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Dear Ruben Safir,
I'm Ian Kelling, one of two Free Software Foundation (FSF) tech team staff members. Today I want to tell you about some of our LibrePlanet technical work, the day-to-day work of running an organization exclusively on free software, and how your financial support is truly needed for the FSF to continue defending and advancing software freedom.
During most of the last decade, we had three or four people on the tech team. Since fall 2023, we have been reduced to a two-person tech team due to budget constraints. Nevertheless, we've continued to work tirelessly and undeterred to support the free software movement. On top of our normal work, this spring we ran another successful two-day in-person *and* remote [LibrePlanet][1] [conference][2]. From a tech team perspective, there were two significant changes at LibrePlanet 2024: we had a new venue, the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), which is a great university campus, and in many respects, an improvement upon past venues; and secondly, we made a software change I would like to tell you more about.
This year, we used the [Galène][3] videoconferencing server for our remote track. Previously, we used [BigBlueButton][4]. The reason for this change is a bit complicated. BigBlueButton has a dependency on MongoDB, and in 2018, new MongoDB versions started using a nonfree license. In 2020, we noticed that an upcoming BigBlueButton version had picked up a new nonfree MongoDB version, and we began a dialogue with the BigBlueButton developers. We helped investigate some options for moving away from MongoDB. We also tested and promoted [FerretDB][5], a free MongoDB-compatible database. Last year, BigBlueButton finalized a technical plan for moving off MongoDB and announced their plan to do so, which will hopefully happen within the next year. Once they do officially move off MongoDB, we will celebrate their work as the program has grown to mean a lot for the free software community these last few years during and after the pandemic. While we had been using a BigBlueButton version with a free, pre-2018 MongoDB for the past few years, it was no longer officially supported by BigBlueButton. For our major annual event, we wanted to use and recommend a videoconferencing server with a supported and fully free upstream. We found that with Galène.
So, what is different about Galène? BigBlueButton and Galène both have real-time video- and audio-conferencing as a core feature. On the one hand, BigBlueButton has some features that Galène doesn't, for example, a shared whiteboard on which users can write and draw. While we have enjoyed these features, we didn't need them for the LibrePlanet 2024 workshops and presentations.
Galène does have one feature that we found amazingly useful: it is very CPU-efficient, which allowed us to to invite all attendees to directly participate as users even if several hundred showed up. With BigBlueButton, we would livestream a single BigBlueButton user's view of BigBlueButton using [OBS Studio][6] and [Icecast][7] in order to scale to hundreds of viewers safely. When considering how best to manage many anonymous users, we noticed a few features that would be good to have in Galène, so we made some feature requests upstream. To our amazement, one of the developers quickly engaged in conversation with us and within a week, implemented all of our feature requests and even designed one of the features to be much better than what we asked for. We also found Galène to be easy to install and administer. Overall, we are very pleased with Galène and are currently using it for all our day-to-day videoconferencing needs. The best thing: I was happy to learn that if you aren't used to typing an accented è, it is normal and expected to skip it and just type "Galene."
All in all, LibrePlanet proves again and again that a community can come together and run a conference using entirely free software. How great is it that we can communicate and collaborate in freedom!
All year round, the FSF runs on free software, self-hosted on our own computers to the maximum extent we can. That includes maintaining a rack of about a dozen servers across two data centers. We run a wide array of software to support the free software movement, including things like Git hosting and mailing lists for GNU software development. In fact, we counted *sixty-three* [different services][8]. One way we are working to be more efficient is to better enable volunteers to do and lead sysadmin work. We are fostering a volunteer-centered team called the FSF SysOps team, which has a fledgling website at , where we are migrating volunteer-relevant information from the [LibrePlanet wiki][9] and other places. If you have technical skills and want to volunteer, please get in touch!
There is one more thing I helped a little bit with that I think is really amazing and worth mentioning here. This year, the world's largest company by revenue, Walmart (which recently acquired Vizio), attacked the FSF with its lawyers in a grueling and verbally aggressive ten-hour deposition that aimed to find a crack in the GPL and the FSF's stand for user freedom. The FSF [responded][11] diligently with extensive preparation and assistance from legal counsel, and we didn't crack. These kinds of actions take significant financial resources. We need your help to keep doing this. For me, a world where the FSF is able to stand up to the biggest companies in the world is a world where freedom has a fighting chance and hope exists.
