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Sends data between two phones using only a screen and camera (fully optical/local…

2026-08-04 · 03:22 UTC ·@BrianRoemmele ·1 min read

Brief

A vibe coder (reported by @BrianRoemmele on 2026-08-04) used AI to create an entirely optical file-transfer that sends files between phones using only a screen and camera. It emits animated QR frames encoded with fountain codes so lost frames are recoverable, achieving about 129 KB/s on a 2 MB image. The one-night, open-source project began as a solution for sharing MP3s without networks.

Why it matters

Sends data between two phones using only a screen and camera (fully optical/local — no Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or cables); uses animated QR frames generated with fountain codes so each frame is a random mix of file data and transfers tolerate missed frames.

Key details

  • Reported performance ≈129 KB/s for a 2 MB image; the project was built in one night by a 'vibe coder' with AI assistance, released open-source on GitHub, and originated from a music project to share MP3s without streaming or being on the same network (post by @BrianRoemmele, 2026-08-04).
Source evidence

Wow! Send A File By Just The Camera!

A vibe coder used AI to build a file transfer system that sends data between two phones using only a screen and a camera.

One phone displays a new type of animated QR codes while the other scans them to rebuild the file, with no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cables needed.

It is fully optical and local.

The system uses fountain codes that create each QR frame as a random mix of file data.

This keeps transfers working even if some frames are missed, reaching speeds of about 129 KB/s for a 2 MB image.

The entire project was built in one night and released as open source.

The idea came from a music project where the developer wanted to share MP3 files without streaming or using the same network.

Animated QR codes became the solution, showing a creative new way to transfer files with everyday phone hardware.

GitHub link:
github.com/bashalarmistalt/d…

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