Ask HN: When did computers stop being fun?

kept by eddie may 22

Hacker News commenters attribute the decline of computing fun to corporatization and age, but suggest tinkering with microcontrollers, Linux, and retro hardware to reignite joy.

debloat.dev — replace the junk
debloat.dev lists open-source alternatives to replace bloated vendor software, featuring projects like VSCodium, Immich, and Home Assistant with licensing and user ratings.
also on Home Assistant, #open-source
SoundOff: Low-cost Passive Ultrasound Tags for Non-invasive and Non-Intrusive Smart Home Sensing — Yibo Fu
SoundOff uses passive, battery-free 3D-printed metal tags that emit unique ultrasound chirps when moved, enabling private, zero-infrastructure smart home sensing.
also on Home Assistant, #open-source
A simple web we own
A call to reclaim the web through self-hosting with simple tools like Markdown and Raspberry Pi, but critics note the author's use of GitHub Pages undermines the message.
also on Raspberry Pi, #linux, #hardware
calm technologies that excite me
The author advocates calm, focused devices—e‑ink tablets, modded iPods, minimalist communicators, dashboard e‑ink displays, and dictaphones—to reduce distraction and reclaim attention.
also on Raspberry Pi, #hardware, #open-source, #user-experience