Librem 5: a PC in your pocket +++ Booths are back

Tue Sep 6 09:32:09 UTC 2022

 = Librem 5: a PC in your pocket +++ Booths are back =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/nl/nl-202209.ru.html ]

In this issue we look into the software development of Librem 5 phone
and of Phosh, the popular graphical environment for Linux phones. And
booths are back! We are happy to discuss Free Software in person again.

 == A PC in your pocket: Librem 5, a Free Software phone ==

Librem 5 runs the fully convergent PureOS, which means you can take a
mobile desktop with you within your phone. Its dedicated graphical
environment, Phosh, is becoming a popular option for Linux phones. Guido
Günther, FSFE supporter and one of Purism’s main developers, reveals
details of Librem’s software development with us in our interview [1].
Convergence, the ability to have almost the same OS in phones and
laptops, benefits software development. Guido explains: “Using mostly
the same components across devices helps avoid developing the same
things twice, one for mobile and one for desktop. It allows people with
knowledge of desktop Linux to find their way around right away [… and]
to contribute more easily as it is the same technology stack.”

The FSFE is advocating for the publication of source code of drivers,
tools, and interfaces [2] for the ecodesign and sustainability of
products. Over one hundred entities support this demand, and Guido
confirms its importance for hardware sustainability: “Finding or writing
Free Software drivers can be very challenging, especially when it comes
to complex things like the GPU, as these are very complex devices.
Similarly for software components in the camera stack. But having free
drivers is a requirement for sustainability.” Finally, Guido recalls
FrOSCon as a highlight of the FSFE local group Bonn.

 == Save the date ==

On Friday 9 September, Francesco Bonnano, software developer, and
Professor Michele Calà will present the ‘Public Money? Public Code!’
campaign in Caltanissetta. Join [3] if you are nearby, or spread the
word!

>From 30 September to 2 October, the FSFE, together with 11 other civil
society organisations, is co-organising the Bits & Bäume 2022 [4] (“Bits
and Trees”) conference, the conference about digital sustainability.
Besides technically organising the conference, the FSFE is also involved
in creating content. Lucas Lasota speaks about “Device Neutrality: a
sustainable way to safeguard control over digital devices”, Erik Albers
about “4 Demands towards a sustainable European ecodesign”, and Matthias
Kirschner gives a book reading on “Ada & Zangemann: A tale about
software, skateboards and raspberry ice cream”. The FSFE local group
Berlin supports our activities with an information booth there. Tickets
are available now; drop by to discuss software freedom and
sustainability!

On Saturday 1 October, Lina Ceballos, FSFE Project Manager, will present
REUSE at Akademy in Barcelona [5].

 == Back to the booths! ==

After a long time of restrictions in social gatherings, we were finally
able to have two booths in the weekend of 20-21 August. The FSFE had a
booth in the Open House event of the German Federal Ministry of
Environment in Berlin. It was a booth full of people and energy, thanks
to the overwhelming participation of the FSFE local group Berlin. More
than five volunteers were on the spot throughout the weekend, explaining
Free Software to the audience. At the booth we were presenting upcycled
Android phones [6] and explained how Free Software can help overcome
software obsolescence. One highlight was the visit of State Secretary
Rohleder to the booth. We demonstrated old phones that can still operate
securely with Free Software.

During the same weekend the FSFE had a booth at one of Germany’s largest
GNU/Linux conferences, FrOSCon in St. Augustin, Germany. The FSFE Women
group [7] joined and met there and discussed with members of the Open
Office booth the process of converting software into Debian packages.
Lina Ceballos presented REUSE in a talk [8].

 == Our groups and community ==

Aarhus [9]: During their August meetup, the FSFE local group Aarhus
followed the recent developments in Denmark regarding potential Free
Software usage in schools. The Danish Data Protection Agency has, in
reaction to a complaint from a parent, found that the use of Chromebooks
and Google Classroom in schools in the municipality of Helsingør is
unacceptable and unlikely to comply with General Data Protection
Regulation.

The group also discussed the EU chat directive, translations into
Danish, and types of conferences where ‘Public Money? Public Code!’ can
be presented. The group will meet again on 22 September.

Hamburg [10]: The FSFE local group Hamburg had its monthly meeting and
will meet again on 12 September.

Netherlands [11]: The FSFE country team Netherlands is starting an
international coalition about Free Software in Education, coordinating
its efforts with organisations who work on education IT. The team will
meet again on 21 September.

Translators [12]: The FSFE translators group met online in August.
Bonnie Mehring gave a tutorial on using Git and guided new contributors
into making their first pull request. Luca Bonissi demonstrated the
webpreview tool. At the end of the meeting the participants enjoyed many
rounds of charades, pondering upon confusing sketches.

In August we published the first pages translated into Turkish: Our
general page about Free Software [13] and why Democracy requires Free
Software [14].

Vienna [15]: The FSFE local group Vienna held an information stall at
Veganmania on the Donauinsel, enjoying interesting conversations with
people who wanted to learn about Free Software.

Zurich [16]: The FSFE local group Zurich met in August and discussed the
activities in the educational sector and division of responsibilities.
The group will meet again on 8 September.

 == Get active ==

Since the launch of the “Public Money? Public Code!” initiative, it has
grown a lot and experienced increasing support. Now there is a new and
fun way of showing your support for “Public Money? Public Code!”. Create
your own SharePic [17]! It is easy: choose a picture of yourself, go to
the SharePic generator, and add your support message. Ta-da: your
personalised SharePic. Share the picture on your favourite social media
using #PublicCode.

 == Contribute to our Newsletter ==

If you would like to share any thoughts, pictures, or news, please send
them to us. As always, the address is newsletter at fsfe.org. We're looking
forward to hearing from you! If you also want to support us and our
work, join our community and support us with a donation or a monthly
contribution [18]. Thanks to our community and all the volunteers,
supporters, and donors who make our work possible. And thanks to our
translators, who enable you to read this newsletter in your native
languages.

Your editor, Fani Partsafyllidou

Discuss this [19]

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  1: https://fsfe.org/news/2022/news-20220712-01.ru.html
  2: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/openletter.ru.html
  3: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/Sicilia
  4: https://bits-und-baeume.org/en/
  5: https://conf.kde.org/event/4/contributions/101/
  6: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/index.ru.html
  7: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Women
  8: https://media.fsfe.org/w/1CEroi8ph8oej5eFofQECJ
  9: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/Aarhus
 10: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/Hamburg
 11: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/BNL#FSFE_Nederland_.2F_Niederlande_.2F_Pays-Bas_.2F_Netherlands
 12: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Translators
 13: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/freesoftware.ru.html
 14: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/democracy.ru.html
 15: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/Vienna
 16: https://wiki.fsfe.org/LocalGroups/Zurich
 17: https://fsfe.org/news/2022/news-20220823-01.ru.html
 18: https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=newsletter
 19: https://community.fsfe.org/t/898