New: Fediverse Report #102
This week's news:
- a large crowd for the #fediverse at #fosdem
- some controversies around data scraping on the fediverse
- @openvibe gets 800k in funding to further work on the multi-protocol client
fosdem
Our #TrunkAndTidbits engineering update for January (also including #FOSDEM) is here - here's what we have been working on so far this year. Includes an update on the #Fediscovery project, and some cool projects from the broader developer ecosystem. https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/02/trunk-tidbits-january-2025/
Next week is European Open Source Week in Brussels, culminating in FOSDEM 2026 on the weekend. There are several important ways to stay connected to the Fediverse while you're visiting this week!
Mastodon maintains a booth at FOSDEM throughout the weekend. It's a great place to get Mastodon merch or take a selfie with the Mastodon team.
The Social Web Dev Room is a day-long event on Jan 31 in room H.2215 with loads of talks about Fediverse software and Fediverse organizing.
There will be a […]
Edited 24d ago
can someone share a speakers picture of the #FOSDEM #socialweb dev room?
We had a great time at #FOSDEM, as always. It is such a treasure to gather with so many fantastic people from the #FOSS community. This is all thanks to the @fosdem volunteers who make this great happening possible. A very big thank you to everyone who contributed. It had such as positive impact that it brought an early spring to Brussels.
It was an honor to speak at the #FOSDEM. Thank you for the possibility to share my message on how to lead change from closed source to #opensource and why contributing to this transition actually matters more than ever.
In case you missed the talk and would like to join the #FOSS revolution, I'm happy to share the recording: https://video.fosdem.org/2026/aw1120/7YMJST-how-to-lead-change-to-open-source.av1.webm
#fosdem #opensource #foss #leadership #changemanagement #unplugtrump #vendorlockin #bigtech
Edited 16d ago
- solidarity with 
My trip finally begins : Tonight, the 
453 will bring me in a comfortable wagon-lits to Berlin, the first stop of my #FOSSRail trip from 🇧🇪 Brussels to 🇹🇭 Bangkok connecting the FOSDEM with the FOSSASIA by train.
I will spend the next two weeks on trains across 12 countries and 11.000 km on rails.
May the games begin ✊🏽.
#FOSSRail #FOSDEM #FOSSASIA #CrossBorderRail #TeamNightTrain
At this year's #fosdem were many urgent calls to save #democracy (e.g. by @RichiH), yet we don't even deal with fascist tendencies in our communities.
Mostly men™ with authoritarian behaviours, using their positions of [limited] power to oppress and only know escalation, no dialogue.
Start taking action by stand up against unacceptable behavior more, correct your friends and colleagues when they have their shitty, unnecessary power trips.
Can't fight #fascism if you are not behaving #antifascist
We're at #FOSDEM with two talks!
🐾 Walkaway Stack: Radical, infrastructure-independent peer-to-peer systems
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/J3FLC3-walkaway-stack/
🐼 Towards a Local-First Linux Desktop with Modal, Reflection and p2panda
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/MCVBNK-p2panda-modal-reflection/
Hey, all. One thing that's different this year about the Social Web Devroom at FOSDEM 2026 is that we're going to include talks about the organizational and social aspects of rolling out Open Source Fediverse software for individuals and communities. Last year, we focused pretty heavily on technical talks from the principle developers of FLOSS packages. This year, we want to make sure the other aspects of Fediverse growth and improvement are covered, too.
Consequently, the guidance for last […]
Edited 80d ago
The road to mainstream Matrix [LWN.net]
https://lwn.net/SubscriberLink/1009932/572571cd50cc094b/
"Matrix is an open protocol for decentralised, secure communications. …"
Busy week! We're preparing to meet the community at #FOSDEM at the weekend. Some members of the team will be at various events around Brussels from Thursday. As well as @haubles talk on the #socialweb track on Saturday, @mellifluousbox will be on a panel on the Policy track on Sunday. Plus, you'll be able to buy stickers and pins on our stand to #SupportMastodon
Edited 23d ago
@nemo made a #fosdem schedule app for the #playdate, I don't have one but if I did, I would totally try to use this
https://captnemo.in/kurbelfahrplan
I'm looking forward to #FOSDEM. We're bringing some easy to carry merch, loads of stickers, and even leaflets I designed. Definitely come by Mastodon's stand if you're there ☺️ We're going to be in building F this time.
Edited 23d ago
The schedule for the Social Web Developer Room at FOSDEM 2026 is starting to be populated as the speakers confirm their availability. We had a tonne of great submissions for this year's track, and even with double the time from last year, we still had to leave some great talks on the cutting room floor. But we still managed to fit in 24 great talks, large and small. We're going to see some additional events happening as FOSDEM 2026 gets nearer. Watch the #SOCIALWEBFOSDEM hashtag for more news […]
Edited 67d ago
I updated my "How to survive FOSDEM" article.
@fosdem organizers updated map so I updated it as well. The change was simple: there is no ATM at ULB (for quite a while).
So I added an info about it. And some minor edit.
https://marcin.juszkiewicz.com.pl/2019/10/15/how-to-survive-fosdem/
Since you can never be _everywhere_ you want to be at #FOSDEM, sometimes you have to watch back some of the dev room talks you missed.
@a from the @rustfoundation gave a great talk: A phishy case study - attacks on crates.io and others (namely @pypi and npmjs.com )
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/GFA3RJ-a_phishy_case_study/
Go watch it.
Edited 15d ago
Last minute #FOSDEM tips for newbies:
- wear layers
- use a scarf and gloves
- assume the onsite ATM is empty when you need it**
- be your usual open and friendly self
- be excellent to each other
Looking forward to seeing everyone again. It is home, away from home, with like minded and brilliant people.
I'll be around, just look for the "SWAT" name tag and start a conversation :-)
2026-01-27 update: **the onsite ATM went the way of the dinosaurs (e.g. it is gone)
Edited 22d ago
Someone at #FOSDEM asked us to put some promotional materials on our website that they could print for an event. There is now a section for that on the Branding page with our first poster:
RE: https://not-brain.d.on-t.work/notes/aihbpmkp1ecc81qe
Glad to get a reminder that @gwil's Willow presentation from #FOSDEM is up! This was a talk I tried to go to with @hongminhee and @2chanhaeng but we made it there right at the last 2 minutes cause it took too soo to find it in the maze of the campus.
I have trying to create a list for #fosdem26 and realized that (ironically) most of the people in the socialweb track ... does not have a fediverse account listed there.
I am also at fault, btw, so shame to me.
If you know someone who is presenting at #fosdem26 please send them my way. I will update this thread with the list of confirmed speakers.
The Fosdem 26 social web track List:
@pfefferle
@andypiper
@[email protected]
@evan @evanprodromou
@haubles
@mapache
@darius
@bjoernsta
@django
@resieguen
@openforfuture
@iusondemand
@cwebber
@tsyesika
@zzepposs
@melaniebartos
@Pepijn
@Floppy
@tobias
Social Web Track
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/social-web/
Boosts are also appreciated!
Edited 53d ago
We've just published a blog post about our time at #FOSDEM this year, in case you missed out - there's plenty to catch up on, from the session recordings.