgrade action will added to the list of
	51	possible actions.
53	52
54		## Uninstall
	53	** Uninstall
55	54
56		To uninstall, re-run the installer above and select "Remove" in the menu.
	55	To uninstall, re-run the installer above and select "Remove" in the
	56	menu.
57	57
58		## Troubleshooting
	58	** Troubleshooting
59	59
60		If the installation fail, please the installer in debug mode and contact us at
61		team@nextdns.io with the transcript of the installation:
	60	If the installation fail, please the installer in debug mode and contact
	61	us at team@nextdns.io with the transcript of the installation:
62	62
63		```sh
	63	#+begin_src sh
64	64	sh -c 'DEBUG=1 sh -c "$(curl -sL https://nextdns.io/install)"'
65		```
	65	#+end_src
66	66
67		### Content Filtering Conflict
	67	*** Content Filtering Conflict
68	68
69		NextDNS CLI and the UDM Content Filtering or the Ad Blocking features are
70		incompatible. If you want to use NextDNS CLI, please make sure they are
71		disabled.
	69	NextDNS CLI and the UDM Content Filtering or the Ad Blocking features
	70	are incompatible. If you want to use NextDNS CLI, please make sure they
	71	are disabled.
72	72
73		To disable Content Filtering, go to Settings > Network, then for each network,
74		set the Content Filtering feature to None
	73	To disable Content Filtering, go to Settings > Network, then for each
	74	network, set the Content Filtering feature to None
75	75
76		To disable Ad Blocking, go to Settings > Application Firewall. In the General
77		tab, uncheck the Ad Blocking checkbox.
	76	To disable Ad Blocking, go to Settings > Application Firewall. In the
	77	General tab, uncheck the Ad Blocking checkbox.
78	78
79		### APT Error
	79	*** APT Error
80	80
81	81	If you get an apt error as follow:
82	82
83		```sh
	83	#+begin_src sh
84	84	E: Failed to fetch http://security.debian.org/dists/stretch/updates/main/binary-arm64/Packages 404 Not Found [IP: 151.101.70.132 80]
85		```
	85	#+end_src
86	86
87	87	You may try to following:
88	88
89		```sh
	89	#+begin_src sh
90	90	sed -i -e 's/deb.debian.org/archive.debian.org/g' \
91	91	-e 's\|security.debian.org\|archive.debian.org/\|g' \
92	92	-e '/stretch-updates/d' /etc/apt/sources.list
93		```
	93	#+end_src
94	94
95		## install.sh
	95	** install.sh
96	96
97		Here are the contents of the `install.sh` file used above, as of 2023-12-03:
	97	Here are the contents of the =install.sh= file used above, as of
	98	2023-12-03:
98	99
99		```sh
	100	#+begin_src sh
100	101	#!/bin/sh
101	102
102	103	main() {
		@@ -321,13 +322,13 @@ install_bin() {
321	322	fi
322	323	log_debug "Installing $INSTALL_RELEASE binary for $GOOS/$GOARCH to $bin_path"
323	324	case "$INSTALL_RELEASE" in
324		/)
	325	,/)
325	326	# Snapshot
326	327	branch=${INSTALL_RELEASE%/*}
327	328	hash=${INSTALL_RELEASE#*/}
328	329	url="https://snapshot.nextdns.io/${branch}/nextdns-${hash}_${GOOS}_${GOARCH}.tar.gz"
329	330	;;
330		*)
	331	,*)
331	332	url="https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/releases/download/v${INSTALL_RELEASE}/nextdns_${INSTALL_RELEASE}_${GOOS}_${GOARCH}.tar.gz"
332	333	;;
333	334	esac
		@@ -629,12 +630,12 @@ install_type() {
629	630	echo "$FORCE_INSTALL_TYPE"; return 0
630	631	fi
631	632	case "$INSTALL_RELEASE" in
632		/)
	633	,/)
633	634	case $OS in
634	635	ubios)
635	636	echo "ubios_snapshot"; return 0
636	637	;;
637		*)
	638	,*)
638	639	# Snapshot mode always use binary install
639	640	echo "bin"; return 0
640	641	;;
		@@ -662,7 +663,7 @@ install_type() {
662	663	. /etc/os-release
663	664	major=$(echo "$VERSION_ID" \| cut -d. -f1)
664	665	case $major in
665		[!0-9])
	666	,[!0-9])
666	667	if [ "$VERSION_ID" = "19.07.0-rc1" ]; then
667	668	# No opkg support before 19.07.0-rc2
668	669	echo "bin"
		@@ -671,7 +672,7 @@ install_type() {
671	672	echo "openwrt"
672	673	fi
673	674	;;
674		*)
	675	,*)
675	676	if [ "$major" -lt 19 ]; then
676	677	# No opkg support before 19.07.0-rc2
677	678	echo "bin"
		@@ -717,7 +718,7 @@ install_type() {
717	718	# TODO: pkg for xbps
718	719	echo "bin"
719	720	;;
720		*)
	721	,*)
721	722	log_error "Unsupported installation for $(detect_os)"
722	723	return 1
723	724	;;
		@@ -869,7 +870,7 @@ ask_bool() {
869	870	false)
870	871	msg="$msg [y\|N]: "
871	872	;;
872		*)
	873	,*)
873	874	msg="$msg (y/n): "
874	875	esac
875	876	while true; do
		@@ -887,7 +888,7 @@ ask_bool() {
887	888	echo "false"
888	889	return 0
889	890	;;
890		*)
	891	,*)
891	892	echo "Invalid input, use yes or no"
892	893	;;
893	894	esac
		@@ -899,12 +900,12 @@ detect_endiannes() {
899	900	# Some firmwares do not contain hexdump, for those, try to detect endianness
900	901	# differently.
901	902	case $(cat /proc/cpuinfo) in
902		BCM5300)
	903	,BCM5300)
903	904	# RT-AC66U does not support Merlin version over 380.70 which
904	905	# lacks hexdump command.
905	906	echo "le"
906	907	;;
907		*)
	908	,*)
908	909	log_error "Cannot determine endianness"
909	910	return 1
910	911	;;
		@@ -935,10 +936,10 @@ detect_goarch() {
935	936	arm)
936	937	# FreeBSD does not include arm version
937	938	case "$(sysctl -b hw.model 2>/dev/null)" in
938		A9)
	939	,A9)
939	940	echo "armv7"
940	941	;;
941		*)
	942	,*)
942	943	# Unknown version, fallback to the lowest
943	944	echo "armv5"
944	945	;;
		@@ -962,7 +963,7 @@ detect_goarch() {
962	963	# "out of memory allocating heap arena metadata".
963	964	echo "armv7"
964	965	;;
965		*)
	966	,*)
966	967	echo "arm64"
967	968	;;
968	969	esac
		@@ -974,7 +975,7 @@ detect_goarch() {
974	975	# TODO: detect hardfloat
975	976	echo "$(uname -m)$(detect_endiannes)_softfloat"
976	977	;;
977		*)
	978	,*)
978	979	log_error "Unsupported GOARCH: $(uname -m)"
979	980	return 1
980	981	;;
		@@ -1001,7 +1002,7 @@ detect_goos() {
1001	1002	OpenBSD)
1002	1003	echo "openbsd"
1003	1004	;;
1004		*)
	1005	,*)
1005	1006	log_error "Unsupported GOOS: $(uname -s)"
1006	1007	return 1
1007	1008	esac
		@@ -1078,7 +1079,7 @@ detect_os() {
1078	1079	OpenBSD)
1079	1080	echo "openbsd"; return 0
1080	1081	;;
1081		*)
	1082	,*)
1082	1083	esac
1083	1084	log_error "Unsupported OS: $(uname -o) $(grep ID "/etc/os-release" 2>/dev/null \| xargs)"
1084	1085	return 1
		@@ -1097,7 +1098,7 @@ guess_host_type() {
1097	1098	darwin\|steamos)
1098	1099	echo "workstation"
1099	1100	;;
1100		*)
	1101	,*)
1101	1102	echo "unsure"
1102	1103	;;
1103	1104	esac
		@@ -1156,7 +1157,7 @@ bin_location() {
1156	1157	steamos)
1157	1158	echo "$HOME/.local/bin/nextdns"
1158	1159	;;
1159		*)
	1160	,*)
1160	1161	log_error "Unknown bin location for $OS"
1161	1162	;;
1162	1163	esac
		@@ -1164,12 +1165,12 @@ bin_location() {
1164	1165
1165	1166	is_version_current() {
1166	1167	case "$INSTALL_RELEASE" in
1167		/)
	1168	,/)
1168	1169	# Snapshot
1169	1170	hash=${INSTALL_RELEASE#*/}
1170	1171	test "0.0.0-$hash" = "$CURRENT_RELEASE"
1171	1172	;;
1172		*)
	1173	,*)
1173	1174	test "$INSTALL_RELEASE" = "$CURRENT_RELEASE"
1174	1175	;;
1175	1176	esac
		@@ -1194,7 +1195,7 @@ get_release() {
1194	1195	curl) cmd="curl -A curl -s" ;;
1195	1196	wget) cmd="wget -qO- -U curl" ;;
1196	1197	openssl) cmd="openssl_get" ;;
1197		*)
	1198	,*)
1198	1199	log_error "Cannot retrieve latest version"
1199	1200	return
1200	1201	;;
		@@ -1246,4 +1247,4 @@ openssl_get() {
1246	1247
1247	1248	umask 0022
1248	1249	main
1249		```
	1250	#+end_src

content/blog/2024-01-08-dont-say-hello.md deleted −29

		@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-01-08
3		title = "Don't Say Hello"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		I recently came back from a winter break and have started working again... only
9		to immediately run into the dilemma of people sending me cliffhanger messages
10		again.
11
12		# No Hello
13
14		A year or two ago, I discovered [no hello](https://nohello.net/en/) and have
15		thought about it often since then. I've even sent it to a few people since then
16		(who wouldn't take offense to it).
17
18		I work in a fast-paced environment where efficiency is extremely valuable.
19		Therefore, I have always held a deep displeasure for conversations where people
20		start with "Hello" and then.
21
22		I searched back through my work messages and found that I received ~50 messages
23		from ~10 people last year from people that contained "hi", "hey", or "hello" and
24		did not contain any indication of the purpose of the conversation. I also
25		noticed that a few of the users were responsible for the large majority of the
26		cliffhangers.
27
28		There's no real point to this post, just a desparate request for people to
29		please stop doing this.

content/blog/2024-01-08-dont-say-hello.org added +27

		@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-01-08>
	2	#+title: Don't Say Hello
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	I recently came back from a winter break and have started working
	7	again... only to immediately run into the dilemma of people sending me
	8	cliffhanger messages again.
	9
	10	* No Hello
	11
	12	A year or two ago, I discovered [[https://nohello.net/en/][no hello]]
	13	and have thought about it often since then. I've even sent it to a few
	14	people since then (who wouldn't take offense to it).
	15
	16	I work in a fast-paced environment where efficiency is extremely
	17	valuable. Therefore, I have always held a deep displeasure for
	18	conversations where people start with "Hello" and then.
	19
	20	I searched back through my work messages and found that I received ~50
	21	messages from ~10 people last year from people that contained "hi",
	22	"hey", or "hello" and did not contain any indication of the purpose of
	23	the conversation. I also noticed that a few of the users were
	24	responsible for the large majority of the cliffhangers.
	25
	26	There's no real point to this post, just a desparate request for people
	27	to please stop doing this.

content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.md deleted −147

		@@ -1,147 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-01-09
3		title = "Customizing macOS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		I have been using macOS more than Linux lately, so I wrote this post to describe
9		some simple options to customize macOS beyond the normal built-in settings menu.
10
11		While not all-encompassing, the options below should be a good start for anyone
12		looking to dive down the rabbit hole.
13
14		# Basics
15
16		## Package Management
17
18		To install a lot of software on macOS, you will need
19		[Homebrew](https://brew.sh/). You can use their installation script to get
20		started. Simply open the `Terminal` application and paste the following snippet:
21
22		```sh
23		/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
24		```
25
26		This will allow you to easily install and manage applications and other software
27		easily through the `brew` command.
28
29		## Terminal
30
31		If you're serious about customizing your macOS system, I highly recommend
32		installing a terminal emulator that you like and if you're not comfortable on
33		the command line yet, start learning. A lot of customization options require you
34		to edit hidden files, which is easiest in a terminal.
35
36		There are options like iTerm2, Kitty, Alacritty, Hyper, Warp, or the built-in
37		Terminal app.
38
39		I use [iTerm2](https://iterm2.com/), which can be installed with Homebrew:
40
41		```sh
42		brew install iterm2
43		```
44
45		To install color schemes, such as the Dracula scheme, you visit [iTerm
46		Themes](https://iterm2colorschemes.com/) and follow their installation
47		instructions to install any of the themes.
48
49		# Desktop
50
51		## Window Management
52
53		[yabai](https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai) is a tiling window manager for
54		macOS. While other window managers exist, I found that most of them struggled to
55		create logical layouts and to allow me to easily move windows around the screen.
56
57		Some advanced settings for yabai are only available if partially disable System
58		Integrity Protection (SIP). However, I chose not to do this and it hasn't
59		affected my basic usage of yabai at all.
60
61		Refer to the [yabai
62		wiki](<https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Installing-yabai-(latest-release)>)
63		for installation instructions. You will need to ensure that yabai is allowed to
64		access the accessibility and screen recording APIs.
65
66		## Keyboard Shortcuts
67
68		[skhd](https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd) is a simple hotkey daemon that
69		allows you to define hotkeys in a file for usage on your system.
70
71		Installation is simple:
72
73		```sh
74		brew install koekeishiya/formulae/skhd
75		skhd --start-service
76		```
77
78		After installation, be sure to allow `skhd` access to the accessibility API in
79		the macOS privacy settings.
80
81		You can configure your hotkeys in the `~/.config/skhd/skhdrc` file:
82
83		```sh
84		nano ~/.config/skhd/skhdrc
85		```
86
87		For example, I have hotkeys to open my browser and terminal:
88
89		```conf
90		# Terminal
91		cmd - return : /Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/iTerm2
92
93		# Browser
94		cmd + shift - return : /Applications/LibreWolf.app/Contents/MacOS/librewolf
95		```
96
97		## Widgets
98
99		[uebersicht](https://github.com/felixhageloh/uebersicht/) is a handy
100		desktop-based widget tool with a plethora of community-made widgets available in
101		the [widgets gallery](https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/). You can also
102		write your own widgets with this tool.
103
104		To install, simply download the latest release from the [uebersicht
105		website](https://tracesof.net/uebersicht/) and copy it to the Applications
106		folder.
107
108		See below for an example of the
109		[Mond](https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/#Mond) widget in action.
110
111		## Status Bar
112
113		[SketchyBar](https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar) is a customizable
114		replacement for the macOS status or menu bar.
115
116		You can browse a discussion where various users shared their
117		[configurations](https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar/discussions/47?sort=top)
118		for inspiration or to copy their dotfiles.
119
120		## Dock
121
122		The easiest way to customize the dock is to install
123		[uBar](https://ubarapp.com/), which uses a Windows-like menu bar as the default
124		style.
125
126		However, the built-in macOS dock cannot be disabled and can only be set to
127		"always hidden". This can be annoying as it will pop out any time your mouse
128		cursor passes closely to the dock edge of the screen. Because of this, I simply
129		use the built-in dock instead of customizing it with third-party software.
130
131		Regardless, see below for the default installation style of uBar.
132
133		## Application Icons
134
135		You can also customize the icon of any application in macOS, which will show up
136		in Finder, the Dock, Launchpad, search results, etc. I recommend using
137		[macOSicons](https://macosicons.com/) to download icons you want, and then apply
138		them by following this process.
139
140		1. Open the Finder application.
141		2. Navigate to the `Applications` folder.
142		3. Right-click an application of your choice, and select `Get Info`.
143		4. Drag the image you downloaded on top of the application's icon at the top of
144		information window (you will see a green "plus" symbol when you're hovering
145		over it).
146		5. Release the new icon on top of the old icon and it will update!
147

content/blog/2024-01-09-macos-customization.org added +151

		@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-01-09>
	2	#+title: Customizing macOS
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	I have been using macOS more than Linux lately, so I wrote this post to
	7	describe some simple options to customize macOS beyond the normal
	8	built-in settings menu.
	9
	10	While not all-encompassing, the options below should be a good start for
	11	anyone looking to dive down the rabbit hole.
	12
	13	* Basics
	14
	15	** Package Management
	16
	17	To install a lot of software on macOS, you will need
	18	[[https://brew.sh/][Homebrew]]. You can use their installation script to
	19	get started. Simply open the =Terminal= application and paste the
	20	following snippet:
	21
	22	#+begin_src sh
	23	/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
	24	#+end_src
	25
	26	This will allow you to easily install and manage applications and other
	27	software easily through the =brew= command.
	28
	29	** Terminal
	30
	31	If you're serious about customizing your macOS system, I highly
	32	recommend installing a terminal emulator that you like and if you're not
	33	comfortable on the command line yet, start learning. A lot of
	34	customization options require you to edit hidden files, which is easiest
	35	in a terminal.
	36
	37	There are options like iTerm2, Kitty, Alacritty, Hyper, Warp, or the
	38	built-in Terminal app.
	39
	40	I use [[https://iterm2.com/][iTerm2]], which can be installed with
	41	Homebrew:
	42
	43	#+begin_src sh
	44	brew install iterm2
	45	#+end_src
	46
	47	To install color schemes, such as the Dracula scheme, you visit
	48	[[https://iterm2colorschemes.com/][iTerm Themes]] and follow their
	49	installation instructions to install any of the themes.
	50
	51	* Desktop
	52
	53	** Window Management
	54
	55	[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai][yabai]] is a tiling window
	56	manager for macOS. While other window managers exist, I found that most
	57	of them struggled to create logical layouts and to allow me to easily
	58	move windows around the screen.
	59
	60	Some advanced settings for yabai are only available if partially disable
	61	System Integrity Protection (SIP). However, I chose not to do this and
	62	it hasn't affected my basic usage of yabai at all.
	63
	64	Refer to the
	65	[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/wiki/Installing-yabai-(latest-release)][yabai
	66	wiki]] for installation instructions. You will need to ensure that yabai
	67	is allowed to access the accessibility and screen recording APIs.
	68
	69	** Keyboard Shortcuts
	70
	71	[[https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd][skhd]] is a simple hotkey daemon
	72	that allows you to define hotkeys in a file for usage on your system.
	73
	74	Installation is simple:
	75
	76	#+begin_src sh
	77	brew install koekeishiya/formulae/skhd
	78	skhd --start-service
	79	#+end_src
	80
	81	After installation, be sure to allow =skhd= access to the accessibility
	82	API in the macOS privacy settings.
	83
	84	You can configure your hotkeys in the =~/.config/skhd/skhdrc= file:
	85
	86	#+begin_src sh
	87	nano ~/.config/skhd/skhdrc
	88	#+end_src
	89
	90	For example, I have hotkeys to open my browser and terminal:
	91
	92	#+begin_src conf
	93	# Terminal
	94	cmd - return : /Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/iTerm2
	95
	96	# Browser
	97	cmd + shift - return : /Applications/LibreWolf.app/Contents/MacOS/librewolf
	98	#+end_src
	99
	100	** Widgets
	101
	102	[[https://github.com/felixhageloh/uebersicht/][uebersicht]] is a handy
	103	desktop-based widget tool with a plethora of community-made widgets
	104	available in the [[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/][widgets
	105	gallery]]. You can also write your own widgets with this tool.
	106
	107	To install, simply download the latest release from the
	108	[[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht/][uebersicht website]] and copy it to
	109	the Applications folder.
	110
	111	See below for an example of the
	112	[[https://tracesof.net/uebersicht-widgets/#Mond][Mond]] widget in
	113	action.
	114
	115	** Status Bar
	116
	117	[[https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar][SketchyBar]] is a
	118	customizable replacement for the macOS status or menu bar.
	119
	120	You can browse a discussion where various users shared their
	121	[[https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyBar/discussions/47?sort=top][configurations]]
	122	for inspiration or to copy their dotfiles.
	123
	124	** Dock
	125
	126	The easiest way to customize the dock is to install
	127	[[https://ubarapp.com/][uBar]], which uses a Windows-like menu bar as
	128	the default style.
	129
	130	However, the built-in macOS dock cannot be disabled and can only be set
	131	to "always hidden". This can be annoying as it will pop out any time
	132	your mouse cursor passes closely to the dock edge of the screen. Because
	133	of this, I simply use the built-in dock instead of customizing it with
	134	third-party software.
	135
	136	Regardless, see below for the default installation style of uBar.
	137
	138	** Application Icons
	139
	140	You can also customize the icon of any application in macOS, which will
	141	show up in Finder, the Dock, Launchpad, search results, etc. I recommend
	142	using [[https://macosicons.com/][macOSicons]] to download icons you
	143	want, and then apply them by following this process.
	144
	145	1. Open the Finder application.
	146	2. Navigate to the =Applications= folder.
	147	3. Right-click an application of your choice, and select =Get Info=.
	148	4. Drag the image you downloaded on top of the application's icon at the
	149	top of information window (you will see a green "plus" symbol when
	150	you're hovering over it).
	151	5. Release the new icon on top of the old icon and it will update!

content/blog/2024-01-13-local-llm.md deleted −92

		@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-01-13
3		title = "Running Local LLMs on macOS and iOS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# Requirements
9
10		I've recently started playing with large language models (LLMs), mostly in the
11		popular chatbot form, as part of my job and have decided to see if there's a
12		consistent and reliable way to interact with these models on Apple devices
13		without sacrificing privacy or requiring in-depth technical setup.
14
15		My requirements for this test:
16
17		- Open source platform
18		- On-device model files
19		- Minimal required configuration
20		- Preferably pre-built, but a simple build process is acceptable
21
22		I tested a handful of apps and have summarized my favorite (so far) for macOS
23		and iOS below.
24
25		> TL;DR - Here are the two that met my requirements and I have found the easiest
26		> to install and use so far:
27
28		- macOS: [Ollama](https://ollama.ai/)
29		- iOS : [LLM Farm](https://llmfarm.site/)
30
31		# macOS
32
33		[Ollama](https://ollama.ai/) is a simple Go application for macOS and Linux that
34		can run various LLMs locally.
35
36		For macOS, you can download the pplication on the [Ollama download
37		page](https://ollama.ai/download/mac) and install it by unzipping the
38		`Ollama.app` file and moving it to the `Applications` folder.
39
40		If you prefer the command line, you can run these commands after the download
41		finished:
42
43		```sh
44		cd ~/Downloads && \
45		unzip Ollama-darwin.zip && \
46		mv ~/Downloads/Ollama.app /Applications/
47		```
48
49		After running the app, the app will ask you to open a terminal and run the
50		default `llama2` model, which will open an interactive chat session in the
51		terminal. You can startfully using the application at this point.
52
53		If you don't want to use the default `llama2` model, you can download and run
54		additional models found on the [Models](https://ollama.ai/library) page.
55
56		To see the information for the currently-used model, you can run the `/show
57		info` command in the chat.
58
59		## Community Integrations
60
61		I highly recommend browsing the [Community
62		Integrations](https://github.com/jmorganca/ollama#community-integrations)
63		section of the project to see how you would prefer to extend Ollama beyond a
64		simple command-line interface. There are options for APIs, browser UIs, advanced
65		terminal configurations, and more.
66
67		# iOS
68
69		While there are a handful of decent macOS options, it was quite difficult to
70		find an iOS app that offered an open source platform without an extensive
71		configuration and building process. I found LLM Farm to be decent enough in
72		quality to sit at the top of my list - however, it's definitely not user
73		friendly enough for me to consider using it on a daily basis.
74
75		[LLM Farm](https://llmfarm.site/) is available on TestFlight, so there's no
76		manual build process required. However, you can view the [LLMFarm
77		repository](https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm) if you wish.
78
79		The caveat is that you will have to manually download the model files from the
80		links in the
81		[models.md](https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm/blob/main/models.md) file to
82		your iPhone to use the app - there's currently no option in the app to reach out
83		and grab the latest version of any supported model.
84
85		Once you have a file downloaded, you simply create a new chat and select the
86		downloaded model file and ensure the inference matches the requirement in the
87		`models.md` file.
88
89		[Enchanted](https://github.com/AugustDev/enchanted) is also an iOS for private
90		AI models, but it requires a public-facing Ollama API, which did not meet my "on
91		device requirement." Nonetheless, it's an interesting looking app and I will
92		likely set it up to test soon.

content/blog/2024-01-13-local-llm.org added +96

		@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-01-13>
	2	#+title: Running Local LLMs on macOS and iOS
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* Requirements
	7
	8	I've recently started playing with large language models (LLMs), mostly
	9	in the popular chatbot form, as part of my job and have decided to see
	10	if there's a consistent and reliable way to interact with these models
	11	on Apple devices without sacrificing privacy or requiring in-depth
	12	technical setup.
	13
	14	My requirements for this test:
	15
	16	- Open source platform
	17	- On-device model files
	18	- Minimal required configuration
	19	- Preferably pre-built, but a simple build process is acceptable
	20
	21	I tested a handful of apps and have summarized my favorite (so far) for
	22	macOS and iOS below.
	23
	24	#+begin_quote
	25	TL;DR - Here are the two that met my requirements and I have found the
	26	easiest to install and use so far:
	27	#+end_quote
	28
	29	- macOS: [[https://ollama.ai/][Ollama]]
	30	- iOS : [[https://llmfarm.site/][LLM Farm]]
	31
	32	* macOS
	33
	34	[[https://ollama.ai/][Ollama]] is a simple Go application for macOS and
	35	Linux that can run various LLMs locally.
	36
	37	For macOS, you can download the pplication on the
	38	[[https://ollama.ai/download/mac][Ollama download page]] and install it
	39	by unzipping the =Ollama.app= file and moving it to the =Applications=
	40	folder.
	41
	42	If you prefer the command line, you can run these commands after the
	43	download finished:
	44
	45	#+begin_src sh
	46	cd ~/Downloads && \
	47	unzip Ollama-darwin.zip && \
	48	mv ~/Downloads/Ollama.app /Applications/
	49	#+end_src
	50
	51	After running the app, the app will ask you to open a terminal and run
	52	the default =llama2= model, which will open an interactive chat session
	53	in the terminal. You can startfully using the application at this point.
	54
	55	If you don't want to use the default =llama2= model, you can download
	56	and run additional models found on the
	57	[[https://ollama.ai/library][Models]] page.
	58
	59	To see the information for the currently-used model, you can run the
	60	=/show info= command in the chat.
	61
	62	** Community Integrations
	63
	64	I highly recommend browsing the
	65	[[https://github.com/jmorganca/ollama#community-integrations][Community
	66	Integrations]] section of the project to see how you would prefer to
	67	extend Ollama beyond a simple command-line interface. There are options
	68	for APIs, browser UIs, advanced terminal configurations, and more.
	69
	70	* iOS
	71
	72	While there are a handful of decent macOS options, it was quite
	73	difficult to find an iOS app that offered an open source platform
	74	without an extensive configuration and building process. I found LLM
	75	Farm to be decent enough in quality to sit at the top of my list -
	76	however, it's definitely not user friendly enough for me to consider
	77	using it on a daily basis.
	78
	79	[[https://llmfarm.site/][LLM Farm]] is available on TestFlight, so
	80	there's no manual build process required. However, you can view the
	81	[[https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm][LLMFarm repository]] if you wish.
	82
	83	The caveat is that you will have to manually download the model files
	84	from the links in the
	85	[[https://github.com/guinmoon/LLMFarm/blob/main/models.md][models.md]]
	86	file to your iPhone to use the app - there's currently no option in the
	87	app to reach out and grab the latest version of any supported model.
	88
	89	Once you have a file downloaded, you simply create a new chat and select
	90	the downloaded model file and ensure the inference matches the
	91	requirement in the =models.md= file.
	92
	93	[[https://github.com/AugustDev/enchanted][Enchanted]] is also an iOS for
	94	private AI models, but it requires a public-facing Ollama API, which did
	95	not meet my "on device requirement." Nonetheless, it's an interesting
	96	looking app and I will likely set it up to test soon.

content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md deleted −150

		@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-01-26
3		title = "Building an Audit Status Dashboard"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		Alteryx and Power BI are powerful tools that can help turn your old-school audit
9		trackers into interactive tools that provide useful insights and potential
10		action plans.
11
12		With these tools, we are going to build a dashboard that can effectively
13		communicate project status.
14
15		# Requirements
16
17		This project assumes the following:
18
19		- You have access to Alteryx Designer and Power BI Desktop.
20		- If you only have Power BI Desktop, you may need to perform some analysis
21		in Power BI instead of Alteryx.
22		- Your data is in a format that can be imported into Alteryx and/or Power BI.
23		- You have a basic understanding of data types and visualization.
24
25		# Alteryx: Data Preparation & Analysis
26
27		## Import Data
28
29		With Alteryx, importing data is easy with the use of the `Input Data` tool.
30		Simply drag this tool onto the canvas from the `In/Out` tab in the Ribbon to
31		create it as a node.
32
33		You can choose the File Format manually or simply connect to your file/database
34		and let Alteryx determine the format for you. For this example, we will be
35		importing an Excel file and changing the `Start Data Import on Line` variable to
36		`2`.
37
38		## Transform Data
39
40		Next, let's replace null data and remove whitespace to clean up our data. We can
41		do this with the `Data Cleansing` tool in the `Preparation` tab in the Ribbon.
42
43		Ensure that the following options are enabled:
44
45		- Replace Nulls
46		- Replace with Blanks (String Fields)
47		- Replace with 0 (Numeric Fields)
48		- Remove Unwanted Characters
49		- Leading and Trailing Whitespace
50
51		For our next step, we will transform the date fields from strings to datetime
52		format. Add a `Datetime` tool for each field you want to transform - in the
53		example below, I am using the tool twice for the "Started On" and "Submitted On"
54		fields.
55
56		Now that the dates are in the correct format, let's perform a calculation based
57		on those fields. Start by adding a `Filter` tool, naming a new Output Column,
58		and pasting the formula below into it (the two fields used in this formula must
59		match the output of the `Datetime` tools above):
60
61		```txt
62		DateTimeDiff([SubmittedOn_Out],[StartedOn_Out], "days")
63		`
64
65		## Export Data
66
67		Finalize the process by exporting the transformed data set to a new file, for
68		use in the following visualization step.
69
70		# Power BI: Data Visualization
71
72		## Import Data
73
74		To start, open the Power BI Desktop application. Upon first use, Power BI will
75		ask if you want to open an existing dashboard or import new data.
76
77		As we are creating our first dashboard, let's import our data. In my example
78		below, I'm importing data from the "Tracker" sheet of the Excel file I'm using
79		for this project.
80
81		During this process, I also imported the export from the Alteryx workflow above.
82		Therefore, we have two different files available for use in our dashboard.
83
84		## Add Visuals
85
86		To create the dashboard, you will need to follow the list instructions
87		below and format as needed.
88
89		Instructions to create the visuals above:
90
91		- `Text Box`: Explain the name and purpose of the dashboard. You can also add
92		images and logos at the top of the dashboard.
93		- `Donut Chart`: Overall status of the project.
94		- `Legend`: Status
95		- `Values`: Count of Status
96		- `Stacked Column Chart`: Task count by assignee.
97		- `X-axis`: Preparer
98		- `Y-axis`: Count of Control ID
99		- `Legend`: Status
100		- `Treemap`: Top N client submitters by average days to submit.
101		- `Details`: Preparer
102		- `Values`: Sum of Avg~DaysToSubmit~
103		- `Line Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours over time.
104		- `Clustered Bar Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours per person.
105		- `Slicer & Table` - Upcoming due dates.
106		- `Slicer`:
107		- `Values`: Date Due
108		- `Table`:
109		- `Columns`: Count of Control ID, Date Due, Preparer, Status
110
111		## Format the Dashboard
112
113		You can choose a theme in the View tab of the Ribbon. You can even browse for
114		custom JSON files that define themes, such as ones found online or custom ones
115		created by your organization.
116
117		For each visual, you can click the `Format` button in the `Visualizations` side
118		pane and explore the options. You can custom options such as:
119
120		- Visual
121		- Legend
122		- Colors
123		- Data labels
124		- Category labels
125		- General
126		- Properties
127		- Title
128		- Effects
129		- Header icons
130		- Tooltips
131		- Alt text
132
133		You can always look online for inspiration when trying to decide how best to
134		organize and style your dashboard.
135
136		# Sharing the Results
137
138		Generally, you have a few different options for sharing your dashboards with
139		others:
140
141		1. Export the dashboard as a PDF in the file menu of Power BI. This will export
142		all tabs and visuals as they are set when the export button is pressed. You
143		will lose all interactivity with this option.
144		2. Send the full Power BI file to those you wish to share the dashboard. This
145		will retain all settings and interactivity. However, you will also need to
146		send the source files if they need to refresh the dashboard and you will need
147		to re-send the files if you make updates.
148		3. Store the dashboard in a synced location, such as a shared drive or Microsoft
149		Teams. Depending on how a user configures their local Windows paths, the data
150		source paths may not be compatible for all users with such a setup.

