The annual FOSDEM 2025 event has successfully concluded, hosting a plethora of insightful sessions and discussions, with notable participation from members of the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). This event, known for being a major gathering for free software enthusiasts, brought together developers, committers, and contributors to share their knowledge and experiences in the open-source software development realm. This article aims to provide an informative glimpse into the talks presented by ASF participants, accompanied by links to the recorded videos for those interested in delving deeper.
SBOM Journey for an Open Source Project – Apache NuttX RTOS
One of the engaging talks at FOSDEM was delivered by Alin Jerpelea from Sony, focusing on the journey of creating a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for the Apache NuttX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). This was Alin’s second venture at FOSDEM, a venue he praises for its vibrant community spirit. The presentation centered on the community’s transition to Apache licensing, the adoption of SPDX headers, and the challenges faced in automating SBOM generation for a C language-based project.
For those unfamiliar, an SBOM is a formal record containing the details and supply chain relationships of various components used in building software. It is crucial for ensuring transparency and security in software development. The talk highlighted the importance of such practices in maintaining robust open-source projects like Apache NuttX.
Learn more about Apache NuttX here.
Forked Communities: Project Re-licensing and Community Impact
Brian Proffitt from Red Hat, along with Dr. Dawn M Foster, Stephen Walli, and Ben Ford, tackled the increasingly prevalent issue of open-source businesses shifting their licensing to more restrictive forms. This shift often results in "source available" licenses, which, despite claims, do not consistently yield better financial outcomes for companies.
This talk explored the implications of such relicensing, which often leads to hard forks—new projects developed independently from the original. These forks can create challenges for users and contributors, disrupting the community and development process. However, the panel observed that forked projects generally thrive in terms of contributions and adoption, underscoring the significance of open communities in technology success.
Apache Arrow: The Great Library Unifier
Matt Topol from Voltron Data delivered an engaging session on Apache Arrow, a platform designed to enhance the efficiency of data analytics and machine learning tasks. This was Matt’s first experience at FOSDEM, a massive event that attracts a diverse crowd due to its open-access nature. The session explored how Apache Arrow serves as a unifying library that facilitates data interchange and processing across different applications and systems.
The session also touched on the vibrant "Fringe" events organized alongside FOSDEM, providing attendees with additional opportunities to network and explore various development domains. For those working in data analytics or AI/ML, Matt’s session recordings offer a wealth of knowledge.
Learn more about Apache Arrow and Apache Iceberg.
Apache Arrow Tensor Arrays: An Approach for Storing Tensor Data
Rok Mihevc and Alenka Frim presented a brief but informative session on the development of tensor data type support in Apache Arrow’s C++ and Python implementations. They demonstrated how tensor arrays can be created and used in Python, promoting interoperability with libraries like NumPy.
The session also covered PyArrow’s functionalities, showcasing data storage, manipulation, and transport capabilities—all within a single Python library. The feedback highlighted the community’s interest in such functionalities, emphasizing the need for more presentations in this area.
Introducing Qumat, Apache Mahout’s New Quantum Compute Layer
Trevor Grant and Andrew Musselman introduced "qumat," a new quantum computing layer within Apache Mahout. This innovation aligns with Mahout’s core values of interoperability, allowing quantum researchers to code once and deploy across various platforms without rewriting code.
This flexibility is crucial in the quantum computing landscape, where different vendors offer unique libraries for cloud-based quantum services. Qumat simplifies the process, letting developers focus on building algorithms without needing to adapt to specific libraries.
Building Bridges: Exploring the Future of Developer Relations BOF
Nadia Jiang from Ant Group organized a Birds of a Feather session on Developer Relations, marking her second FOSDEM experience. The session fostered lively discussions among participants from diverse backgrounds, ranging from large corporations to startups.
Key topics included adapting open-source documentation and support in the face of AI advancements and balancing developer relations with customer support. The insights shared during these discussions were both inspiring and thought-provoking.
Airflow Beach Cleaning – Securing Supply Chain
Jarek Potiuk from Apache Airflow, alongside Munawar Hafiz and Michael Winser, presented on securing the software supply chain. Jarek, a FOSDEM veteran, shared his journey from being an attendee to co-organizing sessions, emphasizing the value of networking and knowledge sharing at such events.
The talk highlighted "Fringe" events as crucial gatherings for open-source enthusiasts, leading to discussions on open-source policies and collaborations with EU policymakers. These interactions are pivotal in shaping the future of open-source in a more regulated world.
What if Log4Shell Were to Happen Today?
Piotr Karwasz, a freelance contributor to Logging Services PMC, revisited the Log4Shell crisis, sharing insights on handling vulnerabilities in open-source projects. He emphasized the necessity of being prepared for new releases and maintaining readiness for potential threats.
Piotr’s talk also addressed common issues like "featuritis" and slow responses to vulnerability announcements, offering practical solutions to enhance security and resilience in open-source software.
Take the Polar Plunge: A Fearless Introduction to Apache Iceberg
Danica Fine from Snowflake introduced Apache Iceberg, a data lakehouse architecture, to an enthusiastic audience. Despite a last-minute schedule change, the session was well-attended, covering the architecture, compute engines, and catalogs of Apache Iceberg.
Danica’s presentation highlighted the benefits of Iceberg in managing metadata and handling data queries efficiently. The session was part of a broader effort to familiarize the community with the latest developments in the Apache Iceberg Table Format.
What the Spec?!: New Features in Apache Iceberg Table Format V3
Danica Fine and Russell Spitzer from Snowflake discussed the upcoming features in Apache Iceberg’s Table Format V3. These features include Row Lineage, Variant Types, and Delete Vectors, aimed at enhancing data management capabilities.
The session sparked numerous discussions, reflecting the community’s keen interest in the advancements of the Apache Iceberg project. Such interactions are vital for driving future innovations and collaborations in the open-source ecosystem.
To explore more about FOSDEM and access the complete list of recorded sessions, visit FOSDEM 2025. To contribute to an Apache Software Foundation project, visit ASF Community.
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