Open Source Summit North America
The keynote stage from the side, showing the people working back stage, the speaker and the crowd.

Call For Proposals (CFP)

Overview

June 23-25 | Denver, Colorado

Open Source Summit is the premier event for open source developers, technologists, and community leaders to collaborate, share information, solve problems, and gain knowledge, furthering open source innovation and ensuring a sustainable open source ecosystem. It is the gathering place for open-source code and community contributors.

Open Source Summit is a conference umbrella composed of a collection of events covering the most important technologies, topics, and issues affecting open source today.

Please be aware that the Linux Foundation will now utilize Sessionize for CFP submissionsSessionize is a cloud-based event content management software designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. If you need guidance, please review how to submit your session for an event to see step-by-step instructions and helpful screenshots.

dates to remember

  • CFP Closes: Monday, February 17 at 12:00 AM MST (UTC-7) / Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 PM PST (UTC -8)
    • IMPORTANT NOTE: The Call for Proposals for ELC & Zephyr will use this form exclusively for both the OSS North America and Europe events. Please indicate which event you would like your submission to be considered for.
  • CFP Notifications: Monday, March 31
  • Schedule Announcement: Thursday, April 3
  • Event Dates: Monday, June 23  – Wednesday, June 25, 2025

cdCon

  • AI and ML in CI/CD
  • CD Foundation Project-Focused
  • CI/CD Best Practices
  • CI/CD Security
  • FinOps and Cost Optimization
  • IaC and CD Integrations
  • Observability
  • Open Source DevRel & Community
  • Organizational Strategies
  • Pipelines and GitOps Paradigms
  • Platform Engineering
  • Regulatory Compliance

Cloud & Containers

  • Cloud Infrastructure and Architecture
    • Open Cloud Infrastructure
    • Hybrid & Multicloud
    • Edge-to-Cloud Computing
    • Cloud Native Storage
    • Infrastructure-as-Code
  • Cloud Native Application Development
    • Architectures and Architectural Patterns
    • APIs, SDKs, Frameworks, and Libraries
    • Testing Strategies
    • WebAssembly Applications and Patterns
  • Containers and Virtualization
    • Container Runtimes, Management, and Orchestration
    • Container Images and Registries
    • Container-Native Virtualization
  • CI/CD, Automation, and Configuration Management
    • CI/CD Pipelines and Workflows
    • Configuration Management and Automation
    • GitOps
    • Reproducible Builds and Environments
  • Developer and Operator Experience
    • Remote and Cloud-based Developer Environments
    • Debugging Techniques for Cloud Native and Wasm Applications
    • Cloud-native Developer and Operator Experience
  • Security, Authentication, and Compliance
    • Container and Infrastructure Security
    • Supply Chain Management and Policy Agents
    • Confidential Computing
    • Security, Authentication, and Compliance
  • Observability and Performance
    • Metrics, Logging, Tracing, and Service Mesh
    • Observability for Cloud Native and Containerized Applications
  • Serverless and Data Management
    • Serverless and Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS)
    • Data Flow Management
    • Storage and Serverless Databases
  • Migration and Modernization
    • Monolithic to Cloud Native: Migration and Refactoring

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

  • Strategies for Inclusiveness
  • Diversity Research & Metrics
  • Community Dynamics & Case Studies of Positive Outcomes from Diverse Groups
  • How to be an Ally
  • Mentorship
  • Recruiting & Retaining Diverse Contributors
  • Diversity Badging
  • Navigating Inclusivity Roadblocks

Embedded Linux

  • Aerospace
  • Android (in embedded devices)
  • Audio, Video, Streaming Media and Graphics
  • FPGAs and Dynamic Hardware
  • Embedded Storage Technologies
  • Flash Memory Devices and Filesystems
  • Boot Speed
  • Device Tree and Other Linux Subsystems
  • Real-Time Linux – Performance, Tuning, and Use
  • SDKs for Embedded Products
  • Build Systems, Embedded Distributions, and Development Tools
  • Linux in Devices
  • Embedded CPU Architectures
  • Embedded System Architecture
  • Embedded Specific Busses and Communications Paths
  • Network and Wireless Technologies in Embedded Systems
  • Scaling Linux to fit in Embedded Platforms
  • Embedded vs Other Use Cases Within the Linux Community
  • Preparing Linux for Future Embedded Requirements
  • Trends and Future Direction of Embedded Linux
  • Test frameworks and Board Farms
  • Security
  • System Upgrades
  • Linux in Automotive
  • Drones
  • Robotics
  • Practical Experiences and War Stories
  • Standards
  • Public Infrastructure
  • Industrial Automation

