THE UNKNOWN
Essays, notes, and practical guides for making sense of the world.
The Vending Machine with Exact Change
A late-night vending machine accepts exact change, except when it develops its own definition of exact.
A Small Backup Restore Drill
Turn a PostgreSQL backup file into evidence by restoring it into an isolated database and checking the result.
The Empty Cinema on a Tuesday
A Tuesday matinee has one customer, two employees, and far more ceremony than the audience requires.
Docker Compose Healthchecks That Actually Help
Design a Docker healthcheck that tests useful readiness without turning a transient dependency problem into restart noise.
The Parcel for Apartment 4B
A package for a nonexistent apartment sends one resident door to door through an increasingly complicated building.
Inspect a TLS Certificate with OpenSSL
Check the certificate a server actually presents, including names, issuer, validity, and chain details.
The Last Train Was Not My Train
A tired commuter boards the final train with complete confidence and arrives somewhere entirely unfamiliar.
systemd Timers Without the Guesswork
Create a small systemd timer, inspect its next run, and make missed jobs predictable after downtime.
The Office Microwave Negotiation
A noisy office microwave, six lunch owners, and a peace treaty written on the back of a takeaway menu.
Git Worktree for One Repository and Two Tasks
Use Git worktrees to keep a hotfix and ongoing feature open at the same time without cloning the repository twice.
The Umbrella Exchange
A borrowed umbrella moves through an apartment building and returns with a history of its own.
A Calm SSH Host Key Check
Handle an SSH host-key warning without training yourself to delete the evidence and try again.