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SSH on Willem's Blog

How to use rsync to make backups

Explaining a powerful file transfer tool

Oct. 30, 2020
In this post I'll explain how to use rsync to transfer files to another computer system in an efficient manner, suitable to be used in a backup script.

It is very important to make backups of your data, as you never know when disaster strikes! One powerful, cross platform, tool to help you achieve this is 'rsync'. In this post I'll explain why rsync is useful and how you can use it to set up your own backups.

Refining my tablet OS experience

Using Surface Go 2 with 4G/LTE, Debian GNU/Linux and i3wm

Sep. 28, 2020
Installing Debian GNU/Linux on a Surface Go 2 with LTE/4G to replace my iPad Pro as daily driver.

Earlier this year I tried to create my own tablet operating system by installing Debian GNU/Linux on a Microsoft Surface Go tablet. I learned a great deal about what I like about tablets. But I still preferred my iPad Pro, mainly because of its polished user experience. This time I set out to refine my tablet software to replace my iPad.

Syncing files seamlessly between smartphone and tablet

Using unison to automatically sync between GNU/Linux and the iPhone

Sep. 16, 2020
In order to optimise my workflow, I was looking for a way to seamlessly access the same files on both my computer and smartphone. Read along to find out how I did it.

In order to optimise my workflow, I was looking for a way to seamlessly access the same files on both my computer and smartphone. This is useful to when you want to quickly send files from your computer using your smartphone through various messaging apps and vice versa. Read along to find out how I did it.

Talking tablets: what makes a great tablet?

Working with Microsoft Surface Pro X

Apr. 14, 2020
Over the past few weeks I worked with Microsoft Surface Pro X to see if it is any good, can it be your main computer?

Earlier this year Microsoft released their brand new Surface Pro X tablet computer, in many ways this is a forward thinking device. As I like working with tablets I wondered what exactly makes a great tablet? Is Surface Pro X any good? Read along to find out.

Cyber security: 5 easy tips to protect your server against hackers

Server hardening best practices for Windows and Linux

Mar. 10, 2018
These 5 practical cyber security measures will improve the safety of server, website and data.

This week one of my clients was hacked and asked me for emergency assistance to help secure their server infrastructure. It was a web server that ran WordPress websites on Apache (with PHP/MySQL), including a few webshops with customer data. This hack could easily have been prevented with the following best practices, is your server secure?

Tablet as main computer

Comparing the Microsoft Surface Pro to iPad Pro

Mar. 7, 2018
I have been using a tablet as my main computer for quite some time now. In this blog post I share you my experience on using Surface Pro and iPad Pro to get my work done.

For the past few weeks I have been using the Microsoft Surface Pro as my main computer. It's a modern tablet computer that can be used as laptop with the type cover. With the Surface Pen, it's a versatile PC that works in a lot of different ways. Time to find out if it's any good and how it compares to my other tablet computer, iPad Pro.

Clouds below my floor

Building a little datacenter in my basement

Aug. 31, 2017
Building a little datacenter in my basement utilising a very fast internet connection.

At my home I have this crazy fast optical internet connection. It is a 600MB up and down fibre connection which directly arrives in my home (no copper cables involved). It's like a private internet highway. Reason enough to find out if I could do something to make better use of all this speedy fiber galore...

The day I killed my LAN

Turned off my local network and went 4G only

July 31, 2017
I killed my office LAN and went 4G only. Saves a lot of clutter, energy and money.

Today I called my provider to quit my office's ADSL internet subscription, I don't need it anymore. I have turned off my local area network and switched my workflow onto mobile internet only. The simplicity and savings actually surprised me so much, that I made blog post for it.

Programming on Apple Watch

Serious about crazy experiments

Feb. 16, 2017
Programming with VIM over SSH on Apple Watch using a bluetooth keyboard

Over the past years I have been no stranger to crazy experiments, but this time I really wanted to push it into the extreme: programming on an Apple Watch. Would it be possible to actually write code on such a tiny device? Why even bother? This post is about the case for crazy experiments, and why you should try too!

iPad Pro as primary computer

testing iOS as primairy development platform

Aug. 15, 2016
Is the time right to use an iPad as primary development platform to get some real work done?

The lack of physical clutter, distracting branding, or blinking LED's makes the iPad Pro a textbook example of minimal design. My despiction of distraction explains my interest in using the iPad Pro as only computer to test if it is up to the task. Is Apple's latest effort on iOS enough to enable it to do serious development work?

Building the blog... in style!

Developing on a 20-year old computer with 16MB RAM and Windows 98

June 23, 2016
Find out if it is possible to turn a computer from the 90s into a modern development machine.

One must be a bit crazy to come up with the idea to build a blog (as in: actual programming) on an old 486 laptop with just 16MB RAM. I happen to be that crazy: I took my very first laptop from the 90s and decided to find out if it was possible to turn it into a development machine.

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Music from the office cabinet - iPhone as a connected music player. Quite the solid rock show in combination with Apple Watch as remote.
Music from the office cabinet - iPhone as a connected music player. Quite the solid rock show in combination with Apple Watch as remote.
Reading using a tablet computer is not limited to your desk - I like reading on the couch
Reading using a tablet computer is not limited to your desk - I like reading on the couch
The source of the Magic: my ThinkPad X1 connected to the local network.
The source of the Magic: my ThinkPad X1 connected to the local network.
Reading mails in Evolution works well!
Reading mails in Evolution works well!
The kickstand is a clever piece of design and engineering, being both functional and sturdy.
The kickstand is a clever piece of design and engineering, being both functional and sturdy.
Installing Debian GNU/Linux on Surface Go 2 is very similar to the original Surface Go
Installing Debian GNU/Linux on Surface Go 2 is very similar to the original Surface Go
Clouds below my floor: my little basement datacenter.
Clouds below my floor: my little basement datacenter.
The back of the Surface has no extruding camera lens which allows the tablet to lay perfectly flat on a table - as it should!
The back of the Surface has no extruding camera lens which allows the tablet to lay perfectly flat on a table - as it should!
Typical rsync command, showing the -arvz flags, a My-Source-Directory and My-Remote-Directory on a server
Typical rsync command, showing the -arvz flags, a My-Source-Directory and My-Remote-Directory on a server
The type cover is charm to type on with real (backlit) keys, including ESC and a row of function keys
The type cover is charm to type on with real (backlit) keys, including ESC and a row of function keys
Look what happens to my face when my patience is tested...
Look what happens to my face when my patience is tested...
I had to remove the original disk because it didn't work... or so I thought!
I had to remove the original disk because it didn't work... or so I thought!
Touch screens are important these days when designing (and testing) interfaces
Touch screens are important these days when designing (and testing) interfaces
Imprecise ruler in Microsoft Whiteboard hampers the experience
Imprecise ruler in Microsoft Whiteboard hampers the experience
Use the pen to draw, write and design
Use the pen to draw, write and design
Resetting the buffers of the Surface broadband modem allowed it to work with Debian GNU/Linux!
Resetting the buffers of the Surface broadband modem allowed it to work with Debian GNU/Linux!
The Surface Slim Pen is about the same size as a conventional pen, slightly smaller then Apple Pencil
The Surface Slim Pen is about the same size as a conventional pen, slightly smaller then Apple Pencil
Connected a monitor and keyboard to test the systems
Connected a monitor and keyboard to test the systems

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