Re: linux user groups?
On Tue, Aug 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
> Having a discussion on the board of the lug in my area.
> someone feels lugs are largely failing.
> Do you find this to be true?
> If not, why not?
Many have replied with excellent points, information, etc.,
so I'll try to not be (too) redundant.
Most notably that folks may find of relevant interest,
approximate/effective listing of such groups that have/include
online (or hybrid) meetings. Not exactly how the list started,
but regardless well covers that - at least for LUGs and such
in (or including) English. So, URLs, canonical first, then one example
of many shorter easier to remember handy redirects to the canonical:
https://www.wiki.balug.org/wiki/doku.php?id=balug:covid-19
balug.org/covid (https or http - it mostly doesn't force one to use https)
And, teensy bit of history (and toot my own horn slightly), during
COVID-19, notably shelter-in-place, lockdowns, etc., I started
searching out and putting together list of LUGs and the like that
were (also) having (or had moved to) online meetings. Since
I was searching in (and am only fluent in) English, it's very much
just those in (or including) English. But in any case, there are many
such groups/meetings online or including such. Heck,
one can virtually (online) go to about a LUG meeting every day -
most days have at least one meeting, some days have multiple.
And, as far as I'm aware, I was the first to put together such a list
- don't know
that anyone else has even done same/similar subsequently. Though there do exist
and have long existed various listings of LUGs and the like - but this
listing was
specifically for those having/including online (or hybrid) meetings. So yes,
can be fun/interesting to (virtually) go to various LUG and such meetings
scattered around the planet. :-) There's also some handy info (mostly
contributed by Rick Moen) on that page about using GNU date to
conveniently convert time/date information between different timezones
(e.g. timezone of meeting location to one's local timezone).
Anyway, that's the relatively unique and (mostly) quite non-redundant bit
I can add.
As for (mostly) redundant, and yes, I quite concur, and many have been
noticing this for many years, and typically conclude relatively similarly:
LUGs and the like aren't what they once were - much interested has
waned/faded. But regardless, many do still quite continue and are
very useful, etc., just mostly not nearly as numerous and large as
they once were.
And probably mostly because of multiple factors.
Once upon a time, installing Linux and getting it reasonably functioning
was quite challenging. LUGs were exceedingly helpful for that, if
not effectively "essential". Bandwidth also much more limited
(to even non-existent) for many, so LUGs also generally great source
to get desired ISOs, e.g. on CDs, or even get floppies with the relevant data.
Likewise getting information online was much more challenging (not
nearly so much there, bandwidth, search technology not nearly as good, etc.).
And comparatively, these days, installing Linux is typically pretty dang easy,
and similar for figuring out or getting information on any issues encountered.
And another factor, Linux is no longer "the new shiny". It's mostly a
(relatively) known quantity/thing, and with most of the major
technical issues and such already highly well solved.
So, yeah, LUGs, still rather/quite useful, but not nearly as
popular (nor needed/"required") as they one were.
And yes, LUGs and related do very much continue to exist,
and including physical in person meetings, and events, etc.
E.g. just yesterday there was a Linux installfest not far from where I reside,
see, e.g. some of these URLs, etc.:
http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2025-May/013003.html
https://blog.zgp.org/alameda-linux-installfest/
http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2025-August/013041.html
And Debian release day, I hosted:
https://wiki.debian.org/ReleasePartyTrixie/US/Pacific
I'm also relatively active with multiple local LUGs. If one is looking for
such in the US California San Francisco Bay area, see also:
(these aren't necessarily current / (well) maintained, but, meta-lists,
so a listing of lists):
https://www.wiki.balug.org/wiki/doku.php?id=balug:bay_area_open_source_linux_bsd_unix_user_groups_and_related_associations_and_events#meta-list_-_list_of_lists
http://linuxmafia.com/bale/
http://www.lugod.org/calendar/
http://www.svlug.org/farm.php#other-local
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CaliforniaTeam/Projects/UserGroupContacts/Groups#SF
https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=caj9iea2ol69b7n2uqdek4ocso%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles
https://goo.gl/b9WY5k (redirector to the immediately above)
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