This is an automatic English translation of the Dutch original.
*** The first edition is FULL. Did you want to be there? Send an email to mail@postxsociety.org. We might then start a second group, or join the second event on 13 February. ***
The dependence on Microsoft 365, Google Drive and other tyrannical tech platforms causes demonstrable harm. To our economy, our democracy and our society. But how do we break that headlock on the work floor? By doing it together.
That is why, from January onwards, we are organising a series of Post-Tyranny Tech meetups. Seven gatherings in which we free your work step by step.
What are we going to do?
23 January: The basics We explain in detail how we, as a micro-organisation, work in a digitally independent way. Without Microsoft 365 or Google Drive. With NextCloud, LibreOffice, Matrix, Listmonk, Pretix and more. We show how we choose the alternatives and are honest about what it costs in time, money and perseverance.
You will in any case go home with your own server carrying the first application, to try out for a month.
After that: from email to bookkeeping Every following session we tackle one piece of software from your daily workflow. From email and collaborating in the cloud to ticketing, presenting and bookkeeping. Always with the same approach: which FLOSS alternatives are there? How do you implement it?
Which piece of software we tackle first we decide together on 23 January. And further: 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr and 24 Apr.
Our “FLOSS First” principle
Since our founding we at PXS have followed the Free Libre Open Source Software First principle (FLOSS First). For all our work we first try to use open software, on our own servers, on our own terms. Our stack:
- Chat: Matrix Synapse + Element
- Backups and files: NextCloud + Collabora
- Video calling: Jitsi
- Newsletter: Listmonk
- Ticketing: Pretix
- Authentication: KeyCloak
- Website: WordPress
- Office: LibreOffice
- Graphics: InkScape
- Mail: ThunderBird
- Discussions: Flarum
Is that easy? No. Is it free? You wish! Is FLOSS sacred? Nope. We too are not entirely free of Google Drive and Microsoft 365. Especially when we work with partners who are still trapped. But every time we then discover that they are fed up with it too.
Hence this call to action.
For whom?
This series is for everyone who wants to turn dreams of working without Big Tech tools into action. Or who wants to share experience. Small organisations, freelancers, activists, techies and non-techies. You do not need to be an IT specialist, but you should be willing to learn and experiment.
What we do not do: social media. There are plenty of other initiatives for that.
Practical
- Where: The Hague (CLIQ Boutique Offices, Koninginnegracht 5)
- When: Friday afternoons, 13:00-16:00, from 23 January
- Cost: €25, including a practice cloud for a month