FreeBSD at EuroBSDCon 2024: Developer Perspectives on Networking, Security, and Community Impact

How FreeBSD is advancing open source technology through firsthand insights in networking, security, automation, and enterprise solutions.

EuroBSDCon 2024 gathered BSD developers, users, and community members in Dublin, Ireland, for a key event dedicated to innovation in open source technology. Thanks to the FreeBSD Foundation, several FreeBSD developers—Benjamin Stürz, Mark Johnston, Mathieu Arnold, Getz Mikalsen, Christos Margiolis, Bojan Novković, and Robert Clausecker—were able to attend both EuroBSDCon and the FreeBSD Developer Summit. The Foundation’s support allowed these developers to engage in technical discussions, collaborative sessions, and hands-on activities, demonstrating FreeBSD’s growing role in enterprise and open source development.

Alice Sowerby, representing the FreeBSD Foundation, also attended and provided updates on initiatives such as security enhancements and sustainability projects. 

Here’s how developers working on networking, security, automation, enterprise solutions, accessibility, and environmental impact—are pushing boundaries and making a difference with FreeBSD.

Networking innovations: pushing the performance boundaries

FreeBSD has long been known for its networking capabilities, which support stability, scalability, and high performance. This year’s EuroBSDCon discussions on FreeBSD’s networking features left a strong impression on attendees.

Benjamin Stürz attended Kirk McKusick’s kernel tutorial, where he gained new insights into FreeBSD’s multi-CPU scheduling and TCP/IP stack. Stürz noted how these discussions clarified FreeBSD’s ability to handle high-throughput networking in data-heavy applications. He was particularly impressed by FreeBSD’s optimizations in packet processing, which make it well-suited to environments like data centers and SD-WAN solutions.

Mark Johnston appreciated the Dublin setting and mentioned his daily walks to the University College Dublin venue, which helped him take in the atmosphere and start each day on a reflective note. This connection with Dublin’s lively environment set the stage for engaging in FreeBSD’s networking advancements alongside other attendees, who echoed the importance of scalability for complex infrastructure needs.

Key takeaway: FreeBSD’s continuous networking optimizations make it a reliable, high-performance choice for enterprise and data center applications, where scalability and efficiency are crucial.

CHERI: advancing security through collaboration

Security was a central theme at EuroBSDCon, with CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions) standing out as a groundbreaking advancement. Developed collaboratively across BSD projects, CHERI enhances memory safety by enforcing hardware-level boundaries, reducing vulnerabilities like use-after-free bugs that compromise system stability.

Getz Mikalsen, who had hands-on experience with CHERI hardware, described it as a significant step forward in memory safety for FreeBSD. Mikalsen noted how CHERI’s memory protection mechanisms effectively address risks like dangling pointers and out-of-bounds access, making FreeBSD more robust for security-intensive applications. The conference experience allowed him to see firsthand CHERI’s potential impact across finance and critical infrastructure sectors.

Mark Johnston’s engagement with CHERI sessions illustrated the power of cross-BSD collaboration in advancing system security. He commented on how CHERI’s implementation across BSD projects exemplifies the BSD community’s commitment to resilience, particularly in contexts where memory safety is paramount.

Key takeaway: By integrating CHERI, FreeBSD strengthens its security posture, making it suitable for applications in critical infrastructure and high-security environments.

Automation: the push for efficient system management

Automation emerged as a key theme, especially for scaling FreeBSD environments efficiently. Jason Tubber’s session on Ansible demonstrated how automation can streamline FreeBSD deployment, reducing administrative tasks and ensuring consistency across large-scale networks.

Christos Margiolis, who also enjoyed networking and informal discussions with peers, noted how Ansible could transform FreeBSD system management, especially in enterprise settings where large server fleets require regular updates and patches. For Margiolis, these automation tools help simplify management and reduce the risk of errors in critical deployments. This reinforced the importance of automation in data centers, where consistency and reliability are essential for successful operations.

The potential for FreeBSD’s compatibility with automation tools like Ansible means organizations deploying FreeBSD can save time and resources, leading to increased stability across complex systems.

Key takeaway: FreeBSD’s compatibility with automation tools like Ansible makes it a powerful choice for managing large-scale infrastructure, increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Enterprise solutions: SD-WAN, virtualization, and ZFS

FreeBSD’s enterprise-grade features were a focal point at EuroBSDCon, with sessions on bhyve and ZFS demonstrating its adaptability to modern infrastructure. Chris Moerz presented FreeBSD’s bhyve hypervisor as a lightweight, efficient solution for cloud virtualization. Attendees noted how bhyve’s low overhead and resource efficiency make it ideal for businesses deploying FreeBSD in virtualized environments.