Linux

  • Filesystems, Storage & io_uring
  • Linux Kernel Development (Advanced & Beginner)
  • Mission-Critical, Real-Time, and Long Life Systems (Scientific & Medical)
  • Programming Languages and Toolchains
  • Tracing
  • Scheduler
  • VFIO/IOMMU/PCI
  • Kernel Dependability & Testing (static analysis, kcov, kcov triggered fuzzing testing, fuzzing, kmsan, kcsan, kubsan, test rings, and bots)
  • System Boot
  • Security
  • Live Patching
  • RDMA
  • Power Management 
  • Containers and Checkpoint/Restart
  • Linux on the Desktop & Distribution Kernels & Distros Considerations for Servers, Desktops, etc.
  • Virtualization
  • Networking & eBPF
  • Performance & Benchmarks
  • Rust
  • Community Health (maintainer and developer stress, burnout, well being)

Open AI + Data

  • Open Models
  • AI Code Generation and Developer Tools
  • RAG & LLM Frameworks
  • AI Agents
  • Eval Frameworks and LLM Ops
  • Inferencing and GPU Acceleration
  • Multimodality
  • AI in Industry and Enterprise
  • Sustainability, Ethics and Responsible AI
  • Data Management and Processing
  • Scalability and Cloud-Native AI
  • Edge AI

Open Source 101

  • Kernel Essentials (Beginner)
    • Kernel Basics
    • Linux boot-up Sequence
    • Toolchains and Libraries
    • Debugging & Tracing
    • Driver Model & Subsystems
  • Linux Administration Essentials (Beginner)
    • Introduction to Working with Open Source Software
    • Achieving Bash Mastery
    • Troubleshooting the Network
    • Monitoring Your System
    • Tracing
    • Networking Basics
    • Understanding Linux Security
    • Systemd Basics
    • Security Compliance Testing
    • Overcoming Scaling Challenges
  • Cloud Administration Essentials (Beginner)
    • Cloud Infrastructure 101
    • Cloud-native App Developer 101
    • Serverless 101
    • Cloud Security 101
    • Understanding Containers 101
    • Understanding Cloud Native Projects
    • Introduction to Containers
    • Container Runtime Engines Replacing Docker
    • Introduction to Kubernetes
  • AI Essentials
    • Data Fundamentals for Machine Learning
    • Introduction to AI and ML
    • Basics of Deep Learning
    • Model Evaluation and Metrics
    • Data Visualization 101
    • Understanding Natural Language Processing
  • Quantum Computing Essentials (Beginner)
    • Programming for Quantum Computers
    • Understanding Quantum Computing Advancements
    • Integrating Quantum Computing into Legacy Environments
    • Quantum Algorithms 101
    • Quantum Machine Learning (QML) 101

Operations Management

  • C-Level Strategy
  • Risk Management
  • Meeting Security Requirements
  • Meeting Legal Requirements
  • Meeting Regulatory Requirements
  • Best Practices for Procurement
  • Best Practices for Remediation
  • Best Practices for M&A
  • Best Practices for Sustainability Initiatives
  • Internal Stakeholder Engagement
  • Managing the Supply Chain
  • Managing Customer Expectations
  • Working with Outside Counsel
  • Automation of Legal, Regulatory and/or Strategic Activities

OpenGovCon  

  • Suggested topics coming soon!

Open Source Leadership

  • Best Practices in Open Source Development / Lessons Learned
  • Growing, Managing & Sustaining Open Source Projects
  • Security and Risk Management
  • Open Source Governance and Models
  • Certifying Open Source Projects & Compliance
  • Leveraging Open Source Technology, Incentivization and Engagement
  • Software Development Methodologies and Platforms
  • Building Internal Innersource Communities

OSPOCon

  • OSPOs / Open Source Managers Case Studies
  • OSPOs / Open Source Managers in Compliance
  • OSPOs / Open Source Managers in Supply Chain Security
  • OSPOs / Open Source Managers in Developer Advocacy and Ecosystem Participation
  • OSPOs / Open Source Managers in IT and AI Strategy
  • OSPOs in Academia and Government

Safety-critical Software 

  • Open Source Software Interaction with Safety Standards
  • Best Practices to Work with Regulatory Authorities when using Open Source
  • Best Practices for Security Updates to Safety-critical Systems
  • Safety Engineering Applied to Open Source Projects
  • Quality Assessments based on Data from Development
  • Requirements traceability and testability in Open Source projects
  • Development of Technical Features with Safety Relevance
  • Safety Analysis Approaches and Methodology to Apply to Systems
  • Case Studies of Existing use of Linux in Safety-critical Domains, such as Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial, Medical, Energy, etc.