content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.org added +153

		@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-01-26>
	2	#+title: Building an Audit Status Dashboard
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	Alteryx and Power BI are powerful tools that can help turn your
	7	old-school audit trackers into interactive tools that provide useful
	8	insights and potential action plans.
	9
	10	With these tools, we are going to build a dashboard that can effectively
	11	communicate project status.
	12
	13	* Requirements
	14
	15	This project assumes the following:
	16
	17	- You have access to Alteryx Designer and Power BI Desktop.
	18	- If you only have Power BI Desktop, you may need to perform some
	19	analysis in Power BI instead of Alteryx.
	20	- Your data is in a format that can be imported into Alteryx and/or
	21	Power BI.
	22	- You have a basic understanding of data types and visualization.
	23
	24	* Alteryx: Data Preparation & Analysis
	25
	26	** Import Data
	27
	28	With Alteryx, importing data is easy with the use of the =Input Data=
	29	tool. Simply drag this tool onto the canvas from the =In/Out= tab in the
	30	Ribbon to create it as a node.
	31
	32	You can choose the File Format manually or simply connect to your
	33	file/database and let Alteryx determine the format for you. For this
	34	example, we will be importing an Excel file and changing the
	35	=Start Data Import on Line= variable to =2=.
	36
	37	** Transform Data
	38
	39	Next, let's replace null data and remove whitespace to clean up our
	40	data. We can do this with the =Data Cleansing= tool in the =Preparation=
	41	tab in the Ribbon.
	42
	43	Ensure that the following options are enabled:
	44
	45	- Replace Nulls
	46	- Replace with Blanks (String Fields)
	47	- Replace with 0 (Numeric Fields)
	48	- Remove Unwanted Characters
	49	- Leading and Trailing Whitespace
	50
	51	For our next step, we will transform the date fields from strings to
	52	datetime format. Add a =Datetime= tool for each field you want to
	53	transform - in the example below, I am using the tool twice for the
	54	"Started On" and "Submitted On" fields.
	55
	56	Now that the dates are in the correct format, let's perform a
	57	calculation based on those fields. Start by adding a =Filter= tool,
	58	naming a new Output Column, and pasting the formula below into it (the
	59	two fields used in this formula must match the output of the =Datetime=
	60	tools above):
	61
	62	``=txt DateTimeDiff([SubmittedOn_Out],[StartedOn_Out], "days")=
	63
	64	** Export Data
	65
	66	Finalize the process by exporting the transformed data set to a new
	67	file, for use in the following visualization step.
	68
	69	* Power BI: Data Visualization
	70
	71	** Import Data
	72
	73	To start, open the Power BI Desktop application. Upon first use, Power
	74	BI will ask if you want to open an existing dashboard or import new
	75	data.
	76
	77	As we are creating our first dashboard, let's import our data. In my
	78	example below, I'm importing data from the "Tracker" sheet of the Excel
	79	file I'm using for this project.
	80
	81	During this process, I also imported the export from the Alteryx
	82	workflow above. Therefore, we have two different files available for use
	83	in our dashboard.
	84
	85	** Add Visuals
	86
	87	To create the dashboard, you will need to follow the list instructions
	88	below and format as needed.
	89
	90	Instructions to create the visuals above:
	91
	92	- =Text Box=: Explain the name and purpose of the dashboard. You can
	93	also add images and logos at the top of the dashboard.
	94	- =Donut Chart=: Overall status of the project.
	95	- =Legend=: Status
	96	- =Values=: Count of Status
	97	- =Stacked Column Chart=: Task count by assignee.
	98	- =X-axis=: Preparer
	99	- =Y-axis=: Count of Control ID
	100	- =Legend=: Status
	101	- =Treemap=: Top N client submitters by average days to submit.
	102	- =Details=: Preparer
	103	- =Values=: Sum of Avg_{DaysToSubmit}
	104	- =Line Chart=: Projected vs. actual hours over time.
	105	- =Clustered Bar Chart=: Projected vs. actual hours per person.
	106	- =Slicer & Table= - Upcoming due dates.
	107	- =Slicer=:
	108	- =Values=: Date Due
	109	- =Table=:
	110	- =Columns=: Count of Control ID, Date Due, Preparer, Status
	111
	112	** Format the Dashboard
	113
	114	You can choose a theme in the View tab of the Ribbon. You can even
	115	browse for custom JSON files that define themes, such as ones found
	116	online or custom ones created by your organization.
	117
	118	For each visual, you can click the =Format= button in the
	119	=Visualizations= side pane and explore the options. You can custom
	120	options such as:
	121
	122	- Visual
	123	- Legend
	124	- Colors
	125	- Data labels
	126	- Category labels
	127	- General
	128	- Properties
	129	- Title
	130	- Effects
	131	- Header icons
	132	- Tooltips
	133	- Alt text
	134
	135	You can always look online for inspiration when trying to decide how
	136	best to organize and style your dashboard.
	137
	138	* Sharing the Results
	139
	140	Generally, you have a few different options for sharing your dashboards
	141	with others:
	142
	143	1. Export the dashboard as a PDF in the file menu of Power BI. This will
	144	export all tabs and visuals as they are set when the export button is
	145	pressed. You will lose all interactivity with this option.
	146	2. Send the full Power BI file to those you wish to share the dashboard.
	147	This will retain all settings and interactivity. However, you will
	148	also need to send the source files if they need to refresh the
	149	dashboard and you will need to re-send the files if you make updates.
	150	3. Store the dashboard in a synced location, such as a shared drive or
	151	Microsoft Teams. Depending on how a user configures their local
	152	Windows paths, the data source paths may not be compatible for all
	153	users with such a setup.

content/blog/2024-01-27-tableau-dashboard.md deleted −148

		@@ -1,148 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-01-27
3		title = "Data Visualization: Mapping Omaha Crime Data with Tableau"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		In this project, I am going to show you how to use Tableau Public for free to
9		create simple dashboards.
10
11		I will be creating simple visuals from an Omaha crime data set and combining
12		them to create the dashboard below. You can view this dashboard interactively
13		online here: [Omaha Crime Data (2015 -
14		2023)](https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/c.c7042/viz/OmahaCrimeData2015-2023/OmahaCrimeData2015-2023#1).
15
16		![Tableau
17		Dashboard](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240127-tableau-dashboard/dashboard.png)
18
19		# Gather the Data
20
21		You can download incident data from the Omaha Police Department on their
22		[Incident Data
23		Download](https://police.cityofomaha.org/crime-information/incident-data-download)
24		page. They currently have files for the years 2015 through 2023.
25
26		Each file will be downloaded as a CSV file, approximately 3 MB - 8 MB.
27
28		# Clean and Transform the Data
29
30		I have used Python to combine the files into a single CSV file, as well as
31		adding a custom `datetime` column. You could do this step in any software you
32		prefer, but I prefer Python as its free, easy to use, and has a plethora of
33		support resources online.
34
35		Start by opening a terminal, navigating to your Downloads directory, and
36		creating a python script.
37
38		```sh
39		cd ~/Downloads
40		nano data_processing.py
41		```
42
43		Within the Python script, paste the following:
44
45		```python
46		# Import modules
47		import pandas as pd
48		import glob
49		import os
50
51		# Import the data
52		path = r"~/Downloads/*.csv"
53		files = glob.glob(path)
54
55		list = []
56
57		for file in files:
58		df_tmp = pd.read_csv(file)
59		li.append(df_tmp)
60
61		df = pd.concat(list, axis=0, ignore_index=True)
62
63		# Create a combined datetime column
64		df["datetime"] = pd.to_datetime(
65		df["date"] + " " + df["time"],
66		format="%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S"
67		)
68		df.head()
69
70		# Export the combined data
71		df.to_csv(r"~/Downloads/combined_incidents.csv")
72		```
73
74		Once pasted, save and close the file. You can execute the file like so:
75
76		```sh
77		python3 data_processing.py
78		```
79
80		After this, you should have a combined data file that contains all incidents
81		between 2015 and 2023. Mine was approximately 55 MB.
82
83		# Tableau Public
84
85		[Tableau Public](https://public.tableau.com/) is a free-to-use web application
86		that allows you to create visualizations by uploading data sources. Note that
87		there's no way to keep the data and visualizations private, so don't upload
88		anything private.
89
90		After creating an account, you can click the `Create` > `Web Authoring` link to
91		create your first visualization.
92
93		## Upload the Data
94
95		Once you've opened your first project, Tableau will ask you to connect to your
96		data. For this project, click the `Upload from computer` button and select the
97		CSV file previously combined in the step above.
98
99		Once connected, you can refresh the preview of the data with the `Refresh Data
100		Source` button in the toolbar.
101
102		If you need to edit any of the data types, column names, etc., you can do so
103		now. Once complete, generate an extract so that you can start creating
104		visualizations.
105
106		## Create Visualizations
107
108		To start, create a worksheet in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
109
110		Within this screen, select a column from the `Data` side bar on the left and
111		drag it into the `Columns` or `Rows` area of the canvas.
112
113		See below for the map visualization. You can recreate this by adding the
114		following fields:
115
116		- `Columns`: Lon
117		- `Rows`: Lat
118		- `Marks`:
119		- Description
120		- Datetime
121		- `Filters`: Datetime
122
123		You can repeat this process for each visualization you want to create. Explore
124		your options by dragging data fields to different areas and by opening the field
125		options to explore what operations can be performed on different data types
126		(e.g., average, count, etc.).
127
128		## Create Dashboard
129
130		To create a dashboard, click the button on the toolbar at the bottom of the
131		screen. Within the dashboard, drag each sheet from the left side bar onto the
132		dashboard canvas.
133
134		## Formatting
135
136		You can explore a ton of different formatting options throughout the worksheets
137		and dashboard. Specifically for maps, you can alter the map layers, background,
138		and visible features through the `Map` menu in the top file menu of the editing
139		screen.
140
141		In the finished dashboard below, I opted for a dark mode with a map that showed
142		county lines and city names.
143
144		There's a ton of other options available to be used in a dashboard like this,
145		but this project shows a quick preview of what you can do in Tableau Public.
146
147		![Tableau
148		Dashboard](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240127-tableau-dashboard/dashboard.png)

content/blog/2024-01-27-tableau-dashboard.org added +148

		@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-01-27>
	2	#+title: Data Visualization: Mapping Omaha Crime Data with Tableau
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	In this project, I am going to show you how to use Tableau Public for
	7	free to create simple dashboards.
	8
	9	I will be creating simple visuals from an Omaha crime data set and
	10	combining them to create the dashboard below. You can view this
	11	dashboard interactively online here:
	12	[[https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/c.c7042/viz/OmahaCrimeData2015-2023/OmahaCrimeData2015-2023#1][Omaha
	13	Crime Data (2015 - 2023)]].
	14
	15	#+caption: Tableau Dashboard
	16	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240127-tableau-dashboard/dashboard.png]]
	17
	18	* Gather the Data
	19
	20	You can download incident data from the Omaha Police Department on their
	21	[[https://police.cityofomaha.org/crime-information/incident-data-download][Incident
	22	Data Download]] page. They currently have files for the years 2015
	23	through 2023.
	24
	25	Each file will be downloaded as a CSV file, approximately 3 MB - 8 MB.
	26
	27	* Clean and Transform the Data
	28
	29	I have used Python to combine the files into a single CSV file, as well
	30	as adding a custom =datetime= column. You could do this step in any
	31	software you prefer, but I prefer Python as its free, easy to use, and
	32	has a plethora of support resources online.
	33
	34	Start by opening a terminal, navigating to your Downloads directory, and
	35	creating a python script.
	36
	37	#+begin_src sh
	38	cd ~/Downloads
	39	nano data_processing.py
	40	#+end_src
	41
	42	Within the Python script, paste the following:
	43
	44	#+begin_src python
	45	# Import modules
	46	import pandas as pd
	47	import glob
	48	import os
	49
	50	# Import the data
	51	path = r"~/Downloads/*.csv"
	52	files = glob.glob(path)
	53
	54	list = []
	55
	56	for file in files:
	57	df_tmp = pd.read_csv(file)
	58	li.append(df_tmp)
	59
	60	df = pd.concat(list, axis=0, ignore_index=True)
	61
	62	# Create a combined datetime column
	63	df["datetime"] = pd.to_datetime(
	64	df["date"] + " " + df["time"],
	65	format="%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S"
	66	)
	67	df.head()
	68
	69	# Export the combined data
	70	df.to_csv(r"~/Downloads/combined_incidents.csv")
	71	#+end_src
	72
	73	Once pasted, save and close the file. You can execute the file like so:
	74
	75	#+begin_src sh
	76	python3 data_processing.py
	77	#+end_src
	78
	79	After this, you should have a combined data file that contains all
	80	incidents between 2015 and 2023. Mine was approximately 55 MB.
	81
	82	* Tableau Public
	83
	84	[[https://public.tableau.com/][Tableau Public]] is a free-to-use web
	85	application that allows you to create visualizations by uploading data
	86	sources. Note that there's no way to keep the data and visualizations
	87	private, so don't upload anything private.
	88
	89	After creating an account, you can click the =Create= > =Web Authoring=
	90	link to create your first visualization.
	91
	92	** Upload the Data
	93
	94	Once you've opened your first project, Tableau will ask you to connect
	95	to your data. For this project, click the =Upload from computer= button
	96	and select the CSV file previously combined in the step above.
	97
	98	Once connected, you can refresh the preview of the data with the
	99	=Refresh Data Source= button in the toolbar.
	100
	101	If you need to edit any of the data types, column names, etc., you can
	102	do so now. Once complete, generate an extract so that you can start
	103	creating visualizations.
	104
	105	** Create Visualizations
	106
	107	To start, create a worksheet in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
	108
	109	Within this screen, select a column from the =Data= side bar on the left
	110	and drag it into the =Columns= or =Rows= area of the canvas.
	111
	112	See below for the map visualization. You can recreate this by adding the
	113	following fields:
	114
	115	- =Columns=: Lon
	116	- =Rows=: Lat
	117	- =Marks=:
	118	- Description
	119	- Datetime
	120	- =Filters=: Datetime
	121
	122	You can repeat this process for each visualization you want to create.
	123	Explore your options by dragging data fields to different areas and by
	124	opening the field options to explore what operations can be performed on
	125	different data types (e.g., average, count, etc.).
	126
	127	** Create Dashboard
	128
	129	To create a dashboard, click the button on the toolbar at the bottom of
	130	the screen. Within the dashboard, drag each sheet from the left side bar
	131	onto the dashboard canvas.
	132
	133	** Formatting
	134
	135	You can explore a ton of different formatting options throughout the
	136	worksheets and dashboard. Specifically for maps, you can alter the map
	137	layers, background, and visible features through the =Map= menu in the
	138	top file menu of the editing screen.
	139
	140	In the finished dashboard below, I opted for a dark mode with a map that
	141	showed county lines and city names.
	142
	143	There's a ton of other options available to be used in a dashboard like
	144	this, but this project shows a quick preview of what you can do in
	145	Tableau Public.
	146
	147	#+caption: Tableau Dashboard
	148	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240127-tableau-dashboard/dashboard.png]]

content/blog/2024-02-06-zfs.md → content/blog/2024-02-06-zfs.org renamed +140 −131

		@@ -1,70 +1,70 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-02-06
3		title = "How to Create a ZFS Pool on Ubuntu Linux"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2024-02-06>
	2	#+title: How to Create a ZFS Pool on Ubuntu Linux
	3	#+description:
	4
7	5
8	6	This post details the process I used to create ZFS pools, datasets, and
9	7	snapshots on Ubuntu Server.
10	8
11		I found the following pages very helpful while going through this process:
	9	I found the following pages very helpful while going through this
	10	process:
12	11
13		- [Setup a ZFS storage
14		pool](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/setup-zfs-storage-pool)
15		- [Kernel/Reference/ZFS](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Reference/ZFS)
16		- [ZFS for
17		Dummies](https://blog.victormendonca.com/2020/11/03/zfs-for-dummies/)
	12	- [[https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/setup-zfs-storage-pool][Setup a ZFS
	13	storage pool]]
	14	- [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Reference/ZFS][Kernel/Reference/ZFS]]
	15	- [[https://blog.victormendonca.com/2020/11/03/zfs-for-dummies/][ZFS for
	16	Dummies]]
18	17
19		# Installation
	18	* Installation
20	19
21	20	To start, I installed the ZFS package with the following command:
22	21
23		```sh
	22	#+begin_src sh
24	23	sudo apt install zfsutils-linux
25		```
	24	#+end_src
26	25
27		Once installed, you can check the version to see if it installed correctly.
	26	Once installed, you can check the version to see if it installed
	27	correctly.
28	28
29		```sh
	29	#+begin_src sh
30	30	> zsf --version
31	31
32	32	zfs-2.1.5-1ubuntu6~22.04.2
33	33	zfs-kmod-2.1.5-1ubuntu6~22.04.1
34		```
	34	#+end_src
35	35
36		# ZFS Configuration
	36	* ZFS Configuration
37	37
38	38	Now that ZFS is installed, we can create and configure the pool.
39	39
40		You have various options for configuring ZFS pools that all come different pros
41		and cons. I suggest visiting the links at the top of this post or searching
42		online for the best configuration for your use-case.
	40	You have various options for configuring ZFS pools that all come
	41	different pros and cons. I suggest visiting the links at the top of this
	42	post or searching online for the best configuration for your use-case.
43	43
44		- Striped VDEVs (Raid0)
45		- Mirrored VDEVs (Raid1)
46		- Striped Mirrored VDEVs (Raid10)
47		- RAIDz (Raid5)
48		- RAIDz2 (Raidd6)
49		- RAIDz3
50		- Nested RAIDz (Raid50, Raid60)
	44	- Striped VDEVs (Raid0)
	45	- Mirrored VDEVs (Raid1)
	46	- Striped Mirrored VDEVs (Raid10)
	47	- RAIDz (Raid5)
	48	- RAIDz2 (Raidd6)
	49	- RAIDz3
	50	- Nested RAIDz (Raid50, Raid60)
51	51
52		I will be using Raid10 in this guide. However, the majority of the steps are the
53		same regardless of your chosen pool configuration.
	52	I will be using Raid10 in this guide. However, the majority of the steps
	53	are the same regardless of your chosen pool configuration.
54	54
55		## Creating the Pool
	55	** Creating the Pool
56	56
57		To start, let's list the disks available to use. You can use `fdisk` command to
58		see all available disks.
	57	To start, let's list the disks available to use. You can use =fdisk=
	58	command to see all available disks.
59	59
60		```sh
	60	#+begin_src sh
61	61	sudo fdisk -l
62		```
	62	#+end_src
63	63
64		Or, if you currently have them mounted, you can use the `df` command to view
65		your disks.
	64	Or, if you currently have them mounted, you can use the =df= command to
	65	view your disks.
66	66
67		```sh
	67	#+begin_src sh
68	68	> sudo df -h
69	69
70	70	Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
		@@ -75,34 +75,35 @@ Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
75	75	/dev/sdd1 9.1T 8.7T 435G 96% /mnt/white-01
76	76	/dev/sde1 7.3T 28K 6.9T 1% /mnt/red-03
77	77	/dev/sdf1 7.3T 28K 6.9T 1% /mnt/red-04
78		```
	78	#+end_src
79	79
80		If you're going to use mounted disks, make sure to umount them before creating
81		the pool.
	80	If you're going to use mounted disks, make sure to umount them before
	81	creating the pool.
82	82
83		```sh
	83	#+begin_src sh
84	84	sudo umount /dev/sda1
85	85	sudo umount /dev/sdb1
86		```
	86	#+end_src
87	87
88		Now that I've identified the disks I want to use and have them unmounted, let's
89		create the pool. For this example, I will call it `tank`.
	88	Now that I've identified the disks I want to use and have them
	89	unmounted, let's create the pool. For this example, I will call it
	90	=tank=.
90	91
91		```sh
	92	#+begin_src sh
92	93	sudo zpool create -f -m /mnt/pool tank mirror /dev/sda /dev/sdb
93		```
	94	#+end_src
94	95
95		See below for the results of the new ZFS pool named `tank`, with a vdev
96		automatically named `mirror-0`.
	96	See below for the results of the new ZFS pool named =tank=, with a vdev
	97	automatically named =mirror-0=.
97	98
98		```sh
	99	#+begin_src sh
99	100	> zfs list
100	101
101	102	NAME USED AVAIL REFER MOUNTPOINT
102	103	tank 396K 7.14T 96K /tank
103		```
	104	#+end_src
104	105
105		```sh
	106	#+begin_src sh
106	107	> zpool status
107	108
108	109	pool: tank
		@@ -116,75 +117,78 @@ config:
116	117	sdb ONLINE 0 0 0
117	118
118	119	errors: No known data errors
119		```
	120	#+end_src
120	121
121		We can also look at the mounted filesystem to see where the pool is mounted and
122		some quick stats.
	122	We can also look at the mounted filesystem to see where the pool is
	123	mounted and some quick stats.
123	124
124		```sh
	125	#+begin_src sh
125	126	> df -h
126	127
127	128	Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
128	129	...
129	130	tank 7.2T 128K 7.2T 1% /tank
130		```
	131	#+end_src
131	132
132		## Expanding the Pool
	133	** Expanding the Pool
133	134
134		If you want to expand this pool, you will need to add a new VDEV to the pool.
135		Since I am using 2 disks per VDEV, I will need to add a new 2-disk VDEV to the
136		existing `tank` pool.
	135	If you want to expand this pool, you will need to add a new VDEV to the
	136	pool. Since I am using 2 disks per VDEV, I will need to add a new 2-disk
	137	VDEV to the existing =tank= pool.
137	138
138		```sh
	139	#+begin_src sh
139	140	sudo zpool add tank mirror /dev/sdX /dev/sdY
140		```
	141	#+end_src
141	142
142		If you're adding disks of different sizes, you'll need to use the `-f` flag.
143		Keep in mind that the max size will be limited to the smallest disk added.
	143	If you're adding disks of different sizes, you'll need to use the =-f=
	144	flag. Keep in mind that the max size will be limited to the smallest
	145	disk added.
144	146
145		```sh
	147	#+begin_src sh
146	148	sudo zpool add -f tank mirror /dev/sdX /dev/sdY
147		```
	149	#+end_src
148	150
149		I added two 8TB hard drives and this process took around 10 seconds to complete.
	151	I added two 8TB hard drives and this process took around 10 seconds to
	152	complete.
150	153
151		When viewing the pool again, you can see that the pool has now doubled in size.
152		We have 14.3 TB useable space and the same space used for mirroring.
	154	When viewing the pool again, you can see that the pool has now doubled
	155	in size. We have 14.3 TB useable space and the same space used for
	156	mirroring.
153	157
154		```sh
	158	#+begin_src sh
155	159	> zfs list
156	160
157	161	NAME USED AVAIL REFER MOUNTPOINT
158	162	tank 145G 14.3T 104K /tank
159	163	tank/cloud 145G 14.3T 145G /tank/cloud
160	164	tank/media 96K 14.3T 96K /tank/media
161		```
	165	#+end_src
162	166
163		### Converting Disks
	167	*** Converting Disks
164	168
165		Some disks, such as NTFS-formatted drives, will need to be partitioned and
166		formatted prior to being added to the pool.
	169	Some disks, such as NTFS-formatted drives, will need to be partitioned
	170	and formatted prior to being added to the pool.
167	171
168	172	Start by identifying the disks you want to format and add to the pool.
169	173
170		```sh
	174	#+begin_src sh
171	175	sudo fdisk -l \| grep /dev
172		```
	176	#+end_src
173	177
174		I am going to format my `/dev/sdc` and `/dev/sdd` disks with the `fdisk`
	178	I am going to format my =/dev/sdc= and =/dev/sdd= disks with the =fdisk=
175	179	command.
176	180
177		See below for instructions on how to use `fdisk`. Here's what I did to create
178		basic Linux formatted disks:
	181	See below for instructions on how to use =fdisk=. Here's what I did to
	182	create basic Linux formatted disks:
179	183
180		- `g` : Create GPT partition table
181		- `n` : Create a new partition, hit Enter for all default options
182		- `t` : Change partition type to `20` for `Linux filesystem`
183		- `w` : Write the changes to disk and exit
	184	- =g= : Create GPT partition table
	185	- =n= : Create a new partition, hit Enter for all default options
	186	- =t= : Change partition type to =20= for =Linux filesystem=
	187	- =w= : Write the changes to disk and exit
184	188
185	189	I repeated this process for both disks.
186	190
187		```sh
	191	#+begin_src sh
188	192	> sudo fdisk /dev/sdc
189	193
190	194	Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.37.2).
		@@ -230,95 +234,100 @@ Help:
230	234	G create a new empty SGI (IRIX) partition table
231	235	o create a new empty DOS partition table
232	236	s create a new empty Sun partition table
233		```
	237	#+end_src
234	238
235	239	Once the drives are formatted, we can add these disks to the pool.
236	240
237		```sh
	241	#+begin_src sh
238	242	sudo zpool add tank mirror /dev/sdc /dev/sdd
239		```
	243	#+end_src
240	244
241	245	When we list the pool again, we can see that our size is now updated to
242		approximately 22TB. This represents my hard drives totalling 45.6TB when shown
243		with `fdisk -l`, with a Raid10 configuration using 22TB for mirroring and 22TB
244		of useable space.
	246	approximately 22TB. This represents my hard drives totalling 45.6TB when
	247	shown with =fdisk -l=, with a Raid10 configuration using 22TB for
	248	mirroring and 22TB of useable space.
245	249
246		```sh
	250	#+begin_src sh
247	251	> zfs list
248	252
249	253	NAME USED AVAIL REFER MOUNTPOINT
250	254	tank 145G 21.7T 104K /tank
251	255	tank/cloud 145G 21.7T 145G /tank/cloud
252	256	tank/media 145GT 21.7T 96K /tank/media
253		```
	257	#+end_src
254	258
255		## Creating Datasets
	259	** Creating Datasets
256	260
257		According to [ZFS
258		Terminology](https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18752_01/html/819-5461/ftyue.html), a
259		`dataset` can refer to "clones, file systems, snapshots, and volumes.
	261	According to
	262	[[https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E18752_01/html/819-5461/ftyue.html][ZFS
	263	Terminology]], a =dataset= can refer to “clones, file systems,
	264	snapshots, and volumes.
260	265
261		For this guide, I will use the `dataset` term to refer to file systems created
262		under a pool.
	266	For this guide, I will use the =dataset= term to refer to file systems
	267	created under a pool.
263	268
264		Within my `tank` pool, I am going to create some datasets to help organize my
265		files. This will give me location to store data rather than simply dumping
266		everything at the `/tank/` location.
	269	Within my =tank= pool, I am going to create some datasets to help
	270	organize my files. This will give me location to store data rather than
	271	simply dumping everything at the =/tank/= location.
267	272
268		```sh
	273	#+begin_src sh
269	274	sudo zfs create tank/cloud
270	275	sudo zfs create tank/media
271		```
	276	#+end_src
272	277
273		Once created, you can see these datasets in the output of your pool list:
	278	Once created, you can see these datasets in the output of your pool
	279	list:
274	280
275		```sh
	281	#+begin_src sh
276	282	> zfs list
277	283	NAME USED AVAIL REFER MOUNTPOINT
278	284	tank 752K 7.14T 104K /tank
279	285	tank/cloud 96K 7.14T 96K /tank/cloud
280	286	tank/media 96K 7.14T 96K /tank/media
281		```
	287	#+end_src
282	288
283		## Creating Snapshots
	289	** Creating Snapshots
284	290
285		Next, let's create our first snapshot. We can do this by calling the `snapshot`
286		command and give it an output name. I will be throwing the current date and time
287		into my example.
	291	Next, let's create our first snapshot. We can do this by calling the
	292	=snapshot= command and give it an output name. I will be throwing the
	293	current date and time into my example.
288	294
289		```sh
	295	#+begin_src sh
290	296	sudo zfs snapshot tank@$(date '+%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M')
291		```
	297	#+end_src
292	298
293	299	We can list the snapshots in our pool with the following command:
294	300
295		```sh
	301	#+begin_src sh
296	302	> zfs list -t snapshot
297	303	NAME USED AVAIL REFER MOUNTPOINT
298	304	tank@2024-02-06_19-41 0B - 104K -
299		```
	305	#+end_src
300	306
301		## Destroy Snapshots
	307	** Destroy Snapshots
302	308
303	309	You can always destroy snapshots that are no longer needed:
304	310
305		```sh
	311	#+begin_src sh
306	312	sudo zfs destroy tank@2024-02-06_19-41
307		```
	313	#+end_src
308	314
309	315	Once deleted, they will no longer appear in the list:
310	316
311		```sh
	317	#+begin_src sh
312	318	> zfs list -t snapshot
313	319	no datasets available
314		```
315
316		# My Thoughts on ZFS So Far
317
318		- I sacrificed 25TB to be able to mirror my data, but I feel more comfortable
319		with the potential to save my data by quickly replacing a disk if I need to.
320		- The set-up was surprisingly easy and fast.
321		- Disk I/O is fast as well. I was worried that the data transfer speeds would
322		be slower due to the RAID configuration.
323		- Media streaming and transcoding has seen no noticeable drop in performance.
324		- My only limitation really is the number of HDD bays in my server HDD cage.
	320	#+end_src
	321
	322	* My Thoughts on ZFS So Far
	323
	324	- I sacrificed 25TB to be able to mirror my data, but I feel more
	325	comfortable with the potential to save my data by quickly replacing a
	326	disk if I need to.
	327	- The set-up was surprisingly easy and fast.
	328	- Disk I/O is fast as well. I was worried that the data transfer speeds
	329	would be slower due to the RAID configuration.
	330	- Media streaming and transcoding has seen no noticeable drop in
	331	performance.
	332	- My only limitation really is the number of HDD bays in my server HDD
	333	cage.