Please help make that world exist. We know not everyone is in a position to, but if you can, **will you support our efforts by [joining the FSF as an associate member][13]**? An associate membership is a great show of support we can rely on. With your help, the tech team can ensure that the FSF runs smoothly on free software and thereby show that a world of computer user freedom is possible. As an FSF associate member, you'll be part of a vibrant international community and be able to enjoy all the associate [member benefits][17], such as access to the [FSF's videoconferencing server][18], 20% discount on FSF merchandise, and email forwarding. Every new associate membership this spring will receive a FSF thermal mug as a welcome gift and help us achieve our goal of **200 new associate members by July 26**. Need more reasons to join? Have a look at our [appeal page][14] or email us at to receive more information.
The FSF firmly believes every computer user deserves freedom and tirelessly demonstrates how to do almost everything with free software. For years to come, the FSF has an important role to play for computer users globally, and we still have a lot of work to do. Thank you for your support and for joining us on this journey to a free world.
Happy hacking,
Ian Kelling Senior Systems Administrator -- Interested in helping us expand our reach?
* Follow us on Mastodon at and PeerTube at , showing your support for federated social networks. * Get active on the LibrePlanet wiki: * Share on your blog or [social network](https://www.fsf.org/share) that you support us, and why you do so. * Subscribe to our RSS feeds: * Join us as an associate member: ; and display your membership button () on your website.
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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
I'm Ian Kelling, one of two Free Software Foundation (FSF) tech team staff members. Today I want to tell you about some of our LibrePlanet technical work, the day-to-day work of running an organization exclusively on free software, and how your financial support is truly needed for the FSF to continue defending and advancing software freedom.
During most of the last decade, we had three or four people on the tech team. Since fall 2023, we have been reduced to a two-person tech team due to budget constraints. Nevertheless, we've continued to work tirelessly and undeterred to support the free software movement. On top of our normal work, this spring we ran another successful two-day in-person and remote LibrePlanetconference. From a tech team perspective, there were two significant changes at LibrePlanet 2024: we had a new venue, the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), which is a great university campus, and in many respects, an improvement upon past venues; and secondly, we made a software change I would like to tell you more about.
This year, we used the Galène videoconferencing server for our remote track. Previously, we used BigBlueButton. The reason for this change is a bit complicated. BigBlueButton has a dependency on MongoDB, and in 2018, new MongoDB versions started using a nonfree license. In 2020, we noticed that an upcoming BigBlueButton version had picked up a new nonfree MongoDB version, and we began a dialogue with the BigBlueButton developers. We helped investigate some options for moving away from MongoDB. We also tested and promoted FerretDB, a free MongoDB-compatible database. Last year, BigBlueButton finalized a technical plan for moving off MongoDB and announced their plan to do so, which will hopefully happen within the next year. Once they do officially move off MongoDB, we will celebrate their work as the program has grown to mean a lot for the free software community these last few years during and after the pandemic. While we had been using a BigBlueButton version with a free, pre-2018 MongoDB for the past few years, it was no longer officially supported by BigBlueButton. For our major annual event, we wanted to use and recommend a videoconferencing server with a supported and fully free upstream. We found that with Galène.
So, what is different about Galène? BigBlueButton and Galène both have real-time video- and audio-conferencing as a core feature. On the one hand, BigBlueButton has some features that Galène doesn't, for example, a shared whiteboard on which users can write and draw. While we have enjoyed these features, we didn't need them for the LibrePlanet 2024 workshops and presentations.
Galène does have one feature that we found amazingly useful: it is very CPU-efficient, which allowed us to to invite all attendees to directly participate as users even if several hundred showed up. With BigBlueButton, we would livestream a single BigBlueButton user's view of BigBlueButton using OBS Studio and Icecast in order to scale to hundreds of viewers safely. When considering how best to manage many anonymous users, we noticed a few features that would be good to have in Galène, so we made some feature requests upstream. To our amazement, one of the developers quickly engaged in conversation with us and within a week, implemented all of our feature requests and even designed one of the features to be much better than what we asked for. We also found Galène to be easy to install and administer. Overall, we are very pleased with Galène and are currently using it for all our day-to-day videoconferencing needs. The best thing: I was happy to learn that if you aren't used to typing an accented è, it is normal and expected to skip it and just type "Galene."
All in all, LibrePlanet proves again and again that a community can come together and run a conference using entirely free software. How great is it that we can communicate and collaborate in freedom!
