Technical Insights

Enterprise-grade knowledge. No corporate filter.

These guides represent 35+ years of hands-on IT experience distilled into actionable technical knowledge. Each article goes deep on topics that matter - security, privacy, infrastructure, and practical system administration.

About these guides: The full technical deep-dives are published on The Captain Dumbass® Forum - a platform I created to share unfiltered technical expertise without the corporate polish. Same author, same 35 years of experience, different delivery style.

Security & Privacy

Protecting your data in an era of surveillance capitalism

Security Privacy

BitLocker and Microsoft Accounts: Why Your Encryption Keys Aren't Really Yours

When you enable BitLocker while signed into a Microsoft account, Windows automatically uploads your recovery key to Microsoft's servers. No prompt. No confirmation. This guide explains the security implications and provides alternatives for real disk encryption.

  • Microsoft's automatic key escrow
  • Law enforcement access to encrypted data
  • VeraCrypt as a privacy-respecting alternative
  • Step-by-step migration guide
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Security Windows

Why You Should Ditch the Microsoft Account and Stop Using Admin

Local accounts and standard user permissions aren't just about privacy - they're fundamental security practices that most home users ignore. This guide covers the real risks of Microsoft account integration and daily admin usage.

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Privacy Windows

Securing Windows 11 for Privacy - A Minimal Workstation

A two-part series on hardening Windows 11 against telemetry and unnecessary data collection. Part 1 covers the initial setup and configuration, Part 2 provides verification scripts to confirm your settings are working.

Part 1: Setup Part 2: Verification
Security Privacy

How to Properly Redact Sensitive Info from Images

That black bar you drew over your credit card number? It might still be readable. This guide covers proper redaction techniques for screenshots and images, including metadata stripping.

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Privacy Mobile

How to Install GrapheneOS on Google Pixel 9a

GrapheneOS is the privacy-focused Android alternative that doesn't compromise on security. This guide walks through the complete installation process on the Pixel 9 series.

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HomeLab Series

Build your own infrastructure - a complete 10-part guide

This comprehensive series walks you through building a complete home server infrastructure from scratch. By the end, you'll have a fully functional HomeLab running Docker containers, reverse proxy with SSL, photo backup, forums, wikis, and monitoring - all under your control.

Cost comparison: Cloud services for equivalent functionality run $1,200+/year. A HomeLab pays for itself in the first year and saves $1,000+ annually after that.

01

Why Build a HomeLab?

Breaking free from cloud services - privacy, cost savings, and real skills

 02

Building Your Server

Hardware selection and Ubuntu Server installation

 03

Storage with RAID 5

Protecting your data with redundant storage

 04

Docker & Portainer

Container management made easy

 05

Nginx Proxy Manager

Clean URLs and automatic SSL certificates

 06

Immich Photo Backup

Self-hosted Google Photos alternative

 07

Discourse Forum

Your own community platform

 08

Wiki.js Knowledge Base

Personal documentation system

 09

OpenSpeedTest

Network performance testing

 10

Uptime Kuma

Service monitoring and alerts

Virtualization & Containers

Modern infrastructure for labs and production

Virtualization Windows

Installing Windows 11 24H2 on Proxmox VE

A complete guide to running Windows 11 as a virtual machine on Proxmox, including TPM passthrough, VirtIO drivers, and performance optimization.

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Linux Docker

Installing Docker on Ubuntu Desktop

Quick setup guide for Docker on Ubuntu Desktop - getting containers running for development and testing.

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Automation Smart Home

Home Assistant on Ubuntu Server

Self-hosted home automation that keeps your smart home data local. Complete Docker-based installation guide.

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Development & Code

From first commits to production deployments

Development AI

Writing App & Project Proposals with AI

How to use AI assistants effectively for project planning and proposal writing without letting the AI do your thinking for you.

Read Full Guide
Development Git

You vs. the Bug: A Practical Debugging Guide

Real debugging strategies for developers who are tired of println statements and random code changes. Systematic approaches that actually work.

Read Full Guide
Git Best Practices

Working with Git as a Team

Branches, reviews, and staying sane when multiple developers touch the same codebase. Practical Git workflow for real teams.

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Development Git

So You Wanna Git Good?

A beginner-friendly introduction to Git and GitHub - repository setup, .gitignore files, and the basics you need before diving deeper.

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Development

How to Actually Comment Code

Stop wasting everyone's time with useless comments. Learn what to document, when to document it, and how to write comments that future-you will thank you for.

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Git

Fork or Clone? Getting It Right

The difference matters more than you think. When to fork, when to clone, and how to stop screwing it up.

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Gaming & Game Development

From playing to building - pixels, engines, and everything in between

GameDev

Choosing the Right Game Engine

Unity, Unreal, Godot, GameMaker - which engine fits your project? A practical comparison for developers at any level.

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Gaming

Gaming & GameDev: From Horror to Hyrule

A journey through gaming history and the games that shaped a generation - from retro classics to modern indie gems.

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Creative & Projects

Where imagination meets execution

Robotics 3D Printing

3D Printing R2-D2: Full-Scale, Movie-Accurate Build

A complete build log of constructing a life-size, functional R2-D2 replica using 3D printing, electronics, and servo systems. From concept to rolling droid.

  • 3D printing at scale
  • Electronics integration
  • Servo control systems
  • Sound and lighting effects
View Build Log
Publishing Python

The Puzzle Architect: Premium Sudoku Books

How I built a Python-based Sudoku generator to create professional puzzle books for Amazon KDP - from algorithm to published product.

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Content

Behind the Scenes: How I Prepare Forum Content

A look at the content planning and preparation process behind running a technical community forum.

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Robotics

Where hardware meets code and theory becomes motion

Robotics Hexapod

HexCore AX: Building an 18-DOF Hexapod Robot

An open-source hexapod robot platform featuring Dynamixel servos, ROS2 integration, and Isaac Sim for AI/RL training. Complete build documentation and video series.

  • 18 degrees of freedom design
  • Dynamixel AX-12A servo control
  • ROS2 and Isaac Sim integration
  • 3D printed and aluminum construction
Project Announcement Video Introduction Test Video

About the Author

Dennis Ayotte is an Enterprise Architect with 35+ years of hands-on IT experience spanning desktop support to data center infrastructure. The "Captain Dumbass®" brand represents a commitment to cutting through corporate jargon and delivering straight technical truth.

These guides combine enterprise-grade knowledge with practical, real-world implementation details - the kind of information that usually gets locked behind expensive consulting engagements or buried in vendor documentation.

Full Bio All Technical Guides
Last updated: January 30, 2026