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Omarchy Stories

Basti

Omarchy Stories — A signal from nowhere.

This is a transmission by the community, for the community.

Omarchy is beautiful, fun & agentic Linux — opinionated by DHH, but yours to command. And behind every install there's a story: the developer who stopped renting their workflow from Cupertino, the tinkerer who vibed their way through an alteration nobody thought possible, the stubborn fix that became community knowledge overnight.

Omarchy Stories broadcasts those people. Each episode is a field report from someone in command — what they escaped, what they changed, what they fixed, and what the next Omarch can learn from it.

No gatekeepers, no marketing filter, no permission required.

If you have an interesting Omarchy story, this is your platform.

Because that's the whole point: when something breaks, nobody here waits for Apple or Microsoft to allow the fix.

Someone finds it. Someone shares it. Everybody moves faster.

The community is the signal. Tune in.

We can fix everything.

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  • 7 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 53 min
  • English

Episodes 7

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  • Yesterday · 1 hr 14 min

    007 Fred Nix - Building Real Tools with AI, Without a Coding Background

    What can you build with AI when your background is infrastructure, not programming? Fred Nix joins Basti to share how he uses Omarchy and AI coding agents to turn ideas into practical tools—from photo workflows to iMessage integrations. They explore the shift from writing code to defining outcomes, the economics of AI-built software, and why junior talent still matters. Basti shares his perspective on Omarchy security: monitoring agent activity, reviewing plugins, and investigating vulnerabilities. Along the way, they discuss persistent AI sessions, local versus frontier models, accessible computing, and the community bringing these projects together. 🔗🔗🔗 LINKS 🔗🔗🔗 Basti https://basti.net https://x.com/bastidotnet https://www.youtube.com/@bastidotnet Omarchy Stories https://omarchystories.org https://x.com/omarchystories https://www.youtube.com/@OmarchyStories Fred Nix https://x.com/NixFred https://nixfred.com

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  • October 7 · 42 min

    006 Eduardo Martinez - Bringing Omarchy to the Mac

    Eduardo Martinez is a 22-year-old engineer bringing Omarchy to the Mac while using AI to build nearly everything around him. He explains how he created Try Omarchy to make Omarchy easy to test, why virtualization beats dual-boot for most users, and what it takes to get Touch ID, the Touch Bar, webcams, and video acceleration working on unsupported hardware. If you're curious about Omarchy, reverse engineering, or what becomes possible when deep technical intuition meets frontier AI models, this one goes deep fast. Eduardo also walks through his development stack, from Codex to Zed, and explains why he believes the way we build software is changing in real time. Eduardo started coding at 12, did full-stack work at 14, studied at 42 school, and moved through startups, side projects, and AI automation. That background gives him a sharp view on the difference between learning to code and learning to build software, especially now that agents carry so much of the workload. Basti pushes on the bigger question: what should future engineers actually learn, and what still matters when AI handles most of the implementation? The result is a practical, forward-looking conversation about software, hardware, and the pace of change. LINKS: Basti https://basti.net https://x.com/bastidotnet https://www.youtube.com/@bastidotnet Omarchy Stories https://omarchystories.org https://x.com/omarchystories https://www.youtube.com/@omarchystories Eduardo Martinez https://x.com/martiano https://github.com/themartiano https://github.com/omacom/try-omarchy https://omarchy-mx-mac.org CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction: Eduardo and the Omarchy Project 00:34 Eduardo's Background and Building Try Omarchy 01:39 How to Try Omarchy on a Mac 03:21 Benefits of Running Omarchy Virtualized 03:52 Touch Bar and Touch ID Support 05:03 Reverse Engineering Apple Hardware 06:48 Virtualization, USB Devices, and Video Acceleration 07:26 Using AI for Development and Research 08:36 Eduardo's AI Coding Setup and Workflow 10:17 Focus, Multitasking, and Working Across Projects 12:25 Learning to Code: Eduardo's Early Career 15:04 The 42 Programming School Experience 17:12 Should People Still Learn to Code? 22:16 Hiring Builders in the AI Era 25:29 Software Factories and Multi-Agent Workflows 28:08 Basti's AI-Assisted Development Workflow 33:16 Local AI Models vs. Cloud-Based Models 35:30 How Far AI Coding Capabilities Can Go 37:49 Comparing AI Models on Real Product Builds 41:28 Closing Thoughts on Omarchy and the Future

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  • September 30 · 55 min

    005: Dan Wahlin - AI Makes Starting Easy. How Do You Actually Ship?

