As a counter argument to the kubectl example made in the article, I found the k8s MCP (https://github.com/containers/kubernetes-mcp-server) to be particularly usefuly in trying to restrict LLM access to certain tools such as exec and delete tools, something which is not doable out of box if you use the kubectl CLI (unless you use the --as or --as-group flags and don't tell the LLM what user/usergroup those are).
I have used the kk8s MCP directly inside Github Copilot Chat in VSCode and restricted the write tools in the Configure Tools prompt. With a pseudo protocol established via this MCP and the IDE integration, I find it much safer to prompt the LLM into debugging a live K8s cluster vs. without having any such primitives.
Orchestera (https://orchestera.com/) - Fully managed Apache Spark clusters in your own AWS account with no additonal compute markups, unlike EMR and Databricks.
Currently implemented the following:
- Automated scale in / scale out of nodes for Spark executors and drivers via Karpenter
- Jupyter notebook integration that works as a Spark driver for quick iteration and prototyping
- A simple JSON based IAM permissions managementent via AWS Parameter Store
Work-in-progress this month:
- Jupyterhub based Spark notebook provisioning
- Spark History Server
- Spark History Server MCP support with chat interface to support Spark pipeline debugging and diagnostics
Spent my 2025 building https://orchestera.com as a side project. The premise is simple - to give Data Engineers and Data Scientists the opportunity to spin up Apache Spark clusters on Amazon EKS without them needing to know all the infrastructure details, how Spark works on Kubernetes, auto-scaling etc.
The platform I am building allows users to launch Spark on Kubernetes in their own AWS account without adding any markup costs to the CPU/Memory on EC2 instances. For example, AWS EMR offering adds a 25% markup cost on top of the EC2 instance pricing. Databricks markup is even higher ranging anywhere from 30% to 100% markup.
I second that. Home Assistant "just works". I have had it running on this cheap used HP EliteDesk 705 G3 Mini Desktop for more than 4 years now without a hiccup and barely any maintenance or hygeing work on it. Just sitting in my tv stand and doing it's work.
Not who you asked, but I do it “manually once a year or so” on a HA instance in a container running on unraid. It sometimes causes problems. Recently HACS (not a built-in part of HA but useful to get some extensions) broke on a HA update and I had to spend more time that I would have liked figuring out how to fix it. It involved running shell commands inside the container. Definitely not for anyone who isn't a techie.
I had always been interested in aviation, and I was fortunate that I was in the right place at the right time after graduation to join an airline on a sponsored "cadet scheme".
I still (hopefully evidently) very much love software/engineering, but I guess I chose the path of "professional pilot, hobbyist engineer" over the alternative of "professional engineer, hobbyist pilot".
I'm surprised how wide the acceptance age range is for BA's program (18-55). Is it common for people to transfer from unrelated careers? Nice to know that door isn't technically shut for a while!
Love Home Assistant! I have a screen on my split flap display that shows aircraft flying overhead our house (at very high level) - all fed by home assistant and various HACS addons.
I have been super happy downloading the free adguard dns profile on my iphone and blocking ads across the entire spectrum. Makes reading on internet so much better. Here is the link if anyone is wondering.
reply