All year round, the FSF runs on free software, self-hosted on our own computers to the maximum extent we can. That includes maintaining a rack of about a dozen servers across two data centers. We run a wide array of software to support the free software movement, including things like Git hosting and mailing lists for GNU software development. In fact, we counted sixty-threedifferent services. One way we are working to be more efficient is to better enable volunteers to do and lead sysadmin work. We are fostering a volunteer-centered team called the FSF SysOps team, which has a fledgling website at https://sysops.fsf.org/wiki/, where we are migrating volunteer-relevant information from the LibrePlanet wiki and other places. If you have technical skills and want to volunteer, please get in touch!
There is one more thing I helped a little bit with that I think is really amazing and worth mentioning here. This year, the world's largest company by revenue, Walmart (which recently acquired Vizio), attacked the FSF with its lawyers in a grueling and verbally aggressive ten-hour deposition that aimed to find a crack in the GPL and the FSF's stand for user freedom. The FSF responded diligently with extensive preparation and assistance from legal counsel, and we didn't crack. These kinds of actions take significant financial resources. We need your help to keep doing this. For me, a world where the FSF is able to stand up to the biggest companies in the world is a world where freedom has a fighting chance and hope exists.
Please help make that world exist. We know not everyone is in a position to, but if you can, will you support our efforts by joining the FSF as an associate member? An associate membership is a great show of support we can rely on. With your help, the tech team can ensure that the FSF runs smoothly on free software and thereby show that a world of computer user freedom is possible. As an FSF associate member, you'll be part of a vibrant international community and be able to enjoy all the associate member benefits, such as access to the FSF's videoconferencing
server, 20% discount on FSF merchandise, and email forwarding. Every new associate membership this spring will receive a FSF thermal mug as a welcome gift and help us achieve our goal of 200 new associate members by July 26. Need more reasons to join? Have a look at our appeal page or email us at info@fsf.org to receive more information.
The FSF firmly believes every computer user deserves freedom and tirelessly demonstrates how to do almost everything with free software. For years to come, the FSF has an important role to play for computer users globally, and we still have a lot of work to do. Thank you for your support and for joining us on this journey to a free world.
*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,
I'm Ian Kelling, one of two Free Software Foundation (FSF) tech team staff members. Today I want to tell you about some of our LibrePlanet technical work, the day-to-day work of running an organization exclusively on free software, and how your financial support is truly needed for the FSF to continue defending and advancing software freedom.
During most of the last decade, we had three or four people on the tech team. Since fall 2023, we have been reduced to a two-person tech team due to budget constraints. Nevertheless, we've continued to work tirelessly and undeterred to support the free software movement. On top of our normal work, this spring we ran another successful two-day in-person *and* remote [LibrePlanet][1] [conference][2]. From a tech team perspective, there were two significant changes at LibrePlanet 2024: we had a new venue, the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), which is a great university campus, and in many respects, an improvement upon past venues; and secondly, we made a software change I would like to tell you more about.
This year, we used the [Galène][3] videoconferencing server for our remote track. Previously, we used [BigBlueButton][4]. The reason for this change is a bit complicated. BigBlueButton has a dependency on MongoDB, and in 2018, new MongoDB versions started using a nonfree license. In 2020, we noticed that an upcoming BigBlueButton version had picked up a new nonfree MongoDB version, and we began a dialogue with the BigBlueButton developers. We helped investigate some options for moving away from MongoDB. We also tested and promoted [FerretDB][5], a free MongoDB-compatible database. Last year, BigBlueButton finalized a technical plan for moving off MongoDB and announced their plan to do so, which will hopefully happen within the next year. Once they do officially move off MongoDB, we will celebrate their work as the program has grown to mean a lot for the free software community these last few years during and after the pandemic. While we had been using a BigBlueButton version with a free, pre-2018 MongoDB for the past few years, it was no longer officially supported by BigBlueButton. For our major annual event, we wanted to use and recommend a videoconferencing server with a supported and fully free upstream. We found that with Galène.
So, what is different about Galène? BigBlueButton and Galène both have real-time video- and audio-conferencing as a core feature. On the one hand, BigBlueButton has some features that Galène doesn't, for example, a shared whiteboard on which users can write and draw. While we have enjoyed these features, we didn't need them for the LibrePlanet 2024 workshops and presentations.
