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Read and share online: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/what-role-community-plays-in-free-software-and-more-interview-with-david-wilson
Dear Free Software Supporter,
Can't wait for the start of LibrePlanet 2024: Cultivating Community?
Same here. To sweeten the wait, we have interviewed David Wilson,
one of the keynote speakers and the creator of the System Crafters
channel and community. Enjoy the read, and if you haven't registered yet,
please register now:
FSF: Thanks for taking the time for this interview, David! Let's start
with the typical question people would ask when meeting someone
from the free software community: how did you first get involved with
free software?
David: I've been using GNU/Linux since around 1997 when I installed
Slackware Linux for the first time. I didn't learn about the philosophy
behind free software until a few years later when I read much of the
writing on the GNU and FSF websites. I was extremely inspired
by the idea of developing useful programs and encouraging others to
change the code and share their improvements. Since then, I've pursued
opportunities to create and contribute to free software projects, which
I've now done frequently over the last twelve years. My love for GNU
Emacs and GNU Guix also inspired me to create many tutorials
and videos to help other people experience the awesome things that
these tools can do!
FSF: You created the System Crafters channel, on which you
regularly publish videos and live stream recordings demonstrating
and explaining free software tools. What have you been talking
about lately on the System Crafters channel?
David: GNU Emacs is always a topic of discussion! It's the ultimate
playground for people who want to customize their environment to their
needs. It's inspiring to see so many people from a wide range of
backgrounds become Emacs enthusiasts. Many get started on their
free software journey by trying it out. Recently we've been talking a lot
more about GNU Guix and Guile Scheme, the official extension
language of the GNU project. My goal this year is to help more
programming beginners get started with Scheme and functional
programming as a way to build useful programs for their own needs
and share them with other people. Lately, I've been spending a lot of
time building a comprehensive course to go even deeper on Guile
Scheme, and I've been amazed by the number of people who are
excited to learn it!
FSF: What's your experience teaching Guile Scheme to coding
beginners as opposed to JavaScript, which is by far the more common
language for people to learn first?
David: In my experience, Scheme is not as easy for beginners as
JavaScript can be, but those who learn Scheme end up with a much
better understanding of data structures, algorithms, and functional
programming. This knowledge will serve them well as they continue
their journey with coding! One downside to Guile Scheme for beginners
is that there aren't as many useful libraries or helpful learning resources
out in the world as there are for more mainstream programming
languages like JavaScript or Python. However, this is a great opportunity
for those who want to start contributing to free software. Consider
contributing code and documentation to Guile Scheme and the
libraries surrounding it!
FSF: System Crafters is not only a channel but also a community
and "Cultivating Community" is also the theme of this year's LibrePlanet.
What role do you feel community plays in free software?
David: Free software cannot exist without community. The idea
behind free software is that anyone should have the right to change the
programs they use and share their changes for the benefit of others. If
there is no community, who will write the programs and who will improve
them? Moreover, I do think that community can play an important role in
bringing more new people to free software, especially those who have
not traditionally been drawn to it. A friendly, welcoming community can
be a place where new people feel supported and encouraged to learn,
share, and contribute to projects. These people may then go on to create
and contribute to free software projects and continue the mission!
FSF: What makes the System Crafters community unique?
David: The free software community has earned a reputation for being
harsh to newcomers, especially those of diverse identities and backgrounds.
It's hard to find a home community out there if you're the kind of person who
doesn't subscribe to the idea that you're "elite" for using GNU/Linux or free
software. The System Crafters community strives to be a friendly place
where folks from all backgrounds can come and share their love for the
tools they use without being belittled for their choices or treated like a
"newbie." We're all just computer enthusiasts at heart and we aim to
support and inspire each other through sharing what we learn and build.
FSF: How can people get involved at System Crafters?
David: The best way would be to join us in the #systemcrafters IRC
channel on libera.chat or on our forum at
https://forum.systemcrafters.net. You will find friendly people there at
any time of day who are always interested to chat about Emacs, Guix,
GNU/Linux, and the wider sphere of free software. You can also chat
with us at our regular live streams! In these streams we usually discuss
interesting topics, try out new programs, or find useful new ways to
customize the free software programs that we frequently discuss. The
best place to check the live streaming schedule is on the offical
website. We will be happy to have you join us!
FSF: What are you most excited about when thinking of keynoting
LibrePlanet 2024?
I am just honored to be asked by the Free Software Foundation to speak
at the premier free software conference. My life has been changed for
the better in many ways by free software and I am grateful for the
opportunity to contribute to the mission in some small way.
FSF: Can you give us a little teaser for your keynote and explain
why people should watch it?
David: My keynote will focus on how to cultivate a welcoming
free software community that lasts. My goal is to share the insights that
I've learned over the years from building the System Crafters community
and to provide a framework for how anyone can build a friendly, thriving
community around a free software project. If you want to attract
awesome, collaborative people to your community who stick around for
years, come check out my keynote!
FSF: Thanks for the interview! We are eager to learn more about how
to cultivate a welcoming community and bring new people to free software
in your keynote! And we can't wait to see all of you, reading this, at
LibrePlanet 2024: Cultivating Community!
The facts about LibrePlanet 2024: Cultivating Community
LibrePlanet: Cultivating Community will be held on May 4 and 5, 2024.
The in person part of the conference will take place at the Wentworth
Institute of Technology in Boston, MA, USA.
FSF associate members and students can attend LibrePlanet
gratis, but we still ask you to register to the event so that we can
prepare. If you haven't registered already, please register now:
Image Copyright © 2024, David Wilson, licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. |
