FOSSCOMM 2024: A Record-Breaking Event for Open Source in Greece

The FOSSCOMM 2024 conference, held on November 9-10 at the University of Macedonia, concluded with remarkable success, setting a new record for participation. Over 500 attendees joined in person, accompanied by an additional ~250 online participants, making this year’s FOSSCOMM the most attended in its history. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for the Open Source community in Greece, highlighting a new level of professionalism and engagement in its organization. As a key organizer, I was proud to contribute my experience from organizing conferences both locally and internationally, ensuring FOSSCOMM 2024 delivered a top-tier experience.

Inspiring Keynotes from Open Source Visionaries

This year, I was thrilled to welcome my friends and globally respected Open Source advocates Frank Karlitschek (Nextcloud) and Luis Falcon (GNU Health, GNU Solidario) as keynote speakers. Having also Diomidis Spinellis at FOSSCOMM 2024 was a personal highlight for me, as their work continues to shape the Open Source world and improve lives globally.

Diomidis Spinellis, a professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business, captivated attendees with his talk "Lessons from the Unix History". Highlighting the enduring relevance of Unix’s design principles, Diomidis emphasized simplicity, modularity, and portability as timeless values for software development.

Frank Karlitschek, founder of Nextcloud, presented an enlightening talk titled "How to Build a Sustainable Open Source Company". Drawing from his extensive experience, Frank shared practical insights on balancing the ideals of Open Source with the realities of building and sustaining a thriving business. His talk underscored the importance of fostering community trust while delivering value to users and clients alike.

Luis Falcon, founder of GNU Health and GNU Solidario, delivered a thought-provoking keynote titled "Quo vadis, Free Software? Quo vadis, Society?". His presentation explored the vital role of Free Software in promoting social justice, equity, and access to essential services like healthcare. Luis’s insights challenged the audience to reflect on the broader societal implications of Free Software and the responsibilities that come with its development and use.

Having them at FOSSCOMM 2024 not only elevated the conference but also inspired attendees to explore how their own contributions could make a difference. Their presence was a personal highlight for me, as it reaffirmed the value of Open Source as a tool for global progress.

Attendees also enjoyed interactive workshops, engaging sessions, and excellent networking opportunities that fostered collaboration among students, professionals, and developers.

ONLYOFFICE Booth and Talk: Integrating AI into Office Software

One of my personal highlights at the event was representing ONLYOFFICE with a dedicated booth and delivering a talk titled "Integrating AI into Office Software: Sharing ONLYOFFICE Experience". The session, which attracted a significant audience, explored how AI can enhance productivity tools and improve user experience.

Many attendees visited the ONLYOFFICE booth to share their positive experiences using the platform in their daily workflows. I had the opportunity to engage with users, discuss their use cases, and gather valuable feedback. It was inspiring to hear how ONLYOFFICE has become an integral part of their professional and personal productivity, reinforcing the impact of Open Source innovation.

Fedora 41 Release Party

The first day of FOSSCOMM 2024 ended on a high note with the Fedora 41 release party, a vibrant celebration that brought together open source and Fedora enthusiasts. We discussed about the exciting new features and capabilities of Fedora 41, including advancements in performance, usability, and developer tools. Attendees shared ideas about how they plan to leverage these updates in their projects.

As part of the festivities, I distributed the remaining Fedora swag, which was met with enthusiasm from the crowd. The event fostered a lively and welcoming atmosphere, complete with discussions, networking, and, of course, delicious pizza to cap off the day.

A Community Milestone

Feedback from participants, project representatives, and companies was overwhelmingly positive. Many praised the conference’s exceptional organization, the quality of the sessions, and the opportunities it provided for collaboration and networking. FOSSCOMM 2024 proved to be a catalyst for new partnerships, innovative ideas, and a strengthened Open Source community in Greece.

As we look forward to the next FOSSCOMM, we remain committed to promoting the values of Open Source and free access to knowledge. A heartfelt thank you to everyone—attendees, volunteers, speakers, and sponsors—who made this event a resounding success.

This picture is special. I meet my friend Frank when I attend Nextcloud conference in Berlin or when I attend FOSDEM in Brussels. This picture is taken at my city and country.