Linux Day Italia 2025 in Palermo: A “Warmest” LDI25 Gathering

It’s not every day that you attend an event that feels like both a conference and a reunion. At the Palermo venue of Linux Day Italia 2025, hosted by the friends at Free Circle, that was exactly the feeling: a perfect mix of learning, community, and the unmistakable warmth of Sicily (thirty degrees in late October included!).

The theme this year, Free Software in the Mobile World, led to an impressive variety of sessions that showed just how vibrant and forward-looking the Italian FOSS ecosystem is.

From Matrix to Mobility

Among the many speakers, Moreno “Morrolinux” Razzoli, a fellow LPIer, brought his signature clarity and enthusiasm to the stage with Matrix vs. ChatControl, a talk about encryption, decentralization, and digital sovereignty.

Moreno too loved the mood and the buzz. As he later said:

“[LinuxDay Italia in Palermo] wasn’t just another talk: it was a real dive into the community I love. I had the honor of being one of the speakers, and the energy and warmth of the audience made me feel completely at home! Meeting in person the familiar faces of the Italian LPI community (Max, Simone, Daniele, Andrea) — was a special experience. Working online is productive, but nothing compares to real, human exchange.”

That sense of belonging was echoed throughout the day: between sessions, and over coffee. Palermo’s Free Circle managed to create an atmosphere that was both technically rich and genuinely human.

An LPI Gathering in the Heart of Sicily

For me, as an LPI Member, the event was also a chance to meet the people behind our daily collaborations: Moreno Razzoli, “Simo” Bertulli, Andrea Palumbo, Max Roveri. We raised a glass to celebrate a major milestone: Simone’s election as the first Italian ever on the LPI Board of Directors. As Simone himself put it:

“This year’s Linux Day Palermo was an inspiring moment to reflect on free software culture and the importance of sharing knowledge. I was impressed by the technical and human quality of the talks and by the enthusiasm of the local community. Seeing so much engagement around Linux, mobile, and privacy topics is a strong signal of growth. Events like this make a real impact on local tech education and bring people closer to open knowledge.”

That shared commitment to learning and collaboration was clear in every conversation.

Bridging Law and Open Source

And of course, we couldn’t forget our “legal hacker,” Andrea Palumbo (likely the first lawyer in the world to become an official LPI Partner!) whose passion for free software bridges the gap between technology and law. Andrea reflected on the event this way:

“I joined Linux Day Palermo as a legal professional but above all as an open source enthusiast. The talks were excellent and covered timely topics: from open-source 5G to free mobile systems like Mobian, to the security and decentralization of projects like Matrix; all, driven by the will to innovate through knowledge-sharing.

As always in the open source world, the human side made the difference: a welcoming environment open to discussion and exchange. Digital freedom, as highlighted by the day’s main theme, is not only about code, but also about the collective value of sharing.”

Beyond Code

Events like Linux Day Italia remind us that open source is not only about technology: it’s about people, collaboration, and shared growth.

A huge thanks to the speakers, the participants, and of course to Free Circle, for creating once again a space where professionals, students, and enthusiasts can meet, learn, and inspire each other. A heartfelt thank-you also to Marcello Masotto and Francesco Bonanno for their professionalism, their commitment to diversity in the talks, and their attention to every detail.

So: Grazie a tutti, bravi tutti! Until next year: we will monitor the degrees, but, for sure, with the same warmth of spirit.