From Manual Monitoring to a Custom Automated Tool with AI

Some problems are simple in theory but require a considerable amount of repetitive manual work. Monitoring the availability of specific Hetzner server types is a good example. Without automation, the website would need to be checked repeatedly throughout the day, with no guarantee that the desired server would still be available when the next manual check takes place.

AI helped turn this problem and an initial idea into a practical, working solution within a short time.

The resulting tool automatically checks the availability of selected Hetzner server types and locations every minute. Each result is stored in a local SQLite database, allowing the application to maintain a history of previous checks and show when a server was available, unavailable, or could not be checked successfully.

A small web interface was also developed to present the current status and availability history in a clear and accessible way. Instead of reviewing raw responses or log files, the user can immediately see which server types are available and how their availability has changed over time.

In addition, the tool includes browser notifications. As soon as one of the monitored servers becomes available, the user can be notified automatically. This removes the need to keep refreshing the Hetzner website or continuously watching the dashboard.

The entire application runs locally in a Docker environment. This keeps the setup self-contained, reproducible, and independent of an external hosting provider. The monitoring service, database, and web interface can be started and managed together as one local application.

This project demonstrates where AI can provide real value. AI does not only answer questions or generate text. It can help transform a clearly defined problem into a customised software tool that automates repetitive work and provides an immediate practical benefit.

The result is a small, focused application that saves time, reduces manual effort, and makes it much easier to react quickly when the desired server becomes available.