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		@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-02-13
3		title = "Stuck in Ubuntu's Emergency Mode? Try Fixing the Fstab File"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		# The Problem
9
10		I recently [migrated my hard drives to a ZFS pool](../zfs/) and found myself
11		stuck in Ubuntu's emergency mode after the first reboot I performed after
12		creating the ZFS pool.
13
14		My server was stuck in the boot process and showed the following error on the
15		screen:
16
17		```txt
18		You are in emergency mode.
19		After logging in, type "journalctl -xb" to view system logs,
20		"systemctl reboot" to reboot, "systemctl default"
21		or ^D to try again to boot into default mode".
22		```
23
24		After rebooting the server and watching the logs scroll on a monitor, I noticed
25		the root cause was related to a very long search for certain drives. I kept
26		seeing errors like this:
27
28		```txt
29		[ TIME ] Timed out waiting of device dev-disk-by/[disk-uuid]
30		```
31
32		I realized that I had not removed the `/etc/fstab` references that asked Ubuntu
33		to mount two disks on boot, but I had recently changed those disks to be part of
34		my ZFS pool instead. Therefore, Ubuntu was trying to identify and mount a disk
35		that was not available.
36
37		Now that we have an idea of the issue, let's move to solution.
38
39		# The Solution
40
41		In order to fix the issue, I waited until I was allowed to type the root user's
42		password, and then I executed the following command:
43
44		```sh
45		nano /etc/fstab
46		```
47
48		Within the `fstab` file, I needed to comment/remove the following lines at the
49		bottom of the file. You can comment-out a line by prepending a `#` symbol at the
50		beginning of the line. You can also delete the line entirely.
51
52		```conf
53		# What it looked like when running into the issue:
54		UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/white-01 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
55		UUID=E69867E59867B32B /mnt/white-02 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
56
57		# What I changed it to, in order to fix the issue:
58		# UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/white-01 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
59		# UUID=E69867E59867B32B /mnt/white-02 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
60		```
61
62		Once removing the lines above from the `/etc/fstab` file, save and exit the file
63		by hitting the `Ctrl` + `x` key combo.
64
65		You can now hit `Ctrl` + `D` to continue, or reboot:
66
67		```sh
68		systemctl reboot
69		```
70
71		Once rebooted, I was able to watch the machine boot properly and launch to the
72		TTY login screen without errors!

content/blog/2024-02-13-ubuntu-emergency-mode.org added +71

		@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-02-13>
	2	#+title: Stuck in Ubuntu's Emergency Mode? Try Fixing the Fstab File
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	* The Problem
	7
	8	I recently [[../zfs/][migrated my hard drives to a ZFS pool]] and found
	9	myself stuck in Ubuntu's emergency mode after the first reboot I
	10	performed after creating the ZFS pool.
	11
	12	My server was stuck in the boot process and showed the following error
	13	on the screen:
	14
	15	#+begin_src txt
	16	You are in emergency mode.
	17	After logging in, type "journalctl -xb" to view system logs,
	18	"systemctl reboot" to reboot, "systemctl default"
	19	or ^D to try again to boot into default mode".
	20	#+end_src
	21
	22	After rebooting the server and watching the logs scroll on a monitor, I
	23	noticed the root cause was related to a very long search for certain
	24	drives. I kept seeing errors like this:
	25
	26	#+begin_src txt
	27	[ TIME ] Timed out waiting of device dev-disk-by/[disk-uuid]
	28	#+end_src
	29
	30	I realized that I had not removed the =/etc/fstab= references that asked
	31	Ubuntu to mount two disks on boot, but I had recently changed those
	32	disks to be part of my ZFS pool instead. Therefore, Ubuntu was trying to
	33	identify and mount a disk that was not available.
	34
	35	Now that we have an idea of the issue, let's move to solution.
	36
	37	* The Solution
	38
	39	In order to fix the issue, I waited until I was allowed to type the root
	40	user's password, and then I executed the following command:
	41
	42	#+begin_src sh
	43	nano /etc/fstab
	44	#+end_src
	45
	46	Within the =fstab= file, I needed to comment/remove the following lines
	47	at the bottom of the file. You can comment-out a line by prepending a
	48	=#= symbol at the beginning of the line. You can also delete the line
	49	entirely.
	50
	51	#+begin_src conf
	52	# What it looked like when running into the issue:
	53	UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/white-01 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
	54	UUID=E69867E59867B32B /mnt/white-02 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
	55
	56	# What I changed it to, in order to fix the issue:
	57	# UUID=B64E53824E5339F7 /mnt/white-01 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
	58	# UUID=E69867E59867B32B /mnt/white-02 ntfs-3g uid=1000,gid=1000 0 0
	59	#+end_src
	60
	61	Once removing the lines above from the =/etc/fstab= file, save and exit
	62	the file by hitting the =Ctrl= + =x= key combo.
	63
	64	You can now hit =Ctrl= + =D= to continue, or reboot:
	65
	66	#+begin_src sh
	67	systemctl reboot
	68	#+end_src
	69
	70	Once rebooted, I was able to watch the machine boot properly and launch
	71	to the TTY login screen without errors!

content/blog/2024-02-21-self-hosting-otter-wiki.md → content/blog/2024-02-21-self-hosting-otter-wiki.org renamed +44 −44

		@@ -1,39 +1,39 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-02-21
3		title = "Self-Hosting an Otter Wiki"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2024-02-21>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting an Otter Wiki
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		# An Otter Wiki
9	5
10		[An Otter Wiki](https://otterwiki.com/) is an easy to use wiki software that
11		takes almost no effort to set up and maintain.
	6	* An Otter Wiki
12	7
13		# Installation
	8	[[https://otterwiki.com/][An Otter Wiki]] is an easy to use wiki
	9	software that takes almost no effort to set up and maintain.
	10
	11	* Installation
14	12
15	13	To install An Otter Wiki, I'm going to use Docker Compose to create the
16		container and then use Nginx as a reverse proxy to allow external access via a
17		subdomain I own.
	14	container and then use Nginx as a reverse proxy to allow external access
	15	via a subdomain I own.
18	16
19		## Docker Compose
	17	** Docker Compose
20	18
21	19	Start by creating a directory for the container's files.
22	20
23		```sh
	21	#+begin_src sh
24	22	mkdir ~/otterwiki
25		```
	23	#+end_src
26	24
27		Next, create the `docker-compose.yml` file to define the container's parameters.
	25	Next, create the =docker-compose.yml= file to define the container's
	26	parameters.
28	27
29		```sh
	28	#+begin_src sh
30	29	nano ~/otterwiki/docker-compose.yml
31		```
	30	#+end_src
32	31
33	32	Within the file, paste the following content. You can read the project's
34		documentation if you want to further override or customize the container.
	33	documentation if you want to further override or customize the
	34	container.
35	35
36		```conf
	36	#+begin_src conf
37	37	version: '3'
38	38	services:
39	39	otterwiki:
		@@ -45,33 +45,33 @@ services:
45	45	- 8337:80
46	46	volumes:
47	47	- ./app-data:/app-data
48		```
	48	#+end_src
49	49
50	50	Once the file is saved and closed, you can launch the container.
51	51
52		```sh
	52	#+begin_src sh
53	53	cd ~/otterwiki
54	54	sudo docker-compose up -d
55		```
	55	#+end_src
56	56
57		The container is now available at `localhost:8337`. Next, we will use Nginx to
58		serve this app externally.
	57	The container is now available at =localhost:8337=. Next, we will use
	58	Nginx to serve this app externally.
59	59
60		## Nginx
	60	** Nginx
61	61
62		To access the app externally, let's set up a reverse proxy. I'll start by
63		creating the Nginx configuration file for my wiki.
	62	To access the app externally, let's set up a reverse proxy. I'll start
	63	by creating the Nginx configuration file for my wiki.
64	64
65		```sh
	65	#+begin_src sh
66	66	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/wiki
67		```
	67	#+end_src
68	68
69		Within the file, I have saved the following content. This assumes you already
70		have a TLS/SSL cert to use with this subdomain. If not, simply remove the
71		`ssl_*` variables, remove the `80` server block, and change the `443` server
72		block to `80` to serve the app without SSL.
	69	Within the file, I have saved the following content. This assumes you
	70	already have a TLS/SSL cert to use with this subdomain. If not, simply
	71	remove the =ssl_*= variables, remove the =80= server block, and change
	72	the =443= server block to =80= to serve the app without SSL.
73	73
74		```conf
	74	#+begin_src conf
75	75	server {
76	76	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
77	77	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -105,18 +105,18 @@ server {
105	105	proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Host $http_host;
106	106	}
107	107	}
108		```
	108	#+end_src
109	109
110		Save and close the configuration file. On Nginx, we need to symlink the file to
111		enable it.
	110	Save and close the configuration file. On Nginx, we need to symlink the
	111	file to enable it.
112	112
113		```sh
	113	#+begin_src sh
114	114	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/wiki /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/wiki
115		```
	115	#+end_src
116	116
117		Once enabled, restart the Nginx server to start serving the app externally.
	117	Once enabled, restart the Nginx server to start serving the app
	118	externally.
118	119
119		```sh
	120	#+begin_src sh
120	121	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
121		```
122
	122	#+end_src

content/blog/2024-03-13-doom-emacs.md deleted −343

		@@ -1,343 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-03-13
3		title = "Doom Emacs & Org-Mode"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		## Screenshots
9
10		These screenshots are showing a project opened with projectile, a treemacs side
11		pane open with the project contents, multiple buffers tiled next to each other,
12		and the help pane open at the bottomm.
13
14		The themes are `doom-homage-white` and `doom-homage-black`.
15
16		![Doom Emacs Light
17		Mode](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/light.png)
18
19		![Doom Emacs Dark
20		Mode](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/dark.png)
21
22		## Getting Started
23
24		I have been switching back and forth between
25		[markdown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown) and
26		[org-mode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Org-mode) recently for my personal note
27		taking, wiki, and even this blog. As a result, I have been stumbling further
28		into the world of Emacs and found myself at a point where I now prefer to do
29		most of my basic editing within Emacs.
30
31		I'll leave the markdown vs. org-mode debate for another post, but I love
32		org-mode's extensibility and interactive nature within Emacs, but it becomes
33		very unwieldy in any other client implementation of org-mode - especially on
34		iOS. On the flip side, markdown is limited in functionality and fractured into
35		different standards, but it's simple and popular enough that there are a
36		plethora of great clients to choose from that will get the job done.
37
38		For now, I want to focus on how I have been using Emacs and some of the things
39		that would have helped me learn it faster had I known where to start.
40
41		### Installation
42
43		This post focuses on [Doom Emacs](https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs), which
44		is an Emacs framework that provides an alternative experience to the vanilla
45		[GNU Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/).
46
47		The [Getting Start
48		Guide](https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs/blob/master/docs/getting_started.org)
49		has an extremely detailed walkthrough of installation for all systems, so please
50		refer to that guide for up-to-date instructions.
51
52		I chose to install on macOS, using the Homebrew option with the
53		`railwaycat/emacsmacport` version of Emacs.
54
55		Once the program is installed, you can run the program by typing `emacs` in a
56		terminal. If you installed a version of Emacs that supports both a GUI and TUI,
57		you will have to run `emacs -nw` to get the TUI instead of the default GUI.
58
59		### Configuration
60
61		Once installed, you can configure Doom by editing the files within the
62		`~/.doom.d/` directory. This directory holds four files:
63
64		1. `config.el` - Personal configuration file
65		2. `custom.el` - Custom set variables
66		3. `init.el` - Doom modules and load order, must run `doom sync` after
67		modifying
68		4. `packages.el` - Declare packages to install in this file, then run `doom
69		sync` to install
70
71		I only needed a few customizations for my configuration, so I'll list them
72		below.
73
74		```lisp
75		;; ~/.doom.d/config.el
76		(setq doom-theme 'doom-homage-black)
77		(setq display-line-numbers-type t)
78		(setq org-directory "~/Documents/Notes/")
79
80		;; lengthy org-publish directives at the bottom of the file
81		```
82
83		```lisp
84		;; ~/.doom.d/init.el
85		(doom! :input
86		:completion
87		company ; the ultimate code completion backend
88		vertico ; the search engine of the future
89
90		:ui
91		doom ; what makes DOOM look the way it does
92		doom-dashboard ; a nifty splash screen for Emacs
93		(emoji +unicode) ; 🙂
94		hl-todo ; highlight TODO/FIXME/NOTE/DEPRECATED/HACK/REVIEW
95		minimap ; show a map of the code on the side
96		modeline ; snazzy, Atom-inspired modeline, plus API
97		ophints ; highlight the region an operation acts on
98		(popup +defaults) ; tame sudden yet inevitable temporary windows
99		tabs ; a tab bar for Emacs
100		treemacs ; a project drawer, like neotree but cooler
101		(vc-gutter +pretty) ; vcs diff in the fringe
102		vi-tilde-fringe ; fringe tildes to mark beyond EOB
103		workspaces ; tab emulation, persistence & separate workspaces
104
105		:editor
106		(evil +everywhere); come to the dark side, we have cookies
107		file-templates ; auto-snippets for empty files
108		fold ; (nigh) universal code folding
109		snippets ; my elves. They type so I don't have to
110
111		:emacs
112		dired ; making dired pretty [functional]
113		electric ; smarter, keyword-based electric-indent
114		undo ; persistent, smarter undo for your inevitable mistakes
115		vc ; version-control and Emacs, sitting in a tree
116
117		:term
118		term ; basic terminal emulator for Emacs
119
120		:checkers
121		syntax ; tasing you for every semicolon you forget
122
123		:tools
124		(eval +overlay) ; run code, run (also, repls)
125		lookup ; navigate your code and its documentation
126		magit ; a git porcelain for Emacs
127
128		:os
129		(:if (featurep :system 'macos) macos) ; improve compatibility with macOS
130
131		:lang
132		common-lisp ; if you've seen one lisp, you've seen them all
133		emacs-lisp ; drown in parentheses
134		markdown ; writing docs for people to ignore
135		org ; organize your plain life in plain text
136		python ; beautiful is better than ugly
137		sh ; she sells {ba,z,fi}sh shells on the C xor
138
139		:app
140		irc ; how neckbeards socialize
141		(rss +org) ; emacs as an RSS reader
142
143		(default +bindings +smartparens))
144		```
145
146		If you're editing these files within Doom directly, remember to run `SPC h r r`
147		to reload the configuration. Also remember to run `doom sync` for any changes to
148		the `init.el` or `packages.el` files.
149
150		## Basic Functionality
151
152		I kept a cheat sheet note open at first with all of the basic functions typed
153		out, copied as I went through the tutorial. After a little while, I no longer
154		needed it. I highly recommend writing down the most applicable shortcuts for
155		your preferred functionality and refer back to it until you've memorized it.
156
157		Memorizing the shortcuts will differ based on the type of Emacs framework being
158		used. Personally, migrating from vanilla Emacs to Doom Emacs simplified
159		everything by a large factor and instantly enabled me to start working on my
160		projects, eliminating most of the hurdles I was running into. The vanilla emacs
161		hotkeys became obnoxious and I actually stopped using Emacs entirely for about a
162		month before trying Doom.
163
164		For me, the first logical step is to interact with the local filesystem. To do
165		this, I needed to know how to open directories, open files, save files, discard
166		changes, close files, and switch between open files. Here are some example
167		shortcuts I've written down in order to accomplish file-based actions.
168
169		\| Doom Hotkey \| Emacs Hotkey \| Description \|
170		\| --------------- \| ------------ \| -------------------------------------- \|
171		\| `SPC :` \| `C-x` \| Run functions \|
172		\| `SPC f f` \| `C-x f` \| Open file in buffer \|
173		\| `SPC f d` \| `C-x d` \| Open directory with `dired` \|
174		\| `i` \| `C-x C-q` \| Edit current buffer (insert mode) \|
175		\| `q` \| `C-x C-q` \| Quit out of insert mode \|
176		\| `SPC f s` \| `C-x s` \| Save current buffer \|
177		\| `SPC b k` \| `C-x k` \| Kill current buffer \|
178		\| `SPC w h/j/k/l` \| `C-x o`[^1] \| Move left/down/up/right to next buffer \|
179
180		[^1]: Doom's evil-window functionality is a bit different from GNU Emacs, but
181		you can always switch to the "other" buffer with `C-x o` or `C-x b` to get a
182		list of buffers to select.
183
184		In general, when in Doom, you can press `SPC` and wait a second for the help
185		pane to appear with all available hotkey options. For example, you can press
186		`SPC`, wait for the help pane, and then select a key such as `g` to enter the
187		git help pane and explore further command options.
188
189		## Editing
190
191		Next in my process is to dive into editing for any languages I'm currently
192		using. In this post, I will just cover Markdown and Org-Mode but I have also
193		been slowly adoping some Python and general web dev tools as well.
194
195		### Markdown
196
197		![Markdown
198		Preview](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/markdown.png)
199
200		Markdown is fairly simple as the syntax is limited, so just make sure the
201		`~/.doom.d/init.el` includes the `markdown` declaration in the `:lang` section.
202
203		This package includes the following hotkey menus. The insert and toggle menu
204		expands further, allowing you to insert various markdown elements and toggle
205		things like link hiding.
206
207		\| Doom Hotkey \| Function \|
208		\| ---------------------------- \| ------------------------ \|
209		\| `SPC m '` \| markdown-edit-code-block \|
210		\| `SPC m e` \| markdown-export \|
211		\| `SPC m i` \| +insert \|
212		\| `SPC m o` \| markdown-open \|
213		\| `SPC m p` \| markdown-preview \|
214		\| `SPC m t` \| +toggle \|
215		\| `SPC : markdown-table-align` \| markdown-table-align \|
216
217		### Org-Mode
218
219		![Org-Mode Preview](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/org.png)
220
221		Similar to the markdown section above, ensure that the `~/.doom.d/init.el`
222		includes the `org` declaration in the `:lang` section.
223
224		There are a few hot keys, but a quick search with `SPC : org` shows that there
225		are 865 possible org-related functions you can run. I won't possibly be able to
226		list them all, so I will simply cover a few of the basic commands I use myself.
227
228		\| Doom Hotkey \| Function \|
229		\| -------------- \| ------------------------------------- \|
230		\| `SPC m t` \| org-todo \|
231		\| `SPC n t` \| org-todo-list \|
232		\| `SPC o A` \| org-agenda \|
233		\| `SPC X` \| org-capture \|
234		\| `SPC m p p` \| org-priority \|
235		\| `SPC m d s` \| org-schedule \|
236		\| `TAB` \| org-cycle \|
237		\| `SHIFT TAB` \| Collapse/open all headings in buffer \|
238		\| `M-q` \| Format/wrap current section \|
239		\| `M-Left/Right` \| Demote/promote current heading \|
240		\| `M-Down/Up` \| Shift current heading section down/up \|
241
242		1. Org-Publish
243
244		Org includes a [publishing management
245		system](https://orgmode.org/manual/Publishing.html) by default that allows
246		you to export org files to Org, iCalendar, HTML, LaTex, Markdown, ODT, and
247		Plain Text. Most of these can be exported into another buffer and opened, or
248		simply to an external file.
249
250		While inside an org file, simply run `SPC m e` or `M-x org-export-dispatch`
251		to open the export menu. This menu will show all options and ask you to
252		select an option. If you want to export to HTML, simply press `h` and then
253		`H` (As HTML buffer), `h` (As HTML file), or `o` (As HTML file and open).
254
255		2. Projects
256
257		Some publishing options are easier with a defined project in Emacs. To
258		create a project within Emacs, I use two methods:
259
260		1. Add the project via the projectile command `SPC p a`. Does not always
261		work for me.
262		2. Add an empty `.projectile` file in the project root.
263
264		Once a project has been created, you can create custom publishing actions
265		within your `~/.doom.d/config.el` file. For example, here's a test project I
266		created to try and convert this blog to org-mode recently.
267
268		```lisp
269		;; org-publish
270		(require 'ox-publish)
271
272		(defun my/org-sitemap-date-entry-format (entry style project) "Format ENTRY in
273		org-publish PROJECT Sitemap format ENTRY ENTRY STYLE format that includes
274		date." (let ((filename (org-publish-find-title entry project))) (if (= (length
275		filename) 0) (format "%s" entry) (format "{{{timestamp(%s)}}}
276		[[file:%s][%s]]" (format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d" (org-publish-find-date entry
277		project)) entry filename))))
278
279		(setq org-export-global-macros '(("timestamp" . "@@html:<time datetime='[$1]'
280		class='timestamp'>[$1]</time>@@")))
281
282		(setq org-publish-project-alist
283		`(("blog"
284		:base-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/"
285		:base-extension "org"
286		:recursive t
287		:publishing-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/public/"
288		:publishing-function org-html-publish-to-html
289		;; HTML5
290		:html-doctype "html5"
291		:html-html5-fancy t
292		;; Disable some Org's HTML defaults
293		:html-head-include-scripts nil
294		:html-head-include-default-style nil
295		:section-numbers nil
296		:with-title nil
297		;; Sitemap
298		:auto-sitemap t
299		:sitemap-title: "Sitemap"
300		:sitemap-sort-files anti-chronologically
301		; :sitemap-function my/org-sitemap-date-entry-format
302		;; Customize HTML output
303		:html-divs ((preamble "header" "preamble")
304		(content "main" "content")
305		(postamble "footer" "postamble"))
306		:html-head "<meta name='theme-color' content='#111' media='(prefers-color-scheme: dark)'>
307		<meta name='theme-color' content='#fff' media='(prefers-color-scheme: light)'>
308		<link rel='stylesheet' href='/syntax-theme-dark.css' media='(prefers-color-scheme: dark)'>
309		<link rel='stylesheet' href='/syntax-theme-light.css' media='(prefers-color-scheme: light)'>
310		<link rel='stylesheet' href='/styles.css' type='text/css'>"
311		:html-preamble "<nav class='site-nav' aria-label='site-nav' role='navigation'>
312		<ul>
313		<li><a href='/'>Home</a></li>
314		<li><a href='/blog/'>Blog</a></li>
315		<li><a href='/services/'>Services</a></li>
316		<li><a href='/wiki/'>Wiki</a></li>
317		</ul></nav>
318		<h1>%t</h1>
319		<time datetime='%d'>%d</time>"
320		:html-postamble "
321		<p>Last build: %T</p>
322		<p>Created with %c</p>"
323		)
324
325		("static"
326		:base-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/static/"
327		:base-extension "css\\\|txt\\\|jpg\\\|gif\\\|png"
328		:recursive t
329		:publishing-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/public/"
330		:publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
331
332		("cleberg.net" :components ("blog" "static"))))
333		```
334
335		## General Thoughts
336
337		I have enjoyed Doom Emacs (far more than GNU Emacs) and will likely continue to
338		use it as my main editor for the time being. Org-Mode is certainly the largest
339		factor here, as I far prefer it over Markdown due to its inherent features and
340		detailed markup options. However, working with org-mode on iOS has been a pain
341		and I will have to see if there's an easier way to resolve those issues or if
342		going back to separate Markdown, Reminders, and Calendar apps is easier to work
343		with than an all-in-one org solution.

content/blog/2024-03-13-doom-emacs.org added +360

		@@ -0,0 +1,360 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-03-13>
	2	#+title: Doom Emacs & Org-Mode
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	** Screenshots
	7
	8	These screenshots are showing a project opened with projectile, a
	9	treemacs side pane open with the project contents, multiple buffers
	10	tiled next to each other, and the help pane open at the bottomm.
	11
	12	The themes are =doom-homage-white= and =doom-homage-black=.
	13
	14	#+caption: Doom Emacs Light Mode
	15	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/light.png]]
	16
	17	#+caption: Doom Emacs Dark Mode
	18	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/dark.png]]
	19
	20	** Getting Started
	21
	22	I have been switching back and forth between
	23	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown][markdown]] and
	24	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Org-mode][org-mode]] recently for my
	25	personal note taking, wiki, and even this blog. As a result, I have been
	26	stumbling further into the world of Emacs and found myself at a point
	27	where I now prefer to do most of my basic editing within Emacs.
	28
	29	I'll leave the markdown vs. org-mode debate for another post, but I love
	30	org-mode's extensibility and interactive nature within Emacs, but it
	31	becomes very unwieldy in any other client implementation of org-mode -
	32	especially on iOS. On the flip side, markdown is limited in
	33	functionality and fractured into different standards, but it's simple
	34	and popular enough that there are a plethora of great clients to choose
	35	from that will get the job done.
	36
	37	For now, I want to focus on how I have been using Emacs and some of the
	38	things that would have helped me learn it faster had I known where to
	39	start.
	40
	41	*** Installation
	42
	43	This post focuses on [[https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs][Doom
	44	Emacs]], which is an Emacs framework that provides an alternative
	45	experience to the vanilla [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][GNU
	46	Emacs]].
	47
	48	The
	49	[[https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs/blob/master/docs/getting_started.org][Getting
	50	Start Guide]] has an extremely detailed walkthrough of installation for
	51	all systems, so please refer to that guide for up-to-date instructions.
	52
	53	I chose to install on macOS, using the Homebrew option with the
	54	=railwaycat/emacsmacport= version of Emacs.
	55
	56	Once the program is installed, you can run the program by typing =emacs=
	57	in a terminal. If you installed a version of Emacs that supports both a
	58	GUI and TUI, you will have to run =emacs -nw= to get the TUI instead of
	59	the default GUI.
	60
	61	*** Configuration
	62
	63	Once installed, you can configure Doom by editing the files within the
	64	=~/.doom.d/= directory. This directory holds four files:
	65
	66	1. =config.el= - Personal configuration file
	67	2. =custom.el= - Custom set variables
	68	3. =init.el= - Doom modules and load order, must run =doom sync= after
	69	modifying
	70	4. =packages.el= - Declare packages to install in this file, then run
	71	=doom sync= to install
	72
	73	I only needed a few customizations for my configuration, so I'll list
	74	them below.
	75
	76	#+begin_src lisp
	77	;; ~/.doom.d/config.el
	78	(setq doom-theme 'doom-homage-black)
	79	(setq display-line-numbers-type t)
	80	(setq org-directory "~/Documents/Notes/")
	81
	82	;; lengthy org-publish directives at the bottom of the file
	83	#+end_src
	84
	85	#+begin_src lisp
	86	;; ~/.doom.d/init.el
	87	(doom! :input
	88	:completion
	89	company ; the ultimate code completion backend
	90	vertico ; the search engine of the future
	91
	92	:ui
	93	doom ; what makes DOOM look the way it does
	94	doom-dashboard ; a nifty splash screen for Emacs
	95	(emoji +unicode) ; 🙂
	96	hl-todo ; highlight TODO/FIXME/NOTE/DEPRECATED/HACK/REVIEW
	97	minimap ; show a map of the code on the side
	98	modeline ; snazzy, Atom-inspired modeline, plus API
	99	ophints ; highlight the region an operation acts on
	100	(popup +defaults) ; tame sudden yet inevitable temporary windows
	101	tabs ; a tab bar for Emacs
	102	treemacs ; a project drawer, like neotree but cooler
	103	(vc-gutter +pretty) ; vcs diff in the fringe
	104	vi-tilde-fringe ; fringe tildes to mark beyond EOB
	105	workspaces ; tab emulation, persistence & separate workspaces
	106
	107	:editor
	108	(evil +everywhere); come to the dark side, we have cookies
	109	file-templates ; auto-snippets for empty files
	110	fold ; (nigh) universal code folding
	111	snippets ; my elves. They type so I don't have to
	112
	113	:emacs
	114	dired ; making dired pretty [functional]
	115	electric ; smarter, keyword-based electric-indent
	116	undo ; persistent, smarter undo for your inevitable mistakes
	117	vc ; version-control and Emacs, sitting in a tree
	118
	119	:term
	120	term ; basic terminal emulator for Emacs
	121
	122	:checkers
	123	syntax ; tasing you for every semicolon you forget
	124
	125	:tools
	126	(eval +overlay) ; run code, run (also, repls)
	127	lookup ; navigate your code and its documentation
	128	magit ; a git porcelain for Emacs
	129
	130	:os
	131	(:if (featurep :system 'macos) macos) ; improve compatibility with macOS
	132
	133	:lang
	134	common-lisp ; if you've seen one lisp, you've seen them all
	135	emacs-lisp ; drown in parentheses
	136	markdown ; writing docs for people to ignore
	137	org ; organize your plain life in plain text
	138	python ; beautiful is better than ugly
	139	sh ; she sells {ba,z,fi}sh shells on the C xor
	140
	141	:app
	142	irc ; how neckbeards socialize
	143	(rss +org) ; emacs as an RSS reader
	144
	145	(default +bindings +smartparens))
	146	#+end_src
	147
	148	If you're editing these files within Doom directly, remember to run
	149	=SPC h r r= to reload the configuration. Also remember to run
	150	=doom sync= for any changes to the =init.el= or =packages.el= files.
	151
	152	** Basic Functionality
	153
	154	I kept a cheat sheet note open at first with all of the basic functions
	155	typed out, copied as I went through the tutorial. After a little while,
	156	I no longer needed it. I highly recommend writing down the most
	157	applicable shortcuts for your preferred functionality and refer back to
	158	it until you've memorized it.
	159
	160	Memorizing the shortcuts will differ based on the type of Emacs
	161	framework being used. Personally, migrating from vanilla Emacs to Doom
	162	Emacs simplified everything by a large factor and instantly enabled me
	163	to start working on my projects, eliminating most of the hurdles I was
	164	running into. The vanilla emacs hotkeys became obnoxious and I actually
	165	stopped using Emacs entirely for about a month before trying Doom.
	166
	167	For me, the first logical step is to interact with the local filesystem.
	168	To do this, I needed to know how to open directories, open files, save
	169	files, discard changes, close files, and switch between open files. Here
	170	are some example shortcuts I've written down in order to accomplish
	171	file-based actions.
	172
	173	\| Doom Hotkey \| Emacs Hotkey \| Description \|
	174	\|-----------------+---------------+----------------------------------------\|
	175	\| =SPC := \| =C-x= \| Run functions \|
	176	\| =SPC f f= \| =C-x f= \| Open file in buffer \|
	177	\| =SPC f d= \| =C-x d= \| Open directory with =dired= \|
	178	\| =i= \| =C-x C-q= \| Edit current buffer (insert mode) \|
	179	\| =q= \| =C-x C-q= \| Quit out of insert mode \|
	180	\| =SPC f s= \| =C-x s= \| Save current buffer \|
	181	\| =SPC b k= \| =C-x k= \| Kill current buffer \|
	182	\| =SPC w h/j/k/l= \| =C-x o=[fn:2] \| Move left/down/up/right to next buffer \|
	183
	184	In general, when in Doom, you can press =SPC= and wait a second for the
	185	help pane to appear with all available hotkey options. For example, you
	186	can press =SPC=, wait for the help pane, and then select a key such as
	187	=g= to enter the git help pane and explore further command options.
	188
	189	** Editing
	190
	191	Next in my process is to dive into editing for any languages I'm
	192	currently using. In this post, I will just cover Markdown and Org-Mode
	193	but I have also been slowly adoping some Python and general web dev
	194	tools as well.
	195
	196	*** Markdown
	197
	198	#+caption: Markdown Preview
	199	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/markdown.png]]
	200
	201	Markdown is fairly simple as the syntax is limited, so just make sure
	202	the =~/.doom.d/init.el= includes the =markdown= declaration in the
	203	=:lang= section.
	204
	205	This package includes the following hotkey menus. The insert and toggle
	206	menu expands further, allowing you to insert various markdown elements
	207	and toggle things like link hiding.
	208
	209	\| Doom Hotkey \| Function \|
	210	\|------------------------------+--------------------------\|
	211	\| =SPC m '= \| markdown-edit-code-block \|
	212	\| =SPC m e= \| markdown-export \|
	213	\| =SPC m i= \| +insert \|
	214	\| =SPC m o= \| markdown-open \|
	215	\| =SPC m p= \| markdown-preview \|
	216	\| =SPC m t= \| +toggle \|
	217	\| =SPC : markdown-table-align= \| markdown-table-align \|
	218
	219	*** Org-Mode
	220
	221	#+caption: Org-Mode Preview
	222	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240314-doom-emacs/org.png]]
	223
	224	Similar to the markdown section above, ensure that the
	225	=~/.doom.d/init.el= includes the =org= declaration in the =:lang=
	226	section.
	227
	228	There are a few hot keys, but a quick search with =SPC : org= shows that
	229	there are 865 possible org-related functions you can run. I won't
	230	possibly be able to list them all, so I will simply cover a few of the
	231	basic commands I use myself.
	232
	233	\| Doom Hotkey \| Function \|
	234	\|----------------+---------------------------------------\|
	235	\| =SPC m t= \| org-todo \|
	236	\| =SPC n t= \| org-todo-list \|
	237	\| =SPC o A= \| org-agenda \|
	238	\| =SPC X= \| org-capture \|
	239	\| =SPC m p p= \| org-priority \|
	240	\| =SPC m d s= \| org-schedule \|
	241	\| =TAB= \| org-cycle \|
	242	\| =SHIFT TAB= \| Collapse/open all headings in buffer \|
	243	\| =M-q= \| Format/wrap current section \|
	244	\| =M-Left/Right= \| Demote/promote current heading \|
	245	\| =M-Down/Up= \| Shift current heading section down/up \|
	246
	247	1. Org-Publish
	248
	249	Org includes a
	250	[[https://orgmode.org/manual/Publishing.html][publishing management
	251	system]] by default that allows you to export org files to Org,
	252	iCalendar, HTML, LaTex, Markdown, ODT, and Plain Text. Most of these
	253	can be exported into another buffer and opened, or simply to an
	254	external file.
	255
	256	While inside an org file, simply run =SPC m e= or
	257	=M-x org-export-dispatch= to open the export menu. This menu will
	258	show all options and ask you to select an option. If you want to
	259	export to HTML, simply press =h= and then =H= (As HTML buffer), =h=
	260	(As HTML file), or =o= (As HTML file and open).
	261
	262	2. Projects
	263
	264	Some publishing options are easier with a defined project in Emacs.
	265	To create a project within Emacs, I use two methods:
	266
	267	1. Add the project via the projectile command =SPC p a=. Does not
	268	always work for me.
	269	2. Add an empty =.projectile= file in the project root.
	270
	271	Once a project has been created, you can create custom publishing
	272	actions within your =~/.doom.d/config.el= file. For example, here's a
	273	test project I created to try and convert this blog to org-mode
	274	recently.
	275
	276	#+begin_src lisp
	277	;; org-publish
	278	(require 'ox-publish)
	279
	280	(defun my/org-sitemap-date-entry-format (entry style project) "Format ENTRY in
	281	org-publish PROJECT Sitemap format ENTRY ENTRY STYLE format that includes
	282	date." (let ((filename (org-publish-find-title entry project))) (if (= (length
	283	filename) 0) (format "%s" entry) (format "{{{timestamp(%s)}}}
	284	[[file:%s][%s]]" (format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d" (org-publish-find-date entry
	285	project)) entry filename))))
	286
	287	(setq org-export-global-macros '(("timestamp" . "@@html:<time datetime='[$1]'
	288	class='timestamp'>[$1]</time>@@")))
	289
	290	(setq org-publish-project-alist
	291	`(("blog"
	292	:base-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/"
	293	:base-extension "org"
	294	:recursive t
	295	:publishing-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/public/"
	296	:publishing-function org-html-publish-to-html
	297	;; HTML5
	298	:html-doctype "html5"
	299	:html-html5-fancy t
	300	;; Disable some Org's HTML defaults
	301	:html-head-include-scripts nil
	302	:html-head-include-default-style nil
	303	:section-numbers nil
	304	:with-title nil
	305	;; Sitemap
	306	:auto-sitemap t
	307	:sitemap-title: "Sitemap"
	308	:sitemap-sort-files anti-chronologically
	309	; :sitemap-function my/org-sitemap-date-entry-format
	310	;; Customize HTML output
	311	:html-divs ((preamble "header" "preamble")
	312	(content "main" "content")
	313	(postamble "footer" "postamble"))
	314	:html-head "<meta name='theme-color' content='#111' media='(prefers-color-scheme: dark)'>
	315	<meta name='theme-color' content='#fff' media='(prefers-color-scheme: light)'>
	316	<link rel='stylesheet' href='/syntax-theme-dark.css' media='(prefers-color-scheme: dark)'>
	317	<link rel='stylesheet' href='/syntax-theme-light.css' media='(prefers-color-scheme: light)'>
	318	<link rel='stylesheet' href='/styles.css' type='text/css'>"
	319	:html-preamble "<nav class='site-nav' aria-label='site-nav' role='navigation'>
	320	<ul>
	321	<li><a href='/'>Home</a></li>
	322	<li><a href='/blog/'>Blog</a></li>
	323	<li><a href='/services/'>Services</a></li>
	324	<li><a href='/wiki/'>Wiki</a></li>
	325	</ul></nav>
	326	<h1>%t</h1>
	327	<time datetime='%d'>%d</time>"
	328	:html-postamble "
	329	<p>Last build: %T</p>
	330	<p>Created with %c</p>"
	331	)
	332
	333	("static"
	334	:base-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/static/"
	335	:base-extension "css\\\|txt\\\|jpg\\\|gif\\\|png"
	336	:recursive t
	337	:publishing-directory "~/Source/cleberg.net/public/"
	338	:publishing-function org-publish-attachment)
	339
	340	("cleberg.net" :components ("blog" "static"))))
	341	#+end_src
	342
	343	** General Thoughts
	344
	345	I have enjoyed Doom Emacs (far more than GNU Emacs) and will likely
	346	continue to use it as my main editor for the time being. Org-Mode is
	347	certainly the largest factor here, as I far prefer it over Markdown due
	348	to its inherent features and detailed markup options. However, working
	349	with org-mode on iOS has been a pain and I will have to see if there's
	350	an easier way to resolve those issues or if going back to separate
	351	Markdown, Reminders, and Calendar apps is easier to work with than an
	352	all-in-one org solution.
	353
	354	[fn:1] Doom's evil-window functionality is a bit different from GNU
	355	Emacs, but you can always switch to the "other" buffer with
	356	=C-x o= or =C-x b= to get a list of buffers to select.
	357
	358	[fn:2] Doom's evil-window functionality is a bit different from GNU
	359	Emacs, but you can always switch to the "other" buffer with
	360	=C-x o= or =C-x b= to get a list of buffers to select.

