ROS

We are delighted to announce that manifesto have kindly agreed to host the Umbraco London July Meetup at their offices in Whitechapel, and are very kindly providing us with food and drinks. **Please register and sign up in advance** so that we can give a list of attendees to reception and comply with their building regulations. [manifesto](https://manifesto.co.uk/) is a company that uses and champions Umbraco CMS, particularly within the context of digital transformation and sustainability, including being Certified B Corp. We are welcome from 18:30 onwards, we shall look to get started around 18:45. We'll finish by 21:00 when we take the conversations to a local pub. \-\-\-\-\-\- **\*\* AGENDA \*\*** **#1** **Welcome and Latest News** Peter Cooper from manifesto with Lotte, Ravi and Richard from Umbraco London **#2 Codegarden 2026: One Umbracian's Experience** John Seto will be sharing his highlights from Codegarden 2026 - what he learned, what inspired him, and what it means to be part of the wider Umbraco community. He'll also be talking about his experience of the Green Track, a community initiative encouraging contributors to travel to Codegarden by greener means, with free tickets awarded to those selected by Umbraco HQ. **#3** **manifesto RazorKit** by Nurhak Kaya and Pete Cooper At manifesto, we have created a new component-driven development experience specifically for [ASP.NET](http://ASP.NET) Core Razor and Umbraco applications. This approach allows us to develop, test, and document our UI components in isolation within a live application through an interactive preview environment, eliminating the need to navigate through the entire application flow. In this talk, we will provide hands-on details about this approach and discuss its benefits for both development teams and clients. \-\-\-\-\-\- If you realise you can't make it please be sure to change your RSVP to No in case there are people on the waiting list. \-\-\-\-\- If you would like to contribute to our meetups please in touch by email (hello@umblondon.co.uk) - we are always looking for people to give talks, or London-based Umbraco agencies to host us for the evening. Please read the [Code of Conduct](https://bit.ly/UmbLondonCodeOfConduct) for all our events.

AI assistants are getting more capable. The question is how we build effective workflows around them. At DevDay London, [Lucy Joyce](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-joyce-597485166/), [Ash Shakrani](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-shakrani/) and [Arun Kurian](https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-mathew-kurian-39b8aa5a/) will explore harness engineering through the lens of a payment integration. From requirements and design through to implementation, they’ll demonstrate why context alone isn’t enough for successful AI-assisted development. Drawing on real-world experience, they’ll show how engineering harnesses, reusable context, standards, and validation workflows help teams move beyond experimentation and build reliable, scalable AI-assisted development practices. **This session will unpack:** 🎯 Why “more context” isn’t the answer on its own 🎯 What engineering harnesses are and how they create reliable feedback loops 🎯 How standards, workflows, and validation reduce AI-generated rework and technical debt 🎯 Practical techniques teams can adopt immediately to improve AI outcomes 🗓️ **Save the Date:** 2nd July, 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/harness-engineering-in-practice-from-requirements-to-implementation/

Ready to get outside? Our Thursday morning session in Dulwich park is back! At this moment we can meet with up to 30 people (of more than two households) to do outdoor exercise and walks. However, i like to keep our exercise groups small, so I have set the maximum participants at 12. For now this walk is for our experienced Nordic Walkers only, who already used to Nordic Walk with us regularly before Covid 19 kept us indoors, and who have their own Nordic Walking poles. As this session is outdoors, we will not ask you to wear a face mask, but we do ask you to keep 2 meters apart. Some of our walkers might be immune compromised or more at risk, so please help us keep everyone safe! Please do not come to the session and stay at home if: - you know you have been in contact - in the last 2 weeks- with someone with symptoms of possible Covid, or if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive. - you have any of the following symptoms: (new) Loss of smell/taste, Persistent cough, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Skin rash, Hives, Fever, Severe muscle pain, Shortness of breath, Diarrhoea, Delirium, Abdominal pain, Chest pain, Hoarse voice, Eye soreness, Sore or painful throat, Nausea or vomiting, Headache, Dizziness or light headedness We meet by the cafe in the middle of the park. Session Price: £10 per session, £89 for a 10-session card or £70 unlimited sessions per month. Session cards and pay Monthly can be used in any of our outdoor walks or indoor Zoom classes sessions (except for the Parkinson's sessions). Pay What Works: The price shown above is the “true” value of the session that best reflects the work I put into preparing and leading your session. However, I understand that not everyone can afford to pay full price, and I don’t want that to stop you from joining us. In an effort to find a balance between more financial accessibility and sustainable pricing, I now offer a “Pay What Works” model. This allows for financial flexibility while still valuing and respecting the work and energy I provide in creating and delivering these classes. Then send an email to ailien@fitandhappyoutdoors.com with the heading “INVOICE please”- followed by “FAHO 1” to pay full price as quoted below, “FAHO 2”, for 20% off, or “FAHO 3” for 50% off. Pllease do tell me if you want to pay for 10 sessions, or if you’d like to pay monthly. I prefer payment by bank transfer, but if that is not possible you could pay in cash. No cheques please, the queues by the banks are just too long. We walk in all safe weather conditions – if a walk is cancelled, we will contact you to let you know. Please check for text messages or Meetup messages before leaving home!

