Week 10 / NVDA Weekly Option Trades: $67 Earned, $3,200 Unrealized Profit at Risk

13 June, 2025 | | 51 seen

As of June 13, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stood at $7,074, a minor -0.56% week-over-week decrease (-$39). Year-to-date, we are still down -7.85%, as we continue to navigate market volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.

This week, we collected $67 from selling options, which is slightly less from our goal to generate at least 1% weekly in options premium (0.96% this week).

Our portfolio remains concentrated around NVDA stock. On Friday we successfully closed a put credit spread on NVDA that expired worthless, allowing us to retain the full premium. Continuing our premium collection strategy, we’ve initiated a new credit spread set to expire next week.

I'm currently holding one covered call on NVDA with a $109 strike price expiring on June 27, which is now significantly deep in the money. If we allow the shares to be called away at expiry, this would lock in an unrealized profit of approximately $3,200.

Current positions

• NVDA 139/131 Put Credit Spread (Weekly)
• NVDA Jun 27, 2025 $109 Covered Call

While our long-term intention is to hold NVDA shares, we utilize weekly put credit spreads to generate additional income. Ideally, we plan to manage the covered call by rolling it out over time, preserving our position while continuing to collect premiums. However, as the June 27 expiry approaches, the opportunity to roll this position easily is diminishing. We're beginning to consider letting it go and re-entering using puts.

That said, the goal is to hold the current covered call for at least one more week before adjusting or rolling it out. Ideally, we’d like to roll it to a significantly higher strike to capture more upside.

One of the primary goals of our covered call stock portfolio is to gradually reduce debt while maintaining a long position of 100 shares in NVDA. Notably, we earned $67 in options premium this week. If we can consistently average that amount, it would take approximately 90 weeks to fully eliminate our margin debt of $6,040.

Looking ahead to next week, I’ll need to closely monitor the NVDA $139 put. If it’s challenged, I may need to either roll it out or consider closing the $109 covered call position.

Never miss an update! Get weekly insights delivered to your inbox—subscribe to the Covered Calls with Reinis Fischer newsletter.

Israel & Cyprus 2025

12 June, 2025 | Travel guides | 42 seen

At the beginning of May 2025, we embarked on a 4-day trip to Israel to reconnect with the Fischer family. 

We explored beautiful beaches, savored delicious local cuisine, and enjoyed quality time together. From Tel Aviv, we continued our journey to Cyprus to attend one of the largest conferences in the translation industry. While Sandra was actively engaged in networking at the event, we spent our time relaxing by the pools, making the most of the sunny Mediterranean atmosphere.

Also see: Israel Movie 2022 / 2023

12 Rounds Boxing Club in Tbilisi

9 June, 2025 | Living in Georgia | 171 seen

Sometimes even the most loyal gym-goers need to shake things up—and that's exactly what I did this month. After years of training at the "luxurious Axis Tower gym", I decided to take a short break. Not because I had any complaints about the quality or experience—quite the opposite—but because the price difference was just too significant to ignore. Enter: 12 Rounds Boxing Club.

Let’s talk numbers. My monthly Axis Tower gym membership runs at GEL 700 (they do have frequent discount and sometimes you can get there at 500 GEL). While it’s worth every lari for the facilities, environment, and perks like sauna, pool, and networking, I was curious to explore more cost-effective alternatives.

So for the month of June, I opted for a morning-only membership at 12 Rounds (valid from 07:00 to 16:00), which came at just GEL 220. That’s a savings of GEL 480—money that could go into protein powders, supplements, or even a weekend trip to Kazbegi.

To my surprise, 12 Rounds is a very decent gym. In terms of quality and cleanliness, it stands on par with Axis Tower. The atmosphere is solid, the equipment is in good condition, and there’s plenty of space to get a full-body workout done without waiting too long for machines.

But of course, no place is perfect.

One of the first things I noticed was the lack of elliptical machines—something I genuinely enjoy for post-workout cardio. That said, this led to a new discovery: the rowing machine. I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised by my performance.

