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freeCodeCamp x Encode | AI - Workshop: Demystifying OpenClaw, the New AI Agent
# Beginners Hands-On Workshop: Breaking Down OpenClaw: From Minimal Installation Mode to Full-Featured Installation Mode w/ Your Own Custom Skills & More...
**Registration to this event is only valid through the Luma platform:**
[https://luma.com/it7a6h53?utm_source=meetup-dot-com](https://luma.com/it7a6h53?utm_source=meetup-dot-com)
Hello code campers!
Since **OpenClaw**, both as a project and as a tech movement, is growing, and since there is so much happening in this space, we've decided to dedicate the next **FreeCodeCamp \| AI** almost entirely to **OpenClaw,** especially following the success of the previous event. This is quite relevant since AI is moving soooo fast nowadays, making everyone scratch their heads confused while making some feel overwhelmed or have a small sensation of AI news fatigue. We will try to break down what this whole project is all about and whether or not all the hyperbolic statements about what this system can do are true.
The aim for this workshop is to go through the setup process (it will hopefully take less time compared to last time because the maintainers of this project are constantly improving things), focusing on how to install the agent not only locally (virtualised, of course) but also in the cloud. We will probably look at AWS and GCP with the caveat: if you have your own server, which we encourage you to look into, the same will apply.
This will be our **6th** event in our series of **local-first, open-source** AI events; therefore, we will try to focus on building a setup that doesn't depend on Big Tech but on smaller open-source tech instead. People who already have OpenClaw installed will be guided to customise it to use local LLMs or at least privacy-first cloud-based AI systems (that is because an individual's private ideas and personal project are their personal moat). At the end, we will be looking at what **SKILLS** are in the context of agents, how to build them, and if we have time, we will look at use cases for OpenClaw or, alternatively, look at emerging open-source AI agent toolkits like Pi.
This workshop is open to all levels, from beginners to experts.
Bring your laptop (make sure it's fully charged as local LLMs tend to be power-hungry), and don't forget to bring your coding gear (hoodie).
This workshop will be accompanied by a guest speaker (full details TBA).
***
## Prerequisite
First and foremost**, VERY IMPORTANT**, a VM (Virtual Machine) system like Docker/UTM for MacOs or WSL for Windows. Lastly, a local install of Ollama / LMStudio (but if you don't have any of that, don't worry, come a bit early and we will help set you up).
If you want to take a quick look at the slides from the previous events fell free to do so:
[https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-01/](https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-01/) (Ollama);
[https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-02/](https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-02/) (LangFlow, not really related but still)
[https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-03/](https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-03/) (private RAG w/ Anything LLM)
[https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-04/](https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-04/) (AI-native browsers)
[https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-05/](https://andysign.github.io/ai-london-02/https://github.com/andysign/ai-london-05) (OpenClaw basics)
***
## Agenda for the evening (Subject to change)
**18:00 - 18:30 Arrival and networking**
Mingle with fellow developers over refreshments.
**18:30 - 18:45 Introductions (What is Local-First?)**
Intro and a bit of audience engagement
**18:45 - 19:40 Workshop**
Hands-on technical workshop (if you are non-technical it's OK, tag along).
**19:45 - 20:15 Guest Speaker (TBA)**
**20:15 - 21:00 Networking**
**21:00 - Closing remarks and follow-up**
**END:** Carry on the fun at a nearby pub which is right @ the corner.
***
## Event Venue
We'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to **Encode Club**.
[Encode Club ](http://encode.club)has spent over five years fostering a global community of developers, researchers, and founders in Web3, AI, and emerging technologies. The [Encode Hub](http://hub.encode.club) brings everything together under one roof, providing a dedicated environment for collaboration and innovation through meetups, co-working, and in-person events.
Unreal Engine Workshop: FREE Game Design Meetup | GameCamp
***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.
Hands-on developer workshop - From RAG to Agent Memory
**Important:** Register on the [event website](https://bit.ly/4rmQlDf) is required for admission.
RSVP on meetup is turned off.
