The FOSS Club of LBS College of Engineering, Kasaragod, in collaboration with FOSS United and OpenMind, organized Kasaragod’s first-ever FOSS Meetup on 28 June 2025 at the OpenMind Makerspace, ASAP Community Skill Park. The event aimed to introduce participants to the values and practices of Free and Open Source Software while fostering a local community of contributors and learners.
Event Overview
The meetup was inaugurated by Mr. Safwan Hussain, CTO of Prokomers, who also launched the official FOSS Club website. The welcome address was delivered by Archana Das, student ambassador of the FOSS Club. The sessions provided a mix of conceptual insights and practical perspectives on open source.
Sessions Conducted
From Myths to Possibilities by Adnan Haaris explored the realities of open-source contribution and addressed common misconceptions.
Linux in the Open Source Ecosystem by Abhiram B K provided an engaging overview of Linux’s role in powering modern infrastructure.
Empowering Open Source with Azure by Dr. Sarith Divakar demonstrated how cloud platforms can be used to scale and deploy open-source projects.
Interactive Menti-based quizzes on FOSS concepts and session content were also conducted, encouraging active participation and reinforcing key takeaways.
Guest Interactions
The event featured valuable unplanned sessions by Mishab Mohammed (StartGlobal), who spoke on startups and open innovation, and Atul Nagaraj Nambiar (infosec consultant and alumnus), who shared insights into cybersecurity and real-world challenges in open-source ecosystems.
Participation and Feedback
The meetup was attended by around 30 participants, including students, alumni, and professionals. Despite weather-related disruptions and academic schedules, engagement was high. Participants appreciated the content, structure, and openness of the sessions, and many expressed interest in future FOSS-related activities and contributions.
Organizing Team
The event was coordinated by the FOSS Club’s core team, led by Alvira (student lead) and Dr. Sarith Divakar (faculty advisor). Planning and execution were carried out remotely due to the vacation period. The organising team—comprising Abhinav Krishna, Archana Das A, Divyashree M T, Sidharth S, Sreyas P, Sumayya, and Vaishakh O V—managed logistics, content, and coordination with dedication and efficiency, ensuring the smooth execution of the meetup.
Acknowledgements
We thank FOSS United for their sponsorship and continued encouragement, and OpenMind for providing the venue and local support. Their involvement was instrumental in making the event possible.
Future Plans
Based on the positive response and momentum, the FOSS Club plans to organize introductory workshops on Git and GitHub, open-source contribution sprints, sessions on everyday FOSS tools, and collaborative meetups with other institutions in the region. These initiatives aim to build a sustainable and inclusive FOSS community in Kasaragod and beyond.
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FOSS Club
LBS College of Engineering, Kasaragod ,Kerala
