Hobbies

Tech hoarder and PC enthusiast

I’ve always enjoyed breathing new life into old technology. I like to repair my own laptops, such as replacing batteries and disk drives. This journey began when I repurposed an old laptop as a server, and continued when I transformed an i3-2120 PC into an Ubuntu server for running scripts and hosting services like Plex. My latest project is replacing this setup with an Orange Pi 5, which is a Raspberry Pi alternative.

Building PCs is more than a hobby for me; it’s a passion. I find special joy in assembling small form factor PCs—their complexity adds an exciting layer of challenge. I often find myself browsing pricelists and sales for new parts, though I admit it’s an expensive hobby. As a result, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of spare parts over time. I frequently browse r/sffpc for inspiration and ideas.

Coding

Here I talk about my interests and projects outside of work and school.

2020 and 2021 - Introduction to python and machine learning

• Web scraping with selenium
  My first interests started when I built a tool using selenium to help with web scraping. Here is one example where I scraped the sales of balance flats into an excel sheet. SBF scraper
• Algorithmic trading
  During the height of the crypto-boom, I ventured into the world of algorithmic trading. My approach involved using scikit-learn models in an attempt to predict cryptocurrency prices. However, as I reflect on this experience, I realise that I did not have enough domain knowledge. At that time, I was primarily focused on fitting the data into models without a solid grasp of their underlying principles. Additionally, my lack of experience in time series analysis was a significant limitation. Despite the challenges and the limited success I had, this journey was a valuable learning experience, offering me insights into the complexities of financial data analysis and the importance of a deep understanding of both the tools and the domain.

2022 - Working on projects and exploring machine learning

• Exploring machine learning
  I began working with the HDB resale price dataset from data.gov. This was where I first grappled with real-world data, complete with all its quirks and challenges. It was an eye-opener to the messiness and complexities of practical data science.
• Git
  I started using Git to manage my projects. It wasn’t just about version control; it became a way to track my learning journey and progress in coding.
• Linux
  I first started using Linux when I was setting up my server. From there I learnt about using the terminal and bash scripting. I learnt about features such as cron jobs and how to use them to automate tasks.

2023 - Deeper into artificial intelligence

• GAN
  Coupled with better knowledge from my workplace, I was first intrigued by the idea of using GANs to upscale images. This project was called ESRGAN and it was one of the popular upscaling methods. I followed the tensorflow tutorial to train my own GAN.
• Kaggle I started participating in Kaggle competitions, which helped me to learn about the different models and how to use them. This has also taught me several other skills such as PEFT (Parameter efficient fine-tuning), specifically LORA (Low Rank Adapter) and how to use it to fine-tune models.

2024

• Linux
  My home server died (it was a 2nd gen intel so it was bound to happen) so I migrated my configurations and containers to a new N100 PC that I bought. I hosted Plex and other containers for my personal use. Also, my initial setup was using GUI, but I decided to try using debian without GUI to reduce overhead.

Personal life

• Fitness

  Away from the tech world, staying fit is a big part of my life, so you’ll often find me at the gym. I was an ex-powerlifter and I competed in several meets. I have since stopped competing and I am now focusing on general fitness.

• Food

  As a food enthusiast, I am always on the hunt for new culinary experiences and hidden gems. Here’s a catch, I am more interested in looking for local delights more than fine dining, especially since it feels like the local food scene is slowly disappearing. Here are some of my favourites: Fried Hokkien Mee, Bak Chor Mee, and Chicken Rice. This love for local flavors extends to my travels too, where I make it a point to explore the unique foods of each country I visit.

• Travel

  Interestingly, even though I work in tech and I love tech, I’ve always felt more at home in nature than in urban settings. I enjoy exploring scenic landscapes and places that are not as crowded.

• Gaming

  Once a dedicated gamer, I spent countless hours on multiplayer games like League of Legends with friends. But as time went by, we found less time for gaming, and gradually, our sessions faded. Nowadays, my gaming taste leans more towards single-player adventures. I’m currently immersed in the challenging world of Elden Ring and have a soft spot for classics like Rollercoaster Tycoon and Red Alert 2. I also find myself exploring the creative and diverse realms of indie games.