We saw impressive launches this week like the open-source Totals bank transaction tracker and the Nevr Zero-API framework, proving that real value comes from solving hard problems. Dive into the full digest below for details on the Chapa CTO interview and the latest projects, and join the ongoing conversation about backend portfolio strategies and the upcoming talk on data roles in a post-hype world.

Developer Shout-Outs

Chronicle Platform for Sale: Leul announced the sale of Chronicle, his first fully built social media platform. This project is available for developers or entrepreneurs looking to acquire a complete web development project to add immediate value to their portfolio or launch a new venture. 1 Project Link.

xChaz AI Chat Application: xᴅᴀɢɪᴢ, a 16-year-old developer, launched xChaz, an AI chat application built using the T3 stack and free models via OpenRouter. The project features a clean UI built with Shadcn and includes rate limiting implemented using Redis and Upstash, demonstrating impressive full-stack skills. 1, 2, 3 Live Demo.

Totals Mobile Financial Tracker: Brook Solomon introduced Totals, an open-source mobile app that tracks bank transactions by parsing SMS messages from Ethiopian banks (CBE, Awash, Dashen, Telebirr). It provides real-time balance updates and financial insights, storing data securely on the device. 1, Download Link, GitHub Link.

WB Vault Cinematic UI: Leoul G shared WB Vault, a cinematic digital archive UI concept designed to showcase Warner Bros. classics. The project features hero trailers, timelines, and detailed information on franchises and directors, demonstrating advanced frontend design skills focused on creating an immersive user experience. 1, 2, Project Link.

BG Remover ET Tool: 𝓶𝓲𝓷_𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓷𝓸𝓽 introduced BG Remover ET, a free online tool designed for instant image background removal. This utility provides a quick and accessible solution for users needing clean cutouts, demonstrating practical application development focused on a single, useful function. 1, Project Link.

Spokenly AI Voice/Transcription App: Kidus Yohannes launched Spokenly, an AI application for voice recording, transcription, and text-to-speech generation. The app supports multiple languages, including Amharic, and is built with React/Tailwind, aiming to be a solid, private tool for handling podcasts, notes, and lectures. 1, Project Link.

MERN Hospital Appointment System: Johnny, a junior developer, completed a full-stack hospital appointment system using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node). He shared a video demo showcasing clean CRUD endpoints and a responsive Tailwind CSS UI, seeking community advice on improvements and future features. 1.

Nevr Zero-API Framework: Gaboney launched Nevr, a Zero-API framework designed to automate 80% of backend development tasks, including CRUD, authentication, and validation. The open-source project aims to shift developer focus from boilerplate “plumbing” to core business logic, hitting 840 downloads shortly after launch. 1 GitHub Repo.

Kegna Brewery Landing Page: NuuX shared a clean, modern landing page concept designed for Kegna Brewery, built using foundational web technologies like HTML, CSS, and SVG. He noted that this project is a strong addition to his portfolio, demonstrating core frontend skills and design capability. 1.

AnonFeed V2.0 Anonymous App: Sofizhag1 shared an Ethiopian anonymous vent/confession application, released Version 2.0. The major update introduces a full direct messaging system, allowing users to send DMs, delete conversations, and clear chat history, significantly enhancing user control over privacy and message management. 1, 2 Download Link.

Voiced AI Diary Application: Bυɾԋαɳ-Ops launched Voiced, an AI diary application that converts spoken or typed thoughts into clean, structured diary entries. The app includes a performance dashboard and a feature to download entries as a journal, focusing on daily reflection and idea capture. 1, Project Link.

Events and Podcasts

Upcoming

Upcoming Talk Show: Data Roles in the Age of AI: The Information Systems Hub is hosting a podcast talk show on December 24, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The session, featuring guest speaker Simon Asnake aka The Data Guy, will focus on building a tech career path within various data roles—including data science and analysis—and how these fields are evolving in the age of AI. 1.

