Mobile Development

Join us at the Microsoft Malta office for another evening of technical learning and networking around the Microsoft Data Platform. Two sessions. One foundational. One deep. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🧠 Session 1 — From ML to AI Agents: The Journey That Changed Everything ◆ The Data Introduction Session Before we talk about SQL Server 2025, we need to speak the same language. This session tells the story of AI from the beginning: → From ML and its narrow, task-specific roots → To large language models and the generative AI explosion that followed → To the agent landscape everyone is navigating but few have clearly mapped Models, agents, assistants, copilots, skills, tools — and the very different types of agents hiding behind the same word. You will leave with a mental model that makes every AI conversation, and every vendor pitch, easier to evaluate. ◆ No prior AI experience required. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🗄️ Session 2 — SQL Server 2025 News: AI Integration and More ◆ The Main Session SQL Server 2025 marks a turning point for Microsoft's flagship database engine. This is the honest version of the story. → The vector journey from Azure SQL to what SQL Server 2025 delivers in RTM → What is GA, what is still in preview, and what that means for production → DiskANN vector indexes, AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS, AI_GENERATE_CHUNKS → CREATE EXTERNAL MODEL — calling LLMs without leaving SQL Server → Fuzzy string functions: EDIT_DISTANCE, Jaro, and when NOT to use vectors Build semantic search and RAG pipelines inside the database. No separate vector store required. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 Networking The evening includes time to connect before and after the sessions. Whether you are deep in the Microsoft Data Platform or just getting started, this is your space to ask questions and exchange ideas with the community. 📍 Microsoft Malta Office

**☀️ Sunrise Run before EU Startup Summit** Want to kick off the day on the right foot (literally) before diving into the Future Travel Summit? Join us for an easy morning run through **Valletta** on **Friday 7th at 7:30 AM**! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ We’ll start from the Mediterranean Conference Centre, make our way through the charming cobbled streets, passing by the magnificent St. John's Co-Cathedral, descend to the spectacular fortified coastal promenade, and finish where we started. No performance goals, no stopwatch, just a chance to move, chat, and connect with other **EU-Startups Summit** participants before the day begins. I’m **Andrea Lamperini, COO at WeRoad**, and I’ll be leading the run and the keynote on friday 8th about "**Scaling a community-led business to €130M+: Lessons from expanding across culturally diverse markets"** at 12.30. Bring your energy, your curiosity, and maybe a coffee for after — the perfect warm-up for a day of ideas, inspiration, and connection. See you on the road? 🌅

Thursday May 7th there is a quiz night! Registration is mandatory! Please RSVP here: https://luma.com/b16i1qom?locale=en-GB Join us for a fun and engaging social exchange meetup in Malta. Whether you're practicing English or any language, a beginner or advanced, this event welcomes you. Meet like-minded locals, expats, internationals, and fellow wanderers eager to share stories, explore cultures, and build friendships in a relaxed vibe. This is ideal for new residents, exchange students, and travelers immersing in Malta's island life and community. Don't miss your chance to connect over casual eating, drinking, and chats. Expand your network while embracing the nomadic spirit! 🌍👋 Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/malta.mates?igsh=czZvazUwa2liemhn&utm_source=qr

🔔 Meet new people easily, enjoy great conversations, and experience Malta’s social life at Thursday Social Mixer - our weekly international meetup. Whether you come alone or with friends, you’ll find a friendly and open atmosphere where connecting feels natural. Many guests arrive solo, and our team welcomes you from the start, introducing you to a small group so you can begin chatting right away. The evening features our fun group-rotation icebreaker, the “Bell Speed Friendship” — every few minutes the bell rings and groups change, giving you the chance to meet many different people in a fun way. Expect an international crowd, great energy, and a beautiful venue perfect for socializing. 📅 Every Thursday, from 19:30 till late 📍 Surfside, Sliema 🌎 Who joins: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Entry: 7€, including: – A free welcome drink – Full access to the event – Friendly team support to help you connect and meet new people 👉 No booking needed — just show up and join the experience. The earlier you arrive, the easier it is to join the first groups and make the most of the night. We look forward to welcoming you! Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

Date: Thursday, 7th May from 7pm to 9pm Place: Cafe Teatro, 100 Republic Street, Valletta Join us for another Film Club event where we will be discussing Baz Luhrmann version of "Elvis". The 2022 movie "Elvis," directed by Baz Luhrmann, explores the life and music of Elvis Presley, portrayed by Austin Butler. The film chronicles his rise to fame, his complex relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks), and his personal life, including his marriage to Priscilla Presley. We will not watch a movie but discuss it, so try to watch it before. This event is free, everyone buys his own drink.

