A Cheap Little Linux Server Is a Great Addition to an iPad

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Summary

The article describes how a $5/mo Linode server can be a valuable addition to an iPad. The author highlights that the server can be used to run scripts, store files, and even automate tasks. The author also emphasizes that using a Linode server does not require any technical expertise, as tools like ChatGPT can assist in setting up and utilizing the server.

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A tech gear friend with benefits

​Anthony (Tony/Pcunix) Lawrence 👀​

TECHNOLOGY

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I have a Mac Mini, but I much prefer my iPad, probably because it’s easier to move around the house or out on the porch. There are, of course, things that can’t be done on an iPad without buying some app, or are complicated to do, or cannot be done at all.

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That’s where a Mac can come in handy. But, as already mentioned, the Mac is fairly stationary. I might not want to go back into the house just to run a simple script, especially if I need to keep going back and forth.

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Enter Linode.com. Years ago (decades ago), I ran a very popular Unix-oriented website on a shared Linux server. That site was busy enough that I used a dedicated server, but for what little I need now, their $5-a-month shared server is more than enough.

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Right here is where a lot of readers might say “I know NOTHING about Linux, so see ya later, alligator.”

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Hold on. You don’t need to know a thing if you have a friendly AI pal at hand. Honestly, even though I worked with Linode servers for many years, I couldn’t completely remember everything I needed to do to get one up and running when I added this new one. ChatGPT did know how, and told me how to use the ShellFish app to use secure SSH to access the command line and configure it so it exposes the Linux box in my Files app, letting me drag and drop files in either direction.

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My immediate need was a script to automatically edit some text. In the old days, I’d do that in Perl because that was where I was most proficient, but Python seems to be the thing today. I know nothing about Python and any available libraries, but ChatGPT does.

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I told it what I wanted to do, gave it some sample files, and seconds later had a Python script that did the job. I used my Files app to bring the files back home, and I was done.

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And I didn’t have to go back into the house.