What we’re about
The Software Freedom School exists to teach the world how to use and why to choose free software.
David L. Willson and Heather L. Willson started SFS in 2013 with Linux Camp.
We feed the whole learner, mind (techie classes), body (delicious food), and spirit (libre software).
We try to have at least two 4-hour gentle hands-on intro classes each month, one 4-day immersion camp each year, and a few study groups.
Our ideal participant loves Free Software, comes to learn with us, and stays to teach with us. Newbies, graduates, veterans, career changers, and enthusiasts are all welcome and wanted with us!
We are a community based company in the Denver area. We want to partner with hacker-spaces, maker-spaces, LUG's, businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs, and small, free schools like ours. Our goal is to teach the world how to use and why to choose free software and it would be wonderful if you joined us!
We look forward to meeting you and are excited for you to be part of the libre community!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Linux Foundation Certified Sysadmin Study GroupLink visible for attendeesUSD 256.00
LFCS Study Group - Expert-Led Linux Certification Prep
Join our hands-on LFCS study group if you learn best by doing! This isn't just listening to lectures – you'll actively practice, discuss, and "mob sysadmin" with fellow students. After each demonstration, you'll work in pairs or mobs to reinforce your learning through collaborative problem-solving.
Schedule & Format
Our first official meeting kicks off July 27th, then continues every Sunday for 16 weeks (32 total hours). We're hosting informal, free study sessions every Sunday until the official start for early participants. Expert instructor David L. Willson will lead the group – please thank our volunteer for donating his time to Software Freedom School's mission of spreading free software knowledge.
Investment & Accessibility
The suggested contribution is 256 USD to support SFS. We want these sessions accessible to everyone, so please email pwyc@sofree.us if cost is a barrier.
Important: This Study Group is only for those planning to attain the LFCS cred. Participants must have their LFCS exam voucher within the first three official sessions.
Study Commitment
Plan to spend double your class time practicing outside of sessions – it's the most effective way to succeed. Partner with classmates for additional practice between meetings. We'll celebrate completion with a victory dinner at Walter's 303, Anthony's, or your favorite pizza spot!
Prerequisites
- Significant Linux system administration experience (hundreds of hours preferred)
- SSH client
- Robust computer (Linux preferred)
Meeting Details
- Format: Live online via Jitsi
- Time: Sundays 4:00-6:00 PM
- Instructor available: Full 2-hour window for questions and support
Payment Options
- Pay What We Ask: 256 USD via https://paypal.me/sfs303/256 (include "LFCS Study Group" in comments)
- Pay What You Choose: pwyc@sofree.us
- Timing: Payment due anytime during or after the series completion
Rally Track
"Zelda's Lullaby (Lo-fi Remix)" – a focused, learning-conducive track to set the tone for each session. - SFS Gathering in Longmont - Great Scotts!2430 Corey St, Longmont, COUSD 16.00
Software Freedom First Saturday: The Gathering
Start your month building software freedom with your technical friends. Please tell your other technical friends about this group of technical friends. Friend to friend is our favorite form of marketing, because it's high signal, low BS.
If you sign up for one of our events and your plans change, please change your RSVP. We prep things for you and we flag no-shows.
Featured Small is Beautiful (SiB) Sessions:
- Scott One! [Scott Allman]
Title: The aging but ageless software tester.
Blurb: Through a curated set of new skills I offer tips to keep us writing software as energy and memory are backsliding. Also, we will do a short workshop. In slides I will show results from a small set of actual data. This is the abridged version of a presentation I will make at an international conference later in the month. For the full blurb: https://associationforsoftwaretesting.org/conference/cast-2025/cast2025_schedule/
Things to bring: Bring your thinking caps and give me feedback. I want your feedback. This is a dry run to get feedback. Feedback, please.
- Scott Two! (gesundheit) [Scott Hallock]
Title: vim: Why you should use it and why you shouldn’t.
Blurb: Scott, a 30-year vim veteran, will explain why he thinks that, in 2025, vim is an editor worthy of your consideration. He will describe the perils that have befallen prior generations of proprietary editors. He will tell you how vim can make you more productive. He will help you get a very basic vim setup on your development machine so that you can begin to learn vim motions and enjoy frictionless editing experience that vim provides.
- Scott Three?
Bring:
- Your machine (Linux preferred)
- Your questions and curiosity.
- Perhaps your own show and tell! Especially if your name is "Scott."
Value for value:
- Pay what we ask: $16 https://paypal.me/sfs303/16
- Or, pay what you choose: pwyc@sofree.us
This is an in-person event at Jeff and Kristina's house in Longmont.
- Join our Mattermost to stay connected during and between events.
Doors open at 8:30am.
