Chris Hansen

New demo of doorbell-mqtt-unifi v0.2.0 Home Assistant can now control UniFi G4 Doorbell animations & sounds via MQTT. New features: - Faster IPC profile switching - Profile validation - Trigger sound effects anytime GitHub: github.com/ChrisHansenTech/d…

With the release of the Chris Hansen movie, I figured it was time to cash in on having the same name. Introducing *To Catch Bad Code*, starring my AI-generated likeness. “Why don't you have a seat right over there?” Your code has some explaining to do.

The bedroom window is now fully automated! @smartwingsteam motorized blackout shade combined with @AqaraSmarthouse curtain drivers, all integrated into Home Assistant. SmartWings provided the shades for review. #HomeAssistant #SmartHome

I showed Charlie the new motorized SmartWings shade I installed today. Her reaction: "Daddy, that is so cool! Why are you so awesome!?" I think that's the best review I've ever received! *SmartWings provided the shades for review.* @smartwingsteam

I'm starting a new blog series on building my own RAG system to search my Obsidian homelab notes. I'll be using C#, Ollama, SQL Server 2025, and MCP. The goal is to learn how it all works by building it myself. Part 1: chrishansen.tech/posts/perso…

My girls wanted Halloween decorations, so I bought a 4.5-foot Hello Kitty inflatable. Naturally, I had to automate it. Home Assistant handles the schedule, while my @tempest_wx weather station keeps her from flying around the neighborhood when North Dakota winds pick up. chrishansen.tech/posts/hello…

UniFi protect and ChatGPT think my Hello Kitty Halloween decoration is a person when it moves. 🤣

New post: I installed a Hydrific Droplet on our main water line, powered it over PoE, calibrated it, and connected it to Home Assistant for water monitoring and future shutoff automations. chrishansen.tech/posts/dropl… #HomeAssistant #SmartHome

As heating season approaches, I’ve been thinking about what makes a smart thermostat useful beyond setting the temperature. On my Aqara W200, the extra screens let us control the dog feeders without opening an app. The presence sensor also helps with household reminders. My hands-on review: chrishansen.tech/posts/aqara…

Swapped two 26" 1080p monitors for one 40" 5K2K ultrawide. Here’s why, how I use FancyZones + virtual desktops, and what changed in my workflow: chrishansen.tech/posts/deco-…

Ainsley used to dip her pizza in ranch like her mom. Tonight she saw me put @FranksRedHot on mine and wanted some. Later, she asked for “spicy” with another piece. I looked over, and she was happily dipping her pizza in hot sauce. That’s quite the upgrade at three years old. 😂

Watching Supergirl with my 5-year-old after she absolutely loved the new movie and immediately wanted more Supergirl. Five minutes into the show she sighs and says: “What again? Why does she have to go to work so much?!” 🤣

Time to start my vacation with mowing the lawn. Plan on getting some blog posts and videos out over the next week.

I’ve been reading Discipline is Destiny and the chapter “Share the Load” stuck with me. Doing everything yourself isn’t always discipline. Sometimes it’s just stubbornness. Charlie saw a robot lawnmower at 5 and said: “We should get one of those dad. That way it can mow the grass and you can play with us!” Hard to argue with that. The point isn’t avoiding work. It’s making sure the work you’re doing is actually the work that matters.

Lifeguard on duty. Payment accepted in treats. Reagan is enjoying his summer so far.

Was helping a junior developer troubleshoot today and told them to clear the JsonData parameter. They hit an error, so I said: “JsonData as in JavaScript Object Notation… not Jason Momoa.” They saw it immediately and laughed.

Removed a tree stump today and was slightly disappointed there wasn’t a crowd cheering like the stump episode of Bluey. Turns out real life is mostly just dirt, roots, and dogs investigating the hole. 😂

When Home Assistant says the feeder dispensed but you still demand manual verification.