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Lorenzo Bradanini
Lorenzo Bradanini

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🚀 Top GitHub Repositories Every Software Engineer Should Know in 2025

Why GitHub Repositories Are Essential in a Fast-Paced Tech World🎨

The software engineering world is in a constant state of flux. With advancements in AI, cloud-native development, and system architecture, the skills that were in demand a few years ago might no longer be enough. Staying competitive requires more than just a passing knowledge of programming; it demands access to cutting-edge tools, well-curated resources, and practical guidance to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

One of the best ways to stay ahead is by leveraging the power of open-source repositories on GitHub. These repositories serve as living encyclopedias, created and maintained by experts from around the globe. They cover a wide range of topics, from foundational roadmaps and algorithm tutorials to complex system design guides and AI/ML frameworks.


Who Is This Guide For?🧑‍💼

Whether you’re a:

  • 💻 Beginner starting your software development journey.
  • 🔄 Career switcher transitioning into tech and seeking a structured roadmap.
  • 🛠️ Experienced engineer looking to stay ahead of the curve by mastering emerging technologies.
  • 🏗️ System architect aiming to design scalable and robust solutions.
  • 📚 Lifelong learner passionate about coding, problem-solving, and innovation.

This guide is designed for everyone. By leveraging these repositories, you’ll gain access to the resources that matter most in 2024/2025, ensuring you remain a valued and innovative professional.


What to Expect from These Repositories?💻

Each repository listed in this article has been carefully chosen for its:

  1. Relevance – Focus on technologies and tools that are actively shaping the industry.
  2. Depth – Comprehensive and detailed resources to expand your understanding.
  3. Practicality – Real-world applications and hands-on examples to strengthen your problem-solving skills.
  4. Up-to-Date Content – Regularly maintained to reflect the latest trends in programming, system design, and AI.

Why 2025 is Different?🌟

This period marks an exciting time for software engineers, with rapid innovations in:

  • Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot reshaping productivity.
  • Quantum computing emerging from research into practical applications.
  • WebAssembly (WASM) making high-performance web apps a reality.
  • Edge computing transforming how we think about cloud architecture.
  • Cross-platform technologies such as Flutter and Rust simplifying development for multiple ecosystems.

By leveraging these repositories, you can explore these advancements, sharpen your skills, and be prepared for new challenges ahead.


What Will You Gain?🎯

By exploring these repositories, you will:

  • Gain structured guidance to learn new skills efficiently.
  • Stay updated with emerging technologies.
  • Build side projects to reinforce your learning.
  • Sharpen your skills for technical interviews.
  • Enhance your ability to design scalable and robust systems.

Now, let’s dive into the 10 GitHub repositories every software engineer should know in 2025! 🌐


1️⃣ Roadmaps: Developer Roadmap

What It’s About:

The Developer Roadmap repository provides a collection of comprehensive, role-specific roadmaps that guide developers through the skills and tools required for various tech positions. These roadmaps include frontend, backend, mobile development, DevOps, machine learning, and more, helping you navigate your learning journey or career transition. The repository also covers emerging technologies, so you stay up to date with the latest advancements in software development.

🗺 Highlights:

  • Yearly Updated: Regular updates ensure that the roadmaps stay relevant to the current tech landscape, incorporating the newest tools, frameworks, and methodologies.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Includes roadmaps for all types of developers, such as Frontend, Backend, Full Stack, Mobile, DevOps, and Machine Learning/AI developers.
  • Emerging Technologies: The roadmaps also highlight key technologies gaining traction, such as Rust, WebAssembly (WASM), Kubernetes, GraphQL, and Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
  • Visual Appeal: Clear, visually engaging charts make it easy to understand complex paths and technologies. The roadmap diagrams are structured, making it easier to navigate your journey as a developer.
  • Focus on Practical Skills: Each roadmap emphasizes practical skills and tools over theoretical knowledge, ensuring you can apply your learning to real-world projects.

