A $40 label maker and QR codes completely changed how I manage my home lab

A home lab enthusiast describes how combining a $40 NIIMBOT B1 thermal label maker with QR codes and a self-hosted Gitea repository solved the problem of undocumented home network infrastructure. Each physical device gets a printed QR code label that links to a corresponding Gitea markdown file containing IPs, configurations, credentials, and recovery instructions. The repository is organized into folders for servers, services, IoT devices, and miscellaneous items. The system is dynamic — documentation updates happen digitally without reprinting labels — and is secured behind Gitea's account system on a trusted VLAN. The approach was extended to cables, USB drives, and even guest Wi-Fi access cards.