The Fedora community came together on Friday, May 24th, and Saturday, May 25th, 2024, to celebrate the much-anticipated release of Fedora Linux 40. This virtual Release Party marked a significant milestone for the project, showcasing an array of new features, community initiatives, and a groundbreaking shift to the Matrix/Element platform for a truly open-source and interactive experience.

Fedora Linux 40 represents a significant step forward for the open source operating system. With 53 accepted Changes (28 System-Wide and 25 Self-Contained), it brings a host of new features, improved hardware support, enhanced security, and updated software packages.

It also serves as the branching point for CentOS Stream 10, solidifying its role as a foundation for future downstream Enterprise Linux releases.

A New Era of Virtual Collaboration

For the first time in Fedora’s history, the Release Party was hosted entirely on Matrix rooms within the Element platform. This move to a Free and Open Source event platform proved to be a steady success, with integrated communication, and engaging discussions throughout the two-day event.

This pioneering approach demonstrates Fedora’s commitment to embracing Free and Open Source software and fostering a collaborative environment for its global community.

Missed the Release Party? Catch the full recordings on Fedora’s YouTube channel!

Fedora Linux 40 Release Party Day 1 & 2 Videos

Day 1: Diving Deep into Fedora Linux 40’s Enhancements

The festivities kicked off on May 24th with opening remarks from Fedora Project Leader Matthew Miller, Operations Architect Aoife Moloney, and Community Architect Justin W. Flory. They set the tone by reflecting on the past release cycle and unveiling the impressive changes introduced in Fedora Linux 40.

A diverse lineup of speakers took the virtual stage to share insights into various aspects of the new release. Highlights included:

  • Passim Peer-to-Peer Metadata: Richard Hughes shed light on this innovative technology for distributing metadata, promising a more efficient and resilient software update process.
  • Mentored Projects Initiative: Fernando Mancera updated attendees on the progress and impact of the Mentored Projects Initiative, which empowers new contributors to gain valuable experience.
  • Fedora COSMIC SIG: Ryan Brue explored the work of the COSMIC SIG (Container Orchestration, Stream Management, and Images Community), showcasing the advancements in container technologies within Fedora.
  • Git Forge ARC Investigation: Tomas Hckra and Akashdeep Dhar presented their findings on the investigation into potential alternatives to Pagure as the primary Git forge for Fedora.
  • Fedora Week of Diversity 2024: Emma Kidney and Chris Idoko enthusiastically discussed the upcoming Week of Diversity, aiming to celebrate and promote inclusivity within the Fedora community.
  • EPEL 10 Overview: Carl George outlined the exciting plans for EPEL 10, focusing on improvements to the user and contributor experience.
  • KDE Plasma 6 and Fedora Asahi Remix: Neal Gompa shared the latest updates on KDE Plasma 6’s integration into Fedora, while Davide Cavalca and Neal Gompa showcased the progress made on the Fedora Asahi Remix for Apple Silicon Macs.
  • Ultramarine Linux: Owen Zimmerman introduced this promising downstream distro, highlighting its unique approach and benefits, and how Fedora is an important part of enabling their downstream work to extend Fedora in new and exciting ways.

Day 2: Community Building and Shared Enthusiasm

  • Day two shifted the focus to community interaction and social engagement. Participants gathered for a pre-event “Hallway Track” session, fostering camaraderie and informal conversations before the official program began.
  • David Duncan opened with an in-depth look at how Fedora Cloud uses Fedora Images & Kiwi for efficient image generation. Timothée Ravier then explored the world of Fedora Atomic Desktops, shedding light on its unique capabilities.
  • A lively social session led by Justin W. Flory brought attendees together for an online match of Codenames, adding a fun and interactive element to the event. Noel Miller then presented on Universal Blue, highlighting its innovative Bazzite and Bluefin images.
  • Finally, Aoife Moloney and Justin W. Flory concluded the Release Party, thanking participants and teasing future Fedora events.

By the Numbers: A Snapshot of Community Engagement

The Fedora Linux 40 Release Party generated impressive community engagement, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm for the new release:

  • Total Registrations: 314
  • Total Number of Participants on Matrix: 284
  • Day 1’s Live Stream Captivated: 1,242 views
  • Day 2’s Live Stream kept the excitement alive with 838 views
  • Total Live Stream: 2,080

Poll highlights

  • 15 Polls ignited conversations
  • 283 responses echoed through the Matrix room.

Discovery

  • Fedora mailing list is a major outlet for how people find out about new releases.
  • 90% of poll participants rated the Fedora Day 1 release party at a 5 star rate.
  • 95% of poll participants rated the Fedora Day 2 release party at a 5 star rate.

Stay Connected and Get Involved!

The Fedora Linux 40 Release Party was a testament to the power of community-driven innovation. Fedora’s collaborative spirit shines bright, paving the way for a promising future. We look forward to seeing you next time!

Want to join the Fedora community and contribute to future releases? There are countless ways to get involved! Visit the Fedora Project website to learn more.

Here are a few helpful places to learn more about Fedora!