Hi Thorsten, Thank you for the questions. Please find my answers in-line.
On 19 Jan 2025, at 22:36, Thorsten Bro | openSUSE Member <opensuse@bro.li> wrote:
- What is your pet project at openSUSE - name anything that comes to your mind (e.g. code, wiki, whatever comes to your mind...)?
openSUSE Mirrors [1] I’ve been a Linux user since 2001 and none of the distributions had a mirror in Mauritius. In 2021, when I received a VM and bandwidth sponsorship from a cloud provider, I set up the first Linux mirror [2] in Mauritius, the very first openSUSE mirror here. I was completely over the moon! Imagine using Linux for 20 years and always longing for faster updates — then finally experiencing lightning-fast updates. :) It was a true delight, and it still is. I also keep an eye on development updates for MirrorCache [3] on GitHub. I could not miss mentioning Andrii and Elisei for the development of MirrorCache when I presented "Building Linux mirrors in Africa" [4] at oSC23.
- How would you react to an escalation like this[1] on the mailing list? [1] https://lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/project@lists.opensuse.org/thread/R...
I stand by the openSUSE Community Code of Conduct [5]. I understand that there have been many efforts to explain that the pride flag on the site is not just a celebration on specific dates but a broader message of inclusion. Inclusivity cannot be limited to certain dates. In the mailing list thread, I gather that some people may struggle to interpret LGBTQ+ concepts due to their environment, upbringing, or other factors. To them, I recommend exploring the “Inclusive Open Source Community Orientation (LFC102)” course [6] by the Linux Foundation. It provides clear examples and valuable insights into the meaning of inclusiveness and can be very helpful. In fact, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) has made the course compulsory for chapter organisers.
- What's your opinion about flagging as welcoming community and inviting everybody to the project?
15 years ago, I sent an email [7] to Andreas Jaeger, who was the openSUSE Chairman at the time, expressing my wish to join the "openSUSE Ambassador" program. Back then, I was self-employed and didn’t know much about system administration. However, I had a strong passion for Linux. The community gave me a warm welcome and played a significant role in my growth. Since 2010, I have delivered countless presentations, workshops, and Linuxfests at universities across Mauritius. Today, I am a Systems Architect at a renowned media company. I’ve built and managed mail servers, I oversee an all-Linux multi-cloud infrastructure, and confidently speak about complex infrastructure - all without a university degree - thanks to the community knowledge and the wonderful friends at openSUSE. The openSUSE community has always been welcoming, and I see no reason to think otherwise. As a Board member, I will strive to uphold this spirit of inclusivity and support. On my campaign page [8], I mentioned that I want to connect with community members that often work in silo. My goal is to empower them to overcome barriers — be it language or otherwise - and contribute upstream to the project.
- Can you explain to me, as I really want to get the bigger picture, how the future of legal setup the openSUSE project looks like? What is the status of the Geekos Foundation and what are the goals of the board regarding this matter?
From local experience, being part of an association that requires legal registration, I know that these processes can be daunting. I deeply appreciate everyone’s efforts in this regard. However, I must honestly admit that, at the time of writing, I do not have complete knowledge of what has been accomplished and what remains pending. I recognise that the Geekos Foundation has been instrumental to manage donations and help with the Travel Support Program. I cannot say what will the future relationship be between openSUSE and the Geekos Foundation. We have a special relationship with SUSE, that cannot be ignored as well. That being said, my vision is for an independent openSUSE that is capable of overcoming the logistical challenges, and operate on its own — and I am committed to work with the Board to achieve this goal. Regards, Ish Sookun [1] https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Mirrors [2] https://mirror.opensuse.mu/ [3] https://github.com/openSUSE/MirrorCache [4] https://youtu.be/abNBhLug2Ls?t=306 [5] https://en.opensuse.org/Code_of_Conduct [6] https://training.linuxfoundation.org/training/inclusive-open-source-communit... [7] https://lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/ambassadors@lists.opensuse.org/thre... [8] https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Board_Election_2024_Platform_Ish_Sookun