This week's curated list of new, interesting & noteworthy projects. I just installed Cap and am evaluating whether it can be a viable replacement for Loom.
Cap
https://github.com/CapSoftware/Cap
Cap is an open-source alternative to Loom that allows you to record, edit, and share screen recordings quickly and efficiently. Built with a focus on privacy and lightweight performance, Cap offers a compelling option for creating beautiful, shareable screen recordings.
The project uses a modern tech stack including Rust, React (Next.js), TypeScript, Tauri, Drizzle ORM, MySQL, and TailwindCSS within a Turborepo-powered monorepo. The development team is currently working on self-hosting deployment options, including a Dockerfile and one-click deployment via Railway, making it more accessible for users who prefer to run the software on their own infrastructure.
We make heavy use of Loom at The Gnar but it is nice to see a compelling open-source offering with feature parity.
Ladybird
https://github.com/LadybirdBrowser/ladybird
Ladybird is an ambitious project building a completely new web browser from scratch, backed by a non-profit organization. Rather than using an existing browser engine, Ladybird is developing its own novel engine based on web standards, giving it true independence from the major browser ecosystems.
Currently in pre-alpha state and suitable only for developers, Ladybird has made significant progress in 2025. Recent updates show impressive gains in web standards compliance, with a 99% pass rate on web crypto tests and 97.4% pass rate on JavaScript compliance tests. The browser can now load complex web applications like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Figma, though usability isn't yet at 100%.
Ladybird employs a multi-process architecture with separate processes for the main UI, content rendering, image decoding, and network requests. This architecture helps isolate potentially malicious content and improves overall browser security. The project is targeting its first alpha release for early adopters in 2026, with development efforts currently focused on Linux and macOS platforms.
Given the recent challenges of chromium reliance, particularly around ad-blocking I really like seeing a completely independent browser stack.
Ash
https://hexdocs.pm/ash/readme.html
Ash is a powerful declarative framework for building Elixir applications that significantly reduces boilerplate code. It provides an opinionated yet configurable set of application building blocks designed for extensibility, making it ideal for creating web apps, APIs, and services.
With its focus on declarative patterns and emphasis on reducing boilerplate, Ash helps developers focus on business logic rather than repetitive code structures. The framework's comprehensive documentation, including tutorials, how-to guides, and reference materials, makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced Elixir developers.
Admittedly, I have not worked with Ash. I am a huge fan of Elixir (and Phoenix) and plan on giving Ash a try on an upcoming internal project.
Nicholas Maloney is a Co-Founder of The Gnar Company, where he leverages over two decades of software industry experience to transform complex ideas into foundational digital products. He specializes in building scalable software solutions, implementing AI-driven applications, and leading high-performing development teams. A veteran engineer and Certified Scrum Master, Nick is dedicated to creating elegant, impactful solutions that solve gnarly problems and drive business growth.
Before co-founding The Gnar Company in 2016, Nick served as Lead Engineer at MeYou Health and was a Senior Software Engineer at Terrible Labs, where he built digital products for a range of clients from startups to large enterprises. His career also includes technical roles at Massachusetts General Hospital's MIND Informatics and a four-year tenure as a Web Architect at Bentley University. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Bentley University.