content/blog/2024-03-15-self-hosting-ddns-updater.md → content/blog/2024-03-15-self-hosting-ddns-updater.org renamed +91 −86

		@@ -1,73 +1,78 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-03-15
3		title = "Self-Hosting DDNS Updater"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2024-03-15>
	2	#+title: Self-Hosting DDNS Updater
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		![DDNS Updater Web
9		View](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240315-ddns-updater/ddns.png)
10	5
11		[DDNS Updater](https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater) is a program to keep DNS A
12		and/or AAAA records updated for multiple DNS providers.
	6	#+caption: DDNS Updater Web View
	7	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240315-ddns-updater/ddns.png]]
13	8
14		If you've read any of my other posts, you'll notice that I have been searching
15		for and using a few different DDNS updating solutions for years. You'll also
16		notice that I love any projects that offer a Docker Compose solution.
	9	[[https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater][DDNS Updater]] is a program to
	10	keep DNS A and/or AAAA records updated for multiple DNS providers.
	11
	12	If you've read any of my other posts, you'll notice that I have been
	13	searching for and using a few different DDNS updating solutions for
	14	years. You'll also notice that I love any projects that offer a Docker
	15	Compose solution.
17	16
18	17	Luckily, DDNS Upater fits both of these preferences.
19	18
20		## Installation
	19	** Installation
21	20
22	21	To get started, always make sure to review the project's
23		[README](https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater/blob/master/README.md). I'll be
24		documenting my steps below, but they may have changed by the time you read this.
	22	[[https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater/blob/master/README.md][README]].
	23	I'll be documenting my steps below, but they may have changed by the
	24	time you read this.
25	25
26		The first step is to set up the directories and files required for the project.
	26	The first step is to set up the directories and files required for the
	27	project.
27	28
28		```sh
	29	#+begin_src sh
29	30	mkdir ~/ddns-updater
30	31	mkdir ~/ddns-updater/data
31	32	touch ~/ddns-updater/data/config.json
32		```
	33	#+end_src
33	34
34		### Configuration
	35	*** Configuration
35	36
36		The main configuration you need to update is the `data/config.json` file. There
37		is a large list of supported providers in the README, but I'm going to use
38		Cloudflare in this example.
	37	The main configuration you need to update is the =data/config.json=
	38	file. There is a large list of supported providers in the README, but
	39	I'm going to use Cloudflare in this example.
39	40
40		```sh
	41	#+begin_src sh
41	42	nano ~/ddns-updater/data/config.json
42		```
43
44		When setting up the configuration for Cloudflare, you'll need the following:
45
46		- Required Parameters
47		- `"zone_identifier"` is the Zone ID of your site from the domain overview
48		page
49		- `"host"` is your host and can be `"@"`, a subdomain or the wildcard
50		`"*"`. See [this issue comment for
51		context](https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater/issues/243#issuecomment-928313949).
52		- `"ttl"` integer value for record TTL in seconds (specify 1 for
53		automatic)
54		- One of the following ([how to find API
55		keys](https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/api/get-started/)):
56		- Email `"email"` and Global API Key `"key"`
57		- User service key `"user_service_key"`
58		- API Token `"token"`, configured with DNS edit permissions for your
59		DNS name's zone
60		- Optional Parameters
61		- `"proxied"` can be set to `true` to use the proxy services of Cloudflare
62		- `"ip_version"` can be `ipv4` (A records), or `ipv6` (AAAA records) or
63		`ipv4 or ipv6` (update one of the two, depending on the public ip
64		found). It defaults to `ipv4 or ipv6`.
65		- `"ipv6_suffix"` is the IPv6 interface identifier suffix to use. It can
66		be for example `0:0:0:0:72ad:8fbb:a54e:bedd/64`. If left empty, it
67		defaults to no suffix and the raw public IPv6 address obtained is used
68		in the record updating.
69
70		```conf
	43	#+end_src
	44
	45	When setting up the configuration for Cloudflare, you'll need the
	46	following:
	47
	48	- Required Parameters
	49	- ="zone_identifier"= is the Zone ID of your site from the domain
	50	overview page
	51	- ="host"= is your host and can be ="@"=, a subdomain or the wildcard
	52	="*"=. See
	53	[[https://github.com/qdm12/ddns-updater/issues/243#issuecomment-928313949][this
	54	issue comment for context]].
	55	- ="ttl"= integer value for record TTL in seconds (specify 1 for
	56	automatic)
	57	- One of the following
	58	([[https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/api/get-started/][how
	59	to find API keys]]):
	60	- Email ="email"= and Global API Key ="key"=
	61	- User service key ="user_service_key"=
	62	- API Token ="token"=, configured with DNS edit permissions for your
	63	DNS name's zone
	64	- Optional Parameters
	65	- ="proxied"= can be set to =true= to use the proxy services of
	66	Cloudflare
	67	- ="ip_version"= can be =ipv4= (A records), or =ipv6= (AAAA records)
	68	or =ipv4 or ipv6= (update one of the two, depending on the public
	69	ip found). It defaults to =ipv4 or ipv6=.
	70	- ="ipv6_suffix"= is the IPv6 interface identifier suffix to use. It
	71	can be for example =0:0:0:0:72ad:8fbb:a54e:bedd/64=. If left empty,
	72	it defaults to no suffix and the raw public IPv6 address obtained is
	73	used in the record updating.
	74
	75	#+begin_src conf
71	76	{
72	77	"settings": [
73	78	{
		@@ -83,12 +88,12 @@ When setting up the configuration for Cloudflare, you'll need the following:
83	88	}
84	89	]
85	90	}
86		```
	91	#+end_src
87	92
88		Once you have configured the provider of your choice, correct the file and
89		directory permissions and ownership.
	93	Once you have configured the provider of your choice, correct the file
	94	and directory permissions and ownership.
90	95
91		```sh
	96	#+begin_src sh
92	97	cd ~/ddns_updater
93	98	# Owned by user ID of Docker container (1000)
94	99	chown -R 1000 data
		@@ -96,18 +101,18 @@ chown -R 1000 data
96	101	chmod 700 data
97	102	# read access only
98	103	chmod 400 data/config.json
99		```
	104	#+end_src
100	105
101		### Docker Compose
	106	*** Docker Compose
102	107
103		After creating the project structure, let's create the `docker-compose.yml`
104		file.
	108	After creating the project structure, let's create the
	109	=docker-compose.yml= file.
105	110
106		```sh
	111	#+begin_src sh
107	112	nano ~/ddns_-pdater/docker-compose.yml
108		```
	113	#+end_src
109	114
110		```config
	115	#+begin_src config
111	116	version: "3.7"
112	117	services:
113	118	ddns-updater:
		@@ -143,34 +148,34 @@ services:
143	148	- LOG_CALLER=hidden
144	149	- SHOUTRRR_ADDRESSES=
145	150	restart: always
146		```
	151	#+end_src
147	152
148		After configuring your preferences in the `docker-compose.yml`, launch the
149		container.
	153	After configuring your preferences in the =docker-compose.yml=, launch
	154	the container.
150	155
151		```sh
	156	#+begin_src sh
152	157	cd ~/ddns-updater
153	158	sudo docker-compose up -d
154		```
	159	#+end_src
155	160
156		If you've launched this on your local machine, you can launch `localhost:8097`
157		in your browser to see the results.
	161	If you've launched this on your local machine, you can launch
	162	=localhost:8097= in your browser to see the results.
158	163
159		### Nginx Reverse Proxy
	164	*** Nginx Reverse Proxy
160	165
161		If you launched this service on a server, other machine, or just want to access
162		it remotely via a domain name, you can use Nginx as a reverse proxy to expose
163		the service publicly.
	166	If you launched this service on a server, other machine, or just want to
	167	access it remotely via a domain name, you can use Nginx as a reverse
	168	proxy to expose the service publicly.
164	169
165	170	Start by creating the Nginx configuration file.
166	171
167		```sh
	172	#+begin_src sh
168	173	sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/ddns
169		```
	174	#+end_src
170	175
171	176	Here's a basic example that should work properly.
172	177
173		```conf
	178	#+begin_src conf
174	179	server {
175	180	# If using 443, remember to include your ssl_certificate
176	181	# and ssl_certificate_key
		@@ -186,12 +191,12 @@ server {
186	191	# see the full example below if necessary
187	192	}
188	193	}
189		```
	194	#+end_src
190	195
191		Here's a full example that uses my Authelia authentication service to require
192		authentication before someone can access the web page.
	196	Here's a full example that uses my Authelia authentication service to
	197	require authentication before someone can access the web page.
193	198
194		```conf
	199	#+begin_src conf
195	200	server {
196	201	if ($host ~ ^[^.]+\.example\.com$) {
197	202	return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
		@@ -298,13 +303,13 @@ server {
298	303	# real_ip_recursive on;
299	304	}
300	305	}
301		```
	306	#+end_src
302	307
303	308	When complete, simply link the file and restart the web server.
304	309
305		```sh
	310	#+begin_src sh
306	311	sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/ddns /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ddns
307	312	sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
308		```
	313	#+end_src
309	314
310		Your ddns-updater service will now be available via `ddns.example.com`!
	315	Your ddns-updater service will now be available via =ddns.example.com=!

content/blog/2024-03-29-org-blog.md → content/blog/2024-03-29-org-blog.org renamed +109 −104

		@@ -1,80 +1,82 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-03-29
3		title = "Blogging in Org-Mode"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		First and foremost, apologies to those who subscribe via RSS as I know that my
9		feed duplicated itself when I moved this blog over to org-mode last night.
10
11		This post focuses specifically on the configuration and tools I use to blog from
12		Emacs with Org-Mode and does not focus on Emacs or Org-Mode themselves. Refer to
13		the post I wrote about [Doom Emacs &
14		Org-Mode](file:///blog/doom-emacs-org-mode.html) for more information about my
15		base Emacs configuration.
16
17		# Weblorg
18
19		The first step in blogging with Org-Mode is to choose a method to convert the
20		source files to HTML and publish them. The Worg site maintains a nice list of
21		[Blogs and Wikis with Org](https://orgmode.org/worg/org-blog-wiki.html), but the
22		tools are inevitably different and opinionated, so you'll need to find what
23		works for you.
24
25		I tried using Jekyll, Hugo, ox-hugo, Nikola, Blorg, org-static-blog, and the
26		native org-publish functions before finally settling on Weblorg. For one reason
27		or another, the other solutions were a drastic step down from my previous
28		workflow that used [Zola](https://www.getzola.org/) with Markdown content.
29
30		[Weblorg](https://github.com/emacs-love/weblorg) is a static site generator for
31		[org-mode](https://orgmode.org/), built for use within
32		[Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/). Since it's written in Emacs Lisp,
33		there's no need to install other languages or frameworks to get started. More
34		than that, you can write in any editor you please and simply invoke the Emacs
35		build process with the `--script` parameter instead of requiring you to blog
36		inside Emacs.
37
38		## Installation
39
40		The [Getting Started](https://emacs.love/weblorg/doc/index.html) page details
41		broad installation requirements. I am using Doom Emacs on macOS, which requires
42		you to add the package to the `~/.doom.d/packages.el` file and configure the
43		`publish.el` file slightly differently.
44
45		To start, add the `htmlize` and `weblorg` packages to Doom, sync the changes,
46		and reload.
47
48		```sh
	1	#+date: <2024-03-29>
	2	#+title: Blogging in Org-Mode
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	First and foremost, apologies to those who subscribe via RSS as I know
	7	that my feed duplicated itself when I moved this blog over to org-mode
	8	last night.
	9
	10	This post focuses specifically on the configuration and tools I use to
	11	blog from Emacs with Org-Mode and does not focus on Emacs or Org-Mode
	12	themselves. Refer to the post I wrote about
	13	[[file:///blog/doom-emacs-org-mode.html][Doom Emacs & Org-Mode]] for
	14	more information about my base Emacs configuration.
	15
	16	* Weblorg
	17
	18	The first step in blogging with Org-Mode is to choose a method to
	19	convert the source files to HTML and publish them. The Worg site
	20	maintains a nice list of
	21	[[https://orgmode.org/worg/org-blog-wiki.html][Blogs and Wikis with
	22	Org]], but the tools are inevitably different and opinionated, so you'll
	23	need to find what works for you.
	24
	25	I tried using Jekyll, Hugo, ox-hugo, Nikola, Blorg, org-static-blog, and
	26	the native org-publish functions before finally settling on Weblorg. For
	27	one reason or another, the other solutions were a drastic step down from
	28	my previous workflow that used [[https://www.getzola.org/][Zola]] with
	29	Markdown content.
	30
	31	[[https://github.com/emacs-love/weblorg][Weblorg]] is a static site
	32	generator for [[https://orgmode.org/][org-mode]], built for use within
	33	[[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/][Emacs]]. Since it's written in
	34	Emacs Lisp, there's no need to install other languages or frameworks to
	35	get started. More than that, you can write in any editor you please and
	36	simply invoke the Emacs build process with the =--script= parameter
	37	instead of requiring you to blog inside Emacs.
	38
	39	** Installation
	40
	41	The [[https://emacs.love/weblorg/doc/index.html][Getting Started]] page
	42	details broad installation requirements. I am using Doom Emacs on macOS,
	43	which requires you to add the package to the =~/.doom.d/packages.el=
	44	file and configure the =publish.el= file slightly differently.
	45
	46	To start, add the =htmlize= and =weblorg= packages to Doom, sync the
	47	changes, and reload.
	48
	49	#+begin_src sh
49	50	nano ~/.doom.d/packages.el
50		```
	51	#+end_src
51	52
52		```lisp
	53	#+begin_src lisp
53	54	(package! htmlize)
54	55	(package! weblorg)
55		```
	56	#+end_src
56	57
57		```sh
	58	#+begin_src sh
58	59	doom sync
59		```
	60	#+end_src
60	61
61		Either re-open Emacs or hit `SPC h r r` to reload the changes.
	62	Either re-open Emacs or hit =SPC h r r= to reload the changes.
62	63
63		## Configuration
	64	** Configuration
64	65
65		Now that I've installed weblorg, I need to configure the project. I'll start by
66		navigating to my site's source code and creating a `publish.el` file.
	66	Now that I've installed weblorg, I need to configure the project. I'll
	67	start by navigating to my site's source code and creating a =publish.el=
	68	file.
67	69
68		```sh
	70	#+begin_src sh
69	71	cd ~/Source/cleberg.net && nano publish.el
70		```
	72	#+end_src
71	73
72		Since I'm using Doom, Emacs will not automatically load the packages I need
73		later in the build process. To compensate, my `publish.el` file needs to
74		explicitly tell Emacs where Doom stores the `htmlize`, `weblorg`, and
75		`templatel` packages.
	74	Since I'm using Doom, Emacs will not automatically load the packages I
	75	need later in the build process. To compensate, my =publish.el= file
	76	needs to explicitly tell Emacs where Doom stores the =htmlize=,
	77	=weblorg=, and =templatel= packages.
76	78
77		```lisp
	79	#+begin_src lisp
78	80	;; explicity load packages since I'm using Doom Emacs
79	81	(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/.local/straight/repos/emacs-htmlize")
80	82	(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/.local/straight/repos/weblorg")
		@@ -164,9 +166,9 @@ explicitly tell Emacs where Doom stores the `htmlize`, `weblorg`, and
164	166	:name "rss"
165	167	:input-pattern "content/blog/*.org"
166	168	:input-aggregate #'weblorg-input-aggregate-all-desc
167		:template "atom.xml"
168		:output ".build/atom.xml"
169		:url "/atom.xml")
	169	:template "feed.xml"
	170	:output ".build/feed.xml"
	171	:url "/feed.xml")
170	172
171	173	;; route for static assets that also copies files to .build directory
172	174	(weblorg-copy-static
		@@ -175,19 +177,21 @@ explicitly tell Emacs where Doom stores the `htmlize`, `weblorg`, and
175	177
176	178	;; fire the engine and export all the files declared in the routes above
177	179	(weblorg-export)
178		```
	180	#+end_src
179	181
180		# Project
	182	* Project
181	183
182		## Structure
	184	** Structure
183	185
184	186	The project structure for weblorg is highly customizable and the main
185		restriction is that the `publish.el` file must point to the correct paths.
	187	restriction is that the =publish.el= file must point to the correct
	188	paths.
186	189
187		For my blog, I prefer to keep the blog content out of the top-level directory.
188		This results in the following structure (shortened for brevity):
	190	For my blog, I prefer to keep the blog content out of the top-level
	191	directory. This results in the following structure (shortened for
	192	brevity):
189	193
190		```txt
	194	#+begin_src txt
191	195	.build/
192	196	content/
193	197	blog/
		@@ -211,55 +215,56 @@ theme/
211	215	wiki.html
212	216	build.sh
213	217	publish.el
214		```
	218	#+end_src
215	219
216		This is simply my preferred structure and you can alter it to fit your needs.
217		The key here really is that you can customize at will, as long as the
218		`publish.el` file matches.
	220	This is simply my preferred structure and you can alter it to fit your
	221	needs. The key here really is that you can customize at will, as long as
	222	the =publish.el= file matches.
219	223
220		## Build & Deploy
	224	** Build & Deploy
221	225
222		Once you're content with the status of the project, you're ready to build and
223		deploy the blog.
	226	Once you're content with the status of the project, you're ready to
	227	build and deploy the blog.
224	228
225		My process utilizes a `build.sh` script that combines the steps I take every
226		time.
	229	My process utilizes a =build.sh= script that combines the steps I take
	230	every time.
227	231
228		```sh
	232	#+begin_src sh
229	233	touch build.sh && chmod +x build.sh && nano build.sh
230		```
	234	#+end_src
231	235
232	236	Within this script, I do the following:
233	237
234		1. Remove any files within the `.build` directory that I use to store published
235		files.
236		2. Set the environment variable to `prod` to ensure the `base_url` matches my
237		configuration in `publish.el`.
238		3. Build the site with Emacs & `publish.el`.
239		4. Use `scp` to copy files to my site's public directory on my server.
	238	1. Remove any files within the =.build= directory that I use to store
	239	published files.
	240	2. Set the environment variable to =prod= to ensure the =base_url=
	241	matches my configuration in =publish.el=.
	242	3. Build the site with Emacs & =publish.el=.
	243	4. Use =scp= to copy files to my site's public directory on my server.
240	244
241		```sh
	245	#+begin_src sh
242	246	rm -rf .build/* && \
243	247	ENV=prod emacs --script publish.el && \
244	248	scp -r .build/* ubuntu:/var/www/cleberg.net/
245		```
	249	#+end_src
246	250
247		### Time to Build
	251	*** Time to Build
248	252
249	253	My only current complaints are:
250	254
251		1. Errors messages are not helpful. It takes work to determine what the error is
252		and where it's coming from. I generally have to sit and watch the build
253		process to see the file that weblorg pubslishes right before the error
254		occurred.
255		2. The build process re-builds every single file on each run, which takes a long
256		time for a blog of my size. See below for the last time I measured.
	255	1. Errors messages are not helpful. It takes work to determine what the
	256	error is and where it's coming from. I generally have to sit and
	257	watch the build process to see the file that weblorg pubslishes right
	258	before the error occurred.
	259	2. The build process re-builds every single file on each run, which
	260	takes a long time for a blog of my size. See below for the last time
	261	I measured.
257	262
258		```sh
	263	#+begin_src sh
259	264	> time ./build.sh
260	265
261	266	./build.sh 35.46s user 0.59s system 85% cpu 41.965 total
262		```
	267	#+end_src
263	268
264		Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed using weblog and will continue to use it
265		going forward until I find something better.
	269	Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed using weblog and will continue to use
	270	it going forward until I find something better.

content/blog/2024-04-06-convert-onenote-to-markdown.md deleted −95

		@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-04-06
3		title = "Convert OneNote to Markdown or Org-Mode"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		If you're looking to convert your OneNote content to another format, such as
9		Markdown or Org-Mode, you're in luck. I use a solution that doesn't require
10		other programs, such as Evernote or Notion. Personally, I used this solution on
11		a managed corporate laptop that doesn't allow installation of other programs
12		like these.
13
14		This solution uses OneNote and Pandoc on Windows 10.
15
16		# Export OneNote Content to Word
17
18		To start, export any pages or tabs from OneNote to the Word format (`.docx`):
19
20		1. Open OneNote desktop.
21		2. Select `File` and then `Export`.
22		3. Select the scope of content to export, such as `Tab` or `Page`.
23		4. Name and save the file in an easy to remember location. I recommend your
24		Downloads or Desktop folder.
25
26		See below for a visual walkthrough of the export process.
27
28		# Download Pandoc
29
30		Start by downloading Pandoc from their [GitHub
31		releases](https://github.com/jgm/pandoc/releases) page. I cannot install `.msi`
32		files on my corporate laptop, so I downloaded the
33		`pandoc-3.1.12.3-windows-x86_64.zip` file, which contains a simple `.exe` file
34		that you do not need to install - you will simply run it from the command line
35		below.
36
37		Once downloaded, unzip the archive and move the `pandoc.exe` file to the same
38		folder where your Word documents were saved above. If you prefer, you can move
39		this file to an easier location, such as `C:\Users\youruser\Downloads`.
40
41		# Convert Word to Markdown
42
43		In this example, I will be converting the Word documents to Markdown, but Pandoc
44		supports [a ton of different formats for
45		conversion](https://github.com/jgm/pandoc?tab=readme-ov-file#the-universal-markup-converter).
46		Choose the format you prefer and then modify the following commands as needed.
47
48		To perform the conversion, open the Command Prompt. If you can't find it, open
49		the start menu and search for it.
50
51		Within the command prompt, navigate to the directory where you stored the
52		`pandoc.exe` file and the Word documents.
53
54		```ps1
55		cd "C:\Users\yourusername\Downloads"
56		```
57
58		You can verify that you're in the correct directory with the `dir` command.
59
60		```ps1
61		dir
62		```
63
64		Once you have verified that you have the command prompt open in the correct
65		directory with the `pandoc.exe` and the Word documents, you can run the
66		following loop to convert all Word documents to Markdown.
67
68		```ps1
69		for %f in (*.docx) do (pandoc.exe --extract-media=. --wrap=preserve "%f" -o "%f.md")
70		```
71
72		This loop will perform the following actions:
73
74		1. Find all documents matching the pattern `*.docx`, which means all Word
75		documents ending with that file extension.
76		2. Iterate through all files found in step 1.
77		3. For each file, perform the pandoc command.
78		4. Within the pandoc command, `--extract-media` saves all media found in the
79		files to the current folder, with pandoc automatically creating a `media`
80		subfolder to hold all images.
81		5. Within the pandoc command, `--wrap=preserve` will attempt to prseerve the
82		wrapping from the source document.
83		6. Within the pandoc command, the final step is to specify the output path with
84		`-o`. This option adds the `.md` file extension to recognize the output files
85		as Markdown files.
86
87		If you want to export to another format, simply specify the `-f=`/`--from=` and
88		`-t=`/`--to=` options.
89
90		For example, you can convert the Word document to org-mode. You can also convert
91		to one format and subsequently convert to other formats as needed.
92
93		```ps1
94		pandoc.exe -f docx -t org file.docx
95		```

content/blog/2024-04-06-convert-onenote-to-markdown.org added +98

		@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-04-06>
	2	#+title: Convert OneNote to Markdown or Org-Mode
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	If you're looking to convert your OneNote content to another format,
	7	such as Markdown or Org-Mode, you're in luck. I use a solution that
	8	doesn't require other programs, such as Evernote or Notion. Personally,
	9	I used this solution on a managed corporate laptop that doesn't allow
	10	installation of other programs like these.
	11
	12	This solution uses OneNote and Pandoc on Windows 10.
	13
	14	* Export OneNote Content to Word
	15
	16	To start, export any pages or tabs from OneNote to the Word format
	17	(=.docx=):
	18
	19	1. Open OneNote desktop.
	20	2. Select =File= and then =Export=.
	21	3. Select the scope of content to export, such as =Tab= or =Page=.
	22	4. Name and save the file in an easy to remember location. I recommend
	23	your Downloads or Desktop folder.
	24
	25	See below for a visual walkthrough of the export process.
	26
	27	* Download Pandoc
	28
	29	Start by downloading Pandoc from their
	30	[[https://github.com/jgm/pandoc/releases][GitHub releases]] page. I
	31	cannot install =.msi= files on my corporate laptop, so I downloaded the
	32	=pandoc-3.1.12.3-windows-x86_64.zip= file, which contains a simple
	33	=.exe= file that you do not need to install - you will simply run it
	34	from the command line below.
	35
	36	Once downloaded, unzip the archive and move the =pandoc.exe= file to the
	37	same folder where your Word documents were saved above. If you prefer,
	38	you can move this file to an easier location, such as
	39	=C:\Users\youruser\Downloads=.
	40
	41	* Convert Word to Markdown
	42
	43	In this example, I will be converting the Word documents to Markdown,
	44	but Pandoc supports
	45	[[https://github.com/jgm/pandoc?tab=readme-ov-file#the-universal-markup-converter][a
	46	ton of different formats for conversion]]. Choose the format you prefer
	47	and then modify the following commands as needed.
	48
	49	To perform the conversion, open the Command Prompt. If you can't find
	50	it, open the start menu and search for it.
	51
	52	Within the command prompt, navigate to the directory where you stored
	53	the =pandoc.exe= file and the Word documents.
	54
	55	#+begin_src ps1
	56	cd "C:\Users\yourusername\Downloads"
	57	#+end_src
	58
	59	You can verify that you're in the correct directory with the =dir=
	60	command.
	61
	62	#+begin_src ps1
	63	dir
	64	#+end_src
	65
	66	Once you have verified that you have the command prompt open in the
	67	correct directory with the =pandoc.exe= and the Word documents, you can
	68	run the following loop to convert all Word documents to Markdown.
	69
	70	#+begin_src ps1
	71	for %f in (*.docx) do (pandoc.exe --extract-media=. --wrap=preserve "%f" -o "%f.md")
	72	#+end_src
	73
	74	This loop will perform the following actions:
	75
	76	1. Find all documents matching the pattern =*.docx=, which means all
	77	Word documents ending with that file extension.
	78	2. Iterate through all files found in step 1.
	79	3. For each file, perform the pandoc command.
	80	4. Within the pandoc command, =--extract-media= saves all media found in
	81	the files to the current folder, with pandoc automatically creating a
	82	=media= subfolder to hold all images.
	83	5. Within the pandoc command, =--wrap=preserve= will attempt to prseerve
	84	the wrapping from the source document.
	85	6. Within the pandoc command, the final step is to specify the output
	86	path with =-o=. This option adds the =.md= file extension to
	87	recognize the output files as Markdown files.
	88
	89	If you want to export to another format, simply specify the
	90	=-f==/=--from== and =-t==/=--to== options.
	91
	92	For example, you can convert the Word document to org-mode. You can also
	93	convert to one format and subsequently convert to other formats as
	94	needed.
	95
	96	#+begin_src ps1
	97	pandoc.exe -f docx -t org file.docx
	98	#+end_src

content/blog/2024-04-08-docker-local-web-server.md deleted −140

		@@ -1,140 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-04-08
3		title = "Using Docker Desktop to Create a Development Web Server"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		When developing websites locally, I often use a simple Python web server to
9		observe the changes.
10
11		```sh
12		python3 -m http.server
13		```
14
15		However, this approach has its limitations. For example, this approach does not
16		enable logging or access controls. You also need to customize `SimpleHTTPServer`
17		if you have advanced needs from your web server.
18
19		So, I went to find an alternative that is almost as easy and far more extensible
20		and found Docker Desktop to be a suitable replacement.
21
22		# Docker Desktop
23
24		## Installation
25
26		[Docker Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/) is a desktop
27		GUI for the phenomenal Docker container software. This allows you to manage
28		containers, images, volumes, environments, and extensions via an easy-to-use
29		GUI.
30
31		To install, open the link above and click the `Download` button for your
32		platform. I'm going through this process on an M2 Macbook, so I downloaded the
33		Mac - Apple Chip version.
34
35		Open the installer and follow the installation process until the application
36		finishes the installation process.
37
38		![Docker Desktop on
39		macOS](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/docker-desktop.png)
40
41		## Creating an Nginx Container
42
43		I prefer to use the command line to create containers, so the following commands
44		will be input via the terminal.
45
46		The following command will create a container, using the `nginx` image:
47
48		1. `-d`: Run this container as a daemon (detach)
49		2. `-p`: Allocate a port in the format `<external>:<internal>`
50		3. `-i`: Keep STDIN open even if not attached
51		4. `-t`: Allocate a pseudo-TTY
52		5. `-p`: Allocate a port in the format `<external>:<internal>`
53		6. `--rm`: Remove the container once it's done running
54
55		```sh
56		docker run -it --rm -d -p 8000:80 --name web nginx
57		```
58
59		You can navigate to <http://localhost:8000> to see the resulting page.
60
61		![Default Nginx
62		Container](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/default-container.png)
63
64		## Customizing the Nginx Container
65
66		Now that I have a container running the Nginx web server, I need to link some
67		volumes so that I can modify the site configuration and provide the web files to
68		serve.
69
70		Let's start with the new command, which adds two volumes:
71
72		1. `<your_content>:/usr/share/nginx/html`: This is the directory where you will
73		provide the web pages for the server to serve.
74		2. `<your_config>:/etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf`: This is the Nginx
75		configuration file for your site.
76
77		To see the updates, you can delete the previous container in the GUI or run
78		`docker stop web` to stop the container. Once stopped, you can run the new
79		`docker run` command below.
80
81		```sh
82		docker run -it -d -p 8000:80 --name web -v ~/Source/cleberg.net/.build:/usr/share/nginx/html -v ~/Source/cleberg.net/nginx-config.conf:/etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf nginx
83		```
84
85		Here's an example of my development configuration file.
86
87		```conf
88		# nginx-config.conf
89		server {
90		server_name cleberg.net www.cleberg.net;
91
92		root /usr/share/nginx/html;
93		index index.html;
94		autoindex on;
95
96		access_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.access.log;
97		error_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.error.log;
98
99		location / {
100		try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
101		}
102
103		listen [::]:80;
104		listen 80;
105		}
106		```
107
108		![](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/custom-container.png)
109
110		# Customizing Deployment Actions
111
112		I am currently blogging with [weblorg](https://emacs.love/weblorg/), which uses
113		a custom `publish.el` file to build the static site. Within this file, I have
114		configured my deployment process to check for the `ENV` variable in thesh and if
115		it's set to `prod`, the script will set the base URLs to `https://cleberg.net`.
116		If not, it sets the base URLs to `localhost:8000` (which matches the port used
117		in the container above).
118
119		Therefore, I have modified my `build.sh` script to build with `localhost` URLs
120		if `ENV` is not set to `prod`. It also prevents the build process from sending
121		the built files to the production web server.
122
123		```sh
124		#!/bin/bash
125
126		if [ "$ENV" == "prod" ]; then
127		echo "Environment = Production" && \
128		rm -rf .build/* && \
129		emacs --script publish.el && \
130		scp -r .build/* ubuntu:/var/www/cleberg.net/
131		else
132		echo "Environment = Development" && \
133		rm -rf .build/* && \
134		emacs --script publish.el
135		fi
136		```
137
138		You can modify the container in numerous ways and this approach allows you to
139		create complex scenarios for your web development purposes. I highly recommend
140		switching over to a container-based approach for simple, local web development.