This full-day session is designed for developers who want practical experience building AI applications with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and agent memory.
During the workshop, you’ll work through real coding exercises that take you from AI data fundamentals to building production-style RAG pipelines and implementing persistent memory for AI agents.
Bring your laptop and be ready to build.
### What You Will Learn
* AI data fundamentals for application development
* Vector search and similarity metrics
* Building RAG pipelines with LangChain and Python
* Implementing agent memory and context management
* Designing production-ready AI workflows
### Workshop Topics
**Data Fundamentals for AI Applications**
Learn the database and data modeling concepts behind modern AI applications, including vector data, similarity search, and data structures used in AI systems.
**Building RAG and Agentic Applications**
Build a production-style RAG pipeline using LangChain and Python, covering data ingestion, vector search, retrieval, and response generation.
**Agent Memory and Context Engineering**
Implement persistent agent memory using Oracle AI Database, including episodic, semantic, and procedural memory, cross-session recall, and context management.
**Important:** Register on the [event website](https://bit.ly/4rmQlDf) is required for admission.
Learn to Meditate - Wednesdays in Putney @ 6.00pm - Free Sahaja Yoga Class
Hello there! - We'd like to welcome you to Free weekly meetings hosted by Max, Vaishali & team which take place at:
Putney Library, 5-7 Disraeli Rd, Putney, SW15 2DR
on Wednesday evenings from 6.00pm until 7.00pm
No need to Book - just pop along - More info: 07766 600 803
With Sahaja Yoga Meditation we normally sit on chairs to achieve yoga, effortlessly & spontaneously. So there is no need for mats and no special clothing required.
All across the globe, many are seeking new sources of energy. Meanwhile, the most transformative energy of all is hiding in plain sight, within us. It's natural, sustainable, and infinitely renewable.
It's called inner kundalini energy. And everyone already has it — everyone!. It is often likened to an inner feminine or motherly energy which automatically knows about us and what is needed to help us restore balance and harmony within our subtle being. It works spontaneously, effortlessly, organically and cannot be paid for.
Sahaja Yoga Meditation is a simple time-honoured technique that lets you tap into that energy and harness its power to become better balanced and better connected to yourself — emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.
If you're having trouble juggling the challenges in your life, Sahaja Yoga Meditation might well help you manage stress, master your emotions and find solutions to your problems. You may enjoy better health, better focus, and a deeper understanding of the universe and your place in it.
Meditation is not just for mystics and monks.
Sahaja Yoga meditation is for everyone. Anyone can do it. It's that easy. But with the Sahaja Yoga experience, you'll quickly realise, it isn't your typical Meditations 'R Us type class. It's much more than just feeling peaceful and relaxed. Sahaja Yoga Meditation has many layers, varied and deep. Explore at your own pace, in your own way. Our volunteer experts are always available to help.
Ready to plug into your inner energy? A Sahaja Yoga Meditation class is a great way to start. A few minutes of your life may be all it takes to connect to your inner energy and light the path to lifelong transformation. Sahaja Yoga is more than a temporary solution or quick relief — it is a journey, rather than a destination. It's all about energy — guaranteed pure and carbon neutral. You can never have too much of it.
The best part? All classes are free. No strings, no catch.
Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend, bring your self — all are welcome.
We have a web site here in London too which you can visit for more info about weekly meetings: www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk (http://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/)
Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/London.Free.Meditation)
The first experience of Sahaja Yoga meditation is called Self Realisation. With Sahaja Yoga Meditation we generally sit on chairs to achieve Yoga, effortlessly & spontaneously. As such no Asanas (exercises) are required, no mat or special clothing
## What is Meditation?
Meditation is a state of mental silence or rest, where our attention is aware, but not engrossed in thinking. It is known as ‘thoughtless awareness’. It is achieved when the indwelling Kundalini energy awakens and carries the individual attention beyond the level of the 6th chakra, into the seventh chakra, known as Sahasrara.
