❯ ls -la /talks

# josie.lol / talks

## my mainframe runs arch btw

A lightning talk exploring the journey of getting Arch Linux running on IBM mainframe hardware. Because if it runs Linux, it should run Arch.

presented at:

FOSDEM
Brussels (2026-01-31)
slides recording

## Beyond CAS: Why the world needs another Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler

Kubernetes' Cluster Autoscaler (CAS) has been the standard for dynamic scaling, but it suffers from limitations that hamper its performance in some scenarios. This talk introduces Karpenter, a modern alternative designed for real-time, workload-specific node provisioning.

presented at:

DevConf
Brno (2025-06-14)
slides recording

## Mainframes Aren't Dead, They're Just Running Kubernetes Now

Mainframes have been declared dead more times than JavaScript frameworks have been invented—but here they are, still running the backbone of global finance, government, and enterprise computing. And now? They’re running Kubernetes too. This talk covers the why and how of running Kubernetes on mainframes, from containerization on z/OS to networking, workload orchestration, and real-world use cases. We’ll break down the challenges, the benefits, and whether this is a clever hack or a genuinely viable approach for modern infrastructure. If you think mainframes are relics, think again—because they’re running microservices now.

📝 Read related blog post →

presented at:

Container Days
Hamburg (2025-09-10)
slides recording
The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit Europe
Amsterdam (2025-08-25)
slides recording
The Linux Foundation Open Source Summit North America
Denver (2025-06-24)
cancelled
Kubernetes Community Days Bratislava
Bratislava (2025-06-06)
slides recording
Kubernetes Community Day Budapest
Budapest (2025-04-24)
slides recording

## A Hitchhiker's Guide to Developer Productivity

This talk explores how Golden Paths and Software Templates can revolutionize developer productivity by providing prescribed, automated practices for common development tasks. Using "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" as a playful metaphor, Janina and I demonstrate how these standardized approaches can eliminate the maze of repetitive tasks, reduce cognitive overload, and cut lead times from 50 days to mere minutes. The presentation covers the what, why, and how of implementing Golden Paths, while emphasizing the importance of treating templates as user-centric products that must evolve with technology and align with organizational culture to truly transform the developer experience from chaos to clarity.

📝 Read related blog post →

presented at:

Swiss Dev Confederation
Zurich (2024-09-17)
slides

## 9001 Ways to break out of a container

Container security is essential, but what happens when the bad guys get creative? In "9001 ways to break out of a container," we’ll explore the fascinating and terrifying techniques hackers use to escape containers. This talk will cover: how attackers slip through the cracks to take over the linux kernel by bypassing the ebpf validator, and the most common and overlooked weaknesses that make containers vulnerable, real-world cases of container escapes and the aftermath. Whether you’re a seasoned security professional or just curious about hacking techniques, this talk should have takeaways for everyone.

📝 Read related blog post →

presented at:

WHY2025 Hacker Camp
Geestmerambacht, Netherlands (2025-08-08)
Bsides Bristol
Bristol (2024-08-30)
slides recording

## Would You Like Fries With That? AI for Developer Productivity

In this talk, Kyra and I showcased how we successfully integrated an AI-powered recommendation engine into Red Hat's Internal Developer Platform, based on Backstage.io, to enhance developer productivity. Our approach leverages data from the Developer Hub analytics API and processes it with Knative event-driven microservices to generate smart action proposals. Using OpenShift AI, we train and deploy AI models that power a frontend plugin in the Developer Hub, providing tailored recommendations directly to users powered by ML-Ops pipelines. By leveraging the power of AI, we have improved the developer experience by providing personalized suggestions for tools, resources, and tutorials, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency.

presented at:

Kubernetes Community Days Zurich Rejects
Zurich (2024-06-13)
slides
Uphill conf
Bern (2024-05-16)
slides recording