London Scala User Group

Frequently Asked Questions
I am a novice Scala developer, is this the right event for me? 📚
Yes! One of the best ways to improve your Scala skills is by working on Open Source library and projects!
If you're completely new to Scala / programming, ScalaBridge is a great way to get started!

I don't know what projects I should contribute to.. ↔️
We have a list of Scala projects that would love to have some contributions. Other than get-work-done libraries, we have cool projects like game engine, frontend framework, synthesiser!

I have an idea for a Open Source project but it's a bit daunting. Can you help? 🏔️
Yes! We'd love to see more open source Scala projects and contributors! We can help you get started and provide technical guidance whenever you need it.

Help! I'm stuck outside the building / somewhere!
Joining our discord is probably the best way to be heard!

Discord server invite link:
https://discord.com/invite/aRCVCHmHES

The chatroom is #oss-hack-night. Ping @Jacob Wang if you need urgent attention!

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📜 All London Scala User Group events operate under the Scala Community Code of Conduct:
https://www.scala-lang.org/conduct/
We encourage each of you to report the breach of the conduct, either anonymously through this form or by contacting one of our team members. We guarantee privacy and confidentiality, as well as that we will take your report seriously and react quickly.

🗣️ Zainab Ali: Sketching streams with aquascape
Functional streams are a vital tool in any ecosystem. They can simplify the code for webservers, event loops, and data-intensive applications. But they are notoriously difficult to understand. In this talk, we'll explore a mental model of stream execution in fs2, a functional stream processing library in Scala. We'll use our model to draw simple diagrams for complex streaming scenarios, and see how these diagrams can be generated automatically using the aquascape library. Finally, we'll bring our model to the masses. We'll use Scala.js to create interactive, browser-based diagrams that can be integrated into fs2's online documentation. By the end, we'll have a solid understanding of functional streams. With aquascape, you'll see that streams are not only easy to read, but easy to reason with too.

🌟Zainab Ali 🌟
Zainab is passionate about functional programming and the creative art of learning. As a functional programming trainer, mentor and consultant, she specializes in demystifying complex concepts and fostering a deep understand of FP methodologies and their practical applications. Using a wide variety of interactive teaching methods, from immersive workshops and coaching to one-on-one mentoring, she empowers developers to tackle challenging problems with ease through functional programming methodologies. Her approach focuses on combining deep theory with hands-on practical exercises and real-world applications, enabling teams to develop scalable, maintainable systems. As the organizer of the London Scala User Group, frequent public speaker and member of several conference program committees, her goal is to ignite interest in functional programming, foster meaningful discussions and grow its grassroots community.

🗣️ Caroline Morton: Accidental Functional Programming in Rust (From an Epidemiologist's Perspective)
I don't have a background in functional programming - and I never set out to write it. But somewhere between writing trait-based epidemiological pipelines, composing data transformations, and leaning hard on Result, enums, and pattern matching, I started hearing from others: “That's pretty functional.”
In this talk, I'll explore what it means to write “functional-ish” Rust as someone solving real-world scientific problems. I'll walk through the patterns I reach for - like chaining iterators, avoiding shared state, and embracing expressive types - and reflect on which functional programming ideas emerge naturally in Rust, even if you're not trying.
I'll also share how designing for epidemiologists - most of whom are used to chaining functions in Python (like Pandas) or R - has pushed me toward creating ergonomic Rust APIs with Python and R bindings. These tools aim to feel familiar to scientists while leveraging Rust's power and safety under the hood.
This is a talk for functional programmers curious about Rust, and for Rustaceans wondering if they've been functional all along. No formal theory required - just real code, real use cases, and a pragmatic perspective from someone building public health tools in Rust.

🌟Caroline Morton 🌟
Dr. Caroline Morton is a medical doctor, epidemiologist, software engineer, and PhD candidate specialising in synthetic data, epidemiology, and Rust. With 60 peer-reviewed papers and two books on software, she combines deep technical expertise with a commitment to improving scientific workflows.
Caroline co-founded the first Women in Rust group, fostering diversity and encouraging more women to explore opportunities in systems programming. She leads an open-source project improving codelist management in epidemiology using Rust, creating efficient, reliable tools for health data research.
Her PhD focuses on synthetic data methods for epidemiology, particularly using Rust to generate large, realistic datasets. A strong advocate for open science and reproducibility, she contributes extensively to improving software practices through publications, workshops, and open-source projects.

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🗣️ Would you like to present, but are not sure how to start? Give a talk with us and you'll receive mentorship from a trained toastmaster! Get in touch through this form and we'll get you started
🏡 Interested in hosting or supporting us? Please get in touch through this form and we can discuss how you can get involved.
📜 All London Scala User Group events operate under the Scala Community Code of Conduct:
https://www.scala-lang.org/conduct/
We encourage each of you to report the breach of the conduct, either anonymously through this form or by contacting one of our team members. We guarantee privacy and confidentiality, as well as that we will take your report seriously and react quickly.

Agenda
6:00pm - 🥤 Doors open. Come along and grab a drink!
6:40pm - 🗣️ Jacob Wang: A comprehensive tour of error handling in Scala
7:20pm - 🍕 Intermission: Join us for some free food and drinks! Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are provided. Let us know if you'd like something special - we'd be happy to accommodate.
7:50pm - 🗣️ Mystery speaker: mystery talk
8:30pm - 🥤 Socialising: Grab a drink and let's discuss the talks.
9:00pm - 🍻 Join us in The Butcher's Hook and Cleaver pub to discuss the talks!

🌐 This event has a live stream. Join the webinar at 6:40PM.
Watch this space for more details.

🗣️ Jacob Wang: A comprehensive tour of error handling in Scala
Watch this space for more details.

⭐ Jacob Wang ⭐
Watch this space for more about Jacob!

🗣️ Mystery speaker: Mystery talk
Watch this space for more details!

⭐ Mystery speaker ⭐
Watch this space for more about our mystery speaker!

Frequently Asked Questions
I can’t get into The Trade Desk!
To attend our event hosted by The Trade Desk you will need to be registered with the building. Please provide your name and email address when registering.
Before the event, you’ll receive an email from “One Bartholomew” titled “Your appointment at One Bartholomew”. If this is your first time at The Trade Desk, you will need to fill in an online form. Following this, you will be sent a QR code.
On arrival, enter the building and scan the QR code at the barriers to access and see the lift on the display (A-F). The lift will send you to the 10th floor.
After exiting the lift, make your way to The Trade Desk reception.
You can find detailed instructions here .
————————————————————
🗣️ Would you like to present, but are not sure how to start? Give a talk with us and you'll receive mentorship from a trained toastmaster! Get in touch through this form and we'll get you started
🏡 Interested in hosting or supporting us? Please get in touch through this form and we can discuss how you can get involved.
📜 All London Scala User Group events operate under the Scala Community Code of Conduct.
We encourage each of you to report the breach of the conduct, either anonymously through this form or by contacting one of our team members. We guarantee privacy and confidentiality, as well as that we will take your report seriously and react quickly.