## Yoga!
It is here we achieve Yoga! As the mind finds rest and silence, we become able to feel our inner Self (Spirit). This can be tangibly felt, it actually manifests, as a cool wind, breath or breeze, often experienced on the palms of the hands or at the top (crown) of the head. It is a spontaneous, effortless natural happening.
Each week many people experience this actualisation at one of the many free meditation classes on offer
## How to get into balance?
The secret of the Sahaja Yoga method resides within us, at the base of the spinal chord, in a triangular bone called the “sacrum bone”. Since our birth in our sacrum bone dwells an inner energy called in Sanskrit Kundalini; it is characterised as a feminine energy and once activated, this energy rises along our spine until it reaches the top of the head and finally connects with the universal energy. This union is called “yoga” in Sanskrit.
## Kundalini
As our indwelling Kundalini rises through the central channel, this benevolent feminine energy activates the chakras, removing all the impurities from them and nourishing the entire inner system. It is through this happening that we are elevated into ‘thoughtless awareness’, the mental silence of true meditation
www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk
Free Meditation & Yoga Classes in London
Want to experience it now – Experience Self Realisation now – Guided Meditation ([https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/](https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/ "https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/"))
###
CLOTHES MAKING & ALTERING WORKSHOP - 5 WEEKS
**Bookable via our website ➡️** https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/clothes-making-altering-workshop-eve-6-11-weeks/
**⋆⋆⋆**
Do you want to jump into making your own clothes but have never used a pattern? Do you wish to copy a beloved piece of clothing? Would you like to learn how to adjust your own pattern to fit just you?
Learn how to take body measurements, read and alter a commercial pattern to fit, lay out and cut fabric and construct a finished garment to a high standard using one of our Janome 525s or Bernina 1008 series sewing machines.
During the sessions of this small group of learners you will gain confidence and improve any sewing skills you already have.
If you have never used a machine, we can guide you through making a simple garment from a purchased pattern. Bring your own pattern or use one of our small selection.
If you have sewing experience but want to start creating your own patterns, you can learn how to create a bespoke piece of clothing. You can also bring a piece of clothing to alter or fix.
We supply the basics and the calico you will use to make a ‘toile’ (an inexpensive mock up) to save you ruining your chosen final fabric.
Along the way, talented tutor and seamstress will teach you lots of techniques and tips to ramp up your sewing passion. This is a perfect class if you have been teaching yourself so far, or if your last project was made a long time ago at school.
**Suitable for:** Suitable for beginners, enjoyable for those with experience. A good level of English and basic math skills are useful.
**Next start date:** Check our website for more dates: [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/clothes-making-altering/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/clothes-making-altering/)
INTRO TO WOODWORK – BASIC WOOD JOINTS
**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-72/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-72/)
⋆⋆⋆
A beginner's course that goes straight to the heart of woodworking.
This five-week evening course will focus on timeless variations of wood joints that can be used for an endless amount of woodwork projects. Develop your skills with a saw, chisel and plane so that you can measure and mark out your work, cut, fit and glue joints accurately, ensuring your woodwork is strong, durable and darn good-looking.
Learn these classic wood joints while you hone your making ability, and set free your ideas for furniture, box-making and all things fabulous. During the course, you will learn the uses and advantages of each joint as you construct a framework of sample joints. This project is a classic learning method.
The **half-lap joint** can be used to make frames for pictures, perimeter door frames for panel or glass doors, dust dividers in cabinets and in many other situations. Because the half-lap does not add any thickness to the pieces of wood being joined, there are virtually no limitations for using it.
The **mitred half** lap is an elegant yet strong corner joint, with its diagonal cut constructed with an internal half lap,
The **tee halving** is a versatile joint which is often used in internal cabinet frames and simple framing and bracing.
