Daniel La Corte

PatchLib

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’m interested in synthesizers and modular sound design.

Anyone who works with semi-modular equipment knows the problem: you dial in something good, the cables are just right, the sequencer has a rhythm that locks in. Then you move on, and it’s gone. Knob positions, patch bay connections, sequencer settings exist only in the moment.

PatchLib is my solution to that. It’s a personal patch documentation tool for analog Moog synthesizers. For each patch you create a record with all knob values, a visual patch bay connection map, free-text notes, and an audio recording. Everything you need to reconstruct the sound exactly, weeks or months later.

Webpage to Markdown

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Built around the idea of a Second Brain, the knowledge management system developed by Tiago Forte, this tool captures web content directly into an Obsidian vault without leaving the browser. Tools like Pocket or Raindrop are great for bookmarking, but they felt too heavy for what I wanted. I was looking for something more direct: read something, save it, it’s in my vault.

Webpage to Markdown is a system made of two components: a Chrome extension and an Obsidian plugin. The extension extracts article content using Readability and converts it to Markdown via Turndown, then sends it as structured JSON to a local HTTP server. The Obsidian plugin runs that server and writes the incoming content as .md files into the vault, organized by domain and enriched with YAML frontmatter.

Apple Health Data Lake

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Two years of heart rate, HRV, sleep, and steps, sitting in the Apple Health app, visible through charts, but not usable. I wanted to run SQL queries, explore correlations, and build my own aggregates. Not inside another app, but on raw data I fully control.

The missing piece was an iOS app called Health Auto Export. It exposes Apple Health data over a local TCP server on port 9000 using JSON RPC 2.0, as long as the app is in the foreground and both devices are on the same WiFi. No cloud, no third-party data sharing.

Polynode

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Polyrhythm is what happens when you stop forcing everything to share the same pulse. A 5-step kick against a 7-step snare against a 3-step hi-hat — each cycling at its own rate, locking back into phase only at longer intervals. The result is rhythm that feels alive rather than metronomic.

Polynode is a drum machine built around that idea. It runs entirely in the browser — no install, no account.

Second Brain, finally using what I collect

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I had a simple problem.

I consumed a lot of information, saved a lot of things, but rarely used any of it.
Bookmarks, notes, screenshots, everything was somewhere, but not really actionable.

I often researched the same things multiple times.
At some point, I almost stopped taking notes altogether.

What is a Second Brain?

A Second Brain is an external system that supports your thinking.

Not just storing notes, but organizing knowledge so you can actually use it later.

Simplifying My Second Brain

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While working on this blog, I noticed something:

Over time, my system had become unnecessarily complex.

What started as a clean setup slowly turned into a mix of folders, utilities, plugins, and routines. It all looked structured, but it did not really help me think or get things done.

Instead, I was organizing more than I was using the system.

So I decided to reset it and reduce everything to the essentials.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I work at the intersection of product and data. As a Product Owner for Data Engineering at idealo in Berlin, I focus on building data products, working with cloud infrastructure on AWS, and bridging the gap between technical teams and strategic goals.

My background is in Computer Science, with research work in AI explainability. I care about building things that are useful, understandable, and well-designed.

This site is a place for me to experiment, write, and share ideas. Nothing here is meant as strong opinion or advice. It reflects things I find interesting and worth thinking about, and maybe some of it is useful to someone else too.

Imprint

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Information pursuant to § 5 TMG

Daniel La Corte – Daniel La Corte
c/o Online-Impressum #7444
Europaring 90
53757 Sankt Augustin
Deutschland

Contact

Email: daniel.la-corte@proton.me

Responsible for content pursuant to § 55 para. 2 RStV

Daniel La Corte – Daniel La Corte
c/o Online-Impressum #7444
Europaring 90
53757 Sankt Augustin

Disclaimer

The contents of this site have been created with the utmost care. However, no guarantee can be given for the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content.

Privacy Policy

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

This website is a personal blog and online CV.

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When you access this website, basic technical data may be automatically processed by the hosting provider (AWS) in server log files. This includes:

IP address
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This data is used solely to ensure the reliable operation of the website and is not used for tracking, profiling, or analytics purposes.

Social

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Places to find me online.