Systems

**Venue**: Riverbank House, 2 Swan Ln, London EC4R 3AD **Please note**: 1. 🚨🚨🚨A valid photo ID is required by building security. 🚨🚨🚨 2. This event follows the **[NumFOCUS Code of Conduct](https://numfocus.org/code-of-conduct)**. Please familiarise yourself with it before attending. If your RSVP status says "You're going" you will be able to get in. No need to show your RSVP confirmation when signing in. If you can no longer make it, please unRSVP as soon as possible. \*\*\* **Code of Conduct**: This event follows the **[NumFOCUS Code of Conduct](https://numfocus.org/code-of-conduct)**. Please get in touch with the organisers with any questions or concerns. \*\*\* As always, there will be free food and drinks, generously provided by our host, Man Group. \*\*\* **Main Talks** **1\. AI Agents as Multipliers: What They Improve and What They Don’t** - [Alper Nebi Kanlı](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alpernkanli/overlay/about-this-profile/) **2\. The lifetime of a write\, 3 ways: in Postgres\, Kafka and Flink** - [Celeste Horgan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-horgan/) In this talk we’ll take a step back to look at three data services: Postgres, Apache Kafka and Apache Iceberg, and how they each handle writes. In doing so, we’ll trace a history through how data services have evolved in the world of distributed systems and big data. We’ll understand the key differences and similarities between these services. Finally, we’ll take a look at what’s coming next in the world of open source data, from Postgres and beyond. **⚡ Lightning Talks** **Why are LLMs Challenged by Chess?** - [Ian Ozsvald](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianozsvald/) **Logistics** Doors open at **6.30 pm** (get there early as you'll need to sign in with building security). Talks start at **7:00 pm**, with drinks afterwards from **9:00 pm** at The Banker (EC4). We have reduced capacity for this event, but there will be plenty of people to discuss data science questions with! Please unRSVP in good time if you realise you can't make it. We're limited by building security on the number of attendees, so please free up your place for your fellow community members!

**Details 🚀** This meetup is a **social coding jam** where we use AI to quickly turn fun ideas into functional prototypes. Whether you’re an experienced developer or have never written a line of code, you’ll fit right in. You can use any AI tools you like: **Google AI Studio, ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Replit**, whatever! And see what you can build together before the last orders 🍻 **Format 🛠️** After an opening presentation, we’ll be teaming up in small groups (2–3 people). Everyone gets the same open-ended challenge (or a choice between two), and then it’s heads-down building with your teammates. The goal is to **vibe, learn from each other, and see where the collaboration takes us.** **New to vibe coding? ✨** No worries! We begin with a simple starter guide with example prompts and tips so even total beginners can dive in without stress. *** **Schedule 🕒** *(Doors open early so we can settle in — aim to arrive by 6:50 PM so we can kick off on time)* * **7:00** – Presentation: Ivan Franco and Heldiney Pereira (Founders @ Flynt) 🎤 * **7:15** – Assignment + team formation 🤝 * **7:15** – **Round 1:** Build together 💻 * **8:00** – Break (grab a drink, swap ideas, hang out) 🍺 * **8:20** – **Round 2:** Keep building 🏗️ * **8:50** – Optional demos 📺 * **9:10** – Hang out, network, make friends ✌️ *** **Who is it for?** **Anyone!** Curious coders, tinkerers, designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to explore AI-powered creativity in a fun, social pub setting. **What to bring:** * **Laptop!** 💻 * **Vibes** ⚡ **Location 📍** **Brewhouse & Kitchen Highbury** 2A Corsica St, N51JJ, London 👉 **No pressure, no gatekeeping.** Just good people, fun ideas, and some fast-paced collaborative building.

Looking to brush up on your BSL skills or connect with other learners? Sacred Grounds is hosting a weekly Sign Club every Tuesday from 5-7pm. This casual and informal meetup is perfect for anyone learning BSL, whether you're just starting out or looking to keep your skills sharp. Come along to practice signing, connect with others in the community, and even try ordering your coffee in BSL! There’s no fee to join - all we ask is that if you're able to, you support the coffee shop by purchasing a drink or snack while you're here (please note that outside food and drinks are not permitted). Sacred Grounds is all about creating a warm and inclusive space, so don’t be shy - come sign with us! We look forward to welcoming you.

