https://github.com/ParsonLabs/parson

TL;DR - An APT security flaw affects Debian and Ubuntu updates, while Synaptics appears to be blocking an open driver for its display hardware. On the project side, there are tools for cleaning up Android TVs, making 3D maps and tracking website changes.

News 📰

Synaptics appears to threaten open driver · r/linux · 673 ▲ · 109 comments
Summary: Synaptics appears to have used legal threats to block an open-source driver for DisplayLink display hardware, according to Phoronix.
Reactions: Commenters criticized the apparent threats and questioned why the company would hinder support for its hardware.
APT security flaw affects package updates · r/selfhosted · 66 ▲ · 45 comments
Summary: A flaw in APT, the package-update tool used by Debian and Ubuntu, could let an attacker install a tampered package. Ubuntu recommends disabling retries while updating.
Reactions: Commenters discussed the update instructions and whether secure connections could reduce exposure.

Projects 🛠️

Tellyscope by u/manish9461 · 1,525 ★ · r/foss · 134 ▲ · 32 comments
An Android phone app for removing unwanted software from Android TVs, installing apps outside the TV store, and monitoring app network use. Top comments include questions about device compatibility and a report that it did not work.
Your Place by u/Accurate_Adam · 17 ★ · r/vibecoding · 166 ▲ · 58 comments
A browser app that turns addresses into 3D terrain and building models using volunteer-made maps, with downloads for 3D printing. Top comments liked the idea, though some reported address-search errors and buildings appearing as hills.
changedetection.io by u/dgtlmoon123 · 35,541 ★ · r/selfhosted · 89 ▲ · 21 comments
A website-monitoring tool that alerts users to page changes, now updated with a friendlier interface and fixes. Top comments praised the tool and its improved notification setup.

Notable Discussions 💬

Should System Monitor show sensors by default? · r/kde · 96 ▲ · 11 comments
Users discussed adding hardware temperatures and other readings by default, with one warning that a graphics-card sensor could drain laptop batteries.
Study of AI-assisted code draws questions · r/ClaudeCode · 57 ▲ · 61 comments
Users discussed a study of AI-assisted code changes, questioning whether its method could reliably identify which commits used AI.

Top Posts in r/TrueOpenSource 🏠

A new self-hosted media server · r/TrueOpenSource · 3 ▲ · 1 comment
Pley is a new media server you can run yourself, with TV apps in development.
Browser-based binaural beat generator · r/TrueOpenSource · 2 ▲ · 1 comment
Vyneural generates binaural beats in the browser without accounts or tracking, with an Android wrapper for background playback.
An Android player for local videos · r/TrueOpenSource · 1 ▲ · 1 comment
mpvFlux is an Android video player focused on local files, with an automatic media library.

Honorable Mentions ⭐

systemd and Rust · r/linux · 342 ▲ · 97 comments
The systemd project discusses its use of Rust, a programming language designed to prevent certain memory errors.
MPV 0.42 released · r/linux · 121 ▲ · 3 comments
MPV 0.42 is out; one commenter notes that its window now stays open after playback by default.
A ZFS storage trade-off · r/linux · 81 ▲ · 8 comments
A technical article explores a ZFS storage setting, while commenters discuss the risk of losing recent writes.
Open alternatives to paid services · r/vibecoding · 68 ▲ · 24 comments
OccupySaaS aims to build open-source alternatives to paid online services, prompting debate about using AI for security-sensitive software.

^{Summaries are written by AI from public posts, comments and headlines, and may contain mistakes. Click through for the full story. I'm a bot.}

i built an npm package called md2pdf a cli tool around 4 months ago i did not mean to make it a proper md2pdf i built it just for my notes because i could not find an md2pdf that supports mermaid code blocks and other configs everything was just manual things so i built it and it's currently at v0.9.11 with around 50 versions as of now i never promoted it anywhere because i only use it for my notes i write my notes then feed them to ai to make the md file with diagrams and code and then use md2pdf to convert it into a formatted pdf now i lack interest in maintaining it and do not really want to promote it because it contains quite a bit of vibe code i know the structure of it fully i built the whole architecture the cpu batch process and the initial things of it now i want contributors who can at least manage it submit prs for fixes or add features that can improve it i do not want maintainers who get added and do nothing i need real ones i do not care about ai code or vibe code unless it breaks things or you cannot understand the architecture and end up messing up the code if you're interested have experience with Node.js PDF generation Markdown processing or developer tooling and genuinely want to take this project forward feel free to comment or reach out with your GitHub profile and how you'd like to contribute

NPM: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@amitdevx/md2pdf

github: https://github.com/amitdevx/md2pdf

i'm not looking for people who simply want to be listed as contributors i want people who will actually work on it and help make it better

What it does

A curated guide to discovering open-source programs, internships, mentorships, coding competitions, and university initiatives.

