DEV Community: IAM VAAR

I built an opensource Android AI automation agent

IAM VAAR — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:42:07 +0000

Introducing heybro: The Open-Source Android AI Agent for On-Device Automation

In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile technology, the desire for seamless and intelligent automation has never been greater. Imagine an AI agent on your Android device that can understand your needs and automate tasks without being tethered to a computer. This is now a reality with heybro, a standalone, open-source Android AI automation agent built with Flutter.

This post will take a deep dive into heybro, exploring its features, how it works, and how you can get started with this exciting project.

What is heybro?

heybro is a powerful, standalone Android AI agent designed for complete on-device automation. Developed for educational and research purposes, it showcases the potential of running AI-powered tasks directly on your Android device. The most compelling aspect of heybro is its independence; once set up, it doesn't require a computer to function, offering a truly mobile automation experience.

Key Features

heybro is packed with features that make it a noteworthy project for developers and AI enthusiasts:

Complete On-Device Automation: heybro is not just a concept; it's a functional tool that brings the power of AI-driven automation to your Android device.
Standalone Functionality: After the initial setup, heybro operates entirely on your device. This means no need for a constant connection to a computer, offering unparalleled portability and convenience.
Built with Flutter and Kotlin: The project leverages the power of Flutter for a cross-platform-ready UI and Kotlin for native Android performance, making it a robust and well-engineered application.
Open-Source: As an open-source project, heybro invites developers to explore, learn from, and contribute to its codebase. This fosters a community of innovation and collaboration.

Getting Started with heybro

One of the best things about heybro is how easy it is to get up and running. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing and setting up the agent on your Android device:

1. Clone the Repository

First, you'll need to clone the heybro repository from GitHub. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

git clone https://github.com/iamvaar-dev/heybro
cd heybro

2. Install Dependencies

Once you have the code, you need to fetch the necessary Flutter packages. Run the following command in the project directory:

flutter pub get

3. Choose Your Testing Method

You have a few options for running the app:

Android Emulator: If you have an Android emulator set up, simply run:
```
flutter run
```
Physical Device: Connect your Android device to your computer via USB and make sure USB debugging is enabled in the Developer Options. Then, run:
```
flutter run
```
Build an APK: To create a standalone installation file, you can build an APK:
```
flutter build apk
```
The APK file will be located in build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/app-release.apk.

4. API Key Setup

heybro requires an API key from Google's AI Studio to function.

Get your API key from Google AI Studio.
Open the heybro app on your device and navigate to the settings.
Paste your API key in the designated field.

5. Grant Necessary Permissions

For heybro to work its magic, you need to grant it a couple of special permissions:

Overlay Permission: Go to Settings > Apps > HeyBro > Display over other apps and enable it. This allows the agent to draw over other applications.
Accessibility Service: Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > HeyBro and enable the accessibility service. This is crucial for the agent to interact with the screen and perform automated tasks.

A Call for Contributions

heybro is more than just a tool; it's a community-driven project with a lot of potential. If you're passionate about AI, mobile development, or automation, you're encouraged to contribute. Whether it's by reporting issues, suggesting new features, or submitting pull requests, your involvement can help shape the future of this innovative project.

Conclusion

heybro is a testament to the power of on-device AI and the vibrant open-source community. It's an excellent project for anyone looking to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and mobile automation. With its straightforward setup and powerful capabilities, heybro is a project to watch.

Check out the heybro GitHub repository today, give it a star, and get ready to unlock the future of automation on your Android device!

Here is How I scaled my Flutter game to 700+ downloads in 4 months — purely with organic marketing

IAM VAAR — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:57:13 +0000

Hey folks,

Wanted to share a little win from my mobile game dev journey! I built a game called Sliding Puzzle Pro using Flutter — a clean, classic sliding puzzle — and it just crossed 700+ downloads in 4 months without spending a cent on ads. 🎉

Here’s how I managed to get there with organic marketing (and a lot of trial and error):

👉 1. ASO is underrated.

