The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
The Gnome Foundation has announced some changes are underway due to some serious financial issues. Their current budget was approved on October 1, and they have been forced to make some very tough decisions to ensure long-term sustainability.
Those decisions include layoffs, most notably Caroline Henrikson, Creative Director, and, Melissa Wu, Director of Community Development. The foundation also indicated that, unless more funds are secured, they will have to make serious changes in how they market, fundraise, and even attend events.
One area that did not see cuts is Gnome's two major conferences, Gnome Asia and GUADEC. Fortunately, these events are backed by corporate sponsorship, so they have been spared (for the time being). As well, the Gnome Foundation internship programs and the group's participation in Google Summer of Code are not impacted by the current cuts.
Part of the reason for these cuts is that the Gnome Foundation has been living off a surplus of funds. Unfortunately, those funds dwindled until, in April 2024, Robert McQueen (Gnome Foundation president) announced that the surplus was gone.
The Gnome Foundation is currently searching for a new executive director (details for this position can be found here) and applications for that position are due October 15.
The Gnome Foundation is asking for community support by way of volunteering, idea sharing, and donations.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
-
Fedora 42 Beta Has Arrived
The Fedora Project has announced the availability of the first beta release for version 42 of the open-source distribution.