How to generate a sitemap for a static Astro site
Set the public site URL, generate an Astro XML sitemap, exclude unwanted routes, and check the actual built URLs without confusing a sitemap with indexing.
5 min read
Build something. Put it on the web.
Practical guides to websites, servers, and small automations.
Understand the setup, the hosting, and what to check next.
Websites
View allHow to add an RSS feed to a static Astro blog
Generate an Astro RSS feed from published Markdown posts, keep drafts out, and check the built XML and article links before publishing.
6 min read
Business email costs: separate mailboxes, domains and optional extras
Count the mailboxes you need, separate domain renewal from email charges, and compare annual costs without paying twice for included services.
6 min read
Carrd tutorial: build and publish your first one-page website
Build a small Carrd page on the free plan, add a button that reaches a useful checklist, publish to a Carrd address, and check the result on a phone.
6 min read
Servers & scripts
View allHow to create an Ubuntu VPS for a Python script
Create a small Ubuntu server on DigitalOcean, connect from your computer with an SSH key, and know what you are paying for and how to stop the charges.
12 min read
curl SSL certificate problem: fix trust without using --insecure
Separate a local CA-store problem from an expired, mismatched, or incomplete server certificate, and check the fix with verification still enabled.
5 min read
FastAPI 422 error: find the invalid field and fix the request
Read FastAPI's validation response, distinguish body and query errors, and fix a small request without disabling validation.
5 min read
FastAPI CORS: let your frontend read the API response
Allow one exact frontend origin in FastAPI, reproduce browser CORS behavior locally, and avoid treating CORS as authentication.
5 min read
Automation
View allHow to close a Google Form and show a useful message
Stop accepting Google Forms responses, show visitors a clear message, preserve the answers you already have, and reopen the form when needed.
4 min read
Compare two CSV files with Python and find changed records
Compare small exports by a unique ID, report added, removed, and changed records, and avoid mistaking a new row order for a data change.
5 min read
How to create a Google Form and collect your first response
Create a simple Google Form, choose who can respond, publish the right link, and check your first answer without installing an add-on.
5 min read
Python CSV UnicodeDecodeError: fix the encoding without losing text
Diagnose a CSV decoding error, avoid silently deleting characters, and convert a confirmed source encoding to a separate UTF-8 file.
5 min read
Comparisons
View allBrevo vs MailerLite: choose for your newsletter and service emails
Compare newsletter limits, automations and transactional email needs in Brevo and MailerLite, using your real subscriber and sending counts.
5 min read
Cloudflare Pages vs Netlify: choose for a small static site
Compare Cloudflare Pages and Netlify for a small static website: publishing, forms, current Free-plan limits, and a concrete credit example before choosing.
6 min read
Cloudflare Pages vs Workers: choose for a small website
Understand Pages, Pages Functions and Workers Static Assets, keep a working setup when it fits, and choose the right starting point for a new small site.
5 min read
Email alias vs mailbox: which does your business address need?
Choose an alias, a separate mailbox or shared access based on who reads the mail, who replies and which message history needs to stay private.
5 min read