make. break. in no particular order.

My name is Andy and I make lots of random stuff. Read more about me on the About page.

What's New, You Ask?

I've released a tiny little macOS menubar utility I use to quickly swap my SSH config files between different environments or use cases. It's called Sshwitch.

Side note: On this website, I am using the super-cool Input font for this site. If you write code and you want to use it for your code editor, grab it here: https://input.djr.com/

Latest Blog Articles

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
📆 Dec 30. 2025
📁 Computer Stuff

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

My thoughts on the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 dock

The Shed Beast: A 12x16 Wood Frame Storage Shed
📆 Mar 23. 2020
📁 Uncategorized

The Shed Beast: A 12x16 Wood Frame Storage Shed

Designing and building a massive 192 sq ft workshop shed.

Fitness Tracker Tester (& Pokemon Incubator?)
📆 Oct 12. 2016
📁 Uncategorized

Fitness Tracker Tester (& Pokemon Incubator?)

A generic device for... testing fitness trackers. Yeah, testing.

Photo Parade!

My First Amplifier Circuit: LM386 Easy Amp
Touch Screens: Some Interesting History and Info
Desktop Warp Core - The Early Years
Dartboard Backstop from Office Corkboard
Sharp Clock (Saw Blade Recycling)
Update on Backyard DIY LP Fire Pit
Office Chairiot Mark II - Progress Update
My Very Own Useless Machine Ever!!! (Finally!)
Solenoid-Powered 6 Brass Bell
Backyard Propane Fire Pit, Pavers and Outhouse Project
Bourbon, Yummy Bourbon!
Welcome!
meltmedia Hack Day July 2012!
Foam Core Backdrop Support Frame
Electronics Workbench LED Upgrade
June 18, 2014 is the National Day of Making
Recycled Sparkfun Shipping Box Wire Dispenser
Fitbit Cheat-O-Matic 2: 3D Printed Mechanical Simplicity
iPotti™ Released!
USB Foam Dart Launcher Assimilated (Partially)
Rescue a Little Critter from Sticky Board Trap
RoboStocking - AVR, Servo, Motor, IR Sensor, and BOOM!!! Merry Christmas!
Domo Wobbly Balancing Robot Thing
DIY Cornhole Game Set
FitBit Contest at meltmedia - No Cheat-O-Matic
Charlieplexing MORE LEDs (20, to be exact)
What makes a Maker tick?
Focus, Dammit! Or, How I've Learned to Control A.D.D.
Hack the SparkFun Big Red Dome Button!
Fix Missing Comments Problem in Notepad WordPress Theme
My First Amplifier Circuit: LM386 Easy Amp
Touch Screens: Some Interesting History and Info
Desktop Warp Core - The Early Years
Dartboard Backstop from Office Corkboard
Sharp Clock (Saw Blade Recycling)
Update on Backyard DIY LP Fire Pit
Office Chairiot Mark II - Progress Update
My Very Own Useless Machine Ever!!! (Finally!)
Solenoid-Powered 6 Brass Bell
Backyard Propane Fire Pit, Pavers and Outhouse Project
Bourbon, Yummy Bourbon!
Welcome!
meltmedia Hack Day July 2012!
Foam Core Backdrop Support Frame
Electronics Workbench LED Upgrade
June 18, 2014 is the National Day of Making
Recycled Sparkfun Shipping Box Wire Dispenser
Fitbit Cheat-O-Matic 2: 3D Printed Mechanical Simplicity
iPotti™ Released!
USB Foam Dart Launcher Assimilated (Partially)
Rescue a Little Critter from Sticky Board Trap
RoboStocking - AVR, Servo, Motor, IR Sensor, and BOOM!!! Merry Christmas!
Domo Wobbly Balancing Robot Thing
DIY Cornhole Game Set
FitBit Contest at meltmedia - No Cheat-O-Matic
Charlieplexing MORE LEDs (20, to be exact)
What makes a Maker tick?
Focus, Dammit! Or, How I've Learned to Control A.D.D.
Hack the SparkFun Big Red Dome Button!
Fix Missing Comments Problem in Notepad WordPress Theme

Maker Resources

A radnom sampling of tools and resources I find useful. View all resources →

Developer Tools
Pico CSS

Minimal CSS framework for semantic HTML. It makes things look great without writing classes.

Visit Resource →
Learning Platforms
FreeCodeCamp

A non-profit organization that consists of an interactive learning web platform, an online community forum, chat rooms, online publications and local organizations.

Visit Resource →

Resources for STEM

Find stuff for learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. View STEM

STEM Stuff
Science Journal for Kids (& Teens)

“Science Journal for Kids aims to make scientific research discoveries more accessible to the general audience and particularly to children. We do that by digitally publishing kid-friendly adaptations of scientific papers. In addition, Science Journal for Kids prepares and offers teacher’s aids and resources to enable integration of the scientific literature in a classroom curriculum.“ —ScienceJournalForKids.org About page

Visit Resource →
STEM Stuff
Computer Science Unplugged

“CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. We originally developed this so that young students could dive head-first into Computer Science, experiencing the kinds of questions and challenges that computer scientists experience, but without having to learn programming first.” —CSUnplugged.org About page

Visit Resource →
STEM Stuff
Science Friday

(Shouldn’t every single day be Science Friday? Science Friday Monday, Science Friday Tuesday, etc.) “Science Friday is an award-winning producer of high quality, fact-checked, and trustworthy science news and educational programming. For 30 years, we’ve introduced top scientists to public radio listeners, and reminded them how much fun it is to learn something new. But we’re more than just a radio show. We produce a sweeping array of educational and entertaining science experiences through videos, podcasts, digital media, live events, citizen science, K-12 education and professional development, and at-home learning activities for families that directly serve hundreds of thousands of educators, parents, citizen scientists, and lifelong learners every year.” —ScienceFriday.com About page

Visit Resource →

Resources for STEM & Women/Girls in Tech

Technology is super cool and it shouldn't care who makes it that way. Women/Girls in Tech.

Women & Girls in Tech
Tips for Getting Girls Involved in STEM

SAM Reader Brielle sent me this link from ITHARE.com. From the ITHARE About page: [They are a collection of] H.A.R.E.[s], which stands for “Honest And Restless Engineer”. Other H.A.R.E. rabbits may include other sub-species, such as “Heartless And Rough Engineer”, or “Hyperactive And Rebellious Engineer”, or even “Harebrained And Reckless Engineer”. Overall, some scientists argue that all H.A.R.E.s can be described by the following formula: H[a-z]* And R[a-z]* Engineer, but this is still a subject of numerous debates within Rabbit Academia.

Visit Resource →
Women & Girls in Tech
Getting Girls Interested in Science

Article (May 21, 2015) by By Kerri Jansen of Metro Parent for Southeast Michigan - Think girls aren't naturally interested in STEM? Turns out our culture may be turning them off before they even get a chance to enjoy scientific subjects.

Visit Resource →