Hello and welcome to our special joint meetup between **Cloud Platform Engineering London**, **Cloud Platform Engineering Leaders**, **Data & AI Leaders**, **AWS AI UG**, **Azure AI UG**, and **GCP London**. This crossover event brings together platform engineers, cloud architects, data and AI leaders, SREs, engineering managers, technology executives, and practitioners exploring how AI is reshaping modern cloud platforms, developer workflows, business transformation, and enterprise engineering. This is a special **Community Stack ecosystem event**, bringing together several of our cloud, platform, and data-focused communities for an evening of practical talks, senior technical discussion, and cross-community networking. A huge thank you to **[Arrows](https://www.arrowsgroup.com/)** for hosting and sponsoring this event, and for supporting the growth of the cloud, platform engineering, data, and AI community in London. Speakers and sessions: **Get a High Return-on-Investment from AI Business Transformation** **Nora Balla, Founder and AI Business Transformation Lead, Add Velocity** Nora Balla is the founder of Add Velocity, an AI-native business transformation and implementation consultancy. Nora has gained extensive experience across investment products, business transformation, finance operations, and regulated asset and wealth management environments. Previously a freelancer, she now operates in a collaborative delivery model, helping organisations scale AI and automation solutions in complex business settings. Her experience includes finance transformation at Harley-Davidson, reporting process improvements in commercial real estate funds, and supporting the Aladdin implementation at Royal London Asset Management. In this session, Nora will explore how organisations can achieve a stronger return on investment from AI business transformation. The talk will cover the opportunities and high-value use cases, the real risks organisations need to manage, the skills required for the agentic era, how to define and measure success, and practical tips for improving efficiency when working with AI systems. **Agents in the Fastlane** **Ryan Cormack, Principal Engineer, Motorway** **Luke Marrai, Engineering Manager, Motorway** Motorway has used traditional AI and machine learning for years to enhance and improve its systems. But how can those years of learning be applied to build the next generation of agentic systems for users? In this session, Ryan Cormack and Luke Marrai from Motorway will explore how they are enhancing the functionality of Motorway’s platform to provide more accurate search results for dealers looking to acquire stock through the online marketplace. The talk will cover how Motorway is using **AWS AgentCore** to run its agentic systems, and how evals are being used to ensure the system performs as expected. Ryan Cormack is a Principal Engineer at Motorway, the UK’s leading used car marketplace, where he leads technical strategy and drives AI-powered transformation across the engineering organisation. With over 14 years of experience building and scaling systems on AWS, Ryan specialises in turning architectural best practices into practical engineering outcomes, from cloud modernisation programmes to the adoption of agentic workflows and AI-native developer tooling. Luke Marrai is an Engineering Manager at Motorway, supporting engineering delivery and helping teams build effective, scalable technology for one of the UK’s leading automotive technology platforms. Agenda: **18:00** — Arrival, refreshments and networking **18:30** — Welcome and introduction **18:35** — Get a High Return-on-Investment from AI Business Transformation — Nora Balla **19:00** — Break and networking **19:20** — Agents in the Fastlane — Ryan Cormack and Luke Marrai **20:00** — Networking **20:45** — Close **Join us on June 11th:** We are also hosting the **Cloud Native & Open Source AI Conference** on **June 11th in London**, bringing together a fantastic line-up of speakers across AI, cloud-native, open-source, platform engineering, leadership, and modern infrastructure. You can view the full speaker line-up and event details **[here](https://www.communitystack.io/conferences/cloud-native-london)** **About the communities:** This event is jointly hosted across **Cloud Platform Engineering London**, **Cloud Platform Engineering Leaders**, **Data & AI Leaders**, **AWS AI UG**, **Azure AI UG**, and **GCP London**. Together, these communities form part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)**, bringing together technical practitioners, leaders, partners, and organisations across cloud, platform engineering, data, AI, and open technology. We are always keen to hear from speakers, hosts, sponsors, and community partners. If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please reach out to **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)** via LinkedIn. This event follows the **[Community Stack Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct)** and **[Privacy Policy](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy)**, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees.

