Tag: tools-and-resources

Ghost – not fitting as WordPress replacement

Posted on by Morgan

I've a Cloudron instance where I experiment various tools. This time, it was Ghost, as a replacement to WordPress, especially as Ghost was acclaimed by some folks I follow.

The good parts

  • Simple and modern.
  • The migration of content from WordPress, works great!

The worst parts

  • I couldn't find a good theme for my taste.
  • Distinct UIs for browsing your blog and quickly editing your posts. Far more complicated than in WordPress. If I want separate tools for editing and browsing content, then I just go with static site generators πŸ™‚
  • The extreme minimalism and simplicity makes it less appealing for me, I like to customize the content and web administration UI, I feel out of control here. For instance I dislike the appearance of my content in Ghost.

Conclusion for now

  • Still looking for alternatives to WordPress. But likely thinking of scripting my own thing.

Alternatives

Posted on by Morgan

In the recent years, as I feel powerless facing the enshittification in mainstream tech and social media, I've opted for alternatives to many of my previous favorite digital places and tools, namely:

  • Audible ➑ AudioBookShelf (or Plappa on iOs), alternatively Jellyfin (also supported by AudioBookShelf).
  • Google search engine ➑ DuckDuckGo.
  • Chrome browser ➑ Brave.
  • Google Calendar ➑ Fastmail.
  • Gmail ➑ Fastmail.
  • Google Tasks ➑ TickTick.
  • Google Office ➑ Obsidian.
  • Google Reader ➑ InoReader ➑ FreshRSS ➑ Miniflux.
  • Google Authenticator ➑ Aegis and Vaultwarden.
  • Google Play Store ➑ F-Droid, Aurora Store.
  • YouTube ➑ SkyTube (Android).
  • Browser* Passwords Manager ➑ Vaultwarden.
  • Trello ➑ Google Tasks ➑ TickTick.
  • Spotify ➑ Navidrome, Seeker (Soulseek client), DSub (Navidrome client), AntennaPod (Podcasts).
  • WordPress ➑ After looking for SSGs, I'll likely go raw HTML/CSS.
  • Wallabag ➑ Shaarli and with my own tool, Tapas.
  • InvoiceNinja ➑ Replacing with my own invoicing software.
  • Netflix, Amazon Prime Video ➑ Plex.
  • Windows ➑ Linux, MacOS.
  • GitHub ➑ Gitea.
  • LinkedIn ➑ Account closed, didn't attempt alternatives.
  • Facebook ➑ Account closed. Attempted Mastodon, didn't like it.
  • Instagram ➑ Account closed. Attempted Pixelfed, but it's too buggy.
  • WhatsApp ➑ I use it mostly because everyone is on it, but I use Signal instead ideally.
  • SensCritique ➑ Account closed due to their authoritarian moderators.
  • Lobste.rs ➑ Account closed due to their elitist culture.
  • Twitter ➑ Account closed due to their enshittification. Attempted Mastodon, didn't like it.
  • OVH ➑ Account closed. Hostinger.
  • Docker Hub ➑ Docker Registry self hosted.
  • Dropbox, iCloud ➑ Replacing some of it with Syncthing.
  • Zerobin ➑ Privatebin.
  • Most Newsletters ➑ Kill the Newsletter! + Miniflux, alternatively Changedetection.
  • Last.FM ➑ ListenBrainz / MusicBrainz.

This is an ongoing list and non exhaustive, plus it's only about my digital life. I have a lot to say about work and housing as well. Opting for alternatives has also expanded my technical knowledge and independence (see also https://sive.rs/ti).

The main lesson: diversify, stay in control of your life, stay curious and choose freedom, privacy and security over convenience.