Galène does have one feature that we found amazingly useful: it is very CPU-efficient, which allowed us to to invite all attendees to directly participate as users even if several hundred showed up. With BigBlueButton, we would livestream a single BigBlueButton user's view of BigBlueButton using [OBS Studio][6] and [Icecast][7] in order to scale to hundreds of viewers safely. When considering how best to manage many anonymous users, we noticed a few features that would be good to have in Galène, so we made some feature requests upstream. To our amazement, one of the developers quickly engaged in conversation with us and within a week, implemented all of our feature requests and even designed one of the features to be much better than what we asked for. We also found Galène to be easy to install and administer. Overall, we are very pleased with Galène and are currently using it for all our day-to-day videoconferencing needs. The best thing: I was happy to learn that if you aren't used to typing an accented è, it is normal and expected to skip it and just type "Galene."
All in all, LibrePlanet proves again and again that a community can come together and run a conference using entirely free software. How great is it that we can communicate and collaborate in freedom!
All year round, the FSF runs on free software, self-hosted on our own computers to the maximum extent we can. That includes maintaining a rack of about a dozen servers across two data centers. We run a wide array of software to support the free software movement, including things like Git hosting and mailing lists for GNU software development. In fact, we counted *sixty-three* [different services][8]. One way we are working to be more efficient is to better enable volunteers to do and lead sysadmin work. We are fostering a volunteer-centered team called the FSF SysOps team, which has a fledgling website at , where we are migrating volunteer-relevant information from the [LibrePlanet wiki][9] and other places. If you have technical skills and want to volunteer, please get in touch!
There is one more thing I helped a little bit with that I think is really amazing and worth mentioning here. This year, the world's largest company by revenue, Walmart (which recently acquired Vizio), attacked the FSF with its lawyers in a grueling and verbally aggressive ten-hour deposition that aimed to find a crack in the GPL and the FSF's stand for user freedom. The FSF [responded][11] diligently with extensive preparation and assistance from legal counsel, and we didn't crack. These kinds of actions take significant financial resources. We need your help to keep doing this. For me, a world where the FSF is able to stand up to the biggest companies in the world is a world where freedom has a fighting chance and hope exists.
Please help make that world exist. We know not everyone is in a position to, but if you can, **will you support our efforts by [joining the FSF as an associate member][13]**? An associate membership is a great show of support we can rely on. With your help, the tech team can ensure that the FSF runs smoothly on free software and thereby show that a world of computer user freedom is possible. As an FSF associate member, you'll be part of a vibrant international community and be able to enjoy all the associate [member benefits][17], such as access to the [FSF's videoconferencing server][18], 20% discount on FSF merchandise, and email forwarding. Every new associate membership this spring will receive a FSF thermal mug as a welcome gift and help us achieve our goal of **200 new associate members by July 26**. Need more reasons to join? Have a look at our [appeal page][14] or email us at to receive more information.
The FSF firmly believes every computer user deserves freedom and tirelessly demonstrates how to do almost everything with free software. For years to come, the FSF has an important role to play for computer users globally, and we still have a lot of work to do. Thank you for your support and for joining us on this journey to a free world.
Happy hacking,
Ian Kelling Senior Systems Administrator -- Interested in helping us expand our reach?
* Follow us on Mastodon at and PeerTube at , showing your support for federated social networks. * Get active on the LibrePlanet wiki: * Share on your blog or [social network](https://www.fsf.org/share) that you support us, and why you do so. * Subscribe to our RSS feeds: * Join us as an associate member: ; and display your membership button () on your website.
Read our Privacy Policy:
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
I'm Ian Kelling, one of two Free Software Foundation (FSF) tech team staff members. Today I want to tell you about some of our LibrePlanet technical work, the day-to-day work of running an organization exclusively on free software, and how your financial support is truly needed for the FSF to continue defending and advancing software freedom.
During most of the last decade, we had three or four people on the tech team. Since fall 2023, we have been reduced to a two-person tech team due to budget constraints. Nevertheless, we've continued to work tirelessly and undeterred to support the free software movement. On top of our normal work, this spring we ran another successful two-day in-person and remote LibrePlanetconference. From a tech team perspective, there were two significant changes at LibrePlanet 2024: we had a new venue, the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), which is a great university campus, and in many respects, an improvement upon past venues; and secondly, we made a software change I would like to tell you more about.
