I started with an RPi 1b to read out my weatherstation (WH1080 clone) and post it online with weewx. Then a Bananapi R1 entered to replace my intel system as firewall/core router (savings on power usage, a lot). The RP 1 got replaced by a RPi 2, and tne 1 moved to the smartmeeter for readout. The main server (huge AMD tower) got replaced by a RPi 3 (again, power savings), Bpi R2 replaced the R1 when bananian development stopped. RPi 3 died on me (sd slot failed) and I got a replacement. As the 1st RPi3 was dead anyway, I tried to repair it (only use of the solderings at the side proved to be to keep the slot in place) and used it to replace the Bpi R2 as support got problematic.

The main server got upgraded to a RPi 4 8GB, with the RPi3 replacing the RPi2 that was handeling my weatherstation. I got an rflink, so I added domoticz and that now powers my kaku (dutch power switching system) in a mixed old/new setup. The RPi3 that was my main router (internet router via fiber) got replaced hh an RPi4 witn 4 GB mem, as the 2 GB mem version wasn’t available. (Not a bad move, with the on-board non-usb 1GB interface and a tad over 2 GB mem use)

The freed RPi3 is now for the smartmeter, so all RPi are 64 bit. (All running aarm64 Debian) Both Bpi’s and RPi 1 and 2 are collecting dust, as I haven’t found a use for them… yet. Looking for projects to use them. As media server they’re to light. (Although, Bpi R2 could be useful for that)

Lemmings.

As stated, lemmy is named after 4 sources, with the furry rodent being one of them. (Although the last option)

I love being a furry rodent gnawing away at Reddit. ;)

Depends, define free and define useful. ;)

You can learn a lot by reading up and watching YT vids. I already did my own car maintenance (started as hobby, now it’s a necessity, car mechanics cost twice/trice my hourly wage), but didn’t know how to replace the fuelpump on this modern car. Garage quoted €500, part was 109, special tool 79, seals 5 each (2). Replaced it myself in 4h.

I’m also learning to play bass guitar with the help of YT (already have the bass), painted my house, replaced kitchen and parts in bathroom including plumbing,… None of DIY things for free, but cheaper then hiring somebody to do these task. Even when you count your hourly wage, most of those tasks can be done cheaper yourself.

When you want no investment at all, languages are very useful to learn, at least when you meet others speaking those languages. Learning to setup a computer with free software is usefull as well (saves cash, so eeven better then free ;) ).

At this moment in time, in most pasrts of Europe and the USA, labour is the most expensive part of everything, so I’d say everything you can learn to do yourself is worth investing some time and maybe some cash in. Nothing wrong with hobbies that can save cash in the long run.

Drat, someone really doesn’t like lemmy.world and how active it became.

Depends where you buy your hardware…

I bought a laptop I could spec the way I want it, which included a choice of OS. I could choose for 32GB of ram and Windows 11 or 64 GB of ram and Ubuntu for the same prize. Ubunto has no clue how to fill all that memory. (I have, kvm is my friend)

To be honest, it’s totally worth it to spend time in messing about with custom OS on a device you can spare. Linux runs nicely on '12 hardware when you have enough memory. Even the '11 Samsung Tab S2 gets Android 13 via Lineage. Those are nice projects to start with, pick an old device and mess about. Worst that can happen is thag you have to throw it away, which you have to do anyway with the original software.

As somebody else already posted, when you don’t control your OS, somebody else will.

In 100 years, nobody will care

Growing old is mandatory, growing up optional.

Murphy’s law is always apllicable, unless you depend on it.

Especially in gaming subs: ‘How is this fair’ posts by starting users getting clobbered by vets (5y+ playing) while having no clue about the game’s mechanics…

Sidebar? I’m on an app, no sidebar. (With the pinned message, 1st you see, having the exact same content)

I really miss baconreader. (A minute tad, lemmy with liftoff is so much better)

What am I missing here?

You want to beat the system by following the system. Al, that it achieves will be ‘told you so it would result in millions?’

The only real way to beat a failing system is by offering something better and thus making it obsolete. The fediverse is an attempt to do just that.

Mastodon is getting more and more attention now Musk is killing Twitter. (Truth is getting some as well, but that’s limited to extremist christians) I’m sure Lemmy and Kbin will be as effective.

I’m a lot more active then I was on Reddit.

I was very active in the subs of the games I play (I’m even r/CSRRacing2 mod) when I started there, but I’m getting tired of the hate, stupidity,…

Debian since '95, (After a try with Slackware and RedHat each for a month or 2-3)

I run testing on my home devices (trixie now). Totally happy with it. (I really don’t like the rpm based ones, even more so since IBM bought RedHat) Tried Ubuntu once, didn’t know how fast to get back after the 1st major upgrade killed my system years ago.

I used ctwm since '96, switched to xfce4 in '18 (and use it as wm), ctwm is still in use for vnc connections on the rpi.

I don’t do a thing without ad blockers. I decide what junk I open and what I watch. When a site has ad blocking detection, it’s not worth my time, ever. Ads are the cancer of the current society. When I have something, ads are useless, when I don’t have it, ads are equally useless, as I don’t want and need it.

When creators of content create good content, I pay, same for apps. Ad companies leaching of the creators content need to be banned. (Those companies earn a lot more then content creators on those ads)

When there is an adblocker that will trigger the payment without me having to watch the ad (or even pull it over the web) I’m fine with it, else, no ads revenue. I pay for my data subscription, I decide.