“In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate.”
― Isaac Asimov
In under a year, Canvas of Dreams hits the milestone of 400 posts, largely thanks to my recent focus on tech blogging and tutorials. Originally starting as a photo journal, the blog has evolved into a blend of tech tutorials and creative writing. Photography has become less central to the content.
The shift in my values:
Reflecting on the past, I realize I was primarily a content creator, sharing my creative writing and tech tutorials without any financial gain. I was content with that; my goal was simply to share knowledge freely. However, my perspective has shifted. While I don’t believe money is everything, I’ve grown interested in starting my own small ventures, like writing eBooks for Amazon Kindle to earn profits.
This shift in values was influenced by various factors, but it boils down to not wanting to be just a consumer anymore. Last year, for instance, I demonstrated my Shell scripting skills to my skeptical supervisor, which marked the start of regaining my self-confidence. My work received recognition and even surprised my colleagues.
I’ve realized I can do more. I can potentially start a small business using my skills. This could be the start of a new chapter in my life, breathing fresh purpose into my existence.
My involvement in STEM-related activities, like algebra, shell scripting, and building home network servers, has not only captivated my friends but also inspired some of them. This led me to wonder: why not share my expertise more broadly through eBooks and also make a profit? This idea prompted me to start writing a book about home network servers at the end of last year.
Tech tutorials and creative writing:
Last year, tech tutorials were the highlight of my blog. I noticed that the content was predominantly tech-focused, and it looks like this trend will likely continue into this year as well. The page views make it clear – the tech tutorials attracted more attention than my traditional creative writing.
However, this doesn’t mean I’ll stop my creative writing altogether. It just means that I won’t be writing creatively as frequently as I used to.
My tech universe:
In my tech universe, two sanctuaries have profoundly shaped who I am today: Linux and Android.
Linux:
In the realm of technology, Linux and Android are the main focuses of this blog and my upcoming eBooks. As mentioned on my About page, my enthusiasm for Linux has played a major role in getting me to where I am today. One particularly interesting aspect is the ability to make money from free software available on the Internet. The concept of a business model centered around free software is quite fascinating, isn’t it?
What’s particularly interesting about Linux is that since it’s free, you can acquire the skills at no cost. As long as you have internet access, you can start learning it any day.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you might have noticed an increase in Linux-related content. Linux has been pivotal in my career path; without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The skills I’ve developed through Linux have significantly shaped my career. I’m looking forward to continually expanding my knowledge and expertise in Linux for the foreseeable future.
Android:
Android is another essential part of my life. As a die-hard Android enthusiast, this mobile operating system has significantly influenced my tech career. Rooting and bootloader unlocking are two key aspects of this fascinating OS that sparked my interest in technology.
Moreover, if you’re familiar with Python, you can create custom macros to automate tasks, such as turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth altogether. This feature is particularly useful when traveling, like when you’re on an airplane.
But what truly captivated me the most was app development and its accessibility. Since Android apps can be developed using Java, working on this platform has enhanced my coding skills through experimental projects. While I eventually decided against pursuing a career as an Android developer, my Android app project from last year opened new avenues in my coding journey.
My ideas for eBooks:
As I’ve mentioned, here are eBooks I’m planning to publish this year on Kindle. Specifically, what I aim to cover in my future books is the combined experiences I’ve had with home network server development, sharing the knowledge I’ve gained.
Home network server:
This book is a project I’ve been working on, as mentioned in my blog two years ago. Building my own home network NAS server significantly reduced my reliance on Dropbox and Google Drive. In fact, I canceled my Dropbox subscription and redirected those funds to more productive uses, like ChatGPT 4. By creating my own cloud within my home network, I’ve been able to acquire new skills and knowledge that could prove valuable for my future career goals.
LAMP stack server:
Along with my experience developing an Android app with Kotlin, I built a LAMP stack server from scratch on Ubuntu Server 22.04. For those unfamiliar, LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Writing the PHP code for its API, and the process of setting up the LAMP server greatly enhanced my understanding of backend server development. It was an enjoyable and exciting experience from beginning to end.
Oracle Linux and Oracle DB:
Typically, people install Oracle DB on their Windows machines. But what if you want to replicate a professional development environment at home? In addition to the servers I mentioned earlier, I also set up another server in my home network system. I installed Oracle DB on Oracle Linux, and from my Windows PC’s database client software, I could access the Linux machine and execute SQL queries to further my understanding of the database.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, my 400th blog post turned out to be a mix of my New Year’s resolutions and some self-reflection. I hope you enjoyed reading it, and thank you for consistently following my blog. Looking forward to sharing my 401st post with you soon! Wishing everyone a fantastic year ahead!!
