Computer Programming

Join us for our next Emacs London meetup held at University College London (UCL). A projector will be available, if anyone wants to give a presentation and/or if helpful to share Emacs tips, for some collaborative debugging, etc. We might head to a pub for a drink and/or a nibble afterward. Emacs users of all levels welcome! Interested in Emacs but not really a user? You're more than welcome too! **Call for presentations** Fancy talking about your favourite Emacs package? Proud of your latest Emacs Lisp hack and you want to tell everybody? Anything parenthesis-related that's bugging you? There'll be a monitor waiting for you for a short presentation!

uSwitch is located on the first floor of the ZPG building at 5 Copper Row, London, SE1 2LH, London (Click on the map for directions) What 3 words location: [https://what3words.com/puts.sudden.else](https://what3words.com/puts.sudden.else) The Clojure dojo is a collaborative way to learn Clojure/ClojureScript through practice. The aim is to learn a little more than before you started. This event is for those new to coding through to more experienced developers. We organise into small groups (2-4) people and write code to solve challenges great and small, chosen by those at the event. We aim to ensure someone in your group has some Clojure experience, so you shouldn't feel lost (well no more than all developers do when Stack Overflow is broken). Example challenges for the coding dojo are listed on this website: http://www.londonclojurians.org/code-dojo/ Various past exercises have been loaded to [https://github.com/ldnclj](https://github.com/ldnclj/lisp1.5/blob/master/src/lisp1/5.clj) # Approximate schedule: 18:40 Doors open and start collecting suggestions 18.45 Pizza should have arrived 19:00 Quick intros and vote on suggestions 19:15 Break out into groups and start practising 20:45 Gather together for a quick show and tell # What should I bring? We organise into small groups, so if you have a laptop with a working Clojure environment please bring it along (there are lots of online Clojure environments, so you can just use your browser too). # How do I get in to the building? At the glass doors press the buzzer to inform the security guard you are here. Say you are here for the event on the first floor. Is there way to talk with the Clojure community? Why yes. The Clojurians Slack channel is full of friendly people who love to try and help. People based in London are often in the #clojure-uk channel. Sign up for a free account to the Clojurians Slack community via http://clojurians.net/ What is Clojure? Clojure is a JVM language that has syntactically similarities to Lisp, full integration with Java and its libraries and focuses on providing a solution to the issue of single machine concurrency. Its small core makes it surprisingly easy for Java developers to pick up and it provides a powerful set of concurrency strategies and data structures designed to make immutable data easy to work with. If you went to Rich Hickey’s LJC talk about creating Clojure you’ll already know this, if not it’s well worth watching the Rich Hickey “Clojure for Java Programmers” video or Stuart Halloway “Radical Simplicity” video .

Behind every put-together facade we know there’s a weirdo waiting to go unfiltered! We are now running this club in two locations. Ready to join the fun and unleash your creative side? We will always start with warm up games and fun ice-breakers, making sure everyone feels welcomed and relaxed. During this section we do a short 5-rhythms movement meditation practice to release tension in the body. We then move on to fun improv exercises and games. We ease into this section starting from shorter, straightforward improv games and activities to slightly longer and more dynamic once 😊 Who attends our club? The simple answer: everyone (above 18+) We’ve welcomed people from every walk of life — from actors and artists to consultants, tech innovators, IT specialists, designers, entrepreneurs, students, job-seekers, and retirees. No matter your background or experience, come try the class and see if it’s a good fit for you! www.actorverse.co.uk

Hiya Women in UX! We’re so excited to host our next informal networking drinks of this year, on 12 May! Join us to talk about all things UX design, research, content and... probably AI, let's be honest. 📍We'll meet at Two Floors on Kingly street, right next to Cahoots. When in doubt, ask for Andrea. 🌟If there are no more available spots left here, you can also RSVP ON [EVENTBRITE](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-ux-may-informal-networking-drinks-tickets-1986946270783?aff=oddtdtcreator). Spaces are limited so book sooner rather than later as it's first come first served. 🍸 Please note that this event isn’t sponsored, so any drinks you order will need to be paid for at the bar. 💌 Stay connected with us by following our [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/women-in-ux). See you there xx Women in UX