The Department of Tourism Management at the University of Malta, in collaboration with GDG Malta and UN Tourism, is organising a two-day hackathon taking place from Friday 8th May to Saturday 9th May. Chill with AI: Intelligent Urban Heat Mitigation Solutions This event brings together participants for two days of learning, building, and pitching innovative ideas. It includes a hands-on workshop on AI-driven prototyping, followed by a hackathon where teams will develop solutions and present them to a panel of experts. Participants are encouraged to bring their ideas and collaborate to create impactful solutions that help keep our cities cooler and more sustainable. Register your team using the form: https://forms.gle/fV8N1PFCcq9qL18L7 Agenda Day 1 9:00 AM: Workshop on Prototyping with AI 1:00 PM: Start of Hackathon Day 2 6:00 PM: Final Presentation of idea --- Hosted By James Gatt, Administrator AOSP Enthusiast Recognized Developer on XDA Developers Experienced with both AOSP and Device Engineering Matthias Bartolo, Logistics 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, Hospitality Matthew Mangion, Designer Andrea Filiberto Lucas, Marketing 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, Treasurer Gabriel Hili, Community Engagement --- Partners University of Malta (https://www.um.edu.mt/ict/ai) UN Tourism (https://www.untourism.int) --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-malta-presents-chill-with-ai/.

GLOBALS On Tour: Malta 2026 Get your spot here: [https://events.clubglobals.com/GLOBALSOnTourMalta2026](https://events.clubglobals.com/GLOBALSOnTourMalta2026) GLOBALS On Tour: Malta 2026 is a curated mobile networking experience built around a Bus Tour format, designed to bring founders, investors, entrepreneurs, operators, and ecosystem builders together during EU-Startups Summit Malta. The experience connects the right people in motion, creating a more dynamic and intentional way to network beyond the usual conference floor. During the tour, selected startups will get visibility, founders and investors will connect in a more natural setting, and the GLOBALS team will facilitate curated introductions and meaningful follow-ups. Attendees can expect: • Curated networking with founders, investors and operators • Startup visibility and pitch-style conversations • Founder ↔ investor and founder ↔ operator introductions • Matchmaking supported by the GLOBALS team • Access to the GLOBALS Malta community • Useful local updates, meetups, after-parties and side event info • A high-energy networking experience during EU-Startups Summit Malta Who should attend? Founders, entrepreneurs, investors, corporate innovators, ecosystem leaders, business developers and professionals looking to expand their network during EU-Startups Summit Malta. Join us Ride with the right people, make meaningful connections, and move the conversation forward. Event link: [https://events.clubglobals.com/GLOBALSOnTourMalta2026](https://events.clubglobals.com/GLOBALSOnTourMalta2026)

If you're living in Mellieħa (Malta) and want to meet other digital nomads and location-independent founders/entrepreneurs, this meetup is for you: Friday Coffee Meetup @ Mellieħa 📍 **TuttoBuono** (Triq Gorg Borg Olivier, Il-Mellieħa) ⏰ 8 May 2026, **11:00 AM** ☕ For WFH and remote workers who want a real coffee chat 🤗 Everyone is welcome! Whether you're new in Malta, working remotely, or just looking to meet new friends, this is a relaxed, no-agenda hangout. Here’s what to expect 👇 1.⁠ ⁠Meet people living or working in north of Malta 2.⁠ ⁠⁠Share stories, experiences, or travel tips. 3.⁠ ⁠⁠Make new friends in a warm, easygoing environment. Open to everyone: expats, locals, digital nomads, freelancers, and anyone who wants to connect. If you’re looking to expand your circle and enjoy good coffee, join us! 🎉

