# > whoami - [[What I've Been Working On]] - [[Current Interests]] > [!info] hackIDLE > GitHub: https://github.com/hackIDLE > Gitlab: https://gitlab.com/hackIDLE > [!info] Me > GitHub: https://github.com/ethanolivertroy > Gitlab: https://gitlab.com/ethanolivertroy > Hugging Face: https://huggingface.co/ethanolivertroy > Google Developer Profile: https://g.dev/ethantroy > [!note] Blogs > Deprecated: https://hacks.ethantroy.com/ - my old Jekyll security blog, will migrate everything to this vault shortly > Medium: https://medium.com/@ethanolivertroy > [!success] Stuff I Got for Clicking Buttons > ![[certs1.webp]] ![[certs2.webp]] ![[certs3.png]]  # > what is this? Several years ago I started heavily adopting a markdown-based way of notetaking with a tool called [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/). It pretty much changed the way I consumed, used, and assimilated information into my personal and work life. When I got into the cybersecurity industry, there was literally something I didn't know every day of the week (there still is) and I just kept taking notes on things. It was almost like a dictionary for me. And that is exactly how the first iteration of this website started. **mycyberdictionary.com** was an attempt to open-source my [**second-brain**](https://fortelabs.com/blog/basboverview/) as it relates to cybersecurity. This project started as my own personal notes & resources in [obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) that were flexibly documented in markdown and easily searchable for me. I began to share these notes with colleagues, friends, and other people I met that were either interested or had questions about these different topics. I felt like the easiest way for everyone to benefit from this and for me to continue my note-taking process in a productive manner was to turn this part of my second-brain into a [**digital garden**](https://maggieappleton.com/garden-history). Please excuse the mess as this is not a polished website or blog but a resource in constant iteration. <img src="https://github.com/ethanolivertroy/ethanolivertroy/assets/63926014/2084a3c6-97f7-425c-8e70-4ef3a13782e5"> mycyberdictionary.com was just that --> My Cyber Dictionary I just open-sourced all the notes and random ideas I had using [Obsidian Publish](https://obsidian.md/publish) which allowed me to make a super easy Digital Garden website. ## a digital garden Sometime around 2020 I read parts of Mike Caulfield's [The Garden and the Stream: A Technopastoral](https://hapgood.us/2015/10/17/the-garden-and-the-stream-a-technopastoral/). These 5 ideas stuck out to me: 1. The Living Repository: A digital garden is a dynamic, ever-evolving collection of personal ideas and notes 2. Non-Linear Structure: Unlike traditional blogs, it emphasizes interconnected, non-linear organization of thoughts 3. Exploratory Nature: It's a space for exploration and continuous learning rather than polished, final content 4. Public Collaboration: Often open to others, it invites feedback, collaboration, and shared knowledge 5. Iterative Growth: Content is regularly revisited and updated, reflecting ongoing personal and intellectual development <!-- [**second-brain**](https://fortelabs.com/blog/basboverview/) --> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ckv_CjyKyZY?si=4Pb-bYxwQ2joYQxF" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## hackIDLE After some time of using mycyberdictionary.com as my place to put all my cybersecurity notes it became much more than just a dictionary. I wasn't just defining terms or technologies I was encountering; I was synthesizing, learning, and iterating, thru this public medium. And suddenly the name didn't even make sense anymore. I realized that I had spent a ton of time hacking -- labbing, building, experimenting, mostly breaking stuff in this learning environment. And it all became so clear. I had spent so much time trying to learn things the supposedly "way to do them" and it never worked for me. But this did. And it honestly always did. I didn't learn to wrestle, weightlift, be a medic, or anything else in my life other than this method of diving in, trying things out, and seeing what sticks to the wall. I was a hacker. =="I think a hacker is someone who tries to break things in order to understand them"== <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TusQWn2TQxQ?si=ybPU1bFprEhHYII4&amp;start=212" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> And thus, this iteration of my website was born: **HackIDLE** It's a play on the term "Hack" and "IDLE" which is a state of inactivity but also an acronym for Integrated Development and Learning Environment. The idea is that sometimes it seems like we're doing nothing. But staying still and doing nothing are not the same thing. HackIDLE is about experimentation and sharing my digital garden of notes, ideas, connections, and projects. # > disclaimer I am not responsible for any damage or loss caused by the use of the information on this site. This site is for educational purposes only. I do not promote hacking or any illegal activities. I am not responsible for any misuse of the information provided on this site. I also have a lot of memes and jokes on this site so don't take everything too seriously if you see a curse word.