Fifteen minutes in, I was pulling solid numbers—an average split time under 2:15. That result reminded me that I’m still in good physical shape, and the rower might just become a new staple in my cardio routine.

Despite the name “12 Rounds Boxing Club,” I haven’t tried their boxing offerings—yet. My focus this month has purely been the gym side of the facility. However, given the location—just next to our office—I might find myself coming back more frequently, maybe even giving the boxing bags a few swings.

While 12 Rounds ticks many boxes for a good workout, it can’t compete with the comfort and extras at Axis Tower—especially the post-workout sauna, the refreshing swim, and the unbeatable social scene. If those matter to you (and they certainly do to me), paying the extra GEL 480 may still be justified.

However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, high-quality gym in Tbilisi that delivers the essentials without the fluff, 12 Rounds is an excellent choice. You won’t get the frills, but you will get the gains.

Week 9 / Credit Spread Lessons: When Premiums Look Juicy but Risk Bites Back

6 June, 2025 | | 62 seen

As of June 6, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stood at $7,114, reflecting a +1.50% week-over-week increase (+$121). Year-to-date, we are still down -6.57%, as we continue to navigate market volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.

This week, we collected $88 from selling options, aligning with our goal to generate at least 1% weekly in options premium (1.23% this week).

Our portfolio remains concentrated around NVDA stock. We successfully closed a put credit spread on NVDA that expired worthless, allowing us to retain the full premium. Continuing our premium collection strategy, we’ve initiated a new credit spread set to expire next week.

Unfortunately, I rushed a bit. On Thursday, I sold a new credit spread with next week's expiry, which generated a juicy premium. However, shortly after, NVDA's price dipped below $140, putting pressure on the position heading into next week.

This highlights one of the key risks with selling weekly options—they can be lucrative, but they're also quite dangerous due to the limited time to adjust when the underlying moves sharply.

Additionally I'm currently holding one covered call on NVDA with a $109 strike price expiring on June 27, which is now significantly deep in the money. If we allow the shares to be called away at expiry, this would lock in an unrealized profit of approximately $3,200.

Open Positions:

• NVDA 136/130 Put Credit Spread (Weekly)
• NVDA Jun 27, 2025 $109 Covered Call

While our long-term intention is to hold NVDA shares, we utilize weekly put credit spreads to generate additional income. Ideally, we plan to manage the covered call by rolling it out over time, preserving our position while continuing to collect premiums. However, as the June 27 expiry approaches, the opportunity to roll this position easily is diminishing. We're beginning to consider letting it go and re-entering using puts.

That said, the goal is to hold the current covered call for at least a few more weeks before adjusting or rolling it out. Ideally, we’d like to roll it to a significantly higher strike to capture more upside.

One of the primary goals of our covered call stock portfolio is to gradually reduce debt while maintaining a long position of 100 shares in NVDA. Notably, we earned $88 in options premium this week. If we can consistently average that amount, it would take approximately 69 weeks to fully eliminate our margin debt of $6,107.

Looking ahead to next week, I’ll need to closely monitor the NVDA $136 put. If it’s challenged, I may need to either roll it out or consider closing the $109 covered call position.

Never miss an update! Get weekly insights delivered to your inbox—subscribe to the Covered Calls with Reinis Fischer newsletter.

Spring Break in Latvia 2025

2 June, 2025 | Travel guides | 33 seen

Every year, it’s become a beloved tradition for us to head to Latvia during the Easter school holidays—our special spring break getaway. This isn’t just any vacation; it’s a hands-on family adventure packed with progress, nature, and unforgettable memories.

In this year’s Spring Break movie, we take you behind the scenes of our latest trip. One of the highlights? We finally installed those massive 3x3 meter windows in our frame house—an upgrade that’s truly transforming the space! But we didn’t stop there. With shovels in hand and spring in the air, we also planted a dozen vibrant new plants, adding life and color to the surroundings.

Of course, there’s more to see—moments of laughter, hard work, peaceful countryside views, and little surprises that make each trip unique.

