The Shipyard — Projects & Systems

The Shipyard is a plain-language guide to the projects and tools taking shape at Stormy Sailors Maker Lab. Each entry describes what a project does and where it stands. Some systems are in use; others are being built, tested or learned one step at a time.

Current Projects

QR Forge

QR Forge creates QR codes whose destinations can be updated later, so a printed code does not have to be replaced whenever a link changes. The system has been rebuilt on a clean foundation. Its main pages are responding, and the five-photo “For Sale” migration has passed its checks. Wording and smaller usability details are still being refined.

StormyOS and the Workshop Dashboard

StormyOS is the software behind the Stormy Sailors Bridge Computer, a Raspberry Pi based dashboard for bringing workshop stations and project information together. The dashboard is growing alongside the Maker Lab’s tools and services.

Engineering Workstation

The Pop!_OS computer is the main shore-side workstation for software development, device firmware and local AI experiments. It is also being used to learn OpenCPN and work with electronic charts as part of a longer-term interest in coastal navigation.

The Tactical Pirate

The Tactical Pirate is a portable toolkit for wireless diagnostics and security learning on equipment and networks we own or have permission to assess. Its firmware is built for the LILYGO T-Embed CC1101 Plus and organized around a Main Deck and dedicated departments. Battery telemetry, infrared functions, manufacturer identification, packet capture and mission handling are among the systems brought aboard. The interface and mission foundations are in place; commissioning and testing on the exact hardware continue.

Tactical Pirate Dockyard

Dockyard is the planned Linux companion for importing, organizing and reviewing files produced during authorized testing. The link between the handheld and its companion has been verified, while the wider Dockyard workflow remains in development.

Stormy Sailors Kiosk

The kiosk is a public information display for Maker Lab projects, useful links and selected workshop updates. It is part of the broader Bridge Computer setup and will grow as the public-facing material is ready.

Tether

Tether is a Linux companion for connecting selected iPhone functions with the workstation. Bluetooth pairing and message visibility have been explored, and the connection is still being tested for reliable everyday use.

Local AI Workshop

The local AI setup brings Ollama, Open WebUI and SearXNG together for on-device language-model experiments and local web search. The aim is a useful private workshop for writing, research and coding—not a finished product.

E-paper Maker Badge

The badge is being approached as a proper maker build rather than a ready-made unit to order. The plan is to work through the hardware and assembly, including soldering if the design requires it. Component choices, design and construction are still ahead.

Coastal Navigation Practice

OpenCPN is installed, and an electronic chart collection has been downloaded and organized. The current work is learning chart setup, display controls and chart symbols. This is an early learning project; it is not yet a commissioned navigation system.

Ideas in Development

Project Black Flag explores smart-glasses workflows for hands-free maker documentation, with privacy as part of the design. Dreadnaught remains an early concept for a larger, more capable portable computing platform.

Projects move at different speeds. We’ll update this page as systems are built, tested and put to work. If a prototype surprises us, we’ll call it research.