Call For Presenters

Southern California Linux Expo 2024 (SCaLE 21x)

We are proud to announce the 21st Annual Southern California Linux Expo – SCaLE 21X – to be held on March 14-17, 2024 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles.

We invite you to share your work on FOSS programs and open hardware projects with the rest of the community, as well as exchange ideas with leading experts in these fields. Details about previous presentations and activities at SCaLE can be found at http://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/20x

Important Dates

  • 1 November, 2023 - Deadline for proposal submissions
  • 1 December, 2023 - Acceptance notifications begin
  • 14 March, 2024 - Conference starts!

Quick Link: CFP Tool Login

SCaLE 21X is seeking talk and workshop proposals for these tracks:

Note: Not all tracks take place every day. Likely days are noted below but are subject to change.

Cloud Native

Everything about the new cloud stacks encompassing containers, orchestration, protocols, tools, techniques, and security. Technologies include Kubernetes, Docker, OpenStack, Istio, Linkerd, gRPC, Nomad, Etcd, cgroups, Prometheus, Tekton, Kubevirt, WASM, serverless, containerized desktops, and many others. The Cloud Native track runs Saturday and Sunday at SCaLE; for Thursday/Friday, see Kubernetes Community Day.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Developer

A broad range of topics related to application development within open source software and using open source frameworks. Also relevant experiences using open source tooling for development as well as processes and practices to improve developer productivity, quality and happiness.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Embedded

Topics related to Open Source Embedded hardware & software. Possible topic areas include but are not limited to: IoT, Drones, Connectivity, Sensors, Automotive, Networking equipment, FPGAs etc.
(Saturday)

FOSS @Home

How do you use free and open source technologies at home? Whether you are a hobbyist, educator or technology professional we’d like to learn about any personal project that involves open source hardware or software. Examples of things we are interested in include home automation, bespoke parental controls, radio controlled vehicles or drones, 3D printers and whatever else sets your nerdy heart aglow.
(Saturday/Sunday)

General

A wide range of topics related to Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) and open hardware.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Kernel & Low Level Systems

Developments in the Linux kernel and related areas. Talks should cover kernel space in some way and can include, but is not limited to: developer experience, new features, improvements, building blocks for userspace, etc.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Observability

Observability is now a well-established core capability in many organizations. We are primarily interested in presentations from practitioners on how observability implementations, concepts and frameworks have improved your organization and culture. You may also choose to discuss cautionary tales of lessons learned and anti-patterns discovered. We will also consider tooling presentations that focus on open source approaches and tools.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Open Source AI and Applied Science

Big data and AI have been steadily growing in impact and importance in recent years. Much of the breakthroughs in recent AI have been accomplished through careful application of the scientific method, but AI is not the only field that has benefitted from this approach. Much of applied science and AI research use the same tools–Python, R, Jupyter, and so forth– whose open source origins have been a key part of the AI/ML revolution, making these impactful technologies more and more accessible.

This track is aimed at practitioners that are building AI technologies and those that are leveraging open source technologies to solve scientific problems.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Open Government

This track will focus on open source projects that provide more transparency in governmental functions. Talks in this track can be made by either those who work in government or by private citizens performing their own analyses on publicly available datasets.
(Friday)

Reproducible and Immutable Software

This track is dedicated to exploring recent advancements in reproducible and immutable software as a means to achieve security, consistency, and reliability in software builds and deployments. Talks may discuss tools, techniques, patterns and success stories implementing reproducibility and/or immutability including (but not limited to) use of Nix, NixOS, Guix, Fedora Silverblue, or Ubuntu Core.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Security

Covering all topics in the realm of open source security. These include security research, innovative security designs, cool tools, topical issues, "How to's", cost effective open source security solutions and everything in between.
(Saturday/Sunday)

Systems and Infrastructure

This track focuses on management and configuration techniques for systems and infrastructure at scale. Talks in this track may discuss useful tools and techniques, share stories and experiences, or educate the audience on trends emerging in open source operating systems, networking technologies, or tools for managing them.
(Saturday/Sunday)

HAM Radio & Linux

Sessions focused on Linux-based applications for amateur radio.

Co-Located Events

SCaLE 21X will also include several Co-Located Events for which you can also submit proposals. These events have a separate selection process.

DevOpsDay LA

Calling all SoCal DevOps enthusiasts and practitioners! DevOpsDayLA is your platform to share and learn. This event celebrates the collaboration between Dev and Ops, a critical alliance for high-quality solutions. We invite you to submit your presentations on how the human factor enables, enhances, and optimizes automation, testing, security, platform engineering, reliability, organizational culture, CI/CD, DevOps practices, and career development. Be a part of the global DevOpsDays series and contribute to the vibrant SoCal tech community. Your voice matters, and we can't wait to hear it! For more info see the DevOpsDayLA Event Page
(Friday)

Kubernetes Community Day

Thursday and Friday will include Kubernetes Community Day LA. Co-presented with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, this two-day event includes workshops, sessions, and deep dives around Cloud Native technologies – anything and everything related to Kubernetes and containers. Whether you are an app developer, DevOps practitioner, container hacker, or infrastructure owner, this track is for you! For more information see the Kubernetes Community Day Event Page
(workshops Thursday, talks Friday)

