Linux Foundation Europe Newsletter - December 2023

Welcome to the December 2023 LF Europe newsletter!

As we bid farewell to 2023, LF Europe proudly reflects on a year filled with milestones. From solidifying our position as a leading voice in open source in Europe to fostering collaboration, the journey has been remarkable. Notable highlights include the thriving OpenWallet Foundation, the addition of Google as a Premier member, and the establishment of our Advisory Board. Engaging events like the EU Open Source Policy Summit and KubeCon CloudNativeCon Europe brought our community together, sparking crucial discussions on the EU's Cyber Resilience Act.

In the realm of projects, LF Europe welcomed RISE and Servo, showcasing our commitment to innovation. Our community grew stronger with new members contributing to the vibrant open source ecosystem. The future looks promising, and we invite you to dive into our newsletter for an in-depth update on our journey through a year of growth, innovation, and collaboration.

Table of Contents

• Milestones
• Project highlights
• Member spotlight
• Contributor spotlight
• Open source opportunities in the year ahead
• Planning an open source event in Europe?
• We thank you
• Say “Hi!” to the LF Europe Team 👋

Milestones 🎯

This year, Linux Foundation Europe solidified its position as an authoritative voice and hub for open source standards, advocacy, and collaboration, contributing profoundly to the European technological ecosystem.

Our commitment to establishing a universal framework for digital wallets culminated in strong steps forward for the OpenWallet Foundation, garnering industry-wide support and contributions. The highlight was Google joining as a Premier member, endorsing our vision and underscoring the potential of open collaboration facilitated by LF Europe.

Additionally, the formation of the Linux Foundation Europe Advisory Board brought into sharp focus the ambitions of Linux Foundation Europe to influence and guide open source activity across Europe.

2023 was a year punctuated with participative events such as the EU Open Source Policy Summit, FOSDEM, and our LF Europe Member Summit in Bilbao, where we celebrated the one-year milestone.

Image source: Linux Foundation Europe Member Summit: Panel Discussion on Open source as a game changer for sustainable industry transformation in Europe & beyond - Rimma Perelmuter, LF Europe; Mark Lane, Lloyds Banking Group; Lucian Balea, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité; Philippe Ensarguet, Orange; Philipp Ahmann, Bosch

A significant focus was placed on legislative dynamics, specifically the discussion around the EU's Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which struck a chord with stakeholders from various open source communities and industries. At KubeCon CloudNativeCon Europe, our general manager Gabriele Columbro expressed deep concerns about the draft's implications and advocated for thoughtful amendments that recognize and preserve the unique open source contributor ethos.

The emergence of key industry projects such as the RISC-V Software Ecosystem (RISE) has shown promise in fostering cooperation and accelerating development within the RISC-V architectural sphere, while Project Sylva's notable strides have aimed to mold an open source Telco Cloud Stack tailored to EU requirements.The Linux Foundation Europe welcomed the Servo web rendering engine into its fold, marking a significant milestone. Developed in Rust, Servo aims to be an independent and modular web rendering engine, offering robust support for WebGL and WebGPU. The move to LF Europe reflects Servo's commitment to increasing visibility within the European community and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our engagement at the NGI Forum and subsequent Open source driving the digital decade, Madrid, Spain summit brought forth critical dialogues about open source's role in fulfilling Europe's digital agenda.

The support and enthusiasm at Open source driving the digital decade, Madrid 2023 reaffirmed our collective commitment to advance the European digital decade and inspired proactive dialogue on the Cyber Resilience Act’s implications for the future of open source innovation.

This year, we have been particularly focused on providing a meaningful and community-driven response to the CRA. As the act progresses through European Parliament, our #FixTheCRA campaign, co-initiated with others, underscores the urgency to align policy with the realities of open source software development.

In the realm of policy and growth, our comprehensive efforts to engage and respond to the EU Cyber Resilience Act have been at the forefront. Advocacy, education, and proactive engagement have embodied our approach toward ensuring that open source continues to thrive under a supportive regulatory environment.

In the realm of research reports, Linux Foundation Europe illuminates the landscape through insightful contributions like the "World of Open Source: Europe Spotlight 2023" and "The European Public Sector Open Source Opportunity", offering a deep-dive analysis of the strengths, challenges, and pathways for open source impact and adoption in public sectors across Europe.

