Just added a new article to the VEX.blue BETA site: No Code' Is Bad

I’ve used no-code tools before, but building VEX.blue from scratch showed me the value of actually learning the basics.

From monthly fees to platform lock-in, this post is about why No Code works for some, but not for everyone.

Reply via your timeline 🌀
https://new.vex.blue/articles/2024/09/05/no-code-is-bad

#NoCode #WebDev #IndieWeb #Coding #WebDesign #HTML #CSS #JavaScript #VEXblue #Fediverse #OpenWeb #TechThoughts

I really want to upgrade my UniFi gear I got last year — it's all 1G, but I want 2.5G even though I currently have only 1G up and down fiber. I could upgrade to 2G fiber, though. 🤔 Choices...

Still, I'm holding off on all purchases unless necessary because of these tariffs and the economy going sour — all thanks to he who must not be named. 😒💸

#HomeNetworking #TechThoughts #Economy

🎬 Are you coding, or just gluing? 🎬
🔧 Frameworks, tools, dependencies… is software development collapsing under its own weight?
💡 Why are REST endpoints now rocket science?
⚙️ How did “simple” turn into layers of unnecessary complexity?
🚀 Rediscover simplicity, quality, and true innovation.
👨‍💻 It’s time to build, not glue.
Rethink development.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7275460622572544001/

#SoftwareDevelopment #Programming #DeveloperLife #TechThoughts #Frameworks #Simplicity #TechInnovation #Agile #Coding #Efficiency

Why I Chose GoToSocial for My Blog Instead of WordPress or Ghost

When I decided to host my blog, I found myself at a crossroads. I could go with WordPress or Ghost, but neither felt right. Enter GoToSocial—a lean, federated option that aligns with my goals and values. Here's why GoToSocial won out.

📝 The Contenders

• WordPress: Flexible, feature-packed, and plugin-heavy. The Swiss Army knife of blogging.
• Ghost: Sleek, modern, and writer-friendly with great tools for memberships.
• GoToSocial: A federated blogging platform supporting ActivityPub—perfect for reaching the wider fediverse.

🚀 Why WordPress Didn’t Make the Cut

WordPress is powerful, but with great power comes... bloat.

• Performance can suffer without careful optimization.
• While ActivityPub plugins exist, they’re bolted on—not a native feature.

I wanted something lighter and faster that worked out of the box.

👻 Why Ghost Was Tempting… But Not Quite Right

Ghost is fantastic for writers—modern, clean, and fast. If you’re building a paid membership blog, it’s ideal.

But here’s the catch:

• ActivityPub support is being developed, but it’s not ready yet.
• Ghost still offers tools I don’t need, and I’d pay for features I wouldn’t use.

I wanted a fediverse-native platform today.

🌲 Why GoToSocial Was the Perfect Fit

Here’s why GoToSocial stood out:

1. Federated by Design

GoToSocial supports ActivityPub natively. My blog posts aren’t trapped on a server—they can be followed, liked, and shared across Mastodon, Pixelfed, and beyond.

2. Lightweight and Minimal

Unlike WordPress or Ghost, GoToSocial isn’t weighed down by features I don’t need. It’s fast, clean, and efficient—exactly what I wanted.

3. Aligned with My Values

GoToSocial respects privacy, decentralization, and accessibility.

• No invasive tracking.
• Open-source and part of the federated web.

4. Perfect for My Needs

I don’t need SEO tools or flashy features—I just want to share thoughts, connect with others, and have my posts discoverable across the fediverse. GoToSocial does that perfectly.

🛠️ Not for Everyone—But Perfect for Me

If you need e-commerce tools, endless plugins, or subscription management, WordPress or Ghost might suit you better.

But if you want a simple, federated blog that:

• Is lightweight and fast,
• Respects privacy,
• Seamlessly connects to the fediverse,

…then GoToSocial is worth a look.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Choosing a blogging platform is all about finding what works for you. GoToSocial’s minimalism, fediverse integration, and open-source values made it the clear winner for me.

If you’re looking to share posts across the fediverse, give GoToSocial a try. Sometimes, the leanest tools are the ones that work best.

Hashtags

#GoToSocial #Blogging #Fediverse #ActivityPub #OpenSource #DecentralizedWeb #TechThoughts #WhyGoToSocial

🎙️💭 **Thoughts on NotebookLM** 🤖✨

While I see real value in **NotebookLM**, I don’t think it will replace the podcasts I love—especially my drama and sports ones! 🎭🏀 I *can* see it taking over some of my news shows though, especially since I’m getting less interested in all the commentary. 📰🤷‍♀️

Still on the fence about where **"The Rest is Entertainment"** falls... 🤔🎧 What do you think?

#NotebookLM #Podcasts #Drama #Sports #AI #TechThoughts #News #Entertainment

"In this unit, you will create a new project that is stored online in GitHub and connected to Netlify."

Why? You're a Static Site Generator - by the end of the tutorial, I know you'll give me a directory of files to put on my web server. Why do we always have to rely on external services? To be clear, in this context, I have nothing against GitHub or Netlify, but why do we always have to "promote" the idea of putting our data on other people's services?

As the years go by, I remain convinced that the world needs to refocus on the importance of keeping control of our own data.

And I am psychologically preparing for the call I will have in a few minutes, where interns will explain to me that the future is putting everything in the big tech cloud.

Even a static site generated by an SSG.

#DataOwnership #WebDevelopment #PrivacyMatters #SelfHosting #TechThoughts #DigitalSovereignty #OwnYourData