Information Architecture

💃🎉 Meet, play & party on a vibrant rooftop with people from all over the world at our Social Fiesta! Start the night with fun games and connections, then let the Latin rhythms take over as the evening turns into a lively party with dancing under the stars! 🌟 It’s the perfect mix of playful activities and party energy — and the best way to meet new international people! 🌍🎉 ✨ What can you expect? -🌞 A warm, social & welcoming vibe to ease into the night -🎲 Fun games & challenges like beer pong tournaments, darts & more — perfect for breaking the ice early on! -💃 As the night builds, Latin & Reggaeton rhythms take over and the party begins -🍻 Drinks, laughter & unforgettable moments all around Whether you come solo or with friends, this is your go-to Friday to connect, play & party with Malta’s international crowd! 🎊🍸 🌟 Expect the unexpected… and bring your best energy! 🚀 EVENT DETAILS: 🌇 THE VENUE: An incredible rooftop in Paceville with stunning views, great music, 100+ international people, delicious drinks, and a happy, fun, and welcoming atmosphere! 🌎 WHO JOINS? Malta’s international community: Expats, English Students, Erasmus, Interns, Digital Nomads, Maltese people, Tourists & Couchsurfers. All nationalities and age groups are welcome! 💪🏻 🕰️ WHEN: Every Friday. From 21:00. 📍 WHERE: Marco Polo Hostel – Rooftop! In St. Julian’s. 🎟️ ENTRANCE: Just €6, and it includes: * A free welcome shot or soft drink * Full access to the rooftop and party * Games during the first part of the night * Until 22:30: friendly team support to help you meet new people, if you’d like 💎 SPECIAL OFFERS: We work closely with the venue to bring you great drink deals. Ask at the bar about any exclusive offers available that night — there’s often a happy hour or cocktail promo running! ➡️ GETTING A SPOT: no need for reservation. Just come at the door! 🤩 The most popular and vibrant international community of the island is waiting for you! 🎉

