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KOReader: Open-Source eBook Reader
a year ago
- Portable: Runs on embedded devices (Cervantes, Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, reMarkable), Android, and Linux computers. Developers can use a KOReader emulator on Linux and MacOS.
- Multi-format support: Handles fixed page formats (PDF, DjVu, CBT, CBZ) and reflowable e-book formats (EPUB, FB2, Mobi, DOC, RTF, HTML, CHM, TXT). Scanned PDF/DjVu can be reflowed using K2pdfopt. ZIP files are supported for some formats.
- Full-featured reading: Multi-lingual UI with customizable reader view, adjustable margins, line spacing, external fonts, and bundled hyphenation dictionaries.
- Integration: Works with calibre, Wallabag, Wikipedia, Google Translate, and other content providers.
- Optimized for e-ink: Custom UI without animations, paginated menus, adjustable text contrast, and easy zoom options.
- Extensible: Supports plugins for additional functionality.
- Fast performance: Lower page-turn delay compared to built-in software on older devices.
- Additional features: Word lookup with StarDict/Wikipedia, OPDS catalogs, RSS feeds, OTA updates, FTP client, SSH server.
- Community-driven: Volunteers worldwide contribute via bug fixes, translations, documentation, and forum support.
- Donations: Currently supported via Liberapay.
The Pragmatic Open Source Contributor
a year ago
- Salaried programmers often avoid contributing to open source due to perceived job scope, legal hurdles, past frustrations, and time concerns.
- The guide aims to encourage contributing to open source for shared knowledge and provides a playbook for successful contributions.
- Pragmatic contributors focus on improving software their business relies on, rather than personal incentives.
- Steps for contributing include legal approval, understanding the project's contribution process, getting maintainer buy-in, doing the work, and following up.
- Key advice includes forking for testing, adding tests, keeping changes atomic, minimizing refactoring, and preserving backwards-compatibility.
- Documentation and examples are crucial for high-quality contributions.
- After submission, proactive communication with maintainers and patience are key.
- Successful contributions require thanking maintainers, reducing bus factor, and integrating changes back internally.
- The guide addresses common barriers to contributing and emphasizes the importance of the process beyond just coding.
Show HN: GuMCP – Open-source MCP servers, hosted for free
a year ago
- guMCP is an open-source collection of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
- Supports both local and remote hosting with stdio and SSE transports.
- Features a unified backend architecture for consistent implementation.
- Requires Python 3.11 and Git for setup.
- Setup involves cloning the repository, creating a virtual environment, and installing dependencies.
- Includes configuration via environment variables for API keys and server settings.
- Provides a lightweight MCP Client for connecting to SSE and stdio servers.
- Lists various servers like Google Services, Communication Tools, and Productivity Tools with their auth types.
- Encourages community contributions in areas like new server implementations and documentation.
- Licensed under GPL-3.0 with a strong focus on security and compliance.
Aim: Supercharged open-source experiment tracker
a year ago
- Aim is an open-source, self-hosted ML experiment tracking tool designed for handling 10,000s of training runs.
- Aim provides a performant UI for exploring and comparing training runs, with SDK access for programmatic metadata tracking.
- Aim's mission is to democratize AI development tools.
- Aim supports integration with various ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, and more.
- Aim offers features like centralized tracking server, Kubernetes deployment, and migration tools from other platforms.
- Comparison with TensorBoard and MLflow highlights Aim's scalability and advanced UI features.
- Aim's roadmap includes SDK enhancements, UI improvements, and additional integrations.
- Aim encourages community contributions and provides badges for projects using Aim.
Zig is a general-purpose programming language
a year ago
- Zig focuses on debugging applications rather than language knowledge, with no hidden control flow, memory allocations, or preprocessor.
- Zig introduces 'Comptime' for metaprogramming, allowing compile-time function calls and type manipulation without runtime overhead.
- Zig can be used to incrementally improve C/C++/Zig codebases, acting as a zero-dependency compiler with cross-compilation support.
- The Zig Software Foundation (ZSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2020 by Andrew Kelley to support Zig's development.
- ZSF offers paid work to core contributors and is sustained by donations, including corporate sponsors and GitHub sponsors.
Discover European alternatives to popular SaaS
a year ago
- Big Tech companies prioritize their own interests over digital sovereignty.
- Europe needs to stop relying on Silicon Valley giants for infrastructure.
- Open-source software offers transparency, control, and flexibility without hidden costs.
