2.21.2
July 13, 2026, 7:39 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.2rc1
July 6, 2026, 6:32 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.16.19
June 18, 2026, 7:40 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.18
June 18, 2026, 7:38 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.11
June 18, 2026, 7:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.7
June 18, 2026, 7:36 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.1
June 18, 2026, 7:35 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.16.19rc1
June 11, 2026, 7:40 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.18rc1
June 11, 2026, 7:33 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.11rc1
June 11, 2026, 7:32 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.7rc1
June 11, 2026, 7:30 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.1rc1
June 11, 2026, 7:29 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.0
May 18, 2026, 8:52 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.6
May 18, 2026, 8:51 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.10
May 18, 2026, 8:50 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.17
May 18, 2026, 8:48 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.10rc1
May 11, 2026, 7:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.6rc1
May 11, 2026, 7:19 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.17rc1
May 11, 2026, 7:16 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.0rc1
April 28, 2026, 7:09 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.0b3
April 21, 2026, 4:45 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.16
April 21, 2026, 3:50 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.5
April 21, 2026, 12:48 am
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.9
April 21, 2026, 12:47 am
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.0b2
April 13, 2026, 7:56 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.5rc1
April 13, 2026, 7:55 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.9rc1
April 13, 2026, 7:53 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.16rc1
April 13, 2026, 7:52 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.21.0b1
April 6, 2026, 8:02 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.16.18
March 23, 2026, 5:58 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.15
March 23, 2026, 5:57 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.8
March 23, 2026, 5:40 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.4
March 23, 2026, 5:39 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.16.18rc1
March 16, 2026, 4:47 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.15rc1
March 16, 2026, 4:46 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.8rc1
March 16, 2026, 4:45 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.4rc1
March 16, 2026, 4:44 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.20.3
February 23, 2026, 11:08 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.19.7
February 23, 2026, 11:05 pm
Radically simple IT automation
2.18.14
February 23, 2026, 11:03 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.2.0
July 14, 2026, 3:47 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.8.0
June 18, 2026, 8:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.1.0
June 18, 2026, 8:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0
June 2, 2026, 3:24 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0rc1
May 26, 2026, 5:10 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0b1
May 22, 2026, 4:23 am
Radically simple IT automation
13.7.0
May 19, 2026, 7:52 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0a4
April 29, 2026, 6:00 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0a3
April 21, 2026, 5:56 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.6.0
April 21, 2026, 3:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0a2
April 14, 2026, 7:12 pm
Radically simple IT automation
14.0.0a1
April 7, 2026, 2:45 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.5.0
March 25, 2026, 6:15 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.4.0
February 24, 2026, 5:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.3.0
January 29, 2026, 8:42 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.2.0
December 30, 2025, 4:42 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.3.0
December 9, 2025, 9:04 pm
Radically simple IT automation
11.13.0
December 9, 2025, 9:00 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.1.0
December 9, 2025, 6:13 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0
November 19, 2025, 7:47 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0rc1
November 11, 2025, 5:11 pm
Radically simple IT automation
11.12.0
November 5, 2025, 7:45 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0b1
November 5, 2025, 6:19 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.2.0
November 5, 2025, 4:09 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0a5
October 29, 2025, 8:38 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0a4
October 21, 2025, 5:17 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0a3
October 15, 2025, 7:37 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0a2
October 7, 2025, 5:05 pm
Radically simple IT automation
11.11.0
October 7, 2025, 4:57 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.1.0
October 7, 2025, 4:51 pm
Radically simple IT automation
13.0.0a1
September 24, 2025, 6:12 pm
Radically simple IT automation
11.10.0
September 9, 2025, 6:40 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0
September 9, 2025, 3:56 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0rc1
September 2, 2025, 6:28 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0b5
August 26, 2025, 7:41 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0b4
August 21, 2025, 6:46 pm
Radically simple IT automation
11.9.0
August 12, 2025, 4:03 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0b3
August 5, 2025, 4:50 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0b2
July 29, 2025, 5:38 pm
Radically simple IT automation
12.0.0b1
July 22, 2025, 8:56 pm
Radically simple IT automation
QuadRF can spot drones and see WiFi through my wall
July 10, 2026, 2:00 pm
The QuadRF (pictured above) a phased-array radio built around a Raspberry Pi 5 and an FPGA board with picosecond-level timing. It does advanced signal processing and beamforming.
It can see WiFi through walls and track drones in flight.
If the open source community can come up with something like this, just imagine what governments are capable of.
When you plug a computer into a network, tools like Wireshark can show all the hidden traffic you might not even know is there. WiFi packets are the same, but those travel through the air, allowing snooping without physical access.
The Special Value Pi 4 was extremely short-lived
July 8, 2026, 2:00 pm
The 'Special Value' Pi 4 pictured above is probably the rarest Raspberry Pi I own—even rarer than my blue special edition Pi.
