Meeting Overview and 2026 Planning:
The DPDK Governing Board met on December 16, 2025, to review the project’s 2026 budget and key initiatives. The session built upon the operational budget approved in November and addressed optional investments for the coming year, including test suite development and promotional activities.
UNH Lab and Test Suite Development Vote:
The Board discussed a proposal to continue funding student developers at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab to expand the DPDK Test Suite (DTS). While the members present were in favor, the vote did not reach the required quorum during the meeting. The resolution will be circulated to absent Governing Board members for a final decision via email and LFX.
LinkedIn Promotional Spend Vote:
A second proposal concerned a budget allocation for LinkedIn advertising to promote the 2026 Summit, developer recruitment, and the project’s 15th anniversary. After discussion, the vote during the meeting did not reach majority approval. This item will also be circulated to the full Governing Board for an off-meeting vote.
2026 DPDK Euro Summit – Stockholm:
Detailed planning for the 2026 DPDK Euro Summit is progressing. The event will be held at the Hotel Scandic Grand Central in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 12-13, 2026, with a maximum capacity of 150 attendees. A hotel room block will be available from May 11-14. The agenda will follow the successful format of previous summits, including a Tech Board meeting on May 11 and a joint Governing Board/Tech Board working dinner.
In response to community feedback, the 2026 Summit will feature a more diverse format, including panel sessions, birds-of-a-feather discussions, and individual speaker talks, in addition to upholding the Linux Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion standards. While virtual presentations will be permitted, in-person talks will be strongly encouraged to enhance engagement.
The Call for Papers will open on January 13 and run through February 22, with speaker notifications scheduled for March 11. The full schedule will be published on March 18, 2026. Attendees can expect uniquely Swedish speaker gifts, and the project will provide travel reimbursements for eligible contributors.
2025 Year-End Review and Forward Look:
The Board highlighted a successful year for DPDK in 2025, marked by 100% member retention, significant growth in social media engagement, and the well-received Prague Summit. Key technical strides were made in AI-assisted code review tools and the authoring of DPDK Life Cycle documentation. The collaboration with the UNH Lab yielded substantial improvements to the DPDK Test Suite (DTS), including a simplified setup process and more than double the number of test suites, helping to identify issues and standardize behavior across drivers. Goals for 2026 will be circulated to the Board for further discussion and refinement.
