Want to get more involved with FreeBSD?
There are so many ways to contribute, from testing and documentation to code, advocacy, and helping new users.
Check out our official guide on How to Contribute:
https://docs.freebsd.org/en/articles/contributing/
And if you’d like to help sustain the Foundation's support of FreeBSD:
What’s the story behind the BSD Daemon, and why is it called Beastie?
With FreeBSD Day coming up tomorrow, we’re kicking off the celebration by looking back at the story behind one of its most iconic figures, the BSD Daemon, also known as Beastie.
Dr. Marshall Kirk McKusick walks us through how this legendary figure got its name, debunks the "demon" myth, and brings BSD culture to life with humor, history, and culture gems.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bKAp9Wremd0?si=%5C_7QylTMDku8WyXFr
New to FreeBSD?
As part of FreeBSD Month, we’re highlighting a few of the most valuable resources for getting started with FreeBSD.
Whether you're setting up your first system or diving into the kernel, these tools can help you get started with confidence:
📘 FreeBSD Handbook – https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/
📗 Absolute FreeBSD by Michael W. Lucas– https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776JKXNR
📙FreeBSD forums- https://forums.freebsd.org/
📙Getting Started with FreeBSD Guide - https://freebsdfoundation.org/resource/getting-started-with-freebsd/
The May 2026 FreeBSD Foundation Newsletter is here!
This month, we’re sharing:
- A reminder that FreeBSD Day is June 19, plus a simple way to celebrate (and support the Foundation) through the FreeBSD Foundation Shop
- BSDCan + the FreeBSD Developer Summit are coming up June 17–20 in Ottawa (Dev Summit runs June 17–18). Registration is open.
Read the full newsletter: https://freebsdfoundation.org/news-and-events/newsletter/may-newsletter/
The FreeBSD Foundation has joined the Open Source Initiative (OSI), the Apereo Foundation, and the Open Source Technology Improvement Fund (OSTIF) in issuing a joint statement on age-attestation requirements for operating systems.
Read the full statement from OSI:
https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-organizations-weigh-in-on-age-attestation
We’re excited to welcome another student contributor to the FreeBSD community.
Please join us in welcoming Sourojeet Adhikari, who recently shared that he’ll be joining the FreeBSD Foundation as an intern.
As part of his work, Sourojeet is currently exploring “Porting ROCm from Linux to FreeBSD”, an ambitious and highly technical project focused on GPU computing support.
We’re proud to support the UN Open Source Principles as an endorser through Open Source United.
Open source succeeds because of the people and organizations committed to building technology openly, sharing knowledge, and supporting long-term sustainability across the ecosystem. We’re honored to stand alongside other organizations supporting these principles.
Learn more about the UN Open-Source Principles and participating organizations below.
https://opensource.un.org/en/news/united-nations-open-source-principles
#FreeBSD #OpenSource
We’re proud to share that the FreeBSD Foundation has joined the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) as an Associate Member.
We look forward to collaborating with the OpenSSF community to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of open-source security worldwide.
Read the full announcement from the Linux Foundation:
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/press/openssf-notes-quarter-of-growth-with-new-members-added-ai-security-resources-and-growing-community
Happening today!
Anne Dickison, Deputy Director of the FreeBSD Foundation, joins Katie Steen-James (Open Source Initiative ) and Margaret Tucker (GitHub) for a GitHub Maintainer Month panel on age assurance laws and what they mean for open-source maintainers.
The FreeBSD Foundation is participating to ensure open-source realities are represented and that maintainers are not navigating regulatory shifts alone.
📍 LinkedIn Live
Join here: https://bit.ly/3Ra8QOY
The schedule for the FreeBSD Developer Summit is now live.
Join us June 17–18, 2026, in Ottawa.
Co-located with BSDCan, this two-day summit brings developers together for focused discussions, working groups, and project updates shaping FreeBSD’s future.
Review the sessions and plan your time: https://wiki.freebsd.org/DevSummit/202606
Register here:
https://www.bsdcan.org/2026/
FreeBSD Foundation