You’ve heard some buzz about Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) technology. You’re intrigued to know more, but hesitant because it seems a bit overwhelming. What is a newbie to do – how do you even know where to start? Taking the first step can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t feel “qualified”, e.g. no programming experience. We’ve been there! This session will present a collection of perspectives and experiences from non-techie newbies who are going through the process of learning FOSS4G software from scratch. We’ll cover common questions and doubts about how to get started, obstacles to avoid, and strategies and helpful resources to help you succeed.