FOSDEM 2024 Distributions Devroom - Call for Participation

The Distributions Devroom returns to FOSDEM 2024, in-person in Brussels for a full day (exact day TBD). The call for proposals is now open. Read on to know more about what topics the Distributions Devroom organizers want to hear more about in 2024.

About the Distributions Devroom

Linux distributions are critical digital infrastructure in the 2020s. In addition to their relevance today, they are some of the oldest and most historic Free and Open Source Software communities still in existence. As the context of Linux distributions changes and evolves since their origin in 1991, they remain an important fixture in digital infrastructure.

Linux distributions do important work in ensuring various versions of upstream software work well together and can co-exist. They are also often responsible for "de-vendoring" upstream software so that security fixes can be applied more quickly. Additionally, Linux distributions have become the centerpiece of other important infrastructure projects like containers and container orchestration software.

This devroom provides a unique home for the convergence of several different Linux distribution communities to share ideas and start conversations that matter to all of us. Although there are several different distributions that have different approaches to software packaging, choice of desktop environments, and various use cases, this devroom is a historic open forum that is unique to FOSDEM in making a space for all of our communities to share and learn from each other.

The Distributions Devroom organizers can be reached at distributions-devroom@lists.fosdem.org.

Call for Proposals

The devroom audience is contributors and developers of Linux distributions. We may accept a limited amount of content with a focus on end users; however, the devroom organizers believe user-focused content is a better fit in other devrooms or conferences. So, we welcome submissions targeted toward contributors and developers of distributions.

We accept submissions for either 25-minute and 55-minute slots.

NEW! In the CFP submission system, submitters should identify a category in their submission that best identifies the scope of their topic. There are three categories in 2024:

• Development
• Community
• Emerging Topics

See suggested topics for each category below:

Category: Development

• Distribution construction, installation, deployment, packaging, and content management.
• Balancing new code and active upstreams versus security updates and minimization of breaking changes.
• Automation of releases and testing with minimal human involvement.
• Delivering architecture-independent software.
• Creating a secure supply chain by evaluating upstream components and providing a secure source for downstreams.
• Distro-agnostic integration testing.

Category: Community

• Best practices and guidance for contributing in Linux distributions and their upstream dependencies.
• Growing, participating, and working with communities in the distribution ecosystem.
• Cross-distribution collaboration on common issues.
• Working with vendors and including them in the community.
• Non-engineering topics inside of distribution communities (e.g. documentation, marketing, internationalization, design, community operations, etc.).

Category: Emerging Topics

The future of distributions and emerging trends. This category is intentionally broad to best capture new ideas and thoughts that do not fit neatly into the above two categories.

Important Dates

• CFP closes: Tuesday, 5 December 2023
• Deadline for accepted speakers to confirm: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
• Final schedule announcement: Friday, 15 December 2023

Process

1. Go to the FOSDEM 2024 Pretalx website[1]. Pretalx has replaced Pentabarf!
2. Follow the instructions to create an account.
3. Once logged in, select “submit a CFP”.
4. Your submission must include the following information:
   • Proposal title
   • Track (choose Distributions from the drop-down menu)
   • Abstract
   • Description
   • Other details (i.e. your chosen category from the above list)
   • Session image (optional new feature)
     • Use this if you want an illustration to go with your proposal. Please do not upload files larger than 10.0MB!
   • Additional speaker
5. Click Continue and complete the next page:
   • About your proposal: If presenting software and/or content, which open source license do you use?
     • FOSDEM is an open-source software conference, please specify which OSI-approved license[2] your proposal uses.
   • Extra review material: Only shown to reviewers and not published when scheduled.
   • Extra contact details (optional)

• Click Continue and complete the next page:
  • Your name
  • Personal biography
  • Availability during FOSDEM weekend

[1] https://pretalx.fosdem.org/fosdem-2024/cfp
[2] https://opensource.org/licenses/

About FOSDEM

FOSDEM is a free event for software developers to meet, share ideas and collaborate. Every year, thousands of developers of free and open source software from all over the world gather at the event in Brussels. FOSDEM hosts dozens of developer rooms, where community members run tracks on various topics.