[{"path":"blog/why-i-built-nosdesk","frontmatter":{"title":"The Helpdesk Nobody Built, So I Did","shortTitle":"Building Nosdesk","description":"Every helpdesk I used felt like it was designed by someone who'd never had to use one. So I spent a year building my own.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","icon":"nosdesk","tags":["helpdesk","nosdesk","rust","it operations","software development","microsoft 365","small business"],"keywords":["helpdesk","nosdesk","rust","it operations","small business it","school it","ticketing system"],"shareImage":"/img/blog/nosdesk-preview.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/blog/why-i-built-nosdesk","og":{"type":"article"}},"content":"\n\n\n

\n \n

\n\nEvery helpdesk I've ever used felt like it was designed by someone who'd never had to use one.\n\nWhen I started at Nossal High School as a Specialist Technician, that feeling became my daily reality. We were running ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus. On paper, enterprise-grade. In practice, a slow, bloated mess that seemed to exist purely to generate metrics nobody ever had time to look at. Every feature felt bolted on as an afterthought for some other customer's edge case, and we were left navigating a labyrinth of options designed for an organisation ten times our size.\n\nIn a dynamic environment like a school, you get repetitive issues constantly: devices need reimaging, students can't connect to WiFi, screens are cracked. These aren't complex problems, but they're high-volume. You need to triage fast, track devices efficiently, close tickets quickly, and get students back to learning. ManageEngine made me click through five screens and fill out forms designed for enterprise change management workflows.\n\nThere had to be something better.\n\n## The Search for Something Better\n\n**Spiceworks** became our temporary lifeboat after we decided to ditch ManageEngine. We were only looking for something basic and self-hostable to keep us moving. The open source version was no longer receiving updates, and Tony, an absolute legend I worked with, was already experienced with it.\n\nFrom the options we could find, **Zammad** seemed like the most reasonable approach. It was open source with a good community, and I figured I should be able to add the features and support I needed to make it work. The interface was thoughtfully designed and it didn't cost a fortune, so we migrated everything over.\n\nBut then small frustrations started appearing. Custom attributes on print previews didn't work the way we needed. When I found an existing GitHub issue and followed up on it, one of the lead developers responded with:\n\n> I'll have to quote myself: When we introduced the print layout we decided against showing ticket meta information as far as I can remember.\n>\n> This repository is not the right place for technical questions, please consult our Community instead.\n\nEventually I solved it myself and [posted the fix](https://community.zammad.org/t/ticket-attributes-are-missing-in-the-print-display/14085), but got no reply. I kept trying to make other improvements, but the realisation that I'd be spending more time hacking around the software than actually using it forced me to reconsider.\n\n## The Disconnection\n\nAround this time, I was reading Katie Hafner's *Where Wizards Stay Up Late*, about the origins of the internet. There's a moment where Bob Taylor, sitting in his Pentagon office in 1966, stares at three disconnected terminals and asks: why can't these things just talk to each other? His answer became ARPANET.\n\nThat question stuck with me. Because my desk told the same story: three browser tabs open. Our helpdesk for logging tickets, Microsoft Intune for device information, and our hardware vendor's portal for warranty claims. I was copying serial numbers between them, cross-referencing student names, manually bridging systems that had no idea the others existed.\n\nOnce you see the disconnection, you can't unsee it.\n\n## Beginning with the Frontend\n\nIn February 2025, I started actively working on Nosdesk.\n\nAll the times I'd used a helpdesk and thought \"why can't it just do that?\" I channelled into the design. And I was having so much fun working on it.\n\nVoice notes, so you can record a ticket description from your phone instead of typing it out while five people wait in line behind you. Sensible keyboard shortcuts. Efficient bulk operations. Search that returns relevant content from the deepest parts of the system in under three seconds.\n\nIntegrated documentation, so the valuable information buried in tickets can be easily referenced and turned into a lasting knowledge base instead of being tossed into a void when you close it.\n\nSomething modern and responsive. Something that felt like the tools I used outside of work, not enterprise software that was born before me.\n\nThat was the vision. Now I had to build it.\n\n### The Backend\n\nAs if the tech debt wasn't enough, I made another reckless decision: Rust over Node.js.\n\nI was already getting accustomed to Rust by this point. But the compiler doesn't care how comfortable you feel.\n\nI'd spent years watching developer convenience get prioritised over user experience. Abstractions layered on abstractions. Slow runtimes justified by faster development cycles. Bloat accepted as the cost of shipping quickly.\n\nIf I have to fight the compiler so that technicians don't have to fight the software, that's a trade I'll make every time.\n\nFrom there it was all foundation work. Researching libraries, evaluating crates, building something that wouldn't buckle under load. Postgres and Diesel for the database. Actix for the web server. Fast by design, not by accident.\n\nThere was one big design consideration I couldn't ignore: multiple technicians editing the same ticket at the same time. Merge conflicts. The classic solution is to lock the record or force a refresh, but I wanted something better. I wanted a live environment where you could see changes in real time, without stepping on each other's work.\n\nCRDTs over WebSockets ended up being the answer. Conflict-free Replicated Data Types, the same technology that powers collaborative editors like Figma and Notion. I'm standing on the shoulders of giants here: Yjs for the CRDT implementation, yrs for the Rust port, and ProseMirror for a rich text editor that actually works. Now hundreds of techs can type in the same ticket notes simultaneously if they really insisted, and it just works. For everything else, comments, general ticket data, I used Server-Sent Events to keep things in sync without the overhead.\n\nI'd sometimes use Nosdesk to track jobs as I went. But I was iterating too fast to rely on it. Rethinking architecture, refactoring constantly, breaking things along the way. My workflow was being held together by a pile of sticky notes.\n\n## Moving Forward\n\nThen life happened. Midway through 2025, I was offered a position as an infrastructure engineer. I took it. Development slowed. My evenings shifted to learning the demands of a new role, and Nosdesk sat half-built in a repository on my MacBook.\n\nQuitting was never on the agenda. But I had to balance everything, and for a while the balance tipped away from the helpdesk. Eventually I realised that if I didn't just keep going with it, it was never going to exist.\n\nThe feeling that started this never went away. The conviction that something better should exist. Only now it wasn't for me. It was for the school. For the team I was leaving behind. For every small IT operation still copying serial numbers between three browser tabs.\n\nI had to keep building.\n\n## Making It Happen\n\nIt's now 2026. Nosdesk still isn't finished, but it's nearing a production-ready state.\n\nReal-time collaborative editing on tickets. Voice notes with automatic transcription. A knowledge base that turns your ticket resolutions into searchable documentation instead of letting them disappear. Asset management that actually links devices to tickets and users. Microsoft Entra authentication built in from the start. Sub-100ms response times, because I chose the hard path with Rust and it paid off.\n\nI'm moving ahead full force now, trying to get this into the hands of the people who need it. Small IT teams. Schools. Lean operations that have been underserved by enterprise bloat and abandoned open source projects.\n\nThe systems are finally going to talk to each other. And the person sitting in front of them is finally going to feel like the software is on their side.\n\nA helpdesk that moves as fast as you. [That's Nosdesk](https://nosdesk.com).\n"},{"path":"blog/mudita-kompakt-review","frontmatter":{"title":"A Week with the Mudita Kompakt","shortTitle":"Mudita Kompakt","description":"After a week using the Mudita Kompakt as my primary phone, here's what worked, what didn't, and what you'll need to make it usable.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z","icon":"smartphone","tags":["digital minimalism","e-paper","Mudita Kompakt","technology habits","privacy"],"keywords":["digital minimalism","e-paper phones","Mudita Kompakt","dumbphone","minimalist phone","technology detox"],"shareImage":"/img/blog/mudita-kompakt-box.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/blog/mudita-kompakt-review","og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_AU","title":"A Week with the Mudita Kompakt","description":"After a week using the Mudita Kompakt as my primary phone, here's what worked, what didn't, and what you'll need to make it usable.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/mudita-kompakt.webp"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","title":"A Week with the Mudita Kompakt","description":"After a week using the Mudita Kompakt as my primary phone, here's what worked, what didn't, and what you'll need to make it usable.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/mudita-kompakt.webp"},"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","technologies":["Mudita Kompakt","E-Paper Technology","Android","F-Droid"],"difficulty":"Beginner","timeToRead":"8 minutes","version":"1.0.0"},"content":"\n\n\n\n\nI used the Mudita Kompakt as my primary device for about a week. It's a promising step forward from the Mudita Pure I reviewed previously, but it still requires some effort to become a practical daily driver. Here's what I learned.\n\n## What Helped\n\nOut of the box, the Kompakt's stock software feels incomplete and missing some important components. To configure it to suit my needs, I relied on several additions.