Mintarc overview

At mintarc, we highlight our focus on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). We promote FOSS as a cost-effective solution that offers significant benefits to businesses.

These include:

• Elimination of Licensing Fees: FOSS removes the need for expensive licensing costs.
• Flexibility and Transparency: Its open structure allows for greater adaptability and visibility into the software's workings.
• Cost Savings and Risk Reduction: Organizations can achieve long-term savings and avoid vendor lock-in by adopting FOSS.
• Community and Commercial Support: Many FOSS solutions are backed by large communities and commercial entities, ensuring regular updates and improvements.
• Customization and Process Improvement: The open nature of FOSS enables easier customization and management of technical debt, improving internal processes.

We advocate for leveraging FOSS to enhance business efficiency while maintaining flexibility and reducing operational risks.

We strongly advocate for privacy, security, self-reliance, and data ownership as core values of our approach to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). We emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals and organizations to take control of their digital assets by adopting open-source solutions.

Our advocacy include:

• Self-Hosting for Privacy and Control: We promote self-hosting as a means to ensure data sovereignty and privacy. By hosting their own services, users can avoid reliance on third-party providers, thereby reducing exposure to potential data breaches or misuse.
• Data Ownership: We highlight the significance of owning and managing one's data. Open-source tools enable users to store, manage, and control their data independently, breaking free from centralized corporate silos.
• Security through Transparency: Open-source solutions are built with transparency in mind, allowing users to inspect and verify the code for vulnerabilities. This fosters trust and enhances security compared to proprietary systems.
• Customization and Innovation: We spotlight the flexibility of FOSS, which allows users to tailor software to their specific needs without waiting for proprietary vendors to implement changes.

Through these principles, we envision a more equitable digital future where individuals and organizations can maintain control over their data while prioritizing privacy and security.

Main Products/Services

We primarily focus on offering services and solutions related to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Our main products/services include:

FOSS Solutions for Businesses:

• Providing cost-effective software solutions without licensing fees.
• Enabling businesses to adopt flexible and transparent software systems.

Customization and Implementation:

• Helping organizations customize FOSS tools to meet their specific needs.
• Supporting internal process improvements through tailored solutions.

Technical Support and Community Integration:

• Leveraging large FOSS communities and commercial backing for regular updates, security patches, and enhancements.

Self-Hosting and Data Ownership Advocacy:

• Promoting self-reliance by enabling businesses to host their own services.
• Ensuring data sovereignty, privacy, and security through open-source tools.

Training and WorkShops

• Workshops and Seminars: Tailored sessions for non-technical companies to introduce them to the benefits and applications of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
• Educational Outreach: Organizing events to showcase real-world FOSS success stories and provide hands-on guidance
• Skill Development: Helping teams gain confidence in using, customizing, and contributing to FOSS projects.
• Community Building: Training programs also focus on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within open-source communities.

These offerings are designed to help organizations reduce costs, avoid vendor lock-in, and maintain control over their data while benefiting from the flexibility of open-source technologies. The training services align with our mission to promote self-reliance, data ownership, and innovation through FOSS adoption.

Hosting Services

• We also provide hosting services by leveraging Akamai Linodes for Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting. Their hosting services are designed to complement the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) solutions, offering businesses reliable infrastructure for self-hosting and maintaining control over their data.

By utilizing Akamai's robust network and infrastructure, we can ensure high performance, scalability, and security for hosted applications and services. This allows us to provide businesses with a seamless hosting experience while upholding the values of open-source technology.

Our Strengths

Our strengths go beyond its products and services, reflecting its unique approach, philosophy, and expertise in the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) ecosystem.

1. Deep Expertise in FOSS

• We specialize in guiding businesses through adopting and implementing FOSS solutions, ensuring flexibility, transparency, and cost-efficiency.
• Our team comprises of seasoned professionals who are well-versed in the open-source ecosystem, enabling them to deliver tailored strategies for diverse industries.

2. Advocacy for Privacy and Data Ownership

• A strong proponent of self-reliance, we spotlight the importance of self-hosting and data ownership to maintain privacy and security.
• By empowering businesses to own their data, it helps them avoid vendor lock-in and ensures long-term control over digital assets.