Looking ahead, the calendar is packed with opportunities to engage and evolve. Notable open source events like FOSDEM, the EU open source policy summit, FOSS backstage beckon our participation with discussions that shape the technical lexicon. New projects and initiatives are on the horizon, with Linux Foundation Europe continuing its work on pivotal undertakings such as the Project Sylva, OpenWallet Foundation, RISE and Servo poised to set novel industry standards.

Project highlights ✨

Sylva:

In 2023, the Sylva project has achieved significant milestones since its November 2022 launch. The release of v0.1 in April marked a crucial step toward a robust and scalable cloud software framework. Subsequent releases, including v0.2 in July, solidified Sylva's industry standing, with plans for v1 in early 2024. The Validation Center, a hub for testing and validating solutions, saw contributions from three vendors, with operational instances by Telefonica and Orange. A collaborative community of 15 companies, alongside seven founding members, ensures the project benefits from diverse perspectives. V0.3 introduced cutting-edge features, including Container as a Service and enhanced Identity Management. Nokia's successful UPF test on the Sylva Cloud advanced 5G networks. Recognized as a top cloud open source project, Sylva welcomed Canonical as a General Sponsor, emphasizing commitment to open source. Active participation in key events like KubeCon, Linux Foundation Europe member summit & Open Source Summit and continuous releases reflect Sylva's strides in cloud computing and networking. 

OpenWallet Foundation:

In February 2023, the OpenWallet Foundation (OWF) officially established itself as a leading force in the digital wallet landscape. The groundwork was laid in September 2022 when Linux Foundation announced its intent to form OWF, gaining momentum with subsequent support from industry giants such as Accenture, Gen, Futurewei, Visa, Google, and Microsoft. Notable milestones since its formalization in Linux Foundation Europe include strategic contributions from MOSIP, Ping Identity, esatus, and Lissi by neosfer. Google and Microsoft joined as premier members, solidifying the industry's acknowledgment of the pivotal role open source solutions play in digital wallet interoperability. Liaison agreements with EMVCo and the FIDO Alliance underscore OWF's commitment to collaboration. As we conclude this transformative year, OWF stands as a beacon of open, interoperable, and secure digital wallets, shaping the future of the industry.

RISE:

As 2023 draws to a close, the RISE project reflects on its inaugural 7 months, marking a remarkable evolution from initial discussions just one year ago to the fully-fledged project it is today, boasting a membership of 19 individuals. With a highly active Technical Steering Committee (TSC) and a suite of 9 working groups, the project has cultivated a robust collaboration with RISC-V International and the broader RISC-V ecosystem. Noteworthy participation at the RISC-V Summit North America in November included a status presentation from the RISE TSC and a concise talk on the RISC-V software ecosystem during RISC-V 101. In tandem with these achievements, the project is pleased to announce the release of a new Request for Proposals (RFP) this month, targeting support for Rust on 64-bit RISC-V architectures. Details on this initiative can be found in Project RP004: Support 64-bit RISC-V Linux port of Rust to Tier-1, and the project's wiki provides comprehensive insights into previous RFPs and the extensive work conducted by the working groups. Questions are welcome, and the project encourages reaching out for further clarification.

Servo:

2023 has marked a significant milestone for the Servo project, with a resurgence of activity since the beginning of the year. A notable achievement includes the project's affiliation with the Linux Foundation Europe, a move aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability. The new layout engine has made substantial progress, particularly in enhancing CSS floats support, with updates available at wpt.servo.org. In July, Servo received a grant from NLnet, contributing to the ongoing improvement of various aspects of the project. Collaboration with Tauri has been underway to enhance embedding capabilities, and the Servo webview API is poised for integration into other applications. Notably, a new minibrowser has been introduced for convenient project testing. The revamped servo.org website now hosts project demos and videos at demo.servo.org. Looking ahead to 2024, initial efforts have been initiated to incorporate Android support into Servo. The Servo Technical Steering Committee (TSC) has been holding monthly meetings, fostering collaboration and decision-making within the project. Throughout the year, Servo has actively participated in various events, showcasing its progress through talks and booths.

