Melroy van den Berg writes hands-on articles about GNU/Linux, networking, security, DevOps, software engineering and embedded hardware. The blog mixes step-by-step guides and deep dives, from DNS fundamentals with command-line experiments to self-hosting, servers, tooling and practical troubleshooting. Clear categories cover levels from beginner to advanced, making it useful both for learning core concepts and refining day-to-day workflows.
20 articles from this blog
An introduction to the Domain Name System (DNS), explaining its hierarchical structure, how DNS lookups work, and includes command-line examples.
A guide on migrating from Redis to Valkey on Ubuntu 24.04, covering installation and configuration as a drop-in replacement.
Bun 1.0, a fast JavaScript runtime and toolkit, is released as a potential Node.js alternative with built-in tools and performance benefits.
A guide to Linux server hardening covering security tools like Lynis and Docker Bench, plus OS and Docker security best practices.
A guide to installing and configuring the Starship cross-shell prompt, a customizable terminal enhancement for developers.
A guide to implementing GitLab's premium 'pull from remote repo' feature for free using a custom Docker image and GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
Part 3 of a server setup series, detailing the installation and performance configuration of services like Nginx for a development environment.
Part II of a Linux server setup guide, covering Docker installation, static IP configuration, and system cleanup on Ubuntu Server.
A technical guide on selecting and assembling high-end desktop hardware for a new home server to run various IT services.
An analysis of GPT-3's capabilities, potential for misuse in generating fake news and spam, and its exclusive licensing by Microsoft.
A developer documents building a DIY air quality monitoring system using sensors and a BeagleBone Black to measure CO2, particulate matter, and other factors.
A technical guide on planning and building a high-performance, future-proof 1GbE/10GbE home LAN using CAT6 cables, including tools and setup steps.
A guide on how to safely upgrade a self-hosted GitLab server, including creating backups and running update commands.
A technical overview of Telegram's features, including its open API, encryption, bots, cross-platform sync, and large group capabilities.
An introduction to Git hooks, explaining client-side and server-side hooks, their uses, and how to implement them with GitLab.
A guide to using Let's Encrypt for free, trusted TLS certificates, including setup with Nginx and comparisons to paid alternatives.
Explains the benefits of upgrading from PHP 5 to PHP 7, including major performance improvements, reduced memory usage, and new features.
A speculative look at future technologies including brain-computer interfaces, quantum computing, AI, and bio-implants.
A guide to using Usenet newsgroups, including how to set up the NZBGet client on Linux for downloading files.
A software engineer and DevOps architect shares his passion for technology, open-source projects, and self-hosted services.
