Toolage

My Tools and Techniques

The what and how of building and refining my environment; code, systems, and hardware included. Covering how I make my tools fit the job through system configuration, automation, and custom hardware, focusing on reducing friction, improving reliability, and my enjoying of use. Keeping things going as intended-ish.

• zsh xdg standard

  Mar 26, 2026

  3 min read

  Toolage

  Shell Notes

  How I ZSH (#2 of 2)

  The ZDOTDIR environment variable in Zsh defines the configuration location, used as a bootstrap to redirect the rest of the shell startup process and align it with the XDG standards

• A Modular Zsh Environment

  Mar 24, 2026

  4 min read

  Toolage

  Opensource Shell

  How I ZSH (#1 of 2)

  I rebuilt my Zsh configuration into a clean, modular system after struggling with my old messy, brittle setup that slowed down my workflow. By organising configs, replacing heavy weigth frameworks with lightweight functions, and treating my shell like a structured project, I made it easier to maintain, extend, and debug.

• I do declare nix-darwin

  Mar 14, 2026

  10 min read

  Automation Toolage

  Howto Mac Opensource

  A primer on Nix and Nix-Darwin and the how and why I have implemented it as a replacement to Homebrew and MacPorts on my laptop for easier and reproducable application and state management in a MacOS environment.

• Decoupling my Content

  Aug 21, 2025

  3 min read

  Hugo Toolage

  Workflow Git

  My Hugo Site (#4 of 13)

  I’m exploring moving out my content from the Hugo site code into a seperate isolated direcrory structure and git repository using git submodules. This should create a cleaner, more focused workflow with independent version histories, making it easier to manage and publish my content.

• iCloud contacts on Linux. 2 years on

  Sep 12, 2019

  2 min read

  Toolage

  Mac Linux Opensource

  Two years ago I began migrating looking at ways to use the Appleverse without Apple and extending collaborative features to Linux and open source. The solutions where technical and so “kludgy”. Time and need of the masses has now made this now near native and easy to implement.

• Created a GitHub Repo

  Jan 17, 2019

  1 min read

  Automation Home Lab Toolage

  Git Homeassitant Maker

  Lately I’ve been focusing on home automation using Home Assistant and I’ve created a GitHub repository for my configuration to help version control and roll backs. I’m sure I will find more uses

• Toe dip into Home Automation

  Jan 5, 2019

  3 min read

  Automation Home Lab Toolage

  Homeassitant Hardware Maker

  I see the need for home automation. Well…I would like to explore this technology and make it work for me. There are so many options and there are some very expensive options, not just cost but in privacy and closed ecosystem risks.

• Beatport Pro working on MacOS Mojave

  Oct 24, 2018

  1 min read

  Toolage

  Mac Solution

  Upgrading MacOS from High Sierra to Mojave introduces some new security requirements that cause issues with some applications. The fix for apps created in electron is simple onse you know how.

• Etcher does away with dd*

  Apr 28, 2018

  1 min read

  Home Lab Toolage

  Linux Mac Opensource

  dd has being my go to tool for “everything-imges-and-iso”, especially ever since the usb stick became ubiquitous and norm for installing new a OS. There is a new kid on the block now…but it needs a GUI.

• A more elegant: Quick and dirty kernel

  Jan 19, 2018

  3 min read

  Home Lab Toolage

  Linux Kernel Git Opensource

  As we have seen, the original/traditional/generic way to install new kernels or patch existing kernels is a relatively straight forward affair but requires manual management. Let’s use git to help

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