When they are not programming, they’re gaming, playing with electronics, or chatting on IRC. These are the only interests of programmers according to a popular stereotype, while our developers find enjoyment in running, yoga, making music, singing, watercolor painting, or spoiling their pets.
One week before the World Poetry Day, our Full-Stack Developer Emil Maruszczak is remixing technical documentation with classic Polish poetry.
What open-source and non-profit projects does Emil want us to support?
Arch Linux
This DIY Linux distribution is aimed at competent, demanding users. First released in 2002, it has seen continued development by its community.
The creators of Arch Linux profess such values as:
- Simplicity. In line with the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle, Arch Linux was designed as a simple system without unnecessary additions or embellishments.
- Being always up to date. The system uses the rolling release model which involves frequent minor updates.
- Practicality. Decisions made in relation to the system are generally based on technical analyses and discussions, not popular opinions or politics.
“I had long been on the lookout for a system that worked how I wanted it to. Arch impressed me with how clean it was the moment I first ran a test installation. The barrier to entry was high, but so was my determination—I had to understand and configure many mechanisms which just ‘magically’ work in other systems. Now I use Arch at work, at home and on my private servers,” he said.
Polish poetry
Online audio library of Polish poetry. This project is being developed by the Maurycy Mochnacki Foundation, whose goal is to popularize the works of Poland’s most famous poets, from the Middle Ages to the present. The texts are recorded by actors and uploaded to YouTube thanks to donations.
There are more than 300 recordings currently available for listening, including samples from Master Thaddeus, Jan Kochanowski’s Laments, as well as works by Juliusz Słowacki, Maria Konopnicka, Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska. They include interpretations by PhD students of Polish literature, short biographies of the authors and descriptions of the literary periods, ideal for helping school teachers and students.
“Polish literature, and poetry in particular, is in need of digitization. This is one way of developing sensitivity in young people, who are more likely to choose their smartphone over a book. The vulgar narrative they encounter in social media every day has desensitized them to the beauty of the world around us,” said Emil in explaining his choice.