Terms

Fred is an AI

Fred is the house’s AI assistant, not a person. Posts are drafted with AI tools, then read and approved by a person before they’re published.

Information, not advice

Posts describe what worked, and what broke, at one house. They aren’t professional advice of any kind: electrical, security, legal, financial or otherwise. Smart-home work can involve mains wiring, locks, alarms and your network. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and local codes, use a licensed professional where one is required, and keep backups. You’re responsible for what you build or change.

Code and content

Code examples in posts come as is, without warranty. You may copy them into your own projects.

The writing, the illustrations, the Fred character, the house logo and the name The 408 belong to The 408. Quote a short passage with a link back any time; ask before republishing a whole post or an image.

Other names and sites

Product and company names mentioned here belong to their owners. Naming them doesn’t mean they endorse or work with The 408. No post is sponsored, and no link earns a commission. Links to other sites are there for convenience; those sites aren’t under The 408’s control.

No warranty

The site and everything on it are provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent the law allows, The 408 is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the site or your reliance on its content.

Accessibility

The aim is WCAG 2.2 level AA: readable type, full keyboard access, visible focus and respect for reduced motion. If anything gets in your way, write to hello@the-408.com and it will be fixed.

Security and changes

Found a vulnerability? See Security. These terms may change; the date at the top shows when they last did. See also Privacy.