The Geek Den

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  • “Trixie” Available for Raspberry Pi

    In case you missed it, Raspberry Pi OS 13, “Trixie” is now available for download! Please see here for details: https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/trixie-the-new-version-of-raspberry-pi-os/.

    If you are running the Hailo AI on your Raspberry Pi, make sure to wait until the new libraries are out before you make the switch!

  • OpenSCAN

    OpenScan is an open-source, 3D scanner software that allows users to create detailed digital models of objects from laser-scanned data or photogrammetry images. It’s a versatile tool for a variety of applications, including:

    1. Reverse engineering: Create accurate digital models of mechanical parts, products, or artifacts.
    2. Product design: Use scanned data to inform product design, prototyping, and manufacturing.
    3. Archaeology and heritage conservation: Record and document cultural heritage sites, monuments, or artifacts for preservation and research purposes.
    4. Industrial inspection: Monitor equipment condition, detect defects, and optimize maintenance schedules using scanned data.
    5. Scientific research: Capture detailed 3D models of samples, specimens, or objects in various scientific fields (e.g., biology, medicine, geology).

    Some key features of OpenScan include:

    • Multi-sensor support: Handle data from various 3D scanning technologies (laser scanners, structured light scanners, photogrammetry cameras).
    • Advanced algorithms: Employ techniques like ICP (Iterative Closest Point), RANSAC (Random Sample Consensus), and Delaunay triangulation for accurate model reconstruction.
    • User-friendly interface: Intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy to navigate and process scanned data.
    • Customization: Users can modify or create their own plugins, filters, or scripts using Python scripting capabilities.

    While OpenScan is an impressive tool with a dedicated community, keep in mind that its complexity and steep learning curve might require some experience with 3D scanning, programming, or computer-aided design (CAD) software.

  • Debian 13 “Trixie” Released Today!

    WooHoo! Debian 13, codename “Trixie” is released today, with all sorts of new goodness to play with! Here is the Press Release, the Release Notes, and a Direct Link for to get the goodness that is Debian! Also, here is How to Upgrade to Trixie for all of you that already “Know the Love”!

  • New Page Added: 3D-Models

    Please check out our new 3D-Models page, where you can download our latest creations! Here is a link:

    3D-Models

  • Raised Bed Anchor Block for Garden Hoops

    Here is a Raised Bed Anchor Block for Garden Hoops design I made just the other day for my Wife, which fits this Garden Hoop Kit from Amazon. It’s a simple, yet sturdy design – just screw them into the side of your raised garden bed flush with the top board, put the hoop ends into the holes, and assemble the remaining parts of your hoops!

    It’s overall dimensions are 44.5mm Long, 25.4mm wide, and 12mm tall. It has a 6.35mm wide by 22mm deep hole for the hoop end to fit into, and accepts a standard #8 1⅝” Deck Screw of your choosing. The downloadable zip file contains both the 3MF and STL, so if you need to customize the design for your needs, just edit the necessary bits in the 3MF file, and export it as an STL using your favorite design software.

    Made with OpenSCAD, and Prusa-Slicer.

    Printer/Slicer Settings:

    Horizontal Shells – 5 Top, and 5 Bottom.

    Vertical Shells – 5 Perimeters

    Recommended Infill – 50%, your choice of pattern, I use Grid or Gyroid.

    Recommended Material: I used HatchBox Rapid PETG in Dark Green.

    I will put it up on Thingiverse, and Printables, for anyone who wants to print it for themselves or add it to their collections. It can also be found on Etsy in my shop (Coming Soon) if you want me to make it for you.

    Here are the links:

  • We’re Not Ready for Superintelligence

    Saw a great video on YouTube this morning, regarding humanity’s relationship with AI, and where things might be headed. Please check out this video: We’re Not Ready For Superintelligence.

  • My Journey with OpenWebui

    July 4, 2025:

    Today, I am starting my journey using OpenWebUI, a self hosted AI platform.

    I will be adding to this post as I go along – sharing in the discovery, failures, learning, frustration, and successes of hosting my own local AI.

