For the JavaLand x Women in Tech series, Ixchel Ruiz has interviewed female speakers of the upcoming JavaLand 2026 at Europa-Park. These speaker spotlights give you the opportunity to get to know the speaker better and get their valuable input and insight on current topics. You can find more background information regarding the Women in Tech movement as well as Ixchel's motivation behind it in our previous article.
Session Title:The Struggle is real, Free of Charge != Cost-Free
Time: Tuesday, 10.03.2026 | 13:00 – 13:40
Room: Bellevue
Language: English
Focus: Methodology & Culture
A question many developers rarely stop to ask
Open source software quietly underpins much of modern software development. From local builds to production systems, developers rely on it every day, often without considering what it truly takes to keep that software secure, reliable and sustainable.
Delgado's session at JavaLand 2026 starts with this simple yet uncomfortable question: what happens when software is free to use on a massive scale, yet the responsibility for maintaining it is based on fragile foundations?
Meet the Speaker: Carmen Delgado
Carmen works at the Eclipse Foundation, home to some of the most widely adopted open-source technologies in the Java ecosystem, including Eclipse Temurin, Jakarta EE and the Eclipse IDE. Her role places her at the intersection of open-source governance, community collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
Beyond her technical and organisational work, Carmen is also a prominent advocate for women in tech. Her presence at JavaLand reflects her expertise and the importance of representation in fostering healthy and inclusive technical communities.
Why Carmen brought this conversation to JavaLand
The motivation behind this session is rooted in a growing imbalance Carmen sees across the industry. Open source projects such as Eclipse Temurin are adopted at enormous scale, with more than 800 million cumulative downloads by the end of 2025. These technologies power critical systems across industries.
Yet the financial support required to sustain this level of quality and reliability often fails to keep pace. Carmen refers to this disconnect as “unbalanced generosity,” where commercial usage far outweighs proportional contribution. The result is a fragile ecosystem that depends heavily on limited funding and goodwill.
This session is Carmen's way of making that reality visible. It also makes it actionable. This is for developers and IT professionals.
The one idea she wants you to take home
At the heart of the talk is a message Carmen wants the audience to remember long after the session ends: free of charge does not mean cost-free.
Maintaining high-quality, vendor-neutral open source software requires real investment. Infrastructure, enhanced security, quality testing, compliance, and release automation all come with ongoing costs. Carmen explains how the Eclipse Foundation supports its projects through transparent revenue models such as membership and sponsorship, while preserving vendor neutrality.
The audience's key takeaway is an understanding of why this support matters and how individuals and organisations can transition from passive users to active investors in the open-source Java ecosystem.
Her perspective: Advice from a Woman in Tech
This conversation about responsibility isn't just about software. As a woman in tech, Carmen knows how important it is for communities to support one another.
She gives the same advice to the community as she does to the women she mentors through Step4ward, a volunteer programme that supports career changers entering the tech industry.
Make the effort to attend face-to-face events. These events offer real opportunities to connect with other women in tech and to openly ask questions. Be braver about networking and believing in yourself — everyone has a story worth sharing, whether that means proposing a talk, arranging a meeting or simply asking for help. Once you’ve found your feet, make sure to give back. Supporting the next person coming through is how communities remain healthy and inclusive.
This perspective is integral to Carmen’s work, reflecting the values of sustainable open source: visibility, shared responsibility and paying it forward.
Why JavaLand is the right place for this talk
JavaLand is the perfect setting for this discussion. Carmen is looking forward to connecting with the German Java community and the robust Adoptium user base, hearing their feedback, and strengthening those relationships in person.
She is also looking forward to exchanging ideas with fellow speakers and experts on shared challenges, such as open-source sustainability. With its welcoming atmosphere, JavaLand offers exactly the kind of environment where honest, community-driven conversations can thrive.
Join the conversation
Carmen Delgado’s session invites us to reflect on our engagement with the tools and communities we rely on every day. Sustainable open source — and inclusive tech communities — do not happen by accident. They are shaped by our choices to contribute, support and participate.
If you care about the future of the Java ecosystem, this talk will provide you with valuable insights and a clear sense of responsibility. Bring your questions, experiences and voice to JavaLand 2026 and be part of the conversation.
This article’s grammar and syntax were refined using ChatGPT and DeepL. The content reflects the speaker’s ideas, hopes, and statements.
