2026 Software Heritage Community Workshop

Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash

Remember: on January 28, 2026, the Software Heritage Symposium marked the 10th anniversary of the great library of source code. As 2026 comes to an end soon, we'd love to discover how you picture your role in the next SWH decade.

Practical information

• In-person only
• 1 common topic and no predefined program. Any attendee can propose and lead a topic: no need to consider yourself as an expert to make a suggestion. 
• By invitation. This is not a public event. 
• Bring your laptop

The means to get to FIAP:

• Bike: Dareau Station - Broussais; 32 rue Dareau, 75014 Paris
• Train/RER: Denfert Rochereau Station; RER B (10' walk); https://www.ratp.fr/en
• Subway: Glacière Station; lign 6 (7' walk); https://www.ratp.fr/en

Drop your luggage at the main welcome desk.

2026 Topic and Resources

A common topic to create an event reflective of what the group needs and wants.

Tip: When proposing a session, you should be able to explain in 1 sentence how your proposal fits with the overall topic and why it matters. 

Our inspiration

https://www.softwareheritage.org/2026/03/24/digital-commons-infrastructure/

Software Heritage now archives 28 billion files, shifting from accumulation to application. This global infrastructure now powers AI and cybersecurity through key data layers. SWH has also established strong connections with key Open Science infrastructures.  

While most tech startups are built for a quick 100x exit, Roberto Di Cosmo credits the project’s survival to a different kind of perseverance - the kind required to build a shared utility that can withstand shifts in policy and management. The goal for 2030 is to secure the institutional support needed to turn these existing capabilities into a standard utility for the global tech stack.

It’s the moment that infrastructure finally becomes real enough to deliver on its promise. The “winter” may be here, but the foundations for the spring are already being laid.

What's your take? Which topics would you like to discuss? 

Resources

These readings are not mandatory but can provide some ideas: 

• The 2026 technical roadmap is all about consolidation and growth: https://docs.softwareheritage.org/devel/roadmap/roadmap-2026.html
• Di Cosmo, R. (2026). Software Heritage: A Decade of Commitment [Figure]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19726151
• Presentations and reports: https://zenodo.org/communities/software-heritage/records?q=&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=newest
• Posters: https://zenodo.org/communities/software-heritage/records?q=&f=resource_type%3Aposter&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=newest
• The blog: https://www.softwareheritage.org/blog/
• The activity report: https://www.softwareheritage.org/2026/01/16/software-heritage-activity-report-2025/ 

What's a community event? What to expect? 

TL;DR: small group discussions with SWH enthusiasts with various backgrounds and SWH team members. 

Check out this blog post about the last community workshop to capture the spirit of the event: https://www.softwareheritage.org/2025/04/28/2025-community-workshop-posters/ 

 Unconference rules 

• Rule #1: Whoever shows up are the right people
• Rule #2: Whatever happens is fine
• Rule #3: Whenever it starts is the right time
• Rule #4: It is over when it’s over

If you plan to lead a session

Tip: Don’t wait until the scheduling moment to think about what session topics you’d like to propose. 

Set up a friendly mindset

If you lead a session, please keep in mind to:

• Gently redirect participants who go off-topic or dominate discussion
• Actively invite quieter participants to contribute. Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves. 

People may come and go during the session, and that’s okay!

If the group is bigger than 12 people: 

• Ask a SWH team member to help you facilitate the parallel sessions
• Split it into two groups after a common introduction of the topic and desired outcome.

Formats that can help structure your session

Warning:  There is no stage, no screen for your slides.  Sessions take place at tables and focus on small group interaction. Detailed information will be shared at the beginning of the event. 

• Group discussion: Pick a topic and facilitate a discussion
• The semi-talk: Use a short presentation to lead into a group discussion on a topic. Warning: don't fall into the "Semi-talk becomes a Talk" trap! The group discussion should take up two-thirds of the session. "Semi" is the key word. 
• Show and tell: Share your latest project, a new tool, or anything else that excites you: documentation, learning resources, etc. Ask for feedback. 

Event FAQ

Q1/ I can't join you in Paris. Could you send me a link? No, alas. This is a 100% in-person event. But we can assure you that online events will take place in 2027. 

Q2/ I can't stay the whole day. Is it possible to leave earlier? Yes. If you lead a session, take this into account when scheduling. You start and end a session. 

Q3/ Does SWH provide financial support? No. We hope to see you anyway. 

Q4/ Can I forward the invitation to a colleague? 

• Yes, if you can't join. No need to be an SWH expert, but as the event is not a training, your guest should have minimal knowledge of the SWH missions and key features: https://www.softwareheritage.org/software-heritage-features/ 
• No, if you plan to invite someone in addition to you. There is a limited number of seats. Thanks for your understanding.  

Q5/ I have never led a session. Can I propose a session? Absolutely. The SWH Community Workshop is a friendly place to give this format a try. You're not expected to know everything on the topic. Great sessions leaders are often great listeners, people able to open and maintain the discussion. 

Q6/ What if I don't plan to lead a session? Is this ok? Yes. Participating and listening is totally part of an unconference experience. Your input is valuable as it is.