3. Commitment to Collaboration and Community

• We thrive on fostering collaboration within the open-source community, contributing to innovation and shared knowledge.
• We actively promote the ethos of open-source—transparency, inclusivity, and collective problem-solving—while helping businesses align with these values.

4. Focus on Scalability and Long-Term Sustainability

• FOSS solutions offered by us are scalable, allowing businesses to grow without incurring hefty costs.
• We advocate for investing in sustainable software with long lifecycles supported by global communities.

5. Training and Empowerment

• We provide comprehensive training programs to educate businesses on FOSS adoption, empowering teams with the skills to effectively use and customize open-source tools.
• This focus on education ensures that organizations can independently manage their systems over time.

6. Hosting Services with Akamai

• By leveraging Akamai Linodes for Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, we can ensure high-performance infrastructure while maintaining alignment with its privacy-first philosophy.

7. Values-Driven Approach

• Our dedication to transparency, collaboration, and innovation sets us apart as a trusted partner for organizations seeking ethical and effective digital transformation solutions.

These strengths position us as a leader in the FOSS space, offering not just technical solutions but also a philosophy that aligns with modern business needs for flexibility, security, and sustainability.

Initiatives

Members of the mintarc team are very active in the FOSS community, particularly in the project Peppermint OS, The Tech Lead here at mintarc is also the project lead at Peppermint.

The Peppermint OS project, which began in 2010, has significantly expanded its distribution offerings as of 2022 and beyond. Originally known for its lightweight and user-friendly desktop Linux distributions, the project now provides a diverse range of builds tailored to meet various user needs. Choice is the value they see.

Here's an overview of their current offerings:

• Desktop Builds:

• These are the mainline builds based on Debian and Devuan, designed for general-purpose desktop use.
• Available in both 64-bit and 32-bit versions, they typically include minimal pre-installed software to allow users to customize their systems as needed

• Server Builds:

• Peppermint has introduced server-specific builds with features like SELinux, Cockpit (for Debian-based builds), and SSHGuard.
• These builds are designed to cater to server-related tasks, offering stability and security

• Mini Builds:

• Known as "PepMini," these are minimal installation ISOs designed for users who want full control over their system setup.
• The ISOs are lightweight (100–180 MB) and leverage the Debian installer for a net install experience.
• Users can choose between Debian or Devuan bases, select different desktop environments (e.g., XFCE, KDE Plasma, GNOME), and even customize components like init systems (SysVinit, Runit, or OpenRC)

• Systemd and Non-Systemd builds:

• Peppermint OS offers flexibility by supporting both systemd (Debian-based) and non-systemd (Devuan-based) builds.
• This caters to users who prefer alternative init systems for more control or philosophical reasons

• VOID Linux-Based Builds:

• Recently, the Peppermint team has started experimenting with Void Linux as a base for one of their offered distributions.
• Void Linux is known for its lightweight nature and use of runit as the default init system, making it an appealing choice for advanced users seeking performance and simplicity

• Peppermint's team focus:

• Customizability: Users can select desktops, packages, and system components during installation. For example, Mini Builds allow users to configure web servers, SSH servers, or zoned storage setups.
• Lightweight Design: All builds maintain Peppermint's focus on minimalism and efficiency, making them suitable for older hardware or resource-constrained environments.
• Community-Driven Development: The project actively engages with its community through beta testing and feedback channels to refine its offerings

This expansion demonstrates Peppermint OS's commitment to providing versatile Linux distributions that cater to a wide range of use cases while maintaining its core philosophy of simplicity and performance.

The mintarc team has also been contributing translations and NGINX configuration support to the MintCHM Project https://minthcm.org/ out of poland

MintHCM is a free, open-source Human Capital Management (HCM) system designed to assist businesses with various human resources processes. It provides tools for recruitment, talent management, onboarding and offboarding, employer branding campaigns, and more. The software also includes advanced reporting and analytical features to support HR operations comprehensively. It can be installed on your own server for immediate use