I treated my Play Store page like a landing page. Researched niche puzzle-related keywords, made sure the description felt human (not spammy), and polished the icon/screenshots to stand out. Surprisingly, a good description really boosts impressions.

👉 2. Community > Self-promo.

I hung out in puzzle-game-loving communities (Reddit, Facebook, Discord), joined conversations, and only dropped the link when it made sense. People actually asked for the link when they saw the progress updates — that felt way better than begging for downloads.

👉 3. Fellow devs are awesome.

I posted on Flutter and indie dev forums, sharing the tech side of things (Flutter performance tweaks, UI design ideas, etc.). Other devs got curious and tried the game too. Some even shared it further.

👉 4. Your first players are gold.

I responded to every review and encouraged early players to share with friends. Surprisingly, this worked better than I expected — puzzle fans love friendly competition.

I’m not saying this is "viral success" territory, but it’s a huge win for me as a first-time mobile game dev. If you’re struggling to get traction, focus on making the game polished and find your niche audience first — they’ll market it better than any ad.

Would love to hear your thoughts — what’s worked (or flopped) for you when marketing your game? 👇

Built a Windows App with flutter and made it opensource

IAM VAAR — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:09:48 +0000

Introduction

Hey everyone! I recently completed a project that I’m really excited to share: a simple Pomodoro timer app called Focus Forge, built for Windows with Flutter. And the best part? It’s open-source!

I started this project to tackle my own productivity struggles, hoping it could help other developers, students, and anyone looking to stay focused. I chose Flutter because I wanted to explore how well it could handle a desktop app, especially for Windows. So if you're curious about building desktop apps with Flutter, or you’re just interested in how this project came together, this post is for you!

Why Flutter for a Windows App?

Using Flutter to build a Windows app might sound a bit unconventional since Flutter is primarily known for mobile apps. But Flutter’s support for desktop has improved a lot recently, and I was eager to test it out. The idea of building a cross-platform app with one codebase was appealing—after all, with a little extra tweaking, Focus Forge could easily be ported to Mac and Linux in the future.

Also, Flutter has great community support and tons of libraries, making it easier to work quickly and integrate features like custom animations, notifications, and state management.

What Focus Forge Does: A Simple Pomodoro Timer

Focus Forge is a Pomodoro timer app designed to keep you focused and productive. If you’re not familiar, the Pomodoro Technique breaks work into intervals (usually 25 minutes) with short breaks in between. It’s a popular method for avoiding burnout and staying on track, especially when juggling multiple tasks.

With Focus Forge, you can:

Set custom work and break intervals to match your own pace.
Get gentle notifications when it’s time for a break or to resume work.
Track your progress and see how many “Pomodoros” you’ve completed throughout the day.

It’s nothing too complex—just a reliable, lightweight tool to help you stay focused.

Building the App: Key Challenges and Solutions

Creating Focus Forge wasn’t without its challenges. Here are a few things I ran into while building it:

1. Setting Up Flutter for Windows Desktop

First, I had to make sure I had the right environment for desktop development. This meant ensuring my Flutter SDK was up-to-date and enabling desktop support. Thankfully, Flutter’s desktop setup has come a long way and is well-documented. I ran into a few platform-specific quirks but nothing major.

2. Timer Precision

A timer might seem like a simple feature, but keeping it precise on desktop can be tricky. Flutter’s Timer class works well, but I needed to make sure it didn’t lag even if the app was minimized or running in the background. This meant testing and refining the timer logic a few times to get it right.

3. Minimalist, Distraction-Free UI

Designing the UI was fun but challenging, as I wanted a minimalistic look that doesn’t distract the user. I used Flutter’s built-in widgets and customized them to keep things simple and clean. The end result is a focused, clutter-free design that helps users stay on task.

4. Making It Open Source

Once I had a solid version of Focus Forge running, I decided to make it open-source. I figured, why not share this with the community? Plus, since Flutter desktop apps are still relatively new, it might be a helpful resource for other developers looking to do something similar. You can check out the repo, tweak the code, and even suggest new features if you like.