The **half dovetail** is a very strong type of joint because of the way the ‘tails’ and ‘pins’ are shaped. This shape makes it difficult to pull the joint apart and virtually impossible when glue is added. This type of joint is used in box constructions such as draws, jewellery boxes, cabinets and other pieces of furniture where strength is required.
All use of tools and materials included.
Perfect for beginners.
Learn to Code Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
A Course in Miracles Heart to Heart study group
Connect with like minded Students of
'A Course in Miracles' - includes enquiry, meditative practice, readings and
group discussion in a warm hearted atmosphere - hosted by experienced Facilitator Melanie Bloch
The RAG Reality Check: From Vibe-Coding to Production
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the gold standard for grounding LLMs in proprietary enterprise data. However, the journey from a flashy proof-of-concept to a reliable, secure production system is fraught with complexity. This talk bridges the gap between rapid prototyping and rigorous engineering. We will begin by exploring the actual merit of “vibe-coding”—using AI-assisted, rapid prototyping to build compelling demo apps that secure client buy-in and validate use cases.
Once the demo is sold, the real work begins. We will navigate the architectural decision matrix, comparing the trade-offs of off-the-shelf products, cloud-managed services, and fully custom-built RAG solutions. Diving into the technical pipeline, we will cover modern ingestion strategies like agentic chunking and sophisticated retrieval methods, including re-ranking and GraphRAG, to overcome the limitations of simple vector search. We will detail the essential role of telemetry and LLM-as-a-Judge evaluation frameworks in ensuring sustained performance, faithfulness, and relevancy. Join us to learn how to transition from impressive demos to robust solutions that deliver measurable business value.
Our Speaker, **[Dr. Enrico Fonda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/enricofonda/)** is a data scientist with a background in physics. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland and New York University, where he studied quantum fluids and applied deep learning to turbulence. In 2019, Enrico moved to London and transitioned his skills to the industry. He has since worked across the MarTech, Telco, and Tech sectors, focusing on machine learning modeling, generative AI applications, and code generation. Today, as a Solution Consultant at Sahaj Software, he continues to solve complex problems in data science and AI.
🗓️ **Save the Date:** 26th March, 2026
📍 **Location:** Sahaj Software, 1 Quality Court, London, WC2A 1HR
🕕 **Time:** 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (BST)
The evening will feature:
🎤 **One engaging talk** with Q&A
🤝 **Plenty of time for networking** over free pizza and non-alcoholic drinks
Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and share with fellow tech enthusiasts.
👉 Please click the link below to register.
https://sahaj.ai/events/the-rag-reality-check-from-vibe-coding-to-production/
INTRO TO WOODCARVING
**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodcarving-87/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodcarving-87/)
**⋆⋆⋆**
If you have ever marveled at the fine detail or flowing lines of a wood carving, you may have wondered what it would be like to carve.
In this one-day workshop, expert wood carver Jon Hall brings his experience, City and Guilds training, and expertise to this day’s enjoyable teaching.
Even if you have never held a chisel before or can’t draw a design, Jon’s method of carving will build confidence and correct technique in an energetic and inspiring manner. By following the contours of a fresh leaf, you will learn the fundamentals of this skill.
As sharp tools are the key to success, you will also practice how to keep your tools in top condition to achieve the results you desire.
We supply all the tools and materials and also sell sets of carving tools so you can improve your skills at home. Beginners welcome.
eCommerce and Marketing Course in London | Build Your Online Store Free
**eCommerce & marketing course in London. Build your online store free. By Getshop Today, Tide Bank & Temu. In-person expert training.**
This isn't just a course. It's a launchpad and Opportunity. Learn how to build and market an online business, and if you decide to move forward, we'll set everything up for you - at no cost.