content/blog/2024-04-08-docker-local-web-server.org added +139

		@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-04-08>
	2	#+title: Using Docker Desktop to Create a Development Web Server
	3	#+description:
	4
	5
	6	When developing websites locally, I often use a simple Python web server
	7	to observe the changes.
	8
	9	#+begin_src sh
	10	python3 -m http.server
	11	#+end_src
	12
	13	However, this approach has its limitations. For example, this approach
	14	does not enable logging or access controls. You also need to customize
	15	=SimpleHTTPServer= if you have advanced needs from your web server.
	16
	17	So, I went to find an alternative that is almost as easy and far more
	18	extensible and found Docker Desktop to be a suitable replacement.
	19
	20	* Docker Desktop
	21
	22	** Installation
	23
	24	[[https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/][Docker Desktop]] is a
	25	desktop GUI for the phenomenal Docker container software. This allows
	26	you to manage containers, images, volumes, environments, and extensions
	27	via an easy-to-use GUI.
	28
	29	To install, open the link above and click the =Download= button for your
	30	platform. I'm going through this process on an M2 Macbook, so I
	31	downloaded the Mac - Apple Chip version.
	32
	33	Open the installer and follow the installation process until the
	34	application finishes the installation process.
	35
	36	#+caption: Docker Desktop on macOS
	37	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/docker-desktop.png]]
	38
	39	** Creating an Nginx Container
	40
	41	I prefer to use the command line to create containers, so the following
	42	commands will be input via the terminal.
	43
	44	The following command will create a container, using the =nginx= image:
	45
	46	1. =-d=: Run this container as a daemon (detach)
	47	2. =-p=: Allocate a port in the format =<external>:<internal>=
	48	3. =-i=: Keep STDIN open even if not attached
	49	4. =-t=: Allocate a pseudo-TTY
	50	5. =-p=: Allocate a port in the format =<external>:<internal>=
	51	6. =--rm=: Remove the container once it's done running
	52
	53	#+begin_src sh
	54	docker run -it --rm -d -p 8000:80 --name web nginx
	55	#+end_src
	56
	57	You can navigate to [[http://localhost:8000]] to see the resulting page.
	58
	59	#+caption: Default Nginx Container
	60	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/default-container.png]]
	61
	62	** Customizing the Nginx Container
	63
	64	Now that I have a container running the Nginx web server, I need to link
	65	some volumes so that I can modify the site configuration and provide the
	66	web files to serve.
	67
	68	Let's start with the new command, which adds two volumes:
	69
	70	1. =<your_content>:/usr/share/nginx/html=: This is the directory where
	71	you will provide the web pages for the server to serve.
	72	2. =<your_config>:/etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf=: This is the Nginx
	73	configuration file for your site.
	74
	75	To see the updates, you can delete the previous container in the GUI or
	76	run =docker stop web= to stop the container. Once stopped, you can run
	77	the new =docker run= command below.
	78
	79	#+begin_src sh
	80	docker run -it -d -p 8000:80 --name web -v ~/Source/cleberg.net/.build:/usr/share/nginx/html -v ~/Source/cleberg.net/nginx-config.conf:/etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf nginx
	81	#+end_src
	82
	83	Here's an example of my development configuration file.
	84
	85	#+begin_src conf
	86	# nginx-config.conf
	87	server {
	88	server_name cleberg.net www.cleberg.net;
	89
	90	root /usr/share/nginx/html;
	91	index index.html;
	92	autoindex on;
	93
	94	access_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.access.log;
	95	error_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.error.log;
	96
	97	location / {
	98	try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
	99	}
	100
	101	listen [::]:80;
	102	listen 80;
	103	}
	104	#+end_src
	105
	106	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240408-docker-local-web-server/custom-container.png]]
	107
	108	* Customizing Deployment Actions
	109
	110	I am currently blogging with [[https://emacs.love/weblorg/][weblorg]],
	111	which uses a custom =publish.el= file to build the static site. Within
	112	this file, I have configured my deployment process to check for the
	113	=ENV= variable in thesh and if it's set to =prod=, the script will set
	114	the base URLs to =https://cleberg.net=. If not, it sets the base URLs to
	115	=localhost:8000= (which matches the port used in the container above).
	116
	117	Therefore, I have modified my =build.sh= script to build with
	118	=localhost= URLs if =ENV= is not set to =prod=. It also prevents the
	119	build process from sending the built files to the production web server.
	120
	121	#+begin_src sh
	122	#!/bin/bash
	123
	124	if [ "$ENV" == "prod" ]; then
	125	echo "Environment = Production" && \
	126	rm -rf .build/* && \
	127	emacs --script publish.el && \
	128	scp -r .build/* ubuntu:/var/www/cleberg.net/
	129	else
	130	echo "Environment = Development" && \
	131	rm -rf .build/* && \
	132	emacs --script publish.el
	133	fi
	134	#+end_src
	135
	136	You can modify the container in numerous ways and this approach allows
	137	you to create complex scenarios for your web development purposes. I
	138	highly recommend switching over to a container-based approach for
	139	simple, local web development.

content/blog/2024-04-18-mu4e.md → content/blog/2024-04-18-mu4e.org renamed +97 −93

		@@ -1,83 +1,82 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-04-18
3		title = "Email in Doom Emacs with Mu4e on macOS"
4		description = ""
5		draft = false
6		+++
	1	#+date: <2024-04-18>
	2	#+title: Email in Doom Emacs with Mu4e on macOS
	3	#+description:
7	4
8		This post was heavily inspired by [Email setup in Emacs with Mu4e on
9		macOS](https://macowners.club/posts/email-emacs-mu4e-macos/), but with my own
10		tweaks for a single-account configuration and some Doom-specific configurations.
11	5
12		# Overview
	6	This post was heavily inspired by
	7	[[https://macowners.club/posts/email-emacs-mu4e-macos/][Email setup in
	8	Emacs with Mu4e on macOS]], but with my own tweaks for a single-account
	9	configuration and some Doom-specific configurations.
13	10
14		[Mu4e](https://github.com/emacsmirror/mu4e) is an Emacs-based email client based
15		on [mu](https://www.djcbsoftware.nl/code/mu/), an indexer that stores email in
16		the Maildir format.
	11	* Overview
17	12
18		This blog post covers the installation of Mu4e in Doom Emacs on macOS. This
19		guide should be very similar to GNU Emacs and Linux-based systems, with a few
20		tweaks required in the various configuration files.
	13	[[https://github.com/emacsmirror/mu4e][Mu4e]] is an Emacs-based email
	14	client based on [[https://www.djcbsoftware.nl/code/mu/][mu]], an indexer
	15	that stores email in the Maildir format.
21	16
22		# Installation
	17	This blog post covers the installation of Mu4e in Doom Emacs on macOS.
	18	This guide should be very similar to GNU Emacs and Linux-based systems,
	19	with a few tweaks required in the various configuration files.
23	20
24		## Prerequisites
	21	* Installation
25	22
26		### Create the Folder Structure
	23	** Prerequisites
	24
	25	*** Create the Folder Structure
27	26
28	27	Start by creating the base folder structure:
29	28
30		```sh
	29	#+begin_src sh
31	30	mkdir ~/.maildir
32	31	mkdir ~/.maildir/example # use whatever name you want to call your email account
33	32	mkdir ~/.maildir/certificates # used to store system root certificates
34		```
	33	#+end_src
35	34
36		### Store Email Account Passwords in macOS Keychain
	35	*** Store Email Account Passwords in macOS Keychain
37	36
38		Next, I will be using the macOS Keychain to store my email account passwords
39		using the command below.
	37	Next, I will be using the macOS Keychain to store my email account
	38	passwords using the command below.
40	39
41		```sh
	40	#+begin_src sh
42	41	security add-generic-password -s mu4e-example -a you@example.com -w
43		```
	42	#+end_src
44	43
45	44	This will prompt you to input your password twice to confirm. Keep the
46		`mu4e-example` name in mind, as you will need to reference it later in the IMAP
47		and SMTP configuration files.
	45	=mu4e-example= name in mind, as you will need to reference it later in
	46	the IMAP and SMTP configuration files.
48	47
49		### Store Root Certificates
	48	*** Store Root Certificates
50	49
51		In order to use IMAP and SMTP, we need to provide certificates to the local
52		services. We will use the macOS defaults for this.
	50	In order to use IMAP and SMTP, we need to provide certificates to the
	51	local services. We will use the macOS defaults for this.
53	52
54		1. Open `Keychain Access.app`.
55		2. Select `System Roots` in the sidebar.
56		3. Select all items with `CMD + a`.
57		4. Export selected items with `SHIFT + CMD + a` to the file
58		`~/.maildir/certificates/root-certificates.pem`.
	53	1. Open =Keychain Access.app=.
	54	2. Select =System Roots= in the sidebar.
	55	3. Select all items with =CMD + a=.
	56	4. Export selected items with =SHIFT + CMD + a= to the file
	57	=~/.maildir/certificates/root-certificates.pem=.
59	58
60		### Install Dependencies
	59	*** Install Dependencies
61	60
62		Install `mbsync` (via `isync`) to fetch emails via IMAP, `mu` to index emails,
63		and `msmtp` to send emails via SMTP.
	61	Install =mbsync= (via =isync=) to fetch emails via IMAP, =mu= to index
	62	emails, and =msmtp= to send emails via SMTP.
64	63
65		```sh
	64	#+begin_src sh
66	65	brew install mu isync msmtp
67		```
	66	#+end_src
68	67
69		## Installing Mu4e
	68	** Installing Mu4e
70	69
71	70	Within Doom Emacs, we can install Mu4e by enabling the package.
72	71
73		```sh
	72	#+begin_src sh
74	73	nano ~/.doom.d/init.el
75		```
	74	#+end_src
76	75
77		In this file, uncomment the `mu4e` line within the `:email` section. You can
78		also enable the `+org` and `+gmail` options if you prefer.
	76	In this file, uncomment the =mu4e= line within the =:email= section. You
	77	can also enable the =+org= and =+gmail= options if you prefer.
79	78
80		```lisp
	79	#+begin_src lisp
81	80	(doom! :input
82	81	...
83	82	:email
		@@ -85,34 +84,35 @@ also enable the `+org` and `+gmail` options if you prefer.
85	84	;;(mu4e +org +gmail)
86	85	...
87	86	(default +bindings +smartparens))
88		```
	87	#+end_src
89	88
90		# Configuration
	89	* Configuration
91	90
92		As an overall suggestion, I create the following configuration files in the
93		`~/.maildir` directory and using symlinks to their proper locations so that I
94		can backup and restore these files easily.
	91	As an overall suggestion, I create the following configuration files in
	92	the =~/.maildir= directory and using symlinks to their proper locations
	93	so that I can backup and restore these files easily.
95	94
96		```sh
	95	#+begin_src sh
97	96	touch ~/.maildir/.mbsyncrc && \
98	97	touch ~/.maildir/.msmtprc && \
99	98	ln -s /Users/username/.maildir/.mbsyncrc /Users/username/.mbsyncrc && \
100	99	ln -s /Users/username/.maildir/.msmtprc /Users/username/.msmtprc
101		```
	100	#+end_src
102	101
103		You can also create these files in your home directory and skip the symlinking
104		process above.
	102	You can also create these files in your home directory and skip the
	103	symlinking process above.
105	104
106		## IMAP
	105	** IMAP
107	106
108		Next, let's configure `mbsync` in the file created above. Paste the following
109		information and customize it to match your mail provider's information.
	107	Next, let's configure =mbsync= in the file created above. Paste the
	108	following information and customize it to match your mail provider's
	109	information.
110	110
111		```sh
	111	#+begin_src sh
112	112	nano ~/.maildir/.mbsyncrc
113		```
	113	#+end_src
114	114
115		```conf
	115	#+begin_src conf
116	116	IMAPAccount example
117	117	Host imap.example.com
118	118	User dummy@example.com
		@@ -138,18 +138,19 @@ Create Near
138	138	Sync All
139	139	Expunge Both
140	140	SyncState *
141		```
	141	#+end_src
142	142
143		## SMTP
	143	** SMTP
144	144
145		Next, let's configured `msmtprc` in the file created above. Paste the following
146		information and customize it to match your mail provider's information.
	145	Next, let's configured =msmtprc= in the file created above. Paste the
	146	following information and customize it to match your mail provider's
	147	information.
147	148
148		```sh
	149	#+begin_src sh
149	150	nano ~/.maildir/.msmtprc
150		```
	151	#+end_src
151	152
152		```conf
	153	#+begin_src conf
153	154	# Set default values for all the accounts.
154	155	defaults
155	156	logfile ~/.maildir/msmtp.log
		@@ -171,18 +172,18 @@ tls_starttls off
171	172	# ======================================================================
172	173
173	174	account default : startmail
174		```
	175	#+end_src
175	176
176		## Doom Emacs
	177	** Doom Emacs
177	178
178		Finally, we need to configure Doom Emacs to use the proper packages and set some
179		variables and functions.
	179	Finally, we need to configure Doom Emacs to use the proper packages and
	180	set some variables and functions.
180	181
181		```sh
	182	#+begin_src sh
182	183	nano ~/.doom.d/config.el
183		```
	184	#+end_src
184	185
185		```lisp
	186	#+begin_src lisp
186	187	;; load packages and programs
187	188	(use-package mu4e
188	189	:load-path "/Users/username/.emacs.d/modules/email/mu4e/")
		@@ -266,40 +267,43 @@ nano ~/.doom.d/config.el
266	267
267	268	;; mu4e address completion
268	269	(add-hook 'mu4e-compose-mode-hook 'company-mode)
269		```
	270	#+end_src
270	271
271	272	Be sure to sync Doom to update the current configurations.
272	273
273		```sh
	274	#+begin_src sh
274	275	doom sync
275		```
	276	#+end_src
276	277
277		If you have Doom open, execute `SPC h r r` to reload the new configurations.
	278	If you have Doom open, execute =SPC h r r= to reload the new
	279	configurations.
278	280
279		# Initial Sync
	281	* Initial Sync
280	282
281		Once you have configured all of the relevant files, you can perform an initial
282		sync. Note that you can perform syncing within Mu4e itself after this.
	283	Once you have configured all of the relevant files, you can perform an
	284	initial sync. Note that you can perform syncing within Mu4e itself after
	285	this.
283	286
284		```sh
	287	#+begin_src sh
285	288	mbsync -aV
286		```
	289	#+end_src
287	290
288	291	Once you sync the data, you can index the emails.
289	292
290		```sh
	293	#+begin_src sh
291	294	mu init -m ~/.maildir --my-address you@example.com && \
292	295	mu index
293		```
	296	#+end_src
294	297
295	298	The emails will now to be ready to use!
296	299
297		# Screenshots
298
299		You can now launch Doom and open Mu4e with `SPC o m`. You can also explore the
300		Mu4e options with `SPC : mu4e`.
	300	* Screenshots
301	301
302		The home page shows various options and metadata about the account you've opened.
	302	You can now launch Doom and open Mu4e with =SPC o m=. You can also
	303	explore the Mu4e options with =SPC : mu4e=.
303	304
304		![Mu4e Home Page](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240418-mu4e/mu4e.png)
	305	The home page shows various options and metadata about the account
	306	you've opened.
305	307
	308	#+caption: Mu4e Home Page
	309	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240418-mu4e/mu4e.png]]

content/blog/2024-05-03-ubuntu-on-macos.md deleted −96

		@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-05-03
3		title = "Running Ubuntu Linux on macOS with OrbStack"
4		description = "Learn how to run Linux machines as applications on macOS with minimal hassle."
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		Being a macOS user who previously used Linux for many years, I often find myself
9		searching for alternatives to the Linux-native tools and methods that I had
10		become used to over the years.
11
12		Luckily, there's an option to simply use Linux directly on your macOS device
13		without having to boot the whole device into Linux or having to SSH into another
14		Linux machine.
15
16		In this post, I use [OrbStack](https://orbstack.dev/) to create an Ubuntu Linux
17		machine to take advantage of the Linux system.
18
19		## Installing OrbStack
20
21		OrbStack has a [download page](https://orbstack.dev/download) if you prefer to
22		use `*.dmg` files to install applications.
23
24		Personally, I prefer to install everything through Homebrew. For OrbStack, run
25		the following to install the application via Homebrew:
26
27		```sh
28		brew install orbstack
29		```
30
31		## Creating a Linux Machine
32
33		Once installed, you can launch OrbStack and create a Linux machine in a matter
34		of seconds. The creation dialog defaults to Ubuntu.
35
36		![OrbStack's Linux Machine Creation
37		Page](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/create.png)
38
39		## Launching the Machine
40
41		Once created, the dialog will close and you will be presented with your new list
42		of machines. Simply double-click on a machine to run it.
43
44		When you run the machine for the first time, it may warn you that a program is
45		attempting to run a shell script. You can choose to manually inspect this shell
46		script via the provided path if you wish. When you're comfortable with the
47		script, you can toggle the `Suppress this message permanently` button and click
48		OK to run the machine.
49
50		> Quick Tip!
51		>
52		> You will always be able to launch the OrbStack application and
53		> control the machine via the Machines page, but you can also use the OrbStack
54		> icon in the macOS menu bar to quickly control the machine without launching
55		> OrbStack itself.
56
57		## Working in Linux
58
59		Once successful, OrbStack will launch your default terminal and log you into the
60		Linux machine you created above.
61
62		In the example below, we can see that the machine is using `Linux ubuntu 6.9.6`
63		and operates similar to a fresh Ubuntu install on bare metal.
64
65		![Ubuntu CLI](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/cli.png)
66
67		You can also click the machine's folder icon in OrbStack to open the machine's
68		file system within macOS's native Files app. Within Files, you can double-click
69		to open any files and they will open in the macOS defaults for those file types
70		(e.g., TextEdit).
71
72		![Ubuntu Files](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/files.png)
73
74		Here's an example of opening the `test.md` file in the screenshot above, which
75		defaults to opening in Xcode on my system.
76
77		![Ubuntu Files](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/xcode.png)
78
79		### Test Examples
80
81		As a quick example of the system, I installed `neofetch`, switched to the `zsh`
82		shell, and ran a few common commands.
83
84		![Test Examples](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/test.png)
85
86		## Thoughts
87
88		The installation, creation, and launch processes are seamless and provide an
89		easy way to test or use Linux on macOS with little to no hassle.
90
91		The shell and file integrations are incredibly snappy and I have not experienced
92		any lag so far. Further, being able to open files in the Files app allows for me
93		to use macOS native applications, such as TextEdit for quick editing without
94		having to resort to other programs that may not be as familiar to macOS users.
95
96		I love this method and will be happily looking for further use cases to apply.

content/blog/2024-05-03-ubuntu-on-macos.org added +105

		@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-05-03>
	2	#+title: Running Ubuntu Linux on macOS with OrbStack
	3	#+description: Learn how to run Linux machines as applications on macOS with minimal hassle.
	4
	5
	6	Being a macOS user who previously used Linux for many years, I often
	7	find myself searching for alternatives to the Linux-native tools and
	8	methods that I had become used to over the years.
	9
	10	Luckily, there's an option to simply use Linux directly on your macOS
	11	device without having to boot the whole device into Linux or having to
	12	SSH into another Linux machine.
	13
	14	In this post, I use [[https://orbstack.dev/][OrbStack]] to create an
	15	Ubuntu Linux machine to take advantage of the Linux system.
	16
	17	** Installing OrbStack
	18
	19	OrbStack has a [[https://orbstack.dev/download][download page]] if you
	20	prefer to use =*.dmg= files to install applications.
	21
	22	Personally, I prefer to install everything through Homebrew. For
	23	OrbStack, run the following to install the application via Homebrew:
	24
	25	#+begin_src sh
	26	brew install orbstack
	27	#+end_src
	28
	29	** Creating a Linux Machine
	30
	31	Once installed, you can launch OrbStack and create a Linux machine in a
	32	matter of seconds. The creation dialog defaults to Ubuntu.
	33
	34	#+caption: OrbStack's Linux Machine Creation Page
	35	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/create.png]]
	36
	37	** Launching the Machine
	38
	39	Once created, the dialog will close and you will be presented with your
	40	new list of machines. Simply double-click on a machine to run it.
	41
	42	When you run the machine for the first time, it may warn you that a
	43	program is attempting to run a shell script. You can choose to manually
	44	inspect this shell script via the provided path if you wish. When you're
	45	comfortable with the script, you can toggle the
	46	=Suppress this message permanently= button and click OK to run the
	47	machine.
	48
	49	#+begin_quote
	50	Quick Tip!
	51
	52	You will always be able to launch the OrbStack application and control
	53	the machine via the Machines page, but you can also use the OrbStack
	54	icon in the macOS menu bar to quickly control the machine without
	55	launching OrbStack itself.
	56	#+end_quote
	57
	58	** Working in Linux
	59
	60	Once successful, OrbStack will launch your default terminal and log you
	61	into the Linux machine you created above.
	62
	63	In the example below, we can see that the machine is using
	64	=Linux ubuntu 6.9.6= and operates similar to a fresh Ubuntu install on
	65	bare metal.
	66
	67	#+caption: Ubuntu CLI
	68	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/cli.png]]
	69
	70	You can also click the machine's folder icon in OrbStack to open the
	71	machine's file system within macOS's native Files app. Within Files, you
	72	can double-click to open any files and they will open in the macOS
	73	defaults for those file types (e.g., TextEdit).
	74
	75	#+caption: Ubuntu Files
	76	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/files.png]]
	77
	78	Here's an example of opening the =test.md= file in the screenshot above,
	79	which defaults to opening in Xcode on my system.
	80
	81	#+caption: Ubuntu Files
	82	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/xcode.png]]
	83
	84	*** Test Examples
	85
	86	As a quick example of the system, I installed =neofetch=, switched to
	87	the =zsh= shell, and ran a few common commands.
	88
	89	#+caption: Test Examples
	90	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240503-ubuntu-on-macos/test.png]]
	91
	92	** Thoughts
	93
	94	The installation, creation, and launch processes are seamless and
	95	provide an easy way to test or use Linux on macOS with little to no
	96	hassle.
	97
	98	The shell and file integrations are incredibly snappy and I have not
	99	experienced any lag so far. Further, being able to open files in the
	100	Files app allows for me to use macOS native applications, such as
	101	TextEdit for quick editing without having to resort to other programs
	102	that may not be as familiar to macOS users.
	103
	104	I love this method and will be happily looking for further use cases to
	105	apply.

content/blog/2024-06-19-deprecated-trusted-gpg-fix.md → content/blog/2024-06-19-deprecated-trusted-gpg-fix.org renamed +56 −56

		@@ -1,49 +1,49 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-06-19 08:00:00
3		title = "Fixing Ubuntu Error: 'Key is stored in legacy trusted.gpg keyring'"
4		description = "Learn how to update GPG keys from the trusted.gpg keyring in Ubuntu."
5		+++
	1	#+date: <2024-06-19 08:00:00>
	2	#+title: Fixing Ubuntu Error: 'Key is stored in legacy trusted.gpg keyring'
	3	#+description: Learn how to update GPG keys from the trusted.gpg keyring in Ubuntu.
6	4
7		## System Warning
8	5
9		When running an update on an Ubuntu system, you may have run into a system
10		warning that looks like the example below.
	6	** System Warning
11	7
12		```txt
	8	When running an update on an Ubuntu system, you may have run into a
	9	system warning that looks like the example below.
	10
	11	#+begin_src txt
13	12	W: https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/dists/stable/InRelease: Key is stored in legacy
14	13	trusted.gpg keyring (/etc/apt/trusted.gpg), see the DEPRECATION section in
15	14	apt-key(8) for details.
16		```
	15	#+end_src
17	16
18		While this example references the `yarn` package, the warning message is the
19		same for any repository using the deprecated `trusted.gpg` key ring.
	17	While this example references the =yarn= package, the warning message is
	18	the same for any repository using the deprecated =trusted.gpg= key ring.
20	19
21		The issue arises from managing keys with the `apt-key` command, which utilizes
22		the `/etc/apt/trusted.gpg` file by default. Instead, Ubuntu has moved to
23		managing key rings with individual `.gpg` files in the `/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/`
24		directory.
	20	The issue arises from managing keys with the =apt-key= command, which
	21	utilizes the =/etc/apt/trusted.gpg= file by default. Instead, Ubuntu has
	22	moved to managing key rings with individual =.gpg= files in the
	23	=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/= directory.
25	24
26		To fix this issue, let's check to see which keys are using the `trusted.gpg` key
27		ring and move them into their own dedicated key ring.
	25	To fix this issue, let's check to see which keys are using the
	26	=trusted.gpg= key ring and move them into their own dedicated key ring.
28	27
29		## Finding All Keys in the Keyring
	28	** Finding All Keys in the Keyring
30	29
31		Let's start by simply listing the keys used by the `apt` commands. To do this,
32		run the following command.
	30	Let's start by simply listing the keys used by the =apt= commands. To do
	31	this, run the following command.
33	32
34		```sh
	33	#+begin_src sh
35	34	sudo apt-key list
36		```
	35	#+end_src
37	36
38	37	This command will show an output similar to the one below. You may see
39		additional keys in the `/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/` directory - this is where we
40		will be moving any keys currently found in the `trusted.gpg` key ring.
	38	additional keys in the =/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/= directory - this is
	39	where we will be moving any keys currently found in the =trusted.gpg=
	40	key ring.
41	41
42		In the below example, we can see that this system has four different GPG keys
43		stored within the `trusted.gpg` key ring. Let's go ahead and move them into
44		their own files.
	42	In the below example, we can see that this system has four different GPG
	43	keys stored within the =trusted.gpg= key ring. Let's go ahead and move
	44	them into their own files.
45	45
46		```txt
	46	#+begin_src txt
47	47	Warning: apt-key is deprecated. Manage keyring files in trusted.gpg.d instead
48	48	(see apt-key(8)).
49	49
		@@ -67,32 +67,32 @@ uid [ unknown] nginx signing key <signing-key-2@nginx.com>
67	67	pub rsa4096 2024-05-29 [SC]
68	68	9E9B E90E ACBC DE69 FE9B 204C BCDC D8A3 8D88 A2B3
69	69	uid [ unknown] nginx signing key <signing-key-3@nginx.com>
70		```
	70	#+end_src
71	71
72		## Moving Keys to the Proper Location
	72	** Moving Keys to the Proper Location
73	73
74		### Exporting Keys to New Files
	74	*** Exporting Keys to New Files
75	75
76		Now that we know the keys, we will need to move them into their own key ring. We
77		can do this by copying the last eight (8) characters from the key's signature
78		and exporting it from this key ring into its own.
	76	Now that we know the keys, we will need to move them into their own key
	77	ring. We can do this by copying the last eight (8) characters from the
	78	key's signature and exporting it from this key ring into its own.
79	79
80		Using the yarn example from the beginning, here's the command to move this key
81		into its own key ring.
	80	Using the yarn example from the beginning, here's the command to move
	81	this key into its own key ring.
82	82
83		```sh
	83	#+begin_src sh
84	84	sudo apt-key export 86E50310 \| sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/yarn.gpg
85		```
	85	#+end_src
86	86
87		You can repeat this process for any other keys, such as the `nginx` keys in the
88		example above.
	87	You can repeat this process for any other keys, such as the =nginx= keys
	88	in the example above.
89	89
90		### Cleaning Up
	90	*** Cleaning Up
91	91
92		If you run `sudo apt-key list` again, you should see the keys within their own
93		key rings:
	92	If you run =sudo apt-key list= again, you should see the keys within
	93	their own key rings:
94	94
95		```txt
	95	#+begin_src txt
96	96	/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/nginx-archive-keyring.gpg
97	97	------------------------------------------------
98	98	pub rsa4096 2024-05-29 [SC]
		@@ -115,19 +115,19 @@ uid [ unknown] Yarn Packaging <yarn@dan.cx>
115	115	sub rsa4096 2016-10-05 [E]
116	116	sub rsa4096 2019-01-02 [S] [expires: 2026-01-23]
117	117	sub rsa4096 2019-01-11 [S] [expires: 2026-01-23]
118		```
	118	#+end_src
119	119
120		Once you have verified that the keys are valid and stored in their own key
121		rings, you can archive the `trusted.gpg` file and run a system update to test
122		the new files.
	120	Once you have verified that the keys are valid and stored in their own
	121	key rings, you can archive the =trusted.gpg= file and run a system
	122	update to test the new files.
123	123
124		```sh
	124	#+begin_src sh
125	125	sudo mv /etc/apt/trusted.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.bkp
126	126	sudo apt update
127		```
128
129		Once you've verified that updates work as expected and that the keys are working
130		as intended, you can delete the `.bkp` file created above. If you're storing
131		keys that are not easily re-attainable, I suggest keeping the `.bkp` file stored
132		in a safe location until you are positive that you no longer need it.
	127	#+end_src
133	128
	129	Once you've verified that updates work as expected and that the keys are
	130	working as intended, you can delete the =.bkp= file created above. If
	131	you're storing keys that are not easily re-attainable, I suggest keeping
	132	the =.bkp= file stored in a safe location until you are positive that
	133	you no longer need it.

content/blog/2024-07-11-emacs-on-ipad.md deleted −65

		@@ -1,65 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		date = 2024-07-11T20:24:02
3		title = "Emacs on iPadOS"
4		description = "Learn how to install and use Emacs on the Apple Silicon iPad natively."
5		draft = false
6		+++
7
8		This post describes the process to install and use Emacs on the iPad Air 13-inch
9		(M2). The iPad used in this post is running iPadOS 17.6.
10
11		## Shell Application
12
13		In order to use Emacs on an iPad, you will need a terminal emulator application.
14		I recommend [iSH](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ish-shell/id1436902243), since
15		it runs a version of Alpine Linux within the app itself and will allow you to
16		install packages that you need.
17
18		![iSH Application](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/ish.png)
19
20		## Require Packages
21
22		I started by adding the required packages directly within iSH. Emacs should
23		install dependencies by default, but I include a few other packages that I use
24		in my terminal as well.
25
26		```sh
27		apk add emacs ripgrep fd findutils
28		```
29
30		![Package
31		!Installation](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/dependencies.png)
32
33		## Emacs
34
35		Once this is complete, you should be able to run Emacs natively on your iPad.
36		It's effective, but can be slow at times.
37
38		I attempted to also install Doom Emacs, which technically worked, but was so
39		incredibly slow and buggy that I was not even able to take screenshots. Someone
40		smarter than me could likely get it to work with a little tinkering.
41
42		![Emacs](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/emacs.png)
43
44		### MELPA
45
46		You also have to remember to hook up MELPA yourself in the `.emacs` file to be
47		able to search through their 5700+ packages instead of just ELPA packages. If
48		you don't, you will only have access to ELPA packages like the ones below.
49
50		![package-install](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/melpa.png)
51
52		Once you have MELPA, you can install packages like the `dashboard` package shown
53		below.
54
55		![emacs-dashboard](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/dashboard.png)
56
57		### Speed
58
59		While Emacs will run on my iPad, it's not perfect. The largest issue on my
60		iPad is speed - loading Emacs takes 6-7 seconds and installing the `magit`
61		package took 129 seconds.
62
63		I haven't played around enough to optimize loading times and poke around to see
64		why the network requests take so long, but it's a big enough issue that I
65		wouldn't see casual Emacs users dealing with the lag.

content/blog/2024-07-11-emacs-on-ipad.org added +70

		@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
	1	#+date: <2024-07-11 Thu 20:24:02>
	2	#+title: Emacs on iPadOS
	3	#+description: Learn how to install and use Emacs on the Apple Silicon iPad natively.
	4
	5
	6	This post describes the process to install and use Emacs on the iPad Air
	7	13-inch (M2). The iPad used in this post is running iPadOS 17.6.
	8
	9	** Shell Application
	10
	11	In order to use Emacs on an iPad, you will need a terminal emulator
	12	application. I recommend
	13	[[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ish-shell/id1436902243][iSH]], since it
	14	runs a version of Alpine Linux within the app itself and will allow you
	15	to install packages that you need.
	16
	17	#+caption: iSH Application
	18	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/ish.png]]
	19
	20	** Require Packages
	21
	22	I started by adding the required packages directly within iSH. Emacs
	23	should install dependencies by default, but I include a few other
	24	packages that I use in my terminal as well.
	25
	26	#+begin_src sh
	27	apk add emacs ripgrep fd findutils
	28	#+end_src
	29
	30	#+caption: Package !Installation
	31	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/dependencies.png]]
	32
	33	** Emacs
	34
	35	Once this is complete, you should be able to run Emacs natively on your
	36	iPad. It's effective, but can be slow at times.
	37
	38	I attempted to also install Doom Emacs, which technically worked, but
	39	was so incredibly slow and buggy that I was not even able to take
	40	screenshots. Someone smarter than me could likely get it to work with a
	41	little tinkering.
	42
	43	#+caption: Emacs
	44	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/emacs.png]]
	45
	46	*** MELPA
	47
	48	You also have to remember to hook up MELPA yourself in the =.emacs= file
	49	to be able to search through their 5700+ packages instead of just ELPA
	50	packages. If you don't, you will only have access to ELPA packages like
	51	the ones below.
	52
	53	#+caption: package-install
	54	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/melpa.png]]
	55
	56	Once you have MELPA, you can install packages like the =dashboard=
	57	package shown below.
	58
	59	#+caption: emacs-dashboard
	60	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240711-emacs-on-ipad/dashboard.png]]
	61
	62	*** Speed
	63
	64	While Emacs will run on my iPad, it's not perfect. The largest issue on
	65	my iPad is speed - loading Emacs takes 6-7 seconds and installing the
	66	=magit= package took 129 seconds.
	67
	68	I haven't played around enough to optimize loading times and poke around
	69	to see why the network requests take so long, but it's a big enough
	70	issue that I wouldn't see casual Emacs users dealing with the lag.

content/blog/_index.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Blog"
3		sort_by = "date"
4		template = "blog.html"
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/index.org added +2

		@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
	1	#+title: cleberg.net
	2	#+description: Just a blip of ones and zeroes.

