Cigars

## Learn Go and NixOS deployments with large language models Hello, 世界! When used sensibly, language models can be tutors, too. For meetup #60 on Tuesday [May 26, 2026 19:00 CET](https://www.meetup.com/leipzig-golang/events/312537727) we are really happy to have [Maxime](https://www.linkedin.com/in/plumps/) dive into Nix/NixOS with the help of language models. Nix is a functional package manager and its immutable traits enable robust, reproducable deployments of Go (and other) projects. The high level goals of Nix/NixOS are similar to other immutable Linux distributions, like [Silverblue](https://fedoraproject.org/silverblue/) or [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg/). Becoming familiar with the Nix configuration language can be a challenge, but one that a well instructed tutor may help with. > Artificial intelligence techniques are increasingly used in education to enable personalized learning and intelligent tutoring [LLM Agents for Education: Advances and Applications](https://aclanthology.org/anthology-files/anthology-files/pdf/findings/2025.findings-emnlp.743.pdf) (11/2025) Why reproducible and immutable deployments play a role? [Justin Garrison](https://justingarrison.com/blog/state-of-immutable-linux/) says: > It’s 2026, if you’re not using something immutable (or at least reproducable) you’re doing more maintenance work than you should. [blog post recapping talk from [Southern California Linux Expo 23x](https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x)], 03/2026, PASADENA, CA ### Schedule * 18:45 Doors open * 19:00 Welcome * 19:10 Dive into Nix/NixOS with LLMs * 19:50 Open discussion We’ll meet: * in person at [Basislager Leipzig](https://basislager.co), at [Peterssteinweg 14, 04107 Leipzig](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1fMkeDSPZ7Aauszh8) ([OSM](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3504864558)) * and online via [https://meet.google.com/drk-bptj-xss](https://meet.google.com/drk-bptj-xss) Join us to discuss robust Go deployments, language models as learning tools and more!

Combinatorial optimization problems arise across logistics, scheduling, and engineering, and C++ remains a language of choice when performance matters. This lecture takes a practical look at solving such problems in C++, using the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem as a running example. We begin with an exact solver, formulating the problem as a mixed-integer program and trying to solve it through GLPK's C API directly from C++. Exact methods, however, quickly hit their limits on real-world instances. The second half of the talk turns to metaheuristics: how they are designed, why C++ is particularly well suited for implementing them, and what design choices matter most in practice. We'll walk through a concrete implementation, touching on data structures for fast neighborhood evaluation, generic algorithm design with templates, and the performance considerations that separate a prototype from a production-ready solver. The goal is not to advocate for one approach over another, but to show how C++ supports the full spectrum of optimization techniques.

## Learn Go and NixOS deployments with large language models Hello, 世界! When used sensibly, language models can be tutors, too. For meetup #60 on Tuesday [May 26, 2026 19:00 CET](https://www.meetup.com/leipzig-golang/events/312537727) we are really happy to have [Maxime](https://www.linkedin.com/in/plumps/) dive into Nix/NixOS with the help of language models. Nix is a functional package manager and its immutable traits enable robust, reproducable deployments of Go (and other) projects. The high level goals of Nix/NixOS are similar to other immutable Linux distributions, like [Silverblue](https://fedoraproject.org/silverblue/) or [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg/). Becoming familiar with the Nix configuration language can be a challenge, but one that a well instructed tutor may help with. > Artificial intelligence techniques are increasingly used in education to enable personalized learning and intelligent tutoring [LLM Agents for Education: Advances and Applications](https://aclanthology.org/anthology-files/anthology-files/pdf/findings/2025.findings-emnlp.743.pdf) (11/2025) Why reproducible and immutable deployments play a role? [Justin Garrison](https://justingarrison.com/blog/state-of-immutable-linux/) says: > It’s 2026, if you’re not using something immutable (or at least reproducable) you’re doing more maintenance work than you should. [blog post recapping talk from [Southern California Linux Expo 23x](https://www.socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x)], 03/2026, PASADENA, CA ### Schedule * 18:45 Doors open * 19:00 Welcome * 19:10 Dive into Nix/NixOS with LLMs * 19:50 Open discussion We’ll meet: * in person at [Basislager Leipzig](https://basislager.co), at [Peterssteinweg 14, 04107 Leipzig](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1fMkeDSPZ7Aauszh8) ([OSM](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3504864558)) * and online via [https://meet.google.com/drk-bptj-xss](https://meet.google.com/drk-bptj-xss) Join us to discuss robust Go deployments, language models as learning tools and more!

This is the 50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris. Significantly, in 1976, California wines unexpectedly outperformed French wines in a blind tasting with nine French judges, challenging the perception that only French wines were of the highest quality. This event helped elevate the status of California wines on the global stage and is considered a pivotal moment in wine history. House Wine, in Worthington, modestly, recreates that moment in history with a tasting both American and French wines in a fun, casual atmosphere. Come at 6:45, pay your fee at the register and join your friends for this "Judgey" tasting. https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/wine/the-judgment-of-paris-turns-40/ Arrive when you can and we'll have a table for gathering. Feel free to bring your own food as it is welcomed at this local gem or order from the newly opened Worthington Inn, or local favorites such as Dewey's, Everest, Jet, Worthington Tavern and The Whitney. Each person pays their tasting fee, typically $15, and gets their wine glass, then approximately five pours of the wines being served. **Parking is tough**. Try the second lot behind House Wine accessed by the land by the back parking lot or the municipal lot one block north of House Wine. **Waiver and Liability and Attendance Policy.** Participation by you and your guests means you agree to the Waiver of Liability and Attendance Policies on our Group Page. People who have two more or Attendance policy violations are subject to removal from the group.

Art in the Park: DIY Garden Mosaic Stepping Stone Saturday, May 30, 2026 In this fun hands-on workshop, let your creativity flow as you design and craft your own mosaic stepping stone, perfect for adding a personal touch to your outdoor space! You will use concrete, colorful tiles, and your imagination to create a unique piece of garden art. No experience needed! We will provide the concrete, molds, tiles, and some inspiration patterns. If you have any ceramic pieces, glass, or stones of your own that you would like to add to your mosaic, feel free to bring them, but we will also have plenty on hand. Your mosaic stepping stone will need to set and dry, so we will create them on this day and you will pick yours up within the next week. * Ages 16+. * Registration required by May 26. * Yard ReWild discount applies. Class Fee: $20 1PM - 3PM Location: Shelter 6, Infirmary Mound Park Register here [https://www.lickingparkdistrict.com/269/May-2026](https://www.lickingparkdistrict.com/269/May-2026)

Happy Birthday to all June birthday people! I put this on the schedule because it's my birthday month, and this is my favorite place; it's also Dave Koczur's (MAFIA meetup leader) birthday on June 8; if you who are reading this have a June birthday as well, tell us in the Comments! For anyone off work or with a flexible schedule, come to Pistachio Vera in German Village for a tea and pastry. We will try to get a table outside. If convenient, you could put a fold up chair in your car in case we can all sit outside but we run out of chairs. https://www.pistaciavera.com/

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

**✅ Bachata Mondays with Todd Smith!** **👉 Beginner Bachata Class** **$15 In Advance / $20 At the Door** . 7:00 pm – 7:15 pm … Registration 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm … Beginner Class . **👉 Intermediate Bachata Class** **= $15 In Advance / $20 At the Door** . 8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Registration 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Intermediate Class . **👉 If You Take Both Bachata Classes** **= $25 In Advance / $35 At the Door** . **👉 Buy Advance Tickets Now at:** . https://columbussalsadancing.com/bachata-mondays-dance-class-tickets/

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.