\n\n### F-Droid and the Aurora Store\n\nThe open nature of the Kompakt means you can sideload applications, and this flexibility is what makes it worthwhile compared to other feature phones and minimalist devices. [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/) provides access to free and open-source apps, while the [Aurora Store](https://auroraoss.com/aurora-store) lets you install apps from the Google Play catalogue without needing a Google account. Together, they give you the freedom to customise the phone however you like.\n\n### inkOS Launcher\n\nI cannot overstate how important [inkOS](https://github.com/gezimos/inkOS) is for making the Kompakt a viable device. Created by Gëzim Os, this launcher is designed specifically for e-paper displays, and it solves what would otherwise be a dealbreaker: it allows you to see notifications from sideloaded apps. The stock Mudita software simply doesn't support this. Without inkOS, you'd have no way of knowing when you receive messages from apps you've installed yourself. Gëzim deserves tremendous credit for making the Kompakt actually usable as a daily driver.\n\n### FUTO Keyboard\n\nThe default on-screen keyboard that ships with the Kompakt is slow and difficult to use. I'm still waiting on T9 for the Pure, but at least on the Kompakt we have the ability to install alternatives. I replaced the stock keyboard with [FUTO Keyboard](https://keyboard.futo.org/), which also supports on-device voice typing. The voice recognition worked surprisingly well and made composing messages far more practical.\n\n### A Warm Lamp\n\nThe Kompakt features a two-toned flashlight with amber and white LEDs. The amber light is less disruptive to melatonin production, making it a thoughtful choice for nighttime use. To activate the flashlight though, you need to turn on the display, which has a bright white backlight. So you end up staring at a sleep-disrupting screen just to turn on a light designed not to disrupt your sleep. In practice, I found myself reaching for a warm lamp instead. The Pure had the same issue, and all of my other e-paper devices have warm backlights, so this felt like room for improvement that hasn't been addressed.\n\n### A Second Phone\n\nAs much as I wanted the Kompakt to handle everything, certain apps simply won't run without Google Play Services. Banking apps, ridesharing services, and anything requiring push notifications often fall into this category. I also missed having a capable camera for video recording. Unless you carry a dedicated camera, keeping a secondary device nearby remains necessary for these tasks.\n\n### The Right Mindset\n\nWhen I showed the Kompakt to a coworker, his first instinct was to install TikTok. It technically works, and watching him scroll through videos on an e-paper display at roughly three frames per second was genuinely entertaining. It did highlight that the Kompakt rewards a particular approach to technology: one where the goal is using your phone less, not finding creative ways to use it more.\n\n\n\n## Setup Guide\n\nIf you decide to get a Kompakt, here's how I recommend setting it up:\n\n1. **Sideload Aurora Store and F-Droid.** These will give you access to the apps you need.\n\n2. **Install FUTO Keyboard.** Through F-Droid, add the [FUTO repository](https://keyboard.futo.org/) and install FUTO Keyboard. Your typing experience will improve dramatically.\n\n3. **Install inkOS.** This will serve as your launcher and provide notification support for sideloaded apps.\n\n4. **Remove the stock launcher.** You can do this via ADB using [WebADB](https://app.webadb.com/shell) in your browser:\n\n```bash\npm disable-user --user 0 com.mudita.launcher\n```\n\n5. **Configure the system font.** In the ADB shell, run these commands to improve text readability on the e-paper display:\n\n```bash\nsettings put system font_scale 0.90\nsettings put secure accessibility_bold_text 1\n```\n\nIf you're in Australia, note that the Vodafone network will be dropping support for the Kompakt's IMEI. Belong or ALDI Mobile are Telstra MVNOs that should remain compatible.\n\n\n\n## What I Liked\n\n### The Display\n\nThe e-paper screen is pleasant to look at and performs exceptionally well in direct sunlight, far better than any traditional smartphone display. I was expecting a higher PPI panel based on my experience with other e-paper devices, and the Kompakt's display is noticeably lower resolution than the Hisense A9. Text rendering can appear slightly jagged, and the overall clarity doesn't quite match what I've become accustomed to. That said, it's not a dealbreaker. The partial refresh is smooth for an e-paper device, and the screen remains easy on the eyes during extended use.\n\n### The Form Factor\n\nThe Kompakt is thick and chunky. With the case on, it matches the thickness of my MacBook Pro. But the compact dimensions mean the entire display is easily reachable with your thumbs. The bezels are large, but I didn't find this bothersome in practice. Overall, the phone feels solid and well-constructed.\n\n### Sound and Call Quality\n\nPhone calls worked reliably. Everyone I spoke with could hear me clearly, and I had no trouble understanding them. The built-in speakers aren't suitable for music, but the phone includes a headphone jack and supports Bluetooth audio devices, so I have no complaints here.\n\n## Closing Thoughts\n\nThe Mudita Kompakt represents genuine progress in the e-paper phone space. With the right software additions, it can serve as a capable minimalist phone. But it's not yet a device I can recommend without caveats. The reliance on community-developed software for basic functionality, the need for a secondary device, and the display quality gap compared to competitors like the Hisense A9 mean it still feels like a device for enthusiasts rather than a polished product for everyone.\n\nFor those willing to put in the work, the Kompakt offers a compelling glimpse of what a mindful smartphone experience could look like. I'm hopeful that Mudita continues to refine both the hardware and software, because the foundation here is solid.\n"},{"path":"guides/minecraft-server-setup","frontmatter":{"title":"How to Set Up a Minecraft Server","shortTitle":"Minecraft Server","description":"A detailed step-by-step guide to setting up your own Minecraft server, from installation to configuration and troubleshooting.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2024-11-13T00:00:00.000Z","icon":"⛏️","shareImage":"https://kyle.au/img/mc-img.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/guides/minecraft-server-setup","keywords":["Minecraft","server setup","game server","multiplayer","server configuration","Minecraft hosting"],"tags":["Minecraft","server","guide","gaming","multiplayer"],"og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_AU"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","creator":"@KylePhillips"},"version":"1.0.0","technologies":["Java","Minecraft","Networking"],"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","difficulty":"Intermediate","timeToRead":"15 minutes"},"content":"\n![A screenshot of Minecraft gameplay](/img/mc-img.webp)\n\n## Getting Started\n\n### Prerequisites\n\nThe Minecraft Server executable requires the Java Runtime Environment to be installed on your computer. If you do not have Java installed, or think you may have an outdated version, you can download the latest version [here](https://java.com/en/download/).\n\n### Setting up the server files\n\nFirstly, you will need the server files.\n\n1. Go to the [Minecraft Server Download page](https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server) and download the `minecraft_server..jar` file.\n2. Create a new folder with a memorable name and move the `minecraft_server..jar` file into your new folder.\n3. Open the `minecraft_server..jar` file with Java by double-clicking on it.\n\nYou should now see some new files appear in your server directory.\n\n![In the server directory there is a subdirectory titled logs, and eula.txt, server.jar, and server.properties files](/img/server-files.webp)\n\n## Server Configuration\n\nTo host a Minecraft Server, you must agree to the End User License Agreement (EULA).\n\n1. Inside your server directory, you should be able to see a `eula.txt` file. Double-click on this file to open it.\n2. Read the contents of the file. Most importantly, read the [Minecraft EULA](https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula).\n3. Only if you agree to the EULA, change `eula=false` to `eula=true`.\n - *(If you don’t want to agree to the EULA, stop here and check out [Lunati](https://www.luanti.org/) or [Vintage Story](https://www.vintagestory.at/) instead!)*\n4. Save and close the `eula.txt` file.\n\n## Gathering Device Information\n\nYou’re going to need to gather unique details about your device and network configuration. This guide will help you find the IPv4 address and MAC Address of your Server Computer, and the Default Gateway address of your router.\n\n### Finding the local IPv4 Address of the Server Computer\n\nEach device in your home network has its own local IP (Internet Protocol) address. We need to find the IP address of the device that is hosting the Minecraft server.\n\n#### Windows Instructions\n\n1. Open the command prompt by holding down the `Windows` key and pressing `R` to bring up the Run dialog.\n2. Type `cmd` into the Run dialog and hit `Enter`.\n3. In the command prompt, type in `ipconfig` and hit `Enter`.\n4. Look for the line starting with `IPv4 Address` to find your IPv4 address. Make a note of this, as you will need it later.\n\n#### macOS Instructions\n\n1. Open the Terminal application from the Launchpad on macOS.\n2. In your terminal, type in `ipconfig getifaddr en0` and hit `Enter`.\n3. Your device’s IP address should be printed in the output. Make a note of this, as you will need it later.\n\n### Finding the Physical (MAC) Address of the Server Computer\n\nEach device has its own Media Access Control (MAC) address. You’ll need your device’s MAC Address to set a Static DHCP Lease.\n\n#### Windows Instructions\n\n1. Open the command prompt by holding down the `Windows` key and pressing `R`.\n2. Type `cmd` into the Run dialog and hit `Enter`.\n3. In the command prompt, type in `ipconfig` and hit `Enter`.\n4. Look for the line starting with `Physical Address` to find your MAC address. Make a note of this.\n\n#### macOS Instructions\n\n1. Open the Terminal application.\n2. In your terminal, type in `networksetup -listallhardwareports` and hit `Enter`.\n3. If connected via Wi-Fi, find the MAC Address below the line `Hardware Port: Wi-Fi`.\n - The address after `Ethernet Address:` is your MAC Address.\n4. If connected via Ethernet, find the MAC Address below `Hardware Port: Ethernet`.\n\n### Finding the Default Gateway address\n\n#### Windows Instructions\n\n1. Open the command prompt by holding down the `Windows` key and pressing `R`.\n2. Type `cmd` into the Run dialog and hit `Enter`.\n3. In the command prompt, type in `ipconfig` and hit `Enter`.