Why You Need It in 2025:

As technology continues to evolve rapidly, it’s crucial to stay up to date with the latest advancements. The Developer Roadmap is a one-stop guide that ensures you know which skills are most in-demand for the job market. With the integration of newer technologies such as AI/ML, Rust, WASM, and Kubernetes, it provides a future-proof learning path.

Whether you’re a beginner just starting in software development or a seasoned engineer transitioning into a new role or tech stack, this repository will help you pinpoint exactly what you need to learn next.

  • Stay Ahead of the Curve: Keep track of emerging technologies that are likely to dominate the job market.
  • Clear Direction: Never feel lost in your learning process again. These roadmaps provide step-by-step guides on what to learn and when, making it easier to build a cohesive skill set.
  • Tailored Learning: The roadmaps are designed for different levels of experience, whether you’re a junior developer or a senior architect. You can always find the right level of depth for your stage in the career journey.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Beginners planning their learning path from scratch, looking to understand what technologies and frameworks they should focus on.
  • Professionals switching roles or exploring new technologies, ensuring they follow a roadmap that keeps them competitive and relevant in 2025.
  • Experienced developers looking for a structured way to level up their skills and stay ahead of the latest trends in the tech industry.

2️⃣ AI/ML Resources: Awesome Machine Learning

What It’s About:

The Awesome Machine Learning repository is a curated collection of the best machine learning libraries, frameworks, and tools, carefully organized across a range of programming languages, domains, and applications. Whether you’re just starting in AI/ML or are an expert looking for the latest resources, this repository provides everything you need. It covers the fundamentals of machine learning, as well as advanced topics like deep learning, reinforcement learning, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP).

This repository is not just about resources; it also includes helpful tutorials, projects, and research papers to deepen your understanding and apply what you learn in real-world applications. With its expansive list, you'll always find the most relevant and up-to-date tools to build your next AI-powered system.

🤖 Highlights:

  • Cutting-Edge Libraries: The repository features some of the most popular and widely used machine learning libraries in the industry today, such as:
    • PyTorch – Flexible, scalable, and widely used for deep learning tasks, including computer vision and NLP.
    • Hugging Face Transformers – The go-to library for state-of-the-art NLP models, providing tools for BERT, GPT, T5, and more.
    • TensorFlow – A robust, open-source framework that’s great for large-scale machine learning models and production environments.
  • Advanced Topics:
    • Generative AI – Explore libraries for building generative models like GANs, VAEs, and more.
    • Federated Learning – Build models using decentralized data to protect privacy and reduce bias.
    • Model Compression – Techniques for reducing the size of machine learning models to improve efficiency and deployability in real-time applications.
  • Wide Language Support: Covers ML resources for several languages, including Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, R, and more.
  • Beginner to Expert Resources: The repository includes resources for all levels, from beginner-friendly tutorials and learning paths to in-depth research papers and advanced project links.

Why You Need It in 2025:

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and permeate nearly every industry, staying current with the latest AI/ML tools, frameworks, and techniques is no longer optional—it’s essential. The Awesome Machine Learning repository provides a one-stop hub for finding the most relevant, cutting-edge tools in the AI/ML space.

With the rise of generative AI, AI-driven automation, and transformer models, this repository ensures you have access to the technologies driving the next wave of innovation. Furthermore, it covers emerging trends like federated learning and model compression, making sure you're not just keeping up with the present, but also preparing for the future.

Whether you're an AI/ML enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge, a data scientist building complex models, or an engineer integrating AI into your projects, this repository will keep you at the forefront of AI advancements.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Data scientists and machine learning engineers looking to access the most up-to-date tools, libraries, and research in AI.
  • AI/ML enthusiasts seeking to explore different areas of machine learning through tutorials and projects.
  • Engineers integrating AI into their products, ensuring they have the latest resources for building intelligent systems.
  • Researchers diving into cutting-edge topics like generative AI and federated learning.

3️⃣ System Design: System Design Primer

What It’s About:

The System Design Primer is a comprehensive resource for learning how to design large-scale, highly available, and scalable systems. Whether you're preparing for technical interviews or seeking to deepen your understanding of system architecture, this repository is an invaluable guide. It covers key system design concepts through theoretical insights, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises.