content/salary.md deleted −62

		@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Salary"
3		draft = false
4		+++
5
6		## Salary Transparency
7
8		The data below details the base salary information for each job I've held. This
9		information is posted publicly to ensure others in my position have a solid
10		reference point when determining if their current or proposed salary is
11		appropriate.
12
13		While sites like Glassdoor are locking salary data behind a paywall, LinkedIn is
14		discontinuing LinkedIn Salary, and helpful websites like Big 4 Transparency are
15		extremely rare, I wanted to provide my personal data publicly and freely to
16		those who need it.
17
18		I have seen what can happen when great employees don't know the market values
19		for their skills and I happily help those in my teams, so I'm happy to extend
20		this information to the online community.
21
22		As a final note, there are numerous reasons that people in the same role are
23		paid differently (expertise, years of experience, certifications, education,
24		etc.) and that the data in this table should only be used as a single point of
25		reference, not the whole story.
26
27		## Salary Data
28
29		Note: When in a role that gives periodic raises, I will create a new record with
30		the new base salary in the table below. See the KPMG records for an example of a
31		raise while in the same role.
32
33		\| Title \| Company \| Location \| Start \| End \| Salary \|
34		\| ---------------------------------------------- \| ---------------------- \| -------------- \| ------- \| ------- \| -------- \|
35		\| Senior Associate, Technology Assurance - Audit \| KPMG \| Omaha, NE \| 2023-10 \| Current \| $116,700 \|
36		\| Senior Associate, Technology Assurance - Audit \| KPMG \| Omaha, NE \| 2022-06 \| 2023-10 \| $110,000 \|
37		\| Senior Technology Risk Consultant \| Ernst & Young \| Des Moines, IA \| 2021-09 \| 2022-06 \| $89,500 \|
38		\| Senior IT Auditor \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2021-05 \| 2021-09 \| $72,000 \|
39		\| IT Auditor \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2020-04 \| 2021-05 \| $65,000 \|
40		\| IS Auditor II \| Nelnet \| Lincoln, NE \| 2019-12 \| 2020-04 \| $58,000 \|
41		\| IS Auditor I \| Nelnet \| Lincoln, NE \| 2019-06 \| 2019-12 \| $20/hour \|
42		\| Internal Audit Intern \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2018-02 \| 2019-06 \| $16/hour \|
43		\| Teaching Assistant \| University of Nebraska \| Lincoln, NE \| 2017-08 \| 2018-05 \| $7/hour \|
44		\| Community Management Intern \| Walgreens \| Lincoln, NE \| 2017-06 \| 2018-02 \| $14/hour \|
45
46		[[source data](/static/salary.csv)]
47
48		## Salary Visualization
49
50		See the graph below for a visualization of each job's salary over time, as well
51		as percentage increases or decreases between jobs.
52
53		![Salary Visualization](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/salary/salary.png)
54
55		This page was inspired by [Xe](https://xeiaso.net/salary-transparency/), and I'm
56		quoting the following wording from them as I want to reiterate this piece:
57
58		> Please consider publishing your salary data like this as well. By open,
59		> voluntary transparency we can help to end stigmas around discussing pay and
60		> help ensure that the next generations of people in tech are treated fairly.
61		> Stigmas thrive in darkness but die in the light of day. You can help end the
62		> stigma by playing your cards out in the open like this.

content/salary/index.org added +70

		@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
	1	#+title: Salary
	2	#+slug: index
	3
	4	** Salary Transparency
	5	:PROPERTIES:
	6	:CUSTOM_ID: salary-transparency
	7	:END:
	8	The data below details the base salary information for each job I've
	9	held. This information is posted publicly to ensure others in my
	10	position have a solid reference point when determining if their current
	11	or proposed salary is appropriate.
	12
	13	While sites like Glassdoor are locking salary data behind a paywall,
	14	LinkedIn is discontinuing LinkedIn Salary, and helpful websites like Big
	15	4 Transparency are extremely rare, I wanted to provide my personal data
	16	publicly and freely to those who need it.
	17
	18	I have seen what can happen when great employees don't know the market
	19	values for their skills and I happily help those in my teams, so I'm
	20	happy to extend this information to the online community.
	21
	22	As a final note, there are numerous reasons that people in the same role
	23	are paid differently (expertise, years of experience, certifications,
	24	education, etc.) and that the data in this table should only be used as
	25	a single point of reference, not the whole story.
	26
	27	** Salary Data
	28	:PROPERTIES:
	29	:CUSTOM_ID: salary-data
	30	:END:
	31	Note: When in a role that gives periodic raises, I will create a new
	32	record with the new base salary in the table below. See the KPMG records
	33	for an example of a raise while in the same role.
	34
	35	\| Title \| Company \| Location \| Start \| End \| Salary \|
	36	\|------------------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------+---------+---------+----------\|
	37	\| Senior Associate, Technology Assurance - Audit \| KPMG \| Omaha, NE \| 2023-10 \| Current \| $116,700 \|
	38	\| Senior Associate, Technology Assurance - Audit \| KPMG \| Omaha, NE \| 2022-06 \| 2023-10 \| $110,000 \|
	39	\| Senior Technology Risk Consultant \| Ernst & Young \| Des Moines, IA \| 2021-09 \| 2022-06 \| $89,500 \|
	40	\| Senior IT Auditor \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2021-05 \| 2021-09 \| $72,000 \|
	41	\| IT Auditor \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2020-04 \| 2021-05 \| $65,000 \|
	42	\| IS Auditor II \| Nelnet \| Lincoln, NE \| 2019-12 \| 2020-04 \| $58,000 \|
	43	\| IS Auditor I \| Nelnet \| Lincoln, NE \| 2019-06 \| 2019-12 \| $20/hour \|
	44	\| Internal Audit Intern \| Ameritas \| Lincoln, NE \| 2018-02 \| 2019-06 \| $16/hour \|
	45	\| Teaching Assistant \| University of Nebraska \| Lincoln, NE \| 2017-08 \| 2018-05 \| $7/hour \|
	46	\| Community Management Intern \| Walgreens \| Lincoln, NE \| 2017-06 \| 2018-02 \| $14/hour \|
	47
	48	[[[/static/salary.csv][source data]]]
	49
	50	** Salary Visualization
	51	:PROPERTIES:
	52	:CUSTOM_ID: salary-visualization
	53	:END:
	54	See the graph below for a visualization of each job's salary over time,
	55	as well as percentage increases or decreases between jobs.
	56
	57	#+caption: Salary Visualization
	58	[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/salary/salary.png]]
	59
	60	This page was inspired by
	61	[[https://xeiaso.net/salary-transparency/][Xe]], and I'm quoting the
	62	following wording from them as I want to reiterate this piece:
	63
	64	#+begin_quote
	65	Please consider publishing your salary data like this as well. By open,
	66	voluntary transparency we can help to end stigmas around discussing pay
	67	and help ensure that the next generations of people in tech are treated
	68	fairly. Stigmas thrive in darkness but die in the light of day. You can
	69	help end the stigma by playing your cards out in the open like this.
	70	#+end_quote

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2		title = "Services"
3		draft = false
4		+++
5
6		- [AnonymousOverflow](https://ao.cleberg.net/) - A StackOverflow proxy
7		- [CyberChef](https://cyberchef.cleberg.net/) - The Cyber Swiss Army Knife
8		- [FileArchive](https://files.cleberg.net/) - An interesting file archive
9		- [FlashPaper](https://paste.cleberg.net/) - One-time encrypted
10		password/secret sharing
11		- [Invidious](https://invidious.cleberg.net/) - A YouTube proxy
12		- [Office](https://office.cleberg.net/) - The world's smallest office suite
13		- [Org-Live](https://org.cleberg.net/) - A basic org-mode editor for the web I
14		built
15		- [Rimgo](https://rimgo.cleberg.net/) - An alternative frontend for Imgur
16		- [SearXNG](https://search.cleberg.net/) - A privacy-respecting, open
17		metasearch engine
18
19		See the [git
20		log](https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net/log/main/item/content/services.md) if
21		you want to see changes that have been made.

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	1	#+title: Services
	2	#+slug: index
	3
	4	- [[https://ao.cleberg.net/][AnonymousOverflow]] - A StackOverflow proxy
	5	- [[https://cyberchef.cleberg.net/][CyberChef]] - The Cyber Swiss Army
	6	Knife
	7	- [[https://files.cleberg.net/][FileArchive]] - An interesting file
	8	archive
	9	- [[https://paste.cleberg.net/][FlashPaper]] - One-time encrypted
	10	password/secret sharing
	11	- [[https://invidious.cleberg.net/][Invidious]] - A YouTube proxy
	12	- [[https://office.cleberg.net/][Office]] - The world's smallest office
	13	suite
	14	- [[https://org.cleberg.net/][Org-Live]] - A basic org-mode editor for
	15	the web I built
	16	- [[https://rimgo.cleberg.net/][Rimgo]] - An alternative frontend for
	17	Imgur
	18	- [[https://search.cleberg.net/][SearXNG]] - A privacy-respecting, open
	19	metasearch engine
	20
	21	See the
	22	[[https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net/log/main/item/content/services.md][git
	23	log]] if you want to see changes that have been made.

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2		title = "Blogroll"
3		updated = 2024-04-12
4		draft = false
5		+++
6
7		## Aggregators
8
9		- [1MB Club](https://1mb.club/)
10		- [250KB Club](https://250kb.club/)
11		- [512KB Club](https://512kb.club/)
12		- [Darktheme Club](https://darktheme.club/)
13		- [No CSS Club](https://nocss.club/)
14		- [No-JS Club](https://no-js.club/)
15		- [Ye Olde Blogroll](https://blogroll.org/)
16
17		## Plain Text
18
19		A list of various plaintext websites and lists.
20
21		- [A List Of Text-Only & Minimalist News
22		Sites](https://greycoder.com/a-list-of-text-only-new-sites/)
23		- [Harvard Law Review](https://harvardlawreview.org/)
24		- [Hyperlinked Text](https://sjmulder.nl/en/textonly.html)
25		- [Plain-text web
26		design](https://medium.com/@letsworkshop/plain-text-web-design-a78ccaf9dbc0)
27		- [Plaintext World](https://plaintextworld.com/)
28		- [txt2web](https://github.com/masonarmand/txt2web)
29		- [Words](https://justinjackson.ca/words.html)
30
31		## Webrings
32
33		Instead of listing my personal favorites, I'm just going to drop a link to
34		[brisay's webring list](https://brisray.com/web/webring-list.htm), which
35		contains 237 webrings for a total of 7078 websites, as of 2024-03-15.
36
37		## Everything Else
38
39		- [Dead Simple Sites](https://deadsimplesites.com/)
40		- [Planet Emacslife](https://planet.emacslife.com/)

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	1	#+title: Blogroll
	2	#+date: <2024-04-12>
	3
	4	** Aggregators
	5	:PROPERTIES:
	6	:CUSTOM_ID: aggregators
	7	:END:
	8	- [[https://1mb.club/][1MB Club]]
	9	- [[https://250kb.club/][250KB Club]]
	10	- [[https://512kb.club/][512KB Club]]
	11	- [[https://darktheme.club/][Darktheme Club]]
	12	- [[https://nocss.club/][No CSS Club]]
	13	- [[https://no-js.club/][No-JS Club]]
	14	- [[https://blogroll.org/][Ye Olde Blogroll]]
	15
	16	** Plain Text
	17	:PROPERTIES:
	18	:CUSTOM_ID: plain-text
	19	:END:
	20	A list of various plaintext websites and lists.
	21
	22	- [[https://greycoder.com/a-list-of-text-only-new-sites/][A List Of
	23	Text-Only & Minimalist News Sites]]
	24	- [[https://harvardlawreview.org/][Harvard Law Review]]
	25	- [[https://sjmulder.nl/en/textonly.html][Hyperlinked Text]]
	26	- [[https://medium.com/@letsworkshop/plain-text-web-design-a78ccaf9dbc0][Plain-text
	27	web design]]
	28	- [[https://plaintextworld.com/][Plaintext World]]
	29	- [[https://github.com/masonarmand/txt2web][txt2web]]
	30	- [[https://justinjackson.ca/words.html][Words]]
	31
	32	** Webrings
	33	:PROPERTIES:
	34	:CUSTOM_ID: webrings
	35	:END:
	36	Instead of listing my personal favorites, I'm just going to drop a link
	37	to [[https://brisray.com/web/webring-list.htm][brisay's webring list]],
	38	which contains 237 webrings for a total of 7078 websites, as of
	39	2024-03-15.
	40
	41	** Everything Else
	42	:PROPERTIES:
	43	:CUSTOM_ID: everything-else
	44	:END:
	45	- [[https://deadsimplesites.com/][Dead Simple Sites]]
	46	- [[https://planet.emacslife.com/][Planet Emacslife]]

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2		title = "Hardware"
3		updated = 2024-03-16
4		draft = false
5		+++
6
7		## Desktop
8
9		### macOS
10
11		Probably should have added more RAM but Macbooks are stupid expensive.
12
13		\| Category \| Details \|
14		\| -------- \| ----------------------------------------------------- \|
15		\| Model \| [Macbook Pro 16"](https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/) \|
16		\| CPU \| Apple M2 Pro \|
17		\| RAM \| 16GB \|
18		\| Storage \| 512GB SSD \|
19
20		### Linux
21
22		A beauty.
23
24		\| Category \| Details \|
25		\| -------- \| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \|
26		\| Model \| [Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4, model 21ED0048US](<https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpade/thinkpad--e15-gen-4-(15-inch-amd)/len101t0023>) \|
27		\| CPU \| AMD Ryzen 5 5625U with Radeon Graphics \|
28		\| RAM \| 16 GB \|
29		\| Storage \| 256 GB SSD \|
30
31		## Mobile
32
33		Previously used a Pixel 6 & Pixel 7 with GrapheneOS.
34
35		\| Category \| Details \|
36		\| -------- \| --------------------------------------------------------- \|
37		\| Model \| [iPhone 15 Pro Max](https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro/) \|
38		\| CPU \| A17 Pro \|
39		\| RAM \| 8GB \|
40		\| Storage \| 256GB \|
41
42		## Homelab
43
44		I run a small homelab with a mix of consumer (compute/storage) and enterprise
45		(network) hardware. I try to keep the lab energy efficient and quiet as my top
46		priorities.
47
48		### IoT
49
50		A collection of mainly smart lights, sensors, and smart appliances. My first
51		preference is to disable all networking for new smart devices or simply not
52		connect internet in the first place (e.g. I never enable internet on my smart
53		TVs). If the smart device requires LAN access, I will connect the device to my
54		guest-restricted IoT network. As a last resort, I will set-up the internet but
55		monitor the DNS lookups via NextDNS and forcibly block any domains I do not want
56		the device to be using. If the device is egregious or shady, I'll just sell it
57		and either replace it or live without it.
58
59		- Other Appliances (washer, dryer, humidifier, fans, etc.)
60		- [Roomba
61		i7+](https://about.irobot.com/sitecore/content/north-america/irobot-us/home/roomba/i7-series)
62		- [Philips Hue A19
63		Bulbs](https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-white-and-color-ambiance-a19---e26-smart-bulb---60-w--3-pack-/046677562786)
64		x 15
65		- [Philips Hue Play Light
66		Bars](https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-bundle-play-blk-ext/33001)
67		- [Philips Hue Smart
68		Bridge](https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-bridge/046677458478) + play
69		light bars and a ton of bulbs
70		- [UP
71		Chime](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-chime)
72		- [UP-Sense](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-sensor)
73		x 2
74		- [USP-Plug](https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/unifi-smart-power)
75		- [UVC G4
76		Instant](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-compact-wifi-connected)
77		x 3
78		- [UVC G4 Doorbell
79		Pro](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-wifi-doorbell)
80
81		### Network
82
83		A rack-mounted Dream Machine Pro, connected downstream to an access point, mesh
84		extender, and a couple ethernet switches.
85
86		- [UDM-Pro](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-dream-machine/products/udm-pro)
87		- [USW-24-PoE](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-switching-standard-power-over-ethernet/products/usw-24-poe)
88		- [USW-Lite-8-PoE](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-switching-utility-poe/products/usw-lite-8-poe)
89		- [U6-Pro](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-wifi-flagship-high-capacity/products/u6-pro)
90		- [U6-Extender](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-wifi-inwall-outlet-mesh)
91		- [USW 24-Port Patch
92		Panel](https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-accessory-tech-installations-rackmount/products/uacc-rack-panel-patch-blank-24)
93
94		### Servers
95
96		1. Rack-Mount Server
97
98		I wasn't happy with using low-powered PCs as servers and I knew I did not
99		want the ear-shattering enterprise rack-mounted servers, so I built my own.
100
101		\| Category \| Details \|
102		\| ------------------ \| -------------------------------------- \|
103		\| Case \| Rosewill RSV-R4100U 4U \|
104		\| Motherboard \| NZXT B550 \|
105		\| CPU \| AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics \|
106		\| RAM \| 64GB RAM (2x32GB) \|
107		\| Storage (On-board) \| Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME SSD \|
108		\| Storage (HDD Bay) \| 48TB HDD \|
109		\| PSU \| Corsair RM850 PSU \|
110
111		2. Other
112
113		These ran as my main servers before I built the rack-mounted server above. I
114		have shut these down indefinitely for now as I have no use for them.
115
116		- Dell OptiPlex
117		- Raspberry Pi 4

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	1	#+title: Hardware
	2	#+date: <2024-03-16>
	3
	4	** Desktop
	5	:PROPERTIES:
	6	:CUSTOM_ID: desktop
	7	:END:
	8	*** macOS
	9	:PROPERTIES:
	10	:CUSTOM_ID: macos
	11	:END:
	12	Probably should have added more RAM but Macbooks are stupid expensive.
	13
	14	\| Category \| Details \|
	15	\|----------+---------------------------------------------------------\|
	16	\| Model \| [[https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/][Macbook Pro 16”]] \|
	17	\| CPU \| Apple M2 Pro \|
	18	\| RAM \| 16GB \|
	19	\| Storage \| 512GB SSD \|
	20
	21	*** Linux
	22	:PROPERTIES:
	23	:CUSTOM_ID: linux
	24	:END:
	25	A beauty.
	26
	27	\| Category \| Details \|
	28	\|----------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\|
	29	\| Model \| [[https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpade/thinkpad--e15-gen-4-(15-inch-amd)/len101t0023][Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 4, model 21ED0048US]] \|
	30	\| CPU \| AMD Ryzen 5 5625U with Radeon Graphics \|
	31	\| RAM \| 16 GB \|
	32	\| Storage \| 256 GB SSD \|
	33
	34	** Mobile
	35	:PROPERTIES:
	36	:CUSTOM_ID: mobile
	37	:END:
	38	Previously used a Pixel 6 & Pixel 7 with GrapheneOS.
	39
	40	\| Category \| Details \|
	41	\|----------+-------------------------------------------------------------\|
	42	\| Model \| [[https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro/][iPhone 15 Pro Max]] \|
	43	\| CPU \| A17 Pro \|
	44	\| RAM \| 8GB \|
	45	\| Storage \| 256GB \|
	46
	47	** Homelab
	48	:PROPERTIES:
	49	:CUSTOM_ID: homelab
	50	:END:
	51	I run a small homelab with a mix of consumer (compute/storage) and
	52	enterprise (network) hardware. I try to keep the lab energy efficient
	53	and quiet as my top priorities.
	54
	55	*** IoT
	56	:PROPERTIES:
	57	:CUSTOM_ID: iot
	58	:END:
	59	A collection of mainly smart lights, sensors, and smart appliances. My
	60	first preference is to disable all networking for new smart devices or
	61	simply not connect internet in the first place (e.g. I never enable
	62	internet on my smart TVs). If the smart device requires LAN access, I
	63	will connect the device to my guest-restricted IoT network. As a last
	64	resort, I will set-up the internet but monitor the DNS lookups via
	65	NextDNS and forcibly block any domains I do not want the device to be
	66	using. If the device is egregious or shady, I'll just sell it and either
	67	replace it or live without it.
	68
	69	- Other Appliances (washer, dryer, humidifier, fans, etc.)
	70	- [[https://about.irobot.com/sitecore/content/north-america/irobot-us/home/roomba/i7-series][Roomba
	71	i7+]]
	72	- [[https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-white-and-color-ambiance-a19---e26-smart-bulb---60-w--3-pack-/046677562786][Philips
	73	Hue A19 Bulbs]] x 15
	74	- [[https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-bundle-play-blk-ext/33001][Philips
	75	Hue Play Light Bars]]
	76	- [[https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-bridge/046677458478][Philips
	77	Hue Smart Bridge]] + play light bars and a ton of bulbs
	78	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-chime][UP
	79	Chime]]
	80	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-sensor][UP-Sense]]
	81	x 2
	82	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/unifi-smart-power][USP-Plug]]
	83	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-compact-wifi-connected][UVC
	84	G4 Instant]] x 3
	85	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-camera-security-special-wifi-doorbell][UVC
	86	G4 Doorbell Pro]]
	87
	88	*** Network
	89	:PROPERTIES:
	90	:CUSTOM_ID: network
	91	:END:
	92	A rack-mounted Dream Machine Pro, connected downstream to an access
	93	point, mesh extender, and a couple ethernet switches.
	94
	95	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-dream-machine/products/udm-pro][UDM-Pro]]
	96	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-switching-standard-power-over-ethernet/products/usw-24-poe][USW-24-PoE]]
	97	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-switching-utility-poe/products/usw-lite-8-poe][USW-Lite-8-PoE]]
	98	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-wifi-flagship-high-capacity/products/u6-pro][U6-Pro]]
	99	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-wifi-inwall-outlet-mesh][U6-Extender]]
	100	- [[https://store.ui.com/us/en/collections/unifi-accessory-tech-installations-rackmount/products/uacc-rack-panel-patch-blank-24][USW
	101	24-Port Patch Panel]]
	102
	103	*** Servers
	104	:PROPERTIES:
	105	:CUSTOM_ID: servers
	106	:END:
	107	1. Rack-Mount Server
	108
	109	I wasn't happy with using low-powered PCs as servers and I knew I did
	110	not want the ear-shattering enterprise rack-mounted servers, so I
	111	built my own.
	112
	113	\| Category \| Details \|
	114	\|--------------------+----------------------------------------\|
	115	\| Case \| Rosewill RSV-R4100U 4U \|
	116	\| Motherboard \| NZXT B550 \|
	117	\| CPU \| AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics \|
	118	\| RAM \| 64GB RAM (2x32GB) \|
	119	\| Storage (On-board) \| Western Digital 500GB M.2 NVME SSD \|
	120	\| Storage (HDD Bay) \| 48TB HDD \|
	121	\| PSU \| Corsair RM850 PSU \|
	122
	123	2. Other
	124
	125	These ran as my main servers before I built the rack-mounted server
	126	above. I have shut these down indefinitely for now as I have no use
	127	for them.
	128
	129	- Dell OptiPlex
	130	- Raspberry Pi 4

content/wiki/internet.md → content/wiki/internet.org renamed +50 −44

		@@ -1,38 +1,38 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Internet"
3		updated = 2024-05-02
4		draft = false
5		+++
6
7		## Gemini
8
9		The [Gemini Protocol](https://geminiprotocol.net/) is a network of
	1	#+title: Internet
	2	#+date: <2024-05-02>
	3
	4	** Gemini
	5	:PROPERTIES:
	6	:CUSTOM_ID: gemini
	7	:END:
	8	The [[https://geminiprotocol.net/][Gemini Protocol]] is a network of
10	9	interconnected plaintext documents. If you've used
11		[Gopher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)) before, Gemini will
12		feel very familiar.
13
14		Instead of web sites, Gemini uses the term "capsules" that can be access via
15		`gemini://` links.
16
17		In order to browse Gemini capsules, you will need a client capable of supporting
18		Gemini. The Gemini Protocol website has a [Gemini
19		software](https://geminiprotocol.net/software/) page with a list of clients for
20		each platform.
	10	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)][Gopher]] before,
	11	Gemini will feel very familiar.
21	12
	13	Instead of web sites, Gemini uses the term "capsules" that can be access
	14	via =gemini://= links.
22	15
23		### Gemtext
	16	In order to browse Gemini capsules, you will need a client capable of
	17	supporting Gemini. The Gemini Protocol website has a
	18	[[https://geminiprotocol.net/software/][Gemini software]] page with a
	19	list of clients for each platform.
24	20
25		[Gemtext](https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/cheatsheet.gmi) is a plaintext syntax,
26		very similar to Markdown.
	21	*** Gemtext
	22	:PROPERTIES:
	23	:CUSTOM_ID: gemtext
	24	:END:
	25	[[https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/cheatsheet.gmi][Gemtext]] is a
	26	plaintext syntax, very similar to Markdown.
27	27
28	28	To quote the Gemini Protocol's documentation:
29	29
30		- Long lines get wrapped by the client to fit the screen.
31		- Short lines _don't_ get joined together.
32		- Write paragraphs as single long lines.
33		- Blank lines are rendered verbatim.
	30	- Long lines get wrapped by the client to fit the screen.
	31	- Short lines /don't/ get joined together.
	32	- Write paragraphs as single long lines.
	33	- Blank lines are rendered verbatim.
34	34
35		```md
	35	#+begin_src md
36	36	[//]: <> (Headings)
37	37	# Heading
38	38	## Sub-heading
		@@ -54,16 +54,19 @@ To quote the Gemini Protocol's documentation:
54	54	Any line starting with three backticks (```) will tell the client to toggle to
55	55	"preformatted mode", which disables the client's logical checks to render links,
56	56	headings, etc. and will render the text as-is.
57		```
58
59		## Gopher
60
61		The [Gopher Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)) is a
62		communication protocol, similar to Gemini, that allows for browsing of any ones
63		of [the 14 supported item
64		types](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-3.8):
65
66		```txt
	57	#+end_src
	58
	59	** Gopher
	60	:PROPERTIES:
	61	:CUSTOM_ID: gopher
	62	:END:
	63	The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)][Gopher Protocol]]
	64	is a communication protocol, similar to Gemini, that allows for browsing
	65	of any ones of
	66	[[https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-3.8][the 14
	67	supported item types]]:
	68
	69	#+begin_src txt
67	70	0 Item is a file
68	71	1 Item is a directory
69	72	2 Item is a CSO phone-book server
		@@ -80,14 +83,17 @@ types](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-3.8):
80	83	T Item points to a text-based tn3270 session.
81	84	g Item is a GIF format graphics file.
82	85	I Item is some kind of image file. Client decides how to display.
83		```
84
85		### Simplicity is Intentional
	86	#+end_src
86	87
87		Gopher is [meant to be
88		simplistic](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-4).
	88	*** Simplicity is Intentional
	89	:PROPERTIES:
	90	:CUSTOM_ID: simplicity-is-intentional
	91	:END:
	92	Gopher is
	93	[[https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1436#section-4][meant to be
	94	simplistic]].
89	95
90		```txt
	96	#+begin_src txt
91	97	As far as possible we desire any new features to be carried as new
92	98	protocols that will be hidden behind new document-types. The
93	99	internet Gopher philosophy is:
		@@ -110,4 +116,4 @@ internet Gopher philosophy is:
110	116	(c) The well-tempered client should do something reasonable with
111	117	funny characters received in text; filter them out, leave them in,
112	118	whatever.
113		```
		\ No newline at end of file
	119	#+end_src

content/wiki/ios.md deleted −204

		@@ -1,204 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "iOS"
3		updated = 2024-05-01
4		draft = false
5		+++
6
7		Related:
8
9		- [Hardware](/wiki/hardware.html)
10
11		My primary mobile OS. Currently running iOS 17. This wiki page contains most of
12		the apps I have used at one point or another across my different iPhones.
13
14		(`*`) = My favorites
15
16		## Configuration
17
18		### Display
19
20		- Light Mode
21		- 10:00 to 16:00
22		- Dark Mode
23		- 16:00 to 10:00
24
25		### Focus Modes
26
27		- Personal Focus
28		- 06:00 to 21:00
29		- Allow Notifications From:
30		- Alarms
31		- Calendar
32		- Contacts (1 person)
33		- Messages
34		- Phone
35		- Reminders
36		- Signal
37		- UniFi Protect
38		- Sleep Focus
39		- 21:00 to 06:00
40		- Allow Notifications From:
41		- Alarms
42		- Contacts (1 person)
43		- Reminders
44		- Signal
45
46		### Privacy & Security
47
48		I generally follow the [principle of least
49		privilege](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_privilege) by only
50		permitting the bare minimum privileges and revoking as soon as they are no
51		longer required.
52
53		Here's the baseline I start with:
54
55		- Disable:
56		- Analytics & Improvements
57		- Apple Advertising
58		- Apple ID > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication
59		- Location Services > System Services > Product Improvement
60		- Tracking > Allow Apps to Request to Track
61		- Safari > Advanced > Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement
62		- Enable:
63		- Apple ID > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
64		- Apple ID > Personal Information > Communication Preferences
65		- App Privacy Report
66		- Location Services only for Camera, Find My, UDisc, & WiFiman (`While
67		Using`)
68		- Safari > Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
69		- Safari > Hide IP Address
70		- Safari > Advanced > Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection
71
72		## Native Apps
73
74		### Business
75
76		- [Element](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/element-messenger/id1083446067) - A
77		cross-platform messenger, based on Matrix
78		- [LinkedIn](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linkedin-network-job-finder/id288429040)
79		- One of the only social media apps I use
80
81		### Developer Tools
82
83		- [Harbour](https://testflight.apple.com/join/F2vK7xo4) - Easily manage your
84		Portainer service
85		- [iSH](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ish-shell/id1436902243) - A local shell
86		with SSH functionality
87
88		### Entertainment
89
90		- [Plex](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plex-watch-live-tv-and-movies/id383457673)
91		- A client for the Plex Media Server
92		- [Steam](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/steam-mobile/id495369748) - The top
93		gaming marketplace for computers
94
95		### Lifestyle
96
97		- [Home](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/home/id1110145103) (`*`) - Apple
98		homekit powered smart home manager
99		- [Hue](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/philips-hue/id1055281310) - Philips Hue
100		smart home manager
101		- [iRobot](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/irobot-home/id1012014442) - Manage
102		iRobot Roomba devices
103		- [UniFi Protect](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235) -
104		View and manage most UniFi Protect cameras and settings
105
106		### Music
107
108		- [Apple Music](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-music/id1108187390) (`*`)
109		- Apple's native music streaming app
110		- [Plexamp](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plexamp/id1500797510) (`*`) -
111		Top-notch music app for your Plex Media Server, with a neural network that
112		provides excellent radio/shuffle suggestions
113
114		### Navigation
115
116		- [deedum](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deedum/id1546810946) - A Gemini
117		Protocol browser
118
119		### News
120
121		- [NetNewsWire](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210)
122		- A free and open source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone, and iPad
123
124		### Photo & Video
125
126		- [Aislingeach](https://testflight.apple.com/join/Q6WyyEpS) - A quick way to
127		generate and rate images from the Stable Horde
128		- [Unsplash](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unsplash/id1290631746) - Premium
129		images, mostly free
130
131		### Productivity
132
133		- [beorg](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beorg-to-do-list-agenda/id1238649962)
134		- An org-mode editor, outline, and scheduler with paid extensions
135		- [Bitwarden](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitwarden-password-manager/id1137397744)
136		(`*`) - An open source password manager
137		- [Bitwarden
138		Authenticator](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitwarden-authenticator/id6497335175)
139		(`*`) - Generate 2FA on your device
140		- [Cryptomator](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cryptomator/id1560822163) - A
141		cross-platform encryption program
142		- [Obsidian](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obsidian-connected-notes/id1557175442)
143		(`*`) - A nice Markdown-based editor based on a "vault" structure. Offers a
144		paid sync solution and community extensions
145		- [Strongbox](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-password-manager/id897283731)
146		- Keepass password manager for iOS & macOS
147		- [UniFi Network](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unifi/id1057750338) - View and
148		manage most UniFi Network settings
149
150		### Safari Extensions
151
152		- [AdGuard](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adguard-adblock-privacy/id1047223162)
153		- Ad blocker
154		- [Dark
155		Reader](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-reader-for-safari/id1438243180) -
156		Dark mode for all the sites
157		- [PiPifier](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pipifier/id1234771095) - Force
158		videos to support PiP
159		- [Privacy
160		Redirect](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/privacy-redirect/id1578144015) -
161		Redirect select websites to others, usually to privacy-focused alternatives
162
163		### Social Networking
164
165		- [MultiTab T](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/multitab-for-tumblr/id1071533778)
166		(`*`) - A gallery-based Tumblr client with some unique features, such as tab
167		history and sync
168		- [Signal](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/signal-private-messenger/id874139669)
169		(`*`) - A simple, powerful, and secure messenger
170		- [Three Cheers](https://testflight.apple.com/join/mpVk1qIy) - A client for
171		Tildes.net with a design focus that matches the intent of Tildes
172		- [Voyager](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voyager-for-lemmy/id6451429762) - A
173		Lemmy client
174
175		### Sports
176
177		- [Apple Sports](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-sports/id6446788829) -
178		Apple's new sports app - lacks notifications and live events
179		- [UDisc](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/udisc-disc-golf/id1072228953) - Disc
180		golf course maps, score cards, and more
181
182		### Utilities
183
184		- [Backblaze](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/backblaze/id628638330) - Quickly
185		view and manage Backblaze b2 cloud storage
186		- [Mullvad VPN](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mullvad-vpn/id1488466513) (`*`)
187		- A private VPN service
188		- [OTP Auth](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/otp-auth/id659877384) (`*`) - A
189		minimalistic OTP app with support for biometrics, custom icons,
190		import/export, and iCloud sync
191		- [Plex Dash](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plex-dash/id1500797677) - Stats
192		about your Plex Media Server
193		- [Safari](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/safari/id1146562112) - iOS default
194		browser
195		- [Unifi WiFiman](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ubiquiti-wifiman/id1385561119)
196		- Create visual layouts of WiFi strength and save heat maps to your phone
197
198		## Web Apps & Shortcuts
199
200		- [Brutalist Report](https://brutalist.report/) - Minimal news aggregator
201		- [\_Cyber.Report](https://cyber.report/) - Cybersecurity news aggregator
202		- [Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/) - Mostly technical news
203		- [NextDNS](https://nextdns.io/) - NextDNS statistics dashboard
204		- [Readspike](https://readspike.com/) - Minimal news aggregator

