Blog

Secure your local network with trusted SSL certificates that are recognized by every device. In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up out-of-the-box SSL for your LAN projects, highlight the advantages of owning a personal domain, and discuss how even a modest investment can elevate your web presence.

by Sven Reifschneider • 01 December 2024

Running jobs every minute might sound simple, but there’s a lot that can go wrong. From overlapping tasks to missed executions, choosing the right approach is crucial for reliability. While tools like cron and systemd timers are great for most use cases, I’ve found that a custom PHP daemon strikes the perfect balance of control and flexibility for certain scenarios.

by Sven Reifschneider • 24 November 2024

RAID may be the gold standard for data redundancy, but for my home server, I’ve found a simpler, more energy-efficient approach: nightly manual backups. This setup gives me flexibility, protection from accidental deletions, and lets me use older drives efficiently. Here’s why my daily rsync strategy beats RAID for personal use and how it’s saved my data more than once.

by Sven Reifschneider • 16 November 2024

Setting up Time Machine backups for Apple devices on a Linux-based NAS has become significantly easier and faster thanks to Samba’s new features. With a well-configured Samba server on Debian, you can seamlessly backup macOS devices over the network and access your NAS with minimal setup. No more manually creating sparsebundles or struggling with complex configurations.

by Sven Reifschneider • 01 November 2024

Why settle for bloated, one-size-fits-all solutions when you can create something uniquely tailored to your needs? As a developer who thrives on optimization and performance, I built my own blog engine from scratch—anchored by the powerful Charm PHP framework and seamlessly integrated into my PentaPaper SaaS platform.

by Sven Reifschneider • 18 October 2024

Do you still have old VHS tapes stored away in the basement, full of memories you can't afford to lose? VHS tapes aren't made to last forever. In this article, I’ll show you how to transfer those valuable recordings into the digital world, with practical tips for preserving them.

by Sven Reifschneider • 11 October 2024

Imagine you could travel back in time—not with a complex device or intricate technology, but with something you use every day: your smartphone. Let’s embark on a philosophical journey and explore how our digital recordings become a modern time machine.

by Sven Reifschneider • 04 October 2024

Have you ever wondered where you really come from? Genealogy is like embarking on a journey into the past, and for me, it all started in the dusty corners of our basement. What began as a random find of old documents has, over the years, evolved into a deep exploration of my ancestors' stories.

by Sven Reifschneider • 24 September 2024

Ready to take your OpenStreetMap skills to the next level? In this post, we walk you through creating a custom tile server for the entire European region—from setting up powerful hardware to generating map tiles and serving them on your own web server.

by Sven Reifschneider • 16 September 2024 • 1 comment

Ever wondered what it takes to create your own map server using OpenStreetMap data? Spoiler: it’s a long, winding journey filled with challenges, retries, and valuable lessons. In this post, I share my experience navigating the complexities of OSM.

by Sven Reifschneider • 09 September 2024