Digital identity
with criteria
Web development, custom applications and digital infrastructure. Free software, no complications.
Most digital problems
aren’t technical
They’re about structure.
You have a website you can’t update because it depends on an agency that takes three weeks to reply. Your Instagram has 2,000 followers but your domain expires next month. You use big-tech tools because everyone does, but your communications sit on servers you don’t control and can’t audit. Your contact form sends data to an American server you’ve never heard of.
Often, the problem isn’t that you lack technology. It’s that you have too much technology you don’t understand, don’t control, and couldn’t change even if you wanted to.
What we do
We accompany artists, cultural collectives and small businesses in building a coherent, free and sustainable digital presence.
Concretely:
- Websites
That you can edit yourself, that don't depend on any platform, that don't expose your visitors' data to third parties.
- Domains and email
Your own, properly configured, with full control. No intermediaries who might change the terms overnight.
- Servers and hosting
With European providers, preferably Catalan. Data on our continent, under legislation that protects you.
- Communication tools
Forms, newsletters, analytics — without Google, without Meta, without hidden trackers on your site.
- Training and support
So you can maintain the system yourself. Minimal dependence on us is part of the service.
- Honest analytics and intelligent interpretation
We use GoatCounter to analyse visitor behaviour without compromising their anonymity. Real data, no trackers — so we can assess what we offer and how we offer it.
- GDPR audit and compliance
We audit the implementation of data protection laws on your digital project and help you meet all current legal requirements.
We don’t make catalogue websites. We don’t apply templates. We don’t recommend trendy technology.
We listen, understand the situation, and design the system that makes sense for each project.
Free software isn’t ideology.
It’s practice.
When you use free tools, the code is public. Someone has checked whether it does what it says it does. Someone has verified it doesn’t send your data to places you haven’t authorised.
When you use closed tools, you have to trust. And trust is expensive when what’s at stake is your relationship with your audience, your internal communications, or your clients’ data.
We have seen cultural projects lose years of work because a platform changed its terms overnight. We have seen musicians without access to their own fan base because it lived in an account they didn’t control. We have seen collectives paying indefinitely for tools they didn’t need but didn’t know how to remove.
Digital sovereignty isn’t a luxury. It’s basic hygiene.
How we do it
LinuxBCN has existed since 2001. Twenty-five years accompanying musicians, cultural spaces, independent publishers, neighbourhood collectives and values-driven small businesses. Each project is different. The approach is the same:
-
We listen
We understand where the project comes from and where it wants to go. No assumptions, no pre-cooked solutions.
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Diagnosis
We assess what exists, what's needed, and what's surplus. The minimum system that solves the real problem.
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Build
We design and implement with free software and tools the client can maintain without us.
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Support
Training and support until the system is truly theirs. Dependence on us must be minimal.
We work from Nau Bostik, La Sagrera — a self-managed sociocultural space that is also the best context for understanding the projects that trust us with their digital presence.
Who we work with
in Barcelona and Catalonia
- Artists and musicians
Your own presence, scheduling and promotion. No templates, no intermediaries controlling your communication.
- Entities and cultural collectives
Free tools, digital sovereignty and internal management without dependency on big platforms.
- Values-driven businesses
A digital presence coherent with what you do, systems you genuinely own and don't depend on external subscriptions.
If your project doesn’t fit exactly into any of these, let’s talk anyway. Every situation is different.
Real projects
The best we can show is what we’ve done:
I love that the Bratia website practically runs itself.
Ivan Kovačević, Bratia
We had a tool built in Access by a volunteer. We used to spend hours processing data for our annual grant reports. Joan developed a tailored Drupal solution and we went from hours to minutes — exactly what we needed.
Andrea, director of 9 Barris Acull
The website is better than the restaurant.
Sachie, Machiroku
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does LinuxBCN do?
We help artists, cultural collectives and small businesses build and maintain their digital presence: websites, custom applications, migrations and their own infrastructure. We don’t apply templates: we design the system that fits each project and hand it over to the people who will use it.
Who do you work with?
Musicians and artists, cultural collectives and venues, independent publishers, neighbourhood media and values-driven small businesses. If your project doesn’t fit any of these exactly, let’s talk anyway.
Why free software instead of a closed platform?
So the code is auditable and the data is yours. With free software you can know what the system does, change it and take it with you if you ever need to; with a closed platform you have to trust it won’t change the terms or use your data without permission.
Can I update the website myself?
Yes. Projects include a simple content manager to edit texts, images and pages without touching code. If you’d rather we handle maintenance, that’s an option too.
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scope. A simple website can be live in a few weeks; a migration or a custom application takes longer. Before starting we run a diagnosis and agree on realistic deadlines.
What happens once the website is live?
We offer ongoing support and maintenance by the hour. The system is yours and you can maintain it wherever you like, with no mandatory fees or forced dependency.
Where are the website and data hosted?
On your own server or with a European provider, whichever suits you. We prioritise data sovereignty and avoid services that send data to third countries without guarantees.