A short note on maintaining my self-hosted website setup using Kubernetes, Docker, React, Hugo, MkDocs, Drone CI, HAProxy, n8n and ChatGPT-assisted monitoring.

Testing the simplified RS485 Building Block Board derived from the earlier RS485 and 48 V passthrough design, including baud rate testing over 20 m of Cat 6 cable.

Testing the input side of the Digital I/O Expander building block board, including shift register reads, input-to-output mirroring, and discovering a silkscreen labelling issue.

Receiving and beginning bench testing of the Rev A Digital IO Expander and RS485 building block boards, starting with output testing on the Digital IO Expander using a Raspberry Pi Pico 2W and MicroPython.

Improving the Protoworks demos and tools, including an in-browser Gerber viewer and an electrical engineering calculation workbench.

Thinking through the changing economics and risks of AI, and why businesses should treat AI as a powerful accelerator rather than something to build complete dependency on.

Sending the RS485 non-isolated board and revised Digital I/O Expander Board off for fabrication, while also preparing for future USB-C Power Delivery experiments using STM32 Nucleo development boards.

Creating a smaller non-isolated RS485 building block board based on lessons learned from the earlier RS485 and 48 V passthrough design.

A practical look at trying EasyEDA for PCB design, weighing its smooth JLCPCB/LCSC workflow against concerns about vendor lock-in and long-term project control.

Adding a couple of STM32 Nucleo boards to the bench for future embedded development work, USB-C Power Delivery experiments, and possible use in the Digital Sequencer project.