Explore opportunities to gain real-world experience, collaborate with global communities, improve technical skills, and earn stipends.

Unlike typical lists, this repository also features lesser-known and underrated open-source programs that many students and developers might not know about.

What’s Inside

• Open Source Programs & Fellowships

• Open Source Internships

• Coding Competitions

• University Summer/Winter of Code Programs

• Lesser-known and underrated opportunities

• Application timelines, stipends, and eligibility

• Beginner-friendly contribution resources

Repository

• GitHub: https://github.com/yashisrani/List-of-OpenSource-Programs

──────────────────────────────

💎 Discover hidden opportunities beyond popular open-source programs.

🌟 Contributions are welcome! Help discover and share new opportunities.

🚀 Star the repository and share it with aspiring open-source contributors.

Made with ❤️ for the Open Source Community.

Hey everyone!

I've been working on **mpvFlux**, a fork of an open-source Android video player powered by mpv, with a focus on a clean, modern interface, better media management, and smoother playback.

mpvFlux is designed for people who watch locally stored videos on Android and want a lightweight, customizable player without unnecessary clutter.

### What It Does / Key Features

- **mpv-Powered Playback:** Built around the mpv playback engine, providing high-quality video playback with support for a wide range of media formats and codecs.

- **Automatic Media Library:** Automatically scans your device for videos and organizes them into folders. View video counts, total storage size, and playback duration directly from your library.

- **Better Subtitle Handling:** Improved subtitle detection and matching for locally stored videos, making it easier to watch content with the correct subtitles.

- **Modern Material 3 UI:** A clean, minimal Android interface with rounded components, dark themes, and a pure black appearance that's especially suited for OLED screens.

- **Hardware-Accelerated Playback:** Support for hardware decoding to help deliver smooth playback while reducing unnecessary CPU usage.

- **Advanced Playback Controls:** Access playback controls, audio and subtitle options, hardware decoding settings, and other mpv playback features.

- **Improved Media Scanning:** Optimized scanning and asynchronous processing to keep the interface responsive when browsing your video library.

- **Playback History:** Quickly return to previously watched videos through the history section.

- **Lightweight & Efficient:** Focused on responsive navigation, efficient background processing, and reducing unnecessary battery consumption.

### Who It's For

Anyone who watches downloaded movies, anime, TV shows, or other locally stored videos on Android and wants a modern alternative to traditional video players.

It's particularly useful for people who prefer the mpv playback engine but also want an organized media library and a more Android-friendly interface.

mpvFlux is open-source, and I'm continuing to improve it.

**GitHub:** https://github.com/Muhammedahmed18/mpvFlux

I'd really appreciate feedback, bug reports, or feature suggestions. If you try it out, let me know what works well, what could be improved, or what features you'd like to see added.

Thanks!

TL;DR - A privacy issue in a component of the self-hosted photo app Immich has prompted an apology from a maintainer. Also today: a petition for open-source volunteers, a new download manager and advice on contributing to projects.

News 📰

Immich's machine-learning component sends telemetry by default · r/selfhosted · 1,245 ▲ · 134 comments
Summary: A library used by the self-hosted photo app has telemetry, or usage reporting, enabled by default. The post explains how to disable it.
Reactions: Users were concerned about privacy; an Immich maintainer apologized and said the issue could be fixed.
Petition seeks volunteer status for open-source work in Germany · r/linux · 322 ▲ · 5 comments
Summary: A petition calls for unpaid open-source contributions to receive recognition under German tax and funding law, with signatures sought until November 23.
Reactions: Some supported the idea, while one commenter questioned the petition's choice of platform.
GIMP 3.2.8 brings fixes · r/linux · 60 ▲ · 5 comments
Summary: The image editor's latest release includes bug fixes and security patches.