Standards & Specifications

  • Specifications and Implementations Showcase – case studies and demos
  • Testing, Conformance and Compliance for Specifications
  • Standards for Critical and Emerging Technology
  • Tools and Best Practices for Practitioners
  • Standardization and Policy
  • Cross-Org Collaborations: Highlighting partnerships between organizations

Technical Documentation

  • Documentation in Open Source Projects
    • Establishing a Documentation Process in Open Source Communities
    • Community-driven Localization: Engaging Global Contributors
    • Creating Inclusive Documentation: Strategies and Best Practices
  • Measuring Success and Impact
    • Developing Metrics to Measure Documentation Impact and Success
    • Analyzing User Behavior to Inform Documentation Strategies
  • Case Studies and Real-world Experiences
    • Sharing Successes and Lessons Learned
    • Overcoming Challenges in Documentation within Diverse and Distributed Teams
  • Emerging Trends in Documentation
    • Exploring Agile, Lean, and other Process Frameworks in Documentation
    • The Impact of Remote Work on Documentation Processes and Collaboration

Zephyr

  • Maintainer
    • Subsystem Evolution and Planning Discussions (aka Miniconfs)
    • Proposed New Technologies for Inclusion into the Project
    • Secure Device Provisioning and Management
    • LTS Management and Policy Evolution
    • Security and Vulnerability Management
    • Code Quality and Coding Guidelines
    • Safety Certification and use in mixed criticality systems
    • Documentation
  • Developer
    • Subsystem Status and Overview
    • Updates on Ecosystem, West, Modules, Runtimes, Developer Environments, etc.
    • Developer Tooling
    • Language Support
    • Graphic Support
    • Test Infrastructure, Code Coverage, Tracing, Fuzzing, and Static Analysis Tool
    • Power Management
    • Connectivity
    • Architecture Support (including Arm (Cortex-A, Cortex-R, Cortex-M), Intel x86, ARC, Nios II, Tensilica Xtensa, RISC-V, SPARC, and MIPS…)
    • Training, Samples, Demos and Documentation
  • Submissions for the Zephyr Track in North America are welcome in the area of:
    • Zephyr in the Field: Practical Experiences and Lessons Learned
    • Zephyr Infrastructure and best practices for New Developer Onramp
    • Machine Learning and AI working with Zephyr
    • Benchmarking and identification for areas to improve Zephyr
    • Products Running Zephyr. Example uses of Zephyr in Industrial, Agriculture, Energy, Medical, Aerospace, Wearables, etc

submission types

  • Session Presentation (typically 30-40 minutes in length)
  • Panel Discussion (typically 30-40 minutes in length)
  • Birds of a Feather (typically 45 minutes to one hour in length)
  • Tutorial/Hands-on Lab (typically 1.5 – 2 hours in length)
  • Lightning Talk (typically 5 – 10 minutes in length)

important notes

  • All speakers are required to adhere to our Code of Conduct. We also highly recommend that speakers take our online Inclusive Speaker Orientation Course.
  • Panel submissions must include the names of all participants in the initial submission to be considered. In addition, The Linux Foundation does not accept submissions with all-male panels in an effort to increase speaker diversity.
  • Complimentary Passes For Speakers – One complimentary pass for the event will be provided for the accepted speaker(s) per submission.
  • Avoid sales or marketing pitches and discussing unlicensed or potentially closed-source technologies when preparing your proposal; these talks are almost always rejected due to the fact that they take away from the integrity of our events, and are rarely well-received by conference attendees.
  • All accepted speakers are required to submit their slides prior to the event.

preparing to submit your proposal

While it is not our intention to provide you with strict instructions on how to prepare your proposal, we hope you will take a moment to review the following guidelines that we have put together to help you prepare the best submission possible. To get started, here are three things that you should consider before submitting your proposal:

  1. What are you hoping to get from your presentation?
  2. What do you expect the audience to gain from your presentation?
  3. How will your presentation help better the ecosystem?

There are plenty of ways to give a presentation about projects and technologies without focusing on company-specific efforts. Remember the things to consider that we mentioned above when writing your proposal and think of ways to make it interesting for attendees while still letting you share your experiences, educate the community about an issue, or generate interest in a project.

How to Give a Great Talk

We want to make sure submitters receive resources to help put together a great submission and if accepted, give the best presentation possible. To help do this, we recommend viewing seasoned speaker Dawn Foster’s in-depth session titled Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Become a Conference Speaker!.

Have More Questions? First Time Submitting? Don’t Feel Intimidated

Linux Foundation events are an excellent way to get to know the community and share your ideas and the work that you are doing and we strongly encourage first-time speakers to submit talks for our events. In the instance that you aren’t sure about your abstract, reach out to us and we will be more than happy to work with you on your proposal.

code of conduct

The Linux Foundation is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for participants at all of our events. We encourage all submitters to review our complete Code of Conduct.

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