BOSTON, MA – November 21, 2024 – Hundreds of free software enthusiasts participated in the Free Software Foundation’s (FSF) FSF40 hackathon, culminating in awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the free software ecosystem.The event, a key component of the FSF’s fortieth anniversary celebrations, underscored the collaborative spirit driving the movement for software freedom.
The hackathon drew participants dedicated to improving existing free software packages and fostering new contributions. At the close of the event, the FSF highlighted three specific achievements. The “un-archive” team working on Org Mode received the “First time Contributor” award, recognizing their team’s inclusion of new developers to the free software world.Jiyu was honored with the “Most Impactful Contribution” award for their work removing non-free software in ARM Trusted Firmware within GNU boot. The Lewa project earned the “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging” award for contributions advancing those principles within the free software community.
Participants wishing to receive a certificate acknowledging their involvement can email campaigns@fsf.org.
The FSF also acknowledged the generous support of sponsors Purism, who donated a Librem 5 phone running PureOS, and ThinkPenguin, who provided a free Software Wireless-N Mesh Kit. These prizes were awarded to participants based on the impact and novelty of their contributions.
The FSF is currently conducting its year-end fundraiser, seeking to reach a goal of $400,000 USD to support future events like the FSF40 hackathon and its ongoing mission to champion software freedom. Individuals can contribute by donating $40 USD or becoming an associate member for as little as $12 USD per month through my.fsf.org.
