I had the opportunity to attend Gnome.Asia 2023 in Kathmandu, Nepal, during the first week of December (Dec 1 – 3), 2023 Here are the key highlights that made a long lasting impact on me:
Fedora’s Strong Presence at Gnome.Asia
The Fedora 39 Release Party
celebrating both the release of Fedora Linux 39 and the 20th anniversary of the Fedora community, was a significant event. During a dedicated two-hour slot, we discussed various Fedora topics, including the Fedora strategy, open source values, and key changes in Fedora Linux 39. All Fedora contributors shared their stories and areas of work in Fedora. The celebration, including a cake-cutting ceremony, created a vibrant Fedora atmosphere that resonated throughout the entire room. The topics along with speakers are listed below –
Keynote – The Open Source launchpad: A then & now look at tech careers By Justin W. Flory
In unraveling the enigma of “open source” and “free software,” the speaker delved into the intricate tapestry of defining “free stuff” and the myriad ways in which we give life to this liberated creation. The discourse spanned companies, businesses, governments, and international NGOs, showcasing how they provide opportunities, careers, and jobs in the realm of “free stuff.” It was akin to a cinematic voyage, traversing 40 years of the “free & open source” world.
Amidst this temporal exploration, the talk seamlessly integrated advice on discovering competitive careers within open source products and communities, drawing a keen interest from a multitude of students. Justin, the speaker, skillfully intertwined compelling statistics about Open Source with his personal journey, captivating attendees and leaving them with a profound understanding of how “free & open source” serve as the launchpad for technology careers.
Declarative GTK programming By Jens Petersen
A captivating exploration of declarative approaches to crafting GUI applications, with a special emphasis on Rust libraries, complete with a live demo. The main room was abuzz with eager participants, immersing themselves in this insightful session.
Creating with Krita By Nikita Tripathi
Among my personal favorites, this talk provided a delightful intersection between design, creativity, and technology. Drawing parallels between Nikita’s presentation and my own experiences with my design-savvy 10-year-old daughter, the session offered a charming comparison between Inkscape and Krita. Nikita’s adept presentation style, coupled with her insightful responses to attendees’ questions, stood out. Notably, her impartial analysis of “Inkscape versus Krita,” showcasing the pros and cons of both designing applications without bias, left a lasting impression. Nikita’s brilliance, evident in her status as an IITian, added an extra layer of admiration for her expertise and presentation finesse.
Creative Conversations
I had the privilege of engaging with Federico Mena Quintero, Co-founder of the GNOME project, and Rosanna Yuen, Director of Operations at the Gnome Foundation. Their presentation on “Understanding GNOME’s Code of Conduct” ignited my curiosity about their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and how they effectively manage Code of Conduct initiatives in GNOME. This presents a promising opportunity for collaboration between Fedora and GNOME in advancing our DEI initiatives. I took the initiative to open a Fedora DEI issue (https://gitlab.com/fedora/dei/home/-/issues/31) to explore this potential collaboration further.
Additionally, the event provided an invaluable platform for Fedora contributors to gather face-to-face and delve into discussions. One notable discussion revolved around rejuvenating significant work accomplished by the Fedora Community Operations team. The compelling statistics generated by Community Operations on users and contributors showcased impressive insights. This interaction not only revitalized past achievements but also set the stage for future collaborative endeavors.
Thought-provoking Topics
Another standout keynote was delivered by Hempal Shreshta, focusing on “Open Source Code, Community, and Culture in Nepal.” This presentation was truly thought-provoking, offering compelling insights into the ongoing initiatives dedicated to Open Source work in Nepal. As I absorbed the content, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own experiences, making the presentation particularly resonant and relevant.
Community Harmony
Embracing the essence of camaraderie within Fedora, being in the same space was more than just an event—it was an extraordinary opportunity. Over the course of three days, we shared rides, meals, attended presentations, and engaged together. This collective experience not only fortified our community bonds but also provided a profound platform for mutual learning. The “friends” factor within Fedora is pivotal, fostering growth together and contributing to the continual improvement and welcoming atmosphere of our community.
In summary, Gnome.Asia 2023 was a highly productive event, marking a significant presence of Fedora in a major event after a long period. This strong local presence is essential for building a robust Fedora community and inspiring the next generation of contributors. Each such engagement leaves a lasting impact on students and emerging engineers, aligning with our mission and vision for Fedora.
ami 