Amazon Web Services

**A software engineers guide to LLMs** In this talk Richard Conway will break down what LLMs are layer by layer, how they work, how they use software principles to work and how to use them in software. This will be a fluid talk with a lot of philosophy, maths from school and how to build your software understanding things like hallucinations and new techniques that can make your management of LLMs more deterministic. We'll consider a lot of things here including the new code generation tools which have developers quivering in their boots, what they mean for our industry and how to use them for effect. Lots of mini-demos and great discussions, good people, beer and pizza! **About the speaker** Richard Conway co-founded the user group, along with Andy Cross, Joe Hancock and Chris Parsons. He is a Microsoft AI MVP and a Microsoft Regional Director and has been writing software in one form or another since his fingers were large enough to hit a ZX81 keyboard.

April Edition ✨✨! We will be at Kraken Tech (Octopus Energy Group), London office! (in-person only event, no streaming) **Talks:** **Digitising Historical Caving Data with Django** - *Andrew Northall* Building an automated pipeline with Django which can extract, structure and publish 2,700+ historical printed reports from scanned PDF copies. *Andrew Northall* is a Python & Django specialist who maintains several open source Django projects/services for the caving and amateur radio communities. **llms.txt for Django: what works** - *Thibaud Colas* The llms.txt format is an emerging standard to structure information for Large Language Models. It’s a desirable addition to the docs of Python packages. Let’s review how to adopt it! We’ll discuss the fundamentals of the format and its benefits as a user of the docs, and as a maintainer. How to produce and consume those files across different tools (Sphinx, mkdocs, Django). How to optimize them for different LLMs with an eval suite. Tools and techniques you should be able to reuse through other engineering tasks with LLMs. *Thibaud Colas* works at Torchbox as developer, core contributor to the Wagtail CMS build on Django. **Want to share your Django or Python knowledge?** We’d love to feature your talk! Just fill out our [speaker form](https://forms.gle/LkaRdKVTF9ApbrEq7) to propose a talk! **Agenda:** • 6:15pm Doors open, socialising • 6:30pm Food and drinks offered by our sponsor • 7:00pm Doors close \*\* • 7:15pm Introduction, News, Talks • 8:30pm Socialising • 9:30pm Fin **Please make sure to arrive between 6:15 PM and 6:55 PM**. If you arrive earlier than 6:15 PM or later than 6:55 PM, you can take a seat in the seating area located in the downstairs reception. **Please note that we cannot accommodate arrivals after 7:15 PM.** Our meetups are governed by a [Code of Conduct](https://www.djangolondon.com/code-of-conduct/). Please take a few minutes to read it. This meetup is sponsored by: • [Kraken Tech (Octopus Energy Group)](https://kraken.tech/): "Kraken is a revolutionary energy tech platform built with predominantly Python & Django. We Serve 54 million households worldwide and have 38GW of contracted capacity." • [JetBrains](https://www.jetbrains.com/): "We make professional software development a more productive and enjoyable experience." Website: [https://djangolondon.com](https://djangolondon.com/) BlueSky: [@djangolondon.com](https://bsky.app/profile/djangolondon.com) Github: [github.com/djangolondon](https://github.com/djangolondon/) Open Collective: [opencollective.com/the-london-django-meetup-group](https://opencollective.com/the-london-django-meetup-group/)

Registration Portal: [Event Registration Portal](https://luma.com/cclondon26?utm_source=sherif) About Event ​"Why are there no coffeeshops open late? But what if I want to co-work at night?!?" - everyone on Twitter ​Cerebras is excited to present, Cafe Compute. The first, late-night pop-up coffeeshop with a barista bar ☕️, cozy snacks and couches 🛋️, and more. ​​​​​​This event is brought to you in collaboration with OpenAI. ​​Cerebras is the world’s fastest AI inference, up to 15x faster than leading GPUs. Cerebras Inference is powered by our Wafer-Scale Engine (WSE-3) - the world's largest AI chip. Experience the speed for yourself with OpenAI Codex-Spark, powered on Cerebras, and get free compute at cerebras.ai. Location Please register to see the exact location of this event.

**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. 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. **[Nicoleta Lazar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleta-lazar-921a6864/) Query federation in modern OLAP databases** As analytics ecosystems grow more diverse, organisations increasingly need to query data across warehouses, data lakes, and operational systems without excessive data movement or duplication. **Query federation** has become essential by enabling unified SQL access and intelligent predicate pushdown into heterogeneous sources. This talk introduces the core principles of federation and why it matters for modern OLAP workloads. Using StarRocks as a model system, we highlight its vectorised execution engine, native connectors, and deep Apache Iceberg integration that together deliver high-performance lakehouse querying. 2. [Ben Guerin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjhguerin/) **How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let Claude Code Write the Python [the story of [ismypubfucked.com](http://ismypubfucked.com/ "http://ismypubfucked.com")]** 43,000 pubs. Official VOA data. One question. [ismypubfucked.com](http://ismypubfucked.com/ "http://ismypubfucked.com") got 400k visits in two weeks and wall-to-wall media coverage: from the Mirror to the Telegraph to City AM. I'm not a Python developer. I used Claude Code to wrangle government spreadsheets, match them to OpenStreetMap, and ship a working site. All in less than 6 hours from initial idea to a live website. The AI wrote the Python, I just knew what story the data could tell. This talk covers what happens when tools like Claude Code unlock Python for people who think in narratives rather than syntax, and what a decade of building viral campaigns has taught me about making people actually give a shit about spreadsheets. **Lightning Talks** 1. **TBC** 2. **TBC** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **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. If you want me to trim lightning talks down to two or shorten any abstracts, say which ones.

