Codenight Weekly 045

Discover the hottest new projects from our community: open-source Linux screen recorders, AI-powered TrustGrid Ethiopia, Current.fm Spotify streaming, GitYapper & more.

Developer Shout-Outs

Linux Screen Recorder: ሎጎስ built an open-source screen recorder specifically for Linux users on Wayland. Developed using Flutter and C++, the tool addresses common compatibility issues with modern display protocols. It includes essential features like audio toggling, adjustable frame rates, and custom output resolutions, providing a reliable solution for the Linux developer community. 1, 2.

Current.fm: Yeabsira is building Current.fm, a social platform that lets users stream their Spotify activity to a global audience. The app aggregates listeners of the same songs and displays real-time streaming trends across different countries. It offers a fun, public-by-default way to discover music and connect with other listeners worldwide. 1.

mdnest: Abel Berhanu developed mdnest, a modern open-source platform for creating and sharing Markdown documents. Whether for technical documentation or student notes, the platform provides a seamless editing experience. Shared by Enku, the project encourages community contributions and stars on GitHub to help refine its features for all users. 1. Live Website

Studio YT Player: Nati built Studio, a React Native application designed for developers who listen to YouTube lo-fi while coding. The app bypasses background restrictions to play audio cleanly without keeping multiple browser tabs open. It uses a local-first approach with an Express backend to fetch streams, prioritizing a distraction-free coding environment. 1. Github Link

TrustGrid Ethiopia: Meareg launched TrustGrid Ethiopia, an AI-powered platform that helps businesses verify customer testimonials. Built with React, Supabase, and Google Gemini, it analyzes reviews for authenticity and provides trust scores. Users can embed these verified reviews as a “Wall of Love” on their websites to build credibility with clients. 1, 2, 3. Live Website

Addis Entrance Hub: Anam shared Addis Entrance Hub, a live project supporting over 5,000 students. Developed by ASTU freshmen, the platform serves as a guide for high schoolers. They have also built an AI RAG system trained on Ethiopian curriculum books, aiming to provide automated academic assistance once infrastructure costs are managed. 1, 2. Live Website

GitYapper: Eyu .G shared GitYapper, a web application that provides a humorous look at your GitHub activity. By analyzing your commit history and profile, the tool determines if you are more of a “yapper” or a “shipper.” It offers a lighthearted way for developers to engage with their coding statistics. 1, Live Website.

AI YouTube Thumbnail Generator: .࿐ deployed a full-stack AI YouTube Thumbnail Generator powered by Stable Diffusion. Users can choose styles, adjust colors, and save their creations to personal accounts. Built with React, Node.js, and MongoDB, the app integrates the Hugging Face API to provide creators with high-quality, AI-generated visuals for their video content. 1. Live Website

OpenNotch: Bekalu started OpenNotch, a free and open-source version of NotchNook for macOS. Implemented using Rust and SwiftUI, the project invites community contributions to enhance its functionality. It aims to provide Mac users with a customizable and efficient utility that leverages the hardware notch for improved workflow and system interactions. 1, Github Link.

MockAuth: Eyob built MockAuth, a fake authentication server designed for development and staging environments. It allows frontend teams to test login flows, JWTs, and MFA without setting up external providers like Clerk or Auth0. The tool can be started with a single CLI command, enabling rapid prototyping and local-first development. 1, Github Link.

Thread Bot: አቶ Codes released an update for Thread Bot, improving topic management and adding a new help command for better usability. The bot now features a refactored system for topic administration, allowing for more reliable control within Telegram groups. It remains an open-source project available for developers to use and improve. 1, Github Link.

Addis AI Flutter SDK: Anexon released the Addis AI Flutter SDK to bridge the gap between local AI services and mobile developers. Recognizing that many Flutter devs struggle with raw documentation and endpoint wiring, this SDK provides a native, simple way to integrate Ethiopian AI products. It focuses on improving the developer experience. 1. Pub.Dev Link

Events and Podcasts:

UPCOMING

• International Women’s Day 2026: Women Techmakers Ethiopia and ALX Ethiopia are hosting a full-day event for International Women’s Day on March 7, 2026. Featuring Guest of Honor Kidist Tesfaye, CEO of YeneHealth, the “Break the Pattern” event includes fireside chats, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities focused on leadership and innovation within the digital health sector. 1, 2, RSVP here.

• Health AI Systems Thinking Workshop: Dr. Leo Anthony Celi from MIT Critical Data will lead the HASTE Health AI Systems Thinking for Community Workshop on March 14, 2026. Hosted at WeVenture Hub, this interdisciplinary session focuses on building equitable, community-centered AI solutions for healthcare, offering participants a hands-on approach to reimagining medical technology in Ethiopia. 1, RSVP here.

• H.E.R. Women-Focused Hackathon: Pre-registration is now open for H.E.R., a women-focused innovation experience designed for university students. The program aims to move beyond theory into execution by providing bold ideas with real mentorship and post-hackathon support. It focuses on turning technical solutions into scalable impact through collaboration and leadership in the community. 1. RSVP here

PAST

• Open Mic Session with Yohannes Haile: GDG AAU hosted an Open Mic Session featuring Yohannes Haile, a prominent iOS developer with extensive experience building consumer-facing applications. The live session delved into native iOS tools, Swift Package Manager, and career growth in mobile engineering, providing the community with deep dives into the Apple ecosystem and professional workflows. 1.