\n4. Look for the line starting with `Default Gateway` to find your Default Gateway address.\n\n#### macOS Instructions\n\n1. Open the Terminal application.\n2. In your terminal, type in `netstat -nr | grep default` and hit `Enter`.\n3. Your default gateway address should be at the top of the output.\n\n## Router Configuration\n\nMost household routers have a web interface you can access via the Default Gateway Address.\n\n### Accessing the Router Administration panel\n\n1. Open a web browser and enter the Default Gateway address.\n2. If requested, default login credentials are usually `admin` for the username and either `password` or `admin` for the password.\n\n### Setting a Static DHCP lease for the Server Computer\n\nTo ensure the Server Computer’s IP address doesn’t change:\n\n1. Find the DHCP menu in the router configuration panel.\n2. Add a Static Lease for your Server Computer:\n - Set the Host Name to a short name for your device (e.g. `home-pc`, `server-pc`, or `kyles-laptop`).\n - Set the MAC Address to the Physical Address of the Server Computer.\n - Set the IP address to the IPv4 address of the Server Computer.\n\n### Port Forwarding\n\nTo allow external connections to your Minecraft Server:\n\n1. Find the Port Forwarding menu.\n2. Create a new Port Forwarding rule with these settings:\n - Set the configuration name to `Minecraft`.\n - Set the WAN and LAN port to `25565`.\n - Set the protocol to both `UDP` and `TCP`.\n - Set the destination IP address to the IPv4 address of the Server Computer.\n\nRemember to save the changes.\n\n## Configuring the Server Properties\n\n1. Open `server.properties` in the server directory with a text editor.\n2. Edit settings to suit your needs:\n - `server-ip=` should equal your server computer’s IPv4 address.\n - Set `op-permission-level=3` if you don’t want operators to stop the server.\n - Set `white-list=true` to configure a list of approved players.\n - Change `pvp=true` to `pvp=false` if you want to disable player-versus-player combat.\n - Switch `gamemode=survival` to `gamemode=creative` for Creative mode.\n - Set `difficulty=easy` to your preferred difficulty level.\n - Change `allow-flight=false` to `allow-flight=true` if you don’t want players kicked for false positives.\n\nFor more details on the `server.properties` file, refer to the [Minecraft Wiki Page](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Server.properties#Minecraft_server_properties).\n\n## Launching the Server\n\n### Basic Launch\n\n1. Right-click the `server.jar` file.\n2. Select `Open With…` and choose Java Runtime Environment.\n\n### Launching the server with a script\n\n#### Windows Instructions\n\n1. Right-click in your server folder and create a new text document.\n2. Rename the `New Text Document.txt` to `server.bat`.\n3. Edit `server.bat` to include the following:\n\n```bat\n@echo off\njava -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar server.jar nogui\nPAUSE\n```\n## Connecting to the Server\n\nOnce your server is up and running, players can connect to it using the IP address and port. Here are the steps to connect:\n\n### Connecting from the Same Network\n\n1. Open Minecraft on the device you want to play on.\n2. Go to the multiplayer section and select \"Direct Connect.\"\n3. Enter the local IPv4 address of your server computer followed by `:25565` (e.g., `192.168.1.100:25565`).\n4. Click \"Join Server\" to connect.\n\n### Connecting from an External Network\n\nFor others to join from outside your network, you’ll need to give them your public IP address.\n\n1. Search \"What’s my IP\" in your web browser to find your public IP.\n2. Share this IP address followed by `:25565` (e.g., `203.0.113.45:25565`) with anyone who wants to join.\n\n**Note:** It’s generally safer to limit sharing your IP address only with people you trust. Setting up a whitelist in the `server.properties` file can also help control who can join.\n\n---\n\n## Troubleshooting Common Issues\n\n### \"Server is outdated\" Error\n\nIf you or your players see an error about the server being outdated, it’s likely due to using a newer version of Minecraft than your server supports. To resolve this:\n\n1. Update the server `.jar` file to the latest version from the [Minecraft Server Download page](https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server).\n2. Make sure that players are using the same Minecraft version as the server.\n\n### \"Cannot connect to server\" or \"Timed out\" Errors\n\nThis issue is often due to misconfigured network settings:\n\n- Double-check that the server’s IPv4 address hasn’t changed if you’re on a dynamic IP.\n- Verify that the port forwarding settings on your router are still set correctly.\n- Ensure any firewall on the server computer allows traffic on port 25565.\n\n### Performance Issues\n\nIf players experience lag or slow gameplay:\n\n- Consider increasing the server’s RAM allocation in the `server.bat` script by adjusting the `-Xms` and `-Xmx` options.\n- Reduce view distance and player slots in `server.properties`.\n- Ensure that your server computer meets Minecraft’s minimum hardware requirements.\n\n---\n\n## Additional Resources\n\nFor more detailed instructions and support, check out:\n\n- The [Minecraft Wiki](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Minecraft_Wiki) for comprehensive information on configuring servers.\n- [SpigotMC](https://www.spigotmc.org/) and [PaperMC](https://papermc.io/) if you’re interested in optimizing or modifying your server.\n- [Minecraft Forum](https://www.minecraftforum.net/) for community support and discussion.\n\nBy following these steps, you should have a fully operational Minecraft server that you and your friends can connect to and enjoy. Good luck, and have fun building!\n"},{"path":"blog/adapt-or-die-notes-2024","frontmatter":{"title":"Notes from Adapt or Die 2024 with David Goggins","shortTitle":"Adapt or Die Notes","description":"Detailed notes and insights from the Adapt or Die 2024 event in Melbourne, featuring speakers like David Goggins, sharing lessons on resilience, mindset, and growth.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2024-11-09T00:00:00.000Z","shareImage":"/img/blog/goggins.webp","icon":"notepad-text","tags":["David Goggins","resilience","personal growth","Adapt or Die","mindset","motivation"],"keywords":["David Goggins","Adapt or Die","personal development","mindset","resilience","Melbourne event"],"canonical":"https://kyle.au/blog/adapt-or-die-notes-2024","og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_AU","title":"Notes from Adapt or Die 2024 with David Goggins","description":"Explore my detailed notes from Adapt or Die 2024 in Melbourne, highlighting valuable lessons on resilience, personal growth, and success from speakers like David Goggins.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/adapt-or-die-goggins.webp"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","title":"Notes from Adapt or Die 2024","description":"Detailed notes from Adapt or Die 2024, featuring David Goggins and other speakers sharing lessons on mindset and growth.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/adapt-or-die-goggins.webp"},"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","timeToRead":"20 minutes","difficulty":"Intermediate","eventDate":"2024-11-09","location":"Melbourne, Australia"},"content":"\n\n\nThese are the notes that I took at the Adapt or Die 2024 event in Melbourne.\n\n\n\n## Table of Contents\n\n\n- [Speaker 1](#speaker-1)\n * [The Duality of Success and Struggle](#the-duality-of-success-and-struggle)\n * [Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Finish Line](#embracing-the-journey-not-just-the-finish-line)\n * [Principles of Growth and Personal Adventure](#principles-of-growth-and-personal-adventure)\n * [Connecting Talents and Opportunities](#connecting-talents-and-opportunities)\n * [Lessons from Failure and Discomfort](#lessons-from-failure-and-discomfort)\n * [Physical and Mental Resilience](#physical-and-mental-resilience)\n * [Simplicity, Adaptation, and Risk](#simplicity-adaptation-and-risk)\n * [Mental Resilience and Endurance](#mental-resilience-and-endurance)\n * [Personal Responsibility and Emotional Health](#personal-responsibility-and-emotional-health)\n * [Influence of Environment and Connections](#influence-of-environment-and-connections)\n * [Importance of Rest and Focused Energy](#importance-of-rest-and-focused-energy)\n * [Respecting Limits and Knowing When to Yield](#respecting-limits-and-knowing-when-to-yield)\n- [Speaker 2](#speaker-2)\n * [Economic Perspective and Policy](#economic-perspective-and-policy)\n * [Starting a Business](#starting-a-business)\n * [Mindset and Resilience](#mindset-and-resilience)\n * [The Importance of Systems](#the-importance-of-systems)\n * [Personal Branding and Authenticity](#personal-branding-and-authenticity)\n * [Continuous Improvement and Passion](#continuous-improvement-and-passion)\n * [Pressure and Resilience](#pressure-and-resilience)\n * [Communication and Respect](#communication-and-respect)\n * [Health, Wealth, and Legacy](#health-wealth-and-legacy)\n- [Speaker 3](#speaker-3)\n * [Marketing Strategy for 2025](#marketing-strategy-for-2025)\n * [Funnel Fundamentals](#funnel-fundamentals)\n * [Core Marketing Principles](#core-marketing-principles)\n * [Educational Marketing](#educational-marketing)\n * [9-Step Funnel Process](#9-step-funnel-process)\n * [Media Buying](#media-buying)\n * [AI in Marketing](#ai-in-marketing)\n * [Effective Headlines and Offers](#effective-headlines-and-offers)\n * [Funnel Types by Industry](#funnel-types-by-industry)\n * [Mindset for Success](#mindset-for-success)\n- [Speaker 4](#speaker-4)\n * [What is an Empire?](#what-is-an-empire)\n * [Approaches to Starting and Building Wealth](#approaches-to-starting-and-building-wealth)\n * [The Importance of Mindset](#the-importance-of-mindset)\n * [Key Quote for Inspiration](#key-quote-for-inspiration)\n * [The Australian Dream ](#the-australian-dream)\n * [The Path to Building Your Empire](#the-path-to-building-your-empire)\n * [Advantages of Starting a Business Now](#advantages-of-starting-a-business-now)\n * [Sales Techniques in Action](#sales-techniques-in-action)\n- [Speaker 5](#speaker-5)\n * [Athletic Success and Preparation](#athletic-success-and-preparation)\n * [Daily Training Routine](#daily-training-routine)\n * [Mindset and Motivation](#mindset-and-motivation)\n * [Focus on the Positive](#focus-on-the-positive)\n * [Long-term Sacrifices and Perspective](#long-term-sacrifices-and-perspective)\n * [Personal Growth and Faith](#personal-growth-and-faith)\n * [Self-Belief](#self-belief)\n- [Speaker 6](#speaker-6)\n * [What Does it Take to Succeed?](#what-does-it-take-to-succeed)\n * [Key Takeaways on Attitude and Mindset](#key-takeaways-on-attitude-and-mindset)\n * [Core Business Strategies](#core-business-strategies)\n * [Enemies of Success](#enemies-of-success)\n * [Self-Improvement](#self-improvement)\n * [Key Phrases and Concepts](#key-phrases-and-concepts)\n * [Strategy for Success](#strategy-for-success)\n * [Practical Advice](#practical-advice)\n * [Motivation and Mindset](#motivation-and-mindset)\n- [Speaker 7](#speaker-7)\n * [Finding Purpose](#finding-purpose)\n * [Overcoming Obstacles](#overcoming-obstacles)\n * [Building Character and Values](#building-character-and-values)\n * [Embracing Failure](#embracing-failure)\n * [Handling Others’ Opinions](#handling-others-opinions)\n * [Mindset and Personal Experimentation](#mindset-and-personal-experimentation)\n * [Facing Difficult Conversations](#facing-difficult-conversations)\n * [Staying Focused on Goals](#staying-focused-on-goals)\n * [Daily Habits for Self-Mastery](#daily-habits-for-self-mastery)\n\n\n\n## Speaker 1\n### The Duality of Success and Struggle\n\nGrowth lives in a duality of success and struggle, where:\n- **Moments of Success** - Standing atop mountains symbolizes achievement.