The FrOSCon conference for anyone interested in open-source software on 15–16 August

The programme of talks on the technical and social aspects of open source will take place on Saturday 15 August from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, and on Sunday 16 August from 10 am to 5.30 pm. One highlight is the keynote speech by Gina Häußge, who developed ‘OctoPrint’, an open-source software programme that has established itself as a popular tool for controlling 3D printers (Saturday 15 August, 12.30 pm). The talk by Frédéric Noppe, managing director of L3montree and an H-BRS graduate, also promises to be fascinating. The managing director of the cybersecurity start-up founded by H-BRS graduates will speak about modern digital administrative infrastructure (Sunday, 16 August, 11.15 am). In addition, there will be classic open-source topics such as free operating systems for smartphones.

Numerous sponsors

The event is organised by the FrOSCon association and the Department of Computer Science at H-BRS. It receives significant support from students, alumni, university staff and other volunteers. Following a public appeal for donations to fund the conference at the start of the year, numerous sponsors have come forward to ensure the conference’s continued existence. “On the one hand, this shows that the open-source community sticks together; on the other, it demonstrates just how great the demand for this event is,” says Professor Michael Rademacher, co-organiser on behalf of H-BRS. Last year saw record interest, with more than 2,000 visitors. “In the modern world of work, people often sit alone in front of their computers. This makes face-to-face interaction all the more important for developing creative ideas together,” says Rademacher. Anyone interested in free software and open source is invited to attend the conference.