The 139 Euro Monitoring Stack

Submitted to KCD Czech & Slovak 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic on 21-22 May 2026

Abstract

When I set up my side project, puzzlesecretary.com, I realized I needed to monitor it. Thankfully I found a 139 EUR monitoring stack already installed in my “IT cabinet.” I’d bought it years ago to track my water meter and do some other stuff. It came in a box that didn’t say monitoring stack … but well that must have been a mistake. Now, it also monitors my production web service.

This is a five-minute talk about a 139 euro monitoring stack which you may already own - and your permission to stop over-engineering side projects with your day job’s tools.