BitDevs Maputo is inspired by the original BitDevs NYC and is a community for developers, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in the research, development, and practical application of Bitcoin, Nostr, and related protocols. Our goal is to strengthen the community in the country by promoting discussions, workshops, and collaborative projects to expand knowledge and adoption of these technologies. Whether you are experienced or new to these topics, everyone is welcome. Note: discussions may occasionally be technical.
Our monthly Socratic Seminar events are designed to encourage debates, information sharing, and lively discussion. In the weeks leading up to the event, discussion topics are gathered by meetup members from various sources: pull requests in popular Git repositories (e.g., Bitcoin Core, lnd, c-lightning, Joinmarket, Elements Alpha, and Electrum), research papers, technical blog posts, IRC logs, network monitors, and more. Topics may include Bitcoin, Nostr, and related protocols.
After the discussion period, some events include presentations of open-source projects, companies, research, and other relevant content. This is followed by a feedback and Q&A session. After the event, the group gathers at a nearby restaurant to socialize.
A newsletter is sent on the day of the event outlining the discussion topics. Archives of topics and presentations can be found in the descriptions of past events. The discussion portion of the event is NEVER recorded. A solid understanding of the basics of Bitcoin and Nostr is recommended to get the most out of the seminars.
Contact the organizers if you would like to present at a future Socratic Seminar or have a recommended topic for discussion: bitdevsmaputo@gmail.com. Different requirements apply to presentations depending on the nature of the project. All skill levels are welcome — beginners and experienced participants alike.
A reading club for discussing specific topics within the Bitcoin, Nostr, and related protocol ecosystem. This is an academic-style club where one person selects a topic or paper and presents it. Participants are expected to have read the paper or other material suggested by the discussion leader.
The discussion leader does not need to be an expert on the subject but should be interested enough to read the material thoroughly and give a proper presentation. After informally presenting the topic, the group can ask questions or open the discussion on the subject.
Presentations should be informal (slides are allowed, but the use of a whiteboard or chalkboard is preferred) and should encourage discussion rather than one-way information delivery. The reading material does not have to be a whitepaper. For widely known topics (such as elliptic curve cryptography or basic concepts of the Nostr protocol), a textbook chapter, Wikipedia article, or other relevant material can be suggested.
To propose a topic or volunteer to present a paper, contact bitdevsmozambique@gmail.com or find the PR on the BitDevs Maputo and add a comment. There are different requirements for presentations depending on the nature of the project. Check our list of suggestions for where to find topics for future seminars..
Our debate series focuses on exploring controversial technical and conceptual topics within the Bitcoin, Nostr, cryptography, cypherpunk philosophy, and related protocol ecosystems. The structure of each event is adapted according to the theme under discussion, ensuring a deep, interactive, and dynamic approach.