Debian and DebConf
Stefano Rivera <stefanor@debian.org>
Buenos Aires, 27 August 2025
Presenter Notes
whoami
- Stefano Rivera: Software engineer working for Freexian
- Debian User since ~woody (2003)
- Debian Developer since 2011
- Attending DebConf since DebConf 11
- DebConf Video Team core
- DebConf Local Team for DebConf 16
- Serve on the DebConf Committee with Antonio Terceiro, Bernelle Verster, Gunnar Wolf, Nattie Mayer-Hutchings, and Sruthi Chandran
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Debian
- Free Software Linux Distribution, since 1993
- Brings together 70 000 free software packages into a coherent system
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More importantly, it's a community
- The distribution is entirely community run
- With some help from employees of companies that depend on it
- Around 1000 developers from 56 countries
- > 1370 Unique contributors in the last year
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History of DebConf
- DebConf has been running since 2000
- Making this the 27th DebConf
- We were in Argentina in 2008 (before my time)
- Nearby in Curitiba in 2019
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Goals of DebConf
- Face time for Debian community members
- Discuss problems across teams
- Share presentations on work
- Outreach to new communities
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Not a typical conference
- Grass roots, typically in universities
- Entirely volunteer run
- Free attendance (and bursaries)
- A lot of international attendees
- We use commercial caterers, sometimes hotels, etc.
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Two events in one
- 1 week of DebCamp
- Unscheduled sprints and discussions
- Set up DebConf infrastructure
- 1 week of DebConf
- 1 day off for Day Trips
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DebCamp
- A week devoted to working on Debian
- Some groups sprint on projects together
- Individuals work on their own projects
- Starts small, attendance grows during the week
- We get to slowly build up to the main conference
- Video Team sets up A/V equipment in rooms
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Daily arrivals
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DebConf
- A more typical conference
- Live Streams and recordings
- Academic-style presentations
- BoF sessions (team meetings)
- Local language sessions for outreach
- Hacklabs (working areas)
- Some special activities (Day Trip day, conference dinner, etc.)
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Organizing a DebConf
- Raise Sponsorship
- Accommodation
- Food
- Conference Space
- Internet Access
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Budget
- Typically around 200k USD
- Raised 290k USD sponsorship in France
- Raised 190k USD sponsorship in South Korea
- Majority goes towards travel bursaries
- Also significant number of accommodation and food bursaries
- Some income from fully self-paid attendees
- Total France income was 440k USD
- South Korea was 230k USD
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Raising sponsorship
- We have some regular international sponsors
- Local sponsors require local connections
- You can help here!
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Sponsorship Packages
| Supporter | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution in USD | < 3,000 | 3,000 | 7,500 | 15,000 | 30,000 |
| Logo on sponsor webpage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Provide materials for conference bags | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Logo on T-shirts and conference bags | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Presence at the job fair | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Logo on video streams and recordings | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Logo on general conference banners | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Logo on podium banners | ✓ | ||||
| Mention in press releases | ✓ |
There is a 40% discount for Argentine sponsors
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Accommodation
- Typically shared university dormitories
- Hotels when we have to
- As close to the event as possible
- Need some accessible rooms
- Almost all attendees need accommodation
- Only bursary attendees are critical
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Food
- Basic filling meals
- Many vegan attendees
- A few complex dietary requests (not critical)
- Clear labels including allergens
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Conference Spaces
- 3 videoed talk rooms
- Ad-hoc BoF rooms
- Hacklabs
- Social Spaces
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Internet
- Usually easy, these days
- Sometimes we have to get fibre installed
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Extra bits
- We have a few traditional (non-critical) events:
- Day Trip
- Cheese & Wine Party
- Conference Dinner
- etc.
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Conference Teams
- Bursary
- Video
- Content
- Sponsorship
- Front Desk
- Publicity
- Website
- Cheese & Wine Party
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How to help
- Help to raise sponsorship
- Contact engineers and management in companies you know
- Help make the event happen:
- Join the Debian Argentina Telegram
- Hang out in
#debian-ar(and#debconf-team) onirc.oftc.net - You don't have to be in Santa Fe (or Argentina)