This podcast and newsletter focus on clear conversations about technology, security, and modern software. Experts share insights on DevOps tips, open source projects, cybersecurity, and Europe's move toward its own cloud services. You will hear about continuous integration, airplane hacking, and new laws that affect the tech industry. Each show explores real problems and fresh solutions in the digital world. By subscribing, you will keep up with the latest trends in software, gain helpful advice from pros, and stay current in a fast-changing environment. We also talk about supply chain security, IoT, and the details of building strong systems. This blend of technical ideas with real-world viewpoints is a great resource if you want to grow your skills, learn about new technology, and connect with others who love all things tech.
The Hidden Cost of Scaling Your Prototype
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Hi Reader, As someone who has managed IoT devices at scale at Screenly, I wish I knew what I know now when I first started. Learning about Yocto early on would have saved me a lot of pain. That’s what this episode is about."
“This is why I wanted to do an episode on Yocto: to save people the time and agony we wasted trying to solve this ourselves.”
Why this mattersHere’s the common story. You build a prototype on a Raspberry Pi (or similar). It works. Maybe you launch a Kickstarter. You get traction. Suddenly, you’re shipping real devices. And here’s the mistake: you take the prototype and try to scale it as-is. That works for a handful of units. It does not work for thousands. Updating them becomes a nightmare. One bad update and you’re stuck pushing fixes in the middle of the night. Or worse, you have fleet of bricked devices on your hands. Yocto helps you avoid all that. You build a Linux image tailored to your hardware. It’s minimal, locked down, and built for updates. You ship with fewer bugs and fewer regrets. Why nowThe EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is now law. Starting in 2027, connected products sold in Europe must follow strict rules for security and updates. That may sound far off, but it’s not. If you’re designing hardware in 2025, there’s a good chance it will launch after the CRA kicks in. What you build now decides if your product ships on time or not. Yocto makes CRA compliance easier. You get reproducible builds, long-term support, and solid tooling for SBOMs (see my blog post) and OTA updates through multiple tools. Also worth noting: the Linux Foundation now offers a CRA training course. I’ve heard from a few people that it’s solid. Episode summaryIn this episode, I talk with Joshua Watt from Garmin and Ross Burton from Arm. We break down what Yocto is and how to use it in real products.
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Nerding Out with Viktor
This podcast and newsletter focus on clear conversations about technology, security, and modern software. Experts share insights on DevOps tips, open source projects, cybersecurity, and Europe's move toward its own cloud services. You will hear about continuous integration, airplane hacking, and new laws that affect the tech industry. Each show explores real problems and fresh solutions in the digital world. By subscribing, you will keep up with the latest trends in software, gain helpful advice from pros, and stay current in a fast-changing environment. We also talk about supply chain security, IoT, and the details of building strong systems. This blend of technical ideas with real-world viewpoints is a great resource if you want to grow your skills, learn about new technology, and connect with others who love all things tech.
Hi Reader, Why does this matter? Last year I launched Viktopia Studio, my tiny one-man-army startup studio that runs on an open-core plan. I have loved the studio idea ever since Kevin Rose tried it with Milk. I even played with this model back in 2009. My co-founder and I built WireLoad as a software lab that could spin out many products. We scored some early hits with Blotter, once a top-10 productivity app for macOS, and YippieMove, an email-migration tool. Both later faded, but Screenly...
Hi Reader, In this episode, I sit down with Carl Richell from System76 to talk all things Linux. Carl is the guy that Michael Dell called for advice when Dell ventured into the Linux on the desktop world. They've done Linux on the desktop longer than anyone (and they are our new hardware vendor for Screenly). Why does this matter? I want kids, teachers, makers, and pros to have computers they can trust and fix. Carl Richell, the founder of System76, shows how open firmware and open hardware...
Hi Reader, This week we talk about remote work and how it has shaped the world in a post-COVID world. As someone who as worked remotely for over 15 years, I just can't imagine commuting into an office every day. And I'm not alone. COVID was the catalyst that to normalized remote work for the masses. Why does this matter? Big names just doubled down on office life. Amazon and Dell now want folks at their desks five days a week. (reuters.com, reuters.com) Remote roles are scarce but hot. Only...