Coding Dojos

**Venue:** Riverbank House, 2 Swan Ln, London EC4R 3AD **Please note:** 1\. 🚨🚨🚨 A valid photo ID is required by building security\. 🚨🚨🚨 2\. This event follows the [NumFOCUS Code of Conduct](https://numfocus.org/code-of-conduct). Please familiarise yourself with it before attending. If your RSVP status says "You're going" you will be able to get in. No need to show your RSVP confirmation when signing in. If you can no longer make it, please unRSVP as soon as possible. **Code of Conduct:** This event follows the NumFOCUS Code of Conduct. Please get in touch with the organisers with any questions or concerns. As always, there will be free food and drinks, generously provided by our host, Man Group. **Main Talks** 1. [Robin Linacre](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlinacre/) - **Rapid deduplication and fuzzy matching of large datasets using Splink** This talk introduces Splink, a free and open source Python library for probabilistic record linkage and deduplication at scale. I’ll explain the core ideas behind the approach, show how it can be used in practice, and reflect on the opportunities of building open source tools from within the public sector. Data deduplication is a common data quality challenge: it arises whenever multiple records are collected about the same person, organisation, or entity without a shared unique identifier. This talk will introduce the core ideas behind probabilistic record linkage and show how Splink, a free and open source Python library developed at the UK Ministry of Justice, can be used to link and deduplicate large datasets quickly and accurately. I’ll cover the practical steps involved in training linkage models, using unsupervised learning, improving performance and accuracy, and visualising results and diagnostics. I’ll also touch on what it has been like to build and maintain open source tooling from within the UK public sector, and the opportunities this creates for solving problems at citizen scale. The talk is aimed at people with basic experience working with tabular data in Python, and assumes no prior knowledge of record linkage. 2. [Filip Makraduli](https://www.linkedin.com/in/filipmakraduli/) - **Small Model Inference Infrastructure: Lessons Beyond vLLM** Embedding models are evolving rapidly, from dense-only architectures, to hybrid dense+sparse (BGE-M3), multi-vector late interaction (ColBERT), and vision-language models (ColQwen2, SigLIP). Yet while LLM serving infrastructure is well-established (vLLM, SGLang), small model deployment still relies on inefficient single-model containers or custom-built systems. Production teams face a dilemma: deploy dozens of single-model containers with 5-10% GPU utilization, or invest months building complex multi-model infrastructure. This talk explains some of the key concepts of embedding inference and how it is different to LLM inference. 3. [Ian Ozsvald](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianozsvald/) - **Build your own LLM, Live, with MicroGPT** Andrej Karpathy's MicroGPT is a single file no dependency mini GPT, you can run it live with me. We'll talk about how GPT works, we'll look at the code, we'll reflect on the Torch-based nanoGPT "big brother" and you'll end the talk with stronger intuitions about how our next best token guessing overlords are working. Plus you'll have a mini GPT running on your laptop in 200 lines of Python. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Logistics** * Doors open at **6.30 pm** (get there early as you'll need to sign in with building security). * Talks start at **7:00 pm**, with drinks afterwards from **9:00 pm** at The Banker (EC4). We have reduced capacity for this event, but there will be plenty of people to discuss data science questions with. Please unRSVP in good time if you realise you can't make it. We're limited by building security on the number of attendees, so please free up your place for your fellow community members. If you want me to trim lightning talks down to two or shorten any abstracts, say which ones.

