Western Pennsylvania Linux Users Group

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====== About WPLUG ======

**WPLUG is the Western Pennsylvania Linux Users Group**, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 

Our story began on September 26, 1997. For nearly three decades, we have served as a hub for enthusiasts of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Today, we are entering a new era: a revival focused on **Digital Sovereignty**.

We are a collective dedicated to the belief that in an age of corporate data silos, the ability to host your own services and control your own hardware is not just a hobby—it is a necessity.

WPLUG provides a community for Linux users of all backgrounds. Whether you are a seasoned sysadmin or someone who has never seen a terminal, you are welcome here. We believe in mutual aid, shared knowledge, and the enduring "coolness" of Linux.

You can contact us by e-mailing [[mailto:info@wplug.net|info@wplug.net]].

"Western Pennsylvania Linux Users Group" and "WPLUG" are service marks of the Western Pennsylvania Linux Users Group.

====== What is Linux? ======

Linux is a //kernel//, the core of a computer operating system, created by [[wp>Linus Torvalds|Linus Torvalds]]. It is typically packaged as a //[[wp>Linux distribution|distribution]]//, which includes the extra programs necessary to make a computer functional and useful. 

In the context of the New WPLUG, Linux is the foundation of **Digital Sovereignty**. By using Linux and FOSS, you remove the middleman between you and your data.

====== What are Open Source and Free Software? ======

Open Source and Free Software provide you, the user, with the opportunity to see the source code of the programs you use. You are free to use it, share it with others, and even make changes to it if you wish. 

This transparency is what makes self-hosting possible; you don't have to trust a corporate promise when you can audit the code yourself.

====== Resources ======

These links are to external sites with useful information about Free and Open Source Software. 

===== Desktop Distributions =====

The following are some of the most widely used distributions for getting started:

  * [[http://www.ubuntu.com/|Ubuntu]] - User-friendly and widely supported.
  * [[http://www.fedora project.org/|Fedora]] - Cutting edge and community-driven.
  * [[http://www.opensuse.org/|openSUSE]] - Powerful and stable.
  * **Pro Tip:** If you're looking to dive into self-hosting, look into [[https://www.debian.org/|Debian]], the "universal operating system" that powers much of the web.

===== News & Community =====

  * [[http://lwn.net/|LWN.net]] - High-quality technical news.
  * [[http://distrowatch.com/|DistroWatch]] - Keep track of different distributions.

===== Help Sites =====

  * The best place to start is the official documentation and community forums for your chosen distribution.
  * You can also jump straight into our [[wplug:get_involved:irc:|IRC Channel]] to ask questions in real-time.

====== Other Groups/Events ======

We encourage our members to engage with the broader Pittsburgh tech scene.

===== Local Groups =====

  * [[http://pghrb.org/|Pittsburgh Ruby Brigade]]

===== Regional Events =====

  * [[http://www.ohiolinux.org/|Ohio LinuxFest]] - An annual major Linux conference in Columbus, Ohio.