Daily computer
A Windows 11 laptop is the main workspace for school, programming, testing Windows installers, and processing photographs.
Uses
Tools I reach
for often.
A practical snapshot of the setup behind my software, homelab, and this website. I’ll refine the hardware details as the setup changes.
Last updated: September 2026
Current setup
Editor and source control
Visual Studio Code for most day-to-day work, Git for version history, and GitHub for public repositories and releases.
Languages and frameworks
Python is the current favourite. PySide6 powers desktop projects; Flask handles lightweight web dashboards; HTML, CSS, and JavaScript keep this site intentionally simple.
Data and testing
SQLite for local-first storage, pytest for automated checks, and small test fixtures that avoid touching personal files.
Homelab
Ubuntu Server and Docker host local services, with Portainer for inspection, Pi-hole for DNS filtering, and Jellyfin for media.
Website
A static site with no framework or build step, versioned on GitHub and deployed through Cloudflare Pages at chrisneville.ca.
Favourite technologies
Simple, local,
and inspectable.
- Python: quick to explore with, readable enough to revisit, and useful from scripts through desktop interfaces.
- SQLite: dependable local storage without requiring a separate database server.
- Docker: repeatable services and a clear boundary between applications in the homelab.
- Plain web standards: fast pages, fewer dependencies, and a site that is easy to own.
Milestones
chrisneville.ca launched
A public home for project case studies, a résumé, homelab notes, photography, and the animals wandering outside the page.
TrailTag 0.2.0 test release
Published a downloadable Windows installer with automated tests, integrity checks, and a local-first photo workflow.
SysDeck 1.0.0
Shipped the first public release of a Windows monitoring and local file-management utility.
Certifications and awards will be added here when there is something real to list—no placeholder badges.
Still to document
Exact computer hardware, peripherals, camera gear, and the photography editing workflow need a personal inventory before they belong on a public page.