This event is all set to spark your creativity and elevate your skills. ✨ Dive into the world of web technologies with enlightening talks on Angular 🌍, where our expert speakers will share insights and cutting-edge techniques. Get hands-on in our Battlesnake workshop designed to empower you to deploy, manage, and scale containerised applications seamlessly. ☸️ Finally, put your skills to the test in our thrilling hackathon capture the flag event 🏴‍, where teamwork and innovation come to the forefront with exciting challenges. Connect, learn, and thrive with fellow developers in Malta. RSVP now and be part of this phenomenal journey! 🧑‍💻 Please don't forget to get your excitement, and your laptop for a day of DevLab! Agenda 10:00 AM: Registration Some time to get registered and have a quick chat. 10:30 AM: Welcome Address Welcome Address, presenting the agenda for the day and a quick intro of the hosts. 10:45 AM: The "Good Enough" cluster: How to ignore best practices and get results Explore a pragmatic approach to distributed systems with Joseph Trapani where simplicity trumps perfection, challenging standard constraints like latency and consistency to prioritize moving fast and simply getting things done. 11:15 AM: Code is your controller: Getting started with Battlesnake Learn to scale Battlesnake experiments from local machines to distributed clusters in this workshop with Simon Agius Muscat, covering containerizing bots, orchestration, and managing massive parallel simulations for deep performance insights. 12:45 PM: Break A quick networking break, with refreshments. 1:30 PM: Angular DevTools: What’s new & Under-the-Hood Architecture Discover the latest Angular DevTools features like the Signal Graph through practical demos, then go behind the scenes with Hryhorii Avcharov to explore the extension's architecture, tech stack, and internal communication protocols. 2:00 PM: Capture the Flag: Hackathon Join the ultimate cybersecurity challenge using the picoCTF platform to race against the clock solving puzzles in cryptography, web exploitation, and reverse engineering, capturing flags to climb the live leaderboard in this hands-on competition. 4:30 PM: Closure End of DevLab 2026, with a quick announcement of the Hackathon winners! --- Speakers Joseph Trapani - bet365 (Marketing Analyst) Here is a little bit about me. I like getting my hands dirty with anything I don`t quite yet understand. I learn by doing and reading and I love learning, so I read and do a lot. I am interested in applied technology, the stuff that solves problems and makes me dream up new ones. An engineer by profession, I am self thought in programming and can make a mean bowl of Ramen. Feel free to get in … Simon Agius Muscat Particularly interested in scaling products and teams, DevEx, and AI. Technologies I use include Python, Typescript, React, NodeJS, Go, Flutter, Dart, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Docker, GCP, AWS, Jenkins, Jira, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible and more. Hryhorii Avcharov - Betsson Group (Frontend Software Engineer) The person who’s trying to adjust this world as much as possible ;) Interested in frontend framework development, in free time like to dig into Angular core implementation and other open source and contribute there Tech stack: • Front-End: Angular 9-19, Vike, Vite, Stencil, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML5, SCSS, SASS, CSS3 • Back-End: C#, ASP.NET • Databases, ORM: SQL Ser… Hosted By James Gatt, Organizer AOSP Enthusiast Recognized Developer on XDA Developers Experienced with both AOSP and Device Engineering Matthias Bartolo, Organizer Matthias Bartolo (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.Sc. IT (Hons.) in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Malta in 2024, graduating with First Class Honours and ranking first in his cohort. He subsequently completed an M.Sc. in ICT by Research at the University of Malta in 2025. His principal research interests lie in computer vision, applied machine learning, and in exploring how AI may be harnessed to support and empower individuals. He has gained considerable experience working on real-world projects involving complex datasets, developing practical solutions in contexts where the way forward was not immediately apparent. In this regard, he upholds a strong commitment to integrity and embraces the ideal of being “a man for others,” striving to use his abilities in service of the greater good. Matthias is actively involved in multiple projects that bridge research and application, advancing computer vision and applied machine learning techniques while contributing to several peer-reviewed publications. He was selected as a member of the Google Developers Group in Malta, where he contributes to various projects and initiatives within the group and the university. Beyond his academic and technical work, he also forms part of several voluntary organisations, further reflecting his commitment to service and community engagement. In 2024, he was honoured with the Dean’s List Award by the Faculty of ICT in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements, and was robed by the Rector during the graduation ceremony as the top student of his cohort. Joseph Grech, Organizer Matthew Mangion, Organizer Andrea Filiberto Lucas, Organizer I am a Research Support Officer I within the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Malta and a Master of Science student specialising in AI. My work focuses on applied computer vision, intelligent systems, and dataset-driven research. I contribute to active research projects within the Faculty of ICT, with responsibilities ranging from model development and evaluation to data processing, automation, and system integration. I am particularly interested in bridging academic research with real-world applications through practical AI solutions and collaborative development. Jonathan Attard, Organizer --- Partners DiHubMT (https://dihubmt.eu/) Digital Entrepreneurship Support Services to facilitate digital and green transformation with a focus on existing local competencies in the area, namely, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing (HPC). Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) (https://www.mdia.gov.mt) MDIA is the primary Authority responsible for promoting governmental policies that promote Malta as the centre for excellence for technological innovation, while setting and enforcing standards that ensure compliance with any other international obligations. The Authority seeks to protect and support users and also encourages all types of innovations, by allowing for flexibility when it comes to the certification of Innovative Technology Arrangements. Google Developer Groups on Campus - University of Malta (https://gdg.community.dev/gdg-on-campus-university-of-malta-msida-malta) Founded in 2023, we are student-based community, interested in learning more about developer technologies. Our environment allows you to become a part of a community of like-minded people, with opportunity to learn and grow together as a group and as an individual. We are excited to see you in our conference events, workshops, hackathons, TechJams and other interactive in-person activities for those interested in expanding their technical skills, soft skills to the next level! Coffee Circus (https://www.coffeecircus.com.mt) OSSMalta (https://ossmalta.eu) OSSMALTA – Open Source Society Malta is a young and dynamic community. Which takes pride in projects which are all developed and designed by in-house and community developers in and around the Maltese islands. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-malta-presents-devlab-2026/.