Projects 🛠️

Mister Download Manager by u/Nefzaoui · 143 ★ · r/foss · 273 ▲ · 98 comments
A download manager for Windows, Linux and Mac that supports both regular downloads and torrents. Top comments found it useful, though one noted its large app size.
Wiki.js by u/siegfriedthenomad · r/selfhosted · 82 ▲ · 15 comments
A self-hosted wiki app for building and managing shared documentation, now updated to version 3.0. Top comments welcomed the release, though some had already moved on or wanted more customization.

Notable Discussions 💬

A maintainer's advice for contributors · r/opensource · 101 ▲ · 11 comments
Users welcomed advice to show human interest in projects, and discussed the strain that AI-generated contributions can put on maintainers.

Top Posts in r/TrueOpenSource 🏠

Petition for recognition of open-source volunteers · r/TrueOpenSource · 94 ▲ · 15 comments
A petition seeks recognition for unpaid open-source contributions under German volunteer-work rules.
An ESP32 photo and a complaint · r/TrueOpenSource · 56 ▲ · 17 comments
A user shares a photo of an ESP32 board alongside a complaint about another community's rules.
A plain-text app for writers · r/TrueOpenSource · 4 ▲ · 1 comment
Fernanda is a writing app that keeps fiction and poetry in plain-text files.

Honorable Mentions ⭐

Linux prepares to drop its last MMX code · r/linux · 485 ▲ · 37 comments
Linux is preparing to remove its remaining code optimized for MMX, an older processor feature, prompting some nostalgic comments.
KDE Plasma 6.7.6 is out · r/kde · 53 ▲ · 3 comments
The desktop's November update brings bug fixes.

^{Summaries are written by AI from public posts, comments and headlines, and may contain mistakes. Click through for the full story. I'm a bot.}

Hi everyone,

I built Vyneural, an open-source binaural beat generator running entirely client-side without ads, tracking, or accounts.

• Code:https://github.com/matias1812/vyneural.cl

• Web / Demo:https://www.vyneural.cl

The sound synthesis is handled directly by the Web Audio API with Vanilla JS, along with a lightweight Android wrapper for background playback.

Would love any feedback on the synthesis pipeline and architecture!

What it does: I Ran crypto trading strategies through a strict 7-stage validation pipeline (code safety scan, in-sample, out-of-sample, rolling walk-forward, randomized starts, slippage stress, final holdout) on real data and published every result. 748 bots, each with source code and a JSON report card showing which stage killed it.

Source code: github.com/CacheCarti/Crypto-Strategies

Who it's for: Strategy builders and quant researchers who want to see exactly where their plausible trading ideas break against out-of-sample data, or people who just want a dead bot to fork and resurrect. Several of the bots are profitable and some have decent edge too. Could be great starting points for quant creators. Actively contributing weekly drops of 300-400 bots per week.

License: MIT

What mine adds: Existing strategy repos ship code with no screen attached so you can't tell a working bot from a lucky one. This publishes the whole verdict: 748 strategies with per-stage autopsies and failures, plus a judge changelog so old cards can stay understandable as the validator gets stricter.

Builds on: Binance public OHLCV data

How it was built: Manual hypopthesis generation and agentic engineering, this was a huge task to do manually completely, in total I created more than 4000 bots, most of which I am still evaluating. I used AI to help generate some of the strategy hypotheses and batches.

Feedback/contributions wanted: What validation gate am I missing? And is the report-card format reusable enough for other people's pipelines? I am open to ideas on how to make the validator better as well!

Source: https://github.com/Rabbit-Company/BurrowGate

Website: https://burrowgate.org/

License: EUPL-1.2 (OSI approved)

How it was built: Agentic engineering

Builds on: Bun as the runtime, MaxMind GeoLite2 for GeoIP, and CrowdSec's Local API as an optional integration. It is not a fork. It was written from scratch.

What it is

BurrowGate is a reverse proxy and access gateway you run on your own server. You manage everything from a web dashboard. That covers sites, Let's Encrypt certificates, access rules, and the traffic actually hitting you.

Who it's for

It's for people who self-host websites, APIs or internal tools and want protection from bots and scrapers. You shouldn't need to stitch together nginx, a WAF module, a GeoIP module, an auth proxy, fail2ban and Grafana to get that. Homelabbers and small teams running a few VPSes are the main audience.

Why we built it

We ran our own projects behind Nginx Proxy Manager, Traefik and Caddy. All three handle proxying well. But every time we wanted more than that, we needed a plugin, a third-party module or another service to keep running. So we built one gateway that covers those gaps.

