Automation & DevOps

The 2026 Self-Hosted Discord Replacement Guide

With Discord's 2026 facial ID policy pushing users away, the search for private, self-hosted alternatives is urgent. This guide cuts through the noise, testing the top contenders for real-world use, ease of setup, and that all-important 'wife test.'

12 min read | 32 views | Feb 12, 2026

Bye Bye Data: The 2026 Guide to Surviving Catastrophic Drive Failure

When a power outage wiped out 8 hard drives in a TrueNAS array but spared the SSDs, the self-hosted community learned hard lessons about data protection. This comprehensive 2026 guide explores what really happened, how to prevent it, and actionable recovery strategies for your Jellyfin server and beyond.

13 min read | 30 views | Feb 12, 2026

Discord Enshittification: Self-Hosted Alternatives in 2026

As Discord demands government IDs and pushes further into surveillance capitalism, tech-savvy communities are seeking self-hosted alternatives. This guide explores the best privacy-first communication platforms you can control.

11 min read | 32 views | Feb 12, 2026

Why Sysadmins Are Stripping Old PCs for Parts in 2026

Facing rising component costs and Windows 11 compatibility walls, IT teams are shifting from wholesale recycling to strategic salvage operations. Discover how stripping 7th-gen laptops for DDR4 and NVMe drives creates a valuable spare parts ecosystem while saving thousands.

11 min read | 25 views | Feb 10, 2026

The Homelab Paradox: Why Everything Feels Too Easy in 2026

Modern homelab tools have become so polished that they risk hiding the very knowledge we seek. This article explores why everything feels 'too easy' in 2026's self-hosting landscape and how to find meaningful learning in an automated world.

10 min read | 28 views | Feb 09, 2026

Microsoft's Broken Updates: A Sysadmin's 2026 Survival Guide

Microsoft's recent update disasters have left sysadmins scrambling. This comprehensive guide explores why updates break critical systems, shares real-world manufacturing horror stories, and provides actionable solutions to protect your infrastructure.

12 min read | 29 views | Feb 08, 2026

Why I Switched from Homarr to Glance for My Dashboard

After struggling with Homarr's RAM consumption and excessive DNS requests, I migrated to Glance and transformed my self-hosted dashboard experience. Here's why the switch was worth the effort and how you can optimize your setup.

11 min read | 35 views | Feb 07, 2026

Self-Hosted App Donations: Real 3-Month Earnings & Strategy

A developer's transparent look at earning $467 in three months from donations for a self-hosted SSH server manager. This article dives deep into the realities of funding open-source tools, community reactions, and actionable strategies for 2026.

12 min read | 26 views | Feb 07, 2026

IT Job Title Inflation: Why 'Tier 1' Means Nothing in 2026

When 'Tier 1 Help Desk' actually means Tier 2 responsibilities, you're dealing with job title inflation. This comprehensive guide breaks down why IT titles have become meaningless, how to decode what you're really applying for, and strategies to navigate the 2026 job market without getting burned.

16 min read | 33 views | Feb 06, 2026

The Human Cost of Automation: When Sysadmins Face Loss

When a colleague passes away, the technical task of disabling their accounts becomes emotionally charged. This guide explores how automation can handle the technical burden while preserving human dignity in difficult IT scenarios.

12 min read | 31 views | Feb 06, 2026

AI Making IT Jobs Harder: When Tools Become Adversaries

AI was supposed to make IT jobs easier, but many professionals are finding it creates more problems than it solves. From non-technical colleagues becoming overnight 'experts' to AI-generated documentation overriding decades of experience, here's what's really happening and how to fix it.

13 min read | 28 views | Feb 05, 2026

Notepad++ Chrysalis Hack: Can Malware Scanners Find and Clean It?

The Notepad++ Chrysalis backdoor represents a sophisticated supply chain attack. This guide examines whether traditional malware scanners can detect it, explores manual detection methods, and provides comprehensive remediation steps for affected systems.

12 min read | 31 views | Feb 04, 2026