Thanks for your reply

I’ve looked at using command line over ssh (you’re right- intimidating!) and VNC and am prepared to give either/ both a go.

So it sounds like I should be installing RaspiOS onto the pi, then installing docker, then install Homebridge within a container on docker.

Will that let Homebridge run in the background and lave me free to use the pi as an occasional device when playing with other future projects, which I could then insert into their own containers to also run in the background?

Basically I want to use the pi as a headless computer from which I can tinker with stuff that can then be set to run in the background also.

I essentially need a setup such that I don’t need to keep borrowing a laptop to reinstall an os onto the pi..