See also:

• Spring Break in Latvia 2024
• Spring Break in Latvia 2023

Week 8 / How We Collected $47 in Premiums This Week with NVDA Credit Spreads

30 May, 2025 | | 81 seen

As of May 30, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stood at $6,993, showing a +1.53% week-over-week increase (+$105). While Year-to-date, we are still down -7.26%, as we navigate volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.

This week was particularly interesting—there was NVDA earning report and I discovered another options trader who is documenting his journey to $100K through weekly blog updates. I highly recommend checking it out. Since our portfolio sizes are currently similar, I find it both motivating and insightful to follow along and compare strategies as we grow together.

We successfully closed a credit spread on NVDA that expired worthless, allowing us to retain the full premium. Continuing our premium collection strategy, we've initiated a new credit spread set to expire next week.

Following NVDA’s stronger-than-expected earnings report, the stock at one moment surged past $140, with dipping back to $134 at the end of week. We currently hold a covered call with a $109 strike expiring on June 27, which is now significantly deep in the money. If we allow the shares to be called away at expiry, this would lock in an unrealized profit of approximately $2,500.

Open Positions:

• NVDA 128/119 Put Credit Spread (Weekly)
• NVDA Jun 27, 2025 $109 Covered Call

While we aim to hold NVDA shares for the long term, we use weekly put credit spreads to generate additional income. Ideally, we plan to manage the covered call by rolling it out over time, preserving our position while continuing to collect premiums.

There’s now an increased risk that our call option will be assigned. If that happens, I’m fine with it—we’ll shift focus to put selling. That said, the goal is to hold this call option for at least a few more weeks before adjusting or rolling it out. Ideally, we’d like to roll it significantly higher to capture more of the upside.

One of the primary goals of our covered call stock portfolio is to gradually reduce debt while maintaining a long position of 100 shares in NVDA. Importantly, this week we earned $47 in options premium. If we can consistently average $47/week, it would take approximately 130 weeks to fully eliminate our margin debt of $6,160

Next week, I’ll need to closely monitor the NVDA 128 put. If it’s challenged, I may need to either roll it out or consider closing the 109 covered call position.

Never miss an update! Get weekly insights delivered to your inbox—subscribe to the Covered Calls with Reinis Fischer newsletter.

Larnaca International Airport

27 May, 2025 | Airports | 14 seen

This spring, I took a memorable trip that involved connecting through three countries in less than two weeks—starting in Tbilisi, Georgia, spending a few days in Israel, and finally heading to Cyprus for a short but enriching stay. What stood out most was just how short and easy the flight was between Israel and Cyprus—a route I had never seriously considered before.

Our journey began in Tbilisi, flying to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, where we stayed for several days to visit relatives. These family moments added a personal and grounding start to what would soon shift into a more exploratory leg of the trip.

After spending quality time in Israel, we boarded a short flight from Tel Aviv to Larnaca with Israir, a regional airline we had used once flying to Eiltat. The flight was incredibly short—less than an hour—and gave me a new appreciation for the geographic closeness of Israel and Cyprus. It’s a route so brief it feels more like a long taxi ride than a traditional international flight.

Larnaca International Airport (LCA) welcomed me with a modern but slightly cold atmosphere. The terminal is clean and well-organized, and everything works as it should. However, I couldn’t help but feel that the staff were a bit impersonal. No one was particularly rude, but there wasn’t much warmth either—it had that “move along” energy you find in many tourist-heavy airports.

As someone who travels often, this didn’t bother me. But it was enough to notice. I’d describe the airport as tourist-focused but not tourist-friendly—geared for efficiency over hospitality. During rush hour, the place felt crowded and slightly chaotic, though nothing unmanageable.

Larnaca International offers all the expected services:

• Duty-free shopping
• Cafés and quick food stops
• Car rentals and taxi stands
• Bolt Taxi service access for app-based transport

Everything is convenient, but don’t expect VIP treatment. It’s a get-in, get-out kind of place, especially during peak flight times.

