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Command-Line Deep Dive: Mastering Shell and Utilities

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 9d

A powerful homelab starts at the command-line. Forget relying on layers of abstraction — learn to see what the system sees. Build real confidence with fundamental shell skills.
excalibursheath.com/article/2025...
#Linux #Homelab #Sysadmin #Shell #Automation

Start your homelab journey with a deep dive into Linux command-line mastery. Learn essential shell commands, file system navigation, permissions, package management, and set up a functional Ansible co...

Mastering Capture: Balancing Paper and Pixels

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Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 11d

Paper, pixels, or both? Your capture system works best when it fits your workflow. Try reviewing yesterday’s notes and pick one next action.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #ProductivityTips #MiddleWayMethod

Learn when to use analog vs digital capture for tasks, ideas, and reminders. Discover hybrid workflows that balance notebooks, index cards, and digital tools to maintain clarity, focus, and organized ...

System Automation: Updates, Logs, and Cron Jobs

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 11d

Logs, updates, cron jobs—automate the routine and free up your brain for the interesting stuff. Start with one small script today.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...
#SysAdmin #Automation #Productivity

Automate essential system tasks in your homelab. Learn how to schedule updates, rotate logs, and monitor system health with Bash scripts and cron jobs.

Processing Buffers: From Capture to Clarity to Action

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 13d

Capturing ideas is easy; acting on them is the challenge. Processing buffers help you turn notes into meaningful progress.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Productivity #Journaling #MiddleWayMethod #SelfImprovement

Learn how to process captured information into actionable tasks, goals, and projects using Middle-Way filters and frameworks. Discover how to apply the Project Filter, Stalled Decision Framework, and ...

From Scripts to Automation Platforms: Scaling Your Homelab

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 13d

Scaling your homelab? Manual scripts only get you so far. Learn practical automation techniques to keep your system running smoothly.
excalibursheath.com/article/2025...
#Homelab #Automation #SysAdmin #TechTips

Take your homelab automation beyond single scripts. Explore Infrastructure as Code, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and Salt to scale configuration and management across multiple systems.

Middle-Way Capture Tools: Digital, Notebook, & Tickler

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 20d

It’s not about paper vs. pixels — it’s about how you *use* them.
The right capture tool helps you act on ideas, not just collect them.
#productivity #journaling #mindfulness
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...

Discover effective capture tools in the Middle-Way Method to gather tasks, reminders, and insights reliably. Explore tickler systems, pocket notebooks, DIY notebooks, and digital apps, and see how the...

System Automation: Updates, Logs, and Cron Jobs

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 20d

Automation exposes your blind spots.
Every new script I added revealed another missing alert, failed dependency, or weak assumption.
Before scaling, test what happens when things *don’t* work.
#automation #homelab #devops
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...

Automate essential system tasks in your homelab. Learn how to schedule updates, rotate logs, and monitor system health with Bash scripts and cron jobs.

Mastering Capture: Balancing Paper and Pixels

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Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 23d

Digital apps or analog notebooks — which captures your best ideas?
This week’s article explores how to balance both and create a system that actually sticks.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#productivity #journaling #middlewaymethod #mindfulness

Learn when to use analog vs digital capture for tasks, ideas, and reminders. Discover hybrid workflows that balance notebooks, index cards, and digital tools to maintain clarity, focus, and organized ...

From Scripts to Automation Platforms: Scaling Your Homelab

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 23d

Scaling your homelab means more than bigger hardware — it’s about smarter automation.
Here’s how I moved from messy scripts to structured, scalable infrastructure using modern tools.
excalibursheath.com/article/2025...
#homelab #automation #selfhosting

Take your homelab automation beyond single scripts. Explore Infrastructure as Code, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and Salt to scale configuration and management across multiple systems.

Organize What Matters: Using Buffers to Prioritize and Act with Clarity

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 28d

“Clarity comes from putting first things first — not doing everything at once.” Productivity isn’t about speed — it’s about direction. Filters help you focus on what matters most. Read: middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...

Learn how to use the Middle-Way Method buffer to organize captured tasks and ideas, prioritize effectively, and maintain clarity in your workflow. Explore FIFO, LIFO, Deep Freeze, and Quick-Do strateg...

Scripting: Modularity, Parsing, and Reporting

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · 28d

“A modular script is easier to fix, extend, and reuse.”
Scripts aren’t hacks — they’re scalable tools. Modular design saves hours of rework.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...

Advance your homelab scripting skills with Bash, Perl, and Python. Learn to build reliable, testable, and modular scripts with logging, dry-run testing, and safe practices.

Middle-Way Capture Tools: Digital, Notebook, & Tickler

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Oct 7

Overwhelmed by tasks? A capture system clears mental clutter by turning notes into organized action. Digital, notebook, or tickler — pick the right tool. Read: middle-way-method.com/planning/pro... #Productivity

Discover effective capture tools in the Middle-Way Method to gather tasks, reminders, and insights reliably. Explore tickler systems, pocket notebooks, DIY notebooks, and digital apps, and see how the...

