4 Interesting Low‑Star GitHub Projects You Should Check Out

PeekDesktop

PeekDesktop replicates macOS Sonoma’s “click‑desktop‑to‑hide‑all‑windows” feature on Windows. After installing the zip (no .NET runtime needed), clicking a blank desktop area collapses all windows, and clicking again or any app restores them, matching the macOS experience. It includes a "Fly Away" animation mode, runs without admin rights, uses under 5 MB of idle memory, and can be compressed from 65 MB to 1.88 MB with LZMA. The tool auto‑updates and its source is available at https://github.com/shanselman/PeekDesktop.

OpenToonz

OpenToonz is a professional‑grade 2D animation suite originally developed by DWANGO and based on Italy’s Toonz engine. Studio Ghibli customized it for over a decade, starting with "Princess Mononoke." Open‑sourced in 2016, it now has around 6.9 k stars. Key capabilities include vector and raster drawing with tablet pressure support, skeleton rigging for efficient character animation, onion‑skin for traditional animation, particle effects, and stylesheet management. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and its repository is https://github.com/opentoonz/opentoonz.

Recordly

Recordly is an open‑source desktop screen recorder and editor designed to eliminate post‑processing effort. It automatically smooths the cursor, adds zoom focus based on cursor activity, and provides click‑highlight effects. Its timeline editor supports trimming, speed changes, annotations, and extra audio tracks. Additional features include camera‑bubble overlay, stylized output with wallpapers, gradients, rounded corners, shadows, and a plugin system for click sounds, device frames, and browser mockups. Export options include MP4 and GIF, and it runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. The project is free compared to paid tools like Screen Studio, and its source lives at https://github.com/webadderallorg/Recordly.

English‑level‑up‑tips

English‑level‑up‑tips is a comprehensive GitHub‑hosted English‑learning guide with nearly 48 k stars. Authored by byoungd, who topped high‑school English and Chinese exams in Jiangsu, the guide covers the full learning pipeline: understanding, vocabulary, listening, reading, speaking, writing, and AI‑assisted study. It explains how to use Gemini as a primary learning engine, integrating Gem, Live, Guided Learning, and Canvas, and also details the roles of ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and DeepL Write. The guide is available online, includes a high‑frequency word list, and explicitly states it accepts no monetary sponsorship. Repository: https://github.com/byoungd/English-level-up-tips.