\n- **Moments of Discomfort** - Growth also requires enduring discomfort, both physical and mental, pushing us beyond comfort zones.\n\n### Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Finish Line\n\nSuccess isn’t only the finish line; it’s essential to:\n- **Value the Process** - Remember tough moments with gratitude: \"I’ll appreciate this later.\"\n- **Face Uncertain Outcomes** - Embrace adventure with unknown outcomes and inevitable failures, creating unique paths.\n\n### Principles of Growth and Personal Adventure\n\n- **Breaking Invisible Rules** \n Challenge self-imposed rules that limit possibilities, like Samantha’s journey to break outdated beliefs and prepare for unexpected paths.\n \n- **Balancing Effort and Reflection** \n Growth has seasons of pushing forward and pulling back. Balance the known with the unknown to find your personal rhythm.\n \n- **Seeking Wise Counsel** \n Rely on those around you for perspective, helping to refresh creativity and calm the mind.\n \n\n### Connecting Talents and Opportunities\n\n- **Link Skills to Action** \n Sometimes success means connecting our skills with those who have the means to bring ideas to fruition.\n \n- **Hard Work and Dedication** \n Example: A team’s 16-hour days turned a fundraiser into a successful event with over $1.13 million raised for the Red Cross.\n \n\n### Lessons from Failure and Discomfort\n\n- **Gratitude for Failure** \n Embrace failure as a learning experience, seeing it as a stepping stone toward growth.\n \n- **Intentional Discomfort for Growth** \n Boldly step into discomfort; it often reveals hidden potential.\n \n- **Failure as a Progress Tool** \n When things don’t work out, reflect on what you’ve learned to bring you closer to success.\n \n\n### Physical and Mental Resilience\n\n- **Overcoming Physical Challenges** \n Physical challenges, even if unexpected, can be vital growth experiences.\n \n- **Selective Advice-Taking** \n Be open to advice but selective, adopting only what aligns with your journey.\n \n- **Pushing Boundaries for Results** \n \"If you want something new, you must be willing to try something new.\"\n \n\n### Simplicity, Adaptation, and Risk\n\n- **Simplicity for Clarity** \n Embrace simplicity to reduce overwhelm and maintain focus.\n \n- **Risk and Adaptation** \n True adventurers take risks, adapt, and learn from setbacks.\n \n\n### Mental Resilience and Endurance\n\n- **Mental Strength in Endurance** \n Challenges like ultramarathons are more mental than physical. Belief in oneself is key.\n \n- **Shoshin: A Beginner’s Mindset** \n Stay curious and free from assumptions for accelerated growth.\n \n- **Breaking Stagnation** \n Consistently shaking things up prevents regression.\n \n\n### Personal Responsibility and Emotional Health\n\n- **Mental Well-being** \n Caring for mental health is vital, and perseverance supports a fulfilling life.\n \n- **Composure Under Pressure** \n Calmly solving problems in adversity is an invaluable strength.\n \n\n### Influence of Environment and Connections\n\n- **Surrounding Yourself Wisely** \n Your circle affects how you handle challenges. Stay close to those who support your goals.\n\n### Importance of Rest and Focused Energy\n\n- **Power of the Pause** \n Pausing allows for thoughtful decision-making and prevents missteps.\n \n- **Choosing Worthy Battles** \n Decide which challenges deserve your energy, allowing time to regroup when needed.\n \n\n### Respecting Limits and Knowing When to Yield\n\n- **Accepting Nature’s Limits** \n Some things can’t be changed; resisting them only drains energy. Recognize when to yield.\n\n---\n\n## Speaker 2\n\n### Economic Perspective and Policy\n- **Interest Rates and Inflation**:\n - With the Reserve Bank aiming to lower inflation to 2%, there’s a question of when they will reduce interest rates.\n - Labour policy focuses on keeping unemployment down to 4%, while the Reserve Bank aims for 4.5% – creating a disconnect between fiscal policy and Reserve Bank policies.\n - Currently, 20% of Australia’s workforce is employed in public service, where job growth (6.1%) outpaces private sector growth by threefold. The government’s provision of jobs keeps unemployment low, though the productivity of these jobs remains questionable.\n\n### Starting a Business\n- **Advice for Aspiring Business Owners**:\n - Starting a business isn’t about motivation alone; it’s about commitment to learning, discipline, and systems.\n - Key traits of successful entrepreneurs:\n - Obsessive behaviour towards business\n - Avid learning and belief in systems\n - Dedication to research and continual improvement\n - Emphasis on documentation: 90% of what isn’t written down is often forgotten.\n\n### Mindset and Resilience\n- **Overcoming Fear of Failure**:\n - Failure is a natural part of the process. They regret worrying too much about what others thought when they failed early in their career.\n - Key lesson: embrace systems and processes to prevent mistakes and instill a sense of structure.\n\n### The Importance of Systems\n- **Systematise Your Work**:\n - Every aspect of business, from calendar management to task completion, should operate under a consistent system.\n - Incorporate systematic note-taking, task management, and planning to create a seamless workflow.\n- **Learning and Retention**:\n - Taking notes is critical, but so is processing the information—teach or share insights to embed them in memory.\n\n### Personal Branding and Authenticity\n- **The Value of Authentic Connections**:\n - \"Fake is the new real\" on social media – often, the wealth and luxury shown online are facades.\n - Instead of showcasing wealth, focus on genuine relationships and accomplishments.\n - Advice for social media: show who you are through meaningful interactions, not material possessions.\n\n### Continuous Improvement and Passion\n- **Developing Expertise**:\n - Aim to be the best in your field through passion and dedication.\n - It’s essential to “throw the box out” and innovate beyond existing structures.\n\n### Pressure and Resilience\n- **Handling Pressure**:\n - Pressure is a privilege; resilience is built by facing and overcoming challenges.\n - Learn from your mistakes and avoid the “all-or-nothing” mindset by focusing on incremental improvements.\n\n### Communication and Respect\n- **Respect in Leadership**:\n - Be mindful of language in leadership – swearing can impact perceptions of respect and influence.\n - True respect and class cannot be bought but must be earned.\n\n### Health, Wealth, and Legacy\n- **Project 100**:\n - Emphasizes taking control of one’s health, maintaining autonomy over well-being, and not relying solely on doctors.\n - \"When the money is on the table, take it\" – a reminder to seize opportunities and secure gains when they’re available.\n\n---\n\n## Speaker 3\n\n### Marketing Strategy for 2025\n- **Beyond Passion**: Success demands mastery in practical skills, particularly in marketing—not passion alone.\n \n- **Common Pitfalls**: Many businesses outsource marketing without understanding the metrics; owners must be hands-on marketing experts.\n\n- **Ad Mistakes**: Avoid generic claims about experience. Focus on how your service benefits the customer with compelling calls to action.\n\n- **Australian Social Media Use**: Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp dominate, but only 37% of businesses run ads, highlighting the gap in reach with DIY marketing.\n\n- **Key Ad Elements**: Engage viewers immediately, focusing on lead conversion through funnels rather than brand-building alone.\n\n### Funnel Fundamentals\n- **Definition**: Funnels are step-by-step customer journeys to drive engagement and conversion.\n- **Types**: Include upsells (additional purchases) and a focus on profitable metrics like leads, not vanity metrics.\n- **Effective Funnels**: Tailor steps to customer needs in health, wealth, and relationships; focus on education over hard selling.\n\n### Core Marketing Principles\n- **Preframe**: Prepare customers for your brand with consistent messaging, similar to movie trailers.\n- **Audience Awareness**: Differentiate between followers for visibility and leads for growth.\n\n### Educational Marketing\n- **Inform Over Pressure**: Empower customers with knowledge to make confident choices.\n- **Authentic Content**: Use real photos over stock images to build trust and relatability.\n\n### 9-Step Funnel Process\n1. **Foundations**: Identify target market, message, and offer.\n2. **Ad Campaigns**: Launch targeted ads.\n3. **Data Collection**: Track ad performance.\n4. **Email Marketing**: Essential for engagement.\n5. **SMS Marketing**: Direct and attention-grabbing.\n6. **Retargeting**: Reconnect with potential leads.\n7. **Sales Conversion**: Final funnel engagement.\n8. **Scaling**: Increase budget if ROI is high.\n\n### Media Buying\n- **Priority Platforms**: Start with Meta (Facebook, Instagram), expand to Google and YouTube.\n- **LinkedIn**: Costly but effective for B2B.\n\n### AI in Marketing\n- **Skill-Dependent**: AI enhances results based on the user’s expertise. Prioritize effectiveness over perfection.\n\n### Effective Headlines and Offers\n- **Template Use**: \"How to ___ without ___\" structures work well. Be Specific.\n- **Market Testing**: Test content with target audiences, not friends or family.\n\n### Funnel Types by Industry\n- **Restaurants & Subscriptions**: Use trials to engage, like HelloFresh’s free boxes.\n- **Tradespeople**: Offer tools like calculators and booking systems.\n- **Medical & Fitness**: Follow niche-targeting and compliance standards.\n- **Education**: Emphasize skill value over traditional paths.