Behavior-Driven Development

Exited for this event where we'll have the amazing **Manfred Steyer** joining us **in person** talking about how to bring structure to Agentic AI\*\*!\*\* As usual there will be food, drinks and swag thanks to Revolution Technology and Angular.Love :D See you all soon! **AGENDA** • **6:00 pm** Networking/Food • **7:00 pm** Agentic UI Requires Standards: How AG\-UI\, A2UI\, and MCP Apps Work Together \| **Manfred Steyer** • **8:00 pm** Networking **Agentic UI Requires Standards: How AG\-UI\, A2UI\, and MCP Apps Work Together \|** **Manfred Steyer** Agentic AI promises systems that can plan, act, and use tools. In practice, integrating these capabilities into the UI often leads to tight coupling between frontend, agent logic, and specific backend technologies—resulting in vendor lock-in and limited flexibility. This session shows how open standards bring structure to Agentic UI. It introduces AG-UI, A2UI, and MCP Apps, and explains how they work together across system boundaries: AG-UI decouples the frontend from agent implementations, A2UI enables structured and dynamic interfaces, and MCP Apps provide reusable, backend-agnostic capabilities. Together, these standards enable flexible, decoupled architectures that remain stable even as underlying technologies evolve. **More about our speakers:** **Manfred Steyer** *Trainer, consultant, and programming architect with a focus on Angular, Google Developer Expert (GDE) who writes for O'Reilly, the German Java Magazine, and windows.developer. Regularly speaks at conferences.* Many thanks to our sponsors tonight, **Metro Bank** for hosting us and **Revolution Technology** for the food and drinks and **Angular.Love/House of Angular** for the swag :D **Revolution Technology** are a Tech Recruitment Agency who specialise in Software Engineering, Data, Infrastructure and Testing. For the past 10 years they have partnered with some of the most exciting start ups, scale ups and enterprises globally, helping them build high performing and diverse tech teams. Don't miss the next **Angular Spring Camp Meetup** on **19th of May 2026**: Master the evolution of Angular: from Zoneless performance and Signal-based state to modern testing with Vitest. [Register for free here!](https://meetup.angular.love/angular-spring-camp-2026/?utm_source=alex&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=angularspringcamp26) Event will be streamed online, link will be available on the day! Looking forward to meeting you all!

This is an inclusive and welcoming meetup. The core of this meetup is to foster a collaborative environment where participants playtest board games and offer constructive feedback to fellow designers. Bringing a design or prototype is not a requirement, this event is for anyone passionate about games—whether they're a designer, developer, playtester, or simply someone who loves engaging with creative ideas. No prior experience is necessary. Location: Exact location within the National Theatre is shared 10-15 mins before the event, depending on the availability of the seating. Keep an eye out for a comment on the event page. "Usually", it is around the Lyttleton Circle Bar, First floor. Join the WhatsApp group for live updates: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lr6nV2bfcOL4HkXcQQ4IoI?mode=gi_t

Dive into The Brotherhood Games' Weekly TCG tournaments! Whether you're into Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, or One Piece, Lorcana, and more, our events are perfect for TCG enthusiasts of all levels. Join us for a day filled with strategy, trading, and friendly competitions. Embrace your inner tactician and showcase your skills in thrilling matches with fellow gamers. Check out what's happening every evening through our website's [Event Calendar!](https://www.thebrotherhoodgames.co.uk/event-calendar#flPtAG) These events are not just limited to TCG fans - board game lovers can also enjoy classics like Settlers of Catan and Backgammon Tournaments. Whether you're into Anime & Manga or a Disney enthusiast, there's something for everyone at The Brotherhood Games. Share your passion for gaming, connect with like-minded individuals, and enjoy a cozy atmosphere perfect for cafe lovers. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of deck building games and strategy - see you there!

