The Raccoon Bytes

Using GoToSocial as the Social Layer for Your Apps I have been experimenting with GoToSocial as an identity and social layer for my applications.

"To the kernel.

The Great Library Unbundling: How AI is Eating the Software Stack More than a year ago, I told people that ORMs like Entity Framework were going to feel like relics.

"If there are nine people sitting at a table and a Nazi sits down, and nobody gets up, there are ten Nazis at the table." – Unknown When people first started saying Substack had a Nazi problem, I did what most of us do.

"We reject: kings, presidents and voting.

Find the index and earlier parts of this series here.

The Anachronistic Internet: When Cat Videos Actually Mattered So here I am, 3 AM, can't sleep, supposed to give a talk at FOSDEM in a few hours, and I'm pretty sure I'm getting sick after three weeks of travel.

I have not had so much fun and hope since joining the Fediverse as what I experienced this week with the Forkiverse.

Single Agent vs Multi-Agent: The Architectural Decision That'll Make or Break Your AI Project We have a new project where we're going to build... yes, you got it—an agent.

VocalCat: Why It Went Open Source From Toy to Framework At some point, every developer has this moment: you start with a couple of scripts.

"The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog.

I was a designated expert for a few shifts on the MCP booth at Microsoft Build 2025.

In this blog post, I'll share how I integrated the Model Context Protocol (MCP) into a real SaaS product, VocalCat, by reusing an existing API.

Bringing Static Sites to the Fediverse: Enhancements and Implementations Integrating static sites into this ecosystem via the ActivityPub protocol presents unique challenges and opportunities.

A rollercoaster of pride, panic, and AI gasliting I code to relax.

Processes, tools, and extensive documentation are not going to save your ass, but the Agile Manifesto may.

Amplify Your Organization's Voice: Embrace Radical Transparency and Authentic Connections Dear Leaders of Nonprofits and Public Organizations, In our digital age, social media platforms have become indispensable tools for communication, outreach, and comm…

In this guide, we will set up a multistreaming workflow using Azure, an Azure VM, MonaServer 2, and FFmpeg to broadcast to multiple platforms like LinkedIn Live and YouTube Live.

Find the index and earlier parts of this series here.

Yeah, I know the last 3 chapters are titled "The Power of..." but let me tell you, I like it, and it's my blog.

The Power Struggle of Social Media Engagement Breaking Free: Reclaiming Visibility and Voice from the Algorithmic Gatekeeping. aka F**ck the algorithm.

Breaking the Cycle of Fear: How We Can Spread a Better Kind of Story A few months back, I received a free book at a Microsoft event: Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson.

You can find the index and other parts of this series here.

Back in May, while commuting the few miles from the rural area where I was staying in Mexico to the city for virtual meetings, I listened to a podcast episode about whales.

My relationship with coffee probably began in my mother's womb.

I am incredibly grateful to the people who have helped shape me into who I am today.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," I often say when someone tells me they're mad because someone stole their idea or post.

I used to write a lot when I was younger, even as a kid.

Today was a historic day for Mexico, as the country elected its first woman president.

You can find the index and other parts of this series here.

Reflecting on Seven Years: A Revisited Perspective I've chosen to revisit this post, originally published in 2017, which was likely the second entry on this blog.

I was 11 years old when I became an accessibility advocate in software products thanks to Bill Gates.

We will take a break from discussing ActivityPub concepts, and I'll explain how I implemented a very simple "Subscribe" feature for this blog using Mastodon/Fediverse accounts.

There is a video version of this post in my YouTube Channel.

I'll keep this short and sweet since there's already gazillions of information about Large Language Models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI), and I doubt I'll contribute anything novel to the discussion.

If you prefer video, there is a YouTube version of this blog-post.

In this blog post, we will explain how to generate the outbox and notes, ready to be shared in the Fediverse.

ChatGPT and most AI systems have biases, often manifesting as racism and discrimination, mirroring the biases present in human society and hence in the data we use to train such systems.

In this blog post, we will explain how to make your blog discoverable in the Fediverse as an account, and also address some of the annoying pitfalls I encountered.

In Part 2, we will delve into the design of my implementation.

You can find the index and other parts of this series here.

Hi!

Rediscovering Human Connection While AI may be the buzz today, I believe there is other technology gaining traction with a significant impact, paradoxically in the opposite direction—people taking control back from machines.

Entering the tech industry is a mix of opportunities, skills, and pure luck.

I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with my colleague Peter Maynard, the dynamic force behind the YouTube channel Paying it Forward.

The following post is a stream of consciousness about prototypes; it does not offer any practical advice (except that you should not get attached to a prototype or proof of concepts).

Six years ago, I embarked on a journey to the United States, five years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop worrying about my English accent.

I'm currently aboard an airplane with my heart soaring.

I have always found Chernobyl fascinating, it is a captivating tale of caution yes, but also a profound tale of wisdom.

This was me over 15 years ago, enjoying lunch with a Caguama-sized beer in front of my parents' house in Puerto Vallarta, eagerly awaiting the start of the Free Software Festival.