\n\n### Mindset for Success\n- **Marketing Excellence**: Profitability often lies in superior marketing, not solely in core services.\n- **Focus on Results**: Avoid vanity metrics; aim for meaningful, measurable outcomes.\n- **Self-Ownership**: Success requires personal dedication; no one will work harder for your goals than you.\n\n---\n\n## Speaker 4\n\n### What is an Empire?\n- **Definition**: An empire is a structure with multiple businesses generating multiple income streams.\n- **Risks of a Single Income Source**: Relying on one source is risky, as demonstrated by the pandemic; diversification is key to resilience.\n- **Strategy**: Emphasis on risk mitigation through multiple ventures, providing stability even during crises.\n\n### Approaches to Starting and Building Wealth\n\n1. **Starting a Company**: \n - Viable, but best pursued once you have capital you can afford to lose.\n - Emphasis on entering business as a pathway to fast returns compared to other avenues like property or stocks.\n\n2. **Alternative Pathways to Wealth**:\n - **Buying a Business**: Offers a head start with an existing structure and customer base.\n - **Equity Investment**: Involves buying shares in other people’s companies or being granted equity, creating passive income streams.\n - They invest in private equity, holding stakes in several private businesses valued at over $2.5 million.\n\n3. **Mindset Towards Wealth and Opportunity**:\n - Many people miss opportunities due to the preconception that they \"can’t afford it.\"\n - Higher education often lacks training on adapting to dynamic, real-world industries.\n\n### The Importance of Mindset\n\n- **Growth Mindset**: Embrace failure as a learning experience and maintain a positive attitude toward setbacks.\n- **Fixed Mindset**: Rigid thinking can hinder personal growth and adaptability.\n- **Proactive vs. Reactive Mindsets**: \n - Most people have a defensive stance, only responding to challenges.\n - A proactive, “What do I want?” mindset drives ambition and pursuit of goals rather than settling for what's available.\n\n### Key Quote for Inspiration\n\n> “You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft that you will die without ever realising your true potential.” \n> — David Goggins\n\n### The Australian Dream \n- **Context**: Originally a government marketing campaign to attract migrants.\n> Fact Check: This statement is false. The Australian Dream emerged more organically as a cultural ideal post-WWII, associated with homeownership and suburban living, and was not part of a formal government-led migration campaign.\n- **Current Relevance**: Encourages viewers to rethink their goals and strive beyond traditional aspirations.\n\n### The Path to Building Your Empire\n\n1. **Decide on Your Goals** \n - Identify what you truly want to achieve. Making a decision is the first step to meaningful change.\n\n2. **Commitment** \n - Decide on the sacrifices you’re willing to make within your ethical and moral boundaries.\n\n3. **M.A.I.A. (Massive And Immediate Action)** \n - No perfect moment exists to begin; start with what you have and keep pushing forward. \n - *Live by design, not by default.*\n\n### Advantages of Starting a Business Now\n\n1. **Quick Start & Lower Risk**: Starting a new business has become easier and more accessible.\n2. **Current Market Trends**: \n - 75% of business owners in Australia are aged over 65, many of whom are ready to sell due to a lack of succession interest.\n - 85% of business owners would sell if offered the right price.\n\n### Sales Techniques in Action\n\nTo promote their course, they employ:\n- **Value Anchoring**: Highlights the high value of the course content and reduces perceived cost to $10,000.\n- **Payment Plans**: Eases entry by breaking down the financial barrier.\n- **Limited-Time Offers**: Creates urgency with one-day-only offers and limited availability.\n- **Free Added Value**: Adds bonuses to enhance perceived value.\n- **Survivorship Bias in Testimonials**: Selects positive testimonials to reinforce course effectiveness.\n- **Countdown & QR Code**: Visual prompts to encourage quick decisions and easy access.\n\n---\n\n\n## Speaker 5\n\n### Athletic Success and Preparation\n - Success as an athlete relies on performing well and being prepared for training.\n - They trained as a professional athlete from age 14 to 24.\n - Daily structure from age 14 through Olympic-level training remained consistent.\n \n### Daily Training Routine\n - Wake-up time: 4:48 AM\n - Training hours: 5:30 - 8:00 AM\n - Olympic-level training involved swimming 15 km per day.\n - Other training elements included strength and conditioning, weight training, Pilates, and recovery.\n - Prioritized sleep to maximize recovery.\n\n### Mindset and Motivation\n - Early routines come with mental resistance—waking up early doesn't mean you feel motivated every day.\n - Focusing on the bigger picture helps overcome pain and struggle, allowing one to push through.\n - Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is crucial as it’s hard to rely on willpower alone.\n\n### Focus on the Positive\n - It’s easy to dwell on standout bad sessions, but essential to recognize all the good ones.\n - Having someone who can maintain the broader perspective is valuable for progress.\n - Don’t let fear be the loudest voice in your mind.\n\n### Long-term Sacrifices and Perspective\n - Sacrifices often don’t yield immediate results, and reaching the top is rare.\n - They reflected, “What if swimming is just the platform for something else?”\n - Avoid comparing past experiences directly to the present; it’s often unrealistic to expect identical outcomes after achieving high levels of success.\n\n### Personal Growth and Faith\n - They had a phase of doubt: \"I’m doing all these things, and they’re not working.\"\n - They sought hope and fulfillment, ultimately becoming Christian and moving to Dubai.\n\n### Self-Belief\n - Confidence and a \"can-do\" mentality are essential for achieving more.\n - Belief in one’s unique qualities fosters the resilience to pursue and reach higher goals.\n\n---\n\n## Speaker 6\n### What Does it Take to Succeed?\n\n**Success has three parts:**\n1. **Desire** – \"I want to be successful.\"\n2. **Commitment** – \"I am committed to success.\"\n3. **Execution** – This is where most people fall short.\n\n> **Most people don’t succeed** because they’re not willing to sacrifice everything. It's not enough to want success—you must be committed.\n\n- Success demands sacrifice. Many want success but lack the commitment to make sacrifices.\n- **Commitment matters** – without it, actions mean little.\n\n**Passion for Business and Growth**\n- **Be obsessed** with your growth and business.\n- *\"If you're not obsessed with growth, why not?\"*\n\n**Cultural Challenge:**\n- **Tall Poppy Syndrome** – It is a tendency sometimes for Australians to squash ambition before it fully blooms.\n\n### Key Takeaways on Attitude and Mindset\n\n- Negative people often have \"a problem for every solution\" – avoid them.\n- **Haters stem from jealousy**; there are no excuses, only choices.\n- **Winning is memorable** – “Name anybody who came second.”\n\n**Consistency and Mastery**\n- **18 minutes a day = 100 hours a year** – dedicating time daily to a subject can lead to mastery.\n\n### Core Business Strategies\n\n1. **Focus Areas** \n - **70%**: Building and monetizing relationships\n - **20%**: Marketing and branding \n *\"Sameness or labour distinction – branding feels risky here due to cultural concerns about being ‘too American’\"*\n - **10%**: Knowing your numbers\n\n2. **Eliminate Negativity** – Negative influences can weigh you down and stall growth.\n\n### Enemies of Success\n\n1. **Comfort Zone** – People often ease off the effort after achieving some success. *Be a paranoid optimist.*\n2. **Negative Mindset** – People who say \"I can't do it\" usually lack the right mindset.\n3. **Shortcuts** – People look for shortcuts rather than putting in the work.\n\n### Self-Improvement\n\n- **Biggest Weakness** – Identify your primary weakness, as it might prevent you from achieving your goals.\n- Turn your **top three weaknesses** into strengths through focused effort.\n\n### Key Phrases and Concepts\n\n- *\"If you're born broke, it’s not your fault, but if you die broke, it is.\"*\n- **Authenticity matters** – Never lose it by trying to imitate others.\n- *\"Failure + Perseverance = Success.\"*\n - Learning to fail is essential for success.\n- **Risk and Opportunity** – Removing risk removes opportunity.\n- **Self-worth** – \"Nothing is too good to be true. You deserve it.\"\n\n### Strategy for Success\n\n- **Invest in People** – Avoid deals without solid people behind them.\n- *\"It's about energy management, not time management.\"*\n- **Success is an investment** – You pay with either time or money.\n\n### Practical Advice\n\n- **Decision-Making** \n - Think about the best, worst, and most likely outcomes.\n - Make a decision within **5 seconds**, trusting your gut. (See *Tor Norretranders – The User Illusion*)\n\n- **Networking** \n - “Rich people go where rich people go; broke people go where broke people go.”\n\n### Motivation and Mindset\n\n- Focus on **adding value** – It doesn’t always cost money.\n- Avoid focusing solely on **referrals** – they alone won’t scale a business.\n- **Marketing vs. Branding**\n - Marketing is the engine; branding is the fuel.\n\n---\n\n## Speaker 7\n\n### Finding Purpose\n- **Starting Point**: When lacking clear purpose, start by focusing on self-improvement—you are all the purpose you need.\n- **Self-Love**: True care for yourself means striving to be your best so you’re ready when opportunities appear.\n\n### Overcoming Obstacles\n- **Challenges in Modern Society**: With 67% of Australians obese, society often chooses easy solutions (like Ozempic). Real, lasting results come from hard work and discipline.\n- **Personal Example**: They lost significant weight over eight months through persistence, not shortcuts.\n- **Choosing Self-Awareness**: They consciously rejected a victim mentality, challenging the status quo.\n\n### Building Character and Values\n- **Creating an Alter Ego**: They weren't born extraordinary; they faced abuse and adversity. They built their foundation by self-education and values based on personal integrity.\n- **Facing Hard Truths**: Honest self-reflection was key. They called themselves a \"loser\" by their standards, which pushed them to transform.\n\n### Embracing Failure\n- **Using Failure to Grow**: They needed to lose 106 pounds in three months for Navy entry. Despite repeated failures, they learned persistence.\n- **Celebrating Small Victories**: Each setback led to minor achievements, keeping them moving forward.