## Ticketed Event - please register via Eventbrite! IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EVER DROP IN WITH US, YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT! - Free class :) However, you will have to reserve a ticket via EVENTBRITE [Ticket link ](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gentle-improv-drop-ins-this-week-physicality-first-class-free-tickets-1986219389662?aff=oddtdtcreator) ## This week: PHYSICALITY ## In this session we explore **physicality** and **Improv**. Our bodies are a great way to communicate, we will explore how the body can be used as a tool for expression, storytelling and communication. We will discover new ways of communicating through play and movement without relying on words. ## Overview Improv drop-ins suitable for beginners. A fun and supportive space to help you boost your spontaneity, imagination, and collaboration. **New to improv or already tried some and want more?** Don’t worry — we have you covered. #### Our Drop-Ins Improv is the art of making things up on the spot and feel immensly proud of it as there is no judgement. Our workshops are designed to be gentle, fun and inclusive. Being on the spot can feel scary and overwhelming. We make sure that you feel supported and at ease at all times. Improv is an amazing tool to **boost your confidence and ability to connect to other humans**, it helps you be creative and let the inner judge go and sip a tea whilst you have fun discovering how freeing being sponteanous can be. Our weekly drop-in classes explore both general topics and specific areas of improv. Story-telling, emotional connection and creative collaboration are the key aspects we focus on, with exciting niche topics designed to stretch you in a safe and playful environment. **Stepping out of your comfort zone should feel fun and exciting** \- we make sure you feel supported and encouraged in the best way possible\, while connecting with others and creating a bit of magic together\. These classes are open to all, **our gentle approach specifically focuses on people who struggle feeling confident in social settings**, however, if you have done improv before, you will certainly find joy coming to our drop-ins. The first half of the lesson we will focus on group and exercises in pairs The second half will be more scene-based where you can showcase your unique self. No pressure to perform. You will be amazed how you will shine with little effort. The drop-ins run either Mondays or Tuesdays from **6:30pm–8:30pm** and are designed as stand-alone classes, so you don’t need to worry if you miss a week. #### What is improv, you ask? Improv is creating something in the moment — unplanned and unscripted. It’s about listening and building something together with others: the ultimate collaboration. Improv is also a great tool for enhancing creativity and for life in general. It encourages spontaneity and connection in a playful, non-judgemental way. #### Who We Are Karo and Avril have over **20 years of cumulative experience** within the improv community. They have performed together in a wide variety of shows and formats for many years, as well as teaching and facilitating workshops, classes, and training sessions. #### Avril Avril is an improviser and actress who has been performing improv for over 12 years. Her credits include *Upstairs Downton: The Improvised Period Drama*, *Carmen: The Improvised Film Noir*, *Moments In Time*, *Blend Off*, *ImprovShire*, and *The Improvised Play*. Avril is also a founder member of LadyProv, who run a regular night at Hoopla showcasing the talents of women and non-binary performers. She has led numerous improv workshops and loves teaching. Her interests include Stoppard, character work, the senses, disaster movies, and team building in the workplace, to name a few. She has a particular passion for narrative improv and enjoys exploring different theatre styles. Avril has also co-taught with Stephen Davidson at Impromiscuous. Outside of improv, Avril loves whisky and exploring how taste, environment, and food pairings influence creativity. She enjoys writing short stories and has written her own one-woman show combining stand-up, character, improv, and sketch. She can also be heard playing several characters in *Lusus*, a modern-day horror series on BBC Sounds. #### Karolina Karolina is an actor, improviser, and improv coach originally from Austria, who has been performing improv for over 12 years on stages across the UK and Europe. From short-form improv to fully improvised plays, she has explored a wide range of genres. She has performed with groups such as Scumbags (a Hoopla house team in the style of the Coen Brothers), *Carmen* (a gender-flipped Film Noir), *3 Worlds*, the short-form comedy group Improvable, and *Lost to Life*, where she improvises an entire play with Avril and the team in the style of different playwrights. Karolina has facilitated many classes over the years, including weekly drop-ins for people who feel shy, focused workshops for theatre companies, the Surrey Theatre Academy, corporate clients, and co-teaching with Impromiscuous. Human connection and empathy are central to her work. She enjoys exploring emotional authenticity, non-verbal communication, physicality, dramatic improv, and unusual characters.

An easy way to take time out: a **30-minute guided meditation** to pause, let go of your day, unwind your mind and create a space for calm and peace. **This is a free in-person meditation.** **If you would like to make a voluntary donation, please click** [here.](https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/ "https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/") \* I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored. We will process your personal data in line with the GDPR requirements and always store it securely and use it only for the purpose for which it has been collected. We will not pass on your details to any third parties without your consent.