**☀️ Sunrise Run before EU Startup Summit** Want to kick off the day on the right foot (literally) before diving into the Future Travel Summit? Join us for an easy morning run through **Valletta** on **Friday 8th at 7:30 AM**! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ We’ll start from the Mediterranean Conference Centre, make our way through the charming cobbled streets, passing by the magnificent St. John's Co-Cathedral, descend to the spectacular fortified coastal promenade, and finish where we started. No performance goals, no stopwatch, just a chance to move, chat, and connect with other **EU-Startups Summit** participants before the day begins. I’m **Andrea Lamperini, COO at WeRoad**, and I’ll be leading the run and the keynote on friday 8th about "**Scaling a community-led business to €130M+: Lessons from expanding across culturally diverse markets"** at 12.30. Bring your energy, your curiosity, and maybe a coffee for after — the perfect warm-up for a day of ideas, inspiration, and connection. See you on the road? 🌅

Hi all! Next time we meet in Sliema on Friday 15:00 I will write the place on the Friday morning, depending on the wether indoor or outdoor. See you! A cozy coffee meetup for women to connect, chat, and share everyday moments in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

*📌Tickets to be bought on the [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/events-in-malta/excursions-in-malta/sunday-hike-malta/)* 👣 Discover Malta’s natural beauty on our Sunday Hiking Adventure, exploring hidden gems, Mediterranean landscapes, coastal paths, rugged cliffs, and some of the island’s most impressive outdoor areas. Along the way, it’s easy to meet new international people naturally while walking, sharing views, and experiencing the trail together — whether you come alone or with friends. It’s a chance to move, breathe fresh air, connect with nature, and experience a more authentic side of Malta - all while spending your Sunday outdoors. 📅 Every Sunday 🕚 Meet at 10:30, departure at 11:00 📍 Meeting point: McDonald’s, Sliema 🚌 Return: around 16:30, same location 🌎 Who joins: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎯 The hiking destination changes weekly — find the full list of upcoming locations on our website. 🎟️ Online ticket required (limited spots), starting from €12.50, including: – Private bus transportation to and from the hiking area – Guided hike and full team support – Event coordination and logistics 👉 Spots are limited due to transport — advance online booking via our website is required. On spot, cash payment is possible but it's €20, and is not reccomended as the trip can be soldout. Check our website for an online ticket and FAQ. After the hike, those who wish often join for drinks or food together — a relaxed and spontaneous way to unwind and continue the social vibe. See you on the trail! Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/events-in-malta/excursions-in-malta/sunday-hike-malta/)

🌊 Explore one of Malta’s most iconic natural wonders on our Comino & Blue Lagoon excursion, an experience combining scenic cruising, Comino exploration, and free time in the famous crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon. Travel by private bus and boat to Comino Island, where turquoise seas, rugged cliffs, sea caves, and Mediterranean landscapes create a truly unforgettable setting. The experience includes a short walk across Comino to discover the island’s landscapes, followed by extended free time at the Blue Lagoon to swim, relax, take photos, or simply enjoy the unique atmosphere. If you like, it’s easy to connect with other international participants along the way, through shared views, conversations, and the journey itself. 📅 Every other Saturday 🕚 Meet at 09:30, departure at 10:00 📍 Meeting point: McDonald’s, Sliema 🚌 Return: around 17:00, same location 🌎 Who it’s for: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Online ticket required (limited spots), starting from €20, including: – Private bus transportation to and from Ċirkewwa – Round-trip boat ride to and from Comino – Short guided walk on Comino – Full team support, coordination, and logistics 👉 Spots are limited due to transport — advance online booking on our website is required. LINK A full day of sea, nature, and unforgettable Mediterranean scenery awaits you! Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

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**

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/

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)

**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.

Our monthly PHP meetup. A virtual shindig courtesy of Zoom. Check back here for the details around 6:15 pm

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!

**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.