**Who's Teaching This?**
The people behind this course actually built the tools you'll use:
* **Getshop Today** \- a UK\-based eCommerce platform that builds your independent online store
* **Brand Backie** \- an AI marketing tool that helps you promote your products
We're not just instructors. We built the technology.
**In official partnership with:**
* **Tide Bank** \- providing smart banking solutions tailored for new eCommerce businesses\.
* **Temu** \- unlocking complimentary Temu shop access for 12–18 months to accelerate your launch\.
**Two Afternoons. Real Results.**
**Day 1 \- Saturday\, 4\-7 PM \| Intro Training** Learn the foundations: how online stores work, dropshipping vs. selling your own products, multi-platform selling, and how to market effectively. Includes live demos. At the end, you choose whether to take up the **Opportunity**.
**Day 2 \- Sunday\, 4\-7 PM \| Implementation Masterclass** For those who join the **Opportunity** only. We go deeper - advanced setup, marketing strategy, and a step-by-step launch plan. We start building your store live.
***
**The Opportunity**
By the end of Day 1, you’ll decide whether to take the leap. If you’re in, we’ll help you open a Tide business account right then and there - equipping you with the legal and financial foundation to launch and run your store immediately.
As part of this, you’ll deposit a small initial amount (typically around £100) into your own account to get your business operational (this is not a fee and remains your money).
**This unlocks 2 Options for you:**
**Option 1 - Sell Your Own Products**
We build your independent store, set up your Temu seller account, and train you to manage and market everything using Brand Backie.
✅ 12 months free independent online store
✅ 18 months free Temu shop
✅ Full marketing training
**Option 2 - Dropshipping**
We build your store and integrate it with eBay and TikTok Shop, then train you to market and scale across platforms.
✅ 12 months free independent online store
✅ 12 months free Temu shop (no dropshipping here)
✅ eBay & TikTok Shop integration
✅ Full marketing training
***
**What You Get**
Proprietary UK-built technology, 12–18 months of tools for free, multi-platform setup, and direct access to the founders. A real business, built from day one - not theory.
**Bring your laptop. Basic computer skills needed. Arrive on time** \- sessions are step\-by\-step and build on each other\.
**Spaces are limited. Register now!**
CLOTHES MAKING & ALTERING WORKSHOP - 5 MORNINGS
**Bookable via our website ➡️** https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/clothes-making-altering-workshop-6-11-mornings/
**⋆⋆⋆**
Do you want to jump into making your own clothes but have never used a pattern? Do you wish to copy a beloved piece of clothing? Would you like to learn how to adjust your own pattern to fit just you?
Learn how to take body measurements, read and alter a commercial pattern to fit, lay out and cut fabric and construct a finished garment to a high standard using one of our Janome 525s or Bernina 1008 series sewing machines.
During the sessions of this small group of learners you will gain confidence and improve any sewing skills you already have.
If you have never used a machine, we can guide you through making a simple garment from a purchased pattern. Bring your own pattern or use one of our small selection.
If you have sewing experience but want to start creating your own patterns, you can learn how to create a bespoke piece of clothing. You can also bring a piece of clothing to alter or fix.
We supply the basics and the calico you will use to make a ‘toile’ (an inexpensive mock up) to save you ruining your chosen final fabric.
Along the way, talented tutor and seamstress will teach you lots of techniques and tips to ramp up your sewing passion. This is a perfect class if you have been teaching yourself so far, or if your last project was made a long time ago at school.
**Suitable for:** Suitable for beginners, enjoyable for those with experience. A good level of English and basic math skills are useful.
**Next start date:** Check our website for more dates: [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/clothes-making-altering/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/clothes-making-altering/)
WOODWORK – SET OF STEPS
**Bookable via our website ➡️** https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/woodwork-set-of-steps-8/
⋆⋆⋆
This timeless classic is taken from our favourite 1910 vintage woodwork book. It is a brand new project for our Carpentry for Beginners courses.
