BLUG was started in 1998 by a small group of computer geeks in Bellingham, Washington who wanted to get off Windows and learn from local Unix gurus. Our focus is on Linux and all Open Source software.
We hold a presentation meeting the first Thursday of the month at Bellingham Technical College in Campus Center room 201 (CC201). On the third Wednesday, we hold an informal organization meeting with the time and location being Bellingham Makerspace (located in the Bellisfair Mall, next to Dicks Sporting Goods). We also put on special events including the regional LinuxFest Northwest in the Spring.
Next Meeting
Security in the modern Environment
08/20/2025 at 05:30 PM
Josh will be discussing (and demonstrating!!) security tools, software, and hardware for the modern environment. Expect HAK5 gadgets and anything Defcon had in their store in the last few years.
Past Meetings
Security in the modern Environment
08/20/2025 at 05:30 PM
Josh will be discussing (and demonstrating!!) security tools, software, and hardware for the modern environment. Expect HAK5 gadgets and anything Defcon had in their store in the last few years.
DevOps tools/flow for Python packaging
07/16/2025 at 05:30 PM
Join us Wednesday, July 16th, from 5:30 PM to ~7 PM at Bellingham Makerspace as we explore DevOps and Python with community organizers from BLUG, Bellingham Codes, the BTC Raspberry Pi Club, and Cascade STEAM!
Kaleb Coberly will present a walkthrough of a public template repo for open-source Python packaging, including DevOps tools and workflow. This includes GitHub Actions CI/CD workflows building on multiple operating systems, a git submodule for shared Makefile and QC tools, project setup files, dependency management, pytest framework, and sphinx user/technical/API documentation — all used in real projects.
Each BLUG meetup will be in three parts:
- The first half hour will be arrival and community support. Need help installing some app or flavor of Linux? Make sure to show up early and partake in the wisdom from some of our more experienced members.
- After that, we will have guest sessions. Do you have ideas on what you would like to present or want to present yourself? Let us know!
- After the presentations are done, we will have a general social time to get to know each other and to collaborate on new things.
Event Recap:
Kaleb walked through an open-source template for packaging Python apps, which anyone can use. The template includes GitHub workflows and development tools that run locally, on Github itself, as well as using docker based Act command line tool to run them locally in a container. Good for testing and debugging.
Workflows allow us to automate and standardize complex and sometimes “tricky” build and deployment processes. This can save hours and lots of frustration with hidden errors that only show up at deployment time.
Links:
– https://cricketsandcomb.org/#projects – Current home of the tools. Keep checking on https://cascadesteam.org/community-projects for when we get it moved over.
– https://github.com/crickets-and-comb – the current Github project home
06/18/2025 at 05:30 PM
Join us Wednesday, June 18th, from 5:30 PM -7 PM at Bellingham Makerspace as we explore Cybersecurity with community organizers from BLUG, Bellingham Codes, the BTC Raspberry Pi Club, and Cascade STEAM! Josh Bukder will demonstrate several devices and tools used to test security and increase awareness of sensitive areas in our environments. Bring your questions and ideas!
Each BLUG meetup will be in three parts: the first half hour will be arrival and community support. Need help installing some app or flavor of Linux? Make sure to show up early and partake in the wisdom from some of our more experienced members. After that, we will have guest sessions. Do you have ideas on what you would like to present or want to present yourself? Let us know! After the presentations are done, we will have a general social time to get to know each other and to collaborate on new things.
Linuxfest 2025 Preview and Git workshop
04/16/2025 at 05:30 PM
Join us for a preview of Linuxfest Northwest 2025!! We will be covering an overview of the event, sessions, fun side-events, and some inside info/tricks/tips to getting the most out of attending this year’s Linuxfest. After that, we will also be doing a surface dive into git in workshop format. So, bring your laptops and prepare to immerse yourself in the trials and tribulations of collaborative development with a side of continuous integration, development, and deployment.
As always, our events are free and open to everyone – regardless of knowledge level.
PiHole Workshop
11/20/2024 at 05:30 PM
After the success of our last meetup covering PiHole as a concept, we have decided to put on a workshop class focused on installing and utilizing PiHole. The workshop aims to teach participants about improving home network security using PiHole, a popular network-level ad blocker and DNS sinkhole. By highlighting the practical applications of PiHole, the source emphasizes its potential to enhance network performance and overall security for individuals at home. Bring your Raspberry Pi’s, or an old Linux laptop (preferably Debian-based) and join us as we provide a hands-on, mentor-based workshop with the students from BTC!
