DEV Community: low elk

Meet EmpirioLabs AI: low-cost infrastructure for open-source models

low elk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:22:56 +0000

EmpirioLabs AI (https://empiriolabs.ai/) is a low-cost AI infrastructure platform for teams that want to build with AI without overpaying for compute.

What it offers:

Hosted open-source models you can call through an API
Optimized proprietary model endpoints
Hosted Agents
GPU Cloud for heavier workloads
A playground to try models before you integrate them

Pricing is pay-as-you-go, so you only pay for what you use. If you are comparing options for running open-source models or agents, take a look at https://empiriolabs.ai/ and try the playground.

Why I built BRCKS: a chat app for UK building sites

low elk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:46:59 +0000

I've spent 20+ years in UK construction, and the same thing kept happening: the real project lives in WhatsApp. Photos, snag lists, "can you move Tuesday's delivery?", gate codes. It's quick, but a month later nobody can find anything.

So I built BRCKS: a chat app for building sites that quietly files the job behind the conversation.

What it does

Chat with your team, trades and clients. The site team uses BRCKS Chat (iPhone and Android); subcontractors and clients can stay on WhatsApp, for free.
One tap turns a message into something useful: a checklist item, snag, order or diary date.
Photos land in the right project automatically when sent to a project group.
The office runs every job in BRCKS Web: site diary, snagging, variations, RFIs, plots, a client portal, latest drawings and a shared calendar.

Who it's for

UK builders, trades and construction teams who don't want another heavy PM tool that nobody on site will open. It's free to start, and 100+ UK construction teams use it today.

If that sounds useful, have a look at https://www.brcks.io/ and tell me what's missing. I'd love feedback from other builders and developers working in this space.

Tickleaf: a calm, minimalist to-do app for everything you have to do

low elk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:53:38 +0000

Most to-do apps slowly turn into project-management tools. Tickleaf goes the other way: it's a minimalist to-do app designed to keep your tasks organized without overwhelm.

What it does

Tickleaf has four simple views:

Inbox – where new tasks land
Calendar – what's coming up
Repeating tasks – the things that come back
A quiet place to put things down

You write tasks in natural language — day, time, duration and color — and Tickleaf files them automatically while you type. It syncs across web, iPhone and Android, works offline, and catches up later without a manual refresh.

Who it's for

Anyone who wants a distraction-free way to remember and tick off daily work, personal, health and home tasks with minimal fuss. It intentionally avoids complex project-management features.

Pricing

The free version includes all core features. Tickleaf Plus adds widgets, full archive search and color themes, with a 14-day free trial.

👉 Try it: https://www.tickleaf.app/ (Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ketryon.tickleaf)

Feedback from the DEV community is very welcome!

SuccessionKeeper: a private financial inventory so your family knows where to start

low elk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:53:23 +0000

Most people know where their financial accounts are. The harder question is whether somebody else would know where to start.

I'm building SuccessionKeeper — a UK-built private financial inventory that records where your bank accounts, pensions, investments, insurance policies, property records and important documents are held.

What it does

Keeps a simple, structured inventory of where things are held (not the money itself)
You nominate the people who should receive the information if needed
You choose how often it checks in with you
If you stop responding, a controlled-release process begins: your primary nominee is asked to try to reach you first, and only if the whole process completes without a response is a structured summary released
Nominees never get access to your account

What it deliberately does not do

It doesn't connect to banks or providers, doesn't ask for provider passwords, and can't move money. Data is protected with AES-256 encryption, UK hosting and two-factor authentication, and you can download or delete your data at any time.

Who it's for

Individuals and families who want a calm, practical way to make sure someone can find the starting point if something happens.

There's a 14-day free trial (no card required), then £4/month or £39/year.

👉 Try it: https://successionkeeper.com/

I'd love feedback from the DEV community on the approach and the privacy model.