- Initiatives like openDesk showcase European open-source alternatives.
- European open-source awards recognize excellence in open-source solutions.
- CryptPad is an encrypted alternative to Google Docs, hosted in the EU.
- Collabora Online provides privacy-focused document editing based on LibreOffice.
- Nextcloud Office integrates with Nextcloud for secure collaboration.
- XWiki is a Confluence alternative with customization and migration tools.
- OpenProject and Taiga are open-source alternatives to Jira.
- Penpot is a Figma alternative with open web standards.
- PeerTube is a decentralized, YouTube alternative using ActivityPub.
- Element is a secure, Matrix-based alternative to Slack and Teams.
- Codeberg is a nonprofit GitHub alternative focused on open-source.
- Plausible is a lightweight, GDPR-compliant Google Analytics alternative.
- Nextcloud Files and Cozy Drive are privacy-focused Google Drive alternatives.
- Proton Mail is a secure, Swiss-based Gmail alternative.
- LanguageTool is an open-source Grammarly alternative.
- Webmecanik is a European Mailchimp alternative with data privacy focus.
Lvgl: Embedded graphics library to create beautiful UIs
a year ago
- LVGL is a popular free and open-source embedded graphics library for creating UIs on MCUs, MPUs, and various display types.
- Supported by leading vendors like Arm, STM32, NXP, Espressif, and more.
- Feature-rich with 30+ built-in widgets, powerful style system, and support for multiple languages.
- Requires minimal resources: 32kB RAM, 128 kB Flash, a frame buffer, and a C compiler.
- Offers services including graphics design, UI implementation, and consulting.
- Fully portable C library with no external dependencies, MIT licensed.
- Supports various displays: monochrome, ePaper, OLED, TFT, and monitors.
- Includes MicroPython and PikaScript bindings, with support for Make and CMake.
- Detailed documentation with 100+ examples and tools for UI development.
- Accepts donations to support development and compensates contributors for sponsored work.
- Available as libraries for Arduino, PlatformIO, Zephyr, ESP-IDF, and more.
- Provides examples for creating widgets, using layouts, and applying styles in C and MicroPython.
- Step-by-step guide to get started with LVGL, from setting up a simulator to porting to a board.
- LVGL LLC offers professional services including graphics design, UI implementation, and board certification.
- Open for contributions in various forms, from documentation improvements to hosting projects under LVGL.
Ente Photos v1
a year ago
- Ente Photos released its first major version, v1, after 40,000+ commits and 5 years of development.
- The app prioritizes privacy with end-to-end encryption, ensuring only users can access their photos.
- Features include on-device search for people, objects, and scenes, and a Discover feature for special memories.
- Ente Photos offers reliability with data stored in 3 encrypted copies across different locations, including an underground fallout shelter.
- The app is fully open-source, allowing users to run it on their own servers.
- Future updates include video streaming, new gallery layouts, a local-first version, and a feed for shared memories.
- Ente emphasizes accessibility, being available on all devices, unlike some competitors.
- The team is grateful for community support and is hosting an AMA on April 5, 2025.
LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs
a year ago
- LibreOffice, a free open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, is experiencing a surge in downloads, nearing 1 million per week—the highest since 2023.
- The Document Foundation released version 25.2, contributing to increased adoption, while alternatives like Apache OpenOffice decline.
- LibreOffice is estimated to have around 200 million users, though exact numbers are uncertain due to privacy-focused tracking policies.
- Interest spans home users, businesses, and governments, with Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) migrating 30,000 PCs to LibreOffice.
- 85% of LibreOffice users are on Windows, followed by macOS and Linux (often pre-installed in Linux distributions).
- Users prefer LibreOffice for its no-subscription model, straightforward interface, and avoidance of intrusive AI features.
- The Document Foundation has no plans to integrate AI directly but supports responsible AI extensions developed by third parties.
- Gartner notes cost as a key factor for adoption, though specialized maintenance resources may be a drawback.
- LibreOffice remains a desktop-focused solution, contrasting with cloud-centric offerings from Microsoft and Google.
Bluesky isn't just another Twitter/X competitor. It fixes social media
a year ago
- Bluesky's user base grew significantly after Donald Trump became President, reaching 33.8 million users.
- Bluesky is built on the open-source AT Protocol, making it the first open-source social network to achieve meaningful scale.
- Unlike traditional social networks, Bluesky allows users to own their identity, social graph, and interactions, making data portable.
- Developers can create apps for Bluesky without approval, leading to a thriving ecosystem of third-party applications.
- Bluesky's CEO, Jay Graber, emphasizes user customization, allowing users to tailor their experience with feeds and moderation tools.
