The Raspberry Pi might sound like dessert, but it's actually a credit card–sized computer changing the world of DIY tech. First launched in 2012 by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, it was designed to make computing affordable and accessible for everyone. Since then, it's evolved into one of the most versatile tools in modern technology, powering everything from classroom lessons to smart home automation. For as little as $50, you get a device that consumes less than 27 watts of power, making it remarkably cost-efficient compared to full-size computers.

The self-hosting ecosystem is rife with cool and quirky apps designed to automate every facet of your life. There’s the holy Terraform and Ansible combo for home lab enthusiasts who love watching VMs come to life without pressing a single button, while n8n can handle all software-based automations. On the smart home side, you’ll often find Home Assistant as the most recommended utility for creating schematics to control your IoT gadgets. And well, HASS can serve you well with its trigger-action workflows.

Beszel has become my go-to utility for monitoring the server rigs, SBCs, NAS units, and mini-PCs in my home lab