BLUG – Back in sessions
10/16/2024 at 05:30 PM
Join us Wednesday, October 16th from 5:30 PM -7 PM at Bellingham Makerspace as we continue our relaunch of the Bellingham Linux Users Group (BLUG) along with community organizers from Bellingham Codes, the BTC Raspberry Pi Club, and Cascade STEAM!
Since 1998, BLUG has hosted convenings for all interested in Linux, GNU, and open-source hardware and software. During the COVID pandemic, BLUG focused on keeping LinuxFest Northwest alive, and we are excited to return to regularly scheduled meetings on the Third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM. Locations will generally be Bellingham Makerspace, but may also include the occasional social event at local establishments and those will be announced specifically in advance.
Each BLUG meetup will be in three parts: the first half hour will be arrival and community support. Need help installing some app or flavor of Linux? Make sure to show up early and partake in the wisdom from some of our more experienced members. After that, we will have guest sessions. Do you have ideas on what you would like to present or want to present yourself? Let us know! After the presentations are done, we will have a general social time to get to know each other and to collaborate on new things.
Bellingham Linux Users Group Relaunch
09/18/2024 at 05:00 PM
Join us Wednesday September 18th from 5pm-7pm at Stemma as we relaunch the Bellingham Linux Users Group (BLUG) along with community organizers from Bellingham Codes and the BTC Raspberry Pi Club!
From the beginning in 1998, BLUG has hosted convenings for all those interested in Linux, GNU, and open source hardware and software. During the COVID pandemic, BLUG focused to keep LinuxFest Northwest alive, and we are excited to return to regularly scheduled meetings: The Third Wednesday of the month at 5pm. Locations TBD.
(virtual)BLUG meeting 11/4: Kat Morgan – Agility in the HomeLab, Declarative Infrastructure at Home
11/04/2021 at 06:30 PM
Meeting Includes…
BLUG/LFNW & Linux News, Q&A, and a presentation by Kat Morgan.
Kat’s Presentation:
This is a 102 level presentation where understanding of basic fedora/ubuntu installation and ssh abilities should suffice for duplicating success with the material shared. I will bring plenty to talk about. Technical level of depth into the technology stacks used will be audience lead.
Technologies included will be:
- Fedora 34
- Ubuntu 21.10
- Docker
- Ansible
- Helm
- Kubernetes
- KubeVirt (Virtual machines on Kubernetes)
- VyOS (Linux Router/Firewall Distribution)
- SSH
- RDP
- VLAN
Looking forward to it!
Online meeting!
While we continue to social distance, we’ll meet online. Meet us at 6:30pm for news/help/chat, or 7pm for the main presentation via Zoom:
https://konghq.zoom.us/j/97609664398
Meeting ID: 976 0966 4398
(virtual)BLUG meeting 10/7: Logan Perkins – Running webservers behind a transparent reverse proxy
10/07/2021 at 06:30 PM
Meeting Includes…
BLUG/LFNW & Linux News, Q&A, and a presentation by Logan Perkins on running webservers behind a transparent reverse proxy.
Logan’s Presentation:
This is partially a sequel to my recorded LFNW2020 presentation on implementing transparent reverse proxies, but if you haven’t seen that, don’t worry, I’ll give a brief recap. I think there will be enough time to go over how to run about 4 different webservers, which should be sufficient to apply the lessons to any webserver.
https://discuss.lfnw.org/t/2021-oct-7-running-webservers-behind-a-transparent-reverse-proxy/318
Online meeting!
While we continue to social distance, we’ll meet online. Meet us at 6:30pm for news/help/chat, or 7pm for the main presentation at https://meet.google.com/btp-xynf-vbh .
5 Linux command line tools to take you to the next level
07/01/2021 at 07:00 PM
Meeting Includes…
BLUG/LFNW & Linux News, Q&A, and a presentation by John Blanford – “5 Linux command line tools to take you to the next level”.
John’s Presentation:
Ok you know the basics, this talk will help you advance to the next level
in your quest for Linux guruhood. This is an beginner to intermediate
level talk.
Look at me! I am in the cloud – ssh and scp
Can you wrap that up to go? – tar and zip
I know it’s in there somewhere – grep
Online meeting!
While we continue to social distance, we’ll meet online.
Meet us at 7pm PDT at https://meet.google.com/btp-xynf-vbh