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+<title>My internship with the FSF tech team and beyond — bandali</title>
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+<h1>My internship with the FSF tech team and beyond</h1>
+<p>by <a href="https://bndl.org"><b>bandali</b></a>
+on December 18, 2020 <small>(also
+in <a href="fsf-internship-beyond.txt">plain text</a>)</small></p>
+
+<p class="box">Originally published on the Free Software Foundation's
+sysadmin blog:<br />
+<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/my-internship-with-the-fsf-tech-team-and-beyond">My internship with the FSF tech team and beyond</a></p>
+
+<p>Hello! I'm
+<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-bandali-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">Amin Bandali</a>,
+and this is my second blog post on the FSF sysadmin blog, concluding
+my internship with the FSF tech team this year.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout my internship with the tech team, I have worked mainly
+on sysadmin tasks related to setting up and/or managing FSF's
+GNU/Linux servers. Perhaps most significantly, I set up an instance
+of the <a href="https://sourcehut.org">Sourcehut</a> forge software to
+help
+<a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/FSF_2020_forge_evaluation">evaluate</a>
+it as a candidate for the upcoming
+<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/coming-soon-a-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration">FSF forge project</a>.
+I documented the installation and setup process of Sourcehut's various
+components in the form of a literate GNU Emacs Org-mode file, where
+source blocks are interspersed with comments and prose explaining
+them. One can then progressively evaluate and execute the source
+blocks, and optionally have their results stored back in the Org file
+itself to help with documentation/demonstration.</p>
+
+<p>I have also been slowly working on various improvements for the
+server running www.gnu.org, and will continue doing work on it as a
+volunteer after the end of my internship. This will hopefully be
+beneficial to the FSF sysadmins running the server, the GNU webmasters
+who do webmastering work on gnu.org, and the general public browsing
+and using gnu.org's pages. Notably, changes included upgrading the
+server to the latest release of Trisquel GNU/Linux, and revamping and
+improving the search mechanism for gnu.org's pages. Additionally,
+there are several other projects that I would like to tackle with the
+tech team in the near future.</p>
+
+<p>During my internship with the FSF tech team, I picked up a variety
+of new skills and learned more about a diverse set of topics and
+tools. This included building and installing a complex piece of
+software like Sourcehut and debugging issues encountered along the
+way, using Ansible for managing and deploying infrastructure, as well
+as learning more about the Exim mail transfer agent used to run FSF
+and GNU's array of mail servers.</p>
+
+<p>In conclusion to my internship and the year 2020, it's safe to say
+that this year has been an eventful year for many people, including
+myself. I started my internship with the tech team back in May, and
+as a graduate student at the time, I was expecting a reasonable and
+balanced workload for my work on my thesis over the coming months.
+However, early on (less than two weeks) into my internship I learned
+that due to a number of reasons, I needed to complete my master's
+studies on a two-month deadline. I told the tech team about the
+issue, asking whether I could take a hiatus to complete my studies
+without affecting my internship. I am beyond thankful to the tech
+team and the FSF as whole for being accommodating, and for their
+flexibility in allowing me to take a leave to focus on writing my
+thesis and wrapping up my master's studies. I managed to successfully
+wrap up my studies in that short timeline, and focus on my internship
+afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>However, all good things must come to an end, and this internship
+is no exception. I am incredibly grateful to the members of the FSF
+tech team -- Ian, Andrew, Ruben, and Michael -- for welcoming me to
+the team as an intern and mentoring me, answering my many questions,
+and helping me learn more. It has been an honour and a wonderful
+experience for me all around working with you all and seeing the
+energy and passion with which you take on the work and
+responsibilities that come with being an FSF sysadmin and Web
+developer. While most of my interactions were with the tech team, I
+also got to interact with FSF staffers from several other teams during
+my internship, and I'm thankful for our conversations and the chance
+to get to know and appreciate the important work you do.</p>
+
+<p>This internship has come to an end, but I will carry with me all of
+the good memories and the lessons I learned along the way, and will
+happily to continue working with you as a volunteer. The things I
+learned have been invaluable and greatly helpful to me, as I
+transitioned into my new full-time job at Savoir-faire Linux as a Free
+Software Consultant, where I get to work on various parts and aspects
+of Jami, a GNU package for universal communication which respects the
+freedoms and privacy of its users.</p>
+
+<p>I would like to thank the FSF for providing me this excellent
+opportunity to work alongside the tech team as an intern, and take
+away so many valuable lessons and great memories.</p>
+
+<p class="box">Interested in interning for the Free Software
+Foundation? The application period for spring 2021 internships is
+currently open. Please see
+<a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships">https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships</a>
+for more details and information on how to apply!</p>
+
+<hr />
+<details id="copy">
+<summary>Copyright © 2020 bandali</summary>
+<p>Copying and distribution of this file, with or without
+modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the
+copyright notice and this notice are preserved. This file is offered
+as-is, without any warranty.</p>
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