Call for Participation

4th Winter School on Operating Systems (WSOS ’26)

System Software Research in Europe – open, flexible, dependable, and built to last

16–20 March 2026 · Schloss Zell an der Pram, Austria

The GI Special Interest Group on Operating Systems (Fachgruppe Betriebssysteme) invites applications to WSOS ’26, a five-day residential winter school for early-career researchers, selected Master’s students, and industry engineers.

Set in a baroque castle in Upper Austria, WSOS blends deep technical sessions with hands-on labs, panels, and informal exchanges—ideal for building skills, collaborations, and communities.

Why this theme—and why in Europe?

Modern system software must evolve rapidly yet serve for decades. WSOS ’26 explores how Europe can build and rely on its own systems stacks: not through slogans, but through engineering practices that make software open, adaptable, robust, and maintainable.

A technical agenda for European self-sufficiency

What we as a community can do now (and what’s already underway):

• End-to-end open stacks: kernel, runtime, toolchain, and packaging that build reproducibly; practical paths to replace opaque components (firmware, boot loaders, drivers) with open, verifiable alternatives.
• Upstream-first engineering: strategies for getting features into mainline kernels and core toolchains; minimizing long-term forks; governance and maintainer workflows.
• Interoperable interfaces that last: stable ABIs/APIs, conformance tests, and compatibility layers that survive hardware churn and vendor changes.
• Performance portability across architectures: techniques for multi-ISA support (x86-64, ARM, RISC-V, accelerators) and disaggregated setups (e.g., CXL-class memory, smart NICs) without vendor lock-in.
• Dependability at scale: verification, fuzzing, isolation, and supply-chain security for components we can audit and maintain locally.
• Sustainable maintenance: LTS strategies, release engineering, CI on European testbeds, and reproducible artifacts that others can rebuild years later.
• Ecosystem building: education, documentation, artifact evaluation, and cross-lab collaboration that lower barriers to entry for European contributors.

We particularly welcome experience reports and demos from European projects: open firmware efforts, verified kernels and microkernels, container and virtualization stacks, storage and network dataplanes, toolchains, and packaging systems focused on reproducibility and longevity.

Format

• Keynotes & lectures by international experts
• Hands-on labs & hackathons
• Work-in-progress sessions (lightning talks/posters) with guided discussion circles
• Industry perspectives on operating reliable, open stacks in production

Working language: English. Attendance is limited to foster interaction.

Who should apply

• PhD students and early-career researchers in OS, systems, and adjacent areas
• Selected Master’s students with strong systems backgrounds
• Industry engineers working on kernels, runtimes, virtualization, storage, networking, cloud/edge platforms

Venue

Schloss Zell an der Pram, Austria — on-site accommodation, full board, and generous spaces for hacking and discussion.

How to apply

Submit a single PDF (max. 3 pages) including:

1. Motivation & fit (~1 page): your interests; how your work connects to “open, flexible, dependable, built to last” in a European context; what you’ll contribute and hope to learn.
2. Short CV (~1 page).
3. Optional poster/demo abstract (≤300 words).

Application link and upload details will appear on the WSOS website soon.

Important dates (tentative)

• Application deadline: TBA
• Notification: TBA
• Winter School: 16–20 March 2026

Code of Conduct

We are committed to a welcoming, harassment-free event for everyone. By applying, you agree to follow our code of conduct and the GI’s values of respectful collaboration.

Organizers

WSOS ’26 is organized by the GI Special Interest Group on Operating Systems (Fachgruppe Betriebssysteme) with support from academic and industry partners (to be announced).

We look forward to your application—and to a week of building European systems that others can depend on for decades.