Software Freedom Day: Past, Present and Future

Every year, Software Freedom Day (SFD) celebrates free software across the world. The aim is to increase awareness of free software and its virtues, and encourage its use. This year, SFD was celebrated on September 16

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Frederick Noronha caught up with Jurgen Gaeremyn, member of the Digital Freedom Foundation (the charity behind Software Freedom Day), to ask some pertinent questions about the history of the event, and its evolution over the years.

Jurgen Gaeremyn, member of the Digital Freedom Foundation, wrote in to say: “In June of this year, I offered to help launch Software Freedom Day (SFD) globally. I found your name when searching through the first years of Software Freedom Day, and your account was the oldest one (apart from the founders) I could find in my list. Back in 2005, you were writing for BytesForAll.”

Jurgen says that the SFD team and its supporters in different pockets of the globe are celebrating the 20th edition of Software Freedom Day this year. “Thanks for being one of the very first supporters of SFD, and two decades later still standing for open source software, open data and open culture!”

Seizing the opportunity, I sent across some queries. Here is an excerpt of the exchange.

FN: How has SFD grown or changed over the years (since I last knew it)? 

JG: Actually, SFD started back in the time when every self-respecting computer magazine offered a CD with some freebies on it. Back then Matt Oquist decided that burning a CD with actual free software (contrary to the freebies or trial versions on those other CDs) could add much value. He teamed up with Henrik Omma and Phil Harper and they decided to promote this OpenCD project all over the world. Things moved quickly from there.