content/wiki/ios.org added +246

		@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
	1	#+title: iOS
	2	#+date: <2024-05-01>
	3
	4	Related:
	5
	6	- [[/wiki/hardware.html][Hardware]]
	7
	8	My primary mobile OS. Currently running iOS 17. This wiki page contains
	9	most of the apps I have used at one point or another across my different
	10	iPhones.
	11
	12	(=*=) = My favorites
	13
	14	** Configuration
	15	:PROPERTIES:
	16	:CUSTOM_ID: configuration
	17	:END:
	18	*** Display
	19	:PROPERTIES:
	20	:CUSTOM_ID: display
	21	:END:
	22	- Light Mode
	23	- 10:00 to 16:00
	24	- Dark Mode
	25	- 16:00 to 10:00
	26
	27	*** Focus Modes
	28	:PROPERTIES:
	29	:CUSTOM_ID: focus-modes
	30	:END:
	31	- Personal Focus
	32	- 06:00 to 21:00
	33	- Allow Notifications From:
	34	- Alarms
	35	- Calendar
	36	- Contacts (1 person)
	37	- Messages
	38	- Phone
	39	- Reminders
	40	- Signal
	41	- UniFi Protect
	42	- Sleep Focus
	43	- 21:00 to 06:00
	44	- Allow Notifications From:
	45	- Alarms
	46	- Contacts (1 person)
	47	- Reminders
	48	- Signal
	49
	50	*** Privacy & Security
	51	:PROPERTIES:
	52	:CUSTOM_ID: privacy-security
	53	:END:
	54	I generally follow the
	55	[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_privilege][principle
	56	of least privilege]] by only permitting the bare minimum privileges and
	57	revoking as soon as they are no longer required.
	58
	59	Here's the baseline I start with:
	60
	61	- Disable:
	62	- Analytics & Improvements
	63	- Apple Advertising
	64	- Apple ID > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication
	65	- Location Services > System Services > Product Improvement
	66	- Tracking > Allow Apps to Request to Track
	67	- Safari > Advanced > Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement
	68	- Enable:
	69	- Apple ID > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection
	70	- Apple ID > Personal Information > Communication Preferences
	71	- App Privacy Report
	72	- Location Services only for Camera, Find My, UDisc, & WiFiman
	73	(=While Using=)
	74	- Safari > Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
	75	- Safari > Hide IP Address
	76	- Safari > Advanced > Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection
	77
	78	** Native Apps
	79	:PROPERTIES:
	80	:CUSTOM_ID: native-apps
	81	:END:
	82	*** Business
	83	:PROPERTIES:
	84	:CUSTOM_ID: business
	85	:END:
	86	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/element-messenger/id1083446067][Element]] -
	87	A cross-platform messenger, based on Matrix
	88	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linkedin-network-job-finder/id288429040][LinkedIn]]
	89	- One of the only social media apps I use
	90
	91	*** Developer Tools
	92	:PROPERTIES:
	93	:CUSTOM_ID: developer-tools
	94	:END:
	95	- [[https://testflight.apple.com/join/F2vK7xo4][Harbour]] - Easily
	96	manage your Portainer service
	97	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ish-shell/id1436902243][iSH]] - A
	98	local shell with SSH functionality
	99
	100	*** Entertainment
	101	:PROPERTIES:
	102	:CUSTOM_ID: entertainment
	103	:END:
	104	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plex-watch-live-tv-and-movies/id383457673][Plex]]
	105	- A client for the Plex Media Server
	106	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/steam-mobile/id495369748][Steam]] -
	107	The top gaming marketplace for computers
	108
	109	*** Lifestyle
	110	:PROPERTIES:
	111	:CUSTOM_ID: lifestyle
	112	:END:
	113	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/home/id1110145103][Home]] (=*=) -
	114	Apple homekit powered smart home manager
	115	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/philips-hue/id1055281310][Hue]] -
	116	Philips Hue smart home manager
	117	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/irobot-home/id1012014442][iRobot]] -
	118	Manage iRobot Roomba devices
	119	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unifi-protect/id1392492235][UniFi
	120	Protect]] - View and manage most UniFi Protect cameras and settings
	121
	122	*** Music
	123	:PROPERTIES:
	124	:CUSTOM_ID: music
	125	:END:
	126	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-music/id1108187390][Apple
	127	Music]] (=*=)
	128	- Apple's native music streaming app
	129	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plexamp/id1500797510][Plexamp]]
	130	(=*=) - Top-notch music app for your Plex Media Server, with a neural
	131	network that provides excellent radio/shuffle suggestions
	132
	133	*** Navigation
	134	:PROPERTIES:
	135	:CUSTOM_ID: navigation
	136	:END:
	137	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deedum/id1546810946][deedum]] - A
	138	Gemini Protocol browser
	139
	140	*** News
	141	:PROPERTIES:
	142	:CUSTOM_ID: news
	143	:END:
	144	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210][NetNewsWire]]
	145	- A free and open source RSS reader for Mac, iPhone, and iPad
	146
	147	*** Photo & Video
	148	:PROPERTIES:
	149	:CUSTOM_ID: photo-video
	150	:END:
	151	- [[https://testflight.apple.com/join/Q6WyyEpS][Aislingeach]] - A quick
	152	way to generate and rate images from the Stable Horde
	153	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unsplash/id1290631746][Unsplash]] -
	154	Premium images, mostly free
	155
	156	*** Productivity
	157	:PROPERTIES:
	158	:CUSTOM_ID: productivity
	159	:END:
	160	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beorg-to-do-list-agenda/id1238649962][beorg]]
	161	- An org-mode editor, outline, and scheduler with paid extensions
	162	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitwarden-password-manager/id1137397744][Bitwarden]]
	163	(=*=) - An open source password manager
	164	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitwarden-authenticator/id6497335175][Bitwarden
	165	Authenticator]] (=*=) - Generate 2FA on your device
	166	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cryptomator/id1560822163][Cryptomator]] -
	167	A cross-platform encryption program
	168	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obsidian-connected-notes/id1557175442][Obsidian]]
	169	(=*=) - A nice Markdown-based editor based on a "vault" structure.
	170	Offers a paid sync solution and community extensions
	171	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-password-manager/id897283731][Strongbox]]
	172	- Keepass password manager for iOS & macOS
	173	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unifi/id1057750338][UniFi Network]] -
	174	View and manage most UniFi Network settings
	175
	176	*** Safari Extensions
	177	:PROPERTIES:
	178	:CUSTOM_ID: safari-extensions
	179	:END:
	180	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adguard-adblock-privacy/id1047223162][AdGuard]]
	181	- Ad blocker
	182	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-reader-for-safari/id1438243180][Dark
	183	Reader]] - Dark mode for all the sites
	184	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pipifier/id1234771095][PiPifier]] -
	185	Force videos to support PiP
	186	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/privacy-redirect/id1578144015][Privacy
	187	Redirect]] - Redirect select websites to others, usually to
	188	privacy-focused alternatives
	189
	190	*** Social Networking
	191	:PROPERTIES:
	192	:CUSTOM_ID: social-networking
	193	:END:
	194	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/multitab-for-tumblr/id1071533778][MultiTab
	195	T]] (=*=) - A gallery-based Tumblr client with some unique features,
	196	such as tab history and sync
	197	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/signal-private-messenger/id874139669][Signal]]
	198	(=*=) - A simple, powerful, and secure messenger
	199	- [[https://testflight.apple.com/join/mpVk1qIy][Three Cheers]] - A
	200	client for Tildes.net with a design focus that matches the intent of
	201	Tildes
	202	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voyager-for-lemmy/id6451429762][Voyager]] -
	203	A Lemmy client
	204
	205	*** Sports
	206	:PROPERTIES:
	207	:CUSTOM_ID: sports
	208	:END:
	209	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-sports/id6446788829][Apple
	210	Sports]] - Apple's new sports app - lacks notifications and live
	211	events
	212	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/udisc-disc-golf/id1072228953][UDisc]] -
	213	Disc golf course maps, score cards, and more
	214
	215	*** Utilities
	216	:PROPERTIES:
	217	:CUSTOM_ID: utilities
	218	:END:
	219	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/backblaze/id628638330][Backblaze]] -
	220	Quickly view and manage Backblaze b2 cloud storage
	221	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mullvad-vpn/id1488466513][Mullvad
	222	VPN]] (=*=)
	223	- A private VPN service
	224	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/otp-auth/id659877384][OTP Auth]]
	225	(=*=) - A minimalistic OTP app with support for biometrics, custom
	226	icons, import/export, and iCloud sync
	227	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plex-dash/id1500797677][Plex Dash]] -
	228	Stats about your Plex Media Server
	229	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/safari/id1146562112][Safari]] - iOS
	230	default browser
	231	- [[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ubiquiti-wifiman/id1385561119][Unifi
	232	WiFiman]]
	233	- Create visual layouts of WiFi strength and save heat maps to your
	234	phone
	235
	236	** Web Apps & Shortcuts
	237	:PROPERTIES:
	238	:CUSTOM_ID: web-apps-shortcuts
	239	:END:
	240	- [[https://brutalist.report/][Brutalist Report]] - Minimal news
	241	aggregator
	242	- [[https://cyber.report/][_Cyber.Report]] - Cybersecurity news
	243	aggregator
	244	- [[https://news.ycombinator.com/][Hacker News]] - Mostly technical news
	245	- [[https://nextdns.io/][NextDNS]] - NextDNS statistics dashboard
	246	- [[https://readspike.com/][Readspike]] - Minimal news aggregator

content/wiki/linux.md deleted −51

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1		+++
2		title = "Linux"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
6
7		Related:
8
9		- [Hardware](/wiki/hardware/)
10
11		## Alpine Linux
12
13		My secondary laptop OS.
14
15		## Ubuntu Server
16
17		My primary server OS.
18
19		- Applications
20		- CrowdSec
21		- Netdata
22		- Nginx
23		- Plex Media Server
24		- Docker Containers
25		- AnonymousOverflow
26		- Authelia
27		- Convos
28		- CyberChef
29		- FlashPaper
30		- FreshRSS
31		- GotHub
32		- Gramps
33		- Invidious
34		- Libreddit
35		- NocoDB
36		- OtterWiki
37		- Portainer
38		- rgit
39		- Scrutiny
40		- SearXNG
41		- Stash
42		- Tautulli
43		- Teddit
44		- Watchtower
45		- Utilities
46		- byobu
47		- Certbot
48		- exiftool
49		- fail2ban
50		- ufw
51		- zfs

content/wiki/macos.md deleted −206

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1		+++
2		title = "macOS"
3		updated = 2024-05-01
4		draft = false
5		+++
6
7		Related:
8
9		- [Hardware](/wiki/hardware/)
10
11		My primary OS. Currently running macOS Sonoma 14. This wiki page contains most
12		of the apps I have used at one point or another across my different Macbooks.
13
14		(`*`) = My favorites
15
16		## Configuration
17
18		### Disable System Services
19
20		- [Disabling and Enabling System Integrity
21		Protection](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/disabling_and_enabling_system_integrity_protection)
22		- Disable Gatekeeper: `sudo spctl --master-disable`
23
24		### Dotfiles
25
26		These are probably out of date, but they give a general idea of how I configure
27		my machine.
28
29		```conf
30		# ~/.zshrc
31		export PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH"
32		export PATH="$HOME/.emacs.d/bin:$PATH"
33		export EDITOR="/opt/homebrew/bin/emacs -nw"
34		ZSH_THEME="bureau"
35		plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
36		source $ZSH/oh-my-zsh.sh
37		```
38
39		```conf
40		# ~/.zprofile
41		eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
42		```
43
44		```conf
45		# ~/.config/skhd/skhdrc
46		cmd - return : /Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/iTerm2
47		cmd + shift - return : /Applications/LibreWolf.app/Contents/MacOS/librewolf
48		```
49
50		```conf
51		# ~/.config/yabai/yabairc
52		yabai -m config \
53		mouse_follows_focus off \
54		focus_follows_mouse off \
55		window_origin_display default \
56		window_placement second_child \
57		window_zoom_persist on \
58		window_shadow on \
59		window_animation_duration 0.0 \
60		window_animation_frame_rate 120 \
61		window_opacity_duration 0.0 \
62		active_window_opacity 1.0 \
63		normal_window_opacity 0.90 \
64		window_opacity off \
65		insert_feedback_color 0xffd75f5f \
66		split_ratio 0.50 \
67		split_type auto \
68		auto_balance off \
69		top_padding 15 \
70		bottom_padding 15 \
71		left_padding 15 \
72		right_padding 15 \
73		window_gap 10 \
74		layout bsp \
75		mouse_modifier fn \
76		mouse_action1 move \
77		mouse_action2 resize \
78		mouse_drop_action swap
79		echo "yabai configuration loaded.."
80		```
81
82		## Software
83
84		### Browsers
85
86		- [Librewolf](https://librewolf.net/) (`*`) - Custom version of Firefox,
87		focused on privacy and security
88		- [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com/) - An open source password manager
89		- [Dark Reader](https://darkreader.org/) - Dark mode for all the websites
90		- [Libredirect](https://libredirect.github.io/) - Automatic web
91		redirections
92		- [Strongbox](https://strongboxsafe.com/) - Keepass password manager for
93		iOS & macOS
94		- [uBlock Origin](https://ublockorigin.com/) - Free, open-source ad
95		content blocker
96		- [Ungoogled
97		Chromium](https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium) - Google
98		Chromium, sans integration with Google
99		- [eww](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_mono/eww.html) - Emacs
100		Web Wowser, for TUI browsing
101
102		### Command Line Tools
103
104		- [doggo](https://github.com/mr-karan/doggo) - Command-line DNS Client for
105		Humans
106		- [duf](https://github.com/muesli/duf) - Disk Usage/Free Utility - a better
107		'df' alternative
108		- [dust](https://github.com/bootandy/dust) - A more intuitive version of du in
109		rust
110		- [eza](https://github.com/eza-community/eza) - A modern alternative to ls
111		- [macchina](https://github.com/Macchina-CLI/macchina) - A system information
112		frontend with an emphasis on performance.
113		- [yt-dlp](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp) - A youtube-dl fork with
114		additional features and fixes
115
116		### Communications
117
118		- [Element](https://element.io/) (`*`) - Matrix's default GUI client
119		- [gomuks](https://github.com/tulir/gomuks) - A terminal based Matrix client
120		- [Thunderbird](https://www.thunderbird.net/) (`*`) - An open source email
121		client by Mozilla
122		- [Signal](https://signal.org/) (`*`) - A simple, powerful, and secure
123		messenger
124
125		### Development
126
127		- [Docker Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/) - Docker
128		containers for your desktop
129		- [open-webui](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui) - User-friendly
130		WebUI for LLMs
131		- [iTerm2](https://iterm2.com/) (`*`) - The best terminal for macOS, hands
132		down
133		- [Podman Desktop](https://podman-desktop.io/) (`*`) - Open source tool for
134		containers and Kubernetes
135		- [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/) - Apple's IDE
136		- [zsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell) (`*`) - My shell preference due
137		to its plugin and theme community
138		- [zsh-autosuggestions](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions)
139		- Fish-like autosuggestions for zsh
140		- [zsh-syntax-highlighting](https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting)
141		- Fish shell like syntax highlighting for Zsh
142
143		### Editors
144
145		- [Doom Emacs](https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs) (`*`) - An Emacs
146		framework, great for working in org-mode
147		- [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) - A nice Markdown-based editor based on a
148		"vault" structure. Offers a paid sync solution and community extensions
149		- [Standard Notes](https://standardnotes.com/) - A simple text editor focused
150		on privacy and security. Offers a paid sync solution and community
151		extensions
152		- [VSCodium](https://vscodium.com/) - VS Code without proprietary blobs
153
154		### Media
155
156		- [Luminar](https://skylum.com/luminar) - Luminar offers top-notch photo
157		editing features
158		- [Minecraft](https://www.minecraft.net/) - Block mining simulator
159		- [NetNewsWire](https://netnewswire.com/) - A free and open source RSS reader
160		for Mac, iPhone, and iPad
161		- [Plex](https://www.plex.tv/) (`*`) - Desktop client for the Plex Media
162		Server
163		- [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/) - The top gaming marketplace for
164		computers
165		- [Transmission](https://transmissionbt.com/) (`*`) - A Fast, Easy and Free
166		Bittorrent Client
167		- [VLC](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/) - A free and open source cross-platform
168		multimedia player
169
170		### Package Management
171
172		- [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) (`*`) - The Missing Package Manager for macOS
173		(or Linux)
174		- [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/) - A system to compile, install, and
175		manage open source software
176
177		### Utilities
178
179		- [BetterDisplay](https://betterdisplay.pro/) - Allows you to tweak a ton of
180		features of built-in and external screens, such as scaling, configuration
181		overrides, and color/brightness upscaling
182		- [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com/) - An open source password manager
183		- [Ice](https://icemenubar.app/) (`*`)- A powerful menu bar management tool
184		- [LittleSnitch](https://obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html) - Shows
185		all network connections on your Macbook, including system and privileged
186		services
187		- [MicroSnitch](https://obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html) - Camera &
188		microphone monitoring and alterting service
189		- [Mullvad](https://mullvad.net/) (`*`) - A private VPN service
190		- [Ollama](https://ollama.com/) - Run Llama 2, Code Llama, and other models
191		locally on your machine
192		- [Ollama Swift](https://github.com/kghandour/Ollama-SwiftUI) - User
193		Interface made for Ollama.ai using Swift
194		- [OrbStack](https://orbstack.dev/) - A fast and convenient GUI to manage
195		Docker contains and Linux VMs
196		- [Raycast](https://www.raycast.com/) - A collection of tools and shortcuts,
197		an alternative to Spotlight
198		- [skhd](https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd) (`*`) - Simple hotkey daemon for
199		macOS
200		- [Strongbox](https://strongboxsafe.com/) - Keepass password manager for iOS &
201		macOS
202		- [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) (`*`) - Continuous file synchronization
203		- [TinkerTool](https://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html) - Unlock hidden
204		configuration options for macOS
205		- [yabai](https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai) (`*`) - Automatic window
206		tiling

content/wiki/macos.org added +236

		@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
	1	#+title: macOS
	2	#+date: <2024-05-01>
	3
	4	Related:
	5
	6	- [[/wiki/hardware/][Hardware]]
	7
	8	My primary OS. Currently running macOS Sonoma 14. This wiki page
	9	contains most of the apps I have used at one point or another across my
	10	different Macbooks.
	11
	12	(=*=) = My favorites
	13
	14	** Configuration
	15	:PROPERTIES:
	16	:CUSTOM_ID: configuration
	17	:END:
	18	*** Disable System Services
	19	:PROPERTIES:
	20	:CUSTOM_ID: disable-system-services
	21	:END:
	22	- [[https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/disabling_and_enabling_system_integrity_protection][Disabling
	23	and Enabling System Integrity Protection]]
	24	- Disable Gatekeeper: =sudo spctl --master-disable=
	25
	26	*** Dotfiles
	27	:PROPERTIES:
	28	:CUSTOM_ID: dotfiles
	29	:END:
	30	These are probably out of date, but they give a general idea of how I
	31	configure my machine.
	32
	33	#+begin_src conf
	34	# ~/.zshrc
	35	export PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH"
	36	export PATH="$HOME/.emacs.d/bin:$PATH"
	37	export EDITOR="/opt/homebrew/bin/emacs -nw"
	38	ZSH_THEME="bureau"
	39	plugins=(git zsh-autosuggestions)
	40	source $ZSH/oh-my-zsh.sh
	41	#+end_src
	42
	43	#+begin_src conf
	44	# ~/.zprofile
	45	eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
	46	#+end_src
	47
	48	#+begin_src conf
	49	# ~/.config/skhd/skhdrc
	50	cmd - return : /Applications/iTerm.app/Contents/MacOS/iTerm2
	51	cmd + shift - return : /Applications/LibreWolf.app/Contents/MacOS/librewolf
	52	#+end_src
	53
	54	#+begin_src conf
	55	# ~/.config/yabai/yabairc
	56	yabai -m config \
	57	mouse_follows_focus off \
	58	focus_follows_mouse off \
	59	window_origin_display default \
	60	window_placement second_child \
	61	window_zoom_persist on \
	62	window_shadow on \
	63	window_animation_duration 0.0 \
	64	window_animation_frame_rate 120 \
	65	window_opacity_duration 0.0 \
	66	active_window_opacity 1.0 \
	67	normal_window_opacity 0.90 \
	68	window_opacity off \
	69	insert_feedback_color 0xffd75f5f \
	70	split_ratio 0.50 \
	71	split_type auto \
	72	auto_balance off \
	73	top_padding 15 \
	74	bottom_padding 15 \
	75	left_padding 15 \
	76	right_padding 15 \
	77	window_gap 10 \
	78	layout bsp \
	79	mouse_modifier fn \
	80	mouse_action1 move \
	81	mouse_action2 resize \
	82	mouse_drop_action swap
	83	echo "yabai configuration loaded.."
	84	#+end_src
	85
	86	** Software
	87	:PROPERTIES:
	88	:CUSTOM_ID: software
	89	:END:
	90	*** Browsers
	91	:PROPERTIES:
	92	:CUSTOM_ID: browsers
	93	:END:
	94	- [[https://librewolf.net/][Librewolf]] (=*=) - Custom version of
	95	Firefox, focused on privacy and security
	96	- [[https://bitwarden.com/][Bitwarden]] - An open source password
	97	manager
	98	- [[https://darkreader.org/][Dark Reader]] - Dark mode for all the
	99	websites
	100	- [[https://libredirect.github.io/][Libredirect]] - Automatic web
	101	redirections
	102	- [[https://strongboxsafe.com/][Strongbox]] - Keepass password manager
	103	for iOS & macOS
	104	- [[https://ublockorigin.com/][uBlock Origin]] - Free, open-source ad
	105	content blocker
	106	- [[https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium][Ungoogled
	107	Chromium]] - Google Chromium, sans integration with Google
	108	- [[https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_mono/eww.html][eww]] -
	109	Emacs Web Wowser, for TUI browsing
	110
	111	*** Command Line Tools
	112	:PROPERTIES:
	113	:CUSTOM_ID: command-line-tools
	114	:END:
	115	- [[https://github.com/mr-karan/doggo][doggo]] - Command-line DNS Client
	116	for Humans
	117	- [[https://github.com/muesli/duf][duf]] - Disk Usage/Free Utility - a
	118	better 'df' alternative
	119	- [[https://github.com/bootandy/dust][dust]] - A more intuitive version
	120	of du in rust
	121	- [[https://github.com/eza-community/eza][eza]] - A modern alternative
	122	to ls
	123	- [[https://github.com/Macchina-CLI/macchina][macchina]] - A system
	124	information frontend with an emphasis on performance.
	125	- [[https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp][yt-dlp]] - A youtube-dl fork with
	126	additional features and fixes
	127
	128	*** Communications
	129	:PROPERTIES:
	130	:CUSTOM_ID: communications
	131	:END:
	132	- [[https://element.io/][Element]] (=*=) - Matrix's default GUI client
	133	- [[https://github.com/tulir/gomuks][gomuks]] - A terminal based Matrix
	134	client
	135	- [[https://www.thunderbird.net/][Thunderbird]] (=*=) - An open source
	136	email client by Mozilla
	137	- [[https://signal.org/][Signal]] (=*=) - A simple, powerful, and secure
	138	messenger
	139
	140	*** Development
	141	:PROPERTIES:
	142	:CUSTOM_ID: development
	143	:END:
	144	- [[https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/][Docker Desktop]] -
	145	Docker containers for your desktop
	146	- [[https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui][open-webui]] -
	147	User-friendly WebUI for LLMs
	148	- [[https://iterm2.com/][iTerm2]] (=*=) - The best terminal for macOS,
	149	hands down
	150	- [[https://podman-desktop.io/][Podman Desktop]] (=*=) - Open source
	151	tool for containers and Kubernetes
	152	- [[https://developer.apple.com/xcode/][Xcode]] - Apple's IDE
	153	- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_shell][zsh]] (=*=) - My shell
	154	preference due to its plugin and theme community
	155	- [[https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions][zsh-autosuggestions]]
	156	- Fish-like autosuggestions for zsh
	157	- [[https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting][zsh-syntax-highlighting]]
	158	- Fish shell like syntax highlighting for Zsh
	159
	160	*** Editors
	161	:PROPERTIES:
	162	:CUSTOM_ID: editors
	163	:END:
	164	- [[https://github.com/doomemacs/doomemacs][Doom Emacs]] (=*=) - An
	165	Emacs framework, great for working in org-mode
	166	- [[https://obsidian.md/][Obsidian]] - A nice Markdown-based editor
	167	based on a "vault" structure. Offers a paid sync solution and
	168	community extensions
	169	- [[https://standardnotes.com/][Standard Notes]] - A simple text editor
	170	focused on privacy and security. Offers a paid sync solution and
	171	community extensions
	172	- [[https://vscodium.com/][VSCodium]] - VS Code without proprietary
	173	blobs
	174
	175	*** Media
	176	:PROPERTIES:
	177	:CUSTOM_ID: media
	178	:END:
	179	- [[https://skylum.com/luminar][Luminar]] - Luminar offers top-notch
	180	photo editing features
	181	- [[https://www.minecraft.net/][Minecraft]] - Block mining simulator
	182	- [[https://netnewswire.com/][NetNewsWire]] - A free and open source RSS
	183	reader for Mac, iPhone, and iPad
	184	- [[https://www.plex.tv/][Plex]] (=*=) - Desktop client for the Plex
	185	Media Server
	186	- [[https://store.steampowered.com/][Steam]] - The top gaming
	187	marketplace for computers
	188	- [[https://transmissionbt.com/][Transmission]] (=*=) - A Fast, Easy and
	189	Free Bittorrent Client
	190	- [[https://www.videolan.org/vlc/][VLC]] - A free and open source
	191	cross-platform multimedia player
	192
	193	*** Package Management
	194	:PROPERTIES:
	195	:CUSTOM_ID: package-management
	196	:END:
	197	- [[https://brew.sh/][Homebrew]] (=*=) - The Missing Package Manager for
	198	macOS (or Linux)
	199	- [[https://www.macports.org/][MacPorts]] - A system to compile,
	200	install, and manage open source software
	201
	202	*** Utilities
	203	:PROPERTIES:
	204	:CUSTOM_ID: utilities
	205	:END:
	206	- [[https://betterdisplay.pro/][BetterDisplay]] - Allows you to tweak a
	207	ton of features of built-in and external screens, such as scaling,
	208	configuration overrides, and color/brightness upscaling
	209	- [[https://bitwarden.com/][Bitwarden]] - An open source password
	210	manager
	211	- [[https://icemenubar.app/][Ice]] (=*=)- A powerful menu bar management
	212	tool
	213	- [[https://obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html][LittleSnitch]] -
	214	Shows all network connections on your Macbook, including system and
	215	privileged services
	216	- [[https://obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html][MicroSnitch]] -
	217	Camera & microphone monitoring and alterting service
	218	- [[https://mullvad.net/][Mullvad]] (=*=) - A private VPN service
	219	- [[https://ollama.com/][Ollama]] - Run Llama 2, Code Llama, and other
	220	models locally on your machine
	221	- [[https://github.com/kghandour/Ollama-SwiftUI][Ollama Swift]] - User
	222	Interface made for Ollama.ai using Swift
	223	- [[https://orbstack.dev/][OrbStack]] - A fast and convenient GUI to
	224	manage Docker contains and Linux VMs
	225	- [[https://www.raycast.com/][Raycast]] - A collection of tools and
	226	shortcuts, an alternative to Spotlight
	227	- [[https://github.com/koekeishiya/skhd][skhd]] (=*=) - Simple hotkey
	228	daemon for macOS
	229	- [[https://strongboxsafe.com/][Strongbox]] - Keepass password manager
	230	for iOS & macOS
	231	- [[https://syncthing.net/][Syncthing]] (=*=) - Continuous file
	232	synchronization
	233	- [[https://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html][TinkerTool]] - Unlock
	234	hidden configuration options for macOS
	235	- [[https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai][yabai]] (=*=) - Automatic
	236	window tiling

content/wiki/management.md deleted −11

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1		+++
2		title = "Management"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
6
7		## Time Management
8
9		## People Management
10
11		## Project Management

content/wiki/minimalism.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Minimalism"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/wiki/networking.md deleted −27

		@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Networking"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
6
7		## Bluetooth
8
9		## DNS
10
11		## Gemini
12
13		## Gopher
14
15		## HTTP
16
17		## IoT
18
19		## Nginx
20
21		## SSH
22
23		## SSL
24
25		## VPN
26
27		## Wi-Fi

content/wiki/plaintext.md deleted −11

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1		+++
2		title = "Plaintext"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
6
7		## Markdown
8
9		## Org-Mode
10
11		## AsciiDoc

content/wiki/privacy.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Privacy"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/wiki/python.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Python"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/wiki/security.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Security"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/wiki/selfhosted.md deleted −5

		@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Self-Hosted"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
		\ No newline at end of file

content/wiki/windows.md deleted −18

		@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
1		+++
2		title = "Windows"
3		updated = 2024-03-07
4		draft = true
5		+++
6
7		## Windows (Work)
8
9		I am required to use a Windows 10 laptop for work, but I have some
10		limited customization options.
11
12		- Alteryx
13		- Notepad++
14		- Obsidian
15		- Power BI
16		- Task Scheduler
17		- Auto Dark Mode
18		- Auto Light Mode

publish.el added +98

		@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
	1	;; explicity load packages since I'm using Doom Emacs
	2	(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/.local/straight/repos/emacs-htmlize")
	3	(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/.local/straight/repos/weblorg")
	4	(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/.local/straight/repos/templatel")
	5	(require 'htmlize)
	6	(require 'weblorg)
	7
	8	;; defaults to http://localhost:8000
	9	;; ENV=prod emacs --script publish.el
	10	(if (string= (getenv "ENV") "prod")
	11	(setq weblorg-default-url "https://cleberg.net"))
	12
	13	(weblorg-site
	14	:theme nil
	15	:template-vars '(("site_name" . "cleberg.net")
	16	("site_owner" . "Christian Cleberg <hello@cleberg.net>")
	17	("site_description" . "Just a blip of ones and zeroes.")))
	18
	19	;; route for rendering the index page of the website
	20	(weblorg-route
	21	:name "index"
	22	:input-pattern "content/index.org"
	23	:template "index.html"
	24	:output ".build/index.html"
	25	:url "/")
	26
	27	;; route for rendering each post
	28	(weblorg-route
	29	:name "blog"
	30	:input-pattern "content/blog/*.org"
	31	:template "post.html"
	32	:output ".build/blog/{{ slug }}.html"
	33	:url "/blog/{{ slug }}.html")
	34
	35	;; route for rendering the index page of the blog
	36	(weblorg-route
	37	:name "blog-index"
	38	:input-pattern "content/blog/*.org"
	39	:input-aggregate #'weblorg-input-aggregate-all-desc
	40	:template "blog.html"
	41	:output ".build/blog/index.html"
	42	:url "/blog/")
	43
	44	;; route for rendering each wiki post
	45	(weblorg-route
	46	:name "wiki"
	47	:input-pattern "content/wiki/*.org"
	48	:template "post.html"
	49	:output ".build/wiki/{{ slug }}.html"
	50	:url "/wiki/{{ slug }}.html")
	51
	52	;; route for rendering the index page of the wiki
	53	(weblorg-route
	54	:name "wiki-index"
	55	:input-pattern "content/wiki/*.org"
	56	:input-aggregate #'weblorg-input-aggregate-all
	57	:template "wiki.html"
	58	:output ".build/wiki/index.html"
	59	:url "/wiki/")
	60
	61	;; route for rendering each page
	62	(weblorg-route
	63	:name "pages"
	64	:input-pattern "content/*.org"
	65	:template "page.html"
	66	:output ".build/{{ slug }}.html"
	67	:url "/{{ slug }}.html")
	68
	69	(weblorg-route
	70	:name "salary"
	71	:input-pattern "content/salary/*.org"
	72	:template "page.html"
	73	:output ".build/salary/{{ slug }}.html"
	74	:url "/salary/{{ slug }}.html")
	75
	76	(weblorg-route
	77	:name "services"
	78	:input-pattern "content/services/*.org"
	79	:template "page.html"
	80	:output ".build/services/{{ slug }}.html"
	81	:url "/services/{{ slug }}.html")
	82
	83	;; RSS Feed
	84	(weblorg-route
	85	:name "rss"
	86	:input-pattern "content/blog/*.org"
	87	:input-aggregate #'weblorg-input-aggregate-all-desc
	88	:template "feed.xml"
	89	:output ".build/feed.xml"
	90	:url "/feed.xml")
	91
	92	;; route for static assets that also copies files to .build directory
	93	(weblorg-copy-static
	94	:output ".build/{{ file }}"
	95	:url "/{{ file }}")
	96
	97	;; fire the engine and export all the files declared in the routes above
	98	(weblorg-export)

