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Bringing your site to the Fediverse: A practical guide for static sites - Part 1

Bringing your site to the Fediverse: A practical guide for static sites - Part 1

You can find the index and other parts of this series here. This blog is on the fediverse! You can discover and follow the blog (@blog@maho.dev) and comment on its posts from your Mastodon app. I spent the last couple of weeks getting this blog onto the social web (aka fediverse), investing an hour here and there (I hope you are reading this from Mastodon, btw). It was fun and a very exciting learning experience, and I want to share not only my reflections but also create a guide so others can do the same, to move the needle a little bit in the right direction.

A guide to implement ActivityPub in a static site (or any website)

A guide to implement ActivityPub in a static site (or any website)

Hi! I have created this index for easy navigation. In Part 1, we will discuss why it is important to bring your site to the Fediverse. In Part 2, we will delve into an overview of the design of my implementation. In Part 3, we will make your blog discovereable in the fediverse. In Part 4, we will generate our notes and outbox, which contains posts ready to be shared in the Fediverse.

How Machines Took Over the Internet, and Why We Need to Take It Back!

How Machines Took Over the Internet, and Why We Need to Take It Back!

Rediscovering Human Connection While AI may be the buzz today, I believe there is other technology gaining traction with a significant impact, paradoxically in the opposite direction—people taking control back from machines. I began evangelizing Linux and FOSS in the early 2000s. I was an idealist fueled by the vision of a digital world built on collaboration, transparency, and freedom. I never really thought that “this was the year of Linux on the desktop,” but I was happy to spend hours configuring X.

Mentorship Matters: Building Your Tech Career with Guidance and Insight

Mentorship Matters: Building Your Tech Career with Guidance and Insight

Entering the tech industry is a mix of opportunities, skills, and pure luck. For many of us, breaking into BigTech felt more like winning a lottery ticket than following a structured path. However, there is one methodical action to change that. And when I say I had luck, it’s not because I lack intelligence, determination, or grit. I possess all of these qualities, as do many others reading this post. There are likely individuals who are even smarter, more determined, and facing higher stakes.

Paying It Forward YouTube Interview

Paying It Forward YouTube Interview

I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with my colleague Peter Maynard, the dynamic force behind the YouTube channel Paying it Forward. Here’s a snapshot of our conversation: CAREER 03:47 - Did you know tech was the career you wanted to follow? 04:57 - What was it about software engineering that got you hooked? 06:02 - Have you faced any career setbacks? 07:10 - What is your perspective on mentorship?

The Allure of Software Prototypes, a Delight of Impermanence

The Allure of Software Prototypes, a Delight of Impermanence

The following post is a stream of consciousness about prototypes; it does not offer any practical advice (except that you should not get attached to a prototype or proof of concepts). If you are a pragmatic individual and do not have a beer at hand, I suggest you stop reading now. A prototype embodies the visionary essence of a product or idea, a future concept, but, ironically, it does not have a future, or at least it is created without the intention of having one.

Embracing Accents: Celebrating Diversity in Language and Culture

Embracing Accents: Celebrating Diversity in Language and Culture

Six years ago, I embarked on a journey to the United States, five years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop worrying about my English accent. In this time, I’ve come to realize the profound privilege of working in an industry, within a specific region, and alongside a team where I’ve never felt discriminated against. However, I’m not naive, neither oblivious to the challenges that still lie ahead as I continue to advance in my career.

Balancing Act: Navigating Personal and Professional Worlds

Balancing Act: Navigating Personal and Professional Worlds

I’m currently aboard an airplane with my heart soaring. It’s been a challenging Sunday as I embark on a 15+ hour work-related journey that will keep me away for a week. My child is back at home, perhaps getting ready for school right now. I’m just one of the countless individuals who find themselves in a similar situation, obliged to leave personal matters behind as they head to work. In my country, there’s a saying that encapsulates this approach: “de la puerta para adentro, solo negocios,” which roughly translates to “from the doorstep inward, it’s all business.

Navigating Risk: Lessons from Chernobyl for Software Development

Navigating Risk: Lessons from Chernobyl for Software Development

I have always found Chernobyl fascinating, it is a captivating tale of caution yes, but also a profound tale of wisdom. Chernobyl by Midjourney Chernobyl stands as a catalyst of chaos and a tragic human disaster, yet it also embodies the essence of ambition and reveals a perplexing paradox in its furnace of ambition. A few years ago, I was enthralled by the HBO miniseries that portrayed the catastrophic nuclear incident in Pripyat, Ukraine, a part of the Soviet Union at the time.

Linkedin Cringe

Linkedin Cringe

Most of the posts in my LinkedIn timeline cause me a lot of cringe, more than what I can bear and what I was expecting. I feel that half of them want to sell me something (including CEOs sharing how amazing their teams are), and the other half are self-promoting. It is effectively a job market, and I am suspicious of every booth. The other day, I tried to be brave and post my unfiltered comments.