Take home a fabulously useful set of steps, beautifully crafted with ‘Through tenons’ and ‘shoulder’ joints. Measurements are: 53cm H x 50cm W and 55cm D when open.
Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, experienced craftsman Len Conway will guide and inspire you as he teaches age-old techniques in carpentry. As you begin learning how to make traditional wood joints in seasoned redwood, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and marking gauges. Len is an experienced carpenter and teacher. He conveys his skilful practical experience with light-hearted humour.
Learners will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.
Over 5 specified days, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session while making a small set of steps that you will take home.
**We will get familiar with some tools of the trade:**
* Introducing basic tools. Equipping a toolbox for home carpentry.
* Timber selection/marking out and cutting. Cutting accurately with a hand saw
* Using a plane, different types of planes. Sharpening tips and practice.
* Using a chisel and its uses. Sharpening tips and practice.
**You will use planes, chisels and marking tools:**
* Simple joints and why we use them.
* Half joints, lap joints. Practice using chisels and planes.
* Bridle joints and a mortise and tenon
**You will make a simple project to take home:**
It’s fast-paced but with the support of Len, you will complete your own project to make a small set of steps.
* Work from selected pine and measure, mark and cut pieces.
* Choose and make joints, assemble and secure with adhesive or screws.
* Sand and smooth to a stage where your project is ready for staining or waxing and taken home with pride.
All personal protection, the use of tools and basic materials are included.
**This course is suitable for beginners**
1# London Software Guild
**About the London Software Guild**
The London Software Guild gathers developers, architects, and teams across London who care deeply about the craft of building great software. No fluff, no vendor pitches — just people who take the work seriously, sharing what they've learned the hard way.
***
## **Tonight's Speakers**
## **🎤 Kieran — Founding Engineer, Demand-Genius**
Kieran is a founding engineer at Demand-Genius, working to close the gap between how humans and machines perceive your brand versus reality. Background in electrical & electronic engineering, previously working on real-time payments systems, high-scale distributed dynamic rules engines, and reverse proxies. Third Start-Up/Scale-Up (because I'm dumb and have never learnt my lesson).
**Talk: The Statistical (Un)Certainty That Our AI Co-Founder Ruins Everything**
We have handed the most powerful text prediction machines ever built the keys to our codebases. They write code that is statistically likely to be correct. But "statistically likely" and "correct" are not the same thing. As we move toward autonomous multi-agent systems writing production code at machine speed, that gap becomes the central engineering problem of our time.
Code is not text. It is a formal, deterministic, mathematical structure that happens to be serialised as text. Every tool in the agentic coding stack — retrieval, editing, version control, coordination — treats it as text.
This talk argues that the answer isn't better frontier models. It's better systems around models. Specifically, the engineering disciplines we've used for a century to control uncertain systems — feedback loops, formal verification, dependency analysis, and control theory — are the missing layer between "AI can write code" and "AI can write code you can trust."
***
## **🎤 Andy Roberts — Senior Engineering Leader**
Andy Roberts is a senior engineering leader with 25+ years of experience — the kind where you've actually written the code, run the teams, and been in the room when things went wrong at scale. Previously Head of EMEA Enterprise Solutions at Apollo GraphQL, where he helped companies like [Booking.com](https://booking.com/), PayPal, and The New York Times stop arguing about their APIs. Before that, Head of API Engineering at RS Components, wrangling 11 teams. Has strong opinions about federated architecture and isn't afraid to use them.
**Talk: Built for Browsers, Billed by Tokens**
*Your microservices solved for latency. AI agents are solving for context. Nobody told your APIs.*
Every era of software development has been defined by a constraint that reshaped architecture. In the database era we optimised for round trips. In the web era we obsessed over latency. Mobile forced us to think about bandwidth and battery. Each shift required new instincts, new patterns, new defaults. We're in the middle of another one.