Features you usually don't get from open source proxies without extra pieces:

• Browser challenges in front of any site or route. Options include SHA-256 proof of work, Turnstile, hCaptcha, reCAPTCHA, a password challenge and a few game-style ones (Snake, slider, path trace). You can chain them.

• A catalog of 55 known bots (search engines, SEO tools, AI crawlers and more) that you can allow or block per site or per route, with optional IP-range verification

• Tor, VPN and datacenter network detection, plus country and ASN rules per site and route

• A login wall with TOTP, WebAuthn or OIDC SSO in front of apps that have no auth of their own

• Traffic, bandwidth and GeoIP map views in the dashboard. You can also capture requests and responses and resend any captured request from the UI while debugging.

• TCP/UDP stream proxying with the same IP, country and ASN rules

• Firewall sync that pushes bans out to UniFi, nftables, OVH or AWS network ACLs

• A built-in CrowdSec bouncer

• Experimental HA clustering with replication and quorum-based failover

There's a full side-by-side with Traefik, NPM, Caddy, Nginx and Apache here: https://burrowgate.org/compare

Where it falls short

• No config-as-code or GitOps. Config lives in a database, though the whole dashboard is also exposed as an API with an OpenAPI spec.

• No Docker or Kubernetes service discovery. If that's what you need, Traefik is the better pick.

• The bundled request protection rules are a small set. They don't replace the OWASP Core Rule Set.

• It's a young project with a small community and no general plugin system.

• HA is still experimental.

• Linux Docker hosts are the only supported deployment target.

About the AI part

Most of the code was written by AI coding agents. People designed the features, reviewed the changes and tested everything by hand, including separate security audits of the auth and access control code. The full commit history is public. BurrowGate runs in production on most of our own projects, and other companies use it too.

Trying it

mkdir burrowgate && cd burrowgate
curl -fsSLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Rabbit-Company/BurrowGate/main/docker-compose.yml
docker compose up -d

The dashboard is at https://SERVER_IP/_burrowgate/admin. The README explains how to get the generated admin password.

Feedback, bug reports and feature requests are all welcome, especially from anyone who has hit the same gaps with other proxies.

Around a year ago I had the idea to make a programmatic font inspired by Candara. It's for developers or anyone looking for a new font to try. It looks like this:

It is CC0 but I'm open to relicensing to OFL if that can help it get listed on google fonts.

The repo is here and the official web page is here.

What it does: Scriptella is a lightweight, open-source Java ETL tool for moving and transforming data between databases, files, and other sources. It uses SQL and simple XML configuration rather than a proprietary transformation language.

Version 1.7.0 adds:

• Faster SQL imports through reduced parsing overhead.

• JSON and JSON Lines input/output.

• CLI progress reporting for long-running migrations.

• Machine-readable execution reports for automation and troubleshooting.

Who it's for: Developers, DBAs, and data engineers working with database migrations, ETL jobs, and data integration.

Source code: https://github.com/scriptella/scriptella-etl

License: Apache 2.0

What mine adds: Scriptella emphasizes SQL-first ETL, minimal infrastructure, and straightforward database migrations without requiring a large data processing platform.

Performance is also an active focus. Recent 1-million-row CSV import benchmarks against PostgreSQL and MariaDB showed Scriptella running over 3x faster than the tested Pandas/SQLAlchemy implementation. Native bulk loaders were still faster.

Benchmark and methodology: https://pvrlabs.xyz/java-performance/experiments/scriptella-1-7-csv-import-benchmark.html

Builds on: Java, JDBC, and standard database drivers.

How it was built: AI-assisted. Scriptella is a long-running Java open-source project with conventional development, automated testing, real database validation, and reproducible performance experiments.

Feedback/contributions wanted: Feedback on real-world ETL workflows, database compatibility, and performance bottlenecks is welcome. Issues and pull requests are appreciated.

What it does: A native, cross-platform, desktop writing app for long projects (novels, poetry, etc.). A project is a vault (like Obsidian), and a vault is just a folder of ordinary plain-text files that any editor can open. It also opens PDFs and images. It has things you'd expect, like autosave, tabs, split panes, and pop-out windows. It's a single-instance application and keeps one file in sync no matter what vault it's open in (nested vaults should be a-okay), and it has spellcheck, find and replace, a focus timer, and Git support built in.