The repository offers detailed explanations on how to design everything from basic systems to complex, distributed architectures. It’s a fantastic resource for engineers who want to understand how large-scale systems are built, as well as the best practices for scalability, performance, and reliability.

🔧 Highlights:

  • Core System Design Concepts: This repository provides in-depth explanations of key system design topics, such as load balancing, caching, database sharding, partitioning, replication, consistency models, and more. Each concept is clearly defined and accompanied by diagrams for better understanding.
  • Real-World Examples: The repository walks you through practical examples of designing systems using modern cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You'll also find examples of how to use these platforms for building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
  • Hands-On Exercises: The repository includes exercises that allow you to practice applying system design principles. These exercises simulate real-world system design challenges, helping you build problem-solving skills and gain practical experience.
  • Advanced Topics:
    • Serverless Architectures: Learn about the benefits and challenges of designing serverless systems using tools like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions.
    • Event-Driven Systems: Explore how to design systems that react to events, such as message queues, event buses, and event streaming platforms.
    • Edge Computing: Dive into the concepts of edge computing, where data processing happens closer to the data source, reducing latency and bandwidth usage.
  • Scalability and Reliability: Understand how to design systems that handle increased load and are fault-tolerant. The repository covers horizontal and vertical scaling, replication strategies, distributed data systems, and more.

Why You Need It in 2025:

System design has become a crucial skill for engineers, especially in mid to senior-level positions. Whether you’re interviewing for a technical role or trying to elevate your design skills, mastering system design concepts is essential for designing robust, scalable systems that can handle millions of users and complex workflows.

In 2025, the demand for engineers who can design systems that operate at scale is higher than ever, especially with the rise of cloud-native architectures, serverless computing, and edge computing. The System Design Primer ensures you're well-equipped with the tools and knowledge to build systems that meet the evolving needs of modern tech companies.

This repository is perfect for technical interview prep, as system design questions have become a staple in interviews for tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook. It prepares you for real-world interviews by guiding you through common system design questions and providing the frameworks needed to approach them with confidence.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Mid-level to senior engineers looking to improve their system design skills and understand how to create scalable, efficient systems.
  • System architects who want to refine their approach to designing large-scale, distributed systems.
  • Interview prep for software engineers who want to master system design topics for technical interviews at top tech companies.
  • Engineers transitioning to higher roles or pursuing leadership positions where system architecture and design decisions are key.

4️⃣ Web Development: Frontend Masters Cheatsheets

What It’s About:

The Frontend Masters Cheatsheets repository is a comprehensive guide for frontend developers, providing a collection of best practices, tools, and frameworks to navigate the fast-evolving world of web development. This cheatsheet is regularly updated to reflect the latest trends and technologies, making it a valuable resource for developers at all levels.

It covers a wide range of topics, from modern JavaScript frameworks like Next.js, Qwik, and SolidJS, to performance optimization techniques and accessibility tips. Whether you're building static websites, dynamic applications, or complex web experiences, this repository has practical advice and real-world examples to enhance your frontend skills.

🌐 Highlights:

  • Popular Frameworks: Get in-depth information about Next.js, Qwik, SolidJS, and other modern frontend frameworks, including installation guides, key features, and best practices for each.
  • Modern Techniques: Learn about advanced concepts such as resumable architecture, which allows for faster load times and smoother user experiences, and server-side rendering (SSR), which improves performance and SEO.
  • Performance & Accessibility: Find tips and techniques for optimizing performance (e.g., lazy loading, bundling) and ensuring your web apps are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
  • Tools & Best Practices: The cheatsheet includes a list of essential tools, such as Webpack, ESLint, Prettier, and Vite, and explains best practices for each.

Why You Need It in 2025:

Frontend development is evolving at a rapid pace, and staying up-to-date with the latest tools, frameworks, and techniques is key to building high-quality web applications. The Frontend Masters Cheatsheets repository provides everything you need to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of web development.

