About
Stanislav Hambalko
I take a practical approach to websites, Linux, Docker, and self-hosted systems. My goal is not to make technology more complicated, but more understandable and usable over time.
How I work
I prefer direct communication, clear scope, and solutions the client can understand. A website or system should remain under the owner's control, not locked into an unclear mix of accounts and dependencies.
MidgardNet is my combination of website work, my own applications, and technical operations. I use experience from my own systems when working for clients, without inflated or unverifiable claims.
- Web development
- Linux
- Docker
- Self-hosting
- Privacy-first
- Automation
Technical background
Yggdrasil and my own test environment
Yggdrasil is the server where I deploy and test things — mostly aimed at ARM. It's an Orange Pi 5, picked mainly for its NPU. Low power draw is ideal for home use, and that's exactly what I aim for with most things I build. The Orange Pi/RK3588 ecosystem has worse coverage and a smaller community than Raspberry Pi, which is a shame, because the hardware is genuinely good. Proof: my whole home stack — automation, media, backups — has run on it long-term at an average of under 9W (5.9-17.1W depending on load, measured directly from my own telemetry), without frequent intervention. That's why I try to build most things on it first.
This background helps me judge what is simple, maintainable, and not unnecessarily complicated. It is not an enterprise certification, a 24/7 operations claim, or a claim of managing large client infrastructure.
Read the production notes on the blogPhilosophy
Local, owned, and understandable where it makes sense
Not every project needs to be self-hosted and not every website needs administration. The important part is choosing technology based on reality, not on a fashionable tool.
Local-first where practical
Data and services should live where it makes sense for the owner: sometimes on an owned system, sometimes on a simple managed service.
Privacy as a starting point
Less data collection, fewer third parties, and less tracking mean simpler technology and a clearer relationship with visitors.
Technology should serve people
A tool should make work or communication easier. It should not create unnecessary dependency on one supplier or an unreadable setup.