We ordered a Bolt Taxi directly from the airport to our hotel. The pickup was smooth, the driver was courteous, and the vehicle was clean. The ride lasted about 30 to 40 minutes, and the fare was around €60. While not cheap, it felt reasonable for a private transfer and was a comfortable way to reach our destination after a flight.

After four short days in Cyprus, it was time to return—again flying Israir from Larnaca to Tel Aviv to reconnect with my original travel route back home. This leg of the journey wasn’t as pleasant. Security checks at Larnaca were extremely congested, and the entire process felt unnecessarily slow and uncoordinated.

If there’s one area where air travel still feels stuck in the past, it’s the security checkpoint experience. Larnaca was no exception. The lines were long, the flow was poor, and the overall experience lacked the efficiency that would make this airport truly traveler-friendly.

Larnaca International Airport serves its purpose—it connects Cyprus to key regional destinations like Israel—but there’s a lot of room for improvement in terms of passenger experience and hospitality. Still, for a quick Mediterranean hop, the route between Tel Aviv and Larnaca is a discovery in itself. It opens up opportunities for short, spontaneous escapes between the two countries.

Frame House Upgrades: Big Windows, New Porch, and Apple Trees Planted in Latvia

26 May, 2025 | Frame House | 280 seen

In mid-April, during our kiddo’s Easter school break, we traveled to Latvia for about 10 days — a trip packed with projects, energy, and transformation. A lot of pre-planning had gone into it before we even arrived: we ordered the windows, sourced the plants, and mapped out the main tasks. Once we landed, it was all about execution — and we got a lot done.

One of the most transformative updates was installing our huge 3x3 meter windows. In the end I decided to split them into 1X3X3

These oversized panes completely changed the feel of the house — flooding the space with natural light and giving us panoramic views of the land. Now, no matter where you stand, the outdoors feels just a step away. It’s the kind of upgrade that doesn’t just look good — it feels good.

While the windows were the big highlight, we also extended the porch with a new step. It’s a simple touch but made a real difference, making the entrance more functional and giving the front of the house a more finished look. Sometimes, it's the little improvements that pull everything together.

Outdoors, the serious work continued. Our goal was to plant at least 20 apple trees this spring — an ambitious dream. While we didn’t reach that number this time, we did plant six beautiful Antonovka apple trees, bought locally from Pure. Antonovkas are a classic choice in Latvia — strong, resilient, and perfectly suited for our climate.

Beyond the apples, we added a dozen more plants around the property, including a few exciting experiments like walnut trees. It’s always a bit of a gamble introducing new species, but part of the fun is seeing what will take root and thrive.

With the major outdoor projects ticking along, our focus will soon shift back indoors. There's still plenty of interior work left, but we’re feeling confident that by the end of summer, the house will be much closer to the vision we’ve been working toward. Each trip brings us a step closer — and this one was a huge leap forward.

Week 7 / How I’m Using Covered Calls and Credit Spreads to Pay Off Margin on NVDA Stock

23 May, 2025 | | 110 seen

As of May 23, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio stands at $6,888, reflecting a -0.93% week-over-week decline (down $64.48). Year-to-date, we are down -9.33%, as we navigate volatility while optimizing our options income strategy.

Rolling NVDA Calls for Controlled Upside

This week, we rolled our NVDA covered call to the June 27, 2025 expiry, raising the strike to $109. Should NVDA close at or above that level at expiry, the position would yield a maximum profit of around $150. However, we remain focused on retaining the shares rather than letting them be called away. If momentum continues, we’re ready to roll the strike higher to maintain upside exposure and capture premium.

Credit Spreads for Additional Yield – But With Margin Risk

To compensate for the lower near-term yield from the longer-dated call, we initiated a weekly credit spread on NVDA. This trade supplements income but adds considerable margin risk.

Currently, our portfolio carries a margin debit of -$6,230. If our 117 strike short put is assigned, our margin liability would spike to ~$18,200, an outcome we are strategically working to avoid.