This year, we used the Galène videoconferencing server for our remote track. Previously, we used BigBlueButton. The reason for this change is a bit complicated. BigBlueButton has a dependency on MongoDB, and in 2018, new MongoDB versions started using a nonfree license. In 2020, we noticed that an upcoming BigBlueButton version had picked up a new nonfree MongoDB version, and we began a dialogue with the BigBlueButton developers. We helped investigate some options for moving away from MongoDB. We also tested and promoted FerretDB, a free MongoDB-compatible database. Last year, BigBlueButton finalized a technical plan for moving off MongoDB and announced their plan to do so, which will hopefully happen within the next year. Once they do officially move off MongoDB, we will celebrate their work as the program has grown to mean a lot for the free software community these last few years during and after the pandemic. While we had been using a BigBlueButton version with a free, pre-2018 MongoDB for the past few years, it was no longer officially supported by BigBlueButton. For our major annual event, we wanted to use and recommend a videoconferencing server with a supported and fully free upstream. We found that with Galène.
So, what is different about Galène? BigBlueButton and Galène both have real-time video- and audio-conferencing as a core feature. On the one hand, BigBlueButton has some features that Galène doesn't, for example, a shared whiteboard on which users can write and draw. While we have enjoyed these features, we didn't need them for the LibrePlanet 2024 workshops and presentations.
Galène does have one feature that we found amazingly useful: it is very CPU-efficient, which allowed us to to invite all attendees to directly participate as users even if several hundred showed up. With BigBlueButton, we would livestream a single BigBlueButton user's view of BigBlueButton using OBS Studio and Icecast in order to scale to hundreds of viewers safely. When considering how best to manage many anonymous users, we noticed a few features that would be good to have in Galène, so we made some feature requests upstream. To our amazement, one of the developers quickly engaged in conversation with us and within a week, implemented all of our feature requests and even designed one of the features to be much better than what we asked for. We also found Galène to be easy to install and administer. Overall, we are very pleased with Galène and are currently using it for all our day-to-day videoconferencing needs. The best thing: I was happy to learn that if you aren't used to typing an accented è, it is normal and expected to skip it and just type "Galene."
All in all, LibrePlanet proves again and again that a community can come together and run a conference using entirely free software. How great is it that we can communicate and collaborate in freedom!
All year round, the FSF runs on free software, self-hosted on our own computers to the maximum extent we can. That includes maintaining a rack of about a dozen servers across two data centers. We run a wide array of software to support the free software movement, including things like Git hosting and mailing lists for GNU software development. In fact, we counted sixty-threedifferent services. One way we are working to be more efficient is to better enable volunteers to do and lead sysadmin work. We are fostering a volunteer-centered team called the FSF SysOps team, which has a fledgling website at https://sysops.fsf.org/wiki/, where we are migrating volunteer-relevant information from the LibrePlanet wiki and other places. If you have technical skills and want to volunteer, please get in touch!
There is one more thing I helped a little bit with that I think is really amazing and worth mentioning here. This year, the world's largest company by revenue, Walmart (which recently acquired Vizio), attacked the FSF with its lawyers in a grueling and verbally aggressive ten-hour deposition that aimed to find a crack in the GPL and the FSF's stand for user freedom. The FSF responded diligently with extensive preparation and assistance from legal counsel, and we didn't crack. These kinds of actions take significant financial resources. We need your help to keep doing this. For me, a world where the FSF is able to stand up to the biggest companies in the world is a world where freedom has a fighting chance and hope exists.
Please help make that world exist. We know not everyone is in a position to, but if you can, will you support our efforts by joining the FSF as an associate member? An associate membership is a great show of support we can rely on. With your help, the tech team can ensure that the FSF runs smoothly on free software and thereby show that a world of computer user freedom is possible. As an FSF associate member, you'll be part of a vibrant international community and be able to enjoy all the associate member benefits, such as access to the FSF's videoconferencing
server, 20% discount on FSF merchandise, and email forwarding. Every new associate membership this spring will receive a FSF thermal mug as a welcome gift and help us achieve our goal of 200 new associate members by July 26. Need more reasons to join? Have a look at our appeal page or email us at info@fsf.org to receive more information.
The FSF firmly believes every computer user deserves freedom and tirelessly demonstrates how to do almost everything with free software. For years to come, the FSF has an important role to play for computer users globally, and we still have a lot of work to do. Thank you for your support and for joining us on this journey to a free world.
