"For more than two decades, I have believed that Free Software democratizes technology. Today I believe it can also democratize Artificial Intelligence."

Hello! 👋

I'm Jacson Rodrigues Correia da Silva, Professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Brazil.

I have always believed that the greatest contribution of Free Software is not the software itself.

It is the knowledge it gives back.

Free Software allows us to understand, experiment, modify, improve and share. It transforms users into learners, learners into developers and developers into communities. It gives us the opportunity to evolve.

This idea has guided my work in GNU/Linux, Computer Security, Digital Forensics, Artificial Intelligence and, more recently, Large Language Models (LLMs).

Whether developing research, teaching undergraduate students or building social impact projects, my goal remains the same:

Using open technologies to help people learn, create and share knowledge.

To build open technologies capable of democratizing access to knowledge, education and Artificial Intelligence.
I believe that:

• 🐧 GNU/Linux democratized operating systems.
• 🐍 Python democratized Artificial Intelligence.
• 🔥 PyTorch democratized Deep Learning.
• 💬 llama.cpp democratized local Large Language Models.

Now it's our turn to democratize specialized knowledge.

• 🐧 GNU/Linux
• 🤖 Artificial Intelligence
• 🧠 Deep Learning
• 💬 Large Language Models (LLMs)
• 🎯 Knowledge Distillation
• 🔍 Explainable AI
• 📚 Education
• 🛡 Computer Security
• 🕵 Digital Forensics
• 🌎 Social Impact
• 🔓 Open Knowledge

Rather than isolated repositories, I see these projects as pieces of a larger mission: sharing knowledge through open technologies.

Open framework for Deep Learning model extraction and knowledge distillation.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/copycat_framework

Research code developed during my Ph.D.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/Stealing_DL_Models

Interactive visualization of CNN model extraction based on CNN Explainer.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/copycat-cnn-explainer

Distributed Genetic Algorithm to Fast Artificial Neural Network
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/gdfann

GNU/Linux server management platform developed in Python, including authentication, proxy, quotas, user management and network services.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/netcontrol

Guide for integrating JACK and PulseAudio on GNU/Linux.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/jack_and_pulseaudio

Building a GNU/Linux distribution together with undergraduate students as a living laboratory for learning Free Software.
No, it is not "just another distro".
The distribution is simply our classroom.
Students learn by building real components, understanding how a GNU/Linux system works from the inside, and contributing to open technologies.
The real outcome is not another operating system - it is people, knowledge and reusable software.

Whenever new applications, educational tools or system improvements are created, they will be released as open-source projects and designed to integrate with existing GNU/Linux distributions, allowing the entire community to benefit from our work.

Educational material introducing Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models and responsible AI usage.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/oficina-ia

A playful classroom prank disguised as an Artificial Intelligence system. It surprises students before revealing the trick behind its "intelligence", creating the perfect opportunity to discuss what AI really is—and what it is not.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/guru

Educational tool for learning Decision Trees.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/arvore_decisao

Visual explanation of pointers for C programming students.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/pointers

Teaching recursion through Minesweeper.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/campoMinado

Portuguese translation and Unicode logical symbols support.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/Truth_Table_Constructor

Interactive environments created for teaching Symbolic Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Agents.
Instead of solving predefined exercises, students develop autonomous agents in SWI-Prolog that interact with web-based environments through HTTP communication.
Each agent must perceive its environment, reason about the current situation, make decisions and act intelligently to achieve specific goals, providing a practical understanding of the perception → reasoning → action cycle that underlies classical Artificial Intelligence.
Projects:

• 🏎 Race Challenge
• 🚓 Tank Battle
• ✈️ Jet Fighters
• 🛸 UFO Hunt

My undergraduate research project applying Artificial Neural Networks to intrusion detection using Snort.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/snort-rna

Reverse engineering example (simple) created for Computer Security classes.
🔗 https://github.com/jeiks/cracking_a_simple_password

Building an intelligent digital ecosystem to support families, teachers, healthcare professionals and public managers involved with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The project integrates:

• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Web Systems
• Knowledge Bases
• Free Software

with the goal of democratizing specialized knowledge and strengthening regional support networks.

My research interests include:

• Deep Learning
• Model Extraction
• Knowledge Distillation
• Convolutional Neural Networks
• Explainable AI
• Large Language Models
• AI for Social Good During my Ph.D. I developed the Copycat Framework, an open-source PyTorch framework for Deep Learning model extraction and knowledge distillation.

Free Software has shaped my entire professional career.

Some milestones include:

• Development of the Muriqui Linux distribution.
• Lead developer and development manager of Vix Linux.
• GNU/Linux deployments in public education.
• Teacher training for Free Software adoption.
• Current coordinator of the GNU/Linux Study Group at UFES.

Today, I continue this journey exploring how open technologies can democratize Artificial Intelligence.

One of my greatest passions is transforming complex concepts into accessible learning experiences.

Most repositories here were created to support undergraduate students in topics such as:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Logic Programming
• Deep Learning
• Computer Security
• Programming
• Recursion
• GNU/Linux

Learning should be open, collaborative and accessible.

My scientific publications are available on:

📚 Lattes CV
http://lattes.cnpq.br/0637308986252382

I don't see Free Software merely as a software development model.
I see it as a way to democratize technology.
Today we have a unique opportunity.
Open-source ecosystems are making Artificial Intelligence increasingly accessible.
I hope to contribute to this movement by developing technologies that empower people, communities and public institutions.

🌐 Website (under "re"construction)
https://jeiks.net

💼 LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacson-correia-silva/

📚 Lattes
http://lattes.cnpq.br/0637308986252382

𝕏 X
https://x.com/jeiks

📷 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/jacsonrcsilva

📧 Email
jacsonrcsilva at gmail dot com

I believe knowledge should never be a privilege.
Free Software democratized technology.
Now we have the opportunity to democratize Artificial Intelligence.
Let's build that future together.