Hence, avoiding put-side assignment is a top priority at the moment. We're closely tracking NVDA price levels and implied volatility to adjust the position if needed.

Exploring Alternatives, But Staying Long NVDA

We briefly explored the idea of letting the covered call get assigned at $109, then re-entering with short puts at higher strikes, such as $125. However, we ultimately prefer to retain the shares and compound gains through premium income. This preference is what led us to expand the use of credit spreads, balancing income generation with exposure control.

Earnings Catalyst and Strategic Objective: Debt-Free Ownership

NVDA reports earnings on May 28, a key volatility catalyst. We are approaching the event with flexibility—ready to react based on post-report market direction.

Importantly, this week we earned $89 in options premium. If we can consistently average $89/week, it would take approximately 70 weeks to fully eliminate our margin debt of $6,230—putting us on track for debt-free NVDA ownership by the end of September 2026.

This is the strategic goal: use options income to gradually pay down margin, retain long-term exposure to high-conviction equity, and own the position outright within the next 16–17 months.

Key Takeaway

We are executing a disciplined income strategy with NVDA at its core—covered calls, weekly credit spreads, and careful margin management. With earnings around the corner and a defined long-term goal, every week’s premium contributes to moving us closer to unleveraged ownership.

Pūre Horticultural Research Station

19 May, 2025 | Shopping Venues | 25 seen

In mid-April 2025, we took an exciting step toward our vision of a Latvian craft cider brewery by purchasing several Antonovka apple trees and other varieties from the renowned Pūre Horticultural Experimental Station (Latvian: Pūres dārzkopības izmēģinājumu stacija).

This wasn’t a random choice. Pūre is one of Latvia’s most respected institutions in plant cultivation and horticultural research. With decades of hands-on experience in the Latvian climate, they offer proven expertise in selecting trees and plants that can thrive through our seasons — cold winters, unpredictable springs, and all.

Their staff provided solid recommendations not only for Antonovka, which is famous for its hardiness and perfect acidity for cider production, but also for several other fruit trees and shrubs suited for our longer-term expansion plans.

Antonovka is a classic Soviet-era apple cultivar, known for:

• Excellent cold resistance
• Sharp, tart flavor ideal for cider
• Reliable harvests in Baltic and Nordic climates

It’s no coincidence that Antonovka is a favorite among old-school orchardists and modern cider brewers alike. The variety will serve as a foundation stone for our future cider recipes.

While chatting with the team at Pūre, we learned that we’re not the only ones recognizing their value. In fact, Estonian buyers are increasingly flocking here, scooping up fruit trees, berry shrubs, and other. Pūre has developed a reputation across the region, not only for selling healthy plants but for providing trusted horticultural advice.

They also mentioned expanding their export focus, with orders being shipped to neighboring countries. It’s encouraging to see a Latvian institution with deep agricultural roots playing a regional role in sustainable, quality plant production.

If you're looking to plant an orchard, establish a cider line, or even just grow a few trees on your land in Latvia, Pūre Horticultural Experimental Station is a smart place to start. They offer:

• Hardy, locally suited plant stock
• Decades of research-based knowledge
• Friendly, practical guidance
• And increasingly, even international recognition

As for us — we can’t wait to see the Antonovkas take root and grow. The first cider is still a few seasons away, but the trees are already a tangible promise of what’s to come.

6 Antonovka plants taken to our place.

Week 6 / Doing Nothing, Gaining 1.98%: A Covered Call Strategy That Pays

16 May, 2025 | | 63 seen

In the world of trading, action often feels like progress. Placing new trades, adjusting positions, chasing setups—these behaviors can give us the illusion of control. But sometimes, the most profitable move is to simply do nothing.

As of May 16, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,952, reflecting a 1.98% week-over-week gain (+$134.96). That’s a modest but welcome increase, especially considering that we didn’t place a single new trade this week.

Despite this recent uptick, we are still down -7.01% year-to-date, a reminder of the rocky terrain we’ve traversed in 2025. Yet even during this downturn, opportunities for calm, calculated growth remain.

