conf.kde.in 2025

4 Apr 2025, 10:00 → 6 Apr 2025, 17:00 Asia/Kolkata

DA-IICT, Gandhinagar

Friday, 4 April

10:30 → 11:00 Opening: conf.kde.in 2025

11:00 → 11:30 KDE community: who? what? why?

Let's answer some questions, which you might have:

• Who are these folks?
• What are they doing?
• Why are they doing what they are doing?

Overview of KDE technologies and community.

Speaker: Bhushan Shah (Developer)

11:30 → 12:00 Embracing FOSS in EdTech

This talk will focus on why Free and Open Source Software is essential in Educational Technology, especially in the Indian context.

I will discuss the perils of proprietary software in education in terms of cost, ecosystem-locking and obviously the privacy of students' data.

I will share how FOSS acts as a solution to some of these problems and successful case studies from the ecosystem.

Speaker: Mr Vishal Arya (FOSS United Foundation)

[Updated] KdeConf 2025 - Embracing FOSS in Education Technology.pdf

12:30 → 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 → 14:30 Digital Independence: Your Roadmap to Seamless Self-Hosting

In today's digital world, taking control of your data is crucial. In this session, we'll explore self-hosting to empower you with privacy and customization.

Establish Secure Networks: Learn how Tailscale can effortlessly create a private, secure mesh network to safely connect your devices from anywhere.
Manage Your Digital Files: Explore Nextcloud AIO, a comprehensive and user-friendly personal cloud that can replace Google and Microsoft offerings. Integrate files, calendar, and more with KDE.
Stream Your Media: Build your custom media server with Jellyfin, giving you full control over your entertainment library.
Harness AI: Set up Ollama and Open Web UI to self-host AI solutions, ensuring you own your data.

Speaker: Mr Shubham Arora

15:00 → 15:30 GhVmCtl: Test your GUI apps directly from CI runners

GhVMCtl is a tool written in bash, which uses lxd to test GUI apps inside a runner. It uses KVM and spawns an lxd container inside the github runner. Inside that lxd container, one can easily run various different types of commands including running a snap, taking screenshots of them in window mode or screen mode using gnome-screenshot, which is a handy utility by gnome. There is also an example CI that is used by Snapcrafters currently for testing purposes. This tool can easily help big teams maintain large number of GUI apps with ease

Speaker: Soumyadeep Ghosh (Ubuntu/Snapcrafters/Ubuntu Flutter Community/Ubuntu Membership Board)

15:30 → 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 → 16:15 Prav - reclaiming choice of service providers in messaging

Prav is a Free Software app for encrypted messages, files, and audio/video calls. It is inspired by the Quicksy app.

This talk will focus on the importance of federated messaging. An example of federated communication is phone calls which allow you to talk to any user using a SIM card regardless of which provider they use. As an example, Airtel users can make calls to Vodafone users and vice versa.

However, popular messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) only allow you to talk to users using the same app. When WhatsApp changed its privacy policy in 2021 to share its data with Facebook, a lot of users didn't like this move. But the only options users have for such a service is either to uninstall the app or agree to the terms they dislike. The first choice — to uninstall the app — comes at a high cost, as the users lose all their contacts and ability to connect with them.

On the other hand, Prav allows you to talk to all the users on the same network (known as XMPP) even if they use other apps like Quicksy, Monocles Chat, Kaidan, Dino, Monal, and many more. This gives users choice of service providers and more control over their messaging platform. If Prav makes a decision in the future that you disagree with, you can switch to any other XMPP provider while still be able to connect with your contacts. It is similar to how people change their SIM provider and still be able to connect with their contacts.

Speaker: Mr Ravi Dwivedi

ravi.webp

16:15 → 16:45 Learnings from creating an input method for KDE

I wanted an input tool to easily write my mother tongue Malayalam (about 37 million speakers around the world) on Ubuntu (KDE + i3), and I came across the FOSS project called Varnam: https://varnamproject.com/ which supported many Indian languages.

It was difficult to set it up for me at the time, was 17 years old. It had to be compiled, the docs were lacking and like that reddit meme, “where the heck is the binary” was a question

I ended up using it from 2017, later contacting the maintainer, taking up maintainership, and then at the time of pandemic rewrote it from C to Go and later worked on how to make it as easy as possible to use for the end user. There are ten thousands of Ubuntu/Debian users in Kerala (mostly school students), so making the installation first class on Debian was the utmost priority.

This talk will be about the learnings of this project from the beginning to 2025 now: input methods (ibus, fcitx), wayland, packaging, bash installer etc. etc from a product perspective that makes it super easy for the end user.

Varnam library recently got packaged into Debian thanks to Guido Gunther: https://packages.debian.org/testing/libs/libgovarnam1 and is now used in GNOME Phosh’s keyboard to type Indic languages.

Source code: https://github.com/varnamproject/govarnam

A talk on the rewrite of Varnam was part of DebConf21: https://debconf21.debconf.org/talks/21-govarnam-a-new-intelligent-input-method-for-indian-languages-in-desktop-mobile/

Speaker: Mr Subin Siby

Saturday, 5 April

10:25 → 11:30 Workshop: Build Your First QML Interface !