File Auditing and Security Tools

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Oct 7

New on ExcaliburSheath: File auditing & security tools in Linux. We cover `auditd`, `aide`, and rootkit detection with `chkrootkit` & `rkhunter`. Strengthen your homelab or server security now!
excalibursheath.com/article/2025...
#Linux #SysAdmin

Linux system administration requires more than just user permissions and firewall configurations to ensure true security. Even with strong setups, a compromi...

Mastering the Middle-Way Method Buffer: Organize, Prioritize, and Act with Clarity

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 30

New Article: **Organize, Prioritize & Act with Clarity**
Busy ≠ productive. Without structure, effort scatters. The Middle-Way Method helps you filter tasks, focus & act with clarity.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Productivity #Planning #Journaling

Learn how to use the Middle-Way Method buffer to organize captured tasks and ideas, prioritize effectively, and maintain clarity in your workflow. Explore FIFO, LIFO, Deep Freeze, and Quick-Do strateg...

System Automation: Updates, Logs, and Cron Jobs

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 30

New Guide: **System Automation: Updates, Logs & Cron**
Manual updates + ad-hoc log checks = wasted time & higher risk. Learn how to use cron, logs & automation to stay consistent.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...
#Linux #Automation #SysAdmin

Automate essential system tasks in your homelab. Learn how to schedule updates, rotate logs, and monitor system health with Bash scripts and cron jobs.

Closing the Loop: Integrating Insights

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 16

Closing the Loop — Integrating Insights into Action
Journaling gives insights, but they mean little unless applied. This article shows how to turn reflections into small, repeatable habits that actually stick.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #Productivity #Habits

Conclude the Middle-Way Mastery journaling series by connecting reflection to action. Learn how to integrate insights using Toolkit 4, track patterns, and align your journaling practice with your goal...

Scripting and Regex: Bash, Perl, and Python

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Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 16

New guide — Scripting and Regex: Bash, Perl, and Python
Too many scripts break because they skip regex. This guide shows clear, practical regex examples across Bash, Perl, and Python so you can automate text work reliably.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...
#Linux #Scripting #Regex

Learn foundational scripting and regex skills for homelabs with Bash, Perl, and Python. Automate tasks, parse logs, and enhance security and system management.

Journaling Rhythm: Building a Sustainable Reflection Practice

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 13

Journaling often fails because we force “perfect” daily routines. But reflection thrives on rhythm, not rigidity.
Experiment with weekly, monthly, or seasonal practices until journaling feels like support.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #SelfImprovement #Habits

Learn how to establish a sustainable journaling rhythm—daily, weekly, or as-needed—to enhance reflection, track patterns, and align your actions with your core values. Practical tips and structured pr...

Scaling Your Homelab: Scale-Up and Scale-Out for Resilience

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 13

When a homelab “just works,” growth planning often gets ignored.
Scaling UP = more horsepower. Scaling OUT = more nodes & redundancy.
Resilient labs use both. Don’t wait for downtime to force you into redesign.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...
#Homelab #Resilience #Systems

Learn how to scale your homelab efficiently with vertical (scale-up), horizontal (scale-out), and hybrid strategies. Explore network expansion, virtualization, load balancing, and best practices for m...

Closing the Loop: Turning Insights into Progress

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 8

New: Journaling Rhythm — Building Sustainable Reflection.
I’ve seen people give up, because they felt they’d failed after missing a single day. How to design a rhythm that fits your life so reflection actually sticks.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #Reflection

Learn how to establish a sustainable journaling rhythm—daily, weekly, or as-needed—to enhance reflection, track patterns, and align your actions with your core values. Practical tips and structured pr...

Securing Your Homelab: Tools, Automation, and Best Practices

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 8

New guide: Homelab Security Automation & Monitoring.
I used to ignore continuous monitoring in my lab until a rogue update crashed services. Automating alerts and basic security checks prevents small issues from becoming full outages.
excalibursheath.com/guide/2025/0...
#Homelab #Security

Explore advanced security strategies for homelabs, including layered defenses, firewall and IDS/IPS monitoring, VPNs, rootkit and file integrity tools, and automation techniques to protect devices and...

Journaling Approaches: From Insight to Clarity to Action

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 3

Hook: Some journaling approaches reveal patterns you didn’t know were there.
Actionable: Try different methods, track what works, and make reflection actionable.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #Reflection #SelfImprovement #MiddleWayMethod #ActionableInsights

Explore various journaling approaches to transform insight into clarity and actionable steps. Learn how different styles—freeform, prompts, lists, mind maps, and gratitude entries—can guide reflection...

Journaling Rhythm: Building a Sustainable Reflection Practice

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 3

Hook: Too many VMs can hurt more than help.
Actionable: Audit your stack, separate containers vs. VMs, and simplify management for better performance.
#Virtualization #Containers #VMs #SysAdminTips

Jordan @jordanjmc.bsky.social · Sep 1

Struggling to keep a journaling habit? This guide shows how to create a sustainable reflection practice that fits your daily life and builds long-term clarity.
middle-way-method.com/planning/pro...
#Journaling #SelfImprovement #ReflectionPractice #MiddleWayMethod #ProductivityTips

Learn how to establish a sustainable journaling rhythm—daily, weekly, or as-needed—to enhance reflection, track patterns, and align your actions with your core values. Practical tips and structured pr...