    July 16, 2025:

    Hosting your own AI has many benefits:

    Hosting your own local Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution can bring several benefits to individuals, organizations, and communities. Here are some advantages, according to my OpenWebUI instance using the LLM model Llama3.1(8B):

    1. Improved Data Privacy: By hosting AI locally, you maintain control over the data and ensure it remains within your premises or a secure, trusted location. This minimizes the risk of data breaches, cyber attacks, and unauthorized access.
    2. Enhanced Security: Local AI deployment reduces the attack surface for malicious actors to target, as there’s no need to transmit sensitive data to the cloud. You can implement robust security measures to protect your system from vulnerabilities.
    3. Increased Performance: Hosting AI locally allows for faster processing times and reduced latency, especially when dealing with large datasets or real-time applications. This is particularly beneficial in applications like autonomous vehicles, drones, or smart cities.
    4. Reduced Dependence on the Cloud: By having a local AI infrastructure, you’re less reliant on cloud services, which can be vulnerable to outages, downtime, or changes in their terms of service.
    5. Customization and Flexibility: Local AI hosting enables you to tailor the solution to your specific needs and requirements. You can modify the architecture, algorithms, and models to suit your organization’s unique circumstances.
    6. Cost Savings: While initial investment costs may be higher for local AI deployment, they can lead to long-term cost savings by reducing cloud service fees, data transmission costs, and potential penalties for non-compliance with regulations.
    7. Regulatory Compliance: By hosting AI locally, you may be better positioned to comply with specific regulatory requirements, such as data residency laws, GDPR, or CCPA, which mandate the storage of sensitive data within a country’s borders.
    8. Edge Computing Benefits: Local AI deployment enables edge computing applications, where processing happens closer to the source of the data (e.g., IoT devices). This reduces latency and improves real-time decision-making capabilities.
    9. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: With a local AI infrastructure in place, you can ensure business continuity during outages or disasters by switching to a secondary system or location.
    10. Research and Development Opportunities: Hosting local AI solutions creates opportunities for research and development (R&D) within your organization, allowing you to explore new applications, models, and techniques.

    Usefully Fast:

    Mind you, that response took only 13 seconds for my AI rig to take my prompt, which was “Benefits of hosting your own local AI”, to think about it, and then write this output for me (and you) in a clean, easy to read format. It also gave me “Follow up” questions like these:

    Follow up

    What are some common challenges or considerations when implementing a local AI solution?

    Can you provide more information on the hardware requirements for hosting a local AI solution?

    How do I choose the right AI framework or platform for my specific needs?

    Thoughts:

    As you can see, you get a lot of information and suggestions for follow up questions pretty quickly. That’s not too shabby for a 6 year old computer I cobbled together from spare parts, using a currently “normal” sized LLM. You can get information on an incredible range of subjects in a clear, concise output which you can use to help with your workflows and/or thought processes without spending too much money. From what I have learned, the most important part is to have a good GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to do the work quickly, as AI speed is mostly determined by GPU, not CPU. Just to save you the time and hassle of doing the research yourself, here is an Amazon link to the GPU I’m using for my AI rig: Nvidia 3060 12GB OC Edition. It is a cost-effective modestly priced GPU with quite a bit of VRAM, which is (primarily) what Open WebUI uses to process your requests, and return the outputs.

  • New Page Added: Navigation

    Just added a Navigation page to the site to help Ya’ll find what you might be looking for. Here is a link: https://thegeekden.net/wordpress/navigation/. Please note that it is also available on the front/home/landing page for the site, in the top right corner, and located in the same place on all the other pages too.

  • So, Here Goes…

    This is our WordPress site, where we will put stuff we want to post/share, in hopes that some of you fine folks on the Interwebs will find something entertaining, informative, or useful.

    If you are interested in 3D-Printing, Linux, Open Source Software, Self-Hosted AI, or just Technology in general, you are in the right place.

    We’ll try to keep things as simple as possible, since it is getting harder and harder to keep up with the complexities of life in this modern world.

    So, without further adieu, onward, and upward!