Freelancing: Ask Me Anything
This year will mark my tenth anniversary of freelancing full time, and my 25th anniversary of freelancing overall (I built my first commercial website in 2000 whilst at school, for…
2024 review of the year
2024 was a better year than 2023 in many ways - at least from a freelance perspective. I continued splitting my time between one-off projects (fewer in number but higher…
Docker could not find an available, non-overlapping IPv4 address pool
Docker by default seems to limit the number of networks to 31. I often exceedthis due to using Docker with most of my clients and side projects, which results in…
Java Web Services: Up and Running
This review was originally printed in the September 2013 edition of the UKUUG newsletter, which is now defunct. Title: Java Web Services: Up and Running (2nd edition)Authors: Martin KalinISBN: 9781449373870…
Vagrant: Up and Running
This review was originally printed in the June 2013 edition of the UKUUG newsletter, which is now defunct. Title: Vagrant: Up and RunningAuthors: Mitchell HashimotoISBN: 9781449335830 As a developer, one…
Rails for PHP Developers
This review was originally printed in the June 2008 edition of the UKUUG newsletter, which is now defunct. Title: Rails for PHP DevelopersAuthors: Derek Devries, Mike NabereznyISBN: 9781934356043 As someone…
Version Control with Subversion
This review was originally printed in the December 2008 edition of the UKUUG newsletter, which is now defunct. Title: Version Control with Subversion (2nd edition)Authors: C. Michael Pilato, Ben Collins-Sussman,…
Why projects don’t go ahead
In 2023, I started tracking why projects didn't go ahead, and in 2024 what 'channel' they came in via (referral, email, existing client etc.). I think the results are interesting,…
The challenges of keeping old systems running
A common thing that I'm asked to do is keep an old system running beyond the official end of life date. This happens a lot during my freelance work, and…
Rust training for FOSS developers
Last Saturday, I attended a training course on Rust for FOSS developers, run by Lars Wirzenius, who I've known for many years. It was free for 'people who already contribute…