Linux Foundation Europe Newsletter - January 2024

Welcome to the January 2024 LF Europe newsletter! 

Explore the upcoming KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2024 in Paris and FOSDEM 2024 in Brussels with the Linux Foundation Europe team. Delve into the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2024 and the OpenEmbedded Workshop 2024 for embedded Linux/Zephyr enthusiasts.

Tune in to the Beyond the Hype podcast for insights on the Cyber Resilience Act, and check out reports from LF Research on compliance, generative AI, and maintainer perspectives. Stay updated on LF Europe projects, including the OpenWallet Foundation and Servo's collaboration with Tauri.

Learn about important Linux Foundation Certifications Policy changes and save the dates for upcoming events like OSPOlogyLive, FOSDEM, and more. 

These are just a few of the exciting updates featured in this month's newsletter. For a comprehensive look at all the latest news and developments, read the newsletter.

Table of Contents

• News & announcements
• Updates from Linux Foundation Europe projects
• Top picks for reading
• New and recent publications from LF Research
• Training & certification
• Upcoming events
• Partner with Linux Foundation Europe for your next open source event
• Say “Hi!” to the LF Europe Team 👋

News & announcements 🗞️

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2024 🇫🇷

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon is less than 2 months away. Register today for the opportunity to have a cloud native-inspired springtime in Paris! Join us at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for what promises to be an exciting and enriching agenda and our most widely attended event yet! Don’t miss the All-Access Rate – prices increase on February 1.

FOSDEM 🇧🇪

Join us at FOSDEM 2024, the ultimate free event for software developers on Feb 3rd & 4th in Brussels. The Linux Foundation Europe team is thrilled to be part of this vibrant gathering with a dedicated stand. Dive into talks, devrooms, and lightning talks featuring projects like LF Energy, OpenSSF, TODO Group, SPDX, Automotive Grade Linux, and Zephyr Project.

The energy devroom, themed "Reimagining this Ecosystem through Open Source," will be held on Saturday, Feb 3, in Room H.2214 and will be livestreamed. The agenda for the Energy devroom includes sessions covering open source best practices, green software development, home energy management, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy modeling, forecasting, and more. A panel discussion titled "Unveiling the Open Renewable Energy Systems (ORES) Initiative" will also be presented in the main track on Sunday, Feb 4, at 16:00 in the Janson room, featuring industry leaders. Learn more.

Zephyr Project will play a significant role in this event, featuring presentations such as Daniel Baluta's introduction to the Sound Open Firmware project on Saturday, Feb 3, at 11 am. Mohammed Billoo follows with a talk on Zephyr and RISC-V integration at 4 pm, demonstrating opportunities for embedded software applications. Benjamin Cabe's session at 5 pm details the transformation of an Arduino-based "artificial nose" project using Zephyr, delving into event-based programming and hardware abstraction.

On Sunday, Feb 4, from 12:30 to 1 pm, Nicole Pappler and Stanislav Pankevich explore the application of the SPDX safety profile within Zephyr's Functional Safety scope, addressing challenges in maintaining safety-critical projects. For a comprehensive schedule and details, please check here.

Join Ana Jiménez, from TODO Group, in her FOSDEM talk - "AI DevRels: Risks of Neglecting Open Source Talent in AI Critical Infrastructure." As organizations focus on AI compliance and strategy, there's a growing concern over the simultaneous layoffs of open source talent. Ana's session delves into the critical role open source talent plays in bridging an organization's AI strategy with its critical infrastructure. Learn about potential risks to the software and AI supply chain due to insufficient support for open source communities. Open source is integral to AI development, and Ana will shed light on the vulnerabilities that may arise in the entire ecosystem. Learn more. 

EU Open Source Policy Summit 2024 🇧🇪

Join us for the landmark 10-year celebration at the EU Open Source Policy Summit hosted by OpenForum Europe on February 2, 2024. Scheduled just ahead of FOSDEM, this significant gathering unites policymakers, businesses, developers, and experts to explore the vital intersection of open source and digital policy. Benefit from valuable insights shared by keynote speaker Gabriele Columbro of the Linux Foundation Europe, and join us in acknowledging a decade of impactful contributions to the open source community. Proudly supported by the Linux Foundation Europe, this event presents a prime opportunity to participate in dynamic discussions that will shape the future of open source.

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.

Beyond the Hype: A discussion of the latest CRA with Rust Foundation and LF Europe

Discover the latest episode of "Beyond the Hype" with Colin Eberhardt, featuring discussions with Rebecca Rumbul, CEO of Rust Foundation, and Mirko Boehm, Senior Community Director  of Linux Foundation Europe. Explore the vital role of open source in the software realm and the challenges it faces due to increasing complexity. The episode delves into the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), initially raising concerns by placing obligations on open source maintainers. However, the podcast highlights the latest CRA update, addressing these concerns and sparking a conversation about its effectiveness in enhancing product security. Don't miss this insightful exploration of open source dynamics and legislative impact. Listen to the podcast now. 