A Raspberry Pi reseller briefly listed a special 'value edition' Pi 4. But the product page 404's now. While it was up, my curiosity got the better of me, and now I have two 'value' Pi 4s.
What makes them a 'value'? They're only certified to run at 1.25 GHz (retail Pi 4s run at 1.8 GHz, and can usually be overclocked).
Quickly apply LUTs (color grading) with ffmpeg
June 26, 2026, 2:23 am
This is a quick post, mostly for my own reference.
I've avoided LUTs and 'Log' video footage for years1, mostly because of the extra tiny bit of workflow involved. Like RAW photos, 'Log' footage retains the video sensor's full dynamic range, so you can pull more color and luminance information out of the footage later.
But unlike photography, where RAW has been a thing for decades, and many workflows 'just work' without me having to 'grade' every individual photo, in video precious few consumer apps handle Log footage gracefully. You generally end up with a muddy grey mess.
Framework's 10G Ethernet module exposes USB-C's complexity
June 24, 2026, 2:00 pm
I've been following WisdPi's development of various 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet adapters for the past couple years.
They use newer Realtek Ethernet chips, which sometimes have performance quirks—most frequently encountered under Linux.
In today's video, I tested the new WisdPi 10G Ethernet Expansion Card for Framework computers. It fits in any available Framework Expansion slot—even on the Framework Desktop.
But Expansion Cards use USB-C for their connection to the mainboard—and therein lies the rub...
You can finally power on a Mac remotely
June 12, 2026, 2:00 pm
Apple FINALLY lets you turn on your Mac remotely, without having to press the power button. In the media, articles suggest it's a reaction to Mac mini power button complaints.
While I agree the M4 mini's power button is in a really dumb spot, that's not why I care about this feature. The two bigger use cases for me have been a pain for years:
I tested every IP KVM in my Homelab
June 5, 2026, 2:00 pm
Since the PiKVM came out in 2017, there's been an explosion of IP KVMs. I've tested almost every one. But what are they good for?
You can use Remote Desktop, Screen Sharing, or VNC to remote control a computer from anywhere on a LAN. And if you don't have a private VPN, you could use RealVNC, Raspberry Pi Connect, or wire up Tailscale or Pangolin for fully remote access. Those solutions are great, and so is SSH if you don't need a full desktop.
It's hard to justify buying a Framework 12
May 29, 2026, 2:00 pm
My nephew just graduated high school, and wants a laptop. When he decides what computer to buy, price (or more precisely, value) is the most important attribute.
Apple's MacBook Neo upended the 'value laptop' equation—Apple's not supposed to be both the cheapest option and the best value... but it seems like that's squarely where the Neo landed for the good-but-cheap laptop category.
My nephew is also my godson, and to kick off his computing journey, I thought I'd let him choose from a Framework 12 I bought to test, or the MacBook Neo I bought a couple months ago to use around the studio.
Tuning in FM Radio on a 3D Printer Heatbed
May 28, 2026, 2:00 pm
Pooch from Repkord dropped by my studio while he was in St. Louis, and asked a simple question:
Can a 3D printer's heatbed act as an antenna?
A fair question, as many an antenna is embedded in a PCB these days... and the traces on a PCB heatbed like the one used in Prusa's Core One look kinda like an antenna, if you squint the right way.
Really, anything (or anyone) can be an antenna, given enough power.
I patched iozone for better disk benchmarks on modern macOS
May 27, 2026, 1:32 am
A decade ago, I settled on iozone for disk benchmarking on all my systems. Tools like fio ('Flexible IO' tester) are a little more capable for raw disk performance testing, and other tools test network-scale filesystems better, but iozone gives me an easy overview of real-world disk performance across hard drives and SSDs, and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux (and a smattering of other OSes).
It's been around since 1991, and is still updated today—in fact, the two latest updates (version 509 and 510) contain patches I sent in to get iozone to compile on Apple Silicon Macs running newer releases of macOS.
News about Raspberry Pi 6 and Microcontroller Development
May 22, 2026, 8:15 pm
On Thursday, three of the lead Raspberry Pi engineers hosted an AMA on the r/engineering subreddit.
Raspberry Pi 6
One of the most interesting tidbits was on the Pi 6.
Looking back at previous launches:
2012: Raspberry Pi
2015: Raspberry Pi 2 (+3 years)
2016: Raspberry Pi 3 (+1 year)
2019: Raspberry Pi 4 (+3 years)
2023: Raspberry Pi 5 (+4 years)
Following that cycle, one would expect a Pi 6 3-4 years after the Pi 5, which would put it in 2026 or 2027.
Wi-Wi Is Wireless Time Sync at 1 nanosecond
May 19, 2026, 2:00 pm
At NAB, I found a demo of Wi-Wi STAMP, a wireless time synchronization protocol that came out of Japan's NICT.
