Lessons From the Terminal – Real-World DevOps, Homelab, and Automation Logs by Petie Clark

Lessons from the Terminal

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From Side Projects to Scaling Up: Lessons I’m Carrying Forward

From Side Projects to Scaling Up: Lessons I’m Carrying Forward

🧠 Context / Why I Did This For the past few months, I’ve been building Steadfast — a personal productivity app that’s been equal parts fun, frustrating, and eye-opening. Like most of my projects, it started with a scratch-your-own-itch idea and quickly grew into something with real users, feedback loops, and

App Prototypes from the Terminal: 5 Christian Tools I’m Exploring for Real-World Impact

App Prototypes from the Terminal: 5 Christian Tools I’m Exploring for Real-World Impact

🧠 Context / Why I Did This I've always believed that tools should serve people, not the other way around. And as a developer who's both deeply technical and deeply rooted in my faith, I started asking a different kind of question: What can I build that strengthens

Baseline Setup, Part 6 – Automating the Rebuild with Git and Ansible

Baseline Setup, Part 6 – Automating the Rebuild with Git and Ansible

The final piece of the rebuild: how I use Ansible and Git to automate service deployment, node setup, and config management across my homelab—so I can rebuild fast when it matters.

Baseline Setup, Part 5 – Service Visibility with Homepage

Baseline Setup, Part 5 – Service Visibility with Homepage

See how I deployed Homepage in Kubernetes to create a clean, fast, and live dashboard for my homelab. From grouped services to container health, it’s my daily launchpad.

Baseline Setup, Part 4 – Centralized Authentication with Authentik

Baseline Setup, Part 4 – Centralized Authentication with Authentik

How I set up centralized authentication using Authentik for my homelab. With SSO, role-based access, and Traefik middleware, I finally have a login system that just works.

Baseline Setup, Part 3 – Dynamic Routing with Traefik

Baseline Setup, Part 3 – Dynamic Routing with Traefik

How I deployed Traefik in my MicroK8s cluster using static and dynamic configs. With per-service TOML files, Let's Encrypt, and zero drama, Traefik remains a cornerstone in my homelab setup.

Baseline Setup, Part 2 – Laying the Foundation with MicroK8s

Baseline Setup, Part 2 – Laying the Foundation with MicroK8s

Laying the foundation for my homelab rebuild with MicroK8s. This post covers why I chose it, how I configured it, and how my Ansible admin node (Overseer) keeps everything repeatable.

How I Designed My UniFi Network for Performance, Privacy, and Peace of Mind

How I Designed My UniFi Network for Performance, Privacy, and Peace of Mind

A behind-the-scenes look at how I designed and segmented my UniFi network—covering VLANs, Wi-Fi strategy, firewall rules, and how each subnet fits into my homelab and home life.

Baseline Setup, Part 1 – Rebuilding My Homelab from the Ground Up

Baseline Setup, Part 1 – Rebuilding My Homelab from the Ground Up

Rebuilding my homelab from the ground up after things got messy. This post kicks off a new series documenting the tools, configs, and decisions behind the new baseline.

Why I’m Writing This

Why I’m Writing This

A quick intro to who I am, why this blog exists, and what kind of real-world systems, tools, and lessons you’ll find here—from homelab builds to cloud automation.