What’s the most meaningful dev project you’ve seen (or built)?
I have been exploring tools created by developers that aim to solve real-world problems or support underserved communities. From mental health apps to accessibility tools, it’s incredible how much impact a few lines of code can have.
A few great examples I came across:
MindEase: A minimal app that helps users manage anxiety through proven techniques. Built without ads or upsells, just genuine support.
Be My Eyes: Matches blind or low-vision users with volunteers via live video for real-time assistance.
Have you seen or worked on something like this?
Would love to hear about dev-built projects big or small that exist to help, not just scale.
Let’s shine a light on meaningful tech!
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One of the most meaningful dev projects I have seen recently is ReadAlong by Google, it helps children learn to read out loud with real-time feedback, especially in regions with limited educational resources.
Another one I love is Olio, a food-sharing app built to reduce waste and hunger locally. It’s truly inspiring to see developers using technology to solve community-level problems, rather than just chasing virality.
Thanks for starting this thread, Hamza – love seeing tech with heart. 💙
@haiqa_irfan I hadn’t heard of ReadAlong before, it’s more like a beautiful blend of tech and purpose.
Cannot recall certain names, but I usually consider useful those related to education (e.g. learning languages), or improving health. These categories are my favourite.
@busmark_w_nika Agreed, you know what... projects focused on education and health always stand out to me too. They have a lasting impact and often reach people who need it the most.
@hamza_afzal_butt True. It can help generations to be more successful/healthier in the future, which has more "social" impact.
@busmark_w_nika obviously :)
@hamza_afzal_butt Today found @Tracking Languages and @Viseal and both are lovely :)
@busmark_w_nika Agreed regarding both, and not just because I'm biased as I'm working in the language learning space myself. Any form of personal development is just highly motivating, usually with a clear goal in terms of what it does, too!
@martin_rue do you see any changes in this "learning language" industry? I think that DuoLingo quite dominates to that market and it is very hard to fight it :D
@busmark_w_nika It's true that Duo is the incumbent in this space, but there's a lot more room than people think for smaller products to offer better learning experiences. Duo gamifies much more than it teaches.
More broadly, like many other fields, we're still trying to figure out how AI affects the industry. The truth is, LLMs are incredible models of language, and from them, learners can have so much that wasn't possible before.
At the same time, learning a language is a careful balance between good content, good experience and the human touch, so AI won't entirely replace good experiences built on top of them. Which is exactly where I'm aiming personally!
@martin_rue Wishing a good luck with your journey. Regarding DuoLingo, I was kinda surprised when they proclaimed that they want to be the first AI company. wouldn't. expect that. https://www.vice.com/en/article/duolingo-shifts-to-being-an-ai-first-company/
One project that’s stayed with me was built by a solo dev for frontline healthcare workers in rural clinics it tracked vaccine inventory via simple offline sync, no glam, just functional. Watching it make a tangible difference reminded me that code doesn’t need to be complex to be powerful.
The most meaningful projects, I’ve found, usually come from a deep understanding of the problem not from chasing the latest tech.
Thanks for posting this. Our productivity and collab app integrates Google Workspace, M365, Zoom, etc. into a single platform. For me, the prebuilt board templates are the equalizer. If you need to accomplish something and don't know how to do it, every step is prebuilt, with the links and videos to show you how and your own apps to execute it. The college application board really helps first-gen applicants navigate what normally is an overwhelming process. Production boards, data room boards, etc. - if you've never done it before, you get such a head start. Plus AI is built into the boards to get more help as you go.