\n\n### Handling Others’ Opinions\n- **Accepting Flaws**: Everyone has flaws; some are just better at hiding them.\n- **Vulnerability as Power**: Openly sharing struggles disarms others and removes the power from those who may try to use them against you.\n\n### Mindset and Personal Experimentation\n- **Self as Experiment**: They viewed themselves as a project to see what the “lowest form on earth” could become through relentless effort.\n- **Making Hard Decisions**: Transformation demands hard choices about your identity and sacrifices.\n\n### Facing Difficult Conversations\n- **Confronting Directly**: Instead of talking behind others' backs, They advocate addressing issues with people directly out of genuine care.\n\n### Staying Focused on Goals\n- **Avoiding Distractions**: Straying from focus limits potential.\n- **Leading by Example**: Align your actions with your words to set a credible example for others.\n\n### Daily Habits for Self-Mastery\n- **Discipline**: \n - Limit social distractions.\n - Avoid alcohol.\n - Commit to routines that foster self-improvement.\n\n- **“Self-Autopsy”**: Practice honest reflection to recognize both strengths and areas needing growth.\n\n- **Faith and Accountability**: Their relationship with God is based on tough accountability. They take responsibility and demonstrates commitment instead of blaming external factors."},{"path":"guides/self-hosted-outline-knowledge-base-setup-guide","frontmatter":{"title":"Self-Hosted Outline Knowledge Base Setup Guide","shortTitle":"Outline Server Setup","description":"A comprehensive guide to setting up and configuring an Outline open-source knowledge base and documentation server for your team.","author":"Kyle Phillips","icon":"/img/icons/outline.svg","date":"2024-09-11T00:00:00.000Z","publishedDate":"2024-09-11T00:00:00.000Z","modifiedDate":"2024-09-12T00:00:00.000Z","slug":"self-hosted-outline-knowledge-base-setup-guide","tags":["open-source","knowledge-base","outline","documentation","self-hosted"],"keywords":["self-hosted","open-source","documentation","knowledge base","Outline server setup"],"shareImage":"https://kyle.au/guides/blog/outline-knowledge-base-guide/outline-documentation.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/guides/self-hosted-outline-knowledge-base-setup-guide/","og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_GB","title":"Self-Hosted Outline Knowledge Base Setup Guide","description":"A comprehensive guide to setting up and configuring an Outline open-source knowledge base and documentation server for your team.","image":"https://kyle.au/guides/blog/outline-knowledge-base-guide/outline-documentation.webp"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","title":"Self-Hosted Outline Knowledge Base Setup Guide","description":"Learn how to set up and configure the open-source Outline knowledge base for your team.","image":"https://kyle.au/guides/blog/outline-knowledge-base-guide/outline-documentation.webp"},"robots":"index, follow","copyright":true,"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","technologies":["Docker","Node.js","PostgreSQL","Outline"],"difficulty":"Intermediate","timeToRead":"10 minutes","version":"1.1.0","repo":"https://github.com/outline/outline","live":"https://kyle.au/guides/self-hosted-outline-knowledge-base-setup-guide"},"content":"\n\n[Outline](https://www.getoutline.com/) is an open-source knowledge base and documentation platform that focuses on collaboration and [Zettelkasten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten)-style knowledge management. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of setting up a fully self-hosted Outline instance on an Ubuntu server using Docker and Docker Compose.\n\n![Outline Documentation Interface](/img/guides/outline-knowledge-base-guide/outline-documentation.webp)\n\nPlease note that an external authentication provider is required, Outline offers various authentication strategies, though basic email and password authentication is not supported. In this guide, we will use Microsoft Azure Authentication by setting up an Enterprise Application. Other supported authentication methods include Google, Slack, GitLab, and Discord.\n## Prerequisites\n- A server or virtual machine\n- Basic knowledge of Linux command line\n- Familiarity with Docker and Docker Compose\n- At least one supported authentication provider\n- A domain or subdomain for the server to point to\n## Step 1: Initial Server Setup\nBegin by configuring your Ubuntu Server environment. For detailed steps, refer to [this guide on setting up an Ubuntu Server](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/initial-server-setup-with-ubuntu). I recommend using a non-root user to manage the docker environment and configuration files.\n## Step 2: Install Docker and Docker Compose\nFor the official installation instructions for Docker, refer to [Docker's documentation](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/#install-using-the-repository).\nFollow the steps below to install Docker and Docker Compose.\n### Step 2.1: Update the system and install necessary prerequisites:\n```bash\nsudo apt-get update\nsudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl\n```\n### Step 2.2: Add Docker's official GPG key and repository:\n```bash\n# Add Docker's official GPG key:\nsudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings\nsudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc\nsudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc\n\n# Add the repository to Apt sources:\necho \\\n \"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \\\n $(. /etc/os-release && echo \"$VERSION_CODENAME\") stable\" | \\\n sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null\n```\n### Step 2.3: Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose:\n```bash\nsudo apt-get update\nsudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin\n```\n### Step 2.4: Verify the installation:\nRun the following command to confirm Docker is installed correctly:\n```bash\nsudo docker run hello-world\n```\n## Step 3: (Optional) Add User to Docker Group\nTo avoid using `sudo` with every Docker command, you can add your user to the Docker group. This step is optional but improves convenience when managing Docker containers.\n\n```bash\nsudo usermod -aG docker ${USER} && su - ${USER}\n```\n**Note:** The `su - ${USER}` command will log you out and log you back in as the current user, refreshing the group membership without needing a full restart.\n\nTo confirm the user has been successfully added to the Docker group, run:\n```bash\ngroups\n```\nEnsure `docker` is listed as one of the groups.\n\n**Important:** Adding your user to the Docker group grants it root-level access, so ensure this is appropriate for your environment. For security-conscious environments, consider the implications of bypassing `sudo` for Docker commands.\n## Step 4: Set up the Authentication Provider\nFor this guide, we will be setting up Microsoft Azure Authentication using a connected Enterprise Application. If you would prefer to configure one of the other supported authentication providers instead, [official documentation can be found here](https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/doc/authentication-7ViKRmRY5o).\n\nYou will be required to make a note of the following 3 values. Keep this template handy in a separate text editor so you can replace each value as you proceed.\n```\nAZURE_CLIENT_ID=xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx\nAZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX\nAZURE_RESOURCE_APP_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000\n```\n### Step 4.1: Set Up Application in Microsoft Azure\n1. Go to [portal.azure.com](http://portal.azure.com).\n2. In the left sidebar, select **Microsoft Entra ID** (previously called Azure Active Directory).\n3. Navigate to **App registrations** and select **+ New registration**.\n### Step 4.2: Configure Application Settings\n1. Under **Supported account types**, choose **Accounts in this organisational directory only**.\n2. For the **Redirect URI**, select **Web** and enter the following URL:\n```\nhttps://outline.yourdomain.com/auth/azure.callback\n```\n3. Save the new app registration.\n4. After saving, make a note of the **Client ID**, which will look similar to this:\n `00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000`\n### Step 4.3: Set API Permissions\n1. In the left sidebar, select **API permissions**.\n2. Click **+ Add a permission** and select **Microsoft Graph API**.\n3. Add the following **delegated permissions**:\n - email\n - offline_access\n - profile\n\n![Microsoft Graph API Permission Selection](/img/guides/outline-knowledge-base-guide/microsoft-graph1.webp)\n\n4. Save your changes.\n\n### Step 4.4: Create Client Secret\n1. In the left sidebar, select **Certificates and secrets**.\n2. Click **+ New client secret**, give it a descriptive name like \"wiki\", and set the expiration to 730 days (24 months). The expiration date will be shown, for example: _21 August 2026_.\n3. After saving, make sure to **note the resulting secret value**. You won’t be able to view it again later, and it should look like this:\n `XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX`\n### Step 4.5: Find the Resource App ID\n1. In the left sidebar, select **Manifest**.\n2. Find the `resourceAppId` field and make a note of its value. It will look similar to this:\n `00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000`\n\nYour authentication strategy should be all good to go! Keep all the necessary values handy as we will be using them in the following step.\n## Step 5: Create and Run the Outline Docker Image\n### Step 5.1: Initialise the Project Directory\nUse the following command to create a new directory on the server for your Outline project. We will be using the home directory of a non-root user to store these configuration files.\n```bash\nmkdir -p /home/${USER}/docker && mkdir -p /home/${USER}/docker/logs && cd /home/${USER}/docker\n```\nYou can use the following command to download the example environment variables and docker compose file for the next steps\n```bash\ncurl -O https://gitlab.com/-/snippets/3746346/raw/main/outline.env && curl -O https://gitlab.com/-/snippets/3746346/raw/main/docker-compose.yml\n```\n### Step 5.2: Configure your Environment Variables\nWe will begin by configuring the environment variables in the `outline.env` file. Let's start by but first we will go through the required changes.\n\nFor the `SECRET_KEY` and `UTILS_SECRET` we will generate 32 byte random strings. We can do this using the following command:\n```bash\nsed -i -e \"s|SECRET_KEY=.*|SECRET_KEY=$(openssl rand -hex 32)|\" \\\n -e \"s|UTILS_SECRET=.