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• Dagmawi Babi’s Meetup Video Series: Dagmawi Babi released a comprehensive video series from his recent meetup, including a live Devtopia podcast. Featured talks cover motion design by Eyuel Zerabruk, DBStudio by Ruhama Bekele, and Better Auth Studio by Kinfemichael Tariku. These sessions offer deep dives into building AI products, debugging, and modern database management. 1, 2, 3, 4.

  Intro

  • Event Recap → Watch here

  Talks

  • Building AI That Ships by Biniyam Daniel → Watch here

  • Live Coding Music by Surafel Yimam → Watch here

  • Bespoke UI by Robel Mezemir → Watch here

  • Everything is Broken by Yohanes Fikru → Watch here

  • Concept and Functionality by Etsub Mekonnen → Watch here

  • Debugging by Ezra Ashenafi → Watch here

  • Designing Visuals That Move by Eyuel Zerabruk → Watch here

  Showcases

  • ExamBuddy by Mohammed Ibrahim → Watch here

  • DBStudio by Ruhama Bekele → Watch here

  • Ora Browser by Yonathan Dejene → Watch here

  • Better Auth Studio by Kinfemichael Tariku → Watch here

  • Stark by Miheretab Samson → Watch here

  • Lucy AI by Moan Bekele → Watch here

  • Horan Technologies by Gemechis Elias → Watch here

  Podcast

  • Devtopia Live Podcast → Watch here

Shared Resources

• Mocktail-CLI: Eyob shared a tool designed to generate realistic mock data directly from various schemas, including Prisma, GraphQL, and SQL. It handles complex circular relations and supports over 20 locales. This is useful for developers needing deterministic seeds or high-performance data generation for testing and local development environments. 1.

• OppTickBot: amira re-introduced a Telegram bot designed to help users track deadlines for internships, scholarships, and hackathons. By forwarding posts to the bot, it automatically extracts deadlines and sends smart reminders. Recent updates have improved date parsing, OCR for screenshots, and reminder reliability to ensure important opportunities aren’t missed. 1.

• EPrep for CS Students: C launched a new platform to assist Computer Science students preparing for the Higher Education Exit Examination (HEEE). It offers structured resources and study materials tailored for candidates. The team is actively adding features and encourages the community to provide feedback to improve the preparation experience for graduates. 1, 2.

• Apollo 11 Source Code: IBuild shared the original source code that guided NASA’s Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Written by pioneers like Margaret Hamilton, this historical codebase is now public on GitHub. It serves as a fascinating educational resource for developers to study how mission-critical software was engineered with limited power. 1. Github Link

Additional Links

• GitYapper : A web tool shared by Eyu .G for analyzing GitHub activity and contribution styles.

• mdnest : An open-source platform for creating, editing, and sharing Markdown documents, developed by Yeabsira Endale.

• MockAuth : A developer-first authentication simulator that allows teams to test login flows without setting up external providers.

• Better Auth Studio : An admin dashboard for managing users, sessions, and databases when using the Better Auth library.

• DBStudio : An AI-powered workspace designed for building, managing, and scaling database applications efficiently.

• Current.fm : A platform in development that allows users to stream their Spotify listening activity to a global public feed.

Additional Resources

• AU Digital Fellowship Application: Official application portal for the African Union’s 12-month innovation program.

• Nvidia CEO Article: Full report on Jensen Huang’s comments regarding AI and the software engineering profession.

• Voedly Application Form: Hiring form for the founding team at early-stage startup Voedly.

Top Discussions and Reactions

• Payment Verification Challenges: Leul Zenebe released a major update to the Verifier API, but soon faced connectivity issues due to EthioTelecom blocking external requests. The community actively discussed alternatives before Leul implemented a clever fix using a decentralized proxy swarm of local nodes to ensure reliable Telebirr and CBE receipt verification. 1, 2, 3, 4.

• The AI Development Debate: Members engaged in a nuanced debate regarding “vibe coding” and AI’s role in production. While some argued AI often produces messy results, others highlighted its speed for shipping. The consensus emphasized that while AI is a powerful accelerator, understanding core fundamentals remains essential for debugging and long-term career growth. 1, 2, 3, 4.

• Technical Knowledge Sharing: Educational content flourished with deep dives into modern development practices. CODE BIRUH explained the benefits of CI/CD and GraphQL, while Yeabsira shared a recommended backend data flow architecture. Additionally, Amuif provided practical CSS tricks for case transformation, video opacity, and custom cursors to help developers polish their frontend projects. 1, 2, 3, 4.

• Internship and Career Support: The group remains a vital hub for career growth, with frequent postings for internships and junior roles. Abdo B sought internship resources, leading to the sharing of a comprehensive list of software companies in Ethiopia. New platforms like Srafelagi were also introduced to help members track urgent job deadlines. 1, 2, 3, 4.

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.