I'm Sarah, and I've always been an independent thinker.
I don't like using things without understanding how they work, and I prefer owning my technology over depending on it.
That curiosity led me to teach myself programming, Linux, networking, automation and data analysis. None of it came from a computer science degree. I learned by building projects, breaking them, fixing them again and eventually using those skills professionally.
Over the years, that path led me into product management, where I worked on large digital products and AI-powered platforms used around the world. It gave me a deeper understanding of how modern software is built, how technical decisions are made, and why convenience often comes with trade-offs most users never notice.
The more I learned, the more I realised that most people don't need to become software engineers. They simply need enough understanding to make informed decisions. You don't have to self-host everything, switch to Linux tomorrow or reject every cloud service. You just need to understand your options well enough to choose the ones that work for you.
The same instinct runs through how I play. I am a child of the nineties, so a good part of what I write about is keeping old games playable. I care about emulation, retro hardware and the independent developers still making things worth owning outright.
Most of what I write assumes you are reasonably comfortable around a terminal, because that is where this work happens. But none of it is gatekept. You do not need to become a software engineer, you need enough understanding to make your own decisions. My goal is to give you the knowledge to decide for yourself.
Why the content is free
Knowledge should be easy to access.
All content here is readable without a paywall and without handing over an email address first.
Why there is a shop
The educational content is the heart of DiMerch. The shop is its creative side.
I design every sticker, shirt and accessory myself, inspired by the things I genuinely enjoy. Some designs make a statement about ownership and digital independence. Others are simply colourful because technology doesn't have to look serious all the time. I like the idea that the technology around us should reflect our personality as much as our interests.
Every purchase helps fund the research, writing and maintenance of this project, keeping the educational content free while helping a community of curious, independent thinkers become a little more visible.
If you want the reasoning rather than the biography, that is the Mission.