This will be a hands-on workshop. I ran this last year and I will be bringing it back with some improvements. We'll be building a couple of simple QML interfaces together, step-by-step. You'll get to follow along and try it out yourself. For the best experience, having VirtualBox installed is helpful. I'll provide a VirtualBox image so you can work locally, which really speeds things up. But don't worry if you don't have it, We'll also use an online QML compiler, so everyone can participate. This lets you play around locally, which makes things a lot smoother but rest assure if you don't have it installed we will be making use of online compiler so you can try things out nicely!

Speaker: Mr Aakarsh MJ (KDE)

11:30 → 12:00 Clazy: Inside KDE's Static Analysis Tool for Modern Qt Development

Clazy has evolved into a powerful static analysis tool in the KDE ecosystem, helping developers write better Qt code through intelligent compile-time checks. This talk will dive into how Clazy leverages Clang's robust API to understand Qt semantics and detect over 50 different types of potential issues, from memory allocation inefficiencies to API misuse.
We'll explore:

The architecture behind Clazy's integration with Clang and how it analyzes Qt-specific patterns
Deep dive into some of Clazy's most powerful checks, including memory optimization, API usage, and Qt best practices
Real-world examples of how Clazy's automated fixes help modernize Qt codebases
The technical challenges in implementing static analysis for Qt's unique features like signals/slots and the meta-object system
Future development directions and opportunities for community contribution

Whether you're a Qt developer wanting to improve code quality or interested in static analysis tools, this talk will provide insights into how Clazy helps maintain high standards in KDE projects while making developers' lives easier.

Speaker: Mr Shivam Kunwar (Software Engineer)

12:00 → 12:30 "End Of 10"! Coordinating a Windows 10-to-Linux upcycling campaign across Free Software communities worldwide

Windows 10 security updates end on 14 October 2025 [0], which is KDE's 29th birthday and also, ironically, International E-Waste Day [1] (you cannot make these things up!). Hundreds of millions of functioning devices [2] will become e-waste, disposed in large part in countries in the Global South, including India. Moreover, this means manufacturing and transporting new ones, which is perhaps the biggest waste of all: hardware production alone can account for over 75% of a device's CO2 emissions over its lifespan.

Free Software is a solution, today! We have an opportunity to coordinate a global, unified Free Software campaign over the next 6 months to raise awareness about the environmental harm of software-driven hardware obsolescence, while upgrading users from Windows 10 to GNU/Linux directly to keep those devices in use and out of the landfill.

Let's think big and act boldly! In this talk I will engage attendees from KDE India and the Indian Free Software movement to join the growing "End Of 10" campaign to make Windows 10 the last version of Windows end users ever use.

[0] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/10/lots-of-pcs-are-poised-to-fall-off-the-windows-10-update-cliff-one-year-from-today/
[1] https://weee-forum.org/iewd-about/
[2] https://www.canalys.com/insights/end-of-windows-10-support-could-turn-240-million-pcs-into-e-waste

Speaker: Joseph De Veaugh-Geiss (KDE e.V.)

12:30 → 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 → 14:00 Kdenlive is More Powerful Than You Think — My Journey to 200k+ Views

In this session, I will share my personal journey to 200k+ views with KDE's Kdenlive, an open-source video editor that has empowered me to craft compelling visual stories over the years.

Initially, my niche was majorly Linux content. Along with a friend, we made Arch installation and ricing tutorials.

Now, I make storytelling videos on Instagram — all with the power of KDE's Kdenlive. I will show my videos and my editing workflow to encourage people and help them feel the power of this incredible tool. I will walk through my evolution as a creator, discussing the features that made a difference, such as multi-track editing, effects, and color grading. The talk will also cover how Kdenlive nurtured my creativity and allowed me to build a portfolio that resonates with a wider audience.

Description (How will my talk be useful to people) : This presentation is designed to give the audience a glimpse into the transformative power of open-source tools, specifically Kdenlive. I will walk through my evolution as a creator, discussing the features that made a difference, such as multi-track editing, effects, and color grading. The talk will also cover how Kdenlive nurtured my creativity and allowed me to build a portfolio that resonates with a wider audience.

Speaker: Mr Dev Shah

14:00 → 14:30 Nix and the Power of Determinism in Software Development

Modern software development environments are increasingly complex, making reproducibility and consistency across teams a significant challenge. This talk introduces Nix, a powerful functional package manager and system configuration tool, demonstrating how its deterministic approach can revolutionize development environments. We'll explore how Nix can work alongside traditional development environment tools, and possibly replace them to some extent.

This talk will also include a beginner-friendly tutorial where attendees will learn how to implement Nix in their workflows.