ADVANCED Technique Class What's involved: * Techniques Practice * Combination Drills * Sparring at the end Bring full kit

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/follow-on-woodwork-4/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/follow-on-woodwork-4/) ⋆⋆⋆ Directed at those people who have completed one of our longer woodwork courses, or those with confident woodwork skills, we offer an eleven-day week opportunity to build an individual project. During this course, run by experienced carpenter/joiner/furniture maker Ruth Thomson, you will learn how to manage a practical project from sketching it, making a technical drawing, writing a cutting list, costing, marking out and construction to produce a piece of wood furniture. The group will visit a timber yard to learn how to select lengths of soft woods. You will learn the safe use and versatility of a router, a biscuit jointer, a jigsaw and other power tools as needed and learn when and how to make jigs to help fabricate accurate shapes. Using basic workshop machines including a bandsaw and a belt sander, as well as classic hand tools, you will cut and assemble and then learn how to sand, glue and finish your project to completion. We are happy to discuss your personal project if you already have something in mind. There is a size limitation due to time constraints and project storage. Call Alison on 0207 7607613 or send a photo or sketch to info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk Each learner will pay for their own materials. We can take delivery of timber if externally sourced. Please note that we cannot handle MDF in the workshop as the dust requires special extraction and respiratory equipment. Plywood or solid timber will be pre-machined for you on our planer thicknesser and table saw.

ALL LEVELS Kickboxing & Muay Thai Technique & Conditioning Class What's involved * Drill Fundamentals * Calisthenics exercises to improve Cardiovascular Fitness & Strength * Techniques and Defence Drills What to bring All your Muay Thai training and safety equipment Bottle of water Muay Thai Shorts are compulsory as they are sports specific! Can be worn over leggings. Please do not wear unsuitable clothing such as track & field shorts, surf or board shorts, tracksuit bottoms etc. MMA Shorts are acceptable as they have enough stretch for splits flexibility & splits training Note: If you arrive late, please dress in and join the class straight away. Do not keep the class or your training partner waiting. If you need to leave early just slide out and let your training partner or Instructor know

**MEMBERS ONLY.** Before signing up please make sure that you speak to the organiser about how to become a member/member details or for a trial session. And just to repeat this session is for training and games not just games only. Every Tuesday 6.45PM till 9.55PM. There will be 3 courts for Training and games. For any queries or for details to sign up for membership please don't hesitate to contact us. All levels are welcome. PARKING: Parking is available and Free onsite. PAYMENT: We are accepting bank transfer rather than cash payments. In 2 days in advance to confirm your attendance. Any NO SHOWS or cancellations on the day will incur a charge as it could stop other players from playing. Bank details: Name: The Badminton Collective Ltd Sort Code: 60-83-71 Account Number:69874292 Reference must be your Full Name to match you to the list of attendees. £15 for training and Games. IMPORTANT NOTES: Other Information: There is now a water fountain but it's outside so please bring a bottle and fill up before we get straight into the session. The Badminton Collective and Royal Docks Academy are not responsible for any injuries or loss of items.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/woodwork-step-up-low-wood-stool-6-evenings-4/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/woodwork-step-up-low-wood-stool-6-evenings-4/) ⋆⋆⋆ This lovely six-week evening course is another charming project from our cherished Edwardian instructional woodwork manual, ‘Carpentry for Beginners’. The projects in the book are perfect for learning basic woodwork skills and we have refined the instructions to incorporate a modern craft construction. This classic ‘child’s stool’ is a handy ‘hop up’ you can use if you have shelves you can’t reach at home and small ones can reach the sink by standing on it. It measures 40cm x 22cm x 26cm high. We use a redwood pine wood that releases a heady and uplifting scent when cut, chiseled, and planed. Even if you have never used any tools, our expert makers will teach you the processes you will need to take home a future heirloom along with a very special sense of satisfaction that comes with crafting by hand. Over six evenings you will learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. By the time you have finished your useful step-up stool, you will have become familiar with many of the basic woodworking hand tools and increased your confidence to go on and do more general woodwork at home. All use of tools and materials included.

