*Please consider adding to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box.*
*Read and share online: *
Dear Ruben Safir,
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turned thirty-five this year, and for this [fall's fundraising appeal][1], we took the time to do some digging into the past to bring you some of the key moments and fun anecdotes of the FSF's past in three parts, one focusing on collected stories centered around each of the three major areas of work at the FSF.
Today, we [published][2] part one, a deep dive into the history of what has come to be the FSF's tech team. This series of articles is by no means an attempt to create a comprehensive linear history; instead, I spoke to some of the former and current FSF system administrators and asked them for memorable moments from their time working with the FSF. This article lays out those stories and moments in the history of the technical infrastructure of FSF in a *very* simplified order. The two following articles in this series will highlight key moments in free software licensing and campaigning.
This slice of history is built on conversations with former FSF tech team members like Nicolás César, Ward Vandewege, and Bernie Innocenti, as well as the current team, and on research into the long history of GNU and FSF *Bulletins*, news items, and blog posts. We gathered a collection of great anecdotes that highlights just how unique the work at the FSF is, and the exceptional dedication and skill of the team.
The article covers the stories of troubleshooting (and sometimes rescuing) the BIOS of every server; setting up data migration from a legacy database system to CiviCRM; labeling the Web site's JavaScript libraries; spending five days getting a compromised Savannah back online; the streamlining of the annual mailing process from lasting about a month to a week; livestream adventures with Edward Snowden; the lighting of the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) with "GNU," and much more.
For thirty-five years, the FSF has been supported by people just like you, who give back because you believe in the idea of free software and you trust that the FSF can make a difference. It is worth a moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we [continue our journey][3] forward to achieve our free software mission and bring \#UserFreedom to all computer users.
*Can you pledge your support for the tech team's important work for software freedom by [becoming][16] an associate member? The work of the tech team depends directly on support from the wider free software community, and the FSF can't fulfill its mission without you. This [fall fundraiser][17], our goal is to reach 500 new associate members. If you join today, you can select a special gift in addition to being able to enjoy all of our associate membership [benefits][18], which include a free "as in freedom" [videoconferencing server][19]. Together, we can show the world the importance of free software, and support the tech team's pioneering example.*
We hope you enjoy this moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring \#UserFreedom to all computer users. Carve out a bit of time for this, as it's a long read -- but it's worth it!
-- * Follow us on Mastodon at , GNU social at , Diaspora at , and on Twitter at . * Read about why we use Twitter, but only with caveats at . * Subscribe to our RSS feeds at . * Join us as an associate member at . * Read our Privacy Policy at .
Sent from the Free Software Foundation,
51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1335 United States
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turned thirty-five this year, and for this fall's fundraising appeal, we took the time to do some digging into the past to bring you some of the key moments and fun anecdotes of the FSF's past in three parts, one focusing on collected stories centered around each of the three major areas of work at the FSF.
Today, we published part one, a deep dive into the history of what has come to be the FSF's tech team. This series of articles is by no means an attempt to create a comprehensive linear history; instead, I spoke to some of the former and current FSF system administrators and asked them for memorable moments from their time working with the FSF. This article lays out those stories and moments in the history of the technical infrastructure of FSF in a very simplified order. The two following articles in this series will highlight key moments in free software licensing and campaigning.
This slice of history is built on conversations with former FSF tech team members like Nicolás César, Ward Vandewege, and Bernie Innocenti, as well as the current team, and on research into the long history of GNU and FSF Bulletins, news items, and blog posts. We gathered a collection of great anecdotes that highlights just how unique the work at the FSF is, and the exceptional dedication and skill of the team.
The article covers the stories of troubleshooting (and sometimes rescuing) the BIOS of every server; setting up data migration from a legacy database system to CiviCRM; labeling the Web site's JavaScript libraries; spending five days getting a compromised Savannah back online; the streamlining of the annual mailing process from lasting about a month to a week; livestream adventures with Edward Snowden; the lighting of the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) with "GNU," and much more.
For thirty-five years, the FSF has been supported by people just like you, who give back because you believe in the idea of free software and you trust that the FSF can make a difference. It is worth a moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring #UserFreedom to all computer users.
Can you pledge your support for the tech team's important work for software freedom by becoming an associate member? The work of the tech team depends directly on support from the wider free software community, and the FSF can't fulfill its mission without you. This fall fundraiser, our goal is to reach 500 new associate members. If you join today, you can select a special gift in addition to being able to enjoy all of our associate membership benefits, which include a free "as in freedom" videoconferencing server. Together, we can show the world the importance of free software, and support the tech team's pioneering example.
We hope you enjoy this moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring #UserFreedom to all computer users. Carve out a bit of time for this, as it's a long read -- but it's worth it!
