Notes

Short write-ups on how we build and run our projects: the technical choices behind them, what they cost and where their limits are.

• Counting visitors without cookies, from server logsHow we count visitors from the web server's own logs – no cookies, no tracking script, no third party – how bots are filtered out and where the limits are.
• Spam protection without third parties: proof of workHow the form on XCOMBO Codes keeps spam out with a self-hosted proof-of-work check, small hurdles and moderation – no cookies, image puzzles or outside service.
• A multilingual static site in plain PythonHow XCOMBO Codes turns a few data files into close to 1,000 pages in five languages with one Python script and no framework – and the details that mattered.