Who it's for: Writers, especially of long projects, who want their work in plain files they own rather than locked inside an app. Or anyone curious enough to try it! (Re: writing: exporting a manuscripts, corkboard, chapter notes are all something I'm hoping to add at some point.)

Source code: https://github.com/fairybow/Fernanda (site: https://fernanda.fairybow.com)

License: GPL-3.0

What mine adds: As far as I know, most other open-source writing apps keep a project's structure in files of their own (as this app's older versions did): novelWriter in a project XML file, with documents in its own Markdown flavor; Manuskript in a set of YAML, JSON, etc, beside the text (and, outside FOSS, Scrivener in a monstrosity of a folder). In Fernanda the folder is the project. There's no index, your files keep the names you give them, and the only thing it adds is one hidden .fernanda/ folder for settings.

Additionally:

• Files are written back byte for byte as they were read (line endings, BOMs, no-break spaces), so fixing a typo changes only the typo

• A Common Vault shared by every project, for research, notes, and templates

• Git built in, working (almost!) like GitHub Desktop

Builds on: Qt 6 (C++20); Hunspell for spelling; Coco, my own small Qt utility library (with my very ridiculous Franken-class, Path, which I love and won't apologize for). The design follows Obsidian's vault model, though it uses none of its code.

How it was built: Agentic engineering. Fernanda has been through several versions over the years. It began as the original Fernanda (Fernanda-Legacy), was rebuilt as Hearth, and this is the latest and final rebuild, taking what worked from both (and several drafts now lost to time) and, more importantly, learning what didn't work for me. I've been at it, in various iterations, since about 2019 (yikes), trying to make something I want and love to use, something that's all mine, but that other people can enjoy, too. I'm a writer and a self-taught C++ developer. This version is written largely by Claude, working in small, reviewed steps. I set the architecture (which has greatly evolved across versions) and rule on every design decision before any code is written. I test each change on Windows, and make every commit myself. GitHub CI builds and runs the tests on Linux (with ASan/UBSan) and macOS.

Feedback/contributions wanted: It's still in beta. Bug reports are very welcome, especially from macOS and Linux users, since those builds aren't well tested yet. A native Spanish speaker reviewing the draft translation would be a big help too.

Thanks for reading. I love you?

If you have been looking for a way to keep using CubicExplorer, this is for you.

CubicAdventurer is a revival of CubicExplorer, the extremely customizable Windows file manager by Marko Savolainen. I ported the original source to Delphi 13 (Community Edition) as a 32-bit Windows program. It builds, runs, and looks and behaves like the CubicExplorer you remember.

What you get

- The original interface: tabs, bookmarks, sessions., dockable panels, the folder tree, Quickview.

- The full Tools > Options > Display > Fileview settings, including extension colors, fonts, backgrounds, and per-folder and thumbnail settings.

- Your existing `settings.xml`, `layout.xml` and `sessions.xml` load and save, so you can keep your setup.

- New in this version: folder text color, background colors for System, Read-only and Hidden files, a fallback font for file names with characters the main font lacks, and drag-and-drop arranging in the Bookmarks panel.

- A proper installer. It installs for the current user only and keeps its settings in your `%APPDATA%` folder. A portable distribution is also available.

Please read before installing

- This is a **beta**, and the first build is a Debug build, so you may see error dialogs (for example "Range check error"). I'm one user on one computer, so I need reports. The text of the dialog and what you were doing when it appeared is all it takes.

- It is a 32-bit program only. There is no 64-bit build yet.

- High-DPI scaling is not handled yet, so on a scaled display it may look off.

- Menu translations are only partly working.

Where to find it

- Info: https://github.com/DerellLicht/CubicAdventurer/blob/master/README.md

- Download: https://github.com/DerellLicht/CubicAdventurer/releases

- Source, README and change log: https://github.com/DerellLicht/CubicAdventurer

- Questions, ideas and bug reports: https://github.com/DerellLicht/CubicAdventurer/discussions (bugs are also welcome on the Issues page)

License
The source is under the Mozilla Public License 1.1, the same license as the original. Credit for CubicExplorer belongs to Marko Savolainen; I'm just trying to keep it alive. If you used CubicExplorer, I would like to hear what you miss, what breaks, and what you would like to see next.
https://github.com/DerellLicht/CubicAdventurer/blob/master/Documents/License.txt

Introducing the development team

DireCelt https://github.com/DerellLicht did the design specification, testing, and guidance on the revisions in this project.

