AlmaLinux chair to speak at SC 2026 in Chicago

AlmaLinux OS Foundation chair benny Vasquez will present at the 2026 SC Conference in Chicago on Nov. 17, sharing guidance on how research teams can decide whether and how to open-source internal software. The session comes as the foundation continues positioning AlmaLinux as a community-governed enterprise Linux option for research and production users.

Why it matters: - The session is aimed at research teams and institutions deciding whether to release internally developed software to the open-source community. - The talk focuses on the organizational, technical and long-term support issues that can determine whether an open-source release succeeds. - The appearance gives AlmaLinux a platform at SC 2026, a major gathering for high performance computing, networking, storage and analysis.

What happened: - The AlmaLinux OS Foundation said chair benny Vasquez is scheduled to speak at the 2026 SC Conference. - SC 2026 runs Nov. 15-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago. - Vasquez will present from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in room W192b. - The session is titled “Publishing the Repository Is the Easy Part: Taking Research Software Public.”

The details: - Vasquez plans to cover why a research team wants to open-source a project and what support it needs inside an institution. - The talk will address long-term maintenance commitments and how to choose an organizational structure that fits the project. - Vasquez will also outline practical steps for public collaboration, including preparing code for release, setting up feedback processes, welcoming contributors and defining success. - More information about the session is available in the conference program. - SC 2026 details are available on the conference website.

Between the lines: - The topic reflects a broader challenge in open source: publishing code is easier than sustaining a healthy community around it. - AlmaLinux is leaning on Vasquez's background across commercial and open source communities to position her as a practical guide for institutions navigating that transition. - The release ties the foundation's community-governed mission to a high-visibility event for technical decision-makers.

What's next: - Vasquez's session will give attendees a framework for evaluating options before turning research software public. - AlmaLinux says people interested in meeting Vasquez can contact hello@almalinux.org. - The conference will continue through Nov. 20 at McCormick Place.