A Day at Just for Fun Open Air
One festival day, five bands, and a forecast that turned out to be way too pessimistic. A day out at a small metal open-air.
Personal site
Hi, I'm Michael.
Software developer by trade, gamer and tabletop competitor by night, metalhead at heart, and always planning the next trip.
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Latest articles
Italy in Frames: Two Weeks, One Camera, Too Much Pasta
A photo journal from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, told mostly in pictures, plus an unofficial but strictly enforced daily gelato quota.
How Much AI Actually Helps My Day-to-Day Development
Not a hype post and not a doom post. Just an honest account of where an AI assistant earns its keep at my desk, and where it still gets in the way.
Setting Up My Home Office for Deep Work
A few small changes to my desk setup made a bigger difference to my focus than any new gadget ever did.
What Carrying a Real Camera Again Taught Me
My phone takes technically better photos than my old camera ever could. I've started leaving it in my pocket anyway.
Why I Finally Took the VR Racing Plunge
After years of watching from the sidelines, I picked up a headset and a wheel in the same month. Here's how that went.
Refactoring My Side Project (Again)
The third rewrite is usually the one that sticks. This is either that one, or a very expensive lesson.
Tuesday Night Skat: House Rules and Old Grudges
Three players, one deck, and a set of house rules nobody agrees on but everyone enforces anyway.
Chasing Personal Bests in My Sim Rig
A season of slowly shaving tenths of a second off a lap, and what that grind actually teaches you.
Why I Still Shoot Film in a Digital-Everything World
It's slower, more expensive, and objectively worse by every technical measure. I keep doing it anyway, and I've finally figured out why.
Small Festivals Beat Big Ones: Here's Why
No 45-minute queue for a beer, no losing your friends in a crowd of forty thousand, and the band can actually see you.
A Beginner's Guide to Not Losing at Darts (Too Badly)
You don't need a perfect throw. You need to stop making the same three mistakes over and over.
What I'm into
A few of my favorite things
Family comes first, always — everything below is how I spend the time after that.
- 01
Software Development
I build software for a living and keep building it for fun after hours — from clean backend systems to weekend side projects nobody asked for.
- 02
Gaming, VR & Racing
When I'm not coding, I'm probably strapped into a VR headset or chasing lap times in a sim racing rig.
- 03
Billiards, Darts & Cards
Nothing beats a proper table-side rivalry — billiards, darts, or a competitive round of Skat with friends.
- 04
Heavy Metal & Festivals
Heavy metal is my soundtrack. I love catching smaller festivals and live shows whenever I get the chance.
- 05
Travel
Any excuse to see somewhere new. I'd rather come back with a memory card full of bad photos than none at all.
Get in touch
Say hello
Fancy a round of Skat, a VR session, or just want to talk shop? Reach out.
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- michael-coldewey ↗
- @michaelcoldewey ↗