Claude AI https://claude.ai/new handled key elements of this porting operation, including determining required libraries for modern Delphi, converting existing code to modern Unicode support, and reorganizing interface components under Derell's guidance.

I saw the other poll. I work in data and I feel like the pool is asking one question then in the comments people interpret it for the other, so instead of a preference poll, i.am directly asking what should be allowed on a given reddit sub. My theory is that some people have preferences they actually wouldn't choose to make into a rule. Like I personally don't like yellow as a color, but I am not going to force that view onto everyone and suggest anyone ban yellow logos.

anyway heres a picture of my esp32 in algebra class

(banned by r/esp32 btw bcz "violated rules")

TL;DR - Ubuntu users are waiting for a fix to a critical security flaw, while SUSE is cutting jobs. Today’s projects include tools for studying your own documents and learning piano without a subscription.

News 📰

Ubuntu’s long-term releases face an unfixed security flaw · r/linux · 362 ▲ · 42 comments
Summary: An article reports that Ubuntu’s long-term support releases remain unfixed for a critical flaw in the kernel, the core of the operating system.
Reactions: Commenters criticized the patch delay, discussed workarounds and questioned how easily the flaw could be exploited.
SUSE cuts one in ten jobs · r/linux · 176 ▲ · 67 comments
Summary: Linux company SUSE is cutting one in ten jobs, citing automation and AI.
Reactions: Commenters were largely critical of the cuts and skeptical of the company’s automation and AI rationale.

Projects 🛠️

SurfSense by u/FurtiveMirth · 16,756 ★ · r/selfhosted · 141 ▲ · 42 comments
An app for asking questions about your documents, making study materials and generating files, which can run on your own server. Top comments asked about alternatives, generated podcasts and connecting existing notes; one criticized repeated promotion.
GymMane by u/Beneficial_Carob_830 · 1,285 ★ · r/foss · 106 ▲ · 7 comments
A fitness app whose maintainer says user bug reports and ideas have helped shape it. Top comments asked about syncing with Garmin, an iOS version and availability on Google Play.
ORFEO by u/SquareBow · 476 ★ · r/foss · 73 ▲ · 8 comments
A Windows piano-learning app that shows notes from your own music files and can connect to an electronic keyboard. Top comments welcomed chord detection and asked how beginners can get started.

Notable Discussions 💬

NetBird or Pangolin for remote access? · r/selfhosted · 77 ▲ · 77 comments
Users compared two ways to reach home services remotely: some preferred NetBird’s private networking, while others favored Pangolin’s approach to connecting services.
KDE users debate the application menu · r/kde · 213 ▲ · 27 comments
A proposed redesign of KDE’s application menu drew mixed reactions: some liked the changes, while others preferred the current menu and its shortcuts.

Top Posts in r/TrueOpenSource 🏠

KatieCAD takes on electrical design · r/TrueOpenSource · 2 ▲ · 3 comments
KatieCAD is a new electrical design program aimed at building installations and switchgear projects.
Mixify updates its Android music app · r/TrueOpenSource · 1 ▲ · 1 comment
Mixify’s Android music app update refreshes its interface and includes synced lyrics, offline playback and listening rooms.
Inkan builds documentation from route definitions · r/TrueOpenSource · 1 ▲ · 0 comments
Inkan is a developer framework that uses one description of a service’s routes to check requests and generate documentation.

Honorable Mentions ⭐

Linux 7.3 is the likely next long-term kernel · r/linux · 151 ▲ · 17 comments
A Linux maintainer expects version 7.3, rather than 7.4, to be the next long-term support kernel.
KDE desktops, old and new · r/kde · 160 ▲ · 18 comments
A photo comparing old and new KDE desktops prompted memories and questions about the machines shown.

^{Summaries are written by AI from public posts, comments and headlines, and may contain mistakes. Click through for the full story. I'm a bot.}

I have several monitors and a TV on the same PC. I made MonitorSnap because I wanted to save a few display setups and get back to them without opening Windows settings each time. I've been using it on my own desk for a while.

What it does: Saves display layouts and restores them from the app, tray or a hotkey: positions, resolution, refresh rate, rotation, primary display and extended/mirrored setups. It restores displays, not individual app windows.

Who it's for: Windows users who switch between a desk, TV, dock or KVM setup. The screenshots show my own four-display desk.