Join us for some fun, competitive, but friendly games at our 4-court sports hall. We use Yonex Mavis 600 Nylon shuttles during the 2-hour session. **PAYMENT** * **Session Fee: £9** * We are cashless, kindly pay the session fee **by midnight** on the night before the session. You are welcome to pay early! You can even pay when you book! See our About page for the full process. * If no payment is received, you will be removed and may even be liable for a late cancellation fee if your spot is not taken. * Please use **“your meetup name + date of event”** as payment reference * **Account name:** Thomas Lam * **Sort code:** 04-00-03 * **Account number:** 7478 8608 **LATE CANCELLATION OR NO-SHOW** * **All** **no-shows or late cancellations** (24 hrs or less) will be charged if your spot is not taken by someone else - you will have a title next to your name with the amount and date owed. * Members with 2 no shows/late cancellations will be removed from the group unless outstanding payment is received * **The late cancellation policy** is set up to discourage last-minute cancellations and therefore applies with or without the presence of a waitlist * **Note:** If you are on the Waitlist and a spot becomes available, you will automatically be bumped onto the On list provided the event has not yet started. It is your responsibility to **remove yourself from the waitlist** if you can no longer make it to avoid being charged a no-show if someone cancels late. **PLAYING** * Please wait to be marked off before entering the hall. * Sessions are to finish promptly on the hour by school requests. * If you finish a match with 5 minutes to go, please start packing up instead of starting a new game. **RACKET HIRE** * Please note that we won't be hiring out rackets, so kindly bring your own racket. **PARKING** * There is parking available, but it is now paid parking. Parking is opposite the entrance. Please check the signs for parking payment instructions. **TRACK & TRACE** * We will collect your phone number on-site. Your phone number will also be used in case of fire to contact you if you have not made it to the fire evacuation areas. You can see maps at the venue. We are excited to see you guys on the court! Team LSBC

Register: [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ljc-meetup-at-neo4j-smarter-search-with-spring-ai-and-neo4j-tickets-1991379537804](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ljc-meetup-at-neo4j-smarter-search-with-spring-ai-and-neo4j-tickets-1991379537804) LJC Meet-ups is a series of events, aimed at giving all Community members an opportunity to present at an LJC event. We're excited to invite you to our next Meetup, co-hosted with **neo4j**! Join the London Java Community for an evening of technical talks, networking, and knowledge sharing hosted by Neo4j. This month’s meetup explores two of the hottest areas in modern software development: integrating Generative AI into Java applications and deploying Machine Learning models within Java ecosystems. Whether you’re a Java developer, architect, data engineer, or simply curious about the latest innovations shaping our industry, this session will provide practical insights and real-world examples from experienced practitioners.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/50864 **Game Description:** Summer tryouts session hosted by Southside Titans. Join an international team of experienced ballers in a friendly, but competitive setting. A chance to show what you got, get to know the team and enquire about joining their roster competing in the United London Basketball League (ULBL). 📍Entrance is via the gate on Lynton Road 🚗 Street parking available in the area **Rules** Hosted by Southside Titans, a basketball team playing in the United London Basketball League (ULBL).