ZFS was another major topic, with Mathieu Arnold reflecting on its reliability for data integrity and advanced storage management. Arnold noted that ZFS’s adaptability, including features like snapshots and data deduplication, makes FreeBSD a resilient choice for enterprises managing large-scale, data-heavy applications.

Attendees’ discussions around bhyve and ZFS underscored FreeBSD’s robust foundation for virtualization and storage, reinforcing its position as an adaptable, secure platform for enterprises.

Key takeaway: FreeBSD’s bhyve hypervisor and ZFS file system make it a scalable, reliable choice for virtualization and data integrity, essential for high-demand applications in modern infrastructure.

Accessibility and environmental impact

Accessibility and sustainability emerged as important topics at EuroBSDCon. Alfonso Siciliano provided updates on FreeBSD’s accessibility work, emphasizing efforts to make FreeBSD more inclusive for users with vision impairments. He noted the potential of features like speech synthesis to support visually impaired users, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity.

Kent Inge Fagerland Simonsen discussed software’s carbon footprint, and sustainability was also in focus. Simonsen highlighted how frequently downloaded files impact emissions, encouraging developers to consider energy-efficient practices in FreeBSD development. FreeBSD’s commitment to sustainability aligns with a broader focus on environmentally responsible open source practices.

Key takeaway: FreeBSD’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability showcases its dedication to being an inclusive, responsible open source platform.

FreeBSD Developer Summit: community, collaboration, and mentorship

The FreeBSD Developer Summit provided a collaborative environment where contributors could connect, share insights, and mentor newer members. Alice Sowerby presented on metrics for assessing community health in open source projects, a perspective informed by her work with the CHAOSS Project. She illustrated how CHAOSS’s approaches can help open source communities track project sustainability and contributor engagement by leveraging specific metrics, from responsiveness to contributor diversity. “Projects aren’t just ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’—they’re dynamic, and through metrics, we can support their long-term sustainability,” Alice explained. Her presentation emphasized  that data-driven approaches, contextualized by community input, can improve FreeBSD’s resilience and inclusivity.

Mark Johnston led a “bug-busting” session in which developers collectively tackled around 40 open bug reports. The in-person format allowed attendees to address these issues efficiently, reflecting FreeBSD’s collaborative problem-solving approach. Getz Mikalsen, a Google Summer of Code (GSoC) contributor, found hands-on experience with CHERI hardware especially rewarding, as it offered valuable insights into FreeBSD’s security features.

The Summit also offered mentorship opportunities, with experienced contributors guiding newer developers through FreeBSD’s technical architecture and ecosystem. Developers like Christos Margiolis found informal discussions enriching, fostering camaraderie and encouraging shared learning.

Each day ended with cultural outings, where attendees explored Dublin’s vibrant social scene—whether visiting traditional Irish pubs or attending the annual Dublin Culture Night. These experiences fostered a collaborative and supportive atmosphere, reinforcing the BSD community’s strong bonds beyond technical sessions.

Key takeaway: The Developer Summit fosters collaboration and mentorship, reinforcing the FreeBSD Foundation’s role in supporting a resilient, connected FreeBSD community.

Looking ahead: FreeBSD’s future in the community

Attendees left EuroBSDCon excited about FreeBSD’s future, especially with expanded hardware support for ARM architecture and new initiatives in accessibility and sustainability. Developers working on the kernel and CHERI integration anticipate broader applications in cloud-native technologies, AI, and machine learning. Attendees also envision FreeBSD playing a larger role in embedded systems and energy-efficient applications, aligning with current technology trends and FreeBSD’s reputation as a secure, adaptable platform.

Many developers expressed gratitude to the FreeBSD Foundation for supporting their attendance and providing a space for these enriching experiences. The skills and connections gained at EuroBSDCon 2024 are already being applied to ongoing FreeBSD projects, including improvements in ARM support, accessibility, and energy efficiency—tangible results of the conference’s impact.

Key takeaway: FreeBSD’s future is one of adaptability, with a focus on emerging technologies, sustainability, and security.

Contribute to the FreeBSD Project

Whether you’re mentoring, promoting FreeBSD, or participating in forums and mailing lists, your efforts drive innovation and growth of the Project. Support the FreeBSD project today by joining our vibrant community and helping build our long-standing and growing open source ecosystem! Enhance FreeBSD by improving documentation, addressing bug reports, submitting code, and engaging in discussions. Every contribution, big or small, helps evolve FreeBSD into a more stable, secure, and performant open source operating system. 

About the FreeBSD Foundation

The FreeBSD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the FreeBSD Project and community. Accepting donations from individuals and businesses, the Foundation uses funds to develop features, employ software engineers, improve build and test infrastructure, advocate for FreeBSD through in-person and online events, and provide training and educational material. Representing the FreeBSD Project in legal affairs, the Foundation stands as the recognized entity for contracts, licenses, and other legal arrangements and is entirely donation supported. Learn more at freebsdfoundation.org.