In this session, we’ll explore how **AI** can enhance your **React app development** workflow. Whether you're a **junior developer** or just starting out, this workshop will introduce you to **best practices** for building **React applications**, including how to integrate **REST APIs**, manage app **state**, and structure your components for long-term success. You’ll also learn how to use **AI tools** to generate code snippets, troubleshoot issues, and automate repetitive tasks, making the development process faster and more efficient. 🧪 **What You’ll Learn:** * **React Development Best Practices**: Core principles for structuring components, managing state, and optimizing performance. * **REST API Integration**: How to efficiently connect React apps with REST APIs for dynamic data and functionality. * **State Management**: Best practices for managing app state and syncing data from APIs. * **AI Assistance**: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to speed up development, generate code, and improve overall code quality. * **Error Handling & Debugging**: Leverage AI to identify and fix common issues in your React apps. 💡 **Why It Matters:** * **Efficient Development**: Building React apps with AI assistance allows you to write cleaner, faster code while reducing errors. * **API Integration**: Mastering API integration is essential for creating dynamic and data-driven applications. * **AI-Powered Tools**: AI tools like ChatGPT enhance your productivity by automating repetitive tasks, debugging code, and improving your development process. 👨‍💻 **Who Should Attend:** * **Juniors** and **new graduates** eager to learn **React app development** and how AI tools can help. * **Non-tech people** curious about the development process and how AI tools are shaping modern web development. * **Developers** looking to streamline their **React development workflow** with AI-powered assistance. 🕓 **Schedule:** * 18:15 - Networking * 18:30 - Program starts * 19:30 - Q&A - networking * 20:00 - End \-\-\-\-\- zero2hero Address: Unit 15 Castle Square, 40 Elephant Rd, London SE17 1EU WhatsApp: +447470914266

FIGHT CLUB SUNDAY SPARRING Team Shark Dojo, Battersea Sports Centre, SW11 2DA For Intermediate/Advanced 💪 Mixture of Boxing, Kickboxing & Muay Thai Sparring 🤜🤛 No beginners please 🙏 Bring Full Kit

May Edition ✨✨! We will be at Kraken Tech (Octopus Energy Group), London office! (in-person only event, no streaming) **Talks:** **Django's GeneratedField by example — Paolo Melchiorre** Learn how to use Django 5.0's GeneratedField through practical examples. This field lets the database compute values automatically based on other fields in your model — a powerful feature that's easy to underuse. Paolo will walk through real-world use cases to show where it fits and how to make the most of it. Paolo Melchiorre is a Python backend developer, Django contributor, and Python Software Foundation Fellow. He serves on the Django Software Foundation board, co-organises PyCon Italia, and is a coach for Django Girls and a navigator for the Djangonaut Space mentorship programme. *** **Django in the Lab: how web development is reshaping behavioural research — Andy Woods** Off-the-shelf platforms can't always keep up with the complexity of academic research. Andy has been using Django since version 1.11 to build tools that can — from coordinating live location-based VR studies to running inclusive diary studies via WhatsApp and auditing immersive experiences for accessibility. He'll share where Django works especially well in academic settings, what surprised him along the way, and why this moment feels like a real opportunity for the Django community. Andy Woods is a Senior Research Engineer-Psychologist at CoSTAR & StoryFutures, Royal Holloway, University of London, and a Django Software Foundation Individual Member. **Want to share your Django or Python knowledge?** We’d love to feature your talk! Just fill out our [Speaker form ](https://tinyurl.com/django-london-speaker-form) to propose a talk! **Agenda:** • 6:15pm Doors open, socialising • 6:30pm Food and drinks offered by our sponsor • 7:00pm Doors close \*\* • 7:15pm Introduction, News, Talks • 8:30pm Socialising • 9:30pm Fin **Please make sure to arrive between 6:15 PM and 6:55 PM**. If you arrive earlier than 6:15 PM or later than 6:55 PM, you can take a seat in the seating area located in the downstairs reception. **Please note that we cannot accommodate arrivals after 7:15 PM.** Our meetups are governed by a [Code of Conduct](https://www.djangolondon.com/code-of-conduct/). Please take a few minutes to read it. This meetup is sponsored by: • [Kraken Tech (Octopus Energy Group)](Octopus%20Energy%20Group): "Kraken is a revolutionary energy tech platform built with predominantly Python & Django. We Serve 54 million households worldwide and have 38GW of contracted capacity." • [JetBrains](https://www.jetbrains.com/): "We make professional software development a more productive and enjoyable experience." Website: [https://djangolondon.com](https://djangolondon.com/) BlueSky: [@djangolondon.com](https://bsky.app/profile/djangolondon.com) Github: [github.com/djangolondon](https://github.com/djangolondon/) Open Collective: [opencollective.com/the-london-django-meetup-group](https://opencollective.com/the-london-django-meetup-group/)

