DebConf 2025 bid for Portugal
It is time for a DebConf in central Europe again, and Portugal is rising! (also, indiebio and ginggs are moving to Portugal and what better way to make a country home than to organise a DebConf there?)
There is an emerging FOSS community in Portugal, and the country is becoming more attractive for tech workers and remote workers (for better and for worse). Knowledge about Debian is nascent and growing.
There has been previous bids to host a DebConf in Lisbon, but the venues available have been found as not being suitable.
Portugal has excellent internet coverage, with the relatively late development after 1974 allowing to leap-frog to better technologies like fibre internet. Renewables cover at least 54% of electricity generation in Portugal. Portugal is impressive with innovative policy decisions and seem set to take full advantage of a connected world, with a well established remote working visa programme, decriminalised drug laws and the LGBTQI rights are now among the best in the world.
Contents
Quick links
DebConf documentation Video team documentation
Portugal bid presentations at:
Our proposal is for DebConf25 to take place in Portugal because:
- Portugal is a very affordable European country.
The organizing team has experience in the organization of international events and has attended previous ?DebConfs.
- The growing expat community expands on the already fabulous food of Portugal to offer an international gastronomy experience.
- Lisbon, Porto and Faro is served by International airports with connections to all continents.
- Venues are typically accessible as required by Portuguese Law.
- Beautiful, sunny weather.
- Fantastic nature with well designed walking (caminhas) and cycling infrastructure.
Venue
- The university of Aveiro is currently the most popular option, specifically the Computer Science building complex.
Images from the university of Aveiro
Venue ranking table
19 January 2023: indiebio visited the university of Aveiro to attend a Ubuntu meetup, organised by GLUA - the Linux group at the university of Aveiro. The idea of a DebConf was met with great excitement, and the following day Jose, a network engineer employed at the university gave a venue tour. indiebio opinion: Aveiro is a good venue. It is an hour's drive from Porto airport, and two hours by train, on a direct line (no changes). From the Aveiro train station, the university is about 30 minutes walk, or 17 minutes by longboard (manual, not electric). The university was built around 1950, is modern and beautifully designed. Accessibility is good, there are ramps everywhere, and the area is geographically flat. A good selection of hotels and restaurants, a vibrant student atmosphere, and things are cheaper than in Lisbon. TODO: find out if university residences will be available, but this is not a deal-breaker.
25 November 2022: indiebio, ginggs and calhariz spent time together in Lisboa, visited the Technico and associated Technopark, and met up with the Ubuntu Portugal group and made new friends! indiebio opinion: to be honest, Lisbon does not inspire me. I don't think a main city is a good DebConf venue, and I think accommodation remains difficult. But it is certainly doable to have a good DebConf here. The typical Portuguese food is heavy on meat and fish, so we need to work on more veggie and lighter food and snacks. Portugal in general seems very alcohol friendly and trust adults to be adults.
Venue matrix: 0 = not suitable, 1 = suitable or may be suitable, 2 = major attraction, advantage, ? = more info needed. Columns from ?PriorityList
0. Venue |
1. Affordability |
2. Good working spaces |
3. Internet |
4. Catered Food |
5. Nearby Food |
6. Accommodation |
7. Presentation facilities |
8. Travel logistics |
9. Accessibility |
10. Central |
11. Scenic |
12. Alcohol friendly |
13. Access After Hours |
14. Site visit yet? |
The university management is supportive, so expect 1-2 |
2 |
2 |
? |
2 |
0.5 |
2 |
2 |
1.5 |
2 |
1 |
2? |
2? |
Y |
|
1? |
2 |
2? |
? |
0 |
0.5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0.5 |
? |
1? |
Y |
|
2 (tbc) |
2 |
2 |
tbc, 1-2 |
2 |
1-2 |
2 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1 |
2 |
2 (tbc) |
1-2 (tbc) |
Yes |
|
Coimbra? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No |
Some of the Ubuntu Portugal members are in Aveiro, also the home of the University of Aveiro Linux group. Aveiro has a direct train connection with Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra, and a university town close to the sea sounds very promising!
Apparently student accommodation is not possible to use (in Aveiro) (informal conversation in 2022 - will be updated after speaking with U.Aveiro staff) but youth hostels (https://www.pousadasjuventude.pt/) are a good option. This may work well as it did in Germany.
Taguspark is a technopark associated with Technico Lisboa. It is a shuttle ride away from most things, but rented e-bikes are currently in progress. There is ostensibly accommodation for 140 people on site in student residences, and a Holiday Inn 2km away, which may be inconvenient. Concerns are if it gets too hot in and around the venue in summer, the venue is large with plants inside, but not ideal ventilation, and it is unlikely that we will have exclusive access.
Food
- Several vegan and vegetarian options
- Traditional Portuguese food
- Good (inexpensive!) espresso coffee
Weather
- Pleasantly warm, dry and clear blue skies}
Accommodation
- TBD
Travel
- Most airlines have direct flights to Lisbon, Porto and/or Faro
- Several low cost companies also fly to Lisbon, Porto and Faro
- Travel to venue depends on where we decide to host it, but is easy for Lisbon and Porto, at least.
- Aveiro is 1 hour's drive from Porto, 2 hour train from the airport, on a direc t train line (no changes). Train from Lisbon is possible, about 2.5 hours.
Visa Policy
- Portugal in Schengen space
- Most attendees won't need a visa
Cheese and Wine Import
- Wine and beer allowed (and very much welcome)
- No food from outside the EU
Free Time
- Nearby beaches
- Night markets
- Bars and discos
- Music festivals near Lisbon in July and August
List can be found at https://www.festivaisverao.com/
- Nature walks and cycling
- Safe and friendly environment
Local Team
Core team
- indiebio (Bernelle Verster)
- ginggs (Graham Inggs)
- José Calhariz (Lisbon)
Portuguese contributers
- U.Aveiro contributors, names here! Jose, Planck (his nickname) and Duarte volunteered assistance at Aveiro Ubuntu event on 19 January 2023.
Further, some volunteers are engaged with the miniDC to be held in Lisbon 12 February and may stay involved, hopefully
- Jose M Calhariz
Others contributers
People interested in helping
- Paulo Henrique de Lima Santana (phls) - Brasil
- Arthur Diniz (arthurbdiniz) - Brasil
Team contact
debconf-portugal (a) tecnico.ulisboa.pt
Commitments
indiebio
Organising a conference is an excellent way to learn about a place, and learn the language. We fist visited Portugal in March 2022 and I was very pleasantly surprised. Reading about the psyche and history of Portugal, the country has already crept into my heart. The nature especially is amazing.
ginggs (Graham Inggs)
Probably does't have much of a choice, indiebio will drag him along 
Good at video, infrastructure and some admin (like helping with visa letters).
Jose M Calhariz
My dream is to have a DebConf in Portugal at my University. I will do whatever is needed to have a smooth DebConf in Lisbon.