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.

DebConf documentation Video team documentation

Check list - TO BE UPDATED

Portugal bid presentations at:

Our proposal is for DebConf25 to take place in Portugal because:

Venue

Images from the university of Aveiro

Space for Active Learning and Teaching (SALT) a snazzy little place, not sure we’ll use it Inside the SALT area There is a room in the main library with tools to help people access literature. Braille and others, but not using FOSS software, it was not available. The admin centre is a very beautiful space, not sure we’ll use it. The university of Aveiro has plenty of outside green spaces. This is a central avenue, or Alameda. The event will likely happen in the computer science complex on the main campus. Next to Aveiro is an estuary with old salt flats that are now rehabilitated, with flamingoes. The auditorium at the admin centre. Very fancy, we probably won’t need it. More green space at Aveiro University Caterer space inside the computer science building. There is a decent size cafeteria space inside the computer science building. The main library is a beautiful space, with spaces for quiet work and meeting rooms, close to the computer science building Inside the library there is a jazz exhibition space, with a lounge area The meeting rooms in the main library The meeting rooms in the main library Beautiful view from the library windows, excellent natural light Outside area near the computer science buildings Green space near the network engineer offices, which has good venues for orga rooms Open areas where students can sit who bring their own lunches. We may need this for alternative catering? Open areas where students can sit who bring their own lunches. We may need this for alternative catering? Next to the open lunch area is a open access area which may work well for the open day and registrations Next to the open lunch area is a open access area which may work well for the open day and registrations Open space near the main cafetaria Open space near the computer science building. The seating is apparently called photosynthesis because students soak up the sun there in winter A pool on the way back to the parking. The campus is pretty :) Another venue on the main campus, the science centre, new, modern, beautiful. Acoustics may be less good. Not sure we will need this venue. Another venue on the main campus, the science centre, new, modern, beautiful. Acoustics may be less good. Not sure we will need this venue. A venue close to the computer science building, below round level, suitable to evening art events, side events. Fancy, formal. Example of a smaller lecture room in the computer science building.

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?

Technico Lisboa main campus

The university management is supportive, so expect 1-2

2

2

?

2

0.5

2

2

1.5

2

1

2?

2?

Y

Taguspark, Lisboa

1?

2

2?

?

0

0.5

2

1

2

0

0.5

?

1?

Y

University of Aveiro

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

Weather

debconf20_lisbon_beach

Accommodation

Travel

Visa Policy

Cheese and Wine Import

Free Time

Local Team

Core team

Portuguese contributers

Others contributers

People interested in helping

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.


CategoryDebConf