{"id":20800,"date":"2026-11-03T09:56:22","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T09:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/?p=20800"},"modified":"2026-11-03T10:54:55","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:54:55","slug":"link-round-up-015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/link-round-up-015\/","title":{"rendered":"Link Round-Up (015)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to Link Round-Up, our series where we share the interesting, useful and fun things on the web that grab our attention.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time we’re looking beneath the surface of familiar software, meeting some ambitious open-source projects and discovering why supermarket fridges have become a cybersecurity story. There’s also an entire planet to explore, followed by projects for anyone who takes their pixels seriously.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ever spotted a feature in an app and wondered how on earth it works?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aliens\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

REA (Reverse Engineer Anything)<\/a> gives AI coding agents the tools to find out. It connects through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), letting an agent inspect JavaScript, Electron applications and native binaries, trace the relevant code and explain its findings with supporting evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For deeper native analysis, REA can work with Ghidra, Hopper or IDA. JavaScript inspection doesn’t need a native decompiler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s plenty of appeal here for developers working on interoperability, software preservation or applications they’re authorised to examine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reverse engineering still takes judgement, but better detective tools certainly help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Of course, once you’ve spent enough time examining familiar software, you might start thinking about building an alternative. That’s what makes the Craft Apps<\/a> such an interesting find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PhotoCraft tackles image editing, LightCraft handles photo libraries and RAW development, FilmCraft takes on video editing and VectorCraft covers illustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intent, interfaces and shortcuts are deliberately familiar and they’re part of a much larger suite of free, open-source apps built in Rust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting setup is really easy: ArtCraft Launcher<\/a> handles finding the right builds for your system, installing the apps and keeping them updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The versions I tried were punchy, intuitive and were stable on my M4 MacBook Air (Golden Gate 27.0.1), but plenty of other users report friction<\/a>. YMWV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t a big shock as some apps are in early alpha at best at the time of writing, so don\u2019t go betting a deadline on them. Nevertheless, as an open-source alternative taking shape, it’s one to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Building software, keeping it useful, secure and maintained over the years is a challenge. That’s why Anthropic’s Claude for Open Source<\/a> programme is worth a look. No affiliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifying contributors can apply for six months of Claude Max 20x at no cost. The criteria cover maintainers of widely used packages, core contributors, people regularly contributing to other repositories and those building active open-source communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthropic also encourages applications from maintainers of less obvious but important infrastructure. If that’s you, have a look at the eligibility criteria. Just note that existing paid subscriptions resume after the complimentary period unless cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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