Many have already mentioned tools that I also use and appreciate immensely.
My pick is Steam. I’ve picked up on gaming in the past 2 years and it’s very stable right now. Every game that I have interest in just works, I can install games, including early access or demos without looking at the compatibility or the release date. The download speeds of games are high (imho at least where I’m located, and compared with a PS5). My partner is a heavy gamer and has to yet find a game that doesn’t work on her machine.

My small selfhosted system appreciates this very much. Having Debian as my base OS makes everything easier.

When I started using Linux i knew that i didn’t want Gnome for it’s style so i went with a distro with KDE. I’ve since tried using WM’s or other DE’s but always fall back to Plasma. Best desktop I’ve used in 30 years and i barely change the defaults 🤷

What is MOTD?

I’d say you install the VPN on the home machine, then when you turn on tailscale on your phone, the traffic should be Phone->home machine (exit node)->VPN

I’m using Lawnchair because it allows folders in the app drawer and I fell the need to group apps. Does Murine do this?

I have a very similar setup. I work from home and use a tablet with symphonium for radio and my personal collection. When I’m in the car since I don’t have Android Auto, I just connect my phone with the Bluetooth. And I use tailscale as the VPN.

Some of us have kids who absolutely love dangling wires

Great for self-hosting if its something you use. Not really a homelab thing, these two things are not necessarily the same either. My hosted services for the family are entirely segregated from my lab, which does a very different job.

My thoughts exactly. OP should look for something else to host on the homelab, there’s plenty out there.

Clever. I’m just starting to mess with Caddy. Been struggling with Vaultwarden lately and your solution might fit my needs.

Maybe check here https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=453422

I think this should be talked about more. Does every selfhosted app need to be public facing?
I use Immich as a backup service, so i really don’t have any need to have it public facing. It connects when I’m home. Same with contacts/calendar.

I have Arch on my desktop with the CachyOS repo enabled and the CachyOS kernel and also have all my servers running Debian.
It just works for me.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/MPRIS

In section 2.3 it explains how to use D-Bus and I think OP should use it instead

I went with GitHub. In the end it’s just an OAuth service, to provide identity. It’s not used to gather data on you (just the same we already share by visiting regular websites).
I’m still gonna lookup Headscale and Wireguard because It’s been on my radar.