Projects

Currently Planned:

Accomplished:

  • Truncate achievements to 100 words and have their own page for the post.
  • Add fullscreen capabilities for images or implement bootstrap's carousel.
  • Add a forum to this website for users to freely post.
  • Implement roles CRUD permission.
  • Build a NAS Server.
  • Use JellyFin or Plex and host own Netflix-like media consumption.
  • More to come...
  • Created a basic website.
  • Host website on Raspberry Pi.
  • Buy and configure to use custom domain.

Achievements

Learning to Solder

Working on circuits was one of my interests that I hardly ever got to do after finishing the two terms. I was going through the tables of the crazy bins that had recently arrived in Winnipeg in search of anything practical to buy when I came across a soldering practice board that was covered in resistors, pre-made PCB, and other components. I purchased it out of interest, but owing to school, I didn't get around to complete it until this summer. Opening the package revealed a manual written in a different language, which surprised me much because I had assumed I wouldn't be able to finish the modest project. Fortunately, the pcb that was included had labels. Basically, all I had to do was solder and tidy up the wire ends. My soldering skills and ability to comprehend circuits have both improved thanks to this kit.

Soldering
Building a Computer

These specs were meant to run at 1080p 60 fps on the highest quality possible and this build I had originally setup was very good in the last few years but now in modern games it starting to show its age and cannot keep up with the demand I had originally set it as. Recently I have upgraded to a X570 motherboard, Ryzen 9 5900X, 32 GB DDR4, RTX 3070Ti with a very well-built case from Fractal Design. These parts were chosen to run all my modern games at 1080p 144fps at the highest quality possible and lasting for another 5 to 6 years. With this knowledge I have learned that I deserve a treat once and awhile and that I am able to critically think over what components I need to get to meet my own expectations.

My Computer
Computer Troubleshooting

I used a program called MemTest86, which searches for failure sites, to identify that my RAM was defective. Once I had the application on a bootable USB stick, I booted it up on my test bench computer and ran it through eight passes before determining which stick was defective. Due to my work schedule, this entire process took two to three days, however as a result, I was able to identify the problematic RAM stick.

MemTest86
Photo Editing

I searched the internet for a cartoon cat and cup of mug under the creative commons license, which allows me to change it without having to credit the original creator. I then gathered the necessary images and utilized a photo editing program called GIMP, which is short for GNU Image Manipulation Program and is comparable to Adobe Photoshop but is open source. I learnt how to utilize layering and masking with this tool, which allowed me to edit the photo of the cat and add an extra leg and edit its arm to make it look like it was hanging off a cartoon cup of coffee. The cup of coffee is piled in front of the cat, deliberately positioned so that the cat's arm hangs from it. I then use the clone tool to hide any edit errors in the image.

Group Logo
Repairing Computers

As soon as the laptop was in my possession, I took the SSD out and cloned it just in case. The motherboard was then transported outside when I removed the back chassis to reveal it. I switched off the lights and shined a flashlight onto the motherboard to see if there was dust accumulation, which there was, to see if the motherboard was harmed, which it wasn't. Fortunately, the smoothie avoided contacting anything else and merely dripped onto the fan rims. Isopropyl alcohol was used to completely clean the motherboard and chassis, leaving the parts incredibly clean. It was challenging to put the laptop back together since I had to remember where the ribbon cables went and where the screws went. I took the initiative to mark it with my phone and take pictures as I travel. The laptop runs incredibly quiet and has great thermals after being put back together, cleaned by being air blasted, and repasting the dried thermal.

Laptop Repair