Not So Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why the
pfp-source link?
A: This was probably my first redirect link. I created it around October
of 2021 in response to being called out by an artist on Reddit for using
their art as my profile picture.
This page relies on a disorganized JSON file to determine where to redirect the user. The file contains a list of named keys that correspond to the image/post/wiki article I got the picture from. When I set my profile picture, I manually set the value of a key named "cur" to match the name of one of the keys from the list. When the pfp-source page is loaded, JavaScript code pulls the value of the "cur" key. It then looks for a key in the list by the name of whatever value it got from the "cur" key. It will then attempt to redirect to this link, if it exists.
Q: How are you running this server?
A: I've got a few older Intel Mac Minis sitting on the back of my desk
that I leave running.
One of them runs Ubuntu Server 22.04, and that's the one doing most of the work. This one handles the Apache web server, as well as running a private Minecraft SMP that I fire up when the friend group has nothing else to do.
Another system currently runs the disgrace that is Windows Server 2012. I chose Windows for that box because the only mail server software I'm capable of setting up and maintaining is Windows-exclusive. Though if I knew how to set up Postfix and Dovecot, I definitely would, since this disaster of an OS seems to corrupt itself every time I reboot it.
I've also got a box running a Pi-Hole instance as well as another running Home Assistant, though there's not much to add about these ones.
In the past, I used to run everything on my main PC, which I'd leave running as long as possible, only restarting every week or so for updates. Of course, as a Windows 7 user, I don't get much of those anymore, but certain software I use tends to start acting up when my uptime gets to 5 days or so. Anyways, Windows did a pretty half-decent job at running both Apache and a paper.jar in the background, but having dedicated server machines allows me to do whatever I want to my main PC without having to deal with server software every time I restart.
Q: Favorite USPSA classifier?
A: 21-01.
