From 02a9394c769a15fb5eab3c5ed07d9de5c57b554b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Johannes Christ Date: Thu, 8 May 2025 17:59:10 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Update "Now" for May 2025 --- src/pages/now.md | 73 ++++++++++++++++++++++-------------------------- 1 file changed, 33 insertions(+), 40 deletions(-) diff --git a/src/pages/now.md b/src/pages/now.md index 68e01e7..d28f941 100644 --- a/src/pages/now.md +++ b/src/pages/now.md @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ --- layout: ../layouts/Layout.astro -title: Now (August 2024 edition) +title: Now (May 2025 edition) description: My current focusses in life. --- @@ -10,56 +10,49 @@ This page shows what I'm doing currently, if you have your own website, you ## Python Discord -Our DevOps team has lately picked back up steam. As part of that, I have -recently implemented a forwarding e-mail server using -[Postfix](https://postfix.org), together with -[postsrsd](https://github.com/roehling/postsrsd) this setup was delightful to -configure. +Our DevOps team has lately become dormant again. Our infrastructure is very +functional these days, there are few things that need to change to keep it +running. As such, most of our work these days is focussed on maintenance and +replying to any support questions that come from our talented pool of helpers. -I have also recently overhauled [our documentation](https://docs.pydis.wtf/), -and we are currently exploring a new concept called "e-mail services". The idea -is that you send an e-mail to specific addresses, and a script on the other end -performs some useful action in response to that. Our first e-mail service will -give you `fortune`s! Send an e-mail to -[fortune@int.pydis.wtf](mailto:fortune@int.pydis.wtf) to test it out. +A project I recently implemented in large part was our [numbers +station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station), which +was primarily an exercise in audio processing. While I'm still preparing the +changes for the review, the components used for it so far are: -We've implemented Dovecot, Postfix, OpenDMARC, and OpenDKIM to make this -possible. It's been a fun project to work on, and I'm excited to see where it -goes. +- Icecast acts as the streaming server, fronted by nginx. +- VLC plays files placed in a directory to a virtual output. +- ffmpeg takes audio from that virtual output and adds noise to it for the + authentic shortwave station feeling. +- A systemd timer regularly plays any audio files placed in a directory. +- Another systemd timer converts text files in a directory into audio played by + the previous cronjob. This allows server users to have custom texts spoken out + on air. -All data is backed by our new unified login system, powered by FreeIPA and -Keycloak. This system allows us to have a single source of truth for all -accounts, and we can now easily integrate new services into our ecosystem. +You may listen in at https://pydis.wtf/numbers. This also works via media +players such as `vlc`, `mpv`, if you're feeling adventerous, you might even +build a player with `ffmpeg`. -Users are able to manage their own accounts, configure email forwarding, login -securely to a variety of on-premises and cloud services, and more. +Overall this was a lot of fun to build. I learnt about ffmpeg audio processing, +configuration and deployment of Icecast, and covert spy information channels, +something I hope to use on my upcoming visit to Canada. -## Owl Corp - -A few friends from Python Discord and I have started a new project called Owl -Corp. -We're building small utilities to try improve the quality-of-life of developers -with small projects meant to have big impacts. +## Owl Corp -A selection of interesting projects we've been working on include: +At Owl Corp, we are working on a new e-mail server. So far we are still +implementing the e-mail authentication protocols, though. Watch this space. -- [**psql_extended**](https://github.com/owl-corp/psql_extended): A pre-built - Docker image with PostgreSQL installed, as well as a few handy extensions - for keeping database management simple. -- [**inotify-base**](https://github.com/owl-corp/inotify-base): A Docker image - for use in Kubernetes sidecar containers, able to run a script - whenever a file changes (blog post on this coming soon!). -- [**thallium**](https://github.com/owl-corp/thallium): A simple application to - handle giveaways for online communities backed by Printful. ## Programming -I've recently rebuilt my website with [Astro](https://astro.build/) and it has -been a very pleasant experience, both for the website itself as well as -development. As part of this migration, my website now has a blog, including a -RSS feed, and this very page. +I don't have much time for programming these days - in my free time, I am +primarily playing with electricity. My most recent project was hooking up an +electric chair for a halloween project. Turns out that pacemakers don't work +well with external voltages. This was a bit hard to explain to the police, but +thankfully I have indemnity insurance.
-Updated August 23th, 2024, from the airport lounge. +Updated May 8th, 2025, from the rubber room. The rubber room with rats.