Member spotlight ✨

A big shout out to the companies and organizations that became part of the Linux Foundation Europe community in 2023.Your commitment to open source collaboration is integral to the thriving ecosystem we're building together. We look forward to the unique perspectives, contributions, and collaborative spirit each new member brings.

Contributor spotlight ✨

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the dedicated contributors and esteemed Advisory Board members who have fueled the engine of European open source innovation throughout the year. From code commits to thought leadership, your diverse and impactful contributions have shaped the landscape of open source.

Charting the course: Open source opportunities in the year ahead ✨

As we close out  another transformative year within the realm of open source, Linux Foundation Europe is delighted to offer a sneak peek into what the future holds. In the upcoming months, we invite you to partake in a series of captivating events and groundbreaking initiatives that will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of open source collaboration.

EU Open Source Policy Summit 2024 🇧🇪

Be part of the momentous 10-year celebration at the EU Open Source Policy Summit hosted by OpenForum Europe on February 2, 2024. Set just before FOSDEM, this significant gathering brings together policymakers, businesses, developers, and experts to delve into the crucial intersection of open source and digital policy. Gain valuable insights from keynote speaker Gabriele Columbro of the Linux Foundation Europe, and join us in commemorating a decade of impactful contributions to the open source community. Proudly sponsored by Linux Foundation Europe, this event is a perfect opportunity to engage in the dynamic discussions shaping the future of open source.

FOSDEM 🇧🇪

Embark on an exciting journey into FOSDEM, the renowned free event for software developers, taking place on February 3rd and 4th, 2024, in Brussels. Join thousands of developers from around the globe in this vibrant gathering to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and learn about the latest technologies. The Linux Foundation Europe team is thrilled to be an integral part of FOSDEM, with a dedicated stand. Numerous Linux Foundation projects will take center stage at FOSDEM, with engaging talks in devrooms, main tracks, lightning talks, and joining us at the Linux Foundation Europe stand. Mark your calendars, and meet us at FOSDEM for insightful conversations and networking!

OpenEmbedded Workshop 2024 🇧🇪

Calling all embedded Linux and Zephyr RTOS enthusiasts! Join us in Brussels for the OpenEmbedded Workshop on February 5, 2024, right after FOSDEM. Share your projects, collaborate with developers, and explore the latest in embedded Linux, Yocto Project, and Zephyr RTOS. It's a unique opportunity to dive into the cutting edge of technology and contribute to the thriving open source ecosystem.

Partner with Linux Foundation Europe for your next open source event

Planning an open source event in Europe? Let Linux Foundation Europe amplify your event's reach! To our members, we offer promotion on our social channels and newsletters, connecting you with a broad audience of open source enthusiasts. Reach out if you'd like a Linux Foundation Europe team member to speak at your local open source event. As an independent, trusted supporter, and vendor-neutral hub for open source projects in Europe, we accelerate collaborative efforts, connecting public and private sectors and individual contributors. 

A heartfelt thank you 🙏🏻

As we reflect on the milestones achieved and the collaborative efforts that have shaped our open source landscape, we are filled with gratitude for the collective impact we've made. Here's to the contributors who spent countless hours crafting code, the documentarians who made our projects accessible to all, and the community members who brought positivity and inclusivity to every discussion.

As we look ahead to the coming year, we are excited about the opportunities for growth, innovation, and new collaborations that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible and make a lasting impact on the world of technology.

We wish you happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!

Say “Hi!” to the LF Europe team 👋

If you’d like to stay updated with what we’re up to at LF Europe, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn & Discord.

We are excited to invite you to join the newly launched Bluesky channel of the Linux Foundation Europe for open source initiatives. We aim to create a platform where open source enthusiasts and experts can come together to discuss, collaborate, and work towards advancing the open source movement. Please check this link to follow: https://bsky.app/profile/linuxfoundationeu.bsky.social

If you have ideas for new projects, please feel free to contact us at info@linuxfoundation.eu. We would be glad to explore how we can support your efforts. 

Finally, please also consider supporting LF Europe by participating (it’s free for existing Linux Foundation members, not for profit and public sector entities). 

On behalf of the LF Europe team, we look forward to hearing from you!