If you're looking for a fun evening, want to make friends and meet new people, join us for a comedy show in Valletta! 😃🙌 Tickets and info https://fienta.com/s/stand-up-comedy-in-malta **A special night of Live Stand-Up Comedy in broken English!** Radu Isac and Victor Pãtrãşcan, two veterans of the European comedy circuit, join forces for a sharp, bold and deeply funny night of stand-up! Whether you are local, an expat or just a bit lost, this show is a place to laugh at the absurdity of modern life together. **Come for the jokes, stay for the thoughts that follow you home.** **Shows sell out fast. Get your tickets now!** 🎭 STAND-UP COMEDY in broken ENGLISH 🎟️ online tickets from 15€ / tickets on the door 25€ 🚫16+ age limit ⚠️ The show will be held entirely in English

🧭🗺 Explore Malta's most iconic places, socialize with an international crowd, and collect amazing memories of this magical island! 📸✨ Our adventure begins with a ride on our private bus 🚌, leading us to the majestic Blue Grotto panorama point. Here, you'll gaze upon the stunning cave, which bears a resemblance to a turtle 🐢, from the best vantage point imaginable. Next, we embark on a short hike 🥾, soaking in the breathtaking views en route to the picturesque Xutu Tower. The journey continues as we board small boats 🚣‍♀ for a unique tour into the mesmerizing blue waters 💦 of the Blue Grotto. Marvel at the majestic caves, where sunlight dances through the sea, casting a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. Afterwards, enjoy some leisure time; by default, we'll gather around the iconic Xutu Tower for a friendly picnic 🧺. Alternatively, you can savor the local cuisine at a nearby restaurant 🍽. You'll also have the option to take a refreshing swim 🏊 in the beautiful Blue Grotto canal or explore the charming Blue Grotto village and its tourist shops 🛍. 🙋🏼 IS IT FOR ME? This trail is relatively easy, so if you have a decent level of stamina, this experience is perfect for you! Whether you come with friends or solo, expect a warm welcome in our international community! 👥 WHO PARTICIPATES? Our exploring series attracts a diverse group, including expats, English students, Erasmus participants, interns, volunteers, digital nomads, Maltese locals, and tourists. All nationalities and age groups are welcome – everyone can join in on the fun! 🕰 WHEN: This event will occur every 2 weeks on Saturdays. Meeting time is at 10:45. Departure at 11:00. Expected return time is at around 16:00. 📍 WHERE: We meet at the entrance of McDonald’s in Sliema.. The return is at the same place of the departure. 🎟 RESERVATION: limited spots, you need to buy an online ticket for participating in our Exploring Series! Visit: [https://englishcafemalta.com/](https://englishcafemalta.com/) MORE INFO: 😍 The most popular and vibrant international community of the island is waiting for you! 🎉 Make sure to check out our other daily events! ✨ 🌐 Website: https://englishcafemalta.com 📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishCafeMalta 📷Instagram: https://bit.ly/2VNkzWS

🧭🗺 Explore Malta's most iconic places, socialize with an international crowd, and collect amazing memories of this magical island! 📸✨ GENERAL INFO Our adventure begins with a journey on our private bus 🚌, followed by a scenic boat ride 🚤 to Comino and its caves. Upon arrival, we'll embark on a fascinating short hike 🥾 across the island, leading you to the magnificent Blue Lagoon 🌊. Here, you'll have the opportunity to dive into the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters 💦, relax, enjoy, and form new friendships in this idyllic paradise 🌴 🙋🏼 IS IT FOR ME? This trail is relatively easy, so if you have a decent level of stamina, this experience is perfect for you! Whether you come with friends or solo, expect a warm welcome in our international community! 👥 WHO PARTICIPATES? Our exploring series attracts a diverse group, including expats, English students, Erasmus participants, interns, volunteers, digital nomads, Maltese locals, and tourists. All nationalities and age groups are welcome – everyone can join in on the fun! WHEN & WHERE? 🕰 WHEN: This event will occur every 2 weeks on Saturdays. Meeting time is at 9:45 AM with the event officially starting at 10:00 AM. Expected return time is around 5:00 PM. 📍 WHERE: We meet at the entrance of McDonald’s in Sliema.. The return is at the same place of the departure. 👟 BRING & WEAR: water, a meal (like a sandwich or panini), good walking shoes (not flip-flops!), a hat, sunscreen, a towel, a jacket (if it's windy or cold), and your swimming suit (if you plan on swimming). At the location, food trucks are generally available, but we recommend bringing your own lunch. 💳 OFFER & PRICE: private transportation, boat rides, logistics and guide are provided at the launching price of 20€ per person for online early bird tickets. 🎟 RESERVATION: limited spots, you need to buy an online ticket for participating in our Exploring Series! Visit: [https://englishcafemalta.com/](https://englishcafemalta.com/) ❓ FAQ: can I come on the spot and pay cash? You may, but we do not recommend it. Price is €30 and you take the risk of not finding a spot. **MORE INFO:** 😍 The most popular and vibrant international community of the island is waiting for you! 🎉Make sure to check out our other daily events! ✨ 🌐 Website: https://englishcafemalta.com 📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnglishCafeMalta 📷Instagram: https://bit.ly/2VNkzWS

