3 self-hosted tools to organize your digital life this weekend (July 31 - August 2)

If you're anything like me, you're probably starting to get fed up with disorganization around your house and digital life. That's what this weekend's homelab projects will focus on—getting organized. From unifying your podcast listening setup to simplifying your 3D printing file management, here are three homelab projects to work on this weekend.

Automatically download your favorite podcast with Audiobookshelf

You're already listening to audiobooks, so why not add podcasts?

I'm a huge Audiobookshelf user and supporter. It's fantastic software that I use basically every day in my homelab. However, I'm also starting to get into podcasts, and finding a separate podcast app that I love has been more difficult than I imagined.

However, when I found out that Audiobookshelf actually can download podcasts automatically , it was a game changer. Since I'm already in Audiobookshelf daily, it's the perfect place for me to listen to podcasts.

Setting up podcast downloading in Audiobookshelf is quite easy. You simply start by creating a new podcast library, and then, when in that library, click "Add" on the left-hand side of the screen.

From there, you can either enter a podcast URL directly, upload the OPML file, or search for the podcast. It searches iTunes (Apple Podcasts) for the podcast if you don't provide a direct RSS feed URL.

From there, you just need to choose how you want that podcast monitored. You can make it a manual monitor, where it only downloads the episodes you tell it, or it can automatically download the last X number of episodes.

Now, Audiobookshelf is set to download the podcasts whenever they air (or whenever you tell it to download). I've been using it with Plappa, the Audiobookshelf app I prefer to use on my iPhone, and it works flawlessly.

So, if you've not been able to settle on a podcast player, give Audiobookshelf (and its associated apps) a try.

Get your eBook library under control with Kavita

Calibre is so 2010

While I use Calibre locally on my MacBook to manage my Kindle's eBook library, Calibre and Calibre-Web are not my favorite programs to use when I want to read an eBook on something besides my Kindle.

However, if I do want to read my own eBooks on the web, then Kavita is my go-to—and you should check it out, too. It reminds me a lot of Audiobookshelf, just in eBook form.

Kavita is full-featured on the eBook side of things. In fact, it's more than just eBooks. It also handles things like Manga, comic books, and much more with ease.

Another great feature of Kavita is that it has built-in multi-user support, with some pretty great account-level restrictions available. For instance, you can limit access based on an entire library or even age. You're in full control over who sees what, making it the perfect platform for adults and children alike.

Kavita is extremely simple to set up and can be up and running in just a few minutes. Tweaking and getting everything set up just how you like it will take more time, but the basics can be functional in just a few minutes.

Organize your 3D printing library with Manyfold

Folders on your computer are not an organization tool here

I love 3D printing. In fact, I have eight 3D printers between my office and workshop. However, I am not good at all at keeping my 3D printing files organized. My files are spread between my downloads folder, some Google Drive folders, and places that I'll just never find them again.

That's exactly why tools like Manyfold exist. Manyfold is a self-hosted 3D printer file manager . You simply upload the 3MF, STL, STP, or other compatible files to the self-hosted Manyfold page and start organizing them.

Manyfold has three main views: Models, Creators, Collections. The models view gives you a quick glimpse at each individual model that you've uploaded. There's a tag search on the side to narrow down, and a global search to look for something specific.

Then you have the collections page. This is where things really start to shine. You can build collections out for anything that you're 3D printing. If you have a specific setup going for your Multiboard wall, then you can upload the files that you frequently use there. Same with Gridfinity—or anything that you're printing, really.

Where Manyfold really starts to shine is when you graduate from just 3D printing for fun to running a small 3D printing business. Having all your models organized and easy to access from anywhere is more convenient than you could ever imagine.

So, if your 3D printing files are still scattered all over your computer and hard drives, deploy Manyfold in your homelab this weekend and get all your files neat and tidy.

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This weekend is the perfect chance to get parts of your digital life organized

Sometimes the best tools in the homelab are those that keep everything running smoothly, not those that are the most flashy and show-offable. So, take some time this weekend to figure out what in your homelab can be streamlined or organized. I'm deploying a 3D printing file manager myself because I'm tired of not knowing where my files are when I want to go print something, and you should do something like that, too.