SumGuy's Ramblings
The art of wasting time.
Docker, self-hosting, AI/LLM, Linux, and DevOps — explained by someone who learned the hard way. No fluff, no enterprise jargon, just practical stuff that actually works on real hardware.
Recent Posts
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Off-Site Encrypted Backup with rsync.net
Why rsync.net is the no-BS off-site backup target for Restic and Borg: SSH-only ZFS, free snapshots, honest $5/TB pricing, and no egress fee ambush.
13 min read -
ZFS Tuning for SSDs and NVMe
ZFS tuning for SSDs and NVMe: ARC sizing, recordsize, autotrim, sync modes, and why defaults built for spinning rust fail on flash.
13 min read -
SigNoz vs Jaeger for Tracing
Jaeger does distributed tracing only; SigNoz bundles traces, metrics, and logs. Which should you self-host? Here's the honest breakdown.
12 min read -
Backup Workflow Patterns That Work
Backup patterns that survive disasters: snapshot, replication, off-site. Retention, safety, and the 3-2-1 model done right.
10 min read -
The Free Tier Rug Pull
Free AI tiers are loans against a future price, paid in your data, your architecture, or your time. Here's the collateral to check before you build on one.
7 min read -
Real-ESRGAN & Upscaling Tools
Image upscaling with Real-ESRGAN, super-resolution AI models, ComfyUI workflows, and practical upscaler comparison for self-hosted setups.
9 min read -
ControlNet & LoRA: Advanced Image Control
Master ControlNet and LoRA for precise image generation control in Stable Diffusion. Learn Canny edges, depth, pose, scribbles, tiling, and style stacking in ComfyUI.
13 min read -
API vs Self-Hosted LLMs: The Real Cost
API vs self-hosted LLM cost reality, GPU TCO, privacy, latency, break-even math. When paying OpenAI/Anthropic wins. When local wins.
10 min read -
Free AI Image Gen vs Your Own GPU
Free AI image generators win on convenience but lose fast on volume, style consistency, and control. Here's the real break-even against running your own GPU.
12 min read -
RAG Beyond Vector Search: BM25, Hybrid, Re-ranking
RAG beyond dense embeddings: BM25 lexical search, hybrid retrieval (RRF, weighted fusion), cross-encoder re-rankers (BGE, Cohere, Jina). When pure vector search fails.
11 min read -
Kaniko & Buildah: Daemonless Container Builds
Daemonless OCI image builds in CI without Docker-in-Docker risks. Kaniko vs Buildah compared, when each fits, and which one suits your pipeline.
10 min read -
Podman Compose for Docker-Free Workflows
Drop Docker's daemon entirely. Podman rootless containers with podman-compose, drop-in compatibility, daemonless orchestration, and where it bites you.
9 min read
