FOSDEM'26

It was my first year at FOSDEM this year and it was quite the experience. Part of the motivation for my going was to look for a job - and I quickly figured out that this was not the place. Instead, this was a place for me to discover and learn about a lot of interesting open source projects that I might want to use or contribute to. This is a disjointed list of thoughts I had about the two days.

Very present was the topic of digital sovereignty (I'm sure this is going to be the next "word of the year"), and a general sense of disillusionment with everything big tech. It felt that this was more fundamental than just a few years ago, when at least part of the community was willing to give various companies the benefit of the doubt. That seems over. I didn't hear a single positive opinion about big tech.

The policy track was interesting but it seems to me that the EU struggles to work within its frameworks and governance to find a effective way to build a comprehensive digital strategy. It's a conundrum because Europe simply doesn't have the companies to provide the IT services that silicon valley does. I wonder if the best way forward is to make regulatory changes that further restrict transfer private data to US based companies (or subsidiaries with US parents). This would force local companies to choose EU vendors, which would in turn foster competition and growth. Open Source should be a requirement for all software running in public institutions. Instead of paying Microsoft and Amazon Billions, invest them in and build up Open Source solutions.

The highlight project for me was the mecha comet (Kickstarter), which I had backed a few days ago. The team came to FOSDEM and showed off the pre-production hardware and software in a first Meetup. Over drinks and sandwiches, Shoaib told us about the philosophy behind the Comet and the various iterations it's gone through. It's incredible what they've put together and how much thought has gone into making all aspects of the device as open as possible! I can't wait to have one in my hands!

Other interesting projects:

• radicle - decentralized github
• reticulum - decentralized network stack
• peergos - a decentralized file storage with a vast app ecosystem
• akoopa.net - a fork of mullvad browser for webtorrent

There was so much to take in and to get inspired by. Not good for job hunting, but still a great experience. I need to come with a concrete project next time around.