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Ask HN: Most interesting tech you built for just yourself?

1901 points l2silver | 3 comments | 27 Apr 23 15:04 UTC | HN request time: 0.588s | source

Maybe you've created your own AR program for wearables that shows the definition of a word when you highlight it IRL, or you've built a personal calendar app for your family to display on a monitor in the kitchen. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear it.
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evandev ◴[28 Apr 23 16:14 UTC] No.35743318[source]▶
I created a todo thermal printer so that I can write messages whenever I remember something. For example when I'm lying in bed and I remember that I have to do something or reading a book and think that's a great thought that I should look more into someday.

Basically I have a mobile app that I can send a message to a api. Sometimes it's just a note, sometimes it is a todo item.

Then I have a raspberry pi that polls the api for new messages and prints them onto a receipt/thermal printer on my desk. Then every morning I usually look and see if there is a todo item, or more long term item.

I haven't exactly thought of how to store the messages, but basically when the "receipt" gets to CVS level, I rip it off and store it in in a document shelf organizer. Every few months I'll go through the receipt for any long term touch items.

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1. ffitch ◴[28 Apr 23 17:49 UTC] No.35744705[source]▶
Love that! I want to setup a little thermal printer connected to an endpoint too. Any tips on how to do this the easiest way? are there any prebuilt solutions, or kits?
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2. thrwawaygame236 ◴[29 Apr 23 20:41 UTC] No.35756950[source]▶
Some Star Micronics printers have a built in server that polls an endpoint that can point to any url.

They have different names for similar services. I think the one you want may be called CloudPRNT. I tried it a few years ago and it worked OK (had some issues with reconnecting when it lost the internet connection)

3. evandev ◴[01 May 23 17:53 UTC] No.35776565[source]▶
I just wrote a go program to directly write to the usb via gousb. I wrote the model of receipt printer that I used, but it's a very generic ebay receipt printer. https://github.com/moosilauke18/printodo-worker