Description: We invite you to join us for an inspiring and insightful lecture that aims to equip parents with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to navigate the challenging yet rewarding journey of raising children. In this empowering session, we will explore the essential elements of successful parenting and delve into the profound impact it can have on shaping the lives of our children. Parenting is a multifaceted endeavor that requires patience, understanding, and adaptability. This lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices that contribute to raising happy, healthy, and well-adjusted children. By drawing upon the latest research, psychological insights, and practical experiences, we will explore key aspects of successful parenting. During this enlightening session, we will cover the following topics: 1. Building Strong Foundations: We will discuss the importance of creating a nurturing and supportive environment for children to flourish. This includes establishing routines, setting boundaries, and cultivating a sense of security and trust. 2. Effective Communication: Understanding the significance of open and effective communication between parents and children is crucial. We will explore strategies for fostering healthy dialogue, active listening, and empathy, enabling parents to build strong relationships based on mutual respect. 3. Encouraging Emotional Intelligence: Emotions play a fundamental role in a child's development. We will discuss ways to help children recognize and manage their emotions, fostering emotional intelligence and resilience. 4. Discipline with Love: Navigating discipline can be challenging for parents. We will explore positive discipline techniques that promote cooperation, self-discipline, and a healthy sense of responsibility, ensuring a harmonious and respectful family dynamic. 5. Promoting Independence and Autonomy: Allowing children to develop their independence and autonomy is essential for their growth. We will explore strategies to foster self-esteem, encourage age-appropriate decision-making, and support the development of healthy independence. 6. Nurturing a Growth Mindset: Cultivating a growth mindset in children is vital for their personal and academic development. We will discuss ways to foster a love of learning, resilience in the face of challenges, and a sense of curiosity and exploration. 7. Balancing Self-Care: Parenting is an all-encompassing role that requires self-care to maintain physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We will explore strategies for self-care and stress management, ensuring that parents can provide the best support for their children while also prioritizing their own needs. By attending this lecture, parents will gain valuable insights, practical tips, and a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin successful parenting. Armed with this knowledge, they will feel empowered to create nurturing and loving environments that foster their children's growth, resilience, and overall well-being. Note: This lecture is designed for parents of children of all ages, from infants to adolescents. Whether you are a new parent seeking guidance or an experienced parent looking to enhance your parenting skills, this lecture will provide valuable information and support. Join us to embark on a transformative journey as we explore the joys and challenges of successful parenting together.

🇯🇲🔥💪🏽 DANCEHALL FITNESS!! 🔥💪🏽🇯🇲 Every SATURDAY 10am! 📍Falcon Park 14 Cranleigh Mews, London SW11 2QL 🔥🤸🏽‍♀️ High Energy Group WorkOuts! 💪🏽🔥 Qualified Personal Trainers & DJs! All Ages And Fitness Levels Welcome! DJs playing Strictly Dancehall Music! 🔊🇯🇲 If you would love to join us or get involved follow us and send a DM us on Instagram @dancehallfitness_ Get ready to sweat with Dancehall Fitness! Fitness moves that’ll boost your energy and mood! Tickets: Via Eventbrite: Search Dancehall Fitness #LondonFitness #LondonWorkouts #exercise #OpenAirFitness #StartNow

