I built a receipt printer for GitHub issues (aschmelyun.com)

Article summary

The author built a system that prints out GitHub issues on a receipt printer, allowing them to physically manage their issues. The system uses a Raspberry Pi, a thermal receipt printer, and a PHP library to connect to the printer and print out issue tickets. The author sets up a GitHub webhook to send issue data to the Raspberry Pi, which then prints out a physical ticket. This project aims to provide a tangible way to manage issues and avoid losing them in email notifications.

Main themes

• GitHub issue management
• receipt printer projects
• physical task management
• digital information tangibility
• sustainability and waste
• creative problem solving
• kitchen culture and technology

What commenters say

• Some people appreciate the idea of having a physical representation of digital information, such as issue tickets, to make it more tangible and manageable.
• Others point out that using a receipt printer for this purpose may be wasteful, especially considering the amount of paper used by supermarkets and other businesses.
• The use of a receipt printer for printing issue tickets is seen as a fun and creative solution to managing digital information.
• There are potential drawbacks to using physical post-it notes or tickets for task management, such as limited space for context and history.
• The sound of the ticket printer can be objectionable or trigger a conditioned response, especially in kitchen environments where it is commonly used.
• Some people have found alternative uses for receipt printers, such as printing temporary labels or todo lists.
• The idea of using a physical printer to manage digital information is not new, and similar projects have been done in the past, such as printing daily newspapers from GitHub feeds.