Solid Symposium 2026  ·  London

From Apps to Autonomy

Operating Systems for True Data Ownership

Timea Turdean · Angelo Veltens
SolidOS PodOS

What is Solid?

Solid gives us two fundamental things:

All your data in places you trust and control

Use data from one app in another one

This is powerful. This is what we came here for.

The Missing Link

"What is it worth if the data lives in your Pod, but you can’t do anything with it outside of apps?"

Do You Have Agency?

Can’t combine data from multiple apps easily
Can’t automate tasks across your data
Can’t extract insights without specialized apps

You own the data. But do you have agency over it?

Traditional OS

Desktop workspace
Personalized digital desktop
File organization
Access and organize files and folders
Multiple apps
Start and work with apps
Connected devices
Connect devices and share resources

Image by Brina Blum from Unsplash

Solid-based OS

Personal home
Your personal home on the web
Data organization
Access and organize your data
Web apps
Start and work with apps
Collaboration
Share data and collaborate across apps and pods

5 Levels of Data Ownership

Level 1 Level 5
Raw Data Editing
Full control,
full complexity
Specialized Apps
Convenience,
limited flexibility

There's a whole world between these extremes.

That’s what an OS provides.

1: Raw Access

Expert Mode

  • Edit turtle files directly
  • Full control, full responsibility
  • ⚠️ You can even break the syntax
Code editor
1: Raw Access
5: Specialized Apps

Specialized & Polished

  • focused on a job to be done
  • Best user experience
  • Beautiful, purpose-built
Specialized app interface
1: Raw Access
2: Data Browsers
5: Specialized Apps

Generic access

  • Explore and manipulate any data
  • Domain-agnostic
  • Low level
  • Self-organized
Data browser
1: Raw Access
2: Data Browsers
4: Tooling
5: Specialized Apps

The Essentials

  • Calendar, notes, contacts that "just work"
  • No external apps needed — OS integrated
  • Built-in foundation that everyone can rely on
Essential tools
1: Raw Access
2: Data Browsers
Level 3: Data Mashups
4: Tooling
5: Specialized Apps

Combine existing tools & components to something new

bash 
$ cat friends.json | jq ".name" | sort

… and interlink different data sources

bash 
$ jq -r '.[] | .name' friends.json | sort \
  | comm -12 - <(jq -r '.[] | .name' coworkers.json | sort)

The 5 Levels

1
Raw Access Total control
2
Generic Data Browsers Explore & Forge
3
Data Mashups Compose & Combine
4
Basic Tooling Essentials
5
Domain-Specific Apps Specialized

An Operating System supports you at whatever level you need right now.

From Dependency to Agency

?

Without OS tools:

"What apps exist for my use case?"

✓

With OS tools:

"What can I build with my data?"

The OS removes the barrier between you and your data

What's Next

13:40 · 10 min
This Introduction
13:50 · 25 min
SolidOS
Next Up: SolidOS
Latest advancements and next steps
14:15 · 25 min
PodOS
PodOS
From generic access to tailor-made dashboards
14:40 · 30 min
Hands-on Session
Solving an everyday problem with apps and OS

Meet the Presenters

Solid Logo

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