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ The London Built Environment committee would like to extend you an invitation to our May 2026 City Of London après-work Networking Reception to be held at the famous Gherkin - and hope you can join us for pre-work delicious breakfast and productive business networking to make new contacts and deals for the Rest Of The Year. We now have over 20,000 diverse and relevant London members so it’s the perfect opportunity for making new business connections. See photos from our latest events at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST book and pay for your ticket in advance at http://www.londonbuiltenvironment.com/ ALSO PLEASE NOTE we take most of our event bookings through our website and EventBrite so the numbers booked is much larger than displayed on this Meetup page (normally about 70-100 guests).

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45397 **Game Description:** Come and play Tuesday evenings Lower-Intermediate volleyball session in Poplar 🔥 Picturesque court with plenty of serving space and also space to stay warm on the side when your team is off waiting for the next game 🙌 **Rules** 3 teams of 6 Games to 15 points

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/console-table/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/console-table/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Suitable for:** Absolute beginners. No prior experience in woodworking is required for this course. **About:** Learn traditional carpentry skills using a mixture of hand tools and modern drills to create a beautiful console table at the height of your choice. This is a twelve evening course to make an elegant console table for your home. The workshop is suitable for confident beginners and will teach how to measure and mark your work and how to use saws, chisels , planes as you construct bridle, mortise and tenons and shoulder joints. The design of the table can be altered in height to adapt to a coffee table, a small breakfast bar or hall table. The base is constructed in pine and the top is furniture grade plywood. These 12 evenings are a perfect starting point for many aspects of woodwork that will give you confidence to choose and replicate basic wood joints into other projects. Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, our experienced tutor will guide and inspire you as they teach age old techniques in carpentry. As you begin making wood joints traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spoke-shaves. Maximum dimensions: Table top: 18mm Birch plywood – 80cm x 40cm – Base H82cm x W68cm x D33cm – overall table height 85cm

This month we're doing something a bit different. Edward Boggis-Rolfe has very kindly offered to host us at the moorings where he has a boat, just up past Tower Bridge. We'll have access to a small event space, right on the river, which is covered, but outdoors. We'll have a BBQ going, serving sausages, and free drinks. The cost of the food and drink is being covered by Undo - so thanks to Undo, too! But rather than just be a social event, we do want to include some C++ content, too. We'll have access to a screen and projector - but whether we'll be able to use them depends on the weather! So we're inviting anyone that wants to give a **lightning talk** to let us know. The one caveat is that you'll need to be prepared to give it *without slides* if we can't use the projector (we should have audio, at least). As an extra incentive we'll be holding back a few places for people who can give talks. Spaces will be limited overall, but if you do a talk your place is assured! So submit your ideas here: [cppldn.uk/speak](https://philnash.typeform.com/to/pJVp7s) 5 minutes, something related to C++, slides optional. Go!

We're delighted to announce an exciting LSCC event on Wednesday 13th May, in partnership with our friends at Zopa Bank! Join us at the Zopa Canary Wharf office in London for this session and get the chance to flex your architectural design muscles! "So how are we supposed to get great architects, if they only get the chance to architect fewer than a half-dozen times in their career?" — Ted Neward. This quote highlights the need for practice, which is what our LSCC architecture katas provide: a safe, repeatable way to hone your software architecture design skills by simulating architectural challenges. **What's the format?** You'll be split into groups and have a business problem to solve. You'll be tasked with designing a technical architecture to meet that problem context. As with real-life you'll have to manage various trade-offs in your design and interact with a Product Owner to clarify your questions. At the end of the task each team will showcase their architecture and technology choices back to the wider group as part of a group discussion. Whether you're a seasoned coder, software architect or new to the scene, you're invited to share insights, discuss best practices, and learn from fellow participants. No prior session attendance or architecture knowledge is required – just bring your enthusiasm. No laptop is required for this session, we'll provide each group with paper, pens and sticky notes to support the activity. Thank you to the Codurance team that will run the event at Zopa Bank's office. Find out more at https://www.codurance.com/ Food and drinks will be provided with vegetarian, vegan and non-alcoholic options available - thanks to Zopa Bank for sponsoring refreshments and hosting in their great office. **About Zopa** Founded in 2020 with a full banking licence and backed by some of Silicon Valley’s most iconic investors, digital bank Zopa is building the Home of Money. This is a place where financial products deliver good value and managing money is made effortless; deep and long-lasting relationships mean customers are left confident about their choices. One of the UK’s highest rated and most celebrated financial brands, Zopa has been recognised with over 10 British Bank Awards, holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.6/5, and has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry. Zopa Bank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. https://www.zopa.com/ We look forward to seeing you soon!

