About Me
Colter Hicks
This whole site is about me and the things I like.
I’m a cyber professional with over a decade of experience in the field. I like to share things that I am learning about or things that I build so my mistakes can be learned from.
In my free time, I’m an avid tech enthusiast and enjoy taking photos, riding motorcycles, and I’m also a HAM Radio technician and am studying for my amateur radio General license. I’m also into Personal Finance! I’m always looking for new challenges and projects to take on, so feel free to get in touch if you have any opportunities you think I might be interested in.
Along with all those hobbies and more, I like making websites, and sharing what I love. So if you have any questions that you’d like to see in a future post, please let me know! Or, I’m always open for discussion! We can chat on Matrix, Discord, or simply over email if you head over to the contact page, we can discuss anything you’d like.
About DabbleDen
Welcome to the Den. This is a space dedicated to the art of the “deep dive”… That moment when a casual interest turns into a full-blown project, usually involving a steep learning curve and at least one or two “I shouldn’t have done that” moments.
The Philosophy of Dabbling
I started DabbleDen because I realized that the best way to learn isn’t by reading a manual from front to back, but by getting your hands dirty and trying to build something real. Whether it’s a server rack, a custom piece of furniture, or a new hobby, there is a unique satisfaction in taking a complex topic and figuring it out piece by piece.
In a world of polished, “perfect” tutorials, this blog is a bit different. I share the mistakes, the pivots, and the honest process of learning. If I break something so you don’t have to, then this blog has done its job.
What You’ll Find Here
The topics at DabbleDen are as varied as the projects on my workbench. I write about whatever is currently capturing my attention, including:
- Self-Hosted Tech: I like tinkering with servers and hardware, networking, homelabbing, some vibe-coding and AI, and more!
- The Workshop: I’m currently exploring the world of woodworking. And (hopefully) keep all my fingers in the process! 3D Printing, Lazer engraving, metalworking, etc.
- Hobbies & Gear: Whether it’s the technical side of HAM radio, the aesthetics of photography, or the mechanics of motorcycles, I love diving into the “how” behind the things we enjoy.
- The Adventure of Life: This blog also serves as a personal log for life’s bigger transitions—like redecorating a home, or finding a great new anime to decompress with after a long day, or big life events and navigating those.
Why a Blog?
I’ve intentionally moved away from traditional social media platforms. I prefer the slower, more intentional pace of a self-hosted blog. It allows me to share updates and technical write-ups without the noise, algorithms, or data-harvesting of the big tech giants. It’s a more public way to stay private.
Join the Process
I hope that by sharing my projects and experiments, I can provide a bit of inspiration—or at least a helpful “what not to do” guide—for your own journey.
Thanks for stopping by the Den.