In August we are supporting open‑source and charity projects established since 2006, which is when this month’s chooser, Łukasz Bownik, first went to school. Fifteen years have passed, and today both projects are widely popular with thriving communities, and Łukasz is a successful Full‑Stack Developer.
See what motivated the choices of this Sidnet young talent.
Linux Mint
A Linux distribution based on Debian and Ubuntu, available under the GNU license. Unlike these two systems, however, it is less restrictive about the use of non‑free and closed‑source software.
“What speaks to me is the motto of this distribution of Linux: ‘From freedom came elegance.’ Linux Mint uses Canonical packages and repositories, but is not dependent on corporate support. It’s developed by a self-organizing network of programmers and testers, which yields great results when it comes to graphics, performance, and ease of use,” says Łukasz.
We already supported Linux Mint in early 2020, on behalf of Wojtek Wąsik.
Since then the system has been expanded to include new features:
- Bulky App for batch file renaming using your own rules (version 20.2, Uma).
- Web App Manager for transforming any website into a desktop app (version 20.1, Ulyssa).
- Warpinator for sharing files within a local network (version 20, Ulyana).
Iskierka (‘Sparkle’) Foundation
The foundation takes care of more than 700 children suffering from cancer, primarily in Silesia and Rzeszów. It is one of two Polish organizations to be members of CCI Europe—the European division of Childhood Cancer International. The foundation educates, helps acquire funding for treatment, and sponsors medication, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and hospital renovations.
It also helps its charges pursue their passions by involving them in:
- The Children’s Oncological Orchestra, which works together with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and such artists as Artur Rojek, Daria Zawiałow and Raz Dwa Trzy.
- Art therapy classes: visual arts, theatre and literature, and music.
- Sailing, climbing, and horse riding camps.
“Cancer in children has a relatively high survival rate. But to cure it, you need comprehensive and often very expensive treatment. I support Iskierka because I would like everyone who has been affected by this deadly illness at a young age to have a chance to shape their own future,” he says.