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- Continuous Integration (CI) with GitLab (Online)Link visible for attendees
Continuous Integration is the process of including small changes in a codebase as frequently as possible.
Continuous Deployment is the practice of automating deployments such that any code change will be deployed to production if all tests pass successfully.
Continuous Delivery is the practice of delivering deployment artifacts to the precipice of production, then requiring manual intervention (e.g. approval) before a deploy.
In this class, we'll see how to use GitLab's built in CI/CD functionality to create a basic pipeline for building, testing, and deploying.
If that sounds like fun, join me, Aaron Brown, for a few hours on Saturday morning while we talk and play with GitLab CI.
This will be an expert-led, hands-on class, and the price will be 64 USD or PWYC.
Bring:
- A machine, preferably with Linux
- Pre-create your own account on gitlab.com
Event Details:
There is a value for value ask of most events:
* Pay what we ask: $64 https://paypal.me/sfs303/64
* Or, pay what you choose: pwyc@sofree.usThis is an online event.
- Link visible after you RSVP.
- Please join our Mattermost to pass notes during and between events.Virtual doors open at 8:30am.
- AI Morning: Hands-On with AIRule4 Boulder, Boulder, CO$16.00
An immersive 3-hour "Hands-On AI Morning" designed to dive deep into the practical applications of cutting-edge AI technologies. This dynamic session is perfect for anyone eager to gain hands-on experience and solidify their understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Agentic AI. Get ready to build, learn, and innovate in a collaborative environment!
The event kicks off with a focused 90-minute lab session where you'll get directly involved in the fascinating process of fine-tuning an LLM using Synthetic Data Generation and InstructLab. This hands-on experience will provide invaluable insights into how data shapes model performance and enables customization for specific tasks.
Following a short break, the second 90-minute session will transition into exploring comprehensive Python based Jupyter notebooks. Here, you'll discover the power of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to enhance LLM responses with external knowledge, and explore the exciting realm of Agentic AI, understanding how autonomous agents can be designed to perform complex tasks and interact with Model Context Protocol Servers (MCP).
We’ll make this highly interactive and can contrast and compare, especially the topics of when to Fine-Tune and when to use RAG - or both. In addition, the Agentic part will show how new tooling enhances Context and how Context Engineering is the new hotness - this month at least!
Resources
- InstructLab (Open Source Project for Fine-Tuning and Synthetic Data Generation)
- Lab 1 Preview - InstructLab
- Lab 2 Preview - AI Applications and Llama Stack: A practical workshop
Schedule & Format
Join us for a morning, hands-on workshop style event. We'll provide food for body and brain.
Investment & Accessibility
The suggested contribution is 16 USD to support SFS. We want these sessions accessible to everyone, so please email pwyc@sofree.us if cost is a barrier.
Important: Bring a machine with a Linux or unix OS. If you only have Windows, create a VM.
Expert-led, live, in-person Spec Coding workshop
- Format: Live in-person at Rule4 in Boulder
Payment Options
- Pay What We Ask: $16.00 USD via https://paypal.me/sfs303/16 (include "AI Morning" in comments)
- Pay What You Choose: pwyc@sofree.us
Rally Track
"'Giorgio by Moroder' by Daft Punk"