AI has changed how we write code. Now the bigger question is: how does it change engineering itself? At [Sahaj Software](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sahajsoftware/)'s upcoming Devday in London, [Jyoti Singh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyotisingh7/) and [Ash Shakrani](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-shakrani/) will explore how AI assistants are being used across the software delivery lifecycle, from story refinement and solution design to implementation and code reviews. The session will also unpack: 🎯 Where should engineers rely on AI? 🎯 Where should they slow down? 🎯 And how do teams avoid handing over too much? 🗓️ **Save the Date:** 14th May, 2026 📍 **Location:** Sahaj Software, 1 Quality Court, London, WC2A 1HR 🕕 **Time:** 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (BST) 🔗 [https://lnkd.in/ggWCTuKn](https://lnkd.in/ggWCTuKn) Curious about Intelligent Engineering? The 5 iE principles explained in under 3 minutes: Watch here- [https://lnkd.in/gPfyagri](https://lnkd.in/gPfyagri)) DevDay is a tech community event hosted to foster tech conversations, idea exchanges, and deep-dives in cutting-edge tech. 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/ai-coding-agents-more-than-a-code-generator/

🎉 Come along to the London Scala Talks! 🎉 In this event you'll hear from Caroline Morton and Katrina Petrevice. **Agenda** 6:00pm - 🥤 Doors open. Come along and grab a drink! 6:35pm - 🗣️ Introduction 6:40pm - 🗣️ Katrina Petrevice: Caching in Scala using Ref 7:20pm - 🍕 Intermission: Join us for some free food and drinks! Vegan and vegetarian options are provided. Let us know if you'd like something special - we'd be happy to accommodate. 7:50pm - 🗣️ Caroline Morton: Accidental Functional Programming in Rust (From an Epidemiologist's Perspective) 8:30pm - 🥤 Socialising: Grab a drink and let's discuss the talks. 9:00pm - 🍻 Join us in a pub to discuss the talks! 🌐 **This event may have a live stream** Watch this space for more details. **🗣️ Katrina Petrevice: Caching in Scala using Ref** Caching in memory is often one of the first strategies used to improve system performances. However, implementing caching in a purely functional way introduces unique challenges, specifically around state management and testability. In this talk, we will look at how to utilise functional programming principles with [Ref](https://typelevel.org/cats-effect/docs/std/ref), while maintaining clarity and composability. We will also deep dive into some common pitfalls and look into practical ways to test Ref effectively. ⭐ Katrina Petrevice ⭐ Katrina comes from a non–computer science background and was first introduced to Scala while working at JPMorgan. She credits much of her Scala knowledge to hands-on experience within her team, where she works on building and maintaining data pipelines and managing data systems. Since then, she has developed a strong interest in functional programming and now co-leads the Functional Programming Group at JPMorgan, where she helps share knowledge and foster a community around these ideas. **🗣️ Caroline Morton: Accidental Functional Programming in Rust (From an Epidemiologist's Perspective)** I don't have a background in functional programming - and I never set out to write it. But somewhere between writing trait-based epidemiological pipelines, composing data transformations, and leaning hard on Result, enums, and pattern matching, I started hearing from others: “That's pretty functional.” In this talk, I'll explore what it means to write “functional-ish” Rust as someone solving real-world scientific problems. I'll walk through the patterns I reach for - like chaining iterators, avoiding shared state, and embracing expressive types - and reflect on which functional programming ideas emerge naturally in Rust, even if you're not trying. I'll also share how designing for epidemiologists - most of whom are used to chaining functions in Python (like Pandas) or R - has pushed me toward creating ergonomic Rust APIs with Python and R bindings. These tools aim to feel familiar to scientists while leveraging Rust's power and safety under the hood. This is a talk for functional programmers curious about Rust, and for Rustaceans wondering if they've been functional all along. No formal theory required - just real code, real use cases, and a pragmatic perspective from someone building public health tools in Rust. ⭐ Caroline Morton ⭐ Dr. Caroline Morton is a medical doctor, epidemiologist, software engineer, and PhD candidate specialising in synthetic data, epidemiology, and Rust. With 60 peer-reviewed papers and two books on software, she combines deep technical expertise with a commitment to improving scientific workflows. Caroline co-founded the first [Women in Rust](https://www.meetup.com/women-in-rust/) group, fostering diversity and encouraging more women to explore opportunities in systems programming. She leads an open-source project improving codelist management in epidemiology using Rust, creating efficient, reliable tools for health data research. Her PhD focuses on synthetic data methods for epidemiology, particularly using Rust to generate large, realistic datasets. A strong advocate for open science and reproducibility, she contributes extensively to improving software practices through publications, workshops, and open-source projects. ———————————————————— 🗣️ Would you like to present, but are not sure how to start? Give a talk with us and you'll receive mentorship from a trained toastmaster! Get in touch through [this form](https://forms.gle/zv5i9eeto1BsnSwe8) and we'll get you started 🏡 Interested in hosting or supporting us? Please get in touch through [this form](https://forms.gle/3SX3Bm6zHqVodBaMA) and we can discuss how you can get involved. 📜 All London Scala User Group events operate under the [Scala Community Code of Conduct](https://www.scala-lang.org/conduct/). We encourage each of you to report the breach of the conduct, either anonymously through [this form](https://forms.gle/9PMMorUWgBnbk1mm6) or by contacting one of our team members. We guarantee privacy and confidentiality, as well as that we will take your report seriously and react quickly.