Speaker: Rishi Kumar

14:30 → 15:00 FOSS in Australian Schools: 404

Australian schools use Windows and MacOS on laptops, PCs and iPads.
There are different hardware configurations ranging from PC computer rooms to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

• Catholic schools tend to favour Chromebooks, iPads and Tablets.
• Government schools prefer laptops.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Parents buy approved devices for their children from approved suppliers or
schools charge a regular fee and purchase devices for the students.

https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/
https://edu.queenslandcomputers.com.au/collections/grandavenuess?page=1

Attempts to promote FOSS in Australia

• A couple of universities run FOSS courses.
• 404 Error: https://ns2.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis-sp-481/open-sauce/bid-to-push-foss-in-australian-secondary-schools.html
• Deaf Ears: https://www.itnews.com.au/news/community-to-gillard-consider-open-source-
  116259

However there has been some small exceptions to this. Let's learn more about them in this talk!

Speaker: Mr Keith Wilson (codingaustralia.com)

Keith_FOSS_Materials.pdf

15:00 → 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 → 15:45 Empowering Sustainability: How KDE Eco is Shaping the Future of Software

In today’s digital age, the environmental impact of software is a critical yet often ignored issue. The KDE Eco project tackles this challenge head-on by championing sustainable software development practices within the KDE Community and beyond. As a Season of KDE mentee this year, I contributed to the KDE Eco Remote Eco Lab project, creating comprehensive written and video documentation to support its mission of reducing the ecological footprint of technology.

In this talk, I will introduce the KDE Eco project and its innovative approach to sustainability, showcasing how it integrates eco-friendly practices into software development. Drawing from my hands-on experience, I’ll highlight the importance of sustainable software and how KDE is paving the way for a greener future in open-source technology.

Beyond promoting KDE Eco, I aim to inspire and guide newcomers to the KDE Community. I’ll share my journey as a mentee, offering practical insights into how students and beginners can get involved through mentorship programs like Season of KDE and Google Summer of Code. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for contributing to KDE, from writing their first patch to becoming lifelong open-source contributors.

Join me to explore how KDE Eco is transforming software development and discover how you can play a role in building a sustainable future while growing your skills in the vibrant KDE Community.

Speaker: Mr Utkarsh Umre (SoK'25)

presentation.pdf

15:45 → 16:45 KEcoLab: Measuring Software Energy Consumption

This talk will cover KEcoLab, a tool designed to measure and analyze software energy consumption. We'll examine the architecture and functionality of KEcoLab, discuss its integration and utilization within the KDE development workflow, and provide a brief guide on how to utilise KEcoLab for your own projects. We will also demo the project and how you can also utilise it to test your software's energy consumption.

Speakers: Mr Aakarsh MJ (KDE), Mr Sarthak Negi (KDE)

16:45 → 17:15 Basics of a Free Software Mirror

Most Free Software projects don’t always have big-money backing, but they still need to distribute massive amounts of software binaries and data. That’s where download mirrors come in—they take the load off primary servers, improve availability, and speed up downloads, especially in different parts of the world.

In this talk, we’ll dive into the why, what, and how of setting up a Free Software mirror. You'll gain insight on what happens when you click download on KDE ecosystem sites like krita.org/kdenlive.org/labplot.org etc, how your deb/rpm/appimage/exe/dmg are served from servers near you.

I’ve been running mirrors in India [1][2] and Germany [3] for a while now, and I’ll share my experiences [4] — the good, the bad, and the unexpected (hint - last year my mirror nodes pushed 1 PB+ of mirror traffic). All with nginx + rsync + cron and you can do it too (we still don't have a local KDE application data mirror [5]) :)

We’ll also take a look at KDE mirror traffic from India [6] to see what’s being downloaded the most and what that tells us about Free Software usage trends and who else is hosting mirrors in India [7].

[1] https://mirrors.in.sahilister.net/stats/
[2] https://2.mirrors.in.sahilister.net/stats/
[3] https://mirrors.de.sahilister.net/goaccess.html
[4] https://blog.sahilister.in/2024/06/first-iteration-of-my-free-software-mirror/
[5] https://files.kde.org/?mirrorstats
[6] https://mirrors.in.sahilister.net/stats/kde.html
[7] https://blog.sahilister.in/2024/10/free-software-mirrors-in-india/

Speaker: Mr Sahil Dhiman (Debian, OSM)

basics-of-a-free-software-mirror.pdf

Sunday, 6 April

10:00 → 11:00 Workshop: Making your first cockpit plugin

Cockpit is web administration tool for linux systems. Written in Python, C and JavaScript. Cockpit can be used on Ubuntu, Archlinux, Fedora, Rhel, SLE and Opensuse. Cockpit on its own is fairly limited however Cockpit is designed to be extensiable using plugins called applications. Applications are written in typescript. The aim of this workshop is to introduce, basic concepts in react, and end with creating a simple cockpit plugin.

Speaker: Mr Advaith Madhukar (SUSE)

11:00 → 12:30 Unconference session

Unconference session are unique opportunity for attendees to drive the discussions to topic they would like to discuss. At start of conference we will announce open-call for topics that people can select.

You can talk to conference organizers to schedule topics and then round-table discussions on this topics can follow.

12:30 → 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 → 15:30 Unconference session

Unconference session are unique opportunity for attendees to drive the discussions to topic they would like to discuss. At start of conference we will announce open-call for topics that people can select.

You can talk to conference organizers to schedule topics and then round-table discussions on this topics can follow.