For our May meetup, we're delighted to be back at the fabulous Accurx offices. We have two amazing talks lined up and the agenda will be: * 6:30pm - arrive, drinks, networking * 7:00pm - Welcome & Housekeeping * 7:15pm - **Talk** **1: "A practical guide to inner sourcing your IDP"** Bridging the gap between developers and platform teams is hard. Scattered documentation, fragmented language and hidden knowledge leave developers frustrated, while platform teams struggle to understand what devs really need. Treating platforms as products is a start, but treating them like open source projects unlocks real collaboration, allowing developers to contribute and maintain features. In her roles as Developer Advocate and platform engineer, Lian has years of experience working with highly bureaucratic organisations helping to improve developer experience and adoption. In this talk, she’ll share concrete steps to identify contribution opportunities, set up maintainable processes, and measure engagement. You’ll leave inspired with ideas to boost adoption, reduce friction, and turn your platform into a collaborative, thriving ecosystem. **Speaker:** Lian Li, Cloud Native Human *Lian always wanted to save the world. After leaving law school, she decided to work with computers instead. While in Web Dev, she started attending tech events, and soon fell in love with the community. In her roles as Consultant and DevRel, Lian combined technical knowledge with a focus on the human side.* *Currently, Lian works as freelance Platform Engineer in Amsterdam and is the Chief Karaoke Officer for Kuberoke, the first and only Kubernetes Karaoke Community. She also enjoys performing in musical improvisation theatre and standup comedy shows.* * 7.45pm - food, more drinks & networking * 8.00pm - **Talk** **2: "The Humans Behind the Platform: Structuring Teams for Culture and Capability**" It’s easy to focus on the tech when building a Platform team, and that’s tremendously important, but it’s often the people and how they work together that determine success. Over the past couple of years, Claire has led a Platform Engineering Team through different formations, migrations, and tooling adoptions. Whatever shape the team has taken, whatever they're working on, the constants have been a need for clear purpose and a culture where people can thrive, this takes work, and has sometimes been tricky to get right. In this talk, she’ll share what she's learned from shaping and supporting platform teams: what’s worked (and what hasn’t) when it comes to team composition, balancing seniority, and supporting career growth. Collaboration is central to how to operate, so she’ll talk about how her team works with and supports internal customers, and what’s helped to navigate complex, knotty migration projects. She’ll also cover how they built a culture that gives engineers space to lead. We want engineers at every level to feel confident taking ownership, and that takes deliberate effort. If you’re figuring out how to shape your platform teams to enable others as well as deliver, this talk will offer practical ideas, and maybe a few things to rethink. **Speaker:** Claire Reckless, Engineering Manager *Claire is an Engineering Manager and leads a Platform Engineering Team. With a background spanning Tech Support, Testing, and QA across sectors like Finance and Security, she brings a deep appreciation for resilient systems and collaborative teams. Claire is passionate about learning and development, and she’s especially proud of her past work coordinating an apprentice programme, an initiative that’s helped build a more diverse and sustainable pipeline of engineering talent. She’s energised by helping engineers at all levels grow their confidence, take ownership, and shape the future of their teams.* * 8.30pm onwards - drinks and networking. So, please come and join us, we look forward to seeing you there. The LOPUG team. * Food and drinks provided * Good time will be had by all

Join us for an informal evening of experimenting, building, and sharing ideas around Umbraco and AI. Whether you're curious about AI-powered content generation, the Umbraco MCP Server, AI-assisted development workflows, or other AI innovations in Umbraco - this is your chance to experiment, learn, and build alongside fellow community members in a relaxed, supportive environment. Bring your laptop, your curiosity, and anything you’ve been meaning to try. You can come with a specific idea, jump into something with others, or just tinker and learn as you go. There’s no strict agenda, just a relaxed space to collaborate, swap ideas, and make progress together. We’ll kick things off with a quick intro, then open the floor for hacking, discussion, and demos. If you end up building something cool (or even just interesting), you’ll have the chance to share it with the group at the end. **EVENT HOSTS** [Novicell](https://www.novicell.com/uk/services/software-development/umbraco/) (Umbraco Gold Partner) have kindly agreed to provide refreshments and host us for the evening in their offices in Shoreditch. If you think you will be making it, please sign up ASAP. Novicell's offices are 21-33 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3EJ in a building called Fora, approximately an 8 min walk from Liverpool St and Old St stations. If you arrive between 6:00 and 6:15pm there will be someone to meet you in reception with instructions. If you arrive later you might need to phone us to be let in: we shall email all attendees with the contact numbers on the day. **CODE OF CONDUCT** Please read the [Code of Conduct](https://bit.ly/UmbLondonCodeOfConduct) for all our events.

