# Andreas Bräu > German software developer **Wikidata**: [Q131465815](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131465815) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/andreas-brau ## Summary Andreas Bräu is a German software developer, programmer, and podcaster recognized for his leadership in the free network movement. He has served as the chairperson of the Förderverein freie Netzwerke (Association for Free Networks) since 2016. Additionally, he is an active contributor to the Freifunk community, functioning as a mentor for the Google Summer of Code. ## Biography - **Nationality:** Germany - **Known for:** Leadership in Freifunk and free network advocacy; software development - **Employer(s):** idealo - **Field(s):** Software Engineering, Programming - **Other Roles:** Podcaster ## Contributions Andreas Bräu has made significant contributions to the open-source and free network landscape in Germany. He is best known for his involvement with **Freifunk**, a non-commercial initiative advocating for free wireless networks. Bräu serves as a key organizational leader within this movement. Since 2016, he has held the position of **Chairperson** for the *Förderverein freie Netzwerke*, the association responsible for supporting and promoting free network infrastructures. His work involves both administrative leadership and technical advocacy to expand free internet access in regions like Thuringia. In 2024, Bräu extended his technical mentorship by participating in the **Google Summer of Code (GSoC)**. Acting as a mentor for Freifunk, he guided contributors in developing and renovating software tools for the network, such as the "Freifunk ICS Collector." Beyond his organizational work, Bräu has contributed to community media, specifically **Freifunk Radio**. He is also an active software developer employed by **idealo**, and he maintains a personal technical blog where he discusses development topics in German. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Andreas Bräu's role in the Freifunk community? A: Andreas Bräu has served as the chairperson of the *Förderverein freie Netzwerke* since 2016. He also participates as a mentor for Freifunk projects in the Google Summer of Code program. ### Q: What are Andreas Bräu's professional credentials? A: He is a German software developer and programmer currently employed by idealo. He is fluent in both German and English and operates a personal development blog. ### Q: What online aliases does Andreas Bräu use? A: He is frequently identified online by the handles "andibraeu" (GitHub, Mastodon, LinkedIn) or "Andi Bräu." His Twitter handle is `EvAltenberga`. ## Why They Matter Andreas Bräu plays a pivotal role in sustaining the infrastructure of Germany's community-networking ecosystem. By leading the *Förderverein freie Netzwerke*, he helps ensure that the legal, organizational, and technical frameworks required for free wireless networks remain robust. This work democratizes internet access and promotes digital autonomy in public spaces. His influence bridges the gap between grassroots community organizing and high-level technical engineering. As a mentor in the Google Summer of Code 2024, he ensures that the next generation of developers is equipped to maintain and modernize open-source network tools. His dual identity as a corporate software engineer (at idealo) and a community advocate allows him to translate professional best practices into the non-profit technology sector, ensuring the longevity and stability of projects like Freifunk. ## Notable For - **Chairperson of Förderverein freie Netzwerke:** Leading the association for free networks since 2016. - **Google Summer of Code Mentor:** Served as a mentor for Freifunk in 2024. - **Contributor to Freifunk Radio:** Participated in the creation of media content for the community. - **Public Speaker:** Presented talks such as "Freifunk in the surveilled world" at media events (e.g., CC15). - **Open Source Advocate:** Active developer and maintainer for community network tools. ## Body ### Professional Career Andreas Bräu is a software developer and programmer based in Germany. He is currently employed by **idealo**, a major German price comparison service. His professional expertise lies in software engineering, where he utilizes his fluency in German and English. He maintains a professional profile on LinkedIn and shares technical insights via his personal website, *blog.andi95.de*. ### Advocacy and Free Networks Bräu is deeply embedded in the "Freifunk" movement, which aims to provide free, decentralized wireless mesh networks. * **Leadership:** In 2016, he assumed the role of **Chairperson** for the *Förderverein freie Netzwerke*. In this capacity, he has been referenced in media coverage regarding the expansion of free WLAN in German cities. * **Public Speaking:** He has advocated for digital privacy and open networks publicly, notably giving a talk titled "Freifunk in der überwachten Welt" (Freifunk in the surveilled world) at the CC15 event in 2015. ### Technical Contributions and Mentorship Bräu is active in the development of software supporting free networks. * **Google Summer of Code 2024:** He participated as a **mentor** for Freifunk, specifically associated with projects aimed at renovating the "Freifunk ICS Collector." * **Creative Works:** He is credited with contributions to **Freifunk Radio**, an audio medium associated with the community. ### Digital Presence Bräu maintains a comprehensive digital footprint across various platforms, often under the handle `andibraeu`. * **Social Media:** He is active on **Mastodon** (@andibraeu@social.bau-ha.us since 2019), **Bluesky** (andi.ishalt.so), and **Twitter** (@EvAltenberga since 2009). * **Developer Profiles:** His code repositories are hosted on **GitHub** under the username `andibraeu`. * **Media Profiles:** He has profiles on IMDb (nm17199321), Sessionize, and Podchaser, reflecting his work in podcasting and public speaking. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.thueringen24.de/thueringen/article207769413/weimar-erfurt-gera-jena-hier-gibt-es-kostenloses-wlan.html) 2. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/CC15_-_38_-_de_-_lounge_-_201505091600_-_freifunk_in_der_uberwachten_welt_-_andi_brau) 3. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdIBmzypOc) 4. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N17fP8nJhBE) 5. [Source](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasbraeu/) 6. [Source](https://projects.freifunk.net/#/projects?project=renovate_freifunk_ics_collector&lang=en)