Casey J Robinson nt76022

I needed a network storage solution to store my data and support virtual machines. Since I change operating systems often—sometimes once a month—I wanted a reliable way to manage storage without depending on internal drives or USB sticks, which are not reliable for long-term use.

Govee2MQTT is currently the best way to control your Govee devices. You’ll need an MQTT server for it to work. In this blog, I’ll be focusing on integration with Home Assistant. One awesome feature is that Govee2MQTT even controls my smart kettle, so I can have my coffee ready to go—how cool is that?

Steps to Set It Up

Step 1: Install MQTT (if it’s not already installed).

Step 2: Install mactomqtt.

Why

To remove friction from my daily workflow, to never waste time searching, and to have my environment anticipate my needs.
My desktop is not a playground of floating windows or clutter like Microsoft Windows — it is a streamlined system that has grown over years of refining, testing, and learning from others.

Core Principles

1. Never Search For Anything

• Every app has a home.
• I keep at least three essentials open at all times:
  1. Terminal → to destroy and rebuild my system as needed.
  2. Web Browser → to consume, test, and overload my memory.
  3. Notes App → to capture thoughts, configs, and system insights.
• These live in workspaces 1–3 in Hyprland. No digging. No hunting. Always there.

Philosophy: If it’s important, it already has a place. I’m not “finding” — I’m jumping.

As someone who uses a 75% keyboard for ergonomic reasons, I’ve been searching for a compact, wireless number pad that could also double as a trackpad—something similar to Apple’s Magic Trackpad but for Windows. When I came across the Sanpyl Numeric Keypad, it seemed like the perfect 2-in-1 solution.

Unfortunately, it was a major disappointment.

What I Wanted

My goal was simple:

• A number pad for occasional numeric input
• A trackpad to swipe between virtual desktops (as I do on macOS)
• Something compact to sit on the left side of my keyboard

I originally had my eye on another product, but it was no longer being sold. So I settled on the Sanpyl. Here’s how that turned out.

I love NixOS. It’s one of the most unique and powerful Linux distributions out there. The idea of a fully declarative system—where everything is managed in a single configuration file—is amazing. It gives me confidence and clarity. I always know what’s on my machine, where things are configured, and how to recreate it exactly on another system.

But ironically, the same thing I love about NixOS is also why I’m stepping away from it—for now.

Wi-Fi is one of the best inventions of the modern era. It connects almost everything in our lives today. But Wi-Fi isn’t the only wireless signal in your home. There are many different wireless protocols, and when too many are active, they can interfere with each other. This can slow your network down — sometimes even to a snail’s pace.

Even the Wi-Fi from your neighbors can interfere with your own. And if you have a smart home, you’ve probably heard of protocols like Thread or Zigbee, which add even more signals into the mix.