**This is a the long-awaited second chapter of our longform Tuesday-night reading group on China. If you didn't get to the first meetings, don't worry - come along anyway!** Find the text here: https://chuangcn.org/journal/one/sorghum-and-steel/2-development/ \-\-\-\- About the China Study Group: What can we learn from the Chinese Revolution? That's the question we'll seek to answer as LMRG brings the heat to you once again, now on Tuesday nights, with our all-new China Study Group. In this long-form reading series, we'll meet monthly for in-depth discussion of a series of texts on China, its revolution, the socialist market economy, and more. As the [New Cold War](https://thetricontinental.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/20221107_MR-NCW_EN_Web.pdf) heats up, it's never been more important to learn what we can about the country which the US, UK and EU have all described - following the [American phrasebook](https://www.gmfus.org/news/china-systemic-rival-systemic-threat) \- as a "systemic rival"\. For the first set of meetups within this series, we'll be tackling *Sorghum and Steel: The Socialist Developmental Regime and the Forging of China* by the [Chuang](https://chuangcn.org) collective. Chuang is an independent, autonomous collective of anti-authoritarian Chinese communists and labour activists whose work provides a rare opportunity for English readers to get vital detail on historical and contemporary dynamics within Chinese society from a materialist, communist, and crucially - balanced perspective. *Sorghum and Steel* will provide our Study Group with an essential foundation in Chinese history to equip us going forward. Throughout this series, we'll give equal space to a wide variety of sources, from anti-authoritarian Chinese communists opposed to the contemporary Politburo to members of Xi Jinping's own ideological brain-trust. We'll dig deep into elements of the Chinese revolutionary experience such as the CPC's localist co-operative economics of the Civil War period, the forgotten grass roots of the Cultural Revolution, the *Boulan Fazheng* period and China's rejection of "shock therapy" as seen in the USSR, and the theory underpinning China's recent turn away from the liberal economics of the 2000s. Take care everyone and happy reading!

**Tuesday Badminton Session: 8-10 PM at QMSC in Victoria** Hi Everyone, **RSVP Required:** Everyone attending the session must RSVP in advance, whether you're a member, returning player, or joining us for the first time. Members can also confirm attendance by email or text if that's easier. **Tuesday Session Details:** We're relaxing the session format this year to accommodate more competitive play and make things even more enjoyable. We welcome players with the following skills (please note: no beginners or improvers at this session): *The session is Open to: Lower Intermediate and above **Ladies (C+),** Intermediate **Men (B)** and above* **What to expect:** * Quality feather shuttles provided * Session fee: £13 for 2 hours 8-10pm, * Please pay session fees at the start to the organisers if possible * ***Parking:*** *If you are driving, parking is free from 6:30 PM on single yellow lines, and from 7:00 PM on single red lines on Tuesdays. On Saturdays, parking is free around the sports centre on pay-and-display and yellow lines (Please check local signage before you park your car; we do not take any responsibility regarding your car parking!).*5 courts available for play at Queen Mother Sport Centre near Victoria Tube Station **Membership and Pricing:** We strongly encourage joining as a member as it's the most cost-effective option and helps us plan sessions ahead. **Pay-as-you-go pricing:** * January 2026 (first 3 sessions): £13 * After 3rd session: £14 * **Membership fees stay the same!** Not sure which option suits you? Speak with us - we'll help you find the best arrangement. (most of the details are up to date at the [Sid's website](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/)) contact us at [info@sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk](mailto:info@sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk) or [Sid's Badminton Club Enquiry Form](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/contact.php) ***to check [our discounts for new members](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/#discounts) if you like to become Sid's BC member.*** **Payment Information:** Please bring correct cash if you can and hand it to the organisers at the start. Bank transfer is also available but not for first-time attendees. This can be arranged after your initial session. **Cancellation Policy:** You will be charged for the session if you cancel within 12 hours before it starts or if you don't show up. This policy helps us run sessions more efficiently. Any outstanding payment must be settled before attending again. **Matchmaking Software:** Our in-house matchmaking software quickly assesses your skill level based on your wins, losses, and a smart grading algorithm. It's a clever way to test your abilities and see how you rank against other players and grade you in no time. **Not Sure About Your Level?** Feel free to attend your first session and we can guide you if you're unsure whether it's the right fit for you. **Contact:** * Any questions? Please text me on Meetup or email me at [info@sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk](mailto:info@sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk) or check our website at: * [www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/) Looking forward to seeing you on court soon, [Sid's Badminton Club](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/)

