Adios Chicos, 25 Years of KDE Jonathan Riddell reflects on his 25-year journey with KDE, sharing personal experiences and the evolution of KDE and related projects. Early Beginnings Started with a computer at university around the millennium. Found Windows uninteresting and difficult to program. Began using SuSE Linux 6.2, which sparked his interest in understanding computers and coding. The .com boom era saw major companies like IBM competing for Linux dominance. IBM predicted Linux's rise on both servers and desktops. Joined KDE community, learned Qt, embraced open development and free software ideals. Attended early KDE community conference "Kastle", gaining invaluable knowledge. Career with KDE and Ubuntu Transitioned into Debian packaging via a new Linux distro funded by Mark Shuttleworth, later known as Ubuntu. Spent about 10 years bridging KDE and Ubuntu through Kubuntu, a successful community project. Nokia considered using Kubuntu alongside Plasma Active in tablets, but the iPhone's success changed that. Kubuntu still used by organizations like Google, City of Munich, and Weta Digital. Traveled internationally giving talks about open software. Canonical's discontinuation of Kubuntu funding marked a turning point. Blue Systems and KDE neon Blue Systems, a new sponsor, allowed continuation of work. When Canonical stopped community project funding, shifted focus to KDE neon. KDE neon aimed to streamline software delivery directly from KDE using CI systems. Despite initial full-time team, eventually operated with dwindling resources, impacting quality. Managed prodigious technical efforts amid limited manpower. Company Shutdown and Dispute In winter, at a conference, learned Blue Systems' owner was dying and company shutting down. Before closure, Valve's contract improved KDE Plasma standards for Steam Deck. Nate from Blue Systems started a new company, Tech Paladin, to take over business. Proposal for cooperative structure was dismissed in favor of control and profit centralized with Nate. Riddell proposed equal ownership and workers' rights structure but faced exclusion from discussions. Relation with colleagues ended abruptly with silence, no explanations or apologies. Highlighted lack of workers' rights at Blue Systems and Tech Paladin, labeling the setup illegal but unenforceable internationally. Personal Reflections and Farewell The severance from KDE and colleagues after 25 years caused deep sadness. Felt the journey included spectacular opportunities and saw KDE's rise and revival. Despite hardship, proud to have contributed to KDE's ongoing success. Reflects on losing friends, career, and family in the process. Plans to retreat and find solace surfing at a remote digital nomad retreat. Invites anyone seeking him to find him at the "end of the world". Additional The post contains an embedded image linked to a video titled "Sunset surfs at the digital nomad coliving paddleshack at the end of the world". --- This heartfelt retrospective encapsulates the challenges, triumphs, and eventual hardships faced by the author over a long career deeply intertwined with KDE and open-source communities. It highlights themes of community, corporate influence, personal loss, and resilience.