q3k :blobcatcoffee: / is on Nostr

Documenting the hyperfocus episodes of a soul stuck between hardware and software.

THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.

#nobot

(Old account: https://0x3c.pl/@q3k)

Last Notes

2024-09-16 10:58:30

a very „Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung bei Gründung eines Vereins oder einer anderen Körperschaft des privaten Rechts” morning to you all

2024-09-14 14:19:07

Looks like Newag isn't satisfied with how their civil lawsuit against us in Warsaw is going - because they just filed another one, this time in Gdańsk, and from another corporate entity they manage. And to add to the pile of arbitrary accusations, this time it's about unfair competition (again) and violation of their corporate personality rights (slander?).
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/113/136/305/104/344/098/original/308906a0ea95b510.png

2024-08-28 15:29:39

✅ Attend a legal hearing about train hacking
✅ Wait for defense attorney stuck in train for hours because of a railway incident
✅ Get in a road collision on the way back from the court (we're fine)
certainly one of the most days

2024-08-26 15:35:26

- reply

The hearing will take place in the 22nd Department of Intellectual Property at Czerniakowska 100 in Warsaw. To those interested are invited to observe on site as audience members, you can refer to the hearing number XXII GW 493/24. Of course, the hearing will be in Polish.

2024-08-26 15:35:15

Just two days left until the first hearing Newag's lawsuit against us (Dragon Sector members) and SPS. It will take place on 28.08.2024 at 10:00. In case you've missed it, we're being accused of infringing upon Newag's intellectual property and unfair competition. This is, of course, bullshit and a great example of a SLAPP case.
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/113/029/054/594/724/923/original/dff41a3506609909.png

2024-08-08 12:15:25

Anyone looking to hire a generalist software engineer with a knack for security, networking and distributed systems?
I've been at my job for 5 years, built up a codebase from prototype to a working product with strong foundations. But I think I need a change of scenery now.
I feel most comfortable working with Go and Rust, but I'm flexible, as long as there's space for solid engineering practices in your org.
CV available on request, email me (q3k@q3k.org). Remote or Munich-based.
#FediHired

2024-06-28 11:03:49

It's finally happened! NEWAG IP Management just sued us for copyright infringement and unfair competition. This is a civil lawsuit in Warsaw, parallel to a criminal investigation that's happening in Cracow.
Of course, they got our postal addresses wrong (they could've just asked!) so we only just got a copy from the court, but hey, we now have 164 pages of content to dive into.
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/112/693/884/226/767/500/original/d93f85633fc05e07.png

2024-06-21 11:12:46

Systemd predictable network interface names are awesome.
Not only I get easy to remember names like enp2s0f0u7u3c2 but I _also_ get to experience a machine not coming back up after reboot because a new (non-NIC!) PCIe card caused existing names to shuffle around.

2024-03-13 15:52:43

In 2024, $.32 gets you a Cortex M0, 4kB RAM, 16kB flash and a built-in 24MHz oscillator. All in a package that's terrifyingly close to being accidentally swallowable.
https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/Microcontroller-Units-MCUs-MPUs-SOCs_PUYA-PY32F003L24D6TR_C5128436.html
(index finger for scale - blurred so i don't get comments about fingerprint opsec)
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/112/089/163/172/947/123/original/14b2b9715a576e77.png

2024-03-13 15:52:43

2023-12-05 13:59:13

- reply

We found that the PLC code actually contained logic that would lock up the train with bogus error codes after some date, or if the train wasn't running for a given time. One version of the controller actually contained GPS coordinates to contain the behaviour to third party workshops.
It was also possible to unlock the trains by pressing a key combination in the cabin controls. None of this was documented.
2/4
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/111/528/164/371/123/713/original/4753298f022e1259.png
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/111/528/185/056/590/929/original/3b71c66145a1f05c.png

2023-12-05 13:58:25

I can finally reveal some research I've been involved with over the past year or so.
We (@npub1l67…kdll, @npub1mxn…8xxm and I) have reverse engineered the PLC code of NEWAG Impuls EMUs. These trains were locking up for arbitrary reasons after being serviced at third-party workshops. The manufacturer argued that this was because of malpractice by these workshops, and that they should be serviced by them instead of third parties.
1/4
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/111/528/160/789/327/788/original/706c388736acc91d.png

2023-01-31 15:36:46

Cool thing is, since we have a 'normal' DRM/KMS driver (and help from @npub1nsw…gtqu) we can just do things like... run Wayland!
https://object.ceph-waw3.hswaw.net/mastodon-prod/media_attachments/files/109/784/554/511/704/585/original/f930e9a55bd7cb3b.png