Why Open Source?

I’m a big believer in open source, and I’ve personally learned so much from other developers’ projects. By making Focus Forge open-source, I wanted to contribute back to the community. Also, open-source projects often get feedback and improvements from the community, which makes them better over time.

Feel free to check out Focus Forge on GitHub. You’re welcome to fork it, suggest new features, or even just give it a try to see how it works!

What’s Next?

Focus Forge was an experiment in building a functional desktop app with Flutter, and it’s made me excited to explore more in this space. There are plenty of features I’d love to add in the future, like:

Adding sound options for notifications
Creating a dark mode
Adding session history so users can review their progress

It’s just the beginning, but I hope Focus Forge can be a helpful tool for anyone who needs a bit of help staying focused. And if you have ideas, suggestions, or want to contribute, you’re more than welcome!

Wrapping Up

If you’re a Flutter dev curious about building for desktop, I encourage you to give it a shot. Building Focus Forge taught me a lot, and it’s really rewarding to see how much Flutter can do beyond mobile apps. I’m looking forward to seeing what the community thinks and, hopefully, getting some feedback from other developers.

Thanks for reading, and happy coding!

Built a Slack Employee recognition bot with Nextjs (free code link included)

IAM VAAR — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:29:32 +0000

In today's fast-paced work environment, employee retention is one of the key challenges faced by companies across the globe. High turnover rates result in lost productivity, increased hiring costs, and disruptions in team dynamics. One simple solution to this growing problem? Implementing an Employee Recognition Bot.

A study by Gallup found that highly engaged teams show a 21% greater profitability and that 30% of employees are less likely to consider leaving their current company when they feel recognized for their contributions. Recognition not only boosts morale but also strengthens loyalty to the company. With Slack being the communication hub for many businesses, creating a recognition bot directly integrated into Slack makes it easy to keep your employees motivated and feeling appreciated.

Enter the Recognition Bot

I recently developed a Slack Employee Recognition Bot using Next.js, which allows managers and team members to effortlessly recognize achievements, milestones, or even daily contributions of their colleagues. This bot helps foster a culture of appreciation and acknowledgment, driving engagement and reducing employee churn.

You can check out the full code and get started with the bot here: GitHub Repository - Recognition Bot.

Key Features:

Manual Recognition: Employees or managers can manually send recognition messages directly from Slack.
Personalized Mentions: The bot tags employees by username, making each recognition feel personal.
Easy Integration: Built with Next.js and fully integrated into Slack without the need for a complex web interface.
Cost-Effective: This bot comes with no extra cost for setup and can be hosted easily with free deployment options.

How Does It Decrease Employee Turnover?

Increased Engagement: Employees who feel valued tend to be more engaged. Recognizing them for their hard work increases their emotional connection to the company.
Boost in Morale: Regular recognition builds a positive work culture, where employees are not only working for the paycheck but also for the appreciation they receive.
Improved Retention: When employees are consistently recognized, they are 30% less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. This simple gesture has a profound impact on their decision to stay with the company long-term.

By incorporating a Recognition Bot into your workplace, you can directly address one of the root causes of high turnover—lack of appreciation. It's a scalable, low-cost solution that pays back in productivity, engagement, and ultimately, retention.

Try out the bot today and start building a more engaged, loyal workforce. Explore the code here: Recognition Bot GitHub.

