Ask Noah Show Ask Noah Show 472
11 snips
Dec 24, 2025 This week, the duo embarks on a holiday adventure, installing a smart lock and discussing Steve's programmable Christmas tree that dances with lights. They explore the ins and outs of structured wiring, covering Ethernet setups for home media and D&D gaming. The conversation shifts to evaluating local control devices like SwitchBot, while reflecting on consumer choices and gratitude. Finally, they dive into the latest open-source news, including exciting releases and security stories.
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Custom Music-Synced Christmas Tree
- Steve programs a Raspberry Pi to sequence his Christmas tree lights to music and has built about ten song sequences over five years.
- He keeps the exact MP3s privately because timing and song versions matter for synchronization.
Mac As An Untrusted Work Endpoint
- Steve had an embarrassing moment using a Red Hat-issued Mac during a client screen share because Mac shortcuts differ from his Linux habits.
- He treats the Mac as an untrusted endpoint on a guest network and remotes into it when needed.
Prefer Local Home Assistant Integration
- Choose devices that integrate locally with Home Assistant and meet 'works with Home Assistant' requirements when possible.
- Prefer devices certified for local control to avoid cloud dependence and preserve privacy and reliability.