Register: [https://luma.com/hack-night-tessl-may13-2026?utm_source=neo4j](https://luma.com/hack-night-tessl-may13-2026?utm_source=neo4j) ## What's Hack Night? ​Five hours. One room full of builders. Zero fluff. As many demos as we can. ​Hack Night at Tessl is a London evening for people who would rather build than posture. You show up with an idea, find a team if you want one, spend a few focused hours shipping with a DJ in the background, and demo what you made before the night ends. Then we head to the pub. ​**When**: May 13\, 2026 \| 4:00 PM \- 8:45 PM BST **Where**: Tessl office, London ## Here's How It Works ​**4:00 PM - Doors Open** Check in, grab food, meet other builders, form groups, (or solo hack if you want) and decide what you're making. ​**4:30 PM - Opening Context** Quick welcome from the host and venue partner so everyone knows the flow for the night. ​**5:00 PM - Short Technical Remarks** If there are host or sponsor remarks, they stay short. The point is to get useful context, then get people building. ​**5:30 PM - Build Time** Heads down. Music on. Ship something. Use the time to test an idea, explore a tool, or finally build the thing you've been sitting on. ​**7:30 PM - Demo Time** Show what you made. Get feedback. See what everyone else shipped. ​**8:45 PM - Wrap Up** Final demos, shout-outs, and a clean finish to the night. And of course, Pub! We're heading to a pub nearby for a pint and a proper debrief. Come if you want to keep the conversation going.

We use MeetUp to advertise our shows. Please grab your tickets through the [link here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hoopla-comediasians-and-friends-tickets-1987897090711). # 💃 May 2026: Comediasians & Friends🥳 # Silly fun 😉 with heart in both short and long form improv and also a jam featuring YOU 🫵 (only if you want to of course) 🎭🎹🫶 Come party with us at our home away from home \-\-\- Grab your tickets through the [link here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hoopla-comediasians-and-friends-tickets-1987897090711). *Ticket:* £8.75 + BF *Time: **Doors open 7:45 pm** / Show at 8pm* *Where: Hoopla Impro, 96 Snowsfields Road, London Bridge, SE1 3SS.* *Tube: London Bridge.*

