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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
The origins of the Free software community in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] can be traced back to the group of [[TeX]] users around the [[University of Kerala]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://swatantryam.blogspot.in/2007/08/story-of-free-software-in-kerala-india.html|title=Free as in Freedom: The Story of Free Software in Kerala, India|website=swatantryam.blogspot.in|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> in early 1980s. The community then later named themselves Thiruvananthapuram LUG (Indian Linux Users Group),<ref name=":0" /> GNU/Linux Users Group, Thiruvananthapuram<ref name="A celebration of software freedom">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1342429.ece|title=A celebration of software freedom|date=2008-09-21|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> and then ultimately<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/ilug-tvm/b1UJd2QrbNA/4_qfRKCe28cJ|title=Google Groups|website=groups.google.com|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> '''Free Software Users Group, Thiruvananthapuram'''. The community has worked with the government in helping with key Free software initiatives<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://insights.ubuntu.com/wp-content/uploads/CaseStudy_GovKerala1.pdf|title=Legislators in Kerala, India work better with Ubuntu laptops|last=|first=|date=|website=Ubuntu Case Studies|publisher=Ubuntu|access-date=}}</ref> in the government and also in promoting<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article154103.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819174928/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article154103.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=Spreading the glow of free software|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> and supporting<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.technoparktoday.com/keralas-first-gnulinux-install-fest-on-12-april-2008-in-trivandrum/|title=Kerala's First GNU/Linux Install Fest on 12-April-2008 in Trivandrum|date=2008-04-10|website=TechnoparkToday.com - Technopark Life, News, Jobs, Events & Lifestyle!|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> Free software among the general public.<ref name="CM to open free software meet">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article13363.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819175802/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article13363.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=CM to open free software meet|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> The community has also been instrumental<ref name=":0" /> in creating an IT policy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerala.gov.in/documents/10180/46696/IT%20Policy%202007|title=Kerala State IT Policy 2007|last=|first=|date=|website=Government of Kerala|publisher=|access-date=|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223203233/http://kerala.gov.in/documents/10180/46696/IT%20Policy%202007|url-status=dead}}</ref> favorable to Free software in the state of [[Kerala]].

== Main Activities ==

=== Free software install fests ===
One of the organized activities of the community was to organize GNU/Linux install fests in and around the city. These were usually organized in educational institutions<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article40338.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819183423/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article40338.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=Linux Install Fest at Dishaa '09|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> or public places<ref name=":2" /> where the general public could bring their computers to get a GNU/Linux distribution installed on them. As GNU/Linux distributions became more and more easy to be installed and configured the community has stopped organizing these.

=== Developer camps ===
The group has also worked with [[Swathanthra Malayalam Computing|SMC]] in organizing developer camps<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/131016/news-current-affairs/article/malayalam-computing-has-come-age|title=Malayalam computing has come of age|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006094324/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/131016/news-current-affairs/article/malayalam-computing-has-come-age|archive-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> in Thiruvananthapuram and outside. During developer camps developers are given hands-on experience in working with Free software tools and primarily around localization initiatives which SMC is involved with.

=== Software / Hardware Freedom Day ===
The Free software community in Thiruvananthapuram has also been involved in organizing Software Freedom Day celebrations<ref name="A celebration of software freedom"/><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keralabiznews.com/2489/open-source-proponents-in-trivandrum-celebrate-software-freedom-day|title=Open source proponents in Trivandrum celebrate Software Freedom Day|date=2014-09-26|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> and Hardware Freedom Day celebrations<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entecity.com/news/trivandrum-to-observe-hardware-freedom-day/|title=Trivandrum to observe Hardware Freedom Day|date=2013-04-19|website=EnteCity News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/hardware-freedom-day-fete-today/article4635906.ece|title=Hardware Freedom Day fete today|date=2013-04-20|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> in the city.