- The open social web, including Bluesky and Mastodon, is seen as a revolution, offering alternatives to closed networks like Facebook and Twitter/X.
- Bluesky's growth highlights the importance of openness in social networks, challenging the conventional wisdom that bigger is always better.
Introduction to Open Source Laptop Project (2023)
a year ago
- The author is fascinated by the idea of designing an open-source laptop, recognizing it as a monumental task requiring significant time and resources.
- Consumer electronics, like laptops and smartphones, contain hidden knowledge from years of optimization and innovation in design and manufacturing.
- Reverse engineering existing devices provides limited insights, as much of the design knowledge remains hidden unless one works in R&D.
- The project aims to make hidden knowledge accessible by sharing source files and documenting the design process, despite lacking the experience of big manufacturers.
- Open-source hardware projects serve as valuable references for learning complex areas of electronics, and the author hopes to contribute back to the community.
- Designing a laptop involves multidisciplinary challenges, including electronics, thermal management, mechanical design, and high-speed PCB design.
- The challenge of designing, manufacturing, and testing a laptop is a motivator, as failure is part of the learning process.
- The project also aims to promote repairability, upgradability, and sustainability, countering the trend of disposable consumer electronics.
- Initiatives like the 'right to repair' and projects like the Framework Laptop and DELL’s LUNA concept are steps toward more sustainable products.
- Future updates will include detailed design decisions, open-source simulation tools, and insights from the project’s journey.
- Subscribers will receive monthly articles, videos, a podcast series, and access to project files on Altium 365.
Alibaba Qwen2.5-Omni-7B: Open Source End-to-End Multimodal AI Model
a year ago
- Alibaba Cloud launched Qwen2.5-Omni-7B, a multimodal model processing text, images, audio, and videos.
- The model is optimized for edge devices like mobile phones and laptops, offering real-time responses.
- Despite its compact 7B-parameter design, it delivers high performance and robust multimodal capabilities.
- Potential applications include aiding visually impaired users, cooking guidance, and intelligent customer service.
- Qwen2.5-Omni-7B is open-sourced on Hugging Face, GitHub, Qwen Chat, and ModelScope.
- Innovative architecture includes Thinker-Talker, TMRoPE, and Block-wise Streaming Processing for efficiency.
- Pre-trained on diverse datasets, it excels in voice command tasks and multimodal integration.
- Achieves state-of-the-art performance in benchmarks like OmniBench for cross-modal reasoning.
- Reinforcement learning optimization improved speech generation stability and reduced errors.
- Alibaba Cloud previously released Qwen2.5-Max, Qwen2.5-VL, and Qwen2.5-1M for varied AI applications.
Show HN: Offline SOS signaling+recovery app for disasters/wars
a year ago
- Igatha is an open-source SOS signaling and recovery app for war zones and disaster areas.
- Works offline using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for emergency communication.
- Steps to send SOS: Install app, enable Bluetooth, tap 'Send SOS'.
- Disaster Detection feature monitors device sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer).
- Automatic SOS broadcast if no response to 'Are you okay?' notification within 2 minutes.
- BLE broadcasts pseudonymized identifiers and audible sirens for location.
- No internet or GPS required, preventing signal jamming.
- Responders can locate SOS signals via decreasing distance indicators and audible sirens.
- Minimizes battery usage with optimized BLE and sensor monitoring.
- Open-sourced for transparency, accessibility, and community collaboration.
- Encourages contributions: testing, documentation, translations, feature enhancements.
- Privacy-focused: no data collection, uses pseudonymized identifiers.
Open source, 3D-printable smart chess board
a year ago
- OpenChess is a fully open-source smart chessboard designed for accessibility.
- Combines low-cost electronics, 3D printing, and customizable software.
- Affordable alternative to expensive, closed-source smart chessboards.
- Features a custom PCB with magnetic sensors and LEDs for real-time move detection.
- DIY-friendly: print your own board and pieces, assemble at home.
- Programmable via Arduino, allowing for custom game modes and learning tools.
- Fully modular and open-source, enabling remixes and upgrades.
- Requires OpenChess PCB, Arduino Nano (ESP32/RP2040/33IOT), and 3D printed board & pieces.
- Ideal for educators, makers, and chess enthusiasts looking for a customizable project.
Ploopy Classic 2 open source trackball
a year ago
- The Classic 2 is a new revision of the original Classic, available starting at $144CAD.
- USB-C connector replaces the bulky USB-B, maintaining mechanical strength.
- Improved scroll wheel with Raspberry RP2040 microcontroller prevents spinouts and reversals.
- Same ergonomic shape as the original, now more printable with fewer overhangs.
