Tech Trends
Extra Life 2026: Five Games, Five Challenges, $50 Per Failure
Extra Life returns November 6 with five secret gaming challenges, a $1,500 goal, and a new rule: every challenge I fail costs me $50.
Alex Denault
Veteran software developer, sysadmin and tech leader. Avid computer enthusiast who has been dabbling with technology ever since his Dad brought home an 8086 computer.
Homelab and Projects
Is CrunchLabs Hack Pack Worth It? A First-Year Retrospective
After six CrunchLabs Hack Pack kits, this retrospective looks at what worked, where the learning faltered, and whether the first year is worth the cost.
Flashing the eMMC of a Radxa Rock Pi 4B Plus
Single-board computers are often discussed through the lens of the Raspberry Pi, but many alternatives use different processors, boot methods, storage layouts, and recovery tools. Radxa's ROCK Pi 4B+ is a good example. It combines an RK3399-family processor with Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, PCIe expansion,
Building a 3D Printed NAS with ModCase MASS and UnRAID
A spare RAM purchase becomes a 3D printed NAS, revealing the trade-offs of AliExpress hardware, modular case design, and UnRAID.
Homelab and Projects
Meshtastic in an Urban Environment
Meshtastic makes LoRa mesh networking feel simple until the city gets involved. This field test explores what worked, what failed, and why MeshCore may be next.
Homelab and Projects
How Tubbo Became a Hosting Provider: Inside PlayHosting's 2026 Infrastructure
Inside PlayHosting’s 2026 infrastructure: Ryzen compute, large-scale storage, DDoS protection, and the VPS business funding free Minecraft hosting.
Gaming Experience
What Is a Flashcart? A Practical Guide to Playing Retro Games
Learn what a flash cart is, how flashcarts work on original retro consoles, and what to consider before choosing one.
Gaming Experience
DOSBox: How an Emulator Saved PC Gaming History
DOSBox recreates the MS-DOS era on modern PCs. Discover how this open-source emulator preserves classic games and powers platforms like GOG, Steam, and Origin.
Homelab and Projects
CrunchLabs Balance Bot: Build, Balance and Tune
CrunchLabs Balance Bot turns feedback control into a hands-on robotics lesson, using an MPU, PID tuning, and autonomous balance.
Gaming Experience
What Happens When You Play Sifteo with 12 cubes
Sifteo supported up to 12 cubes, but few players likely tried it. This hands-on test explores what the full setup adds, and where it falls short.
Tech Trends
Beyond Vibe Coding: Building Software With AI as a Collaborator
TechnoQuiz started as a reader activity for Technodabbler. It became a case study in product judgment, audits, mistakes, and disciplined AI-assisted development.
Homelab and Projects
The Ultimate Guide to Having a Website
A practical guide to website ownership, from domains and hosting to discoverability, monetization, backups, and long-term control.