First weeks al Linaro and other things

I few weeks ago I announced I was joining Linaro. I work there as Director of Core Development Group. I moved from Prague to Cambridge (the original), that is, from continental to oceanic climate. From dry, cold in winter and hot in summer to wet, soft in summer and above zero most of the winter. In theory an improvement, you might think. Well, depending on much it rains. I will tell you better in spring.

A few days ago The Mukt published and interview where I explained a little what is Linaro and what do I do as Core Development Director. 

I can add that Linaro is an engineering focused organization, divided in Engineering Groups. Some of them, like the one I am part of, are formed by several engineering teams, some of them called Working Groups. Core Development is formed by four:

 You can find more details in the Core Development wiki page, at Linaro Wiki.

These first few weeks I have gone through the natural landing process, meeting my colleagues and managers, knowing how we operate, learning about my responsibilities, the work engineers are doing, the plans for the future, analysing our internal processes, etc. Nothing unusual in these cases.

In July I had the opportunity to attend to the Linaro Kernel and Power Management Sprint, hosted by one of our Members, ST, in Le Mans. It was a very interesting week.

My following event will be Linaro Connect, in San Francisco, USA, in September. Linaro Connect are the events where all the Linaro employees meet. Those of you who are familiar with the Ubuntu Developer Summit knows what I am talking about. Linaro Connect takes place twice a year in a different continent and it is also an opportunity to have a direct contact with our Members.

A few days ago it was announced that Factory moved to a rolling release model. So the first step of the 2014/2016 plan has been completed. I was very happy to see that the openSUSE team could lead the execution of this relevant step for the distro in time. The Development version of openSUSE is now a reality that not just can increase the overall number of contributors, but also bring significant innovation to SUSE Linux Enterprise integration process. Congratulations. I am very proud of being part of the team. I will always be.

I would like to specially congratulate Roland Haidl, the Director of Communities at SUSE. The most important (and hardest) thing you can get from a manager is trust, and the openSUSE team had it from him to build a good team, support the changes the team went through back in 2012 (tough times), stand strong behind the new strategy defined in 2013 and support the team during the design and execution of this first milestone. And he did this without making noise, letting the results speak. A management handbook success.

On the personal side, relocating has taken most of my energy the last two and a half month. But I have managed to do/plan other things.

I am part of the LinuxCon Europe Content Committee. The last few days I have been evaluating, together with my colleagues in the committee, the abstracts presented. I has been an interesting work

LinuxCon Europe have very promising keynote speakers but the whole program will be filled up with first class contents.

Sometimes you never know what lives will bring you. I was invited to be part of the committee before joining Linaro. My work now is very related to the Linux Kernel and suddenly, last week, Linaro becomes a Linux Foundation Member. I do not want to think too much about coincidences vs. destiny but….

This year Akademy has moved to September and the dates collide with a personal compromise (a wedding) and the preparations for the Linaro Connect so I won’t be able to attend. It will be the first time I’ll miss it since 2005, when I attended for the first time. I am very sad about it. I tried but…

And it is specially sad for me because the new Treasurer will have to present the financial report about the past 2013, when I was the Treasurer. Being there should be the right thing to do. But I simply cannot make it.

I already missed Akademy-es 2014, that took place in Málaga and was organized by my former colleague Antonio Larrosa and sponsored by my former company, SUSE. I am not running away from KDE, I promise. The Calendar is working against me, that’s all.

I am a TED video consumer since some years ago, not many. Suddenly, I received a mail from a colleague at college giving me the opportunity to start…..and at home, in the Canary Islands.

Of course I want to try!

So in October I will be in Tenerife giving a TED talk in the local event TEDxLalaguna. Obviously I am already preparing the talk. Let’s see how it goes.

As you can see, it is going to be an intensive year, after all.