My 2-Year Open-Source Journey Building AutoKitteh’s Frontend (and why I’m proud of it) 😺

Hey everyone 👋

For the last two years, I’ve been working on AutoKitteh, a fully open-source platform for building production-grade automations and AI agents.
But instead of pitching the product, I want to share what the engineering journey looked like — especially the frontend side, which became the largest frontend system I've shipped.

# 🛠️ What We’re Building

AutoKitteh is open source across several repos:

Backend → [https://github.com/autokitteh/autokitteh](https://github.com/autokitteh/autokitteh)
Frontend (my main focus) → https://github.com/autokitteh/web-platform
Examples → [https://github.com/autokitteh/kittehub](https://github.com/autokitteh/kittehub)
VS Code extension → https://github.com/autokitteh/vscode-extension

# 🚀 Two years of real open-source engineering

Over \~2 years, we shipped 200+ releases, I’ve been working on this project almost daily — architecture, dev experience, performance, UI/UX, complex gRPC integrations, and built things we weren’t even sure were possible in the browser.

We kept everything open because automation tooling should be transparent, modifiable, forkable, and community-driven. No black boxes.

This wasn’t a “weekend project” — it was a long, demanding, and insanely rewarding build. And even after everything we’ve already achieved, it still feels like we laid the groundwork for something much bigger.

# 🤝 The People Who Made This Possible — with a special shout-out to u/MarchWeary9913

Huge credit goes to u/MarchWeary9913, my partner in crime and an incredible engineer.
Countless code reviews, architectural discussions, debugging sessions, experiments, failures, rebuilds, and breakthroughs... and eventually rewriting things from scratch because “meh, it deserves better.”

The experiments that worked. The ones that spectacularly didn't. The moments where we'd rebuild something three times before it felt right. That's the kind of partnership that turns grinding technical challenges into something genuinely enjoyable.

That kind of collaboration is the heart of OSS.

And none of this would have been possible without the team I had the privilege to run with — our CEO, our CTO, and our brilliant backend developers who pushed, challenged, and inspired this project every step of the way.

And on a personal note, working with our CEO was something special — he became my go-to partner for every UX instinct, every design dilemma, every tiny detail we wanted users to feel rather than just see. Those “what if we…” moments, and the shared obsession over making things delightful… that collaboration shaped the essence of the experience of this product.


# 🧩 Frontend challenges that nearly broke me (in a good way)

# Building a browser-based IDE that actually feels like an IDE

Monaco Editor with custom Python grammar
onigasm for syntax highlighting
Custom autocomplete, inline diagnostics, multi-file editing
Zustand-powered state management

We basically built a mini–VS Code inside a web app.

# The /ai routing + iframe hell

A unified AI interface that works in cloud + on-prem:

iframe message passing
Envoy rewrites
Authentication bridging
Safari’s “I block cookies because I can 😼” issues

This part alone taught me more about CORS than I ever wanted to know.

# E2E testing that isn’t just “green by luck”

Playwright across Chrome / Firefox / Safari / Edge
Custom test data generators
Rate-limited GitHub Actions runners
Full workflow coverage — not only happy paths

It saved us from multiple production fires and buggy results after another massive refactor.

# ❤️ What I'm actually proud of

Looking back at nearly two years of work, the thing that hits different isn't the technical achievements (though I'm damn proud of those too).

It's seeing a complex system come together piece by piece. Starting from create-react-app and ending

up with 32 organized source directories, each with a clear purpose. Watching the test suite grow from zero to comprehensive coverage. Seeing real teams deploy real automations that actually work.

It's the nights spent refactoring the entire integration forms flow because it just wasn't quite right. The discipline to write proper TypeScript interfaces, maintain a consistent code style, and not skip the boring parts that make software maintainable.

But mostly? It's that feeling when you run npm run build and everything just works. When a user reports a bug and you can actually reproduce it locally and fix it within hours. When your test suite catches a regression before it hits production. When another developer can clone the repo and understand what's happening without asking 50 questions.

That’s the beauty of open-source engineering: the journey is as meaningful as the product.

Open-source engineering at this scale isn't about having one genius moment. It's about showing up every day, making thoughtful decisions, writing code you won't hate looking at six months later, and building something that outlasts your initial motivation.

And that magical moment when npm run build passes cleanly after a 15-file PR… pure serotonin ✨.

# 🙌 If you want to explore or contribute

The repos are open, active, and documented:

Backend: [https://github.com/autokitteh/autokitteh](https://github.com/autokitteh/autokitteh)
Frontend: https://github.com/autokitteh/web-platform
Automations / examples: [https://github.com/autokitteh/kittehub](https://github.com/autokitteh/kittehub)
VS Code extension: https://github.com/autokitteh/vscode-extension

We’re currently at v2.233.0 and shipping new stuff constantly.

If you want to browse the code, open issues, or contribute — I’d love that.
And if you’re building something hard right now: keep going.

Two years feels long while you’re inside it, but looking back — it’s unbelievably worth it.




