It's holiday break and I'm doing some config stuff. I keep thinking about wanting to set my computer up as a "magic terminal". Where it boots into the command line - maybe into some combo of a tmux and neovim session, and everything is magical but through this sort of retro command line interface.

I feel like I'm making progress but also getting caught in the weeds...

Replacing clock sprites

I did a couple of quick improvised desk additions today. Making a hole for a countdown timer to sit and a mounting system for a roll of paper. Real task management tools.

Embedded countdown timer and todo list scroll

Process

First custom digit upload:

hand four as four

More clock work:

custom three

Working on a clock

New keyboard cutout and tray - and keyboard!

I finally got my chocofi keyboard build working and then immediately felt like I wanted it lower - closer to my lap. Part of the idea of keeping my desk in perpetual prototype mode is that I feel empowered to do things like cut a tray out of it - so I did.

The first step was a hole

Teacups with handles added onto them

Bruce Sterling essay on the weird hand-made objects in Alexander Calder's home.

Tools hanging on tool stands hung on a french cleat.

I reorganized the garage space a bit and decided to finally try something I've watched many youtube videos on - a French cleat. In it's simplest form it's a board with one edge cut at a 45 degree angle. You can hang things on it with backers cut at the matching angle.

I love this kind of adjustability mostly because it cuts down on paralysis. I'm not sure how much I'll actually rearrange here (probably some) but the real advantage is I could make these tool holders without feeling like I'm 'locked in' to them or that I should deeply consider and optimize.

Screenshot of the UI for my MP4 converter web app in progress

The frontend to node server to ffmpeg app is basically working. I want to do something fun but also not too rabbit hole-y with the interface though.

Glitch art of four Raspberry Pi Zeros

By Caræsten. From https://bsky.app/profile/cara.city/post/3lbaudnhaak2n

Thinking about a clock

Figuring out clock layout

Post-processing effects demos

Blaze Smith demoing constraint.systems

constraint.systems demo by Blaze Smith on TikTok

Thanks to Maxim for letting me know this happened.

Screenshot of prototype for converting movie files and GIFs

Making progress on the web-frontend + node-server-to-call-ffmpeg movie/gif converter. Mainly so far learning Node sort of has access to all your files if you want it too... optimistic if still not entirely sure where this one is going.

Link project generative video-loop series

https://ertdfgcvb.xyz/projects/link/

Making of thread:

Screenshot of my desk with several computers out

Made some more wooden boxes. All the computers are out for some file transfer reorg.

I'm thinking about making a GIF/video converter with an HTML frontend that uses shell (ffmpeg and gifsicle) commands to do the conversions.

Screenshot of a figma prototype sketch

Desk with hanging box for mixer and hinged box for cords.

Three small additions to the desk today. Trying to tidy up based on where things have accumulated.

Open desk box with USB hubs.

Basement project table with sewing machine and marked off project section

I feel like these quick builds are an exercise in building intuition about "how wood goes together". And then using it is building intuition about "what makes a table feel good to use", that then feeds into the next build.

Process