Looking for a Sunday that feels like a soft slice of summer? Join us for a beautiful 12–15 km loop through the Darent Valley, where riverside paths, rolling green fields, and blooming lavender come together in one of Kent's most charming landscapes. This valley has been shaped by centuries of life and travel, and you feel it as soon as you step onto the trail. We'll pass beneath the towering arches of the Eynsford Viaduct, a Victorian engineering landmark that has carried trains across the valley since the 1860s. Further along, the route brushes past the historic grounds of Lullingstone Castle, a Tudor manor once visited by Henry VIII and home to the Hart Dyke family for over 500 years. From there, the path opens into the quiet lanes of Shoreham village and the purple shimmer of the lavender fields drifting across the hillsides. As we move through meadows, woodlands, and open countryside, the day settles into that easy summer rhythm where everything feels unhurried and lightly golden. It's the kind of walk where the scenery does the talking: the river winding beside us, the scent of lavender in the warm air, and the countryside unfolding in soft greens and purples — a Sunday that feels sun-warmed, peaceful, and just a little bit dreamy. We will head to a pub near the station when we finish for a pint or/and lunch. ## 📅 **Event Details** **Meeting Point:** Eynsford Station (Start / Finish) **Meeting Time:** 10:15 AM for 10:30 AM sharp start. **Distance:** approx. 12 to 15 km **Elevation:** \~300 m approx **Difficulty:** Moderate **Pace:** Steady **Estimated Finish:** Around 2 PM ## 🌿 **Route Highlights** * **Eynsford Viaduct Viewpoint** — one of Kent’s most photogenic spots, especially in summer light. * **Ancient woodland paths** around Ashen Bank, offering shade and cool forest air. * **Shoreham Village** — postcard‑perfect with its stone bridge and riverside charm. * **Darent Valley Path** — peaceful riverside walking with open fields and gentle breezes. * **Shoreham Lavender Fields** — with sweeping purple rows and great photo opportunities. * **Lullingstone Country Park** and **Castle** — meadows, woodlands, and a relaxed finish back toward Eynsford. This is a circular route full of **colour, greenery, and soft summer atmosphere** — the kind of day that feels wrapped in the easy warmth of summer countryside. ## 🎒 **What to Bring** * Comfortable hiking boots or sturdy shoes * At least **2L of water** * Packed snacks * Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) * Light layers — summer can still surprise * Good vibes and your best Sunday‑summer energy ## 📌 **Important Notes** * **Stay Together:** Please stay with or behind the hike leader to keep the group moving smoothly and regular catch ups. * **Respect the Area:** Parts of the route pass through the **Kent Downs National Landscape** — please respect wildlife, fields, and local guidelines. * **Group Rules:** Please read the “About Us” section before joining: [https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities](https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities?utm_source=copilot.com%20%22www.meetup.com%22) * **Safety:** This is a voluntary activity. You are responsible for your own safety and for respecting fellow walkers, wildlife, and the environment. No risk or service is inferred or accepted by the organiser. 📱 **If you’re lost or running late:** 07830 374 629

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45759 **Game Description:** Come and play in a casual 6 aside game on a Sunday afternoon ⚽️ It’s a beautiful pitch with larger goals 😍 💦 Showers, changing rooms, water fountain and toilets available. **Directions:** 🚶‍♂️1 minute walk from Poplar DLR station 🚗 No designated car parking **Rules** \- Change keeper every 6 minutes \- Classic 6 aside rules \- No slide tackles\, play safe \- Respect everyone on the pitch

A Rabble session is 1 hour of fun and social team games. Each game disguises high-intensity intervals within the rules, giving you an effective, all-body workout without even realising it. We play a bunch of different games at each session (like British Bulldog, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Frisbee and many more), and every class is different. Sessions are open to all, no matter your sporting ability. Each game is explained before we start, so there's no need to have played any of the games before. Come solo or bring friends! And stay at the end for the social part! Who knew getting fit could be this fun? **TO BOOK**: It's essential that you book onto sessions via our website, using the link below; due to restrictions on games and preparation times we cannot accept walk-ins, or late arrivals. [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) Use the code **FREEPLAY** to get your first game free! *** We play every: * Monday in Finsbury Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Tuesday in Shoreditch Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Wednesday in Elephant & Castle (19:00 - 20:00) * Saturday in Southwark Park (10:30 - 11:30) * Saturday in Finsbury Park (11:00 - 12:00) * Sunday in Clapham Common (12:00 - 13:00) We hope to see you playing soon! PS. We have a group of dedicated regulars, so numbers are usually much higher than Meetup might suggest. Book your place here: [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) **Love Rabble**

Ready to get outside? Our Friday morning Nordic Walk in Brockwell Park is back! At this moment we can meet with up to 30 people (of more than two households) to do outdoor exercise and walks. However, i like to keep our exercise groups small, so I have set the maximum participants at 12. For now this walk is for our experienced Nordic Walkers only, who already used to Nordic Walk with us regularly before Covid 19 kept us indoors, and who have their own Nordic Walking poles. As this session is outdoors, we will not ask you to wear a face mask, but we do ask you to keep 2 meters apart. Some of our walkers might be immune compromised or more at risk, so please help us keep everyone safe! Please do not come to the session and stay at home if: - you know you have been in contact - in the last 2 weeks- with someone with symptoms of possible Covid, or if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive. - you have any of the following symptoms: (new) Loss of smell/taste, Persistent cough, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Skin rash, Hives, Fever, Severe muscle pain, Shortness of breath, Diarrhoea, Delirium, Abdominal pain, Chest pain, Hoarse voice, Eye soreness, Sore or painful throat, Nausea or vomiting, Headache, Dizziness or light headedness We meet by the Blackbird bakery in Herne Hill, between the station and the park. Session Price: £10 per session, £89 for a 10-session card or £70 unlimited sessions per month. Session cards and Pay Monthly can be used in any of our outdoor walks or indoor Zoom classes sessions (except for the Parkinson's sessions). Pay What Works: The price shown above is the “true” value of the session that best reflects the work I put into preparing and leading your session. However, I understand that not everyone can afford to pay full price, and I don’t want that to stop you from joining us. In an effort to find a balance between more financial accessibility and sustainable pricing, I now offer a “Pay What Works” model. This allows for financial flexibility while still valuing and respecting the work and energy I provide in creating and delivering these classes. Then send an email to ailien@fitandhappyoutdoors.com with the heading “INVOICE please”- followed by “FAHO 1” to pay full price as quoted below, “FAHO 2”, for 20% off, or “FAHO 3” for 50% off. Please do tell me if you want to pay for 10 sessions, or if you’d like to pay monthly. I prefer payment by bank transfer, but if that is not possible you could pay in cash. No cheques please, the queues by the banks are just too long. We walk in all safe weather conditions – if a walk is cancelled, we will contact you to let you know. Please check for text messages or Meetup messages before leaving home!