=== Free software release parties ===
The community has also organized release parties<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/Free-Software-Enthusiasts-Celebrate-Ubuntu-10.04-Release|title=Free Software Enthusiasts Celebrate Ubuntu 10.04 Release - Trivandrum News {{!}} Yentha.com|website=www.yentha.com|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818112217/http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/Free-Software-Enthusiasts-Celebrate-Ubuntu-10.04-Release|url-status=dead}}</ref> to celebrate the release of the different Free software like Ubuntu,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keralaitnews.com/4373/free-software-ug-celebrate-ubuntu-release|title=Free Software UG celebrate Ubuntu release|date=2010-05-02|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> Firefox etc.

== Key Initiatives ==

=== Free software install fest at Technopark ===
One of the first large-scale events organized by the community was a week long Free Software Install Fest<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fsf.org.in/gnu-linux-install-fest|title=GNU/Linux Install Fest — Free Software Foundation of India|website=fsf.org.in|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811215858/http://fsf.org.in/gnu-linux-install-fest|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zyxware.com/articles/2008/08/17/gnu-linux-install-fest-and-free-software-seminar-series-at-technopark-trivandrum|title=GNU / Linux Install Fest and Free Software Seminar Series at Technopark, Trivandrum|date=2008-08-17|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.technoparktoday.com/technopark-gnulinux-install-fest-program-schedules/|title=Technopark GNU/Linux Install Fest – Program Schedules|date=2008-08-22|website=TechnoparkToday.com - Technopark Life, News, Jobs, Events & Lifestyle!|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/linux-install-fest-at-technopark/article1322461.ece|title=Linux Install Fest at Technopark|date=2008-08-24|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> at [[Technopark, Trivandrum|Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram]] organized in 2008. The event was co-organized by SPACE, [[Zyxware Technologies]] and [[Kerala State IT Mission]]

=== Creating India's first Freedom Toaster ===
The community worked together with Zyxware Technologies to create India's first [[Freedom Toaster]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/free-software-vending-machine/article1330298.ece|title=Free software vending machine|date=2008-09-01|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/software-vending-machine-at-technopark/article1331417.ece|title=Software vending machine at Technopark|date=2008-09-03|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> which is a kiosk which can vend Free software CDs and DVDs. The Freedom toaster was made available at Technopark<ref name=":3" /> and at different engineering colleges to make available its services to the public.

=== Organizing Freedom Walk ===
The Free Software Users Group, Thiruvananthapuram along with Free software communities across Kerala<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/freedom-walk|title=Freedom Walk: A walk to claim, ensure and preserve freedom — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software|website=www.fsf.org|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> and Zyxware Technologies<ref name="Freedom Walk, rooted in IT">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/freedom-walk-rooted-in-it/article1331738.ece|title=Freedom Walk, rooted in IT|date=2008-09-05|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> organized a 44-day [[peace walk]] called [[Peace walk|Freedom Walk]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/long-walk-to-freedom/article1430325.ece|title=Long walk to freedom|date=2008-12-01|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref> Three volunteers from the community walked from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram covering all 14 districts in the state on foot and conducted Free software events in schools and colleges to promote the message and philosophy of Free software.<ref name="Freedom Walk, rooted in IT"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article4970.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819183034/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article4970.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=A walk for freedom|access-date=2016-08-08}}</ref>

=== Organizing Free Software Free Society conferences ===
The community has been jointly involved with organizing of the Free Software Free Society conferences<ref name="CM to open free software meet"/> conducted by the [[government of Kerala]] through [[ICFOSS]] and SPACE.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
# [[Free software in Kerala]]
# [[Free software in India]]
# [[ICFOSS]]
# [[Swathanthra Malayalam Computing|SMC]]
# SPACE
# [[Free software movement]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Free Software}}
[[Category:Free Software Foundation]]
[[Category:Software industry in India]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Information technology organisations based in India]]

Free Software Users Group, Thiruvananthapuram - Revision history

Rajan Singh: added a page.