This week, there were no covered calls expiring in our portfolio, and no new positions were opened. We’re currently focused entirely on a single NVDA covered call, with the nearest expiry on May 23—just one week away.

While it might seem counterintuitive, this narrow focus is deliberate. Rather than scattering energy across multiple tickers or complex setups, we’re letting our existing strategy play out—a strategy that continues to pay.

With NVDA’s steep increase in price, I’m seriously considering letting our shares get assigned next week. If this happens, we’ll walk away with a realized gain and a clean slate—plus, the beauty of freeing up capital.

What comes next? I’m eyeing a cash-secured put strategy to re-enter NVDA or another strong stock at a discount. This is a brilliant move in times like these—earn premium while waiting for a pullback.

Alternatively, I’m still open to a roll up and forward if the premiums make sense. But I doubt this will be a short-term roll—weekly or even bi-weekly options seem less attractive in the current setup. The calculus might favor a more measured, longer-dated play.

This week is a textbook case of how patience pays. We didn’t hustle. We didn’t scramble. We simply let our existing positions do the work—and we got paid for it.

In a world obsessed with constant motion, remember this: doing nothing is still doing something—especially when you’re collecting premium along the way.

Samshvilde Canyon Hiking

12 May, 2025 | Living in Georgia | 44 seen

Our go-to hiking spot in Georgia has always been Birtvisi Canyon. With its striking rock formations, narrow passages, and unbeatable views, it’s a place we return to again and again. But last Sunday, we felt like trying something new.

So we picked a place we’d heard about but never explored properly: Samshvilde Canyon.

In fact we almost find it few years ago, but turned our car around because the road didn't seem proper. See: Hiking at Birtvisi Canyon.  This time we risked bit more. 

Located not far from the town of Tetritskaro, Samshvilde is known for its quiet trails and historic ruins, including the remains of the ancient Samshvilde Fortress. We packed up for a casual day hike, hoping for some nice views and maybe a peek at the fortress.

After a peaceful countryside drive, we found a small parking spot near the edge of the canyon. The trails were actually marked, which was a pleasant surprise — but we still weren’t entirely sure where we were going. With no detailed map and limited phone signal, we decided to follow a route that seemed to lead toward Pirghebuli Church.

The path offered beautiful scenery right from the start: green slopes, quiet woods, and distant canyon cliffs stretching across the horizon. There wasn’t another soul around — just us and nature.

What began as a calm and peaceful hike quickly changed. The sky grew darker, and before we knew it, a heavy rain started pouring. At first, we hoped it would pass, but it didn’t let up. Within minutes, we were soaked and muddy, laughing through the downpour as we tried to keep our footing on the now slippery trail.

With visibility dropping and our clothes clinging to us, we decided to turn back. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the church or the fortress ruins — but even without reaching those landmarks, the experience was still worth it.

We might not have followed the trail perfectly — and we definitely didn’t stay dry — but sometimes that’s what makes a hike memorable. The quiet beauty of Samshvilde Canyon, the mist rolling over the hills, and the unexpected challenge of hiking through the rain all made for a day we won’t forget.

It wasn’t the adventure we expected — but it’s one we’re glad we had.

Next time, we’ll aim for better weather and maybe a map… and hopefully finally reach Pigrebuli Church or the fortress ruins. Until then, we’ve added Samshvilde to our growing list of special places in Georgia.

Week 5 / NVDA Rally Forces Covered Call Adjustment: Rolling Up and Out for a Credit

9 May, 2025 | | 51 seen

As of May 9, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,818, reflecting another  1.42% week-over-week gain (+$95.42). Despite the recent uptick, we remain down -9.63% year-to-date.

Currently, the entire covered call portfolio is allocated to NVDA stock.

With NVDA rallying sharply, our May 9 $107 call moved deep in-the-money. Although my initial plan was to let the shares be called away and then re-enter via cash-secured puts, I decided to roll the position up and out for a net credit instead.

