Here you’ll find my thoughts, experiences, and learnings from my journey as a software engineer. From technical deep-dives to project retrospectives, I share what I learn along the way.
Check out my latest posts below, or browse through the archives to find topics that interest you.
The Challenge: Modern Web Development with .NET The TodoApp project was born from a desire to explore modern web development with Microsoft’s .NET ecosystem. “How can we create rich, interactive web applications using C# instead of JavaScript?” This wasn’t just about building another todo app - it was about leveraging the power of .NET for full-stack web development. The project combines Blazor WebAssembly’s client-side capabilities with .NET’s robust development experience to create a modern, responsive web application. ...
Cloudflared: My Secret Tunnel to My Homelab (And Why It’s Awesome) The Problem: When I Wanted to Access My Stuff from Anywhere Picture this: You’re at a coffee shop in Lemgo, and you realize you need to check something on your Home Assistant dashboard. Or you’re visiting family in India and want to access your Pi-hole to see what’s being blocked. Or you’re at work and need to restart a container that’s acting up. ...
The Inspiration: Can AI Understand Emotions? The idea for the Face Mood Analyzer came from a simple curiosity: “What if we could teach a computer to understand human emotions?” This wasn’t just about building another AI application - it was about creating something that could bridge the gap between human emotions and technology. The project combines computer vision, deep learning, and audio generation to create a unique emotional experience. When you upload a photo, the system detects faces, analyzes emotions, and generates music that matches the detected mood. ...
Guacamole: Browser-Based Remote Desktop Access What I Built Apache Guacamole is a browser-based remote desktop gateway that provides secure access to servers and desktops through VNC, RDP, and SSH protocols without requiring any client software installation. It allows you to access your homelab servers and workstations from anywhere using just a web browser. Technical Stack Backend: Java with Spring framework Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript Database: MySQL/PostgreSQL Protocols: VNC, RDP, SSH Containerization: Docker & Docker Compose Security: SSL/TLS encryption Authentication: Built-in user management Key Features Multi-Protocol Support VNC (Virtual Network Computing) RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) SSH (Secure Shell) SFTP file transfer Audio streaming support Browser-Based Access No client software required Cross-platform compatibility Mobile device support Responsive web interface Session recording capabilities Security Features SSL/TLS encryption Two-factor authentication Session timeout management Connection logging IP-based access controls User Management Role-based access control Connection grouping User permissions Session monitoring Connection sharing Biggest Challenges Protocol Configuration Setting up proper VNC, RDP, and SSH configurations on target machines while ensuring security and performance across different operating systems. ...
The Challenge: When German Winters Meet My Sleep Schedule Picture this: It’s 6 AM in Lemgo, January. The sun won’t rise for another two hours, and it’s -5°C outside. My alarm goes off, and I’m faced with the choice of either staying in my warm bed (tempting) or braving the cold to start my day. This was my reality when I moved to Germany, and let me tell you, German winters are no joke. ...
Homebridge: Apple HomeKit Integration for Homelab What I Built Homebridge is a lightweight Node.js server that emulates the iOS HomeKit API, allowing you to integrate non-HomeKit devices with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. It acts as a bridge between your homelab’s smart devices and Apple’s Home app, enabling Siri voice control and HomeKit automation for devices that don’t natively support HomeKit. Technical Stack Backend: Node.js with TypeScript HomeKit: HAP (HomeKit Accessory Protocol) Containerization: Docker & Docker Compose Plugins: Community-developed device plugins API: RESTful API for device management Security: HomeKit encryption and authentication Key Features Device Integration Support for thousands of smart devices Plugin-based architecture for extensibility Real-time device status updates Automatic device discovery Custom device configurations HomeKit Compatibility Native HomeKit accessory emulation Siri voice control integration Home app compatibility Scene and automation support Remote access via iCloud Plugin Ecosystem Extensive community plugin library Custom plugin development Plugin configuration management Automatic plugin updates Plugin dependency handling Security & Privacy HomeKit encryption standards Local processing (no cloud required) Secure device authentication Privacy-focused design No data sharing with third parties Biggest Challenges Plugin Configuration Setting up and configuring plugins for different smart devices while ensuring compatibility and optimal performance across various device types and protocols. ...
Homepage: Homelab Dashboard Service Overview What I Built Homepage is a clean, simple, and fast dashboard for your homelab services. It provides a unified interface to monitor and access all your self-hosted services, with customizable widgets, service status monitoring, and a clean, responsive design that works on all devices. Technical Stack Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript Backend: Node.js with Express Containerization: Docker & Docker Compose Configuration: YAML-based service definitions Monitoring: Health check integration UI: Responsive design with modern CSS Key Features Service Dashboard Clean, organized service grid Customizable service icons and colors Service status monitoring Quick access to all homelab services Responsive design for mobile devices Widget System Weather widget integration System resource monitoring Custom widget support Real-time data updates Configurable widget layouts Service Management Easy service addition and removal Service grouping and organization Health check monitoring Service status indicators Custom service configurations Customization Options Theme customization Custom CSS support Icon and color customization Layout configuration Branding options Biggest Challenges Service Configuration Setting up proper service definitions and health checks for all homelab services while maintaining a clean and organized dashboard layout. ...
Immich: Self-Hosted Photo Management - Google Photos Alternative What I Built Immich is a self-hosted photo management solution that provides Google Photos-like functionality while keeping your data private and under your control. It offers automatic photo backup, sharing, and organization features without relying on cloud services. Technical Stack Backend: Node.js with TypeScript Frontend: React with TypeScript Database: PostgreSQL Storage: Local file system Containerization: Docker & Docker Compose AI: TensorFlow for face recognition API: RESTful API with GraphQL Key Features Automatic Photo Backup Real-time photo synchronization from mobile devices Automatic organization by date and location Duplicate detection and management Background upload support Advanced Organization AI-powered face recognition Automatic tagging and categorization Location-based organization Album creation and management Privacy-First Design All data stored locally No cloud dependencies End-to-end encryption support User-controlled sharing Sharing Capabilities Secure link sharing User management and permissions Public and private albums Download controls Biggest Challenges Storage Management Managing large photo libraries and implementing efficient storage strategies while maintaining performance and accessibility. ...
Keycloak: Identity Management for Homelab SSO What I Built Keycloak is an open-source identity and access management solution that provides Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities for homelab services. It centralizes authentication and authorization, allowing users to access multiple services with a single login while maintaining security and control over user access. Technical Stack Backend: Java with Spring Boot Database: PostgreSQL Authentication: OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML Containerization: Docker & Docker Compose Security: JWT tokens, encryption API: RESTful API with admin interface Key Features Single Sign-On (SSO) One login for multiple services Session management across applications Automatic token refresh Seamless user experience Identity Federation LDAP/Active Directory integration Social login providers (Google, GitHub) Custom user stores Multi-realm support Advanced Security Multi-factor authentication (MFA) Password policies and complexity rules Account lockout protection Session timeout management User Management User registration and self-service Role-based access control (RBAC) Group management User profile customization Biggest Challenges Initial Configuration Setting up Keycloak with proper security configurations and integrating it with existing homelab services required understanding of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect protocols. ...
Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a diverse range of projects that have shaped my journey as a software engineer. From machine learning experiments to autonomous driving simulation, each project has taught me something unique and helped me grow both technically and personally. 🚗 The CARLA Driving Simulator Client Repository: carla-driving-simulator-client This is probably my most ambitious project to date. The CARLA Driving Simulator Client is a modular, open-source client for the CARLA simulator that features realistic vehicle control, sensor management, dynamic environments, and a web-based interface for monitoring and control. ...