Games at the Globe. We will be bringing a few of our favourite games, All are welcome to bring their own games too! Check the comments of this event on the day for our location in the pub. Please support the venue buying food and drinks at the bar.

**Welcome to Networx London!** Calling all e‑commerce founders, dropshipping entrepreneurs, and tech professionals: join us for an evening of relaxed networking and idea-sharing. Connect with like-minded innovators, brand owners, marketers, and investors—no formal pitches, just real conversations. We start at **6:30 PM** with a warm welcome and light icebreakers to get conversations flowing, followed by **open networking all evening**. No formal pitches—just real connections, fresh ideas, and meaningful relationships in a friendly, laid-back setting. 👉 **Join us on Luma for deeper connections and connect before the event even starts** [https://luma.com/ntl](https://luma.com/ntl) 📍 **Venue: The Sycamore, Holborn** Located in the heart of London’s vibrant Holborn district, The Sycamore offers a modern and stylish setting with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere—perfect for networking and socializing after work. Just steps from Holborn station, and easily reachable from Covent Garden, it provides an ideal environment for professionals to connect, share ideas, and enjoy great conversations over drinks. Come join us, grab a drink, and grow your network one great conversation at a time. 📅 **Event Schedule** **18:30 – 19:00 \| Welcome** Kick off with a warm intro and fun icebreakers to set the tone. **19:00 – 19:30 \| Meet & Greet** Mingle and network in an open, friendly setting. **19:30 – 21:30 \| Informal Networking** Free-flowing, informal networking all evening—no sales, no pressure. Just authentic connections with amazing people. 💡**Why Attend?** 🤝 **Connect** with business leaders, investors, and professionals across London. 🚀 **Discover** new partners, collaborators, or clients. 📈 **Learn** about the latest trends in tech, startups, and entrepreneurship. This event is perfect for anyone seeking to expand their professional circle, grow their business, or gain fresh perspectives from a dynamic mix of professionals. 👥 **Who’s coming?**This event is ideal for e-commerce founders, retail professionals, tech innovators, marketers, investors, product managers, creatives, and anyone curious about the future of retail and digital commerce. **🎟 Tickets & Entry:** To avoid the venue getting overcrowded and ensure everyone enjoys an amazing night, we've introduced a small ticket price to keep things running smoothly. **Limited spots!** Register today and hit **Follow** for updates on future weekly events. 📸 **Event Photography** Please note that photos and videos may be taken for promotional purposes. **Note**: Proof of ID required for alcoholic beverages. 18+ only. 🔗 \*\*Join our WhatsApp group to connect before and after the event:\*\*👉 [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg "https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg")

**Welcome to Networx London – AI, Product Marketing & Startup Professionals!** Are you a product marketing manager, growth or branding professional, or startup founder looking to harness AI and visual content to scale your business? Join an engaging evening for innovators, leaders, and executives across industries. Whether you’re a CEO, founder, investor, or business professional, this is your space to connect, share insights, and explore practical strategies in **AI-driven product marketing, visual storytelling, growth, and branding**. We start at **6:30 PM** with a warm welcome and light icebreakers to get conversations flowing, followed by **open networking all evening**. No formal pitches just real connections, fresh ideas, and meaningful relationships in a friendly, laid-back setting. 👉 **Join us on Luma for deeper connections and connect before the event even starts** [https://luma.com/ntl](https://luma.com/ntl) 📍 **Venue: The Sycamore, Holborn** Located in the heart of London’s vibrant Holborn district, The Sycamore offers a modern and stylish setting with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere—perfect for networking and socializing after work. Just steps from Holborn station, and easily reachable from Covent Garden, it provides an ideal environment for professionals to connect, share ideas, and enjoy great conversations over drinks. Come join us, grab a drink, and grow your network—one meaningful conversation at a time. 📅 **Event Schedule** **18:30 – 19:00 \| Welcome** Kick off with a warm intro and fun icebreakers to set the tone. **19:00 – 19:30 \| Meet & Greet** Mingle and network in an open, friendly setting. **19:30 – 21:30 \| Informal Networking** Free-flowing, informal networking all evening—no sales, no pressure. Just authentic connections with amazing people. 💼 **Bring Your Business Cards!** Want people to know what you do? Bring your business cards and share your story. It’s a great way for others to remember you and follow up after the event. 📝 **Have an idea for future events?** We want to hear from you! If there's a specific theme, industry focus, or type of event you’d love to see, let us know. We’ll have a dedicated space with a suggestion sheet where you can write down what you're looking for. Our team will review everything and work step-by-step to make it happen! 💡 **Why Attend?** Connect with product marketing managers, growth and branding professionals, startup founders, and innovators in a dynamic and engaging setting. Exchange insights, discover practical AI and visual content strategies, and meet companies leveraging cutting-edge tools. Get inspired by new ideas, build meaningful connections, and find partners, clients, or investors to scale your projects, business, or startup. **Who Should Attend:** This event is perfect for **CEOs, founders, co-founders, product marketing managers, growth and branding professionals, startup executives, investors, and business leaders** looking to expand their network, gain actionable insights, and collaborate with a diverse mix of innovators and industry leaders leveraging AI and visual content for growth. **🎟 Tickets & Entry:** To avoid the venue getting overcrowded and ensure everyone enjoys an amazing night, we've introduced a small ticket price to keep things running smoothly. **Limited spots!** Register today and hit **Follow** for updates on future weekly events. 📸 **Event Photography** Please note that photos and videos may be taken for promotional purposes. 📸 \*\*Follow us on Instagram for updates and event news:\*\*👉 [@networxldn](https://www.instagram.com/networxldn/ "https://www.instagram.com/networxldn/") 🔗 \*\*Join