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Philip Newborough

> Web Developer

Web developer and tech enthusiast. When I'm not coding, I can be found performing Grumpa duties, reading Warhammer 40,000 fiction, listening to tech podcasts or riding my bike.

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How to Launch WSL VS Code Projects from the Windows Start Menu

How to Launch WSL VS Code Projects from the Windows Start Menu

A small PowerShell script for Windows that finds named WSL projects and creates Start Menu shortcuts to open them directly in Visual Studio Code using the WSL remote URI.

windows wsl vscode claude
Debian 13 (Trixie) server set-up

Debian 13 (Trixie) server set-up

A practical, production-ready guide to setting up a Debian 13 web server using Apache, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB. Covers installation, performance tuning, security basics, and modern best practices.

debian apache mariadb php
My MacBook Pro M5

My MacBook Pro M5

Fast, silent, and actually usable on your lap. I traded my ThinkPad for a MacBook Pro two months ago, and honestly? I should have done it sooner. Here is my honest take on the transition.

apple hardware
Flatspace Commander

Flatspace Commander

A love letter to the kid sitting on the floor in front of a CRT TV. Flatspace Commander is a minimalist, 1-bit space sim that brings back the tension of 80s wireframe trading with a modern, mobile twist.

games pwa webdev
PHOSPHOR: an entropy-based password generator

PHOSPHOR: an entropy-based password generator

I teamed up with Gemini and Claude to build a retro-futuristic password generator. It's a PWA that harvests hardware entropy from your movements, runs them through a SHA-256 math blender, and looks great doing it.

pwa tools ai passwords
PWA: Favicon & PWA Icon Generator

PWA: Favicon & PWA Icon Generator

I've taken my Favicon Generator entirely client-side. By leveraging the Canvas API, the new version handles all image processing right in your browser - no server required. With full offline support and new features like squircle shaping and individual icon overrides, it's a faster, more flexible way to manage your project assets.

pwa tools images webdev

My short-form timeline — where I post thoughts, links, images, and whatever else is on my mind as it happens.

I also syndicate to the Fediverse via Mastodon, so you can follow me there if that’s your preferred platform.

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Philip Newborough 3h ago

Breakfast at Spoons. Egg and sausage muffin + endless coffee for £3.29. There are not many things in this world that offer the same incredible value for money.

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Philip Newborough 15h ago

I'm not attending OggCamp this weekend, which makes me feel a little sad. It's a great event with fabulous people and super interesting talks.

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Philip Newborough 3d ago

Watched 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Theatre Royal Nottingham. Really enjoyed it and the music was proper good.

2:22 A Ghost Story stage at the Theatre Royal Nottingham.
2:22 A Ghost Story stage at the Theatre Royal Nottingham.
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Philip Newborough 3d ago

Feeding the quack quacks with Mummy and Nanna.

Feeding the birds.
Feeding the birds.
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Philip Newborough 6d ago

Trying to decide if I want Diablo II: Resurrected - Infernal Edition for my Steam Deck.

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Philip Newborough 15 Apr 2026

Just short of 2 months using my M5 MacBook Pro - everything just works, it's properly quick and the battery life is just amazing. I honestly think it might be the best computer I've ever used. Now, if it could just run Linux 🤣

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Philip Newborough 12 Apr 2026

Trip out to RSPB Bempton Cliffs for a spot of bird watching. Impressive views and the volunteer staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Bit windy.

Gannets on a cliff
Gannets on a cliff
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Philip Newborough 09 Apr 2026

COMMANDER'S LOG — SECURITY INSPECTION — CLEARED
SD 3200.098

Station Authority boarded at LAVE and conducted a full search of the cargo hold. Inspection team found nothing of interest. All 1t of flagged cargo remained undetected.

Free to proceed. No fine issued. Credits unaffected.

https://flatspace-commander.philipnewborough.co.uk

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Philip Newborough 02 Apr 2026

Looking at Mythic Beasts Raspberry Pi hosting options. Nice to see an honest sales pitch: "This is a service aimed at hobbyists, and shouldn't be used for nuclear power station command and control systems." I'm definitely a hobbyist and I'm keen to give it a try. I'm thinking I might rent one for a bit and see how it performs.

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Philip Newborough 28 Mar 2026

Testing a HTML canvas app on my Pixel 9 and Becky's iPhone 17. The iPhone feels much faster, probably because it is. I love my Pixel, but I'm feeling a little envious. It'll pass, maybe.