SQL Server

🔗🔔 The best event to meet **new international friends** with our unique social game: **“Speed Friendship with Bell”** wow! Fantastic **seaside location** and the best vibes, pure magic! 🌊⭐ 🌊 Amazing seaside venue, ⚡ 100+ international people, 🍹 Happy Hour, 🤩 happy, cool, fun & welcoming vibes! ✌🏻 You’ll love it! 💛 ⭐ HOW DOES IT WORK? Come alone or with your friends! 👉🏻 Once you arrive, our team will present you to new people and form new international groups! 🔗🔔 Then later on we will play the social game: “Speed Friendship with Bell” wow! When we ring the bell, change groups! 🌎 WHO PARTICIPATES? The international community of Malta 🇲🇹 : Expats, English Students, Erasmus, Interns, Digital Nomads, Maltese people, Tourists & Couchsurfers. 💪🏻 All nationalities, age groups, and different levels of English. Everyone is welcome! EVENT DETAILS: 🕰️ WHEN: Every Thursday, from 19:30 onwards. The earlier the better, but you can come later. 📍 WHERE: We meet at Surfside (Sliema). Downstairs to the lido (beach level). 🎟️ ENTRANCE: 🎟️ TICKET PRICE: Just €7, which includes: * A free welcome drink * Full access to the event and activities * Support from our friendly team to help you meet new people and join the fun 💎 SPECIAL OFFERS: We collaborate with the venue to bring you great prices on drinks. Ask at the bar about any exclusive deals available that night. Most Thursdays, there’s a Happy Hour with a buy 1, get 2 cocktails deal running for a limited time! ➡️ GETTING A SPOT: no need for a reservation. Just come to the door! MORE INFO: 🤩ABOUT US: English Café Malta organizes the most popular international meetups in Malta since 2014! Website: [https://englishcafemalta.com](https://englishcafemalta.com/?fbclid=IwAR3Hpg-VZdetP1Hm7MNhtZeENK4lzjzgiH1l1UBlT3aWVNwalIJ7Vq3swJk) Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/EnglishCafeMalta](https://www.facebook.com/EnglishCafeMalta?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZWTaBeY3GQlixK8YNnSjY4H4kMwA5h9wWKZcFD9eQ99cQPE3n7tLdNQG5JxsbeSKbZO6YZNnGj4yGnhj83Fmz500XwmV5LYyV5C5Kr5x7Tc5oDAf6bE0bRuatI0BCfR2Fc&__tn__=q) Instagram: [https://bit.ly/2VNkzWS](https://bit.ly/2VNkzWS?fbclid=IwAR0Sen3qKpMXUUmef8y5w7kizFA8e-SrtVpED63TT321kGJfTS1nS3KjoUM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SQL Server 2025 delivers a major round of improvements across performance, security, manageability, and hybrid connectivity, and this session gives you a practical, no‑nonsense tour of what matters most. We’ll cover enhancements to the core engine, query processing, storage, and availability that benefit DBAs and developers regardless of where SQL Server runs. You’ll see how SQL Server 2025 aligns with Azure SQL’s roadmap while still supporting strong on‑premises and VM‑based deployments. We’ll highlight new management, monitoring, and troubleshooting capabilities designed to simplify operations and reduce firefighting. AI‑powered features exist in this release, but the focus here is on the foundational improvements you can use immediately. Whether you’re modernizing, maintaining, or planning your next upgrade cycle, this session will help you understand what’s new and how to prepare your environment and your team.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

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

Bienvenue! Columbus French Conversation group invites you to our Saturday morning French conversation club. Expect a casual and welcoming atmosphere in which to learn french! I will bring my laptop so we can look up new vocabulary as needed! The venue is a beautiful French restaurant so you can really get into the zone :)

**New Dojo Location!** **Draft Day Columbus** 1130 Dublin Road Columbus, OH 43215 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)

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Java Central Café and Roaster](https://javacentral.coffee/)**!**