In August 2025, Debian turned 32 — or, for those who prefer other bases, 0b100000 in binary, or 0x20 in hexadecimal. An impressive age for a community-driven distribution that continues to power much of the Free Software world.

By the time of FOSDEM, I will have served nearly two years as Debian Project Leader. In this talk, I’ll share insights from that experience: how Debian works as a do-ocracy, what helps it thrive, and where collaboration sometimes meets friction.

I’ll reflect on what I set out to achieve, what we managed to accomplish, and the challenges of coordinating a large, globally distributed project run entirely by volunteers. The talk will also explore how Debian adapts to change — in technology, community dynamics, and expectations — while staying true to its core values.

https://www.debian.org