Past

Devtopia Podcast: Interview with Chapa CTO: A new episode of the Devtopia podcast features an interview with Izzy, the CTO of Chapa. They discuss his research background, his perspective on AI, and the practical journey of founding and scaling the Chapa payment platform.

Digital Ethiopia Event : Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discusses Ethiopia’s digital future with young people, focusing on technology, innovation, and the role of youth in national development. The conversation highlights opportunities and challenges in technology, governance, and economic growth.

GDG AAU Open Mic Session Recap: GDG AAU hosted an Open Mic Session featuring Software Engineer Ruth Abiti. The discussion focused on building scalable healthcare and enterprise systems, architectural decisions between mobile and web, and best practices for writing clean, maintainable code. The session took place on Friday, December 19th. Live Audio, 1, 2, 3.

EOTC Open Source Community Webinar: The EOTC Open Source Community hosted a live webinar on December 20th to introduce its mission, structure, and long-term vision. The session detailed how developers can contribute their skills to technology projects aimed at serving the Church and society. 1, 2, 3, 4.

Shared Resources

TailwindSQL Database Platform: Hossiy Dev introduced TailwindSQL, a modern, clean platform designed for working with SQL databases. Built using Tailwind CSS, the tool helps developers and students easily design and visualize database structures, though it is explicitly marked as non-production ready for community testing. 1 Project Link.
Efecto Web Creative Tool: Efecto, a web-based creative tool, was shared, allowing users to transform 3D models, images, and videos using various visual effects. This project is particularly appealing to those interested in 3D graphics and interactive web experiences, showcasing advanced rendering capabilities. 1 Project Link.
Ethiopian National ID API Documentation: A direct link to the official documentation for integrating the Ethiopian National ID verification API into applications. This resource is crucial for developers building services requiring secure identity verification, offering necessary guides and a link to a GitHub demo for practical implementation. 1. API Documentation.
Chapa SDK (Express/TypeScript): A robust, open-source Chapa payment gateway implementation built using Express, TypeScript, Zod, and Drizzle ORM. This project is an excellent starting point for developers integrating Chapa, featuring solutions for webhooks, signature verification, transaction reconciliation, and incoming data sanitization. 1. GitHub Repo.
Ethiopian Repos GitHub Collection: A valuable, curated GitHub repository featuring a collection of projects, APIs, chatbots, and AI tools specifically related to Ethiopian development. Although not recently updated, it remains a great resource for discovering foundational code and resources relevant to the local tech ecosystem. 1. GitHub Repo.
Nevr Zero-API Framework: Nevr is a new, open-source framework designed to automate up to 80% of backend boilerplate tasks, including CRUD operations, authentication, typing, and validation. This tool aims to free developers from “plumbing” work, allowing them to focus entirely on core business logic and feature development. 1. GitHub Repo.

Tech Company Updates

Google Translator Adds Amharic Narration: Google Translator has quietly rolled out an Amharic narrator feature. Community members noted the addition, praising the quality of the voice. This is a significant localization update for developers working with Ethiopian languages. 1, 2, 3.

Top Discussions and Reactions

Unified Payment Receipt Verifier: ABƦSH ♱ shared an update on his open-source Payment Receipt Verifier, which now supports both Telebirr and CBE transactions. This tool automatically parses receipt data to verify transaction details, offering a crucial utility for local e-commerce and SaaS platforms. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Internet Connectivity and Censorship: Developers reported widespread difficulty accessing essential tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and LinkedIn desktop without a VPN. The issue led to speculation that Ethio Telecom is blocking foreign domains, impacting local development and prompting comparisons between Ethio Telecom and Safaricom performance. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Backend Portfolio Dilemma: A key career question was raised: How do backend developers effectively demonstrate their skills and build a portfolio when they lack a visual UI or screenshots? This sparked a discussion on alternative “proof of work” methods, such as detailed documentation, API demos, and open-source contributions. 1.

Disclaimer: This recap is generated by AI and may not fully reflect the context or accuracy of discussions. Join the Codenight group for detailed insights and active participation.