With the rise of Next.js for server-side rendering and Qwik for ultra-fast performance, this resource ensures you're not left behind as new paradigms become mainstream. Additionally, performance and accessibility are becoming even more critical in 2024/2025, making the tips and advice in this repository even more valuable for building modern, efficient web apps.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Frontend developers who want to stay updated with the latest frameworks, techniques, and tools in web development.
  • Web enthusiasts looking for a concise and organized resource to guide their frontend development journey.
  • Developers looking to optimize performance and improve accessibility in their web applications.

5️⃣ Cloud Computing: Awesome Cloud Native

What It’s About:

The Awesome Cloud Native repository is a comprehensive, curated list of tools, frameworks, and resources for building cloud-native applications. Cloud-native development emphasizes the use of containers, microservices, and dynamic orchestration systems to build scalable and resilient applications. This repository provides everything you need to dive into cloud-native technologies that power modern, distributed systems.

From container orchestration to observability and serverless computing, this repository covers the complete cloud-native development lifecycle. It is ideal for developers and teams looking to adopt or enhance their cloud-native practices using the latest technologies and best practices.

☁️ Highlights:

  • Kubernetes & Orchestration: Learn how to use Kubernetes for container orchestration, from basic concepts to advanced use cases, including automated scaling, rollouts, and failover strategies.
  • eBPF & Cilium: Explore eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) for monitoring, tracing, and networking within cloud-native environments. Cilium uses eBPF for enhanced networking, security, and observability in Kubernetes.
  • Service Meshes: Understand the role of service meshes (like Istio and Linkerd) in managing microservices communication, providing observability, security, and traffic management.
  • Multi-cloud Architectures: Gain insights into designing and implementing multi-cloud architectures to ensure availability, reliability, and flexibility across different cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
  • Edge Computing: The repository now includes resources for edge computing, which brings computation closer to data sources, improving performance and reducing latency for cloud-native applications.
  • Serverless Frameworks: Learn how to design applications using serverless architectures with frameworks like AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and Azure Functions, reducing the need for server management and enabling event-driven architectures.
  • Observability: Get a complete guide to observability in cloud-native applications, with tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry that help monitor, trace, and log events across distributed systems.

Why You Need It in 2025:

Cloud-native technologies are central to building resilient, scalable, and efficient applications. As businesses continue to migrate to the cloud and scale their infrastructure, cloud-native development has become essential for staying competitive.

In 2025, with increasing reliance on microservices, containers, and cloud platforms, understanding how to effectively build and manage cloud-native systems is more important than ever. This repository provides you with the tools and knowledge to master these technologies and stay ahead in the cloud computing space.

Whether you're looking to optimize your cloud-native stack, design efficient multi-cloud systems, or dive into cutting-edge technologies like eBPF and edge computing, this repository is your one-stop shop for everything related to cloud-native development.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • DevOps engineers looking to streamline the deployment and management of cloud-native applications.
  • Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) who need to ensure the resilience, availability, and scalability of systems in the cloud.
  • Cloud-native application developers building containerized, microservices-based architectures.
  • Architects designing distributed, multi-cloud solutions.

6️⃣ Design Patterns: Refactoring Guru - Design Patterns in Java

What It’s About:

The Refactoring Guru repository is a treasure trove of well-documented design patterns with real-world examples. It focuses on both classic patterns and modern solutions for today’s software challenges. Although it is Java-centric, the patterns and practices covered in the repository are easily applicable to any object-oriented programming language.

This repository goes beyond the traditional design patterns and also covers emerging architectural styles like CQRS, Saga, and Event Sourcing, which are becoming essential in microservices-based architectures. With rich visuals and detailed explanations, it offers a step-by-step guide to applying these patterns effectively in your projects.

🎨 Highlights:

  • Classic and Modern Patterns: Covers timeless patterns like Singleton, Factory, and Observer, alongside newer patterns like CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation), Saga, and Event Sourcing that are particularly useful for modern distributed systems.
  • Visual Aids: Each pattern is accompanied by high-quality diagrams, making it easier to understand and implement. The repository provides clear visualizations of how design patterns fit into larger systems.
  • Code Examples: Practical, real-world examples are provided for each design pattern, written in Java but easily adaptable to other languages, allowing you to apply them directly to your projects.
  • Scalable and Maintainable Solutions: The repository is structured to help you build software that is both scalable and maintainable, emphasizing patterns that make it easier to adapt your application as it grows and evolves.
  • Emerging Design Paradigms: Includes patterns for event-driven architectures, such as Event Sourcing and Saga, that are crucial for modern applications based on microservices. CQRS is also extensively covered, helping you manage complex command and query operations in your systems.