    What does it take to build well when AI can write the code? Dan Wahlin joins Basti to talk about Omarchy, learning Linux, and why technical knowledge still matters when you work with AI agents. Dan shares the story behind Learn Omarchy and how he used AI tools to build an interactive way to practice desktop shortcuts. Together, they explore how agents help troubleshoot hardware and driver issues, where human judgment remains essential, and why understanding architecture and security helps you steer an agent toward better results. The conversation also covers the future of junior developers, finding focus when every idea feels possible, and creating opportunities through open source, meetups, and sharing your work. From customizing a Linux desktop to spotting everyday business problems worth solving, this episode is about turning curiosity into useful projects—and actually finishing them. In this episode: - Getting comfortable with Omarchy and its keyboard-driven workflow - Building Learn Omarchy with AI assistance - Why software fundamentals still matter for junior developers - Building in public and showing what you can do - Finding practical product ideas and staying focused enough to ship 🔗🔗🔗 LINKS 🔗🔗🔗 Basti https://basti.net https://x.com/bastidotnet https://www.youtube.com/@bastidotnet Dan Wahlin https://x.com/DanWahlin https://blog.codewithdan.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/danwahlin https://www.youtube.com/@danwahlin Omarchy Stories https://omarchystories.org https://x.com/OmarchyStories https://www.youtube.com/@omarchystories ⏱️⏱️⏱️ CHAPTERS ⏱️⏱️⏱️ 00:00 Getting started 00:40 Meet Dan Wahlin 02:13 Why Linux desktop finally clicked 05:05 Troubleshooting hardware with AI agents 08:23 The idea behind Learn Omarchy 13:13 Focus, side projects, and execution 15:29 AI, education, and junior developers 22:35 Standing out through visible work 31:24 Handling criticism and building community 41:54 Hardware experiments and Linux possibilities 45:10 Dan’s ESP32 project 47:36 Finding business problems worth solving 52:41 Publishing, contributing, and finishing projects 56:08 Closing thoughts

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  • September 23 · 43 min

    004: Bjarne Øverli - Omarchy Core Team

    What makes computing fun again? In episode 004 of Omarchy Stories, Bjarne Øverli joins the conversation to talk about Linux, creative side projects, and finding a community you want to build with. A self-taught developer, CTO at Unite AS, and member of the Omarchy Core team, Bjarne shares his journey from early Linux and BSD experiments to helping shape Omarchy. We explore the balance between an opinionated setup and the freedom to make your computer your own—and what everyday life on the core team looks like. We also dig into Thema, CLIAMP, and the appeal of bringing Winamp nostalgia to the terminal. From radio streams and the pirate-radio spirit behind Omarchy Stories to AI in the operating system and meeting fellow builders at Omacon, this episode is about the tools and people that make technology personal. Bjarne also reflects on learning by doing, finding his own path into the industry, and sharing projects publicly before feeling fully ready. Follow Omarchy Stories for more conversations with the people building and shaping the community. 🔗🔗🔗 LINKS 🔗🔗🔗 Basti https://basti.net https://x.com/bastidotnet Bjarne Øverli https://x.com/iamdothash https://contextowl.co Omarchy Stories https://omarchystories.org https://x.com/OmarchyStories https://www.youtube.com/@OmarchyStories ⌚⌚⌚ CHAPTERS ⌚⌚⌚ 00:00 Welcome and meet Bjarne Øverli 01:02 Becoming a self-taught developer 02:41 Life as CTO at Unite and Norway’s media industry 04:21 Discovering Omarchy 06:33 Early Linux distributions and BSD experiments 08:06 Freedom, control, and a practical Linux setup 09:07 Omarchy for development and security research 10:09 The idea of an Omarchy phone 11:12 Themes, Thema, and contributing to the community 16:16 CLI-AMP: Winamp nostalgia in your terminal 17:49 Radio streams and Omarchy Radio 18:55 Omarchy Stories and its pirate-radio roots 21:00 Life on the Omarchy core team 24:18 A growing community and finding podcast guests 27:26 Hacker nostalgia and the joy of computing 29:32 AI as part of the operating system 32:15 Omacon: community, talks, and meeting people 37:05 How Bjarn joined the Omarchy core team 39:15 Starting a podcast, making videos, and putting yourself out there 42:57 Closing thoughts and the next Omacon

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  • September 16 · 1 hr 2 min