static/syntax-theme-dark.css deleted −280

		@@ -1,280 +0,0 @@
1		/*
2		* theme "ayu" generated by syntect
3		*/
4
5		.z-code {
6		color: #bfbab0;
7		background-color: #0f1419;
8		}
9
10		.z-comment, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-comment {
11		color: #5c6773;
12		font-style: italic;
13		}
14		.z-variable {
15		color: #bfbab0;
16		}
17		.z-string, .z-constant.z-other.z-symbol {
18		color: #c2d94c;
19		}
20		.z-constant.z-numeric {
21		color: #f29718;
22		}
23		.z-string.z-regexp, .z-constant.z-character.z-escape {
24		color: #95e6cb;
25		}
26		.z-constant.z-language {
27		color: #f29718;
28		}
29		.z-constant.z-character, .z-constant.z-other {
30		color: #f29718;
31		}
32		.z-variable.z-member {
33		color: #ec5f67;
34		}
35		.z-keyword, .z-keyword.z-operator.z-word {
36		color: #ff7733;
37		}
38		.z-keyword.z-operator {
39		color: #f29668;
40		}
41		.z-punctuation.z-separator, .z-punctuation.z-terminator {
42		color: #bfbab0;
43		}
44		.z-punctuation.z-section {
45		color: #bfbab0;
46		}
47		.z-punctuation.z-accessor {
48		color: #f29668;
49		}
50		.z-punctuation.z-definition.z-annotation {
51		color: #bfbab0;
52		}
53		.z-variable.z-other.z-dollar.z-only.z-js, .z-variable.z-other.z-object.z-dollar.z-only.z-js, .z-variable.z-type.z-dollar.z-only.z-js, .z-support.z-class.z-dollar.z-only.z-js {
54		color: #e6b673;
55		}
56		.z-storage {
57		color: #ff7733;
58		}
59		.z-storage.z-type {
60		color: #ff7733;
61		}
62		.z-entity.z-name.z-function {
63		color: #ffb454;
64		}
65		.z-entity.z-name, .z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-entity.z-name.z-label) {
66		color: #59c2ff;
67		}
68		.z-entity.z-other.z-inherited-class {
69		color: #59c2ff;
70		text-decoration: underline;
71		}
72		.z-variable.z-parameter {
73		color: #f29718;
74		}
75		.z-variable.z-language {
76		color: #39bae6;
77		font-style: italic;
78		}
79		.z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-meta.z-tag.z-sgml {
80		color: #39bae6;
81		}
82		.z-punctuation.z-definition.z-tag.z-end, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-tag.z-begin, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-tag {
83		color: #39bae6;
84		}
85		.z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name {
86		color: #ffb454;
87		}
88		.z-variable.z-function, .z-variable.z-annotation {
89		color: #ffb454;
90		}
91		.z-support.z-function, .z-support.z-macro {
92		color: #f07178;
93		}
94		.z-support.z-constant {
95		color: #f29668;
96		font-style: italic;
97		}
98		.z-support.z-type, .z-support.z-class {
99		color: #39bae6;
100		font-style: italic;
101		}
102		.z-invalid {
103		color: #ff3333;
104		}
105		.z-invalid.z-deprecated {
106		color: #ffffff;
107		background-color: #ff7733;
108		}
109		.z-meta.z-diff, .z-meta.z-diff.z-header {
110		color: #c594c5;
111		}
112		.z-source.z-ruby .z-variable.z-other.z-readwrite {
113		color: #ffb454;
114		}
115		.z-source.z-css .z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-source.z-sass .z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-source.z-scss .z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-source.z-less .z-entity.z-name.z-tag, .z-source.z-stylus .z-entity.z-name.z-tag {
116		color: #59c2ff;
117		}
118		.z-source.z-css .z-support.z-type, .z-source.z-sass .z-support.z-type, .z-source.z-scss .z-support.z-type, .z-source.z-less .z-support.z-type, .z-source.z-stylus .z-support.z-type {
119		color: #5c6773;
120		}
121		.z-support.z-type.z-property-name {
122		color: #39bae6;
123		}
124		.z-constant.z-numeric.z-line-number.z-find-in-files {
125		color: #5c6773;
126		}
127		.z-constant.z-numeric.z-line-number.z-match {
128		color: #ff7733;
129		}
130		.z-entity.z-name.z-filename.z-find-in-files {
131		color: #c2d94c;
132		}
133		.z-message.z-error {
134		color: #ff3333;
135		}
136		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
137		color: #39bae6;
138		}
139		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
140		color: #39bae6;
141		}
142		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
143		color: #39bae6;
144		}
145		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
146		color: #39bae6;
147		}
148		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
149		color: #39bae6;
150		}
151		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
152		color: #39bae6;
153		}
154		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
155		color: #39bae6;
156		}
157		.z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
158		color: #39bae6;
159		}
160		.z-source.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json, .z-source.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string {
161		color: #39bae6;
162		}
163		.z-markup.z-heading {
164		color: #ff7733;
165		font-weight: bold;
166		}
167		.z-string.z-other.z-link, .z-markup.z-underline.z-link {
168		color: #95e6cb;
169		text-decoration: underline;
170		font-style: italic;
171		}
172		.z-punctuation.z-definition.z-image {
173		color: #ffb454;
174		}
175		.z-markup.z-italic {
176		color: #f07178;
177		font-style: italic;
178		}
179		.z-markup.z-bold {
180		color: #f07178;
181		font-weight: bold;
182		}
183		.z-markup.z-italic .z-markup.z-bold, .z-markup.z-bold .z-markup.z-italic {
184		font-weight: bold;
185		font-style: italic;
186		}
187		.z-markup.z-raw {
188		background-color: #bfbab0;
189		}
190		.z-markup.z-raw.z-inline {
191		background-color: #bfbab0;
192		}
193		.z-meta.z-separator {
194		color: #5c6773;
195		background-color: #bfbab0;
196		font-weight: bold;
197		}
198		.z-markup.z-quote {
199		color: #f29718;
200		font-style: italic;
201		}
202		.z-markup.z-list.z-numbered.z-bullet, .z-markup.z-list .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-list_item {
203		color: #95e6cb;
204		}
205		.z-markup.z-inserted {
206		color: #c2d94c;
207		}
208		.z-markup.z-changed {
209		color: #39bae6;
210		}
211		.z-markup.z-deleted {
212		color: #f07178;
213		}
214		.z-markup.z-strike {
215		color: #e6b673;
216		}
217		.z-markup.z-table {
218		color: #39bae6;
219		background-color: #bfbab0;
220		}
221		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-raw.z-inline {
222		color: #f29668;
223		}
224		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-meta.z-dummy.z-line-break {
225		color: #5c6773;
226		}
227		.z-markup.z-raw.z-block.z-fenced.z-markdown {
228		color: #bfbab0;
229		background-color: #bfbab0;
230		}
231		.z-punctuation.z-definition.z-fenced.z-markdown, .z-variable.z-language.z-fenced.z-markdown {
232		color: #5c6773;
233		background-color: #bfbab0;
234		}
235		.z-variable.z-language.z-fenced.z-markdown {
236		color: #5c6773;
237		}
238		.z-markup.z-inserted.z-git_gutter {
239		color: #c2d94c;
240		}
241		.z-markup.z-changed.z-git_gutter {
242		color: #39bae6;
243		}
244		.z-markup.z-deleted.z-git_gutter {
245		color: #ff3333;
246		}
247		.z-markup.z-ignored.z-git_gutter {
248		color: #20272c;
249		}
250		.z-markup.z-untracked.z-git_gutter {
251		color: #20272c;
252		}
253		.z-gutter_color {
254		color: #ffffff;
255		}
256		.z-acejump.z-label.z-blue {
257		color: #ffffff;
258		background-color: #39bae6;
259		}
260		.z-acejump.z-label.z-green {
261		color: #ffffff;
262		background-color: #c2d94c;
263		}
264		.z-acejump.z-label.z-orange {
265		color: #ffffff;
266		background-color: #ff7733;
267		}
268		.z-acejump.z-label.z-purple {
269		color: #ffffff;
270		background-color: #f07178;
271		}
272		.z-sublimelinter.z-mark.z-warning {
273		color: #39bae6;
274		}
275		.z-sublimelinter.z-gutter-mark {
276		color: #ffffff;
277		}
278		.z-sublimelinter.z-mark.z-error {
279		color: #ff3333;
280		}

static/syntax-theme-light.css deleted −407

		@@ -1,407 +0,0 @@
1		/*
2		* theme "GitHub" generated by syntect
3		*/
4
5		.z-code {
6		color: #323232;
7		background-color: #ffffff;
8		}
9
10		.z-comment {
11		color: #969896;
12		font-style: italic;
13		}
14		.z-string {
15		color: #183691;
16		}
17		.z-regexp-operator {
18		color: #a71d5d;
19		}
20		.z-string.z-regexp.z-characterclass .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string.z-begin, .z-string.z-regexp.z-characterclass .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string.z-end {
21		color: #a71d5d;
22		}
23		.z-constant.z-numeric {
24		color: #0086b3;
25		}
26		.z-constant.z-language {
27		color: #0086b3;
28		}
29		.z-constant.z-character, .z-constant.z-other, .z-variable.z-other.z-constant {
30		color: #0086b3;
31		}
32		.z-variable {
33		color: #323232;
34		}
35		.z-keyword {
36		color: #a71d5d;
37		font-weight: bold;
38		}
39		.z-bitwise-operator {
40		color: #a71d5d;
41		font-weight: bold;
42		}
43		.z-storage {
44		color: #a71d5d;
45		font-weight: bold;
46		}
47		.z-storage.z-type {
48		color: #a71d5d;
49		font-weight: bold;
50		}
51		.z-entity.z-name.z-class {
52		color: #0086b3;
53		}
54		.z-entity.z-other.z-inherited-class {
55		color: #0086b3;
56		}
57		.z-entity.z-name.z-function {
58		color: #795da3;
59		font-weight: bold;
60		}
61		.z-variable.z-parameter {
62		color: #323232;
63		}
64		.z-entity.z-name.z-tag {
65		color: #63a35c;
66		}
67		.z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name {
68		color: #795da3;
69		}
70		.z-support.z-function {
71		color: #62a35c;
72		}
73		.z-support.z-constant {
74		color: #0086b3;
75		}
76		.z-support.z-type, .z-support.z-class {
77		color: #0086b3;
78		}
79		.z-support.z-other.z-variable {
80		color: #323232;
81		}
82		.z-invalid, .z-invalid.z-illegal, .z-invalid.z-deprecated {
83		color: #b52a1d;
84		background-color: #f5f5f5;
85		font-weight: bold;
86		}
87		.z-entity.z-name.z-filename.z-find-in-files {
88		color: #323232;
89		font-weight: bold;
90		}
91		.z-constant.z-numeric.z-line-number.z-find-in-files, .z-constant.z-numeric.z-line-number.z-match.z-find-in-files {
92		color: #b3b3b3;
93		}
94		.z-meta.z-diff.z-header {
95		color: #969896;
96		background-color: #ffffff;
97		font-style: italic;
98		}
99		.z-meta.z-diff.z-header .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-from-file.z-diff {
100		color: #bd2c00;
101		background-color: #ffecec;
102		font-weight: bold;
103		font-style: italic;
104		}
105		.z-meta.z-diff.z-header .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-to-file.z-diff {
106		color: #55a532;
107		background-color: #eaffea;
108		font-weight: bold;
109		font-style: italic;
110		}
111		.z-meta.z-diff.z-range {
112		color: #969896;
113		font-weight: bold;
114		font-style: italic;
115		}
116		.z-markup.z-deleted {
117		background-color: #ffecec;
118		}
119		.z-markup.z-deleted .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-inserted {
120		color: #bd2c00;
121		font-weight: bold;
122		}
123		.z-markup.z-inserted {
124		background-color: #eaffea;
125		}
126		.z-markup.z-inserted .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-inserted {
127		color: #55a532;
128		font-weight: bold;
129		}
130		.z-markup.z-deleted.z-git_gutter {
131		color: #bd2c00;
132		}
133		.z-markup.z-inserted.z-git_gutter {
134		color: #55a532;
135		}
136		.z-markup.z-changed.z-git_gutter {
137		color: #0086b3;
138		}
139		.z-markup.z-ignored.z-git_gutter {
140		color: #b3b3b3;
141		}
142		.z-markup.z-untracked.z-git_gutter {
143		color: #b3b3b3;
144		}
145		.z-source.z-css .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-entity {
146		color: #323232;
147		}
148		.z-source.z-css .z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name.z-pseudo-class, .z-source.z-css .z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name.z-pseudo-element {
149		color: #a71d5d;
150		}
151		.z-source.z-css .z-meta.z-value, .z-source.z-css .z-support.z-constant, .z-source.z-css .z-support.z-function {
152		color: #323232;
153		}
154		.z-source.z-css .z-constant.z-other.z-color {
155		color: #ed6a43;
156		}
157		.z-source.z-scss .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-entity {
158		color: #323232;
159		}
160		.z-source.z-scss .z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name.z-pseudo-class, .z-source.z-scss .z-entity.z-other.z-attribute-name.z-pseudo-element {
161		color: #a71d5d;
162		}
163		.z-source.z-scss .z-support.z-constant.z-property-value, .z-source.z-scss .z-support.z-function {
164		color: #323232;
165		}
166		.z-source.z-scss .z-variable {
167		color: #a71d5d;
168		}
169		.z-variable.z-language.z-this.z-js {
170		color: #ed6a43;
171		}
172		.z-source.z-js .z-entity.z-name.z-function {
173		color: #323232;
174		}
175		.z-source.z-js .z-meta.z-function .z-entity.z-name.z-function, .z-source.z-js .z-entity.z-name.z-function .z-meta.z-function {
176		color: #795da3;
177		font-weight: bold;
178		}
179		.z-entity.z-name.z-type.z-new.z-js {
180		color: #795da3;
181		}
182		.z-variable.z-language.z-prototype.z-js {
183		color: #0086b3;
184		}
185		.z-source.z-js .z-support.z-function {
186		color: #0086b3;
187		}
188		.z-support.z-type.z-object.z-console.z-js {
189		color: #795da3;
190		}
191		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
192		color: #183691;
193		font-weight: bold;
194		}
195		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
196		color: #323232;
197		}
198		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
199		color: #183691;
200		font-weight: bold;
201		}
202		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
203		color: #323232;
204		}
205		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
206		color: #183691;
207		font-weight: bold;
208		}
209		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
210		color: #323232;
211		}
212		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
213		color: #183691;
214		font-weight: bold;
215		}
216		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
217		color: #323232;
218		}
219		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
220		color: #183691;
221		font-weight: bold;
222		}
223		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
224		color: #323232;
225		}
226		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
227		color: #183691;
228		font-weight: bold;
229		}
230		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
231		color: #323232;
232		}
233		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
234		color: #183691;
235		font-weight: bold;
236		}
237		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
238		color: #323232;
239		}
240		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
241		color: #183691;
242		font-weight: bold;
243		}
244		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
245		color: #323232;
246		}
247		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
248		color: #183691;
249		font-weight: bold;
250		}
251		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
252		color: #323232;
253		}
254		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
255		color: #183691;
256		font-weight: bold;
257		}
258		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
259		color: #323232;
260		}
261		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
262		color: #183691;
263		font-weight: bold;
264		}
265		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
266		color: #323232;
267		}
268		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
269		color: #183691;
270		font-weight: bold;
271		}
272		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
273		color: #323232;
274		}
275		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
276		color: #183691;
277		font-weight: bold;
278		}
279		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
280		color: #323232;
281		}
282		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
283		color: #183691;
284		font-weight: bold;
285		}
286		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
287		color: #323232;
288		}
289		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
290		color: #183691;
291		font-weight: bold;
292		}
293		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
294		color: #323232;
295		}
296		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
297		color: #183691;
298		font-weight: bold;
299		}
300		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
301		color: #323232;
302		}
303		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
304		color: #183691;
305		font-weight: bold;
306		}
307		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
308		color: #323232;
309		}
310		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
311		color: #183691;
312		font-weight: bold;
313		}
314		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
315		color: #323232;
316		}
317		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
318		color: #183691;
319		font-weight: bold;
320		}
321		.z-meta .z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
322		color: #323232;
323		}
324		.z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
325		color: #183691;
326		font-weight: bold;
327		}
328		.z-meta .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
329		color: #323232;
330		}
331		.z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
332		color: #183691;
333		font-weight: bold;
334		}
335		.z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-json .z-meta.z-structure.z-dictionary.z-value.z-json .z-string.z-quoted.z-double.z-json {
336		color: #323232;
337		}
338		.z-source.z-python .z-keyword {
339		font-weight: bold;
340		}
341		.z-source.z-python .z-storage {
342		font-weight: bold;
343		}
344		.z-source.z-python .z-storage.z-type {
345		font-weight: bold;
346		}
347		.z-source.z-python .z-entity.z-name.z-function {
348		color: #323232;
349		font-weight: bold;
350		}
351		.z-source.z-php .z-entity.z-name.z-type.z-class {
352		color: #323232;
353		font-weight: bold;
354		}
355		.z-variable.z-language.z-ruby {
356		color: #ed6a43;
357		}
358		.z-entity.z-name.z-type.z-module.z-ruby {
359		color: #795da3;
360		font-weight: bold;
361		}
362		.z-entity.z-name.z-type.z-class.z-ruby {
363		color: #795da3;
364		font-weight: bold;
365		}
366		.z-entity.z-other.z-inherited-class.z-ruby {
367		color: #795da3;
368		font-weight: bold;
369		}
370		.z-punctuation.z-definition.z-heading.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-italic.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-bold.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string.z-begin.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-string.z-end.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-metadata.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-link.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-blockquote.z-markdown, .z-punctuation.z-definition.z-raw.z-markdown {
371		color: #a71d5d;
372		}
373		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-meta.z-separator {
374		color: #b3b3b3;
375		}
376		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-heading {
377		font-weight: bold;
378		}
379		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-raw.z-block {
380		color: #323232;
381		}
382		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-raw.z-inline {
383		color: #323232;
384		}
385		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-meta.z-link, .z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-meta.z-image {
386		color: #4183c4;
387		}
388		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-underline.z-link, .z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-constant.z-other.z-reference {
389		font-style: italic;
390		}
391		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-list {
392		color: #ed6a43;
393		}
394		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-bold {
395		font-weight: bold;
396		}
397		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-italic {
398		font-style: italic;
399		}
400		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-bold .z-markup.z-italic {
401		font-weight: bold;
402		font-style: italic;
403		}
404		.z-text.z-html.z-markdown .z-markup.z-italic .z-markup.z-bold {
405		font-weight: bold;
406		font-style: italic;
407		}

templates/base.html deleted −53

		@@ -1,53 +0,0 @@
1		<!doctype html>
2		<html lang="en">
3		<head>
4		{% block title %}
5		<title>cleberg.net</title>
6		{% endblock %}
7		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
8		<meta name="theme-color" content="#111" media="(prefers-color-scheme:
9		dark)">
10		<meta name="theme-color" content="#fff" media="(prefers-color-scheme:
11		light)">
12		{% if page %} {% if page.description %}
13		<meta name="description" content="{{ page.description }}">
14		{% elif config.description %}
15		<meta name="description" content="{{ config.description }}">
16		{% endif %} {% elif config.description %}
17		<meta name="description" content="{{ config.description }}" /> {% endif
18		%}
19
20		{% block rss %}
21		<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="RSS" href="{{
22		get_url(path="atom.xml", trailing_slash=false) }}">
23		{% endblock %}
24
25		{% block css %}
26		<link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.min.css">
27		{% endblock css %}
28
29		{% block extra_head %}{% endblock extra_head %}
30		</head>
31		<body>
32		<nav class="site-nav" aria-label="site-nav" role="navigation">
33		<ul>
34		<li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
35		<li><a href="/blog/">Blog</a></li>
36		<li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li>
37		<li><a href="/wiki/">Wiki</a></li>
38		</ul>
39		</nav>
40
41		<main>{% block content %}{% endblock content %}</main>
42
43		<footer>
44		<p>Last build: <{{ now() \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d %a %H:%M:%S') }}></p>
45		<p>
46		<a href="https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net"
47		target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source Code</a>
48		·
49		<a href="/atom.xml">Atom RSS Feed</a>
50		</p>
51		</footer>
52		</body>
53		</html>

templates/blog.html deleted −20

		@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
1		{% extends "base.html" %}
2
3		{% block content %}
4		<h1>{{ section.title }}</h1>
5		<p>Use <code>Ctrl + F</code> to search blog post titles for keywords.</p>
6		<p>You can also add the <a href="/atom.xml">Atom RSS Feed</a> to your feed
7		reader.</p>
8		{% set post_date = "1970-01-01" \| date(format="%Y") %}
9		{% for page in section.pages %}
10		{% if post_date != page.date \| date(format="%Y") %}
11		{% set_global post_date = page.date \| date(format="%Y") %}
12		<h2>{{ post_date }}</h2>
13		{% endif %}
14		<div class="post">
15		<time datetime="{{ page.date \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}">{{
16		page.date \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d') }}</time>
17		<a href="/blog/{{ page.slug }}/">{{ page.title }}</a>
18		</div>
19		{% endfor %}
20		{% endblock content %}

templates/index.html deleted −58

		@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
1		{% extends "base.html" %} {% block content %}
2		<section>
3		<h1>cleberg.net</h1>
4		<pre>pub rsa4096 2022-11-16 [SC]
5		<a href="/gpg.txt">3917 973F B159 BBB8 6194 5385 6945 1A51 7AC0 CB37</a>
6		uid [ultimate] Christian Cleberg <hello@cleberg.net></pre>
7		</section>
8		<section>
9		<h2>Recent Blog Posts</h2>
10		{% set section = get_section(path="blog/_index.md") %} {% set i = 0 %} {% for
11		page in section.pages %} {% if i < 3%} {% set_global i = i + 1%}
12		<div class="post">
13		<time
14		datetime="{{ page.date \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
15		}}"
16		>{{ page.date \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d') }}</time
17		>
18		<a href="/blog/{{ page.slug }}/">{{ page.title }}</a>
19		</div>
20		{% endif %} {% endfor %}
21		<br />
22		<a href="/blog/">All Posts →</a>
23		</section>
24		<section>
25		<h2>Everything Else</h2>
26		<ul>
27		<li><a href="https://cv.cleberg.net">Curriculum Vitae</a></li>
28		<li><a href="/salary/">Salary</a></li>
29		<li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li>
30		<li><a href="/wiki/">Wiki</a></li>
31		</ul>
32		</section>
33		<section>
34		<h2>Contact</h2>
35		<ul>
36		<li>hello [at] cleberg.net (<a href="/gpg.txt">GPG</a>)</li>
37		<li>
38		cyb0rg on
39		<a href="https://libera.chat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
40		>libera.chat</a
41		>
42		</li>
43		<li>
44		<a
45		href="https://matrix.to/#/@cyborg:matrix.tchncs.de"
46		target="_blank"
47		rel="noopener"
48		>@cyborg:@matrix.tchncs.de</a
49		>
50		</li>
51		<li>
52		<a href="https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
53		>Sourcehut</a
54		>
55		</li>
56		</ul>
57		</section>
58		{% endblock content %}

templates/page.html deleted −55

		@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
1		{% extends "base.html" %}
2
3		{% block title %}
4		<title>{{ page.title }} \| cleberg.net</title>
5		{% endblock %}
6
7		{% block css %}
8		<link rel="stylesheet" href="/syntax-theme-dark.css"
9		media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
10		<link rel="stylesheet" href="/syntax-theme-light.css"
11		media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)">
12		<link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css">
13		{% endblock css %}
14
15		{% block content %}
16		<section class="post-metadata">
17		<h1>{{ page.title }}</h1>
18		{% if page.date %}
19		<p><time datetime="{{ page.date \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') }}">{{
20		page.date }}</time></p>
21		{% endif %} {% if page.updated %}
22		<p>Last Updated: <time datetime="{{ page.updated \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d
23		%H:%M:%S') }}">{{ page.updated }}</time></p>
24		{% endif %}
25		<p>{{ page.word_count }} words; {{ page.reading_time }} minute(s)</p>
26		{% if page.toc %}
27		<details open>
28		<summary>Table of Contents</summary>
29		<nav class="page-nav" aria-label="page-nav" role="navigation">
30		<ul>
31		{% for h1 in page.toc %}
32		<li>
33		<a href="{{ h1.permalink \| safe }}">{{ h1.title }}</a>
34		{% if h1.children %}
35		<ul>
36		{% for h2 in h1.children %}
37		<li>
38		<a href="{{ h2.permalink \| safe }}">{{
39		h2.title }}</a>
40		</li>
41		{% endfor %}
42		</ul>
43		{% endif %}
44		</li>
45		{% endfor %}
46		</ul>
47		</nav>
48		</details>
49		{% endif %}
50		</section>
51
52		<article role="article">
53		{{ page.content \| safe }}
54		</article>
55		{% endblock content %}

templates/wiki.html deleted −16

		@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
1		{% extends "base.html" %}
2
3		{% block content %}
4		<h1>{{ section.title }}</h1>
5		<p>Use <code>Ctrl + F</code> to search wiki pages for keywords.</p>
6		<div class="wiki-post">
7		<p>Wiki Page</p>
8		<p>Last Updated</p>
9		</div>
10		{% for page in section.pages %}
11		<div class="wiki-post">
12		<p><a href="/wiki/{{ page.slug }}/">{{ page.title }}</a></p>
13		<time datetime="{{ page.updated \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
14		}}">{{ page.updated \| date(format='%Y-%m-%d')}}</p>
15		</div>
16		{% endfor %} {% endblock content %}

static/.well-known/security.txt → theme/static/.well-known/security.txt renamed

static/gpg.txt → theme/static/gpg.txt renamed

static/robots.txt → theme/static/robots.txt renamed

static/salary.csv → theme/static/salary.csv renamed

static/styles.css → theme/static/styles.css renamed

static/styles.min.css → theme/static/styles.min.css renamed

theme/templates/base.html added +39

		@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
	1	<!doctype html>
	2	<html lang="en-us">
	3	<head>
	4	{% block head %}
	5	<meta charset="utf-8">
	6	<title>
	7	{% block subtitle %}{% endblock %}
	8	{% block title %}{{ site_name \| default("weblorg website") }}{% endblock %}
	9	</title>
	10	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
	11	{% if site_owner is defined %}<meta name="author" content="{{ site_owner }}" >{% endif %}
	12	{% if site_description is defined %}<meta name="description" content="{{ site_description }}" >{% endif %}
	13	{% if site_keywords is defined %}<meta name="keywords" content="{{ site_keywords }}" >{% endif %}
	14	<link rel="stylesheet" href="{{ url_for("static", file="styles.min.css") }}" type="text/css">
	15	<link rel="icon" href="data:,">
	16	{% block meta %}{% endblock %}
	17	{% endblock %}
	18	</head>
	19	<body>
	20	<nav class="site-nav" aria-label="site-nav" role="navigation">
	21	<ul>
	22	<li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
	23	<li><a href="/blog/">Blog</a></li>
	24	<li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li>
	25	<li><a href="/wiki/">Wiki</a></li>
	26	</ul>
	27	</nav>
	28	<main>{% block main %}{% endblock %}</main>
	29	<footer>
	30	<p>Last build: <{{ now() \| strftime("%Y-%m-%d %a %H:%M:%S") }}></p>
	31	<p>
	32	<a href="https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/cleberg.net"
	33	target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source Code</a>
	34	·
	35	<a href="/feed.xml">RSS Feed</a>
	36	</p>
	37	</footer>
	38	</body>
	39	</html>

theme/templates/blog.html added +15

		@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
	1	{% extends "base.html" %} {% block subtitle %}Blog \| {% endblock %} {% block
	2	main %}
	3	<h1>Blog</h1>
	4	<p>Use <code>Ctrl + F</code> to search blog post titles for keywords.</p>
	5	<p>
	6	You can also add the <a href="/feed.xml">RSS Feed</a> to your feed reader.
	7	</p>
	8	{% for post in posts %}
	9	<div class="post">
	10	<time datetime='{{ post.date \| strftime("%Y-%m-%d") }}'
	11	>{{ post.date\|strftime("%Y-%m-%d") }}</time
	12	>
	13	<a href='{{ url_for("blog", slug=post.slug) }}'>{{ post.title }}</a>
	14	</div>
	15	{% endfor %} {% endblock %}

theme/templates/feed.xml added +37

		@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
	1	<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
	2	<rss version="2.0"
	3	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	4	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	5	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	6	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	7	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	8	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	9	xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
	10	xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
	11	xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
	12	<channel>
	13	<title>{{ site_name \| default("cleberg.net") }}</title>
	14	<atom:link
	15	href="{{ url_for("rss") }}"
	16	rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	17	<link>{{ url_for("index") }}</link>
	18	<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
	19	<language>en</language>
	20	<pubDate>{{ posts \| first \| getattr("date") \| strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z") }}</pubDate>
	21	<lastBuildDate>{{ now() \| strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z") }}</lastBuildDate>
	22	<generator>{{ meta.generator }}</generator>
	23	<webMaster>{{ site_owner \| default("hello@cleberg.net") }}</webMaster>
	24
	25	{% for post in posts %}
	26	<item>
	27	<title>{{ post.title }}</title>
	28	<link>{{ url_for("blog", slug=post.slug) }}</link>
	29	<author>{{ post.author\|default("hello@cleberg.net") }}</author>
	30	<guid isPermaLink="false">{{ url_for("blog", slug=post.slug) }}</guid>
	31	<pubDate>{{ post.date\|strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z") }}</pubDate>
	32	<description><![CDATA[{{ post.html\|safe }}]]></description>
	33	</item>
	34	{% endfor %}
	35
	36	</channel>
	37	</rss>

theme/templates/index.html added +60

		@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
	1	{% extends "base.html" %} {% block main %}
	2	<section>
	3	<h1>cleberg.net</h1>
	4	<pre>pub rsa4096 2022-11-16 [SC]
	5	<a href="/gpg.txt">3917 973F B159 BBB8 6194 5385 6945 1A51 7AC0 CB37</a>
	6	uid [ultimate] Christian Cleberg <hello@cleberg.net></pre>
	7	</section>
	8	<section>
	9	<h2>Recent Blog Posts</h2>
	10
	11	<div class="post">
	12	<time datetime="2024-07-11 20:24:02">2024-07-11</time>
	13	<a href="/blog/emacs-on-ipad/">Emacs on iPadOS</a>
	14	</div>
	15
	16	<div class="post">
	17	<time datetime="2024-06-19 08:00:00">2024-06-19</time>
	18	<a href="/blog/deprecated-trusted-gpg-fix/"
	19	>Fixing Ubuntu Error: 'Key is stored in legacy trusted.gpg keyring'</a
	20	>
	21	</div>
	22
	23	<div class="post">
	24	<time datetime="2024-05-03 00:00:00">2024-05-03</time>
	25	<a href="/blog/ubuntu-on-macos/"
	26	>Running Ubuntu Linux on macOS with OrbStack</a
	27	>
	28	</div>
	29
	30	<br />
	31	<a href="/blog/">All Posts →</a>
	32	</section>
	33
	34	<section>
	35	<h2>Everything Else</h2>
	36	<ul>
	37	<li><a href="https://cv.cleberg.net">Curriculum Vitae</a></li>
	38	<li><a href="/salary/">Salary</a></li>
	39	<li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li>
	40	<li><a href="/wiki/">Wiki</a></li>
	41	</ul>
	42	</section>
	43
	44	<section>
	45	<h2>Contact</h2>
	46	<ul>
	47	<li>
	48	hello [at] cleberg.net (<a href="https://cleberg.net/gpg.txt">GPG</a>)
	49	</li>
	50	<li>cyb0rg on <a href="https://libera.chat/">libera.chat</a></li>
	51	<li>
	52	<a href="https://matrix.to/#/@cyborg:matrix.tchncs.de"
	53	>@cyborg:@matrix.tchncs.de</a
	54	>
	55	</li>
	56	<li><a href="https://git.sr.ht/~cyborg/">Sourcehut</a></li>
	57	</ul>
	58	</section>
	59
	60	{% endblock %}

theme/templates/page.html added +11

		@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
	1	{% extends "base.html" %}
	2
	3	{% block subtitle %}
	4	{{ post.title }}
	5	{% endblock %}
	6	{% block main %}
	7	<article role="article">
	8	<h1>{{ post.title }}</h1>
	9	<section>{{ post.html \| safe }}</section>
	10	</article>
	11	{% endblock %}

theme/templates/post.html added +21

		@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
	1	{% extends "base.html" %} {% block subtitle %} {{ post.title }} \| {% endblock %}
	2	{% block meta %}
	3	<meta property="og:title" content="{{ post.title }}" />
	4	<meta property="og:url" content="{{ post.url }}" />
	5	{% if post.description is defined %}
	6	<meta property="og:description" content="{{ post.description }}" />
	7	{% elif project_description is defined %}
	8	<meta property="og:description" content="{{ project_description }}" />
	9	{% endif %} {% endblock %} {% block main %}
	10	<article role="article">
	11	<section class="post-metadata">
	12	<h1 class="post__title">{{ post.title }}</h1>
	13	{% if post.date is defined %}
	14	<time datetime='{{ post.date\|strftime("%Y-%m-%d") }}'
	15	><{{ post.date\|strftime("%Y-%m-%d %a %H:%M:%S") }}></time
	16	>
	17	{% endif %}
	18	</section>
	19	<section>{{ post.html \| safe }}</section>
	20	</article>
	21	{% endblock %}

theme/templates/wiki.html added +12

		@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
	1	{% extends "base.html" %} {% block subtitle %}Wiki \| {% endblock %} {% block
	2	main %}
	3	<h1>Wiki</h1>
	4	<p>Use <code>Ctrl + F</code> to search wiki pages for keywords.</p>
	5	{% for post in posts %}
	6	<div class="post">
	7	<time datetime='{{ post.date \| strftime("%Y-%m-%d") }}'
	8	>{{ post.date\|strftime("%Y-%m-%d") }}</time
	9	>
	10	<a href='{{ url_for("wiki", slug=post.slug) }}'>{{ post.title }}</a>
	11	</div>
	12	{% endfor %} {% endblock %}

utils/nginx-dev.conf added +17

		@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
	1	server {
	2	server_name cleberg.net www.cleberg.net;
	3
	4	root /usr/share/nginx/html;
	5	index index.html;
	6	autoindex on;
	7
	8	access_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.access.log;
	9	error_log /var/log/nginx/cleberg.net.error.log;
	10
	11	location / {
	12	try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
	13	}
	14
	15	listen [::]:80;
	16	listen 80;
	17	}

salary_visualization.py → utils/salary_visualization.py renamed

Commit 5d4a1199b5

Commit `5d4a1199b5`