Opportunities with Free Software
Paw Prints: Writings of the maddog
I work with free software for many reasons, but sometimes I get wrapped up in the things that I do, and lose sight of the most important reasons why I work in this field....until I get a letter like the one below.
A few weeks ago I was in Columbia's first "Campus Party", a combination LAN party, conference, technology showcase and idea exchange, and while there I was shown a series of projects that were being developed by some students from the SENA group of colleges and Universities in Columbia. I commented on some of those projects, and used one of their systems in running a small "contest" during my talk.
I think it significant that the SENA students wanted the opportunity to tell people that young Colombians can write good software and that those same young Colombians were not "violent people". The first is something that I find repeated time and time again as I go around the world visiting countries. I even find it in the United States as I visit various pockets of the country not recognized for programming skills. But I run into the second issue less often, usually when I visit countries like Israel, or Russia, or China. So I am giving the young Colombian programmers that opportunity, and I am giving you the opportunity to write to this student, Mr. JAIME ALONSO PIAMBA IBARRA <jaime.piamba AT hotmail.com>, in case you or your event wishes to take him up on this opportunity to better know young Colombian programmers.
I also think it significant that these students are creating a new company out of Free Software using the work they had done at the University, creating the opportunity for them to make a living building on their work, and the work of others. This is the essence of Free Software, and I wish them luck.
Warmest regards,
Jon "maddog" Hall
===========================================================================================================
Mr Jon,
[It] is a pleasure to greet you and wishing that all things are good.
As you will recall, we met on Campus party Colombia a few weeks ago, I am a Sena student, I´ll graduate in few months and I´ve formed the company Multinet with other classmates. Meeting you has been very important in our professional and personal experience.
I am glad to inform you due to the projects presented at the event and the recognition that you kindly made us, we have received many opportunities, which we want to share with you.
For example, the Sena´s newspaper and the radio station interviewed us and also the regional newscast. About business, it has been very pleasant the receptivity that these solutions with free software have had on companies. Next Tuesday we will meet with managers of major chain drugstores in the country, to give a demonstration. They are very interested in implementing our product CallServer (Asterisk development).
In Sena formally we have established a research group in free software and we have received the approval for this initiative, which will have national coverage in Sena. Just next week we will be moving around Valle del Cauca, our state, to visit 7 SENA´s branches to talk about our projects with free software.
We also got approval to make SENATIC, a national congress on ICT for SENA Students, the event that I told you in which you will honor us with your presence (date is pending, maybe for February 09).
We would like to participate in other free software events worldwide, for example the OLF Ohio Linux Festival or others that you recommend to us, to show what Colombian young entrepreneurs are doing with free software, to show that Colombian young are not violent people, to show we´re creative workers.
We also thank you for all professional or business contacts that you can offer us, because we see that our products are solutions that can be applied globally and we are ready to make that goal a reality.
Finally reiterate you our admiration and gratitude, also you can count with us for any event, in addition, here in Colombia you have in us new unconditional friends.
Most of us, are living in Cali(300km from Bogota-Half our by plane), second city of country and capital of Valle del Cauca. I live in Florida, a town very close to Cali (20km).
Attached are photos of remembrance.
Thank you-Sincerely.
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Gnome 47.1 Released with a Few Fixes
The latest release of the Gnome desktop is all about fixing a few nagging issues and not about bringing new features into the mix.
-
System76 Unveils an Ampere-Powered Thelio Desktop
If you're looking for a new desktop system for developing autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle solutions. System76 has you covered.
-
VirtualBox 7.1.4 Includes Initial Support for Linux kernel 6.12
The latest version of VirtualBox has arrived and it not only adds initial support for kernel 6.12 but another feature that will make using the virtual machine tool much easier.
-
New Slimbook EVO with Raw AMD Ryzen Power
If you're looking for serious power in a 14" ultrabook that is powered by Linux, Slimbook has just the thing for you.
-
The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
-
Thousands of Linux Servers Infected with Stealth Malware Since 2021
Perfctl is capable of remaining undetected, which makes it dangerous and hard to mitigate.
-
Halcyon Creates Anti-Ransomware Protection for Linux
As more Linux systems are targeted by ransomware, Halcyon is stepping up its protection.
-
Valve and Arch Linux Announce Collaboration
Valve and Arch have come together for two projects that will have a serious impact on the Linux distribution.
-
Hacker Successfully Runs Linux on a CPU from the Early ‘70s
From the office of "Look what I can do," Dmitry Grinberg was able to get Linux running on a processor that was created in 1971.
-
OSI and LPI Form Strategic Alliance
With a goal of strengthening Linux and open source communities, this new alliance aims to nurture the growth of more highly skilled professionals.