*|UTILS_SECRET=$(openssl rand -hex 32)|\" \\\n -e 's/\\r$//' outline.env\n```\nAlternatively, you can execute this command in another terminal for each line and copy and paste the output into the respective fields in the `outline.env` file using a text editor of your choice.\n```bash\nopenssl rand -hex 32\n```\n\nOpen the `outline.env` file in your preferred text editor and change the `URL` to the address you will be using for your server, and set the `POSTGRES_PASSWORD`. Keep a note of the Postgres password since it will be required in the next step.\n\nFinally, set the Azure Login Authentication Variables from the authentication provider we configured in Step 5. If you configured an alternative authentication provider, remove the `AZURE` specific variables included below and instead use the alternatives provided in the official documentation.\n\n```bash\n## Required Variables\nNODE_ENV=production\nSECRET_KEY=\nUTILS_SECRET=\nFORCE_HTTPS=false\nENABLE_UPDATES=true\nWEB_CONCURRENCY=10\n \n## Postgres Variables\nPOSTGRES_USER=outline\nPOSTGRES_PASSWORD=supersecretpassword\nPOSTGRES_DB=outline\nDATABASE_URL=postgres://outline:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@postgres:5432/outline\nPGSSLMODE=disable\n\n## Redis Variables\nREDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379\n \n## Domain Variables\nURL=https://outline.yourdomain.com\nPORT=3000\n \n## Rate Limiting Variables\nRATE_LIMITER_ENABLED=true\nRATE_LIMITER_DURATION_WINDOW=60\nRATE_LIMITER_REQUESTS=600\n \n## Local File Storage Variables - ONLY USE IF STORING ASSETS LOCALLY\nFILE_STORAGE=local\nFILE_STORAGE_LOCAL_ROOT_DIR=/var/lib/outline/data\nFILE_STORAGE_UPLOAD_MAX_SIZE=26214400\n \n## Azure Login Authentication Variables\nAZURE_CLIENT_ID=xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx\nAZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX\nAZURE_RESOURCE_APP_ID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000\n```\n### Step 5.3: Prepare the Docker Compose File\nOpen the `docker-compose.yml` file in your preferred text editor and update the `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` in the `docker-compose.yaml` with the password you used in the `outline.env` file.\n\n```yaml\nversion: \"3\"\n\nservices:\n outline:\n image: docker.getoutline.com/outlinewiki/outline:latest\n env_file: ./outline.env\n ports:\n - \"3000:3000\"\n volumes:\n - storage-data:/var/lib/outline/data\n depends_on:\n - postgres\n - redis\n\n redis:\n image: redis\n env_file: ./outline.env\n ports:\n - \"6379:6379\"\n volumes:\n - ./redis.conf:/redis.conf\n command: [\"redis-server\", \"/redis.conf\"]\n healthcheck:\n test: [\"CMD\", \"redis-cli\", \"ping\"]\n interval: 10s\n timeout: 30s\n retries: 3\n\n postgres:\n image: postgres\n env_file: ./outline.env\n ports:\n - \"5432:5432\"\n volumes:\n - database-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data\n healthcheck:\n test: [\"CMD\", \"pg_isready\", \"-d\", \"outline\", \"-U\", \"user\"]\n interval: 30s\n timeout: 20s\n retries: 3\n environment:\n POSTGRES_USER: \"outline\"\n POSTGRES_PASSWORD: \"supersecretpassword\"\n POSTGRES_DB: \"outline\"\n\nvolumes:\n storage-data:\n database-data:\n```\n### Step 5.4: Run Docker Compose\nNow that our Environment variables and Docker Compose file are set, let's launch our Docker containers by using the following command:\n```bash\ndocker compose up -d\n```\n\nYour Outline server should now be running! But before we can use it, we will need to set up the reverse proxy server in order to access it from the correct location.\n## Step 6: Configuring DNS, Nginx, and SSL Certificates\nConfigure the DNS settings of your domain to point to the IP address of the Outline server. We will be setting up an Nginx server as a reverse proxy to access our Outline server from outside our network.\n### Step 6.1: Nginx Setup\nProceed with the basic setup of Nginx on the server. This will be our secure reverse proxy for the Outline server.\n\n```bash\nsudo apt update\nsudo apt install nginx\nsudo ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'\nsudo ufw allow 'Nginx HTTPS'\n```\n\n### Step 6.2: Certificate Setup with Let's Encrypt\nWe'll use Let's Encrypt to obtain a free SSL certificate. This guide assumes you want a standard certificate for a single domain.\n#### Install Certbot\nFirst, install Certbot and the Nginx plugin:\n```bash\nsudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx\n```\n\n#### Obtain the SSL Certificate\nUse Certbot to obtain an SSL certificate for your domain. Replace `example.com` with your actual domain.\n```bash\nsudo certbot --nginx -d example.com\n```\n\nCertbot will handle the process of verifying your domain and obtaining the SSL certificate. It will also configure Nginx automatically for you.\n#### Verify the SSL Certificate\nCheck that your SSL certificate has been installed correctly by visiting your domain using HTTPS (e.g., `https://example.com`).\n### Configuring Nginx as a Reverse Proxy\n1. Remove the default site from Nginx:\n```bash\nsudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-available/default /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default\n```\n\n2. Create a new site configuration in `/etc/nginx/sites-available/outline`:\n```bash\nsudo vim /etc/nginx/sites-available/outline\n```\n\n3. Configure the following content in `/etc/nginx/sites-available/outline`:\n```nginx\nserver {\n listen 80;\n listen [::]:80;\n\n server_name example.com;\n\n return 301 https://$host$request_uri;\n}\n\nserver {\n listen 127.0.0.1;\n listen 443 ssl http2;\n listen [::]:443 ssl http2;\n\n server_name example.com;\n\n access_log off;\n error_log /home/sysop/docker/logs/error.log;\n\n # security - prevent information disclosure about server version\n server_tokens off;\n\n ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem;\n ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.pem;\n\n ssl_protocols TLSv1.2;\n ssl_ciphers 'EECDH+AESGCM:EDH+AESGCM:AES256+EECDH:AES256+EDH';\n\n ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;\n ssl_session_cache shared:SSL:10m;\n ssl_session_timeout 180m;\n\n ssl_stapling on;\n ssl_stapling_verify on;\n\n client_max_body_size 25m;\n\n location / {\n proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;\n\n proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;\n proxy_set_header Connection \"Upgrade\";\n proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;\n proxy_set_header Host $host;\n proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;\n proxy_set_header X-Scheme $scheme;\n proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;\n\n proxy_redirect off;\n }\n}\n```\n\n4. Create a symbolic link to enable the configuration:\n\n```bash\nsudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/outline /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/outline\n```\n\n5. Restart Nginx to apply the changes:\n\n```bash\nsudo systemctl restart nginx\n```\n\nYour Outline server should now be securely accessible on your domain. 🎉"},{"path":"guides/maintaining-appimage-aur-packages","frontmatter":{"title":"Maintaining AppImage AUR Packages","shortTitle":"AppImage AUR","description":"A guide on how to create, update, and maintain an AppImage AUR package on Arch Linux, complete with examples and best practices.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2023-07-17T00:00:00.000Z","layout":"/src/layouts/ArticleLayout.astro","icon":"archlinux","tags":["AUR","AppImage","Arch Linux","package management","open source"],"keywords":["AppImage","AUR","Arch Linux","PKGBUILD","package maintenance"],"shareImage":"https://kyle.au/img/articles/appimage-aur-guide.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/guides/maintaining-appimage-aur-packages","og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_AU","title":"Maintaining AppImage AUR Packages","description":"Learn how to create, update, and maintain AppImage AUR packages for Arch Linux. A step-by-step guide with best practices.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/articles/appimage-aur-guide.webp"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","title":"Maintaining AppImage AUR Packages","description":"A detailed guide on creating and updating AppImage AUR packages for Arch Linux.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/articles/appimage-aur-guide.webp"},"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","technologies":["Arch Linux","AUR","AppImage","PKGBUILD"],"difficulty":"Intermediate","timeToRead":"7 minutes","version":"1.0.0"},"content":"\nThese are my general notes on maintaining an AUR package which installs an AppImage on an Arch Linux device.\n\n## Creating an AUR package based on an Appimage\nI use Dave Parrish's [Dave Parrish's Better PKGBUILD Template for AppImage Packages](https://daveparrish.net/posts/2019-11-16-Better-AppImage-PKGBUILD-template.html) to create AUR packages for Appimages.\n\n## Downloading and Updating a Package\nFirstly, download the AUR Package if you haven't already.\n```bash\ngit clone ssh://aur@aur.archlinux.org/.git\n```\n\nIf you already have the AUR Package downloaded, make sure it is up to date with a `git pull`.\n\n## Update the PKGBUILD file\nUpdate the `pkgver` to the software version number which you are trying to install\nWhen a new version of the package is released, the `pkgrel` value must be reset to 1. With any changes to the PKGBUILD file after this, this value should be incremented by 1.\n\n## Verify and add the SHA256SUM \nBefore a package is installed, a checksum is performed to check for errors. If the checksum is not provided from the author, download the new version of the software and check its SHA256SUM value, and add it to the PKGBUILD.\n`shasum -a 256 `\n\nIf using vim, you can run the following command to insert the SHASUM into the current line:\n```bash\n:r!shasum -a 256 \n```\n\n## Generate the .SRCINFO file\nGenerate the package metadata\n```bash\nmakepkg --printsrcinfo > .SRCINFO\n```\n\n## Change origin\nIf you need to change the package origin, you can do so as follows\n```\ngit remote remove origin \ngit remote add origin ssh://aur@aur.archlinux.org/package.git\n```\n\n## Finalise Package Update\nOnce you have finished updating the PKGBUILD, you can now sync dependencies, prepare the package and install it with `makepkg -si`\nAfter successfully building and installing your package, you can remove the package files, commit and push your changes.\n```bash\nrm -rf src pkg *.AppImage *.pkg.tar.zst\ngit commit -m \"Updated to v1.0.0\"\ngit push\n```"},{"path":"blog/epaper-phones","frontmatter":{"title":"E-Paper Phones Aren't Ready Yet","shortTitle":"E-Paper Phones","description":"I tested the Mudita Pure and Hisense A9. Neither is good enough to recommend yet.","author":"Kyle Phillips","date":"2023-05-28T00:00:00.000Z","layout":"/src/layouts/ArticleLayout.astro","icon":"📱","shareImage":"/img/blog/mudita-pure.webp","tags":["digital minimalism","e-paper","Mudita Pure","Hisense A9","technology habits","privacy"],"keywords":["digital minimalism","e-paper phones","Mudita Pure","Hisense A9","technology detox","privacy-focused phones"],"canonical":"https://kyle.au/blog/epaper-phones","og":{"type":"article","locale":"en_AU","title":"E-Paper Phones Aren't Ready Yet","description":"I tested the Mudita Pure and Hisense A9. Neither is good enough to recommend yet.