Shaping our future with AI. Creating opportunity through AI fluency, connection and community. No jargon. No hype. No confusing terminology. NOTE: This event will be focussed on the changing shape of software development. Everyone is welcome to attend but the content will be somewhat technical. **Join us for our next in-person meetup in London on Thursday May 14th.** Our theme for this meetup is **Reimagining Software Development with AI.** We're going to take a step back and think about the role we, the humans, play in the software development process now that coding agents have arrived. This event provides a small glimpse of the future, from the innovators who are challenging everything and rebuilding the process of software development from the ground up, with humans at the centre! **Where and When?** * Thursday, May 14th * Doors open at 18:00 * Talks start at 19:00 * AutogenAI, 123 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9LG **Talk 1: The Validation Gap: We Need A Better Way To Review AI Generated Code** (Robert Werner, Co-Founder & CTO Leapter) AI coding is fast. We're generating more code than ever. But more code means more code to verify, and agentic workflows are scaling that gap faster than review processes can keep up. The bottleneck didn't disappear. It moved from writing code to verifying logic. For most generated code, you can ship, test, and iterate. But what if we need to be sure? What about the code that runs our financial systems or decides if you qualify for a loan? It has to be right. Hope is not a strategy, we need to better ways to review code. In this talk Robert will share his recent innovations, experiments and insights with you. **About Robert:** Robert Werner is the CTO of an AI startup dedicated to shaping the future of AI-native software development. He has over 20 years experience focussed on Software Engineering, Developer Experience and Transformational Platform Engineering, across Fortune 500 companies and FinTechs. **Talk 2: Narrative Engineering: What Cognitive Science Actually Tells Us About Building with LLMs** (Sal Kimmich, Security Architect at Gadfly AI) We keep treating LLMs like search engines that hallucinate. That is the wrong category, and it produces the wrong engineering. LLMs are narrative generators. They do not retrieve facts or execute logic. They complete stories. That distinction is not philosophical. It determines what kind of system you can build with them and what kind you cannot. Neuroscience has been studying probabilistic, distributed, narrative-generating systems for decades. Most of the LLM engineering field is ignoring that work. This talk walks through cyberneutics, an open source methodology and repository built on the premise that we need a new engineering discipline for narrative computing the way software engineering emerged from symbolic computing. The theoretical foundations come from second-order cybernetics, distributed cognition, and Minsky's Society of Mind. The empirical validation comes from 2025 mechanistic interpretability research showing that reasoning models internally simulate multi-agent dialogue to reason better. The practical techniques come from iterative practice: adversarial committees, pipeline algebra with formal quality propagation, observer-aware interaction design. Three real lessons for practitioners building agentic systems: reliability is a property of the pipeline, not the prompt; repetition is latent space exploration, not failure; and if you want auditable AI reasoning, you need to externalise the dialogue structure, because the transcript is the explainability artifact. The discipline does not exist yet. This is what building it looks like. **About Sal:** Sal is a developer advocate for open source and passionate about helping engineers, ethical hackers and digital enthusiasts understand the complexity of modern software development. With over a decade of experience as building cloud-native machine learning pipelines in the healthcare and tech for good sectors, their work is now focused on filling the cracks in the open source software supply chain to build a better digital future for all of us. **Thanks!** We'd like to thank our sponsors [Leapter ](http://leapter.com/)and AutogenAI for making this event possible. **Code of Conduct** This event has a code of conduct that you can [review here.](https://aifortherestofus.live/code-of-conduct) By joining the community and registering for this event you agree to abide by our code of conduct. **Providing Your Name and Email** To register for this event you'll be asked to provide your email address. After the event you will be automatically subscribed to the newsletters from *AI for the rest of us* and Leapter GmbH. You can unsubscribe at any time (But why would you? They are really very good!)

