# A Toolbox I Actually Reopen


Every few months I dump a folder of saved links into a post like this. Some entries are battle-tested; others are "I used this once and it saved a weekend." I dropped **EssayKiller_V2** from my draft list -- it was a fun GPT-2-era experiment, but in 2026 you already have better options on your desk.

Bookmark the page, steal what you need, ignore the rest.

## Translation & language

- [DeepL](https://www.deepl.com/translator) -- Still the translator I reach for when Google feels too literal and ChatGPT feels too chatty.
- [pinyin-pro](https://github.com/zh-lx/pinyin-pro) -- Pinyin conversion and matching for Chinese text in apps and scripts.

## Homelab & network

- [dynip.dev](https://dynip.dev/) -- Dynamic DNS that actually updates in about a minute, with RFC 2136 TSIG for routers and a generous free tier. Homelab DNS without the 30-minute stale-record ritual.
- [dnspeep](https://github.com/jvns/dnspeep) -- Spy on DNS queries your machine is making. Julia Evans wrote a [nice walkthrough](https://jvns.ca/blog/2021/03/31/dnspeep-tool/) when it launched; the repo is the thing to install.
- [HTTP Toolkit](https://httptoolkit.tech/) -- Intercept, inspect, and mock HTTP(S) traffic without wrestling `mitmproxy` config every time.

## Terminal & remote access

- [sshx](https://github.com/ekzhang/sshx) -- Share a live terminal in the browser. Fast, collaborative, surprisingly handy for "can you see this error?"
- [termpair](https://github.com/cs01/termpair) -- View and control a terminal from a browser with end-to-end encryption.
- [webssh](https://github.com/huashengdun/webssh) -- Web-based SSH client when you cannot install a native client but still need a shell.

## PDF & documents

- [Stirling-PDF](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF) -- Self-hosted PDF toolkit: merge, split, compress, OCR, the usual suspects. Run it at home if you do not want files on a random website.
- [PDFReal](https://pdfreal.com/) -- Fast online PDF utilities when you need something quick and do not want to spin up a container.

## Cloud native & observability

- [awesome-cloud-native](https://github.com/rootsongjc/awesome-cloud-native) -- Rootsongjc's curated list of cloud-native projects. Good starting point when you are lost in the CNCF catalog.
- [Netdata](https://github.com/netdata/netdata) -- Real-time monitoring with minimal setup. Nice on a single node or a small cluster.

## Data & databases

- [DBeaver](https://dbeaver.io/) -- Universal database client. Not pretty at 2 a.m., but it opens everything.

## Shell & scripting

- [pure-bash-bible](https://github.com/dylanaraps/pure-bash-bible) -- Bash snippets you will grep more than you expect.
- [Bash-Oneliner](https://github.com/onceupon/Bash-Oneliner) -- Another solid collection of one-liners and small scripts.
- [ShellCheck](https://github.com/koalaman/shellcheck) -- Lint your shell scripts before they lint you.

## Security, crypto, and regex pain

- [CyberChef](https://gchq.github.io/CyberChef/) -- The "what encoding is this?" Swiss Army knife from GCHQ.
- [regex-vis](https://regex-vis.com/) -- Visualize and debug regexes when your eyes glaze over at `^(?=(.*[a-z]))`.

## Comments (lightweight)

- [Cusdis](https://github.com/djyde/cusdis) -- Lightweight, privacy-friendly comment widget. The author's free hosted service is gone; self-host or embed on your own site. Still beats loading Disqus on a personal blog.

## IoT & casting

- [Arkadiko (Docker)](https://hub.docker.com/r/tfgco/arkadiko/tags) -- Docker image related to the Arkadiko IoT/game stack; useful if you are poking at that ecosystem.
- [catt](https://github.com/skorokithakis/catt/) -- Cast audio and video to Chromecast from the command line. `catt cast` beats opening another GUI.

## Music, scores, and MIDI

- [Kunst der Fuge](http://www.kunstderfuge.com/) -- Classical MIDI files and scores. A rabbit hole if you like reading music on a screen.
- [pianoplayer](https://github.com/marcomusy/pianoplayer) -- Play along with a MIDI keyboard; visual feedback on what to press next.
- [中华古籍资源库](http://www.nlc.cn/pcab/zy/zhgj_zyk/) -- National Library of China digitized ancient books and related resources. Serious archive, not a quick click.

## Chinese classics & text

- [ctext.org](https://ctext.org/zhs) -- Chinese Text Project: classical Chinese texts with search and parallel editions.
- [copybook-generator](https://github.com/jaywcjlove/copybook-generator) -- Generate Chinese copybook practice sheets (字帖).

## Math, code, and learning

- [awesome-math](https://github.com/rossant/awesome-math) -- Curated math learning resources.
- [Blockly](https://github.com/google/blockly) -- Visual block programming; still useful for teaching and quick prototypes.
- [PathPlanning](https://github.com/zhm-real/PathPlanning) -- Path planning algorithms with visual demos.

## Fitness, handwriting, and doodles

- [Darebee workouts](https://darebee.com/workouts.html) -- No-equipment workout cards. Print one, do it, move on.
- [Calligrapher.ai](https://www.calligrapher.ai/) -- Generate realistic handwriting from typed text. Fun for labels and mockups.
- [smooth-signature](https://github.com/linjc/smooth-signature) -- Smooth signature pad for web apps.

## Games & Go

- [OGS: Learn to Play Go (Atari to Side)](https://online-go.com/learn-to-play-go/atari-to-side) -- Interactive lessons on [online-go.com](https://online-go.com/) (OGS). Work through tactics from atari to side connections, then play in the same browser.

## Weather

- [ultra-weather](https://github.com/Leftium/ultra-weather) -- Actionable, human-readable weather forecasts in a clean UI.

## Reading & ebooks

- [bibi](https://github.com/satorumurmur/bibi) -- EPUB reader you can embed on a website.
- [DeDRM_tools](https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools) -- Tools for managing DRM on ebooks you already own. Legal territory varies by country; use only on content you have the right to back up.

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*Last updated: 2026-08-02. Send me a link if something here rotted or if I missed your favorite wrench.*