HN Reader

> My router assigns dynamic IP addresses, meaning my server location kept changing.

I've had a similar problem in the past. It turns out that most routers have a way to assign an IP address statically based on the MAC address of the requesting device without affecting the other DHCP devices on the network.

I do this for my pi-hole, my NAS and my gaming PC.

Like all the other commenters here, I also devised my own solution—but AFAICT, it's the only other solution that's automated!

Requirements:

  * macOS
  * Zoom
  * Home Assistant
  * A signal light/sign on a smart switch (like [0])

The Procedure:

First, create a script that checks whether you're currently on a Zoom call, and then turns your signal light on or off accordingly. Remember to chmod +x!

  #!/bin/sh

  if [ $(lsof -i 4UDP | grep zoom 2>/dev/null | wc -l) -gt 1 ]; then
    curl \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer ${HOME_ASSISTANT_ACCESS_TOKEN}" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{"entity_id": "${ENTITY_ID}"}' \
      https://${HOME_ASSISTANT_DOMAIN}/api/services/switch/turn_on
  else
    curl \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer ${HOME_ASSISTANT_ACCESS_TOKEN}" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{"entity_id": "${ENTITY_ID}"}' \
      https://${HOME_ASSISTANT_DOMAIN}/api/services/switch/turn_off
  fi

Then, create a LaunchAgent that monitors your Zoom Application Support directory for filesystem changes at ~/Library/LaunchAgents/local.${USER}.on-air.plist:

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
  <plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
      <key>Label</key>
      <string>local.${USER}.on-air</string>
      <key>ProgramArguments</key>
      <array>
          <string>${PATH_TO_SCRIPT}</string>
      </array>
      <key>WatchPaths</key>
      <array>
          <string>/Users/${USER}/Library/Application Support/zoom.us/data</string>
      </array>
  </dict>
  </plist>

Finally, load 'er up:

  $ launchctl load ../Library/LaunchAgents/local.${USER}.on-air.plist

[0]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NJ8ZCHF

Nice. I built something similar using a Rust-based daemon running on my Mac. It listens to the microphone state (not the camera) via a Core Audio property listener (AudioObjectPropertyListenerProc), rather than log monitoring or polling, so it works even when the camera is turned off. When the mic status changes, the daemon toggles a light by sending a simple message via zigbee2mqtt. I also installed a fire alarm plate above my door, powered by a cheap Zigbee socket, similar to this one: https://ampac.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/4210-0131-Warni...

My solution is simple: noise canceling headphones, which I only have on for meetings. If the wife sees them, she knows

I had a similar thought, so I bought this:

https://onairwarning.com/pages/products

It completely sucks and doesn't really work. So don't make my mistake.

"a lot of times my mother asks me if she can come in the room for reasons I won't get into"

You've appeared to engineer your way around an interpersonal relationship that you lack the emotional, social intelligence and maturity to deal with.

Welcome to the front page of HN i guess. you're well on the way to becoming a founder.

> One does not simply get the camera status on a MacBook.

What you need is a sensor right near the green dot that detects whether it's turned on or not. Could use a full-blown camera, but probably a simpler sensor would work too.

Only half-kidding.

Next trick - hook up a Recording sign when your DAW is in playback or you are live on the air.

The way most of these devices get status seems check the conferencing apps directly:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kuando/page/1128C3FD-9BE9-4AA2...

There are some nice neon sign options here as well:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=busy+light

We historically have used Blynclights for this exact thing. Used them in office then we all migrated to working from home a lot of us brought them with and use them. I have a wireless one that sits on a table just outside my office.

I made a simple ON AIR sign with LEDs inside that I change to reflect what I was doing. Red means I am in a meeting or totally focused, blue means I'm working, but someone can interrupt me if needed. Green means I'm not working, come on in!

The only issue with my setup- I work from home. My wife does not. No one is there to care if they can come in or not. It was building something fun to solve a problem I never had.

Would do again.

Would love a way to disable the Do Not Disturb button on my macbook without flipping the f keys. Any ideas? Tap it accidentally and you miss all calls and texts for the day on your iphone…

Here's my low tech do-not-disturb device ;-)

https://i.imgur.com/rnwEGIZ.jpeg

why does the site keep upvoting trivial projects especially derivative projects of what people seem to reinvent every few months. No offence to OP. I don't really get the site. Like, you have posts where someone runs doom or an OS in a PDF file that get 1000 upvotes which I think is valid. Then we get something like "I made an echo server" which is like someone copypasted code from an asyncio documentation page and put it on Github and that will make it to the front page. Again, just feels like it doesn't belong on the front page. It's not news worthy or interesting in any way.

Door locks exist

A simple, almost analog, solution is some nightlight which can be manually turned on or off, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL3Q7PW

I have an old, broken crosswalk sign that I keep meaning to set up as a "meeting indicator" - red hand meaning that I'm in a meeting, and the seconds countdown as an indicator of how many minutes are left until I'm out of meetings.

But as it turns out, since my spouse & I both work from home, separated by an entire floor of a house, there ain't that much need for it, so it sits on my shelf.

I needed something like this for my basement home office. But I was lazy, so rather than actually building anything, I just bought some color-changing light bulbs ($7 on Amazon including remote) and installed them on the basement stairs. If I have a do-not-disturb meeting, I make the light red.