Tailscale sucks

David Anderson's blog post humorously chronicles his experience of enhancing a Dreametech Z10 Pro robot vacuum cleaner with Tailscale, transforming it from a cloud-dependent IoT device into a more secure, independent system. Initially purchased to manage cat hair, the vacuum was found to be part of the Xiaomi Smart Home ecosystem, which raised concerns over privacy and security due to its cloud-based control. To regain control, Anderson jailbroke the device using Valetudo, an open-source platform that allows for cloud-free operation. He then implemented Tailscale to securely access and manage the vacuum's functions over a peer-to-peer network, addressing initial limitations like the lack of HTTPS through innovative solutions. Anderson also highlighted the option to use Headscale for those wary of any cloud involvement, emphasizing the learning experience and the quirky success of his project, which left his cats unimpressed but his vacuum cleaner notably more autonomous.