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AI productivity, vector DBs, free security tools, and command-line stacks
Welcome to edition #29 of the We ❤️ Open Source newsletter!
This week we're sharpening C skills with command-line stacks, exploring how vector databases power smarter AI, and making private cloud installation a snap.
We're also sharing free security tips with SBOM essentials and a podcast chat with JJ Asghar on staying productive with open source AI. As always, our goal is to raise your open source IQ and share the stories of the people shaping the open source world—through content made and curated by real humans. 🙂
This week we'll look at...
Redis is the world’s fastest data platform. And they're making free passes available.
Did you know Redis, from its open source origins in 2011 to becoming the #1 cited brand for caching solutions, has helped more than 10,000 customers build, scale, and deploy the apps our world runs on? Learn more about cloud and on-prem databases, a real-time data global event series, Redis LangCache, and claim free passes they're making available to All Things Open 2025 in Raleigh.
Articles
 | Want to sharpen your C skills or finally understand how stacks really work? Learn programming fundamentals by building a command-line calculator using Reverse Polish Notation—just like the classic Unix 'dc' WHY WE ❤️ IT: Whether you’re brushing up on C or exploring Unix-era tools, this guide gives you practical skills in stack-based programming and terminal efficiency. |
 | From Star Wars quotes to real-world RAG apps, Jessica Garson shows how vector databases are changing the way we build with AI. Catch her lightning talk to learn why semantic search matters and how it can improve your next project. WHY WE ❤️ IT: Vector databases are quietly powering many of today’s generative AI applications, so learning and knowing more is in everyone's best interest. We also love Jessica's take as to why developers should pay attention. |
 | Need a private cloud without the setup headaches? Don Watkins walks through the fastest way to spin up Nextcloud on Linux using snap. In just a few commands, you’ll have secure, self-hosted storage running on almost any distro—perfect for teams, tinkerers, or anyone ready to ditch third-party services. WHY WE ❤️ IT: Nextcloud is open source and licensed under GPL v3.0. The project offers excellent documentation, and the snap wiki is a helpful resource for additional configuration options. |
What's in your technology toolbox?
Keep your codebase safe before the next big vulnerability hits. Alan Pope walks through why SBOMs are a must for open source security and how free tools like Syft and Grype make generating and scanning them a breeze.
WHY WE ❤️ IT: We LOVE the quick overview of SBOM formats (extremely helpful) and the step-by-step overview and guidance for Syft and Grype.
From the We ❤️ Open Source Podcast
 | Can AI make your developer life easier? JJ Asghar joins the We Love Open Source podcast to show how open source AI can boost productivity, streamline your workflow, and keep you in control of your code. Grab insights, tools, and strategies to work smarter, not harder! Free sports ball analogies included for extra fun. |
Wrap Up
If you've made it this far (thank you!), check out everything we do, our YouTube channel with 1000's of open source talks, the many meetups we host around the southeast and NYC, and the HUGE open source conference we're hosting this October!
We hope you learn something new this weekend!
How did you like the newsletter? |