*Please consider adding to your address book, which will ensure that our messages reach you and not your spam box.*
*Read and share online: *
Dear Ruben Safir,
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turned thirty-five this year, and for this [fall's fundraising appeal][1], we took the time to do some digging into the past to bring you some of the key moments and fun anecdotes of the FSF's past in three parts, one focusing on collected stories centered around each of the three major areas of work at the FSF.
Today, we [published][2] part one, a deep dive into the history of what has come to be the FSF's tech team. This series of articles is by no means an attempt to create a comprehensive linear history; instead, I spoke to some of the former and current FSF system administrators and asked them for memorable moments from their time working with the FSF. This article lays out those stories and moments in the history of the technical infrastructure of FSF in a *very* simplified order. The two following articles in this series will highlight key moments in free software licensing and campaigning.
This slice of history is built on conversations with former FSF tech team members like Nicolás César, Ward Vandewege, and Bernie Innocenti, as well as the current team, and on research into the long history of GNU and FSF *Bulletins*, news items, and blog posts. We gathered a collection of great anecdotes that highlights just how unique the work at the FSF is, and the exceptional dedication and skill of the team.
The article covers the stories of troubleshooting (and sometimes rescuing) the BIOS of every server; setting up data migration from a legacy database system to CiviCRM; labeling the Web site's JavaScript libraries; spending five days getting a compromised Savannah back online; the streamlining of the annual mailing process from lasting about a month to a week; livestream adventures with Edward Snowden; the lighting of the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) with "GNU," and much more.
For thirty-five years, the FSF has been supported by people just like you, who give back because you believe in the idea of free software and you trust that the FSF can make a difference. It is worth a moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we [continue our journey][3] forward to achieve our free software mission and bring \#UserFreedom to all computer users.
*Can you pledge your support for the tech team's important work for software freedom by [becoming][16] an associate member? The work of the tech team depends directly on support from the wider free software community, and the FSF can't fulfill its mission without you. This [fall fundraiser][17], our goal is to reach 500 new associate members. If you join today, you can select a special gift in addition to being able to enjoy all of our associate membership [benefits][18], which include a free "as in freedom" [videoconferencing server][19]. Together, we can show the world the importance of free software, and support the tech team's pioneering example.*
We hope you enjoy this moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring \#UserFreedom to all computer users. Carve out a bit of time for this, as it's a long read -- but it's worth it!
-- * Follow us on Mastodon at , GNU social at , Diaspora at , and on Twitter at . * Read about why we use Twitter, but only with caveats at . * Subscribe to our RSS feeds at . * Join us as an associate member at . * Read our Privacy Policy at .
Sent from the Free Software Foundation,
51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1335 United States
You can unsubscribe from this mailing list by visiting
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turned thirty-five this year, and for this fall's fundraising appeal, we took the time to do some digging into the past to bring you some of the key moments and fun anecdotes of the FSF's past in three parts, one focusing on collected stories centered around each of the three major areas of work at the FSF.
Today, we published part one, a deep dive into the history of what has come to be the FSF's tech team. This series of articles is by no means an attempt to create a comprehensive linear history; instead, I spoke to some of the former and current FSF system administrators and asked them for memorable moments from their time working with the FSF. This article lays out those stories and moments in the history of the technical infrastructure of FSF in a very simplified order. The two following articles in this series will highlight key moments in free software licensing and campaigning.
This slice of history is built on conversations with former FSF tech team members like Nicolás César, Ward Vandewege, and Bernie Innocenti, as well as the current team, and on research into the long history of GNU and FSF Bulletins, news items, and blog posts. We gathered a collection of great anecdotes that highlights just how unique the work at the FSF is, and the exceptional dedication and skill of the team.
The article covers the stories of troubleshooting (and sometimes rescuing) the BIOS of every server; setting up data migration from a legacy database system to CiviCRM; labeling the Web site's JavaScript libraries; spending five days getting a compromised Savannah back online; the streamlining of the annual mailing process from lasting about a month to a week; livestream adventures with Edward Snowden; the lighting of the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) with "GNU," and much more.
For thirty-five years, the FSF has been supported by people just like you, who give back because you believe in the idea of free software and you trust that the FSF can make a difference. It is worth a moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring #UserFreedom to all computer users.
Can you pledge your support for the tech team's important work for software freedom by becoming an associate member? The work of the tech team depends directly on support from the wider free software community, and the FSF can't fulfill its mission without you. This fall fundraiser, our goal is to reach 500 new associate members. If you join today, you can select a special gift in addition to being able to enjoy all of our associate membership benefits, which include a free "as in freedom" videoconferencing server. Together, we can show the world the importance of free software, and support the tech team's pioneering example.
We hope you enjoy this moment of celebration and reflection of the work done before we continue our journey forward to achieve our free software mission and bring #UserFreedom to all computer users. Carve out a bit of time for this, as it's a long read -- but it's worth it!
