Julian Oliver
@julian0liver.bsky.social
critical engineer / educator / infrastructure activist / artist
Occasional announcements only
Art: https://julianoliver.com
Infrastructure: https://nikau.io
Socials: https://mastodon.social/@JulianOliver
Resilience: https://wiki.collapsible.systems
Occasional announcements only
Art: https://julianoliver.com
Infrastructure: https://nikau.io
Socials: https://mastodon.social/@JulianOliver
Resilience: https://wiki.collapsible.systems
I've released a playlist of little videos introducing core UNIX shell concepts and skills for those curious about getting off BigTech and onto self-run, sovereign server infrastructure.
video.nikau.io/w/p/o2pxK81g...
#selfhosted #infrastructure
video.nikau.io/w/p/o2pxK81g...
#selfhosted #infrastructure
Command line fundamentals for the sysadmin-curious
A collection of videos detailing UNIX shell basics in preparation for beginning a journey into the world of self-hosted and sovereign server infrastructure. These videos are not to be taken as a co...
video.nikau.io
October 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I've released a playlist of little videos introducing core UNIX shell concepts and skills for those curious about getting off BigTech and onto self-run, sovereign server infrastructure.
video.nikau.io/w/p/o2pxK81g...
#selfhosted #infrastructure
video.nikau.io/w/p/o2pxK81g...
#selfhosted #infrastructure
Pleased to announce new training dates.
If you'd like to bring self-hosted sovereign server infrastructure to your communities, movements &/or orgs - getting them off BigTech & onto a happier & healthier platform surface - these courses are probably for you.
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
If you'd like to bring self-hosted sovereign server infrastructure to your communities, movements &/or orgs - getting them off BigTech & onto a happier & healthier platform surface - these courses are probably for you.
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
Tunnel and Fortress
Tunnel and Fortress is a live, coached and intensive training series empowering participants to deploy and secure sovereign server infrastructure.
learn.nikau.io
October 7, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Pleased to announce new training dates.
If you'd like to bring self-hosted sovereign server infrastructure to your communities, movements &/or orgs - getting them off BigTech & onto a happier & healthier platform surface - these courses are probably for you.
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
If you'd like to bring self-hosted sovereign server infrastructure to your communities, movements &/or orgs - getting them off BigTech & onto a happier & healthier platform surface - these courses are probably for you.
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
The Replaybook is out!
My contribution was specifically on helping climate-facing organisations chart a pathway from big tech platforms to mission-coherent, #selfhosted and sovereign infrastructure.
You can download the book free, or pre-order in print.
tacticaltech.org/replaybook/
My contribution was specifically on helping climate-facing organisations chart a pathway from big tech platforms to mission-coherent, #selfhosted and sovereign infrastructure.
You can download the book free, or pre-order in print.
tacticaltech.org/replaybook/
September 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
The Replaybook is out!
My contribution was specifically on helping climate-facing organisations chart a pathway from big tech platforms to mission-coherent, #selfhosted and sovereign infrastructure.
You can download the book free, or pre-order in print.
tacticaltech.org/replaybook/
My contribution was specifically on helping climate-facing organisations chart a pathway from big tech platforms to mission-coherent, #selfhosted and sovereign infrastructure.
You can download the book free, or pre-order in print.
tacticaltech.org/replaybook/
Very pleased to present another round of Tunnel and Fortress, live classes in the design & deployment of sovereign server infrastructure.
I want to teach you to get the communities you care about off Big Tech.
video.nikau.io/w/9RVN23fgj7...
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
#exitbigtech #sysadmin
I want to teach you to get the communities you care about off Big Tech.
video.nikau.io/w/9RVN23fgj7...
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
#exitbigtech #sysadmin
Tunnel and Fortress 2
An introduction to self-hosted server infrastructure in the context of 'Tunnel and Fortress', a live, coached and intensive training series empowering participants to become capable, creative, conf...
video.nikau.io
September 12, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Very pleased to present another round of Tunnel and Fortress, live classes in the design & deployment of sovereign server infrastructure.
I want to teach you to get the communities you care about off Big Tech.
video.nikau.io/w/9RVN23fgj7...
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
#exitbigtech #sysadmin
I want to teach you to get the communities you care about off Big Tech.
video.nikau.io/w/9RVN23fgj7...
learn.nikau.io/courses/cour...
#exitbigtech #sysadmin
For those in the region, please join us for a rigorous evening of discussion on the dominant belief system of Technological Determinism, its impact on our autonomy, dignity, communities and cultures.
criticalsignals.nz/programme/in...
criticalsignals.nz/programme/in...
The Inevitabilism Panel
Critical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
August 29, 2025 at 11:33 PM
For those in the region, please join us for a rigorous evening of discussion on the dominant belief system of Technological Determinism, its impact on our autonomy, dignity, communities and cultures.
criticalsignals.nz/programme/in...
criticalsignals.nz/programme/in...