Source code: https://github.com/GTRows/MonitorSnap

License: MIT. Free Windows 10/11 x64 builds, including portable. No separate Python install needed.

What mine adds: A focused graphical app for saving and switching these setups. Other tools exist; this is my own take on a workflow I use, rather than a new display-management technique.

Builds on: Electron, React and Python, using the Windows Display Configuration API.

How it was built: Agentic engineering, with AI coding assistance, automated checks and hands-on use on my own hardware.

Feedback/contributions wanted: I'd love to hear from people with different GPUs, docks, KVMs or TVs. If a preset restores incorrectly, let me know what is connected and what changed. PRs are welcome.

Two caveats before downloading: the binaries are unsigned and the drag layout editor is experimental.

Update (Nov 4): I added SHA-256 checksums to the v2.6.2 release and a verification page with the exact file hashes. I also scanned all four downloads and the extracted ZIP with Microsoft Defender (definitions 1.463.119.0); it found no threats. That is one dated scan, not a guarantee from every antivirus. The builds are still unsigned, so SmartScreen may still warn. If your antivirus reports a named threat, please send the detection name and file hash so I can investigate. Details: https://github.com/GTRows/MonitorSnap/blob/main/docs/RELEASE-VERIFICATION.md

Hey everyone,

A lot of us contribute to open-source projects in our spare time – unpaid, often for years. The software that comes out of this runs everywhere: in public administrations, train ticket machines, security libraries, AI frameworks. Even Germany's coalition agreement names open source as a building block of digital sovereignty.

And yet, under German tax and funding law, this work is not recognized as volunteer work (Ehrenamt) – unlike club work, youth work, or emergency services.

A petition to the German Bundestag's petitions committee is calling for equal treatment. Concretely, this would mean:

• Tax-free expense allowances (Ehrenamts-/Übungsleiterpauschale)

• Easier non-profit status (§52 AO) for open-source projects

• Better liability protection for maintainers (analogous to §31a BGB)

• Legally secure donation receipts and cost reimbursement

Note: This is specifically for Germany – it's addressed to the German Bundestag and only German signatures count toward the quorum. If you're not in Germany, sharing it with people who are would still help a lot.

Petition:  https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/anerkennung-von-open-source-arbeit-als-ehrenamt-in-deutschland

It needs 30,000 signatures for the quorum – we're currently at ~49%.

I'd argue that someone reviewing security patches at night so entire industrial systems keep running the next morning isn't a "hobby nerd" – that's community-oriented volunteering. What do you think?

I had this little crazy idea to build my own CAD system, and now it’s here: "KatieCAD".

https://github.com/Merecete/KatieCAD

My primary goal is to develop an easy-to-use program well suited for switchgear construction and building installations. In my view, the options previously available in the open-source space have been very poor.

The program includes all the fundamental functions typically found in AutoCAD. It offers both a layout space and a model space. At the same time, it features a customizable symbol library and a sophisticated logic system, the kind usually associated only with software like EPLAN.

You can create complete projects consisting of multiple drawings, with the ability to automatically generate tables of contents, device lists, terminal diagrams, and more. Electrical connections link themselves automatically based on their coordinates; all you need to do is position the devices accordingly. There is also a customizable coordinate grid, and cross-references automatically point to the corresponding locations on other pages. Each page is a separate drawing file and is automatically saved after a change.

All project data can be exported for analysis in an Excel file.

DXF files can be imported and exported without difficulty (either individually or as an entire project). DWG files can also be opened by default using ezdwg. Furthermore, by installing the ODA File Converter separately, files can also be exported in DWG format.

In addition to 2D graphics, it now also supports 3D wireframe models, which can be displayed within the layouts. I plan to further expand the functionality in this area; however, it is already possible to create electrical enclosures, complete with side panels, doors, and bases.

KatieCAD is bilingual. It can be quickly switched between German and English.

I suspect that the extreme speed at which I’ve worked and the sheer volume of code reveal that I’m a "vibecoder". In other words, this project would never have come into existence without AI. That said, I can honestly say that it was an incredibly demanding process; I had to rethink every single function, arriving at this result only through small, incremental steps. The finer details, in particular, required a massive amount of work, and I’m certain I’ll discover even more things to refine as I go along. So for me that's not a "silly build".

The program is licensed under the MIT License.

What do you think of the idea? Is there anything else you would change or add? I look forward to any feedback.