Novemeber in Review

I set out to learn Haskell and I did everything but that. I learned a program I have been putting off for a while now (emacs). But I did do a decent job at writing initially, and now toward the end. I've come to find comfort in writing out what musing and will continue to do so. Just not on a daily basis.

I set out to complete 3 goals that grew into 14 total goals as the month progressed. I'm extremely happy with myself and highly doubt that I would have completed any of these with the same mindset before November.

• Nanowrimo as an excuse to actually start blogging [DONE]
• Setup a static site for my blogging [DONE]
• learn haskell through projects [FAIL]
  • using hakyll as the static site generator [FAIL]
  • write a word counter [FAIL]
  • write a basic web app that is a ledger for budgeting [FAIL]
  • Offensive security applications [FAIL]
• Learn emacs [DONE]
• publishing with org-mode and org files [DONE]
• finish my personal emacs cheat sheet [DONE]
• covert haskell learnings into org-babel with haskell [FAIL]
• Create a budget sheet with haskell [FAIL]
• Create a budget sheet with org [DONE]
• Better publishing with org-mode
• [DONE] 6
• [FAIL] 7

As I look over what I achieved and what I actually did, I'm pleased with what I learned and put down in notes. One thing that helped consistently was the paragraphs upon paragraphs of explanations to myself. This was like a digital technical diary of getting thoughts and ideas out.

• Learned about the paradigm of functional programming
• Learned basic haskell syntax and structure
• Learned the foundations of emacs (very pleased with this one so far)
• Installed hakyll briefly, met some resistance and stopped just as quickly
• Used basic html export from org mode with success (and much happier with it than the hakyll)
• Publishing daily blogs with org
• Created a budgeting template in org file that stood the test of the spouse (they got the printed html export and was pleased with the non-excel sheet feel).

• Solarpunk
• Updating and Expanding Dock Worker
• Writing some malware
• Solidifying my custom emacs configs
• experimenting with distros like GNU GUIX
• Writing about experiences in any of my courses (whether I'm finished or not)
• Documenting my language learnings (although Haskell did not go well)
• presentations I've given
• tales from incident nonresposne
• musings of lifestyle design (4 Hour work Week style)
• vCISO what does it entail? Security consulting as a product?

Since I won't feel constrained by initial goals after November, I probably won't publish everyday. When I do publish, it will probably be one of the topics above as they are sparking my interest now. These will change over time, in which case you will probably see reflection post every so often that are explanations to myself that will convince me to tackle one topic or the other. Thanks for sticking around this month!