Reposted by Julian Oliver
V happy to launch Critical Signals, a cross-over artistic/data sovereignty/kai (food) sovereignty project in #Wellington City CBD. #Aotearoa: with @ira.bailey.nz @julian0liver.bsky.social et al, aiming to get ready for oncoming disruptions, in community. Sign up here criticalsignals.nz
Critical Signals
Critical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
July 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
V happy to launch Critical Signals, a cross-over artistic/data sovereignty/kai (food) sovereignty project in #Wellington City CBD. #Aotearoa: with @ira.bailey.nz @julian0liver.bsky.social et al, aiming to get ready for oncoming disruptions, in community. Sign up here criticalsignals.nz
Pleased to share Critical Signals, a 3 month series of events in downtown Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The series centers practical & visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
(Programme still growing as we confirm new collabs)
The series centers practical & visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
(Programme still growing as we confirm new collabs)
Critical Signals
Critical Signals explores practical and visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
July 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Pleased to share Critical Signals, a 3 month series of events in downtown Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The series centers practical & visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
(Programme still growing as we confirm new collabs)
The series centers practical & visionary responses to an era of collapses.
criticalsignals.nz
(Programme still growing as we confirm new collabs)
Overjoyed to see our 2011 Critical Engineering Manifesto tooled up for our times, in this powerful reading by Charlotte Kent for the Brooklyn Rail brooklynrail.org/2025/05/art-...
TY @tega.bsky.social
TY @tega.bsky.social
The State of AI Agents | The Brooklyn Rail
Artists’ recent approaches to machinic agents showcase the designed attributes of different systems. Artist and environmental engineer Tega Brain wisely pointed me towards the Critical Engineering Man...
brooklynrail.org
May 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Overjoyed to see our 2011 Critical Engineering Manifesto tooled up for our times, in this powerful reading by Charlotte Kent for the Brooklyn Rail brooklynrail.org/2025/05/art-...
TY @tega.bsky.social
TY @tega.bsky.social
I'm very pleased to share Tunnel & Fortress, a new live coached training series bringing the art of system administration to those with no prior experience in the field. Participants will deploy, garden & harden servers to keep their communities safe.
video.nikau.io/w/sXj2kQ8vQo...
#exitbigtech
video.nikau.io/w/sXj2kQ8vQo...
#exitbigtech
Introducing Tunnel and Fortress
A brief introduction to the new Tunnel and Fortress training series, hosted by Nīkau, and instructed by Julian Oliver. Please see here for more information: https://learn.nikau.io
video.nikau.io
April 2, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I'm very pleased to share Tunnel & Fortress, a new live coached training series bringing the art of system administration to those with no prior experience in the field. Participants will deploy, garden & harden servers to keep their communities safe.
video.nikau.io/w/sXj2kQ8vQo...
#exitbigtech
video.nikau.io/w/sXj2kQ8vQo...
#exitbigtech
PSA - I'm working on some online courses that I'll be launching very soon, skilling up folk (incl from less technical backgrounds) to deploy, maintain and grow low-cost sovereign server infrastructure to keep their communities, friends and families safe in this incredible time.
March 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
PSA - I'm working on some online courses that I'll be launching very soon, skilling up folk (incl from less technical backgrounds) to deploy, maintain and grow low-cost sovereign server infrastructure to keep their communities, friends and families safe in this incredible time.
Glad to share a fun weekend project, a powerful #Meshtastic node in a waterproof & rugged case, for use in comms blackout situations/emergencies. It allows for texting across the mesh with a smartphone.
More here: mastodon.social/@JulianOlive...
More here: mastodon.social/@JulianOlive...
February 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Glad to share a fun weekend project, a powerful #Meshtastic node in a waterproof & rugged case, for use in comms blackout situations/emergencies. It allows for texting across the mesh with a smartphone.
More here: mastodon.social/@JulianOlive...
More here: mastodon.social/@JulianOlive...
For those of you heading to Transmediale in Berlin this year, I will be streaming in to join 2 panels.
The first panel is with Felicity Hammond and Nina Davies:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The 2nd with Catherine Griffiths, Anna Engelhardt and Marija Ristic:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The first panel is with Felicity Hammond and Nina Davies:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The 2nd with Catherine Griffiths, Anna Engelhardt and Marija Ristic:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
transmedialetransmediale 2025 | Pixels in, People out: An Image-Based Ideology of Space
transmediale.de
January 25, 2025 at 6:10 AM
For those of you heading to Transmediale in Berlin this year, I will be streaming in to join 2 panels.
The first panel is with Felicity Hammond and Nina Davies:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The 2nd with Catherine Griffiths, Anna Engelhardt and Marija Ristic:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The first panel is with Felicity Hammond and Nina Davies:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
The 2nd with Catherine Griffiths, Anna Engelhardt and Marija Ristic:
transmediale.de/en/2025/even...
Every now and again I try my hand at writing short fiction.
Here's one that's been feeling ready:
julianoliver.com/fiction/the-...
#fiction #writing
Here's one that's been feeling ready:
julianoliver.com/fiction/the-...
#fiction #writing
The Sprites
julianoliver.com
December 10, 2024 at 7:19 PM
Every now and again I try my hand at writing short fiction.