ALL LEVELS Technique Class Team Shark Dojo, Battersea Sports Centre, SW11 2DA Best time to train is in the morning! Here are a few benefits: * Gets that morning workout out of the way * More productive rest of the weekend * Kickstarts your metabolism * More energy & focus for the day * Develops positive sports/fitness mindset What's involved: * Drill & Hone K1 Techniques * Flexibility exercises * Light controlled Touch-Contact (if time permits) What to bring: * All your equipment * Bottle of water * Muay Thai Kickboxing Shorts are compulsory as they are sports specific! Can be worn over leggings. Please do not wear unsuitable clothing such as track & field shorts, surf or board shorts, tracksuit bottoms etc. MMA Shorts are acceptable as they have enough stretch for flexibility & splits training *Note: If you arrive late, please dress in and join the class straight away. Do not keep the class or your training partner waiting. If you need to leave early just slide out and let your training partner or Instructor know*

***Enter the live meeting room here: [https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u](https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u)*** ***Download the engine here: [https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download](https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download)*** Welcome to the **Unreal Engine Workshop!** In each session we'll tackle essential game design discussions, then transition into hands-on project creation. Participants will build and expand their skills continuously as we explore every aspect of game development. From basic blueprints and interactive mechanics, to advanced rigging, animation, environment design, and lighting, we'll work our way up to creating small complete games. We encourage experimentation and peer teaching, so whether you're a beginner or experienced developer looking to deepen your expertise, our sessions provide a supportive environment to learn, create, and innovate together in Unreal Engine 5.

*❗️Event Announcement.* 🎟️ **Register via** [Luma](https://luma.com/5hfjgv9b) — we do not accept sign-ups through Meetup. 📅 **7th May** · Doors 6:00 PM, Start 6:30 PM **How Many SKILL. md Files Is a Profession?** *Discovering accounting's patterns from the corrections of human experts* **🎤***Nikolay Turusin, Data Science Lead · Anna Money* A profession decomposes into a finite library of procedural patterns — smaller than you'd expect. And you don't find them by interviewing experts. You find them by watching where experts correct the system. Nikolay is building a production UK Corporation Tax engine on GenAI. This is his field report: what the right unit of work looks like inside an LLM system, why this kind of automation suddenly becomes tractable, and what expert-bounded self-improvement means when you're shipping to real users. Candid talk. Open discussion. Bring questions.