LFX Mentorship

Spring 2024 LFX Mentorships are accepting applications. Visit the LFX Mentorship Program page to browse and apply.

LFX Mentorship Showcase 2024 planning is in progress. Please check out the LFX Mentorship Showcase 2023 sessions. 

Updates from the Linux Foundation Europe projects 🚀

Sylva

In the latest update on the Sylva project, significant accomplishments have marked the beginning of the new year. The team has successfully implemented the use of CAPI and Gitops workflow to efficiently manage the Life Cycle Management of Kubernetes, both on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Baremetal platforms. 

Furthermore, the project has seamlessly integrated the technical requirements of the 5GCore Network into the telco Cloud. Looking ahead, Sylva is gearing up to expedite the hosting of the OpenRAN CNF (Cloud-native Network Function), and the recent O-RAN Alliance Fall Plugfest served as a noteworthy platform to showcase a promising use case. On the event front, Sylva will be prominently featured in the Suse booth at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year. To stay updated on the latest developments, the project encourages everyone to follow their LinkedIn page.

OpenWallet Foundation

In recent developments, the OpenWallet Foundation (OWF) has unveiled two noteworthy announcements in the early months of 2024. Firstly, the appointment of Brian Behlendorf as the Chief Technology Officer stands out as a pivotal move. With a distinguished background encompassing leadership roles at the Open Source Security Foundation, Hyperledger, and the World Economic Forum, coupled with board memberships at EFF and Mozilla Foundation, Behlendorf brings invaluable expertise to OWF. His primary focus will revolve around the development of a software stack tailored for interoperable digital wallets, aligning seamlessly with global standards.

In a parallel stride, OWF's Governmental Advisory Council (GAC) has elected its leadership, with Carol Buttle from the UK assuming the role of Chair, and David Magård (Sweden) and Fabio Burdris (Argentina) appointed as Vice-Chairs. Together, their collective wealth of experience will serve as a guiding force for OWF, facilitating the convergence of public policy and private sector initiatives, with a specific emphasis on ensuring consumer protection and interoperability across international borders.

For those who might have missed the highlights of 2023, OWF's achievements included substantial sponsor support, the initiation of ten new technology projects, and the establishment of Special Interest Groups. These milestones laid a robust foundation, paving the way for the organization's recent strides in the digital wallet landscape.

RISE

Although the holidays provided an opportunity for a well-deserved break, RISE remained active during this period. Nine working groups within member organizations internally contributed to ongoing projects. Simultaneously, RISE sponsored six Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that are currently in progress. The latest RFP focuses on QEMU TCG support for V and Zvk extensions, along with LLVM testing improvements. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the RISC-V software ecosystem and will persist in these efforts throughout the upcoming year.

For those attending FOSDEM, a visit to the RISC-V Devroom is recommended. Additionally, RISE plans to participate in the RISC-V Summits in Europe and North America later in the year. Members of RISE will also be present at events such as Embedded World, Open Source Summit North America & Europe, and various other gatherings. Notably, the Call for Proposals (CFP) is now open for the RISC-V Summit Europe, encouraging interested individuals to submit their talks promptly. 

Stay informed through this newsletter and RISE LinkedIn page as we progress into 2024!

Servo

In welcoming the new year, an exciting development unfolds as Servo and Tauri join forces, marking a significant stride in bolstering Servo within WRY, the webview library powering Tauri. For those eager to explore, the servo-wry-demo branch opens the door to experimentation, serving as the inaugural step towards seamlessly embedding Servo in Tauri itself. As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance Servo's embedding capabilities, crucial support for offscreen rendering has been successfully incorporated. This proves instrumental in seamlessly integrating Servo with applications housing non-Servo components. Another noteworthy advancement involves the precompilation of mozangle and mozjs, a move poised to streamline the developer experience by minimizing initial build times. Presently, the C++ components of mozangle can be built as a dynamic library (.so/.dylib/.dll) on Linux and macOS, albeit with ongoing efforts required for distribution. This development is currently accessible for experimentation. 

Gratitude extends to NLnet for their sponsorship of recent embedding works. Additional achievements this month include the integration of basic support for tables into Servo's new layout engine and the introduction of preliminary Android build support. 

Furthermore, Servo is set to make a mark at FOSDEM 2024, with Rakhi Sharma slated to discuss the embedding of Servo in Rust projects on February 3 at 16:45 local time (15:45 UTC). Servo's presence will extend to the LF Europe stand, promising an engaging conversation.

The Servo team is looking forward to seeing you there!

