The latest articles on DEV Community by Benjamin Scott (@benjscott). https://dev.to/benjscott https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4205894%2F464dcf60-fe8b-4238-a3d9-1f54de354a9c.png https://dev.to/benjscott en Benjamin Scott Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:40:43 +0000 https://dev.to/benjscott/ace-step-an-open-source-foundation-model-for-ai-music-generation-4k7a https://dev.to/benjscott/ace-step-an-open-source-foundation-model-for-ai-music-generation-4k7a <p>Music generation has quietly become one of the most interesting corners of the open-source AI world. <a href="https://ace-step.club/" rel="noopener noreferrer">ACE-Step</a> is an open-source foundation model built for exactly this purpose: turning text prompts into complete, listenable songs.</p> <h2> What is ACE-Step? </h2> <p>ACE-Step positions itself as a foundation model for AI music generation. That framing matters: rather than being a single-purpose toy, it is designed as a base system that you can run locally, study, fine-tune, and build products on top of. You describe the style and mood you want, optionally provide lyrics, and the model composes a full track.</p> <h2> Why open source matters for music AI </h2> <p>Most well-known music generators are closed services: you get a web UI, a subscription, and little visibility into how anything works. An open foundation model flips that. With ACE-Step you can:</p> <ul> <li>Inspect the model and the generation pipeline yourself</li> <li>Fine-tune it toward your own genre, language, or aesthetic</li> <li>Integrate generation into your own apps and creative tools</li> <li>Experiment freely without per-generation costs</li> </ul> <h2> Getting started </h2> <p>The project site at <a href="https://ace-step.club/" rel="noopener noreferrer">ace-step.club</a> is the best entry point - it covers what the model does, how to run it, and links to the code and demos. If you have been curious about generative music but not curious enough to accept a closed box, this is a good place to start.</p> <p>Have you tried building with ACE-Step or any other open music models? I'd love to hear what you are making in the comments.</p> ai opensource music machinelearning Benjamin Scott Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:07:56 +0000 https://dev.to/benjscott/dotcurio-a-curated-directory-for-finding-ai-and-creative-products-faster-48ig https://dev.to/benjscott/dotcurio-a-curated-directory-for-finding-ai-and-creative-products-faster-48ig <p>Finding the right AI or creative tool often means wading through noisy search results, sponsored lists, and one product page after another. I have been using <a href="https://dotcurio.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DotCurio</a> lately and wanted to share how it approaches this problem.</p> <h2> What it does </h2> <p><a href="https://dotcurio.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DotCurio</a> is a curated directory focused on AI and creative products. Instead of an endless index, it keeps a handpicked selection of more than 5,000 tools organized across 10+ use-case categories, so discovery feels more like browsing a well-organized catalog than scrolling a feed.</p> <h2> Features worth knowing </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Search by need</strong> — suggested starting points like image generation, writing assistants, or code copilots get you moving quickly</li> <li> <strong>Rankings and featured picks</strong> — curated selections surface tools that solve practical problems</li> <li> <strong>Fresh additions feed</strong> — a feed of newly listed products makes it easy to track what is new</li> <li> <strong>Comparison-friendly listings</strong> — each product page summarizes what the tool does and links out so you can evaluate it directly</li> <li> <strong>Open submissions</strong> — creators can submit their own products for consideration</li> </ul> <h2> Who it helps </h2> <p>If you are a developer or designer evaluating tools for a stack, a maker looking for alternatives, or just someone tracking the AI tools space, a focused directory saves real time. DotCurio positions itself as a discovery layer rather than a replacement for the products it lists, which keeps the experience unbiased: you browse, compare, and follow links to the actual tools.</p> <p>Check it out here: <a href="https://dotcurio.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">dotcurio.com</a></p> <p>If you have used it or know similar directories, I would love to hear how they compare.</p> ai webdev productivity