FOSDEM is coming soon and the FPA is already planning to make our corresponding FreeCAD event bigger and better than last year. FOSDEM happens in Brussels on Saturday February 3^rd and Sunday February 4^th, 2024. We propose to, once again, realize a public FreeCAD day, open to all, unconference style, and a hackathon, also open to anyone interested but focused on doing actual coding, together with FOSDEM.

The FOSDEM event is a big beacon for many CAD-related projects and interested people. Hooking to it turns the FreeCAD day much more interesting and can draw many more people. It also allows FOSDEM attendees to go to the FreeCAD day, and FreeCAD day attendees to enjoy FOSDEM afterwards.

Several details are still not decided yet, but we already publish the general plan to give everybody enough time to plan and book travel tickets. We will update this post when things such as locations, etc. get confirmed.

Here is what we are planning:

• We’re doing a hackathon like we did in Vancouver. Technical and non-technical participation is welcome. This is hands on work but will include a synced discord group for virtual participation.
• The FreeCAD day will again run as an unconference focused on community feedback. user-projects, updates on progress, discussion of educational outreach, and suggestions for how we can make FreeCAD better.
• Social and team building (dinner night)
• Outreach to other projects (FOSDEM talk and FreeCAD booth).