💃🎵 Saturday is **party time**! Meet & dance on an amazing **rooftop** with people from around the world! A **safe environment** with a great atmosphere! 🌎🚀 🌇 An incredible rooftop in Paceville with amazing views, 🎵 nice music, 🤩 100+ international people, 🍹 refreshing drinks, ✌🏻 happy, cool, fun & welcoming vibes! You’ll love it! ✨ 🌎 WHO PARTICIPATES? The international community of Malta 🇲🇹: English Students, Erasmus, Interns, Expats, Digital Nomads, Maltese people, Tourists & Couchsurfers. Everyone is welcome! EVENT DETAILS: ⏱ WHEN: Every Saturday, from 21:00. 📍 WHERE: Marco Polo Hostel – Rooftop! 🎟️ ENTRANCE: Just €6, and it includes: * A free welcome shot or soft drink * Full access to the rooftop and party * Glow-in-the-dark face painting by our team * Until 22:30: friendly team support to help you meet new people, if you’d like 💎 SPECIAL OFFERS: We work closely with the venue to bring you great drink deals. Ask at the bar about any exclusive offers available that night — there’s often a happy hour or cocktail promo running! ➡️GETTING A SPOT: we do not take reservation. Just come at the door. Limited spots, don’t come too late: when the limit is reached, entrance will be denied.

Date and time: Sunday, 11th January @ 4:30pm Place: Spazju Kreattiv Cinema, Valletta Join us for another movie outing for "Sentimental value". Plot: When the once renowned Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) attempts to cast Nora in his comeback film, old wounds bleed anew; Nora rejects his offer, prompting the isolated patriarch to cast American star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), who gradually comes to realize she has unwittingly become part of a deeply personal film drama. Agnes, meanwhile, delves deeper into the family history as Gustav and Nora attempt rapprochement; but the cracks at the base of the family home run deeper than any Borg can grasp, threatening to topple an already shaky foundation. We can go for a drink after. Everyone buys his own ticket from here: https://spazjukreattiv.org/event/sentimental-value/2025-12-27/

Bring the Boardgame that you like, or join a game that others bring! It will happen in Sliema, at UC Cafe! Link on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9VfRzHXXwdHecQy48 There are NO FEES! But it would be nice if you order a cold or hot drink from the cafe at which the group meets.

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

**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 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

Coming in January 2026: a warm, reflective gathering to close one chapter and open another. More details coming soon. Together, we look back at the moments, shifts, and practices that shaped the past year—what worked, what surprised us, and what we’re ready to release. Then we lean forward into who we want to become: the intentions, experiments, and stories we want next January’s version of ourselves to be telling. A gentle, inspiring circle that invites clarity, connection, and shared wisdom.Check us out on Meetup to learn more and rsvp #womeninagilecolumbus #womeninagile

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!

**Doing KPIs Right: a KEY to Analytics (and AI!) Impact!** On the one hand, KPIs are such a Business 101 concept that it may seem a little silly to dedicate an entire session to the topic. On the other hand, KPIs get handled so poorly so often that a case could be made that this meetup could just be one of the most impactful sessions of the entire year! We’re starting off the year at a new location: [COhatch Upper Arlington](https://www.cohatch.com/locations/columbus/upper-arlington/) but with a familiar speaker, Tim Wilson! We’ll be back at Rev1 in February, when the speaker will presumably not be Tim. Tim will make the case that effectively measuring performance of projects, campaigns, and initiatives (and even meetups!) should be a foundation for any data analytics program. Topics covered will include: the “two magic questions” of performance measurement, how to help business partners distinguish between outcomes and outputs, and effective tactics for collaboratively establishing KPI targets. He will also stick his neck out by demonstrating some of these techniques in real-time by measuring whether his talk lives up to the promise of this description! All CBUSDAW events are free thanks to our 2026 Sponsors: Clarivoy, Conductrics, What Box Consulting Group, and Piwik PRO. Check out [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com) for more information.