Hi folks! Welcome to our January Cloud Native London meetup, our first of 2026! Join us to hear from our three great speakers and network with your fellow techies over pizza and drinks, or alternatively chat and following along on Youtube! 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 Feature Flags: A Safety Net in the AI Era (Kyle Johnson, Flagsmith) 7:15 Context driven AI Agents (Shubhangi Goyal) 7:45 Break 8:00 Why Cloud Cost Assessment Must Come Before Cloud-Native Build (Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson, BrassicaPay) 8:30 Wrap up See you there! Cheryl (@oicheryl) **Feature Flags: A Safety Net in the AI Era (Kyle Johnson, Flagsmith)** Identifying new safety mechanisms for developers has become vital as AI innovation progresses at speeds previously only hypothesised and engineering teams continue to incorporate AI into their workflows. Feature flags, by separating deployments from releases, reduce the risk of releasing AI-assisted code, while also automating release strategies. The promise of AI—speed and efficiency—is, in actuality, only half true. It's fast, but it's not efficient. Teams still need to comb through, test, and fix the code. Without feature flags, the bottleneck simply moves. *Co-Founder at Flagsmith: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-johnson-56247365/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-johnson-56247365/)* **Context driven AI Agents (Shubhangi Goyal)** In this session, I will explore how agents are built and use dynamic context to execute complex tasks and deliver real value. This also includes using context engineering to move beyond single prompt based interactions. *Find me at [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-goyal-0ab69795/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-goyal-0ab69795/)* **Why Cloud Cost Assessment Must Come Before Cloud-Native Build (Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson, BrassicaPay)** Many organisations adopt the cloud-nativve architectures with scalability and speed in mind; yet only realise after launching that cloud costs have spiralled beyond expectations and many issues. This talk will explore why cost surprises are so common in cloud-native journeys and argues that cost assessment must happen before migration, before architecture decisions, and before code is written. Drawing from real-world consulting experience and industry research, the session examines how early design choices-such as service selection, consumption models, environments, and governance-directly influence long-term cloud spend across AWS, Azure, and GCP (others). We will also look at why cost alerts, budgets, and subscriptions-while valuable-are reactive controls, not substitutes for upfront cost modelling. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for embedding cost assessment into cloud-native planning, enabling teams to build scalable systems without cost becoming an after-the-fact shock. And having to explain figures and cloud spend when costs goes high. This will also help team members to be accountable is RACI models or framework are adopted in addition to cost control strategies. *Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson is a Cloud Security Lead (Engineer) and Architect with hands-on experience designing, securing, and optimising cloud-native platforms across fintech, cost-control, public sector, and product-led technology environments. He specialises in cloud governance, cost-aware architecture (FinOps), and security-first design, helping organisations align cloud adoption with financial sustainability. Mawuko has worked across AWS, Azure, and GCP ecosystems, supporting migration planning, cloud security controls, and operational optimisation. Alongside industry work, he loves networking, learning new things, and sharing, and bringing a data-driven lens to cloud decision-making-particularly around cost forecasting, security, risk, governance, and operational efficiency.* ***Check out [https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon](https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon) if you're interested in speaking or sponsoring.***

This is a simple, relaxed walk through Greenwich Park for anyone who’d like to slow down, get some fresh air, and connect with others in a natural, pressure-free way. There’s no agenda, no expectations, and no need to be outgoing. You’re welcome to talk, listen, or just walk quietly — whatever feels right for you. This walk is especially suited for people who are introverted, new to social groups, or simply looking for gentle connection. We’ll walk together for around 50–60 minutes at an easy pace. After the walk, there will be an optional café stop nearby for anyone who’d like to continue chatting — completely optional.

We are back! This is going to be a monthly IN PERSON meet up in London. A very big thank you goes to Accurx who is hosting us in their amazing Shoreditch offices. This will include access to facilities including coffee! 😻☕️ **Want to know more? 👇** As with all CoffeeOps, this is an interactive, chatty, build your own adventure type of meet-up. Instead of booking in experts to *learn* *from*, we gather a group of practitioners to ***learn*** ***with***. We have been running for over 4 years now and often get feedback that this is the most useful meetup people join! The event is approximately 90 minutes and always starts by brainstorming topics to discuss. The group then votes on the most relevant/interesting to them and we then cycle through the topics trying to discuss each deeply, but in a time bound slot. To get an idea of topics, you can check out our remote board [here](https://easyretro.io/publicboard/h404NF84Uje4tCcxpJdHr4Ycs9B3/a4a35d2b-181b-409b-832e-a729be1af79c). The general gist is anything is fair game, though we tend to revolve around software delivery and definitely lean towards the more Ops-y or DevOps-y side of things.