Unfortunately, weekly expiries offered unattractive premiums, so I rolled into the May 23 expiration:

• Bought back the May 9 $107 call for $10.62
• Sold the May 23 $108 call for $11.03
• Net premium collected: $0.41 per share
• Break-even price: $103.9

While the two-week premium of $41 may seem minimal—and only just covers my monthly margin interest—this roll allowed me to raise the strike price by $1. If NVDA closes above $108 on May 23, I will realize a total gain of approximately +$141 on the position.

The NVDA shares are currently financed through margin, with a total debit of -$6,320. The strategic goal is to generate sufficient options income over the next 12 months to fully own the NVDA position debt-free.

Assuming an average weekly premium of $20.50, it would take around 306 weeks (excluding interest) to pay off the margin balance. I aim to accelerate that timeline—but markets are unpredictable.

That said, the juicy premiums have dried up for now, and it's highly unlikely I'll reach my target of $500 in monthly options premium from NVDA this month. I'm fine with that—at least for now. The focus remains on long-term compounding and smart risk management, even if the short-term income dips. 

If on the expiry date our strike prices are going to be deep in the money, I'm seriously considering switching to cash-secured puts

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How I Upgraded XTRF on Ubuntu with PostgreSQL 14 (and Fixed Every Broken Dependency)

6 May, 2025 | Servers | 40 seen

Upgrading an XTRF instance—especially one that has aged alongside older OS and database stacks—is never a walk in the park. In this article, I’ll walk you through the real-world path I took, upgrading from Ubuntu 18.04 all the way to 22.04, aligning PostgreSQL to a supported version, and overcoming the nuanced issues involved in deploying XTRF on Jboss. Most importantly, I’ll highlight how AI—specifically ChatGPT—helped me tackle the hard problems, including log file analysis and patching .war deployments.

XTRF is a popular Translation management system we use at our Translation company in Tbilisi

Our system was running on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with PostgreSQL 11, which shipped by default with that version. This setup had served us well in the past, but it was becoming increasingly clear that support was fading and incompatibilities with newer XTRF versions were stacking up. I had already encountered an unsuccessful upgrade attempt in the past, so this time I decided to take a much more structured and cautious approach.

Now, if you already have system all up and running, you could simply run:

sudo apt-get install xtrf10-full

Incremental  Ubuntu Upgrades: 18.04 ➝ 20.04 ➝ 22.04

Rather than jumping directly to Ubuntu 22.04, I chose to perform the upgrade in stages:

• First from Ubuntu 18.04 to 20.04
• Then from Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04

This stepwise upgrade reduced the risk of system-level incompatibilities and ensured all transitional versions of packages (like systemd, OpenJDK, and networking services) were properly adjusted.

The upgrade path:

sudo do-release-upgrade 

After each upgrade, verify your PostgreSQL version:

psql --version

Ubuntu 22.04 ships with PostgreSQL 14

The PostgreSQL Puzzle

XTRF requires a newer version of PostgreSQL than version 11. I anticipated this and planned to upgrade to PostgreSQL 14, which ships natively with Ubuntu 22.04. Here, I faced issues with port mismatches (5433 vs. 5436) and authentication errors related to SCRAM secrets. But by carefully reviewing pg_hba.conf and adjusting user credentials, I was able to resolve connection problems.

Key steps included:

• Ensuring PostgreSQL was listening on the correct ports (127.0.0.1:5436)
• Creating proper users with SCRAM secrets
• Restarting services to apply changes
• Updating database URL references in XTRF’s deployment descriptors

Ensure correct port (5436) is used if migrating side-by-side:

Update the PostgreSQL config:

bash

CopyEdit

sudo nano /etc/postgresql/14/main/postgresql.conf # Change: # port = 5436 

Update authentication method:

Ensure your pg_hba.conf matches your XTRF expectations:

sudo nano /etc/postgresql/14/main/pg_hba.conf

Reload PostgreSQL:

sudo systemctl restart postgresql@14-main

5. Create the user and database (if needed):

sudo -u postgres psql # Inside psql shell: CREATE USER xtrf WITH PASSWORD 'yourpassword'; CREATE DATABASE xtrf OWNER xtrf; \q

📦 Where to Find XTRF Configuration Files

Knowing the XTRF configuration structure saved hours of guessing. Key files include:

1. Jboss/XTRF Deployment Directory:

/usr/local/jboss-xtrf/standalone/deployments/xtrf.ear/

This contains all XTRF modules as .war sub-units. You can modify or patch these individually.