**Pre-Registration is REQUIRED. RSVP here - [https://luma.com/ppyy0sqw](https://luma.com/ppyy0sqw)** ## 🚀 From OpenClaw to Cowork: The Rise of Agentic AI in 2026 **Agentic AI is moving beyond chat and into execution.** Join us for an evening of deep-dive insights as we explore the shift from simple LLM interactions to autonomous, AI-native workflows. Whether you’re a developer, product manager, or business leader, this session will help you navigate the practical future of AI agents. ## The Speaker **Sheamus McGovern,** *Founder of ODSC AI \| Venture Partner at Cortical Ventures \| Author of "The AI Skill Flip"* ## The Topic: The Rise of Agentic AI In this talk, Sheamus explores how tools like **OpenClaw**, **Claude Cowork**, and the emerging **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** are starting to automate real workflows. We’ll move past the hype to look at how agents are working across tools and systems to solve actual production challenges in 2026. ## Our Partners A huge thank you to our partner **[Snowflake](https://www.snowflake.com/en/)** for supporting the London AI community and providing the incredible venue for this event. ## Details * **Date:** 7th May, 2026 * **Time:** 18:00 – 20:00 BST (London Time) * **Perks:** Pizza and soda will be provided 🍕🥤 * **Venue:** Snowflake HQ, 3 Crown Place, London EC2A 4EF, UK ## Agenda * **18:00 - 18:30:** Networking, Pizza, & Drinks * **18:30 - 19:15:** Talk: From OpenClaw to Cowork (Sheamus McGovern) * **19:15 - 19:30:** Interactive Q&A * **19:30 - 20:00:** Closing & Community Networking Come ready to learn, connect with London's AI community, and see what the next phase of automation looks like in practice! **Some useful links:** • Get free access to more talks/trainings like this at Ai+ Training platform: [https://aiplus.training/](https://aiplus.training/) [•](https://hubs.li/H0Zycsf0%EF%BF%BC%E2%80%A2?utm_source=luma) ODSC blog: [https://opendatascience.com/](https://opendatascience.com/) [•](https://opendatascience.com/%EF%BF%BC%E2%80%A2?utm_source=luma) Slack Channel: [https://hubs.li/Q038cQBy0](https://hubs.li/Q038cQBy0) [•](https://hubs.li/Q02ZkDV90%EF%BF%BC%E2%80%A2?utm_source=luma) Code of conduct: [https://odsc.ai/code-of-conduct/](https://odsc.ai/code-of-conduct/)

**Latest Dojo Location!** **Knotty Pine Brewing** 1765 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for speakers for our Monthly Meetups! Fill out the form if you are interested in presenting to the Python Community. https://forms.gle/ehSfUAC2WgR34Crq9

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**

**TBA**

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month John Lairson will share a notebook describing the Alpaca (Paper) Trading API and discuss different algorithms for evaluating stock trades. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

Come out to Improving for our monthly iOS and Mac meetings. This Month's Presentation: Nothing yet. (You should volunteer). What is Cocoaheads (http://cocoaheads.org/)? CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X and iOS (including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch). During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics. What is BuckeyeCocoa (http://buckeyecocoa.org/)? BuckeyeCocoa is a group of Objective-C/Swift developers/enthusiasts. We host monthly Cocoaheads and near-weekly NSCoder meetings in Columbus, Ohio. The meetings are free to attend. Presentations! Presenters welcome! We are always in need of people willing to present material. Any Swift and/or Objective-C related topic is welcome. Times can be 5 minutes (i.e. lightning talks) to a maximum of 2 hours. Interested? Contact info is on the BuckeyeCocoa website. To volunteer for a presentation contact us at @BuckeyeCocoa on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter! @BuckeyeCocoa (https://twitter.com/#!/Buckeyecocoa/) For more information: http://buckeyecocoa.org/

We are a real world Martial arts group. \ Called DO JUNG ISHU (the art of fighting) \ Based off of Jeet kune do we just continued where Bruce Lee left off. \ We have been around a while. \ Every week we get together and work technical skills and full contact spar. \ Almost all of the instructors have been in everything from street fights to the ring and some still compete in cage fighting. \ If you want to take your skills up, improve your confidence, gain self defense skills, get in better shape, test yourself or just want to kill some time and possibly get hit a bit come on down. \ We will be located at 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 Outside in the grass between the playground and horseshoe area. our instructors are normally in a black and red art of fighting shirt \ if you can not find us call or text me at 6143570295 Saturday 1:30pm Wednesday 5:45pm From Age 16 and up. attendees under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them. \ Wear workout clothes. \ Bring a MOUTHPIECE! \ WE HAVE GLOVES. \ $10 per class $5 per class if you are wearing a club shirt Club shirts are $25 Hope to see you soon. \ let me know if you have any questions :)