2026-01-01. Nomoyu Daily for Indie Developers (Issue 229)

📰 News

AI may be the soul of hardware

Over the past half year, smart glasses concepts like this have become popular again, and their reputation is much better than it was ten years ago. I have also been thinking about what has changed. Beyond the fact that people are more accepting of cameras, the core variable is actually AI, meaning today’s large model technology.

Devices from ten years ago could not understand the world. They could only record video. Today’s devices, because they have multimodal AI, can “understand” what they see. For example, if you look at a foreign road sign, it can tell you what it means. If you look at the ingredients in your refrigerator, it can tell you what to cook.

This is what hardware should look like. In the past, we pressed a phone against our face. Now we are connecting a “brain” to vision. For companies, this means the hardware itself is no longer the moat. The real future core competitiveness is the model capability behind it that can listen, see, and think. Do not only focus on purchasing terminal devices. Look more closely at how complex the information behind them can be handled by the algorithms.

🖥️ Software

Mertiql

Mertiql is an NL2SQL tool that can quickly convert natural language into optimized SQL and automatically correct errors when execution fails. It supports PostgreSQL and MySQL databases.

VocalLab

VocalLab is an in-browser audio processing app that provides real-time professional audio effects, supports recording across multiple platforms, and ensures 100% local processing, making it easier to record high-quality voiceovers.

ExportsAPI

ExportsAPI is an API tool that lets developers easily add JSON-to-Excel export functionality to their projects, with a project management portal and usage dashboard.

LifeBudgeter

LifeBudgeter is a free tool where users can enter their income to quickly estimate the cost of living and weekly budget in different countries, with exchange rates updated daily for better accuracy.

StashTracker

StashTracker is a yarn management app that helps fiber artists track yarn, fabric, and other materials, while providing useful tools such as calculators, converters, and palette generators.

Dorai

Dorai is an interactive AI travel guide that provides personalized information through conversation and image recognition.

Where Did I Park

Where Did I Park is an iOS app that helps users record where they parked, with a parking timer, history, and multi-vehicle tracking.

CartoGopher

CartoGopher is a CLI tool that improves LLM understanding of codebases through an MCP wrapper. It supports 11 languages, reduces token usage, and provides incremental remapping and structured query features.

VocalDraft

VocalDraft is a simple speech-to-text app with real-time transcription, multilingual support, local text saving, and instant copy or share options.

ChromEd

ChromEd is an open-source notepad and code editor that runs directly in Chrome. It supports editing local and Google Drive files, multiple tabs, syntax highlighting, dark mode, offline use, and more.

🎮 Games

AO3dle

AO3dle is a daily guessing game where players identify fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own based on clues. It covers multiple popular fandoms and offers both unlimited mode and daily challenges.

🌐 Websites

fontofweb

fontofweb is a design inspiration site that now supports video recording after an update.

Stokastic

Stokastic is an AI chat tool designed for deep learning and research, with branching chats, mind map mode, and built-in YouTube search to help students and researchers use AI more effectively for learning.

Mindalike

Mindalike is a collaboration and product-building platform that connects developers, founders, and dreamers through shared thinking patterns. It provides tools such as Vibe Coding IDE and NetChat to encourage collaboration and creative exchange.

GigaGameGuides

GigaGameGuides is a community-driven video game guide site where users can create, view, and share game guides, with social interaction, a modular content builder, and a free-layout editor.

Tool Clarity

Tool Clarity is an AI-powered tool and software recommendation platform. By filling out a short form, users can receive personalized recommendations for free.

Adaptaly

Adaptaly is an AI-powered learning tool that builds personalized study plans by learning how users study, helping students focus on what matters.

AliasLink

AliasLink is a free URL shortener app with click analytics, UTM parameter generation, and custom aliases for social media, email marketing, and other use cases.

Mnemeo

Mnemeo is a minimalist spaced repetition learning web app with dual study modes, a clean user interface, and Anki/CSV import.

✍️ Notes

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