I built my first OpenSource project

IAM VAAR — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 05:56:27 +0000

🚀 I’m excited to introduce my first Open Source project, the RecognitionBot for Slack workplaces! This bot is designed to enhance workplace culture by making it easier for teams to give recognition and celebrate each other’s achievements, all within Slack. 🎉

With RecognitionBot, you can send personalized recognition messages to your teammates in just a few clicks. Whether it's highlighting someone's hard work, celebrating team wins, or boosting morale, this bot brings a sense of appreciation right into your daily communication. The bot is fully customizable and designed to be user-friendly for teams of all sizes. 👏

I've made this project open-source to encourage collaboration from the developer community. Feel free to check out the code, suggest improvements, or contribute new features! I believe that together, we can make this bot even better and help workplaces build stronger, more positive cultures. 🚀

If you want to try out RecognitionBot or contribute to the project, head over to the GitHub repository
Let’s work together to bring recognition and appreciation to every workplace! 🙌

OpenSource #SlackBot #RecognitionBot #WorkplaceCulture #DevCommunity #EmployeeRecognition #Teamwork

I built an OpenSource Slack Employee Recognition Bot using NextJS

IAM VAAR — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:07:21 +0000

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to share my new open-source project: RecognitionBot! 🎉 It's a Slack bot designed to help companies recognize and celebrate their employees effortlessly.

Features:

Free & Open Source: Available on GitHub for anyone to use and customize.
Easy Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Slack.
Customizable: Tailor recognition messages to fit your company’s culture.
Whether you're looking to enhance employee morale or simply make recognition easier, this bot can help. Check it out on GitHub and let me know what you think!

Feel free to contribute or suggest improvements!

GitHub Link: GitHub Repo

Looking forward to your feedback!

I built a NOCODE AI tool for my brother to write personalised Cover Letters based on Job Description

IAM VAAR — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:14:02 +0000

My brother was constantly looking for a job and kept on applying for hundreds of jobs daily. And one thing is for sure he is wasting his time more on writing personalised cover letters based on the job description.

So as a No-Code Developer, I have created an AI NO-CODE tool specially for my brother, where he can generate personalised AI cover letters based on the job description. But shockingly my brother got a job please congratulate him by commenting below.

Later I asked my friends can I build a SaaS version of this tool they said they were excited. So I build Gptcoverletter. But later I was asked how I made it within 1 day. If anybody is interested in learning just Comment below so that I can make a free series of posts where I will teach you guys how to build an AI cover letter SaaS website that too within 1 day.

And btw please note as per my previous post I have been developing free MVPs for anybody for some time so comment below if you want to have an MVP for your idea.

OK Now I am building MVPs for free

IAM VAAR — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:40:13 +0000

I would love to start building my portfolio so I wanna build free MVP's for sometime. I am not kidding I don't charge a single penny so cool right but I am expecting a shoutout to me only if you like my work. Comment below anybody is interested or not

I wanna build AI Chatbots for businesses but without 3rd party API

IAM VAAR — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:08:39 +0000

As per my previous post here I want to collaborate with excited developers out there who are craving to work with other people for free to build their portfolio. So Comment below or send an email mentioned in my previous post. Let's together start avoiding dominance in the AI industry

Wanna Build an AI chatbot SaaS but...

IAM VAAR — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 08:25:54 +0000

Hey, my fellow devs out there I just completed my Btech and had no interest in doing a job. So I have decided to launch my own AI SaaS.

The reason behind the idea:
I know almost every AI startup was a Shell of openAI API's; if this continues, then OpenAI will become the monopoly in AI space. This may hurt a lot of businesses because now all the companies are going to build their chatbots for their companies and thinking their data will be private lol technically it isn't right. So I wanna build an AI chatbot building SaaS but with privacy-focused even the developed chatbot will be hosted directly to our client's server. And here comes the hard part we won't use OpenAI API and we will be building and training the chatbots from scratch. As you know not many companies will have large datasets of the data lol. So this is just a speculation in my Mind.

Idea in simple words:
We build chatbots without using any third-party apis like Openai, Gemini, Claude, etc. And we will be training our client's company knowledgebase data by ourselves in any way possible and limit the chatbot according to the Pricing plan.

What do I need from this community directly?
I need experienced devs who can join me for free to build this idea into reality and obviously I am not a programmer so requesting the community to build this idea stage company in public.

Send a DM to venkibvb5192@gmail.com, if anybody thinks they were capable of doing this and collab with me just for fun lol I am serious about building this company :)