    003: Jankees van Woezik - Omarchy Plugins and Indie Maker

    Omarchy Stories 003: Jankees van Woezik In this episode of Omarchy Stories, Basti sits down with Jankees to talk about software development, AI-assisted building, plugins, security, and where coding is headed. Jankees walks through his path from early web development and system administration into building tools, running a company, and writing plugins for Omarchy. Along the way, the two get into what responsible AI use actually looks like in practice, why taste and fundamentals still matter, how children learn best by experimenting, and how AI might reshape work, education, privacy, and software engineering. They also cover Omarchy Kids, screen time philosophy, teaching programming to children, building a startup with AI, the developer community, and practical security research. Links https://x.com/jankeesvw https://jankeesvw.com https://x.com/bastidotnet https://omarchystories.org Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Jankees 03:08 From System Administration to Software Development 05:49 Discovering Omarchy and Building Plugins 08:37 AI, Plugins, and Security 11:53 Building Tools to Solve Your Own Problems 14:36 The Future of Software Engineering and AI 17:51 Fundamentals, Taste, and Human Creativity 20:18 AI-Assisted Design and Creative Experimentation 23:15 Omarchy Kids and Teaching Children to Build 25:23 Screen Time, Trust, and Parenting 36:00 Preparing Kids for the Future of Work 38:48 AI in Business, Privacy, and Regulation 42:20 Building an AI Startup 43:49 Marketing Through Building in Public 46:31 Developer Communities, Rails, and WordPress 50:00 Security Research and Responsible AI Use 54:51 Collaboration, Funding, and the AI Ecosystem 56:22 Virtual Machines, Local AI, and Security Work

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  • September 9 · 48 min

    002: Erik Melton - Omarchy Security Team

    Erik Melton shares his path into software engineering and cybersecurity, and why problem-solving skills matter more than formal education. He breaks down the complexities of PCI DSS compliance, his move from a highly regulated industry into media, and how the role of code in software engineering is changing. The conversation covers what actually counts in today's job market — preparation, real experience and a strong portfolio — as well as the weight of clear communication and personal connection in the interview process. It closes on the role of trust and community engagement in security-related projects. Erik Melton on X - https://x.com/meltonaerik Basti on X - https://x.com/bastidotnet Omarchy Stories on X - https://x.com/OmarchyStories Omarchy Stories Website - https://omarchystories.org Chapters 00:00 Journey into Software Engineering and Cybersecurity 03:09 PCI DSS Compliance and Transition to Media Industry 17:34 The Evolving Role of Code in Software Engineering 24:08 Preparation and Experience in the Job Market 27:08 The Role of Effective Communication in Interviews 39:10 The Importance of Trust and Community Engagement

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  • September 4 · 46 min

    001: Mehmet Ince - Omarcy Security Team

    In the first episode of Omarchy Stories, I'm joined by Mehmet Ince from the Omarchy Security Team. We talk about how he found his way into cybersecurity and what still draws him to vulnerability research — the kind of work where you keep digging until something gives. Mehmet shares what his role on the security team looks like and how the team works internally: how closely they collaborate, and how much learning happens along the way. We get into the impact of AI on vulnerability research, open source culture, and how vulnerabilities get reported — including what it means when one of them hits the entire Linux ecosystem. From there we look at the particular challenges in the Postgres ecosystem, the wider cybersecurity landscape, and Mehmet's view that security is above all a path of learning and exploration that never really ends. We close on what makes Omarchy what it is — the innovation coming out of the community, and the excitement and engagement behind it. Omarchy Stories — the podcast from the community, for the community. Takeaways Passion for cybersecurity from a young age Impact of AI on vulnerability research Open source culture fosters contributions to the Linux ecosystem. Vulnerability research in the Postgres ecosystem presents security challenges. https://x.com/mdisec https://mehmetince.net/part-1-6-systemic-risks-in-the-managed-postgresql-industry-extension-risks-are-real-exploiting-postgis-memory-corruption-bug-at-neondb-supabase-and-many-more/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity 01:01 Early Years and Passion for Cybersecurity 02:15 Professional Journey in Cybersecurity 03:15 Exploring Linux and Vulnerability Research 04:18 Joining Omarchi and Security Team 05:35 Impact of AI on Vulnerability Research 15:49 Internal Workings and Reporting Process 21:33 Collaboration and Learning in the Team 23:54 Open Source Culture and Dependencies 24:53 Vulnerability Reporting and Mitigation 25:50 Contributions to the Linux Ecosystem 26:56 Rapid Decision-Making and Experience 28:34 Vulnerability Research in Postgres Ecosystem 29:56 Challenges in Postgres Ecosystem Security 31:23 Cybersecurity Landscape and Impact 33:58 Getting Started in Cybersecurity 37:24 Journey of Learning and Exploration 39:33 Community Innovation and Excitement 42:36 Omachii Culture and Community Engagement

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