FOSS Journey (2019—present)

A running log of the tools, platforms, and ideas that shaped my development practice — with an emphasis on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and the communities that make it possible.

Open source isn’t just about “free tools.” It’s about transparency, collaboration, and control — building and learning without hidden telemetry, vendor lock-in, or data mining.

While I prioritise FOSS wherever possible, some proprietary systems remain essential (for compatibility, testing, or hardware support). The goal is always to find — or help build — open alternatives that respect user freedom and privacy.

FOSS Tools and Platforms

A record of the software and systems I rely on across development, automation, and infrastructure.

Tool / Platform Category Notes / Purpose
Brave + WaterfoxBrowserPrivacy-focused browsers; telemetry removed, enhanced security controls.
Docker / Docker Compose v2Multi-containerReproducible dev/test environments using declarative Compose files.
Flexpilot + Ollama / Sublime Text / VSCodiumDevelopmentAI-assisted coding and lightweight editors (de-crapified).
Git + GitLab (CE)Version ControlSelf-hosted Git & MRs; via zero-trust internet endpoint via Cloudflare.
Kubernetes (k8s)Container OrchestrationSelf-hosted VM cluster for scalable, local "cloud" learning deployments.
Kali Linux / Kali PurpleDebian GNU/LinuxOffensive & defensive cybersecurity toolkits.
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)Bare-metal HypervisorLocal cloud computing; virtualisation & containerised lab environments.
Laravel (PHP)Web FrameworkElegant MVC framework with strong community and secure defaults.
MariaDB / PostgreSQLDatabaseOpen-source RDBMS replacing proprietary database platforms.
n8nWorkflow AutomationSelf-hosted automation; connects APIs, AI, and workflows via Cloudflare Tunnel.
openSUSE LeapLinux DistributionStable SLES-based OS; runs on MinisForum mini PC; daily driver.
OWASP ZAP / Burp Community / nmapSecurity & TestingOpen-source penetration testing, scanning, and analysis tools.
pfSense (CE)Firewall + RouterSelf-hosted firewall VM providing secure isolation.
Proxmox VEVirtualisationTwo-node homelab cluster for managing VMs, LXC containers, and backups.
Terraform / AnsibleCloud & Infra ToolsInfrastructure-as-Code and declarative automation for consistent provisioning.
TriliumNote-takingSelf-hosted knowledge base; hierarchical notes, offline sync, privacy-first.
TrueNAS SCALEStorage / BackupRebuilt TerraMaster F4-424 Max as a ZFS-based NAS.
Ubuntu GNOME Desktop LTSLinux (Canonical)Rebuilt MacAir laptop.
Ubuntu Server LTSLinux (Canonical)Stable, well-documented OS for VMs, containers, and production services.

(This list is continually updated as my workflow and tools evolve.)