We're delighted to announce an exciting LSCC event on Wednesday 13th May, in partnership with our friends at Zopa Bank! Join us at the Zopa Canary Wharf office in London for this session and get the chance to flex your architectural design muscles! "So how are we supposed to get great architects, if they only get the chance to architect fewer than a half-dozen times in their career?" — Ted Neward. This quote highlights the need for practice, which is what our LSCC architecture katas provide: a safe, repeatable way to hone your software architecture design skills by simulating architectural challenges. **What's the format?** You'll be split into groups and have a business problem to solve. You'll be tasked with designing a technical architecture to meet that problem context. As with real-life you'll have to manage various trade-offs in your design and interact with a Product Owner to clarify your questions. At the end of the task each team will showcase their architecture and technology choices back to the wider group as part of a group discussion. Whether you're a seasoned coder, software architect or new to the scene, you're invited to share insights, discuss best practices, and learn from fellow participants. No prior session attendance or architecture knowledge is required – just bring your enthusiasm. No laptop is required for this session, we'll provide each group with paper, pens and sticky notes to support the activity. Thank you to the Codurance team that will run the event at Zopa Bank's office. Find out more at https://www.codurance.com/ Food and drinks will be provided with vegetarian, vegan and non-alcoholic options available - thanks to Zopa Bank for sponsoring refreshments and hosting in their great office. **About Zopa** Founded in 2020 with a full banking licence and backed by some of Silicon Valley’s most iconic investors, digital bank Zopa is building the Home of Money. This is a place where financial products deliver good value and managing money is made effortless; deep and long-lasting relationships mean customers are left confident about their choices. One of the UK’s highest rated and most celebrated financial brands, Zopa has been recognised with over 10 British Bank Awards, holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.6/5, and has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry. Zopa Bank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. https://www.zopa.com/ We look forward to seeing you soon!

Our meetups are friendly, inclusive and conversation-driven, designed to create a space where founders, operators and investors can share practical experience, discuss challenges openly, and learn from others who are building and scaling technology businesses in the real world. This session will include founder and operator talks, Q&A, guided discussion, and time for networking with peers across the startup and venture community. **We run:** • Bi-monthly in-person meetups in London • Occasional online sessions for our wider ecosystem Please keep an eye on our Meetup page for future events. Food and refreshments will be provided for in-person events where a host venue is supporting. We are delighted to host this event in **London** on the **13th of May** in partnership with **TBC** **Speakers & Sessions:** Speaker: TBC Session Title: TBC Description: TBC Speaker: TBC Session Title: TBC Description: TBC **Agenda (GMT / UK):** 18:00 — Arrival, welcome and refreshments 18:30 — Introduction — Ethan Sumner 18:35 — Speaker 1 19:05 — Break 19:20 — Speaker 2 19:50 — Close and networking **We are always keen to hear from:** • Speakers — founder journeys, operator insights and venture perspectives • Hosts — organisations able to support future meetups or roundtables • Sponsors — venue, refreshments, recording or accessibility support If you would like to speak, sponsor or host a future session, please get in touch with **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)** via LinkedIn. This community forms part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)** and follows the **Community Stack Code of Conduct**, ensuring a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment where people can share openly and learn from one another.

🎉 Come along to the London Scala Talks! 🎉 In this event you'll hear from Caroline Morton and Katrina Petrevice. **Agenda** 6:00pm - 🥤 Doors open. Come along and grab a drink! 6:35pm - 🗣️ Introduction 6:40pm - 🗣️ Katrina Petrevice: Caching in Scala using Ref 7:20pm - 🍕 Intermission: Join us for some free food and drinks! Vegan and vegetarian options are provided. Let us know if you'd like something special - we'd be happy to accommodate. 7:50pm - 🗣️ Caroline Morton: Accidental Functional Programming in Rust (From an Epidemiologist's Perspective) 8:30pm - 🥤 Socialising: Grab a drink and let's discuss the talks. 9:00pm - 🍻 Join us in a pub to discuss the talks! 🌐 **This event may have a live stream** Watch this space for more details. **🗣️ Katrina Petrevice: Caching in Scala using Ref** Caching in memory is often one of the first strategies used to improve system performances. However, implementing caching in a purely functional way introduces unique challenges, specifically around state management and testability. In this talk, we will look at how to utilise functional programming principles with [Ref](https://typelevel.org/cats-effect/docs/std/ref), while maintaining clarity and composability. We will also deep dive into some common pitfalls and look into practical ways to test Ref effectively. ⭐ Katrina Petrevice ⭐ Katrina comes from a non–computer science background and was first introduced to Scala while working at JPMorgan. She credits much of her Scala knowledge to hands-on experience within her team, where she works on building and maintaining data pipelines and managing data systems. Since then, she has developed a strong interest in functional programming and now co-leads the Functional Programming Group at JPMorgan, where she helps share knowledge and foster a community around these ideas. **🗣️ 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](https://www.meetup.com/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. ———————————————————— 🗣️ 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](https://forms.gle/zv5i9eeto1BsnSwe8) and we'll get you started 🏡 Interested in hosting or supporting us? Please get in touch through [this form](https://forms.gle/3SX3Bm6zHqVodBaMA) 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](https://forms.gle/9PMMorUWgBnbk1mm6) 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.

