About Me
Hi, I'm Nzuzo Magagula.
I'm a software engineer based in Cape Town, working on solutions that make technological progress accessible to everyone. I switched to computer science because I realized that's where I could actually build the things I wanted to see exist in the world.
What I'm Building
Right now, I'm focused on three main projects:
NewsNet is a decentralized, censorship-resistant network for news analysis. African software and solutions are often overlooked, and I believe information is one of the best ways for people to mobilize for change and improvement. This project is about creating infrastructure that can't be controlled or silenced.
Netabase is a high-level API for decentralized systems that need storage backends. Think of it as the boring-but-necessary plumbing that makes other decentralized projects possible.
An operating system with a microkernel designed to be portable and accessible. I'm interested in what happens when you strip away assumptions about what an OS needs to be and rebuild from first principles.
A distributed small business management system that provides affordable access to business management and automation without the recurring cost of a service. Small businesses shouldn't have to choose between expensive software subscriptions and managing everything manually.
The best moment in any project is when things start integrating and working together. "IT WORKS" is my favorite exclamation.
How I Work
I code primarily in Rust. I learned it to challenge myself, and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for: performant, reliable, and it lets me use references for performance benefits without spending my time tracing segfaults and memory leaks. This site is built with Dioxus and Rust, because why wouldn't I use tools I trust?
Right now, I'm working to polish my projects to the point where they're ready to share with the world. This brings up the usual confidence issues and imposter syndrome. I'm concerned about code quality and whether I have what it takes to succeed in this industry. I work hard to learn, because everyone else always seems to know more. But I'm doing the work anyway.
Beyond Code
When I'm not programming, I make music. Lately I've been into house and soulful downbeat sounds, though I'll work with pretty much anything. I also spend a lot of time researching whatever curiosity catches my attention: socio-economic patterns, design patterns that might make development easier, various rabbit holes.
I have a longer-term vision for a suite of devices that could make smart homes accessible to everyone, including people at the lower end of the income bracket. That's a "someday" project. It needs money, time, and resources I don't have yet.
What I Believe
I'm optimistic about the potential for technology to change things. I'm also well aware that there's a reason things are as stagnant as they are. Progress doesn't happen automatically. It requires people willing to build alternatives, to create tools that serve people instead of controlling them.
I code for passion and for the hope that solutions emerge that can improve the world.
Get in Touch
You can find me on GitHub where I share my work and contribute to open source, or the following emails:
- nzuzo@newsnet.africa
- nzuzomagagula@proton.me
If you want to collaborate, discuss ideas, or just talk about what we're building, reach out.