Data on Kubernetes (DoK)

Kubernetes is increasingly used to run databases and other stateful workloads, unlocking new potential for leveraging your data. This track will feature talks from practitioners that describe the use cases, techniques, and best practices for running data on Kubernetes including solutions to technical challenges, patterns and practices, validated use cases for running data on Kubernetes, learnings and experiences of running data on Kubernetes, and DoK trends that could help others validate their software roadmap. For more info see the DoK Event Page

MySQL

Sessions focused on scaling, tuning, operating and developing for MySQL and its ecosystem of forks and derivatives. For more info see the MySQL Day LA Event Page
(Friday)

The Next Generation (SCaLE Kids)

SCaLE The Next Generation gives the Free and Open Source community youth leaders of tomorrow and users of today the opportunity to spotlight their talents and ideas. This track is open to K-12 speakers who want to educate and encourage their peers on open source projects they can get involved in today. With hands-on activities and talks, there is something for every attendee.

Are you a K-12 student interested in sharing an idea, concept, or project related to open source, Linux, or other tech? Presenting at SCALE 21x is an excellent opportunity to gain leadership experience, network with other students, and meet industry professionals who can provide career insights. Submit a proposal today! For more info see The Next Generation Event Page
(Saturday)

Open Source Career Day

Open Source Career Day is dedicated to empowering individuals who are working to build a successful career in the open source industry. We invite career development professionals, experienced engineers, and industry experts to share their insights. We are looking for presentations and workshops focused on the following topics: leveraging open source contributions for employment, crafting a strong open source resume, breaking into IT through open source, re-careering from other fields, overcoming interviewing and negotiating challenges, and best practices for hiring and leading engineering teams in open source. For more info see the Open Source Career Day Event Page
(Sunday)

PostgreSQL @SCaLE

PostgreSQL @SCaLE will feature PostgreSQL-related topics by and for people of all levels of experience including how-tos, case studies, overviews of new features, and discussions of the mysteries of PostgreSQL internals. If you're using PostgreSQL, we want to hear about your experience! We welcome talks from new Postgres users as well as seasoned experts. Be sure to tag your submission 'Postgres' if you'd like your talk considered for this track. For more information see the Postgres @SCaLE Event Page
(Thursday/Friday)

UpSCaLE (lightning talks)

UpSCaLE is a set of lightning talks held at SCaLE, in the style of Ignite presentations. Speakers will get 5 minutes to enlighten and entertain the audience. Slides will auto-advance while chosen speakers deliver their message, a brief story of open source deliciousness.

Workshops

We will host several 2-4 hour hands on sessions that provide attendees with practical experience implementing and using open technologies. If you have an idea for a workshop you’d like to host, submit it as a proposal in the most relevant track and clearly mark it as a workshop in your description and message to the reviewers. Be sure to include the length of the session and information about prerequisites attendees should complete to be prepared for your session.
(Thursday/Friday)

How to Submit a Proposal

If you have a SCaLE CFP tool login from speaking at a previous SCaLE event, you can re-use your login. You don’t need to sign up for a new one.

  • Visit https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/user/ to log in or create a login if necessary. To create your login, enter details in the form such as name, bio, email address of the speaker, etc. Please ensure that the personal biography is not more than 1000 characters; focus on relevant experience to your proposal topic and write from the third-person perspective. Note that the contact email-address is the one that will be used to confirm the login creation and speaker registration.

  • Once registration is complete, an email will be automatically sent to the email address to set the password for subsequent access.

  • To submit a talk, please go to the link labeled Submit a presentation: (You need to log in first to see the Submit link) Enter the title for the talk, the intended audience and the proposed track for this talk. Then provide a brief description of the main points to be presented. Include additional details in the space provided. Also, include the names of all speakers that will present this session. Each speaker must have a login in the system before they can be entered in the ”speaker” field.

  • Once the talk has been submitted, further edits to the submission can be made, if necessary, up to the CFP closing date by logging into the account with the credentials provided during login creation. Be sure to include an email for the primary contact for the presentation. Important information will be sent to that address.

  • For submitting multiple talks for the same speaker, the step above may be repeated; note that you don’t need to create another speaker login.

  • Please notify us if the presentation will require a special technical set-up. The setup provided will include:

    1. One microphone

    2. A digital projector with HDMI cable

Proposal abstracts are reviewed by an expert committee and evaluated solely on merit. Given the number of high quality submissions received every year, we request that submission dates be strictly honored in order to provide the committee enough time to choose the best set of proposals. In case you run into any problems during the submission process, please email cfp@socallinuxexpo.org for help.

Notes for Speakers

  • Presentations will be allotted a time slot of about 45 minutes (except workshops and upSCaLE talks).
  • Please ensure that presentations are done in an open non-proprietary format.
  • All SCaLE speakers are in-person. We do not have the capability to support virtual presentations.
  • Please indicate in the “Message to the reviewers” field if you need any additional accommodation in order to give your presentation effectively.
  • Please indicate in the “Message to the reviewers” field if you have a significant financial constraint. We have a limited budget for sponsorship of speakers who are selected but cannot join us without financial support.