Join us for an epic game night filled with social fun and exciting tabletop games at Crystal Palace Board Gamers meet-up! Whether you're a fan of strategy, dice, card, or board games, there will be plenty of options for everyone to enjoy. This is a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, connect with fellow gamers, and immerse yourself in a night full of fun times and laughter. So grab your favorite game and come join us for an unforgettable gaming experience. Let the games begin! Feel free to join us by hitting that attend button below. **What to expect:** * We meet at the Anerley Arms (next to Anerley train station) from 7pm (there is food available at the bar) * If you do not have a game setup, you can arrive at any time. If you do have a game to set up we recommend getting there earlier. * It is a relaxed atmosphere, where we generally prioritize company over fierce competition. * Please bring along any games you think we might enjoy, or you can play from the games that others bring. * We split into a few groups based on people's game preferences and numbers, and usually have plenty of time to try a few games over the course of the evening. * The event hosts are regular attendees but might not make it to every event - if you can't spot us, then just approach the folks sitting at tables surrounded by board games (usually on left as you come in the door). We're a friendly bunch and will be more than happy to welcome you. (Please update your RSVP if it turns out you'll be unable to attend, to free up your space for others who may otherwise miss out!)

Share, learn and network with fellow Product People at **The Product Group London** on **Thu 8th January**! **Topic of the Night: First 100 Days of Managing a Product** Sometimes you start products from scratch, but most of the time you inherit a product. So, how do you begin managing that product? How do you figure out the problems, the product, the metrics, the processes, how decisions are made, what matters, etc - all from a base of limited knowledge about the product! **Featured Guest: James Smith, Founder & CEO Human Native** James is the Co-founder and CEO of Human Native AI, the AI data marketplace that fairly benefits both rights holders and AI developers. James has a PhD in Computer Science and a decade of experience developing AI products at Google and DeepMind. James co-founded Human Native AI to address the fundamental challenges in AI-driven content monetisation, including fairness and rights holder participation. **About The Product Group London** The Product Group London is a monthly meetup designed to bring product people of all levels together for topical discussions, as a group and with our guest speakers. With attendees from startups to large enterprises, there is no shortage of opportunities to network and make new connections. And whilst the focus is on product management, we welcome product designers and engineers to join for some friendly and lively discussions. **A word about our sponsor and host, BrainStation** [BrainStation](https://brainstation.io/london) is a global leader in digital skills learning and workforce transformation. They empower businesses and professionals to succeed in the digital age. Check out their leadership series of events to join the community and conversation: [https://brainstation.io/events/london](https://brainstation.io/events/london)

Lorenzo Foti (2024 and 2025 Excel World Championship semi-finalist) and Lara Holding-Jones share some of their lessons learnt from competitive excel esports Great functions we'd never use in working life but use all the time for esports (sins) and the best practices we've learnt from esports that you absolutely should use in your day job (wins). These are based on lessons they've learnt through competitive excelling, as well as broader working life. So, they will share a little bit about Excel esports, including some example questions. Great if you're thinking about signing up to the UK and/or global competitions. But, the session won't exclusively be about esports, it's about real life, so you'll find this really beneficial, even if you aren't interested in competing. This is an **in-person only** event to be held at Meeting Room 3 Canada Water Library 21 Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7AR

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.

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.

**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

Volunteer with Westerville Queer Collective and the Neurospicy Meetup to build care packages for local unhoused folks, which will be distributed throughout local camps and neighborhoods via Heer2Serve (501c3). Will you donate any items? If so, comment what will you bring Please make sure clothing items are clean and if you’re donating food, ready to be eaten without a stove or microwave. We expect to assemble around 50-100 packages, so if you’ll purchase items, please consider that amount (ie bulk individually packaged candies etc.). Fun and interesting book or entertainment item donation also welcome! Package assembly will take place on January 17th from 10-12 am. Location TBA but will be in Westerville, Ohio.

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/

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

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