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Build guide

byte's Automation Druid build

Work through the steps in order. Tick each one off as you go; progress is saved in this browser.

Build guide · updated Aug 30, 2026

A self-hosted automation stack: local model for the boring 80%, a cloud coding agent on request, and a heartbeat for every job.

Medium
Steps
6 (1 optional)
Time
3 h 45 min
One-time
$1,500
Monthly
$30/mo

Walkthrough

Progress: 0 / 6 steps (0%)3 h 45 min left
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  1. Step 1 of 6 · next

    Repurpose a PC with a GPU

    Any machine with 12 GB+ of VRAM runs a useful local model. Install Linux, enable SSH, and leave it on.

    Medium1 h$1,500 (Or $0 if you already own one)Equips: Hardware

    Cost note: Or $0 if you already own one

    You need
    • A PC with an NVIDIA or AMD GPU
    • A USB stick
    Links
    Docs:Ollama GPU support (opens in a new tab)Docs:Ubuntu Server install (opens in a new tab)
  2. Step 2 of 6

    Install Ollama and pull a model

    One command to install, one to pull an 8B model. Expose the API on the LAN only.

    Easy15 minFreeEquips: Main model
    You need
    • Step 1
    Links
    GitHub:ollama/ollama (opens in a new tab)

    Run

    $ curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh
$ ollama pull llama3.1:8b
$ OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0 ollama serve
  3. Step 3 of 6

    Self-host n8n

    Docker Compose, a Postgres volume, and a reverse proxy. Every workflow gets a dry-run flag from day one.

    Medium45 minFreeEquips: Automation
    You need
    • Step 1
    • Docker
    Links
    Docs:n8n self-hosting (opens in a new tab)GitHub:n8n-io/n8n (opens in a new tab)Tip:Local model triage, cloud escalation

    Run

    $ mkdir ~/n8n && cd ~/n8n
$ curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/n8n-io/n8n-hosting/main/docker-compose/withPostgres/docker-compose.yml
$ docker compose up -d
  4. Step 4 of 6

    Add a dead-man switch to every workflow

    Self-host Healthchecks. Each workflow pings its check on success; silence is the alert.

    Easy30 minFree
    You need
    • Step 3
    Links
    GitHub:healthchecks/healthchecks (opens in a new tab)Tip:Dead-man switch for workflows
  5. Step 5 of 6

    Wire the cloud escalation path

    When the local model says 'needs code', an n8n node calls Claude Code headless with the summary as the prompt and opens a pull request.

    Hard1 h$20/mo (Claude Pro)Equips: Coding tool

    Cost note: Claude Pro

    You need
    • Step 2
    • Step 3
    • A Claude account
    • GitHub CLI
    Links
    Docs:Claude Code headless mode (opens in a new tab)Docs:GitHub CLI (opens in a new tab)

    Run

    $ claude -p "$(cat /tmp/job.md)" --output-format json
$ gh pr create --fill
  6. Step 6 of 6 · optional

    Log every run into a daily note

    The last node of every workflow appends one sentence to today's Obsidian note. Future you greps it.

    Easy15 minFreeEquips: Notes & tasks
    You need
    • Step 3
    • Obsidian vault on the server (git or Syncthing)
    Links
    Tip:Runbooks as daily notesGitHub:Syncthing (opens in a new tab)
Final equipment

What the character sheet looks like when every step is done.

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