Why You Need It in 2025:

Design patterns continue to be an essential part of building robust, scalable, and maintainable software systems. In 2024/2025, with the rise of microservices, distributed systems, and cloud-native applications, understanding how to apply design patterns effectively is more critical than ever.

This repository helps you adapt traditional patterns to modern challenges, providing the knowledge necessary to design systems that can scale and adapt to changing needs. The inclusion of advanced concepts like CQRS, Saga, and Event Sourcing ensures that you're well-prepared to handle the complexities of today’s architectures.

Whether you're building enterprise-grade systems or designing smaller applications with complex requirements, the Refactoring Guru repository offers the patterns and strategies to make your software clean, maintainable, and resilient to change.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Enterprise developers working on large-scale applications requiring robust, scalable architecture.
  • Backend developers building microservices-based solutions.
  • System architects who need to design and implement flexible and maintainable systems.
  • Developers learning how to apply design patterns to improve code organization and system performance.

7️⃣ Low-Level Programming: Awesome WASM

What It’s About:

The Awesome WASM repository dives deep into WebAssembly (WASM), a groundbreaking technology enabling high-performance computing directly in the browser. WASM allows developers to run compiled code at near-native speeds, bridging the gap between web applications and traditional software. This repository contains a wealth of resources for integrating WASM with languages like Rust, Go, and JavaScript, making it a vital tool for web developers and systems engineers who need to harness the full potential of modern web and edge technologies.

WASM’s ability to run computationally intensive code directly in browsers or on servers via WASI (WebAssembly System Interface) is transforming industries like gaming, blockchain, and edge computing. The repository also highlights new integrations and emerging tools, allowing developers to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field.

⚙️ Highlights:

  • Cross-Language Integration: Discover how to integrate WASM with languages like Rust, Go, and JavaScript, and build high-performance applications that run seamlessly across browsers and platforms.
  • Emerging Use Cases: Explore how WASM is revolutionizing industries such as gaming, blockchain (for smart contracts and decentralization), and edge computing (for local data processing and resource optimization).
  • WASI Support: Stay updated with new advancements in WASI, the WebAssembly System Interface, which brings operating system-like capabilities to WASM, enabling WASM to run beyond browsers, even on servers and embedded devices.
  • Development Tools: A collection of libraries, frameworks, and tools designed to help you work with WASM effectively, whether you're building for the web or other environments.

Why You Need It in 2025:

As WebAssembly continues to disrupt the way we think about performance on the web, it is essential for developers to understand its capabilities and potential use cases. In 2024 and beyond, WASM is expected to play an integral role in high-performance web applications, from gaming engines to decentralized apps (dApps) and more. With its ability to run code natively in browsers, it opens up new possibilities for front-end developers and systems engineers alike.

WASM is not just a tool for the web — it's also gaining popularity for server-side computing, enabling developers to create fast, efficient backend services. Staying updated with Awesome WASM will help you integrate these cutting-edge technologies into your projects and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly changing tech landscape.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Frontend developers looking to build high-performance web applications.
  • Backend engineers leveraging edge computing and WASI for server-side applications.
  • Blockchain developers exploring the potential of WASM in smart contracts and decentralized apps.
  • Game developers building performance-intensive browser-based games.

8️⃣ APIs: Public APIs

What It’s About:

The Public APIs repository is a massive collection of free, open-source APIs across a variety of categories, from AI/ML to finance, gaming, and more. This resource is a goldmine for developers looking to integrate third-party services, build innovative projects, or just learn from real-world API structures. It’s organized by category, making it easy to find the perfect API for your needs, whether you’re building a simple side project or working on a more complex application.

