Let's Meetup and do some puzzles

This is the December monthly meeting. Normally some of us go on to the pub afterwards.

There will be mince pies

We shall be doing Python-based puzzles in small groups (so bring a laptop with Python 3 on it if you can, and as always it's useful to have the Mu editor installed - https://codewith.mu/en/download - in case you want to share keyboards).

The idea is to split into small groups, 2-4 people, and have a go at these
puzzles. You can have one person "driving" the keyboard, and the others
thinking for them, or you can rotate roles - whatever works for each group.

The two most obvious "games" to play are:

• The Python Challenge: http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

Each page is a clue that requires some thinking (and some programming) to work out. As you progress, you need to think harder, and perhaps install the occasional Python module.

• Project Euler: https://projecteuler.net/

A series of mathematical/computer programming problems. Later questions may build on knowledge learnt in the earlier ones. You do need to register.

If you want more after the meeting, the following look interesting (although I haven't tried either):

• The (seasonal!) Advent of Code, which presents a puzzle each day in
  December. See https://adventofcode.com/. This is language independent (it's just a series of puzzles), and may be quite challenging. There's a discussion redit at https://www.reddit.com/r/adventofcode (but of course
  beware of spoilers).

• https://programmingpraxis.com/ "A collection of etudes, updqted weekly, for the education and enjoyment of the savvy programmer". Again, language independent.

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**How CamPUG uses meetup.com**

We mainly use meetup as a way of publicising meetings, at which it is very good. We also use the RSVP mechanism to get some idea of how many people will turn up to a meeting, but this is very inaccurate - at best, we normally get between half and two-thirds of the "yes" numbers attending.

We do not require people to pay for meetings, or acquire tickets, and we do not "take a register" of who actually turns up. We don't even insist that people have to use meetup to indicate they're coming. It is important to me that this be a free and open meeting.

This does mean that we have a problem when a meeting is very popular and reaches the practical room size - i.e., how many will safely fit in our meeting room (although we've really only had that problem once so far).

From now on, I shall put a limit on the number of "yes" RSVP replies that is larger than the actual room size, but hopefully not too large. I shall try harder to send a message or messages before each meeting to remind people to un-RSVP if they cannot come, and I shall count the actual number of attendees to each meeting and monitor the situation.