We have three great talks lined up, plus time to chat and meet others in the community. We can’t wait to see you there! We want NSLondon to be welcoming to everyone and support a broad range of voices. To help address existing imbalances in attendance, we’re offering a limited number of **early-access spots to women, non-binary people, and others who are currently underrepresented** in the iOS developer community. You can request one of these spaces by filling in [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkWvVomYXUwESWHet2HDxTia4euvYcP2WKtkVQLXCzjmtbvA/viewform) before RSVPs open for general availability. (**Update:** This form is now closed.) **💬 Talks:** **Raphael Velasqua** — “Claude as Your iOS Pair Programmer” *What if your codebase could teach Claude how your team codes — not just generic Swift? A glimpse of scaffolding, writing reliable tests and more with Claude.* **Paul Shone** — “Turning Applications in to Apps: Tips on getting hired in a changing marketplace” *Join Paul Shone, Co-Founder of Pixelated People, a recruitment leader with over 15 years of experience in building world-class mobile engineering teams. Paul shares invaluable insights on how to standout and secure your dream job in this changing and competitive job market. If you are a job seeker aiming to land the perfect role this session is packed with actionable advice that will set you apart from the competition.* **Vadim Popov** — “From ARKit to Vision – How Far Can You Push the iOS Camera” *This talk explores how far you can push the iOS camera by rebuilding core camera features using AVCaptureSession, comparing real-time face and skeleton detection across ARKit, Vision, and MediaPipe, and diving into live image analysis like sharpness, brightness, and composition scoring with Vision and Accelerate. It also reflects on what users actually value in a camera app, sharing practical lessons and missteps from the journey.* **🕓 Schedule:** 6:30 PM Arrival and check-in at JustPark reception 7:00 PM Presentations start 9:00 PM Continue the conversation at the pub (TBA) * **Arrival Time:** Arrive at 6:30 PM to complete the check-in process. If you need mobility assistance, let us know at least one day in advance. * **Check-in Process:** Go to JustPark reception. Provide your full name and mention the NSLondon event to receive your badge. * **Full Names Required:** Ensure your Meetup profile has your full name or send it to us in a private message at least 48 hours before the event. * **Late Arrival:** A JustPark staff member will guide us to the event space. If you arrive late, you may need to wait. 💎 **Acknowledgments:** We'd like to thank JustPark for their generous support in hosting this event. NSLondon is a community-driven group and needs your support! Contact us for information about venues, speakers, or sponsorships. Feel free to reach out with any questions. See you there! Please read our [Code of Conduct](https://nslondon.com/coc). MC: Aled Samuel

**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 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

**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 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Customize the IDE: Building Extensions for Visual Studio Code* Visual Studio Code is one of the most widely used development environments today, and much of its flexibility comes from its extension ecosystem. Extensions allow developers to customize the editor with new features, integrations, and workflow improvements tailored to their needs. In this session, we’ll cover what extensions are and the different types available, including full extensions written in TypeScript or JavaScript, along with lighter-weight extensions such as color themes, language packs, language support, code snippets, and keymaps. We’ll also look at practical reasons a developer might create an extension, from automating repetitive tasks to adding custom tooling. The session includes a hands-on walkthrough of creating a new extension, testing it locally, and understanding the basic project structure. We’ll close with a brief overview of how extensions are packaged and published to the Visual Studio Marketplace and other distribution options. **YouTube Link** TBD

Join us for a practical, beginner-friendly guide to choosing the right large language model. We’ll compare major models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, talk about when to use hosted APIs versus local models, and break down the tradeoffs around cost, speed, quality, privacy, context windows, coding ability, and reliability. You’ll leave with a clearer mental model for picking an LLM based on your actual use case instead of hype, benchmarks, or brand names. No deep AI background required. 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.

Bring your work or your hobby, hang out, and code with us. Follow @buckeyecocoa for more information.

We connect you with up to 30 Men or Women tennis partners close to your PLAYING REGION and skill level. This program is less competitive, no champions crowned, no league standings just dedicated tennis partners who want to meet up with you on the courts. Players will meet up to play a tennis match or just to hit around. Just go through the [Join Page](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program) to enter this program. [https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program)

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month John Lairson will share a notebook describing the Alpaca (Paper) Trading API and discuss different algorithms for evaluating stock trades. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!