PLEASE NOTE!!! This event will be In-Person for our very 1st Improving collab! If you know the [Columbus Unity group](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-unity-user-group/) location, we'll be at the same place. This is our 1st event and are doing a soft launch with limited attendance. 1st come 1st serve. If you want to be there and we fill up, please email me at [info@thecogg.com](mailto:info@thecogg.com) and I'll be in touch. All street parking is free on Sundays but you can also pay to park in any of the local garages. See image of [parking map here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr9_LFIggbs-0_Zd3AJTGNqEhgMf2TzQ/view?usp=sharing). \-\-\- On the last Sunday of the month, we're having our usual end-of-the-month social gathering with our GameDev Meetup meeting. There will be announcements and presentations followed by some social networking Let's continue the conversations with good vibes and friends. All are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds to this public event. If we can, we'll be streaming or uploading the video later via our COGG YouTube channel here: [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams) (Also please do subscribe if you have not done so!) No game development experience required! If you are interested in doing a 20 minute game development related presentation, please fill out our form online here: [https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1](https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1) Or e-mail us at info@thecogg.com with the following: Your Name, Company/Affiliation, Name of Your Game/Topic, Description, Tech Needs, and Your Contact. Be sure to check out our Discord for real time news updates: [https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ](https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ)

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates for this series are simply placeholders at the moment. We are working on our 2026 schedule, and adjustments are forthcoming. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee. 3. Each class, from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective, is a separate entity. 4. As the Etch toolset evolves, so too will the class outline below. **Introduction:** Our Site Building with Etch class provides detailed instructions on the philosophy of the Etch development framework, as well as in-depth, hands-on instruction on using the Etch environment and associated tools. Anyone familiar with Kevin Geary and the Digital Gravy set of products will tell you that they offer ground-breaking approaches to professional WordPress site development. As we write this, the Etch toolset and environment are rapidly taking shape, with weekly quantum leaps forward in WordPress development methodologies. As early investors in the Etch product offering and its development process, we are actively testing and evaluating the toolset as it takes shape. We are beyond excited to see how WordPress site development is being modernized, and can't wait to bring this course set to you. It will be a paradigm shift in page and site development within WordPress, as well as moving your development mindset light-years forward. Join us as we explore Etch and dive deep into development approaches that will genuinely elevate your craft as a website developer and agency provider. Scalable, responsive, compliant websites are now within easy reach, and Etch provides both the platform and toolset to take you there. **The breakdown of the 10-class series is as follows:** * Class 01 - TBD * Class 02 - TBD * Class 03 - TBD * Class 04 - TBD * Class 05 - TBD * Class 06 - TBD * Class 07 - TBD * Class 08 - TBD * Class 09 - TBD * Class 10 - TBD Throughout the class sessions listed above, we cover the following key areas of web development with Etch: * **Introduction to Etch Interface:** * Familiarization with the toolset's layout and understanding how to navigate and interact with its various components. * **Visual Site Building:** * Techniques for creating layouts using Etch's interface, incorporating sections, divs, containers, and elements to build semantically correct page structures. * **Styling and Design:** * Utilizing Etch's styling approach to customize elements, apply global CSS classes for consistent design, and leverage features like Flexbox and CSS Grid for responsive layouts. * **Dynamic Content and Custom Fields:** * Integrating dynamic content from custom post types and custom field plugins (like ACF, Meta Box, and even built-in fields) to build data-driven websites. * **Component Building:** * Creating and managing reusable components for headers, footers, post type layouts, and other site-wide elements. * **Performance Optimization:** * Understanding how Etch contributes to fast-loading websites and implementing performance best practices. * **Advanced Features:** * Depending on the class level, it might delve into advanced topics such as conditional logic, interactions, and custom code integration to enable more complex functionality. The series aims to equip participants with the skills to efficiently build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites using Etch, catering to both beginners and experienced web developers alike.

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

We will show how to build custom agents with Microsoft Agent Framework. Attendees will learn how to build and custom host agents when Microsoft Foundry is not a viable option.