klangcola

Reading your post again, you should start by moving your docker management from CasaOS to vanilla docker-compose files, and keep them in a git repo.

I still think you definitely should look in to NixOS and what it can offer, cause it seems like that is where your mindset is going.

But NixOS is a drastic change, you should start by just converting your individual services one by one from CasaOS management to docker-compose files. One compose file for all services is possible, but I would recommend one compose file for each service. Later you can move from Debian to NixOS while using the same docker-compose files.

I would like to have a system when I know what I did, what is opened/installed/activated and what is not

You sound like you need to to look in to Nix and NixOS. The TLDR is that everything is declared in a configuration file(s), which you can and should back up in git. The config files tell you exactly what you did , and the config file comments together with git commit history tell you why.

The whole system is built from this configuration file. Rollback is trivially easy, either by rebooting and selecting an older build during the boot manager, or reverting to an older git commit and rebuilding (no reboot required, so usually faster)

Now fair warning, Nix (and NixOS) is a big topic, very different from normal way of thinking about software distribution and OS. Nix is not for everyone.

You should also at the very least have a git repo for docker-compose files for your services. Again, that will declaratively tell you what you did and why.

Also, if NixOS is too extreme, you should also look in to declarative management tools like Ansible etc

Yes this! They sell HomeAssistant Green for 100$ and HomeAssistant Yellow does ship from various European sellers at various prices.

Otherwise agreed a used 1liter PC from a local IT refurbisher the best option if buying a general PC for HA.

Edit: somehow forgot that HA sell their own devices, HomeAssistant Green for 100$ and HomeAssistant Yellow which also supports the project.

Original comment: Highly recommend a used "enterprise mini PC" from Dell , HP or Lenovo. Get it from your local IT refurbisher, eBay or your local ebay-equivelent.
These are sometimes called 1L PCs for their 1 Litre size. Model names are Dell Optiplex, HP Elite desk or Prodesk, Lenovo Think centre. Prices are €100 to €1500 depending on age and specs. €150 should be more than enough for HomeAssistant.

Alternatively https://slimbook.com/en/ sells Linux PCs out of Spain, and https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/ out of Germany.

Another option is the british RaspberryPi, but that might be more hassle. You need to separately get a good power supply and cable, good SD-Card, case, maybe with fan. And its ARM not x86, but that doesn't matter for HomeAssistant unless you're doing something very exotic.

Am I looking in to a mirror?

Not a problem when self-hosting on own hardware. Especially in winter. Overly complicated spaceheater goes brrrr

Today I Learned, thanks for sharing.

From your linked thread it seems potentially still acceptable, being fully local , open source, and with an international contributor team. But yeah no such ties with LibreOffice.

You should there is also OnlyOffice, which has better compatibility with Microsoft file formats (and uses Microsoft formats by default). Its also generally good, and open source.

I use both OnlyOffice and LibreOffice on different computers. Both are good.

I'll start: The Guardian (UK) is self-owned (owned by an organization whose purpose is the long term economic viability and editorial independence of the Guardian).

Not Op, but I was in a very similar situation (decent pay, old house, old car, not many fancy purchases). While many people here will borrow a lot and pay the minimum on their mortgage, I paid down my mortgage completely. (and otherwise spent money on travel).

Ironically, this is bad financial advice. The last 15-20 years interest have been very low, and house prices have soared. It would make much more financial sense to borrow more and buy a nicer house. But I value the freedom I get from not having a mortgage. And I never borrowed to buy a car, as cars depreciate like rocks

Next time I buy a plane it will definitely be an Airbus and not a Boeing.

The telegraph article is very thorough, and doesn't mince word. Give it a read