On the track

After listening to kushal as FOSS.IN 2005 always thought of moving there but unfortunate every time as my exams collided with the schedule. Finally I got a chance this time at FOSS.IN 2008.

1st Day at FOSS.IN started with kushal and me going to IISC campus at Bangalore (which is the venue for FOSS.IN). Got myself registered and just after that met familiar faces. There was a excitement lying within as this being my first FOSS.IN and I was yet to feel what actually happens at such kind of event. Me, Sayamindu and Kushal were roaming after the keynote got over. At last we found a place to sit/work/chat/relax, and that was the KDE booth. I met with Pradeepto for the 1st time there.

Rain started spoiling the show from the 2nd day@FOSS.IN. It affected badly on the no. of people attending FOSS.IN. Within 2nd day we already had deepen our roots at the KDE stall. Half of it was already Fedora booth . We literally glued Fedora posters all over our part of the stall , and started distributing Fedora stickers and F9 live cd’s. I attended talks on OLPC by Sayamindu and after lunch on Activity development in Sugar by Kushal. I video shooted the whole of Sayamindu’s talk which led my hands being senseless for the next 10 minutes. Got a KDE Tee shirt from Pradeepto

Day 3 we were all in Black KDE Tee’s. It was KDE Project of the day. I was there to attend the sessions on KDE started by Pradeepto, followed up by Sharan, Shashank and Adriaan. I and Kushal made a plan to prepare maps for Kgeography and so started the work after lunch in the KDE booth. The three OLPC’s at Fedora stall was really stealing the show. It was really a crowd puller. I too loved the XO’s. I really would like to have one for me. We continued our work on Kgeography and in between distributed stickers and Fedora goodies to the crowd.

4th Day we were the Men in Blue. All of us - me , kushal , mether , Sayamindu , Ramki , Pradeepto , Susmit and few others were dressed in the Blue Fedora tee shirt. We had a nice Fedora team picture which I will upload soon in Flickr. Kushal was preparing the “Meet the Contributors” videos and the “I am Fedora” videos. I was assisting him with the handycam. Day 4 ended with Adriaan giving us a treat at RR’s in Bangalore. Nice dinner , nice people , I was in love with FOSS.IN

Last day was mainly fun. We all had gossips/chat at the KDE/Fedora stall. We were moving in all places with the handycam and mike. Mainly Ramki and Pradeepto were with the mike and Kushal with the Camera. Random Questions , Random people and fun were all at the last day at FOSS.IN. The end keynote by Kalyan Varma left me spellbound and speechless which therefore added FOSS.IN to the core of my heart. I have been attending speeches and lectures from college life but this one left a mark on the mind. Hats off to Kalyan Varma for the end session keynote that day. I really thought it was mindblowing.

FOSS.IN 2008 for me was a really great experience. Meeting new people , attending sessions you like , BOF’s , Workouts are really the key nodes for FOSS.IN. Contributing something to the FOSS community on the spot and getting associated with projects you feel are something worth notable.

Through the blog I should also thank the organiser and the volunteers for the event. They really worked day and night to make this event onto where it is now.

FOSS.IN 2008 for me was a learning. This event gets into my yearly schedule of attendance.

In the meanwhile for a month I was not in touch with my blog and the preliminary reason this time being my visit to the native. If you are moving home after about a year, you feel like heaven and at any circumstances don’t want to be back. But your work, job , responsibilities drive you away from your home.

Coming to the point of today’s blog —–> Time for FOSS.IN
After the 2nd day of Barcamp rocked and got to know many people out, I really loved Barcamp. Now its time for FOSS.IN and somehow I managed for leave at my Office and am really excited anticipating the fun out here at FOSS.IN this time. Expecting much things from FOSS.IN, hopefully it will meet up my expectations.

So on the way to meet a lotta people and having a lotta fun.