2. Data source configuration (PostgreSQL JDBC):

/usr/local/jboss-xtrf/standalone/configuration/standalone.xml

Look for <datasource> definitions referencing the JDBC URL:

<connection-url>jdbc:postgresql://127.0.0.1:5436/xtrf</connection-url>

3. JVM Options / Startup Config:

/usr/local/jboss-xtrf/bin/standalone.conf

Use this to set memory limits, GC options, or debug flags.

How ChatGPT Saved the Day

The real MVP during this upgrade was ChatGPT, which helped me:

• Analyze Jboss logs showing BeanCreationException, UnsatisfiedDependencyException, and DataSourceCreationException
• Interpret PostgreSQL FATAL: SCRAM authentication failures
• Identify missing .war modules inside xtrf.ear
• Suggest edits to pg_hba.conf and JDBC config
• Guide through safe systemctl restarts and daemon troubleshooting

ChatGPT even pinpointed which .war files were failing due to unmet dependencies and why the Spring context wasn’t initializing.

Lessons & Best Practices

• Upgrade incrementally: Don't skip Ubuntu versions.
• Use fresh PostgreSQL: Version 11 is too old for modern XTRF deployments.
• Backup WARs & DB: Always snapshot before touching app or schema.
• Read logs: And use ChatGPT to make sense of them!
• Patch early: Customized .war files will likely need manual attention.

Conclusion

This upgrade—from Ubuntu 18.04 and PostgreSQL 11 to a modern stack with Ubuntu 22.04 and PostgreSQL 14—wasn’t easy. But it was absolutely doable with a structured approach, solid logging, and the right tooling.

Thanks to ChatGPT, I turned cryptic logs and failed services into solvable tasks—and brought XTRF back online stronger than before.

David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations

5 May, 2025 | Museums | 86 seen

Tbilisi is a city full of hidden corners, rich history, and quiet treasures, one of which I recently discovered: the David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations.

Over the years, I've gradually learned that Georgia has a deeply rooted Jewish presence. There's even a Jewish Quarter in Tbilisi, which I came across during my many walks through the city's charming old streets. Historically, Jewish communities have lived in Georgia for centuries — a fact that, at first, surprised me. My curiosity about this history grew even stronger after meeting a Georgian Jew during a visit to Israel, a moment that further highlighted the global and interconnected nature of this community.

Although Tbilisi has several synagogues, I must admit that I haven’t visited any of them yet. They are on my list, of course. Wandering around Tbilisi one afternoon, I happened to notice a modest-looking building tucked into the urban landscape — the Jewish Museum. On a whim, I decided to pay a visit.

The David Baazov Museum is not large, but it is rich in spirit. It offers a compact yet powerful exposition showcasing the best of the best of Georgian-Jewish history and culture. You can feel the depth and the pride in every display, from ancient artifacts and documents to personal stories and cultural items that span centuries.

Interestingly, the museum does not seem particularly popular with tourists or even locals. During my visit, it was quiet, with only us wandering the small halls. A security guard stationed at the entrance added a slight air of formality and preservation — a reminder that the treasures within, though perhaps overlooked by the broader public, are valuable pieces of Georgia’s multicultural identity.

In the end, visiting the David Baazov Museum turned out to be one of those small but significant experiences — a reminder of the diversity and resilience of communities that have made Tbilisi and Georgia their home over the centuries. I walked away with a deeper appreciation of the Georgian-Jewish bond and a promise to myself to continue exploring this fascinating chapter of the country’s history.