Wi-Wi stands for Wireless 2Way interferometry, and it uses the 900 MHz band for picosecond-level time sync, and mm-level distance accuracy, in a tiny box, currently the size of a smartphone.
The system is still in development, but existing prototypes have 20ps of phase synchronization jitter, and time synchronization down to 30ns. The next generation will have time down to 5ns in real-world use.
Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract
May 12, 2026, 2:00 pm
Last year I said I'd probably never recommend another Bambu Lab printer again.
I still use my P1S, but after Bambu Lab started pushing their always-connected cloud solution as the new default:
I blocked the printer from the Internet via my OPNsense Firewall
I stopped updating the firmware
I locked the printer into Developer mode
I deleted Bambu Studio and started using OrcaSlicer
I had to do that to keep it under my control, instead of Bambu's.
HomePod mini feels like magic, but it's just good timing
May 8, 2026, 2:00 pm
Apple introduced the HomePod mini six years ago, in 2020.
I'm not one into smart speakers, but the feature that made me take a closer look was their ability to form stereo pairs, without any direct wired connection.
I know there are other speaker manufacturers with wireless speakers, but to my knowledge, Apple was just using AirPlay over WiFi... so how does it work?
Through the magic of buying two HomePods mini (pictured above), I found out. A video detailing the process is embedded below:
SBC Clusters are a terrible value, but they're fun anyway
May 1, 2026, 2:00 pm
Pictured above is the new DeskPi Super4C installed in an 8U mini rack. The Super4C is a 4-node Raspberry Pi CM5 cluster board that solves two pain points I had with the older Super6C.
I was testing this board around the same time I helped kick off the SBCC 2026, the Single Board Cluster Competition for students. A dozen or so university teams squared off to run the best mini HPC cluster with a budget of $6,000, and a couple days to benchmark six HPC workloads.
Raspberry Pi Connect may control Windows soon
April 29, 2026, 5:00 pm
Support for remote controlling Windows PCs may be added to Raspberry Pi Connect, Raspberry Pi's free remote access service.
When they announced Pi Connect in 2024, I speculated the service was launched in response to RealVNC's sluggish adoption of Wayland, leading to Pi users lacking a solid remote access solution after Pi OS 12 'Bookworm' was launched.
The service was helpful for those who had one or more Raspberry Pis to access, but the Pi Connect daemon didn't run on Windows or macOS at the time, so a true competitor to RealVNC (at least for basic use cases) it was not.
New 10 GbE USB adapters are cooler, smaller, cheaper
April 24, 2026, 2:00 pm
For years, the best way to get 10 gigabit networking on laptops was to buy an expensive, large, and hot 10 GbE Thunderbolt adapter. With new RTL8159-based 10G USB 3.2 adapters coming onto the market, the bulky adapters might be a thing of the past. Just look at the size of the thing in comparison to my Thunderbolt adapters:
2.5G and even 5G USB adapters have been out for a while, but sometimes you need more bandwidth.
An Arm Mainboard for the Framework Laptop
April 15, 2026, 2:49 pm
Using the repair-friendly Framework 13 laptop chassis, I've tested the low-end x86 option (a Ryzen AI 5 340 Mainboard), the fastest RISC-V option (DC-ROMA II), and today I'm publishing results from the only Arm Mainboard, the MetaComputing AI PC, which has a 12-core Arm SoC and up to 32 GB of soldered-on RAM.
My Framework 13 has run on x86, RISC-V, and now Arm, making it something of a 'Ship of Theseus'.
Build your own Dial-up ISP with a Raspberry Pi
April 3, 2026, 2:00 pm
Last year my aunt let me add her original Tangerine iBook G3 clamshell to my collection of old Macs1.
It came with an AirPort card—a $99 add-on Apple made that ushered in the Wi-Fi era. The iBook G3 was the first consumer laptop with built-in Wi-Fi antennas, and by far the cheapest way to get a computer onto an 802.11 wireless network.
DRAM pricing is killing the hobbyist SBC market
April 1, 2026, 9:00 pm
Today Raspberry Pi announced more price increases for all Pis with LPDDR4 RAM, alongside a 'right-sized' 3GB RAM Pi 4 for $83.75.
The price increases bring the 16GB Pi 5 up to $299.99.
Despite today's date, this is not a joke.
I published a video going over the state of the hobbyist 'high end SBC' market (4/8/16 GB models in the current generation), which I'll embed below:
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But if you'd like the tl;dr:
Bring back MiniDV with this Raspberry Pi FireWire HAT
March 27, 2026, 2:00 pm
In my last post, I showed you to use FireWire on a Raspberry Pi with a PCI Express IEEE 1394 adapter. Now I'll show you how I'm using a new FireWire HAT and a PiSugar3 Plus battery to make a portable MRU, or 'Memory Recording Unit', to replace tape in older FireWire/i.Link/DV cameras.
The alternative is an old used MRU like Sony's HVR-MRC1, which runs around $300 on eBay1.