Top picks for reading 📖

• Explore the dynamic world of transatlantic open source collaboration with Mirko Boehm from Linux Foundation Europe, as he inspires NGI Sargasso's first open call innovators. Learn how Linux Foundation Europe serves as a neutral host for community-based projects, fostering global collaboration and empowering European voices in the open source landscape. Dive into the future of open source and its pivotal role in diverse industry sectors. Read now.
• Explore the latest developments in Europe's Cyber Resiliency Act as Joe Fay,reports on the revisions that have tempered its impact on open source governance. Mirko Boehm from the Linux Foundation Europe shares insights, revealing that while the legislation is now less threatening, uncertainties remain. Discover the novel "open source software steward" role and the ongoing focus on standards development in this crucial arena. Read now.
• Dive into Paolo Mainardi's insightful blog on the pressing challenges facing the security of the software supply chain. From the rise of open source in software development to the escalating threats and evolving attacks, explore the importance of secure supply chains and the community-driven initiatives addressing these issues. Read now.
• Discover the pivotal role end users play in the world of open source software. Max Körbächer explores how their diverse perspectives, contributions, and engagement drive innovation, foster collaboration, and ensure the sustainability of projects. From code contributions to financial support, end users are the unsung heroes shaping the vibrant culture of open source development. Read now.

New and recent publications from LF Research 📊

This paper delves into these challenges and strategies for effectively implementing compliance, acting as a tool for organizations to mitigate any associated risks and to ensure continued benefit in their open source participation. From comprehensive software composition analysis tools to promoting the right development culture, read more about how to effectively address these challenges in the full report!

With the explosion in generative AI, the Linux Foundation wanted to understand how the technology is being adopted at an organization level and the benefits and challenges of an open source solution in comparison to closed source. LF Research and LF AI & Data fielded a survey to sample individuals on their familiarity with their organization’s adoption of generative AI. We found that generative AI is becoming a key component of current and future business for our respondents, with many preferring open over proprietary AI for its ease of integration and transparency. Read our full analysis in the report! 

The security of open source software is so often a primary concern in this community, and maintainers play a crucial role in this endeavor by securing the health and sustainability of open source software. As we look to build out tooling and practices that increase software security, how do we make sure that these tools empower maintainers, and not add additional burden? This research tackles this question, surveying the practices, challenges, and expectations of maintainers across the open source community. Read more from the perspective of maintainers in the full report!

ICYMI: LF 2023 Annual Report

The Linux Foundation experienced significant growth in 2023, welcoming 270 new members and approaching nearly 1,000 active projects. And just as a rising tide lifts all boats, the report theme exemplifies our commitment to harnessing collaborative open source innovation for the betterment of people and the planet.

We invite you to download, read, and share the 2023 Annual Report to immerse yourself in the growing Linux Foundation projects and communities and discover their far-reaching impact.

Training & certification🐧

Important Linux Foundation Certifications Policy Change

Policy change

All certification products with a 36-month certification period will change to a 24-month certification period starting April 01, 2024, 00:00 UTC.

* EXCLUDES CKS & FOCP, as these certifications are already on a 24-month renewal cycle.

Why the change?

The Linux Foundation is committed to providing the highest quality learning and skill verification services to our community. Certification holders rely on us to ensure they have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge to advance their careers. Employers rely on us to verify job candidates have the skills and knowledge to succeed in their roles. While we continuously update our exams, the rate of updates has notably increased resulting in an almost completely new exam every 24 months. Therefore, to keep pace with the rate of change as well as ensure the quality and integrity of our certifications, as of April 01, 2024, 00:00 UTC, all certifications will need to be renewed every 24 months.

What should individuals with upcoming expirations do? 

If your certification expires in 2024, and you feel prepared to take the exam, we encourage you to schedule and take your exam before April 01, 2024, 00:00 UTC, when the new 24-month renewal policy takes effect. Be sure to schedule your first exam attempt to allow enough time to schedule a retake before April 01, 2024, 00:00 UTC in the event you do not pass the exam on your first attempt. 

Regardless of your current certification expiration date, you can keep your certification valid by retaking and passing the same exam, prior to the expiration date of your certification.  

For more information, please see the FAQ on the change.

Upcoming events 🗓️

• OSPOlogyLive Apeldoorn, Netherlands 🇳🇱 Feb 28 -29, 2024. Register.
• EU Open Source Policy Summit 2024, Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪 February 2, 2024. Register.
• FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪 February 3 -4, 2024. Register
• Open Source in Finance Forum, London 🇬🇧 June 26 2024. Register
• Open Source London meetup 🇬🇧 January 25, 2024. Register
• Linux Foundation AI & Data Day - Igniting Innovations, Fostering Connections, Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪 January 25th, 2024. Register.
• RISC-V at Embedded World 2024, Nuremberg, Germany 🇩🇪 April 9 - 11, 2024. Register
• Xen Project Summit, Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹 June 4-6, 2024. Register
• Automotive Grade Linux All Member Meeting Summer, Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪 July 17 -18, 2024. Register
• Linux Security Summit Europe, Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 September 16-17, 2024. Register
• Open Source Summit Europe, Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 September 16 -18, 2024. Register

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. 

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!