The AI era introduces a new constraint: context. Language models have finite working memory, and every API response your services return goes into it. The kitchen-sink response payloads that work fine for browsers are quietly making your AI agents more expensive and less capable — and the cost is almost entirely invisible in your existing dashboards.
This talk maps the constraint transition from latency to context, shows what it means for the microservice APIs you have today, and offers five concrete things you can do about it without touching a line of existing backend code.
Learn to Code Events Near You
Connect with your local Learn to Code community
[X-post, RSVP link in desc.] Healthtech Impact Sprint
Columbus Code & Coffee is excited to partner with GiveBackHack to put on the Healthtech Impact Sprint from 3/28-3/29 at Rev1 at The Peninsula! RSVP here using promo code CODEANDCOFFEE: https://luma.com/tk2jdrxk
This is a health-specific version of GBH’s traditional weekend event. Participants pitch, research, and prototype health-focused projects for a chance to earn to $5K in funding from The Columbus Foundation and IGS Energy.
On Saturday, folks will pitch their idea, form teams, and build. On Sunday, they’ll finalize their pitches before showcasing their work to the community and judges.
# Schedule
**Sat, Mar 28**
* 9a: Doors open & breakfast
* 9:30a: Kickoff and intros
* 10a: Ideation session
* 11a: Pitches & team formation
* 12p: Working lunch
* 2p: Mentor visits
* 5p: Free work (optional)
* 9p: Doors close
**Sun, Mar 29**
* 9a: Doors open
* 10a: Mentor visits
* 12p: Showcase
* 1p: Final pitches & awards
* 2p: Wrap
***
# FAQs
**Do all ideas have a chance at getting funded?**
Not all ideas will move forward after initial pitches on Saturday. Once pitches are complete, we’ll vote for top ideas and form teams around the 4 – 7 ideas with the most votes. You must recruit **at least four total team members** (including the founder) to move forward and have a chance at getting funded on Sunday. If your idea doesn’t move forward, you can join another team!
**Do I have to submit my idea online prior to the event?**
Unlike previous years, we don’t have the option to submit your idea online prior to the event. Instead, everyone will be going through a brainstorming exercise on Saturday that’ll help you prepare for your initial pitch.
**Will we be working for 24 hours straight?**
Nope. The event is split over two days. You’ll be building on Saturday and pitching on Sunday.
**Do I have to pitch an idea?**
Nope. You can also simply join a team.
**What types of entrepreneurs does GBH support?**
While GBH most often works with technology startups, we support *any* organization (for- or non-profit) that makes an impact on health in the US or across the world.
From Web Forms to Web Components - Burton Smith
**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**
Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively.
This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way.
**YouTube Link**
TBA
Columbus Code & Coffee 85 @ Improving
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**
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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!
COhPy Monthly Meeting
**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: Type Annotations with John Cassidy
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
DoJo (Informal Python Meeting)
**New 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 topic suggestions and people interested in presenting at our monthly meetings. To this end we've set up a survey form at [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc)
Yarn Social at Northwest Library
If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, working with yarn, this is the group for you. Meet new friends, bring your projects, learn from others.
We normally meet a few times a month during the week from 6-8pm. We will occasionally meet on weekends during daytime hours.
How LLMs Like ChatGPT Actually Work and How to Build With Them
**First meetup of the Columbus AI Engineering group.**
We’ll kick things off with a practical, beginner-friendly discussion on:
**How LLMs like ChatGPT actually work — and how to build real applications with them.**
We’ll cover:
* what’s actually happening under the hood (at a high level)
* why LLMs behave the way they do (hallucinations, prompt sensitivity, etc.)
* how people are building real systems with them today
* where things break in practice
This will be a **short, informal talk (\~15–20 min)** followed by open discussion and Q&A.
Whether you’re an engineer, builder, or just curious about how modern AI systems work, you’re welcome to join.
No slides, no fluff — just real conversation about real systems.
We’ll hang out afterward and get to know each other.


















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