Why I Built Deckard
Building a Mac MCP server that lets my autonomous AI agents reach iCloud-hosted content over a Tailscale network, with per-token ACLs and a real trust boundary between agent and OS.
Mike Lapidakis · Writing
Notes from the homelab, AWS, and the tools I'm using to think.
Latest posts
UniFi PPSK Guide: Consolidate Multiple SSIDs with Private Pre-Shared Keys
Tired of broadcasting multiple WiFi networks for IoT devices? I used UniFi’s Private Pre-Shared Keys (PPSKs) to consolidate four SSIDs down to two - one password per VLAN, same network name. Perfect for managing trusted Matter devices alongside untrusted IoT gadgets without the clutter.
Photo Backup Bakeoff: PhotoPrism vs Immich
Which self-hosted photo and video platform is right for you? PhotoPrism and Immich both offer robust open source options for backing up, searching, and sharing your photographs on your own hardware. This is a review of the two options, from first hand experience.
Custom Domains in Apple's iCloud Mail: Two Years Later
Revisiting the state of Custom Domains on iCloud Mail two years after launch.
Sending Mastodon Bookmarks to Readwise
A guide on using Zapier to pull bookmarks in from Mastodon and send them to Readwise Reader.
Comparing Mastodon and GoToSocial
A brief comparison of Mastodon and GoToSocial from a systems administrator
Why I Built RelayList.com
Why I set out to build a trusted source for up-to-date information on Fediverse relays
Notes on Standing Up a Mastodon Server
A compilation of lessons learned while installing and tuning a small Mastodon server on AWS.
Adding Logseq Sharing to Feedbin
A quick guide to adding a quick capture share extension for Logseq to Feedbin
Securing Home Assistant with Cloudflare Zero Trust
A guide for setting up Cloudflare Zero Trust with Home Assistant for secure remote access
Why I switched from an Apple Watch to Garmin
My impressions of the Garmin Epix after seven years with an Apple Watch
A Month with the Tempest Weather Station
The personal weather station market is full of ugly, complicated contraptions. WeatherFlow's Tempest is a smart, connected, and sleek breath of fresh air.
An Ode to Apple's Hide My Email
Apple's Hide My Email feature is one of the most under-rated privacy launches of the past year, and here's why.
Thoughts on Custom Domains in Apple’s iCloud Mail
Insights on Apple's iCloud Mail Custom Domains after three months of heavy use.
Networked Thought and the Future of Note-Taking
Roam Research has changed the way I take notes through networked thought
HEY for Work: Getting Personal
Sharing the experience of using HEY for Work for a personal, custom domain name.
The Simple Joys of Static Websites
Learning to embrace simplicity and bask in the speed of static websites with Gatsby
Levels First Impressions: Tracking Metabolic Health
Initial impressions of Levels Health continuous glucose monitoring to improve metabolic health
NextDNS Part 2: Caching and the Unifi Dream Machine
A year later, and NextDNS is faster and quicker to set up
Microsoft and the Xbox-as-a-Service
Microsoft is lowering the barrier to entry for the next generation of its gaming console. How does this compare to previous programs and the subsided cell phone industry of the early 2000s?
On HEY…
My overview and thoughts on HEY, a new and opinionated email service from the creators of Basecamp.
Replacing Pi-hole with NextDNS
A how-to guide on setting up NextDNS on a RaspberryPi for your home network.
Lightroom CC + Fujifilm XT-2: A New Amateur Workflow
Creating a workflow for importing RAW photos from a Fuji X-T2 to an Apple iPad
Tagging and Snapshotting in AWS with Lambda
Two Lambda functions for AWS housekeeping: propagating EC2 instance tags to attached EBS volumes, ENIs, and snapshots, plus daily volume snapshots with automatic cleanup.