Now back to fixing that one weird Safari bug haunting me… 👀

https://redd.it/1p9xbtb
@r_opensource

Suggest DeGoogled and Open Source Apps For Android

Hey, I use Oppo Phone and Right now i use apps comes with the operating system in android with colorOS.

problem is there is many apps that i cant remove or uninstall so if you guys know anything about how to remove that apps so please tell me. i know about `universal android deblooter` but still listening for your suggestion.

i also want replacement for applications like Phone, Contact, Files, etc so what will be the best replacements you can suggest ?

i preffer open source but if you have something that is non open source but still good then welcome.

https://redd.it/1p9xqei
@r_opensource

Made a beginner-friendly, open-source Webpack template repo to get new websites going immediately

Hi! Like the noscript says. I've made a github template repository with Webpack pre-initialized and ready to go. Thoroughly documented, literally all you need to do is clone or download the repo and run two terminal commands:

1. `npm i`
2. `npm start`

And you're ready to code.

https://github.com/nickyonge/webpack-template/

It includes examples of how to import CSS, custom fonts, customize package.json, even true-beginner stuff like choosing a license and installing Node.js.

I know lots of folks aren't fans of Webpack, but if all you want to do is make a website without worrying about file generation or manually handling packages, it's still a very relevant package. My goal is to get the initial config stuff out of the way, especially for beginners who just want to start playing around with JS / TS / NPM.

Cheers!

https://redd.it/1pa12l2
@r_opensource

I made a single-header c++ library for creating and displaying progressbars!

it's a single-header progressbar library. I made this about a year or so ago, and it's been super useful for me. So in the hopes that someone else might find it useful, I polished it up a bit and gave it a public repo. If anyone does find it useful, please let me know, it would be so cool to know I helped someone with a project.

Here's the link to the repo

https://redd.it/1pa1hty
@r_opensource

Open Source app to share sensitive data decurely

Hey folks, I just open-sourced a small project l've been hacking on: https://dele.to

It's a self-hosted tool for sharing sensitive text or links that automatically self-destruct (configurable) after being viewed or after a set time.

Think "Pastebin for secrets"

Repo: https://github.com/dele-to/dele-to

https://redd.it/1pa2bsa
@r_opensource

I made a single-header c++ library for creating and displaying progressbars!

it's a single-header progressbar library. I made this about a year or so ago, and it's been super useful for me. So in the hopes that someone else might find it useful, I polished it up a bit and gave it a public repo. If anyone does find it useful, please let me know, it would be so cool to know I helped someone with a project.

Here's the link to the Repo

https://redd.it/1pa1hjl
@r_opensource

I cobbled together a wrapper setup to build Goo Engine on Linux
https://github.com/linuxnoodle/goo-engine-linux-wrapper/

https://redd.it/1pa955z
@r_opensource

Easy-Tools-Town :a free, open-source toolkit for PDFs, image & document

Looking for contribution to add more tools and make this platform good
https://github.com/Namit2111/Easy-Tools-Town

https://redd.it/1pae65m
@r_opensource

Looking for core contributors to build a decentralized, privacy-first messenger (Rust/libp2p/Signal crypto)

**We’re assembling an early, core open-source team for FidoNext — a fully decentralized, privacy-first messenger built on libp2p with Signal-grade cryptography, zero servers, and strong metadata resistance.**
If you care about privacy, censorship-resistance, and modern distributed systems — read on.

We’re looking for collaborators (not corporate hires yet) across several key areas:



# 🟥 CTO / System Architect

Someone who can own the high-level architecture and long-term technical direction.

**You should be comfortable with:**

* secure distributed systems
* P2P overlay design & libp2p routing
* privacy posture, metadata resistance, DPI-evasion
* cryptographic protocols and secure key infrastructure
* scaling decentralized networks



# 🟧 Rust & P2P Engineers

You’ll work on the core messenger engine: routing, transport, crypto, reliability.

**Tech we use / value:**

* Rust async (Tokio)
* rust-libp2p
* QUIC / HTTP3 / MASQUE
* libsignal
* store-and-forward messaging
* Ed25519 / Curve25519 / AES-GCM
* GossipSub relays
* IPFS/Filecoin primitives

If you love building P2P protocols the right way — this is for you.



# 🟨 C++ / Qt UI Developers

For the desktop client and UI layer.

**Relevant stack:**

* Qt/QML (messenger UX)
* multimedia handling
* Rust ↔ C++ FFI (CXX / UniFFI)
* cross-platform builds (macOS, Linux, Windows)



# 🟩 Kotlin / Swift Mobile Developers

Building the iOS/Android clients with a Rust core.

**Relevant experience:**

* embedding Rust in mobile apps
* FCM/APNs push design
* secure enclave / keychain storage
* BLE/QR peer discovery
* messenger UX polish



# 🟦 Security / Crypto Engineers

If your brain lights up on protocol security and metadata-resistant communication — we need you.

**You might know:**

* libsignal-client
* MLS
* X3DH / Double Ratchet
* threat modeling
* metadata obfuscation
* MITM hardening
* audit preparation



# 🟪 Marketing / PR / Community

We also need people who can help shape the story, voice, and community.

