Great news! MariaDB got its own DevRoom at FOSDEM 6-7 Feb 2021（https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/）. Usually FOSDEM happens in Brussels, but nobody is surprised that it is virtual this year.
What FOSDEM is
FOSDEM（https://fosdem.org/2021/） is the biggest Free and Open Source Developers Meeting worldwide. I am sure it remains so in these pandemic times. While I will miss all the many social f2f encounters at FOSDEM, I am looking forward to meeting people virtually.
Separating MariaDB from MySQL
For MariaDB Foundation, this is no small challenge. We will have to establish a Program Committee of our own, when we have so far cohabitated with MySQL. As LeFred notes（https://www.mysqlandfriends.eu/post/mysql-devroom-at-fosdem-2021/）, MariaDB and MySQL are no longer drop-in replacements for each other – although we are tightly knit and migration between the two RDBMSes is easier than between almost any other combination of databases.
What to expect
We are not yet in the stage of sending out a Call for Papers. But you can expect the FOSDEM format to be similar to our MariaDB ServerFest in September. We plan for 20 minute presentations, pre-recorded, followed by a live Q&A. So start thinking of your submissions.
Share your wishes with us!
Given a MariaDB specific room, we have a unique opportunity to organise the DevRoom exactly in accordance with your wishes. Please approach us with your suggestions!
Reaching out to other DevRooms
We also want to use FOSDEM to reach out of our own bubble. In Brussels, it hasn’t always been easy to run out of our own DevRoom, out into the cold and sleet, to rush into some other DevRoom – no matter how cool it is.
Which DevRooms should we approach?
To be honest, we haven’t always even been sure of which DevRooms to submit talks to. So if you have suggestions on what MariaDB related topics would interest language communities, environment communities, FOSS distributions or other DevRoom providers, we would dearly appreciate your input.
Next steps
In the meantime: Stay tuned for our CfP and other more precise information on the MariaDB DevRoom at FOSDEM 2021!