Here's one that's been feeling ready:
julianoliver.com/fiction/the-...
#fiction #writing
Here's one that's been feeling ready:
julianoliver.com/fiction/the-...
#fiction #writing
I'll be giving a seminar 'Communications in an Emergency' on the 14th in Wellington, & an intensive 'Information and Operations Security for Activists' on the 18th.
Be sure to check out the other great workshops too.
beautifulsignals.nz
#infosec #resilience
Be sure to check out the other great workshops too.
beautifulsignals.nz
#infosec #resilience
Beautiful Signals
Explore emerging issues with soil, food, data, democracy, and digital sovereignty through engaging art practices and self-run workshops. December 2024, Wellington, NZ
beautifulsignals.nz
December 4, 2024 at 3:33 AM
I'll be giving a seminar 'Communications in an Emergency' on the 14th in Wellington, & an intensive 'Information and Operations Security for Activists' on the 18th.
Be sure to check out the other great workshops too.
beautifulsignals.nz
#infosec #resilience
Be sure to check out the other great workshops too.
beautifulsignals.nz
#infosec #resilience
Sharing here a keynote I gave this yr. I cover the enviro hit of 'AI'/ML & our endangering habits of animism & anthropomorphism. Also look at embedded racism & the broader cult of technological determinism in this tech.
I called it Machine Cult. A kind soul uploaded it here: vimeo.com/952557065
I called it Machine Cult. A kind soul uploaded it here: vimeo.com/952557065
Machine Cult – Keynote by Julian Oliver
Internationally renowned New Zealand artist and critical engineer Julian Oliver launched the symposium with a keynote address laying out the current state-of-play…
vimeo.com
November 22, 2024 at 6:50 AM
Sharing here a keynote I gave this yr. I cover the enviro hit of 'AI'/ML & our endangering habits of animism & anthropomorphism. Also look at embedded racism & the broader cult of technological determinism in this tech.
I called it Machine Cult. A kind soul uploaded it here: vimeo.com/952557065
I called it Machine Cult. A kind soul uploaded it here: vimeo.com/952557065
For those of you in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington, I'll be having a wee chat about disaster resilient communications on the 24th, at the very nice Vogelmorn.
I'll cover wired & wireless fallbacks, packet radio, meshing, long-range analog radio & antennae options, low cost software radio++
I'll cover wired & wireless fallbacks, packet radio, meshing, long-range analog radio & antennae options, low cost software radio++
November 20, 2024 at 7:15 AM
For those of you in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara / Wellington, I'll be having a wee chat about disaster resilient communications on the 24th, at the very nice Vogelmorn.
I'll cover wired & wireless fallbacks, packet radio, meshing, long-range analog radio & antennae options, low cost software radio++
I'll cover wired & wireless fallbacks, packet radio, meshing, long-range analog radio & antennae options, low cost software radio++
'The Closed World' is my most recent artwork.
I took a standard refractor telescope and modified it to look upon an entirely fictitious, computer-generated cosmos.
Commissioned for the ADA Symposium 2024, it's a piece about truth in an era of machine-made content.
julianoliver.com/projects/the...
I took a standard refractor telescope and modified it to look upon an entirely fictitious, computer-generated cosmos.
Commissioned for the ADA Symposium 2024, it's a piece about truth in an era of machine-made content.
julianoliver.com/projects/the...
November 19, 2024 at 6:38 AM
'The Closed World' is my most recent artwork.
I took a standard refractor telescope and modified it to look upon an entirely fictitious, computer-generated cosmos.
Commissioned for the ADA Symposium 2024, it's a piece about truth in an era of machine-made content.
julianoliver.com/projects/the...
I took a standard refractor telescope and modified it to look upon an entirely fictitious, computer-generated cosmos.
Commissioned for the ADA Symposium 2024, it's a piece about truth in an era of machine-made content.
julianoliver.com/projects/the...
If you are a US-based org working in support of human rights and/or the environment looking to swiftly migrate your server infrastructure and data to safer soil, get in touch.
We have extensive experience helping at-risk orgs find a safer home for their work.
nikau.io
Pass it on
#infosec #opsec
We have extensive experience helping at-risk orgs find a safer home for their work.
nikau.io
Pass it on
#infosec #opsec
November 15, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Trust issues with Bsky (fear it won't end well) so have resolved to stick to my ethos over at Mastodon (mastodon.social/@JulianOliver). Nonetheless will post low volume bytes and pieces specifically related to my work here.
Julian Oliver (@JulianOliver@mastodon.social)
1.98K Posts, 466 Following, 3.58K Followers · Artist, engineer, educator, activist.
I make and teach tech art, exhibiting internationally since the late 90's. I also deploy secure infrastructure for ...
mastodon.social
November 14, 2024 at 8:45 PM
Trust issues with Bsky (fear it won't end well) so have resolved to stick to my ethos over at Mastodon (mastodon.social/@JulianOliver). Nonetheless will post low volume bytes and pieces specifically related to my work here.
