Murtaza Aliakbar: FOSS Contributions & Projects

by Alex Johnson 48 views

In the realm of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), the contributions of individual maintainers often go unnoticed, yet their work forms the backbone of countless applications and systems we use daily. This article shines a spotlight on Murtaza Aliakbar, a dedicated FOSS maintainer, exploring his projects, motivations, and insights into the world of open-source development.

Meet Murtaza Aliakbar: Customer Service Professional and FOSS Enthusiast

Murtaza Aliakbar, known online as ignoramous, is a Customer Service professional with a profound passion for open-source software. His dedication extends beyond his professional life, as he actively contributes to the FOSS community through various projects. You can find Murtaza on several platforms:

Murtaza's Key FOSS Projects: Rethink DNS + Firewall, Firestack, and Serverless DNS

Murtaza's portfolio includes a diverse range of projects, each addressing critical aspects of network security and privacy. Let's delve into the details of his primary FOSS initiatives:

Rethink DNS + Firewall

Rethink DNS + Firewall is a powerful network security application for Android, designed to offer users greater control over their online privacy and security. This project combines several key features:

  • A WireGuard client: WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol known for its speed and security.
  • An OpenSnitch-inspired firewall and network monitor: This component allows users to monitor and control network connections on their devices, preventing unwanted data transmission.
  • A Pi-hole-inspired DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, and DNSCrypt client with blocklists: This feature enables users to encrypt their DNS queries, preventing eavesdropping and enhancing privacy. It also supports blocklists to filter out malicious domains and ads.

Rethink DNS + Firewall empowers users to take charge of their network security on Android devices. By integrating a VPN client, firewall, and encrypted DNS resolver, this application provides a comprehensive solution for protecting online privacy.

Firestack: Userspace Network Filter and Proxifier

Firestack is another significant project in Murtaza's repertoire. It is a userspace TCP/UDP monitor, firewall, DNS resolver, and WireGuard client for Android. Firestack leverages gVisor/netstack, which provides a SOCKS-like interface for TCP and UDP over a TUN device.

Key features of Firestack include:

  • Support for various DNS protocols: Firestack supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, Oblivious DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS over WireGuard / SOCKS5 / Tor, DNSCrypt, and plain old DNS upstreams.
  • Userspace network filtering: Firestack allows users to filter network traffic at the userspace level, providing granular control over network connections.
  • Proxy capabilities: Firestack can act as a proxy, routing traffic through different servers to enhance privacy and security.

Firestack provides a versatile platform for managing network traffic and enhancing online privacy on Android devices. Its support for multiple DNS protocols and userspace filtering capabilities make it a valuable tool for security-conscious users.

Serverless DNS: RethinkDNS Resolver

Serverless DNS is a Pi-Hole-esque content-blocking, serverless, stub DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) resolver. It is designed to run on various serverless platforms, including:

  • Cloudflare Workers
  • Deno Deploy
  • Fastly Compute@Edge
  • Fly.io

Serverless DNS offers a convenient way to deploy a private DNS resolver with content-blocking capabilities. The free tiers of these serverless platforms are often sufficient to handle the DNS traffic for 10 to 20 devices per month.

Murtaza's Philosophy and Contributions to FOSS

Murtaza's work reflects a deep commitment to online privacy and security. His projects aim to provide users with the tools they need to protect their data and control their online experience. His contributions extend beyond code, as he actively engages with the community, provides support, and shares his knowledge.

Insights from a FOSS Maintainer: Murtaza's Perspective

To gain a deeper understanding of Murtaza's motivations and experiences, let's explore his responses to some key questions about FOSS maintenance.

How to Support Murtaza's Projects

Murtaza welcomes contributions from developers, content creators, and users alike. Here are some ways you can support his work:

  • Developers: Contribute security-focused commits, integrate Indicators of Compromise, improve supply chain security, implement new user-facing network security features, write fuzzers, or integrate runtime hardware attestations.
  • Content Creators: Help with audio/video/text documentation, guides, and tutorials for the Rethink DNS + Firewall app.
  • Sponsors: Consider sponsoring Murtaza's work through https://svc.rethinkdns.com/r/sponsor.

A Brief Overview of Murtaza's Projects

Murtaza's projects are focused on providing anti-censorship and anti-surveillance tools for Android users, particularly addressing the needs of the 3 billion Android users worldwide.

A FOSS Maintainer Lesson for His Younger Self

Murtaza's advice to his younger self is succinct and forward-looking: "Buy the best AI you can afford." This highlights the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in software development and maintenance.

Why Maintain a FOSS Project?

Murtaza's primary motivation for maintaining FOSS projects is a personal need for the software. He believes the software needed to exist, and thanks to tools like Copilot, he has been able to bring his vision to life.

If His Repo Had a Theme Song

Murtaza chose Azadi by Dub Sharma (https://youtu.be/TCRHm1pmzCI) as the theme song for his repo. This song reflects the spirit of freedom and independence that is central to the FOSS movement.

The File He'd Most Like to Set on Fire

Murtaza humorously identifies several files he'd like to set on fire, each for different reasons:

Murtaza's Open-Source Villain Origin Story

Murtaza's open-source journey began with a personal need and a grand vision. His story can be summarized as follows:

  1. Jobless and with time on his hands.
  2. Formulating ambitious plans (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19546159).
  3. Realizing the impossibility of building it all single-handedly.
  4. Deciding to start anyway, poking at the problem and making progress incrementally (https://youtube.com/watch?v=kYfNvmF0Bqw).

The Emoji to Convey Being a FOSS Maintainer

Murtaza chose the gift emoji 🎁 to convey the experience of being a FOSS maintainer, highlighting the rewarding aspects of contributing to the community and providing valuable tools to users.

Conclusion: Appreciating the Contributions of FOSS Maintainers

Murtaza Aliakbar's story is a testament to the dedication and passion of FOSS maintainers. His projects, such as Rethink DNS + Firewall, Firestack, and Serverless DNS, address critical needs in the areas of online privacy and security. By understanding his motivations and contributions, we can better appreciate the vital role that FOSS maintainers play in shaping the digital world.

To learn more about FOSS and its importance, visit the Free Software Foundation.