FreieFunktionen

FreieFunktionen is a German-speaking nonprofit organization and online community that promotes free software, open standards, and open digital infrastructure. The group emphasizes user freedoms to run, study, modify, and share software and services, and supports a culture of transparent development and collaboration across borders and disciplines. FreieFunktionen operates a mix of online resources, local meetups, coding sprints, and educational programs intended for volunteers, students, and hobbyists.

Historically, FreieFunktionen emerged from a network of hackerspaces and activist groups in the German-speaking world, with a focus on practical technology literacy and community-led project work. The organization coordinates volunteers, maintains public repositories and documentation, and hosts events to connect developers, educators, and users.

Governance is typically community-driven, with a board or steering group and a general assembly made up of members; decisions are made through consensus or simple-majority processes. Activities are funded through memberships, donations, sponsorships, and grants, with an emphasis on low-threshold participation and inclusive outreach.

Impact and activities often include contributing to open-source software, developing open educational resources, promoting libre licenses, and supporting community networks and digital rights advocacy. FreieFunktionen also serves as a platform for collaboration between individual developers, hackerspaces, schools, and non-profit organizations.

External engagement includes partnerships with other free-software initiatives, participation in policy discussions about digital sovereignty, and resource sharing to enable local tech communities.