Zsolt Horváth

Instead of the usual rambling, I’ll make a guide for something that I find really fun: setting up a graphical interface on an OS that does not have one. For this, I usually use Debian without a desktop environment. We’ll check this out on an Ubuntu Server because the word “server” emphasizes that it should not have a GUI. But it will!

If you are a normal, well-balanced person, you probably install a distro with a desktop environment, and when you want to change your power settings, you just search for the menu and do it. In my world, this is not how things are done—sorry.

I have already documented what I lost when I switched to a window manager and how I created a new status bar with dwmblocks . Now, the time has come to implement a power management feature.

Last year, I had a “beautiful” experience programming my own QMK layout for my keyboards . I was really proud of myself, but shame was on its way…

Last time, we set up vim with no plugins, featuring fabulous capabilities like file navigation, search, and code navigation. This time, we will take care of screen management and automation. So grab your neckbeard and enjoy the ride.

Most of us have one or more automated processes to set up our machine and/or development environment. These solutions grow over time, and with them, the time required to set up a new machine. But no more! The time has come to create a leaner solution because I don’t want to wait 20 minutes. Period.

After experimenting with local language models using ollama , the time has come to create something with it. During a conversation, it was suggested that it could be used to automate translation processes.

This is my BTW moment. I use Debian with dwm, without any desktop environment. I don’t want to change, but if I want to experiment, it can be annoying without a Display Manager.

Some of the conversation around AI I found interesting, and some of it tiring. What I never find boring is running technologies on your own machine.

So I was delighted when I tried Ollama and created my own Shakespeare.

There comes a time when I cannot manually share every video that my family needs. I need a media server. So I create one… or I just install some stuff.

I was a really happy user of a Keychron Q11 when I decided I wanted to try the Q8 as well. I really wanted a keyboard from the “Alice” family, but when I set my layout up with VIA, something felt wrong. This sent me down a path that started with flashing new firmware to the keyboard and ended with compiling it with my own layout.