**Looking for someone who can:**

* drive growth storytelling in privacy tech
* build an open-source community from scratch
* run SMM across X, Telegram, LinkedIn
* help shape our message for developers & early adopters



# 🔥 Who we’re looking for overall

People who:

* love decentralized systems & open-source
* care about privacy as a human right
* want to be early in something meaningful
* like solving real, deep technical problems
* can collaborate async and globally
* want to help architect the future of private communication

This is an **early-stage, contributor/open-source collaboration**, not a traditional paid-job structure — but future **core team**, **equity**, and **leadership** roles are very much on the table.

If you’re interested or want to learn more, **comment or DM me** — happy to chat, share architecture docs, and discuss the roadmap.

https://redd.it/1paet1u
@r_opensource

A tool that enhances privacy of pictures for Android

Source code and details: https://github.com/umutcamliyurt/PixelCloak

Features:

No permissions required
Reduces effectiveness of hash-based detection
Randomizes filename
Removes EXIF metadata
Censors any detected faces in picture
Written in Java

https://redd.it/1paggpg
@r_opensource

Looking for contributors: AWAS, an open standard for AI-readable web actions

Hey all, I’ve started an open-source spec called AWAS that lets AI browsers and agents interact with websites via a clean JSON action manifest. The idea is to allow existing websites to interact with AI agents and browsers without disturpting transitional browsing.

I’m looking for a few developers interested in AI agents, APIs, or web standards to help refine the spec, add examples, and test it on real sites.

Repo: https://github.com/TamTunnel/AWAS

I’d really appreciate feedback, issues, or small PRs from anyone building AI tools or modern web backends.

I am relatively due to open source so please be kind and forgiving !


https://redd.it/1pagy63
@r_opensource

Opensource licence, but limiting direct monetization

Hi,

I have an opensource gallery (pigallery2).

I'm currently using the standard github MIT licence: https://github.com/bpatrik/pigallery2/blob/master/LICENSE

I would like to keep the option that I can make money from it in the future by offering extra services around (eg.: bundling and shipping with hardware, SaaS, or premium features)

What is the best way to prepare this legally with the licence?

I was thinking that will add this cause to the license to prevent others building a direct business on my app (if a pro. photographer uses it to host photos is fine):

```
Commons Clause Restriction



The Software is provided to you by the Licensor under the MIT License,

subject to the following Commons Clause restriction:



You are prohibited from selling the Software. For the purposes of this

license, “selling” means practicing any or all of the rights granted to you

under the MIT License in exchange for a fee or other consideration, including

without limitation selling access to the Software, hosting or offering the

Software as a paid service, or selling derivative works of the Software.



This restriction does not limit your right to use the Software to operate

your own commercial or non-commercial services or websites. Only the original

author may sell or commercially license the Software itself.
```

https://redd.it/1pag0g7
@r_opensource

Personal email for opensource contribution

I would like to hear about your experiences with spam or any related issues, and whether you would recommend using a personal email address instead of a separate one. Additionally, I’m curious whether Outlook’s Safe Links feature has been beneficial for you (especially with an ad-free subnoscription) or if you believe it’s better to use Gmail instead.

https://redd.it/1pafw0o
@r_opensource

I built this free yoga app, open to contributions!
https://simonschubert.github.io/YogaBase/

https://redd.it/1paknfe
@r_opensource

Got way too tired of manually downloading every single PDF from Google Classroom, so I automated it

I built an open-source Python tool that uses the official Google Classroom API + Google Drive API to automatically download and sort all your course files.

GitHub: https://github.com/evanimenon/google-classroom-downloader

### Features
- Downloads every attachment from all courses (including active + archived)
- Converts Google Docs → PDF, Slides → PPTX, Sheets → XLSX
- Organizes files into clean per-course directories
- Skip-if-downloaded indexing (won’t re-download duplicates)
- 100% API-based (no scraping, no hacks)

If anyone wants to improve, optimize, or extend the code, PRs are very welcome.


https://redd.it/1pamft0
@r_opensource

stopslopware.net: a small resource for pushing back against the slopware projects polluting FOSS spaces
https://stopslopware.net

https://redd.it/1panpr9
@r_opensource

MacOS is painfully slow at realizing when you go offline or back online, so I built a small utility that reacts immediately to network changes
https://github.com/FI-153/QuickNetStats

https://redd.it/1paprte
@r_opensource

OpenRGB doesnt detect my keyboard

Im using Linux mint 22.2 Cinnamon. So i have a GIGABYTE Aorus K1 and it doesnt show up in the supported list. The proprietary software (RGB Fusion) is only made for Windows and i cant figure out how to run it in Linux either through Wine or Bottles. Does anyone know another software i could use or perhaps how to force OpenRGB to detect my keyboard?

https://redd.it/1papb20
@r_opensource

Sports Ad Muter chrome extension using ollama and qwen3-vl:2b
https://github.com/ethanwheatthin/Sports-Ad-Muter

https://redd.it/1paqun0
@r_opensource

My open source LaTeX Editor supports LuaLaTex and XeLaTeX now
https://github.com/octree-labs/octree

https://redd.it/1pauqp1
@r_opensource