- Retains high-performance hardware: PMW-3360 sensor and D2LS-21 switches.
- Fully open-source under CERN OHL for hardware and GPL for firmware.
- No upgrade kit available from original Classic to Classic 2.
- Original Classic kits will no longer be sold, but maintenance kits will still be provided.
- No left-handed version currently, but it's on the roadmap.
- No BTU mod available for Classic 2 due to cost and quality concerns.
.NET library MassTransit going commercial with V9
a year ago
- MassTransit v9 is transitioning to a commercial licensing model to ensure long-term sustainability and enterprise-grade support.
- MassTransit v8 will remain open-source with continued security patches and community support until at least the end of 2026.
- New features, performance enhancements, and enterprise-focused capabilities will be exclusive to MassTransit v9.
- Pricing for v9 is subscription-based, targeting $400/month for small/medium businesses and $1200/month for large enterprises.
- Consultants/agencies using MassTransit in customer solutions will have flexible licensing options to accommodate different engagement models.
- Non-profit licenses may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but v8 remains available for free use.
- Licensing will be simple, with license files deployed alongside applications and automatic updates from a license server.
- Expired licenses will enter a grace period, with potential reduced functionality until renewed.
- MassTransit v9 code may remain open-source, with v8 maintained as a separate branch.
- The transition plan includes prerelease availability in Q3 2025 and official release in Q1 2026.
CINC Is Not Chef
a year ago
- Cinc is a free distribution of open source software from Chef Software Inc.
- Projects include Cinc Client, Cinc Workstation, Cinc Auditor, and Cinc Server.
- Upcoming project: Cinc Packager.
- Community engagement via Slack channel #community-distros.
Gumroad’s license wouldn’t meet the widely regarded definition of open source
a year ago
- Gumroad announced becoming open source, but their custom license doesn't meet the Open Source Definition (OSD).
- The license restricts usage to small businesses (under $1M revenue) and exempt organizations, violating OSD principles like free distribution and no discrimination.
- Redistribution rights are unclear, as sublicensing or transfer is prohibited, conflicting with open source norms.
- The license's conditions could limit service providers and forking, affecting software accessibility and longevity.
- Alternative terms like 'Source Available' are suggested instead of misleadingly labeling it as open source.
- The license's wording includes unusual provisions, like USD-specific conditions and broad copyright permissions, raising legal questions.
Erica Synths DIY Eurorack Modules
a year ago
- Erica Synths discontinues legacy DIY eurorack projects and makes them open-source.
- Gerber files for PCB-made front panels are provided with slight design changes to reduce dependency on custom/rare components.
- Some modules still require rare ICs, available at www.ericasynths.lv.
- Each module folder includes schematics, Gerber files, BOMs, component placement guides, and assembly manuals.
- Erica Synths permits third-party use for personal, educational, or commercial purposes under cc-by-sa-3.0 license.
- No official support provided; users are directed to forums like Muff Wiggler for troubleshooting.
- List of open-source projects includes Bassline, BBD delay/flanger, Delay, Dual VCA, Envelope, MIDI-CV, Mixer, Modulator, Output, Polivoks VCF, Swamp, and VCO3.
Ashtf8/EinkPDA: An E-Ink PDA Device Using the ESP32 S3
a year ago
- PDA project powered by ESP32-S3 with a custom OS written in C++ using Arduino IDE.
- Uses E-Ink and OLED screens together to balance refresh rates and aesthetics.
- Current features include a GUI for app navigation, a text file editor, and a basic file manager.
- Future plans include open-sourcing project files, selling DIY kits, and community-driven software development.
- Planned features: Calendar app, USB auto-backup, PC file transfer via BT/USB, Bluetooth keyboard support.
- All files are distributed under GNU GPLv3 license.

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#open-source

KOReader: Open-Source eBook Reader

The Pragmatic Open Source Contributor

Show HN: GuMCP – Open-source MCP servers, hosted for free

Aim: Supercharged open-source experiment tracker

Zig is a general-purpose programming language

Discover European alternatives to popular SaaS

Lvgl: Embedded graphics library to create beautiful UIs

Ente Photos v1

LibreOffice downloads on the rise as users look to avoid subscription costs

Bluesky isn't just another Twitter/X competitor. It fixes social media

Introduction to Open Source Laptop Project (2023)

Alibaba Qwen2.5-Omni-7B: Open Source End-to-End Multimodal AI Model

Show HN: Offline SOS signaling+recovery app for disasters/wars

Open source, 3D-printable smart chess board

Ploopy Classic 2 open source trackball

.NET library MassTransit going commercial with V9

CINC Is Not Chef

Gumroad’s license wouldn’t meet the widely regarded definition of open source

Erica Synths DIY Eurorack Modules

Ashtf8/EinkPDA: An E-Ink PDA Device Using the ESP32 S3