On May 26, 2023, I had the opportunity to attend Linux Presentation Day at Worms University of Applied Sciences. The event took place at Worms University of Applied Sciences in the modern N building. Opened by Prof. Dr. Thielen, the event offered a variety of talks and workshops on Linux and free software.
About Linux Presentation Day
Linux Presentation Day is a Europe-wide series of events that takes place twice a year. Each participating group designs its own regional program, while the date is coordinated to attract more press attention. The aim of this event is to give interested beginners information about free software in general and the free operating system Linux in particular. It also offers opportunities for questions and discussions.
The Role of Wolust
As a member of Wolust, I was particularly proud of our meetup group's contributions to Linux Presentation Day. Wolust, the Wormser Linux User Stammtisch, is a group of Linux enthusiasts who meet regularly to share knowledge and experience. At this event, we not only gave talks but also organized various activities and provided materials.
We brought a variety of hardware for people to look at and try out, including an impressive water-cooled laptop (thanks to Satware). This device was not just an eye-catcher, but also a practical demonstration piece. It was configured to generate images locally with artificial intelligence using Stable Diffusion. This was a great example of how powerful and versatile Linux-based systems can be.
In addition to the hardware, we also brought some fun and interesting giveaways. These included stickers with Linux and open-source themes, which were very popular with participants. A particular highlight, however, was the homemade Tux cookies.
Wolust's involvement in Linux Presentation Day was a great opportunity to strengthen and expand the Linux community in Worms. It was a pleasure to meet so many people interested in Linux and free software, and we are already looking forward to the next event.
My Experiences
I had the chance to watch various talks. These are the talks I attended:
- "What is Linux", Free Software Licenses: This talk by Prof. Dr. Thielen provided a comprehensive overview of Linux and the various free software licenses.
Among other things, the session explained what a Linux kernel is and what a Linux distribution is. The history of Linux was also covered.
- WSL – Windows Subsystem for Linux: Klaus Ramstöck from Wolust gave an interesting insight into the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Klaus could not resist a brief look back at the past relationship between Microsoft and Linux.
The session was aimed mainly at Windows users, to lower the barriers to exploring Linux.
- APIs and the Bash Command Line / Wolust: Stephan Höhn from Wolust gave an informative talk on APIs and the Bash command line, two important tools for every Linux user.
Using the university's REST API, he showed how to retrieve data from an interface on the command line using simple means.
His slides and scripts can be found on Stephan's website: https://untergang.de/index.php/konferenzen-thema-linux/lpd-23-1-in-worms.html
- Penetration Testing with Linux: Prof. Dr. Wendzel from Worms University of Applied Sciences gave an exciting talk about penetration testing with Linux, an important skill for anyone who wants to work in IT security.
The session was a good mix of theory and an introduction to practical tools.
Prof. Dr. Wendzel's Github account is worth a look.
Closing Thoughts
Linux Presentation Day was a great opportunity to learn more about Linux and free software. It was wonderful to see so many people interested in these topics and willing to share their knowledge and experiences. I am already looking forward to the next event!
You can find further information about the event on the Worms University of Applied Sciences website.