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45599 **Game Description:** Come and play in a 2 hour full court men’s basketball scrimmage 🏀 This is a lower-intermediate & above run so if you’re a beginner please don’t book to this session 🙌 **Directions:** 📍New City Fitness - Hoxton. Enter via Redvers Street 🚶‍♂️3 min walk from Hoxton overground station 🚿 Showers and changing rooms available **Rules** \- 3 teams of 5/6 \(1 sub per team\) \- Games first to 7 points \(1s/2s\) or 7 minute clock \- Max 3 games in a row \- Call your own fouls\, be honest and respect the call\. Shoot for it if there is a disagreement\.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/49696 **Game Description:** 🎮 Warm up and game only setting. 🌟 Positive environment. Rules \- point to 15 \- max 2 games in a row \- 3 team of 6 players \- modified games situation might be applied depending on situation \(5:1\, modified 5:1 or 6:2 etc\.\) —- \*Privacy policy for games only sessions\* By attending this game session, you agree to the following: \* Video recordings/photos are allowed only during free game\* sessions \* Attending implies consent to potentially being recorded by other participants \* Any videos must only be shared via private links \* Distribution limited to session participants only \* Explicit consent required for any public sharing \* Respect others' privacy and comfort \*Please contact the co-organisers if you have any questions about the policy.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/49607 **Game Description:** Come and join a mid intermediate session in Canning Town 🚨Directions🚨 📍Enter via Morgan Street 🚶‍♂️5 minute walk from Canning Town Station🚗 Free car parking on site 🚿 Showers, changing rooms, water fountain & toilets are present **Rules** \- 3 teams of 6 \- Games to 15 points \- Max 2 games in a row \- Please be kind and respectful to all players 🧡

We have moved to guild.host. Look us up there. https://guild.host/events/buckeye-cocoaheads-rcavwd

Short North Street Skates return Saturday, April 4 and we’re excited to get back rolling together. These weekly rollouts are a chance to move through the city as a group, build community, and create more visibility for skating and small-wheeled movement in Columbus. Details: Meet: 1160 N High St 9:30 AM meet 10:00 AM rollout All wheels welcome We’ll be skating through the Short North and surrounding areas at a steady, social pace. Routes will use a mix of streets and bike lanes, so comfort navigating the city is helpful, but you don’t need to be an expert. If you’ve been meaning to come out, this is a great place to start. Come solo or bring a friend!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Let’s meet and discuss John Updike's Rabbit, Run, the first in his series of four novels following the life, hopes, and disappointments of former local basketball star, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, as he fitfully confronts and evades adulthood.

Most people use LLMs by feel: ask a question, read the answer, decide whether it “seems good,” and move on. That works for casual use. It does not work when you are building software, automating workflows, writing important documents, or relying on AI for anything that needs to be repeatable. In this talk, we’ll look at how to improve and evaluate the inputs and outputs of LLMs using practical measurement techniques. We’ll cover how prompt changes affect results, how to compare outputs, how to build simple evaluation sets, and how math-based methods like similarity scoring can help you move beyond guesswork. This will be beginner-friendly, so even if you don't know anything about AI, you should get something out of it. However, this will be a little more technical than our intro talks. You do not need to be an AI researcher, but programmers and technically curious attendees will get a lot out of it. We’ll cover: * Why “it looks good” is not enough * How to improve prompts by changing the input, context, and constraints * How to compare LLM outputs more systematically * Basic evaluation techniques for accuracy, consistency, and usefulness * How embeddings, cosine similarity, and scoring can help evaluate results * Where automated evaluation works — and where humans still need to stay in the loop By the end, you’ll have a practical mental model for treating LLMs less like magic and more like systems you can test, measure, and improve. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.