Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

If you want more information about the book, check out sample chapters at O'Reilly's website. If you've done anything interesting with home automation, home theater, or home security, we'd like to hear from you. Send Tony a note at hacker@northrup.org or contact Eric at homehacking@thefaulkners.org. For more geeky projects, check out GeekHobbies.com.

Chapter 3, "Remotely Monitor a Pet"

Chapter 4, "Make Your House Talk"

Chapter 8, "Build a Linux-Based Home Theater PC"

Chapter 9, "Create Time-Shifted FM Radio"

Chapter 10, "Access Your Entire Media Collection Over the Internet"

Chapter 12, "Watch Your House Across the Network"

Chapter 13, "Build a Security System"

GeekHobbies

Tony's website for all his dorky projects.

SmartHome

Our preferred online retail outlet for home automation products.

X10

Yeah, we hate their aggressive advertising, too. Still, it's hard to beat three wireless video cameras with three motion detectors for $189. That's pretty much all you need to buy to build your own closed-circuit home monitoring system. These cameras and motion detectors are used in the Pet Monitor and Streaming Live Video projects in our book.

MisterHouse

I personally prefer to create my own Perl scripts for home automation, because MisterHouse feels too complex for my very task-based uses. Still, many people love MisterHouse, and it is extremely flexible. Hackers like myself owe the MisterHouse project a nod of thanks, because it is the reason that we have the tools we need to interface Perl with home automation tools.

Perl

When I develop applications, I used C# and Microsoft Visual Studio.NET. When I hack, I use Perl. Perl's quick, easy, and sloppy. More importantly, it's got libraries for interfacing with home automation products. If you don't know Perl, don't worry, because our book provides complete Perl scripts for working with home automation, and detailed instructions for modifying them yourself. If you're a hard-core hacker, though, you're going to need Perl in your toolbox.

You-Do-It Electronics

Most people are forced to buy home automation products online. If you're lucky enough to live in the Boston area, head on over to You-Do-It in Needham. They've got parts you can't find anywhere else, from X10 products to in-wall rated video and audio cables. They've also got a wicked attitude--if you dare to ask an employee a question, they'll be sure to make you feel like an idiot. Ah well, they have a monopoly on hacker parts in this area, so what's a geek to do?

Vista Clues: Windows Vista tips and help

Tony's blog with lots of info about Windows Vista.

Tony Northrup's Home Page

I don't have any home automation information on my Web site, but you can find more information about me (one of the authors). Lots, lots, lots of pictures.

DIY Tech with Tony Northrup

A series of videos, sponsored by the Coding4Fun website, covering custom home automation software built with the Microsoft .NET Framework.