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/mudita-pure.webp"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image","title":"E-Paper Phones Aren't Ready Yet","description":"I tested the Mudita Pure and Hisense A9. Neither is good enough to recommend yet.","image":"https://kyle.au/img/blog/mudita-pure.webp"},"license":"CC-BY-SA 4.0","technologies":["Mudita Pure","Hisense A9","E-Paper Technology","Android"],"difficulty":"Beginner","timeToRead":"10 minutes","version":"1.0.0"},"content":"\n\n\nFor the past few years, I have been pursuing a healthier relationship with technology, one which allows me to work in IT, while also reducing my usage and dependency on technology.\n\nI started by deleting any apps and accounts I knew I could live without. I bid farewell to my Clash of Clans account, and reduced my social platforms down to just a few direct messaging services. My inbox stopped receiving so much junk, and my phone became boring but practical. This took a bit of getting used to at first, but I soon realised I no longer felt the incessant pull to constantly check in on my phone, and I welcomed the truly refreshing sense of liberation and clarity which it brought.\n\nHaving gone from at least 4 hours of daily phone usage to under half an hour on most days, I enjoyed my downtime disconnected from the online realm. But during the times I was connected, I was still looking to improve the way I interact with technology.\n\nI became drawn to the qualities of e-paper displays. Their paper-like appearance, easiness on the eyes, and impressive battery life seemed like the perfect way for me to strike a balance between staying connected and prioritising my well-being. As someone who enjoys reading, I decided an eReader would be a great way to get started with the technology, so I bought a Kobo and was incredibly pleased with the device.\n\nWith my eReader, I expanded beyond reading just eBooks. By utilising [Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/) and [KOReader](https://koreader.rocks/), I was reading blogs and articles, documentation, RSS feeds, and anything which would have required me to stare at an LED display for extended periods of time. This allowed me to engage with digital content without subjecting myself to the potential pitfalls of traditional screens.\n\nAs someone who no longer felt a strong need for a smartphone, I became interested in feature phones, often referred to as \"dumbphones,\" thanks to the insights of [Jose Briones](https://josebriones.org/), a writer and digital minimalist who explores minimalist phone options. One device that caught my attention was the [Light Phone 2](https://www.thelightphone.com/), a credit card-sized phone with an e-paper screen, designed to be used as little as possible. However, upon further investigation, I discovered a significant drawback: the inability to replace the battery without irreversibly damaging the phone. This limitation was disappointing, especially considering the reports of many long term users who are unable to rely on the phone for a full day without recharging.\n\nEventually I stumbled upon the [Mudita Pure](https://mudita.com/products/phones/mudita-pure/), a crowdfunded modern minimalist phone featuring a numeric keypad and an e-paper display. With its open-source operating system and focus on essential functions, coupled with a user-replaceable battery, I was filled with hope and anticipation for this project. However, despite the promising features, my experience with the Mudita Pure proved to be underwhelming.\n\n\n\nFollowing numerous delays, I finally received the phone, eager to put it to use. The phone had a great feel and held much promise. Unfortunately, the software lacked the polish I had anticipated. The included applications were often buggy and lacking in features. The low Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) antenna, which was intended to reduce radiation exposure, came at the expense of a reliable cellular connection. I frequently struggled with poor call quality, dropped calls and poor reception, significantly hindering the phone's effectiveness as a communication device.\n\nFurthermore, the absence of T9 predictive text, a widely used feature on traditional phones with numeric keypads, proved to be a major drawback. Typing messages and composing texts became a frustrating and time-consuming task, which was disappointing considering the phone's focus on simplicity and ease of use. After about a month as my primary phone, I decided to put it aside until improvements to the software had been made.\n\nDespite my disappointing experience with the Mudita Pure, my fascination with e-paper phones persisted. I soon discovered that Hisense manufactured Android-based phones equipped with fast-refreshing e-paper displays, and my curiosity was piqued. The prospect of combining the benefits of e-paper technology with the versatility of an Android operating system seemed promising and had the potential to address some of the shortcomings I had encountered before. With optimism and anticipation built within me, I ordered the Hisense A9 in hopes that it would finally provide the seamless and satisfying user experience I had been searching for.\n\n\n\nThe Hisense A9 with its fast-refreshing e-paper display proved to be the closest option to what I had envisioned, although it was not without its flaws. Immediately upon receiving the device, I dedicated myself to removing the excessive bloatware and potential spyware that came pre-installed. Taking control of my privacy and security was a top priority.\n\nArmed with tools like ClassyShark and the Android Developer Bridge, I meticulously reviewed each application, identifying and uninstalling those that contained invasive trackers or served no essential purpose on the phone. This process allowed me to curate a more personalised device that better aligned with my values and needs.\n\nAdditionally, I took advantage of alternative app stores like F-Droid and the Aurora Store to access and download applications that were more in line with my preferences. With time and effort, I managed to curate a decent collection of apps that served my essential needs and enhanced my overall smartphone experience. However, the lack of Google Play Services added further difficulties in receiving notifications reliably.\n\nWhile the Hisense A9 came closest to fulfilling my vision of an e-paper phone, it was still not perfect. The ongoing need for manual intervention to optimise the device and ensure a privacy-focused environment reminded me that a truly \"healthy\" phone, one that seamlessly combines e-paper technology with a user-friendly interface and privacy-conscious software, is still elusive.\n\nDespite its imperfections, the Hisense A9 with its fast-refreshing e-paper display represented a step in the right direction. It demonstrated that there is potential for e-paper phones to meet the needs of individuals seeking a more balanced and mindful smartphone experience. It is my hope that manufacturers will continue to refine these devices, addressing the limitations and incorporating user feedback to create smartphones that truly embody the principles of privacy, functionality, and well-being.\n"},{"path":"projects/theclan-wiki","frontmatter":{"title":"The Clan Wiki","date":"2023-05-18T00:00:00.000Z","icon":"⚔️","description":"A collaborative and interactive clan wiki built with Vue, Tailwind CSS, and Express.js, hosted on Render.","author":"Kyle Phillips","keywords":["wiki","clan","collaborative tool","community management","Vue","Tailwind CSS","Express.js"],"tags":["project","wiki","Vue","Tailwind CSS","Express.js"],"shareImage":"/img/thumbs/theclanwiki.webp","canonical":"https://kyle.au/projects/theclan-wiki","og":{"type":"website","locale":"en_AU"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image"},"version":"1.0.0","repo":"https://gitlab.com/kylephillips/theclan-wiki","live":"https://clan.kyle.au","license":"MIT","technologies":["Vue","Tailwind CSS","Express.js","Render"],"hosting":"Render"},"content":"\nWhen I played Clash of Clans, our clan had a wiki hosted by an old member on [coc.comma.sg](https://coc.comma.sg), running [DokuWiki](https://www.dokuwiki.org/dokuwiki). Most of the content was displayed on a single page, with the *Read This First* section located halfway down.\n\nTo improve navigation and the overall interface, I set up a new wiki using [Wiki.js](https://js.wiki/), which worked really well for a while. Eventually, I had the idea to learn Vue.js and Express.js by developing a custom site that would pull and display data from the Clash of Clans API.\n\nDisplaying each member's name and town hall level in the strategy table made it much easier to follow. Although I no longer play Clash, I still maintain the site, and the clan continues to win wars with it.\n\n![The Clan Wiki Website](/img/thumbs/theclanwiki.webp)\n\n## Links\n\n- [Project Website](https://theclan.wiki)\n- [Source Code](https://gitlab.com/kylephillips/theclan-wiki)"},{"path":"projects/warehouse-utilities","frontmatter":{"title":"Warehouse Utilities","date":"2022-07-26T00:00:00.000Z","icon":"📦","description":"A tool for generating warehouse labels with optimised text size, ensuring readability even from a distance.","author":"Kyle Phillips","keywords":["warehouse","label generator","utilities","logistics","readability","custom tools"],"tags":["project","utilities","warehouse","tools"],"shareImage":"https://kyle.au/img/thumbs/warehouseutilities.webp","og":{"type":"website","locale":"en_AU"},"twitter":{"card":"summary_large_image"},"version":"1.0.0","repo":"https://gitlab.com/kylephillips/warehouse-utilities/","live":"https://warehouseutilities.com/labels.html","license":"MIT","technologies":["HTML","CSS","JavaScript"]},"content":"\nI built this website while working as a general labourer in a warehouse. We needed the text on each label to be as large as possible without overflowing, so it could be easily read from the ground when placed at the top of the steel racking. Since I couldn’t find a tool to generate labels this way, I decided to create one myself.\n\n![The Warehouse Utilities Website](/img/thumbs/warehouseutilities.webp)\n\n## Links\n- [Project Website](https://warehouseutilities.com/labels.html)\n- [Source Code](https://gitlab.com/kylephillips/warehouse-utilities/)\n"}]

Projects