In 2025, new additions like LLM-based APIs (Large Language Model APIs) and data visualization APIs reflect the latest trends and needs in the development community. Whether you're experimenting with AI, developing chatbots, or exploring data visualization tools, this repository has you covered with up-to-date resources.

📡 Highlights:

  • Extensive Categories: Covers everything from AI/ML, blockchain, and finance, to healthcare, social media, and news APIs, making it versatile for a wide range of projects.
  • New Additions: Includes LLM-based APIs (for integrating AI models like GPT) and data visualization APIs that are perfect for creating engaging user interfaces or analyzing large datasets.
  • Open-Source and Free: All the APIs listed are free to use, making it a fantastic resource for hobbyists, students, and professionals alike.
  • Perfect for Integration: With categorized listings and easy-to-understand documentation, this repository helps you quickly find and implement APIs in your projects, saving you valuable development time.

Why You Need It in 2025:

APIs are essential to modern development, providing out-of-the-box functionalities for everything from user authentication and data storage to AI capabilities and social media integration. As more businesses and services open their APIs to the public, this repository is a one-stop shop for discovering and integrating valuable tools.

For developers working with AI/ML, blockchain, or data-driven apps, the growing availability of APIs offers a massive opportunity to experiment, integrate, and build on top of established technologies. The new sections dedicated to LLM-based APIs and data visualization reflect the increasing demand for AI-driven apps and interactive user interfaces in 2024 and beyond.

This repository helps you stay on top of the latest trends, integrate cutting-edge tools into your projects, and build applications that leverage the power of third-party services.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Developers building side projects or MVPs that require integration with external services.
  • AI/ML enthusiasts exploring the latest LLM APIs and experimenting with AI models.
  • Data scientists looking for APIs to handle large datasets or create data visualizations.
  • Backend developers working on integrating third-party services like payment gateways, authentication, or geolocation into their applications.

9️⃣ Rust Programming: The Rust Programming Language

What It’s About:

The Rust Programming Language repository is the official guide to learning Rust, one of the most powerful and memory-safe systems programming languages. This repository provides in-depth explanations of Rust’s features, such as ownership, borrowing, concurrency, and memory safety, while also offering practical examples to solidify your understanding.

With Rust’s rise in popularity due to its combination of performance and safety, this guide is essential for mastering the language and becoming proficient in building fast and reliable software systems. Whether you're new to Rust or looking to deepen your expertise, this resource is a comprehensive and essential reference.

🔨 Highlights:

  • Comprehensive Guide: Covers core concepts of Rust such as ownership, borrowing, concurrency, and memory management.
  • Practical Examples: Includes hands-on examples to help you apply theoretical concepts to real-world projects.
  • Community Support: Active discussions and contributions from the Rust community ensure the content is always up to date.
  • New Sections on Async Programming and WebAssembly: Explore modern Rust features like async programming and integrating Rust with WASM for high-performance web applications.

Why You Need It in 2025:

As Rust continues to grow in popularity, particularly in fields like systems programming, game development, and web assembly (WASM), mastering it will give you a significant advantage in the software engineering world. Rust’s focus on memory safety and performance makes it a go-to language for developers tackling low-level programming challenges. Whether you're building efficient web applications, systems software, or embedding in resource-constrained environments, this repository offers the tools and knowledge you need to succeed in 2024 and beyond.

➡️ Perfect For:

  • Systems programmers looking to write fast and reliable code.
  • Web developers interested in integrating Rust with WASM for high-performance web applications.
  • Game developers seeking the power and safety of Rust for game engines and performance-critical applications.

✨ Wrapping Up💼

These repositories represent the cutting edge of software engineering knowledge for 2025. Whether you’re learning a new skill, preparing for an interview, or building a side project, these resources will guide you to success.

From mastering systems programming with Rust to excelling in technical interviews, these resources are carefully selected to help you navigate the complexities of modern software engineering. By continuously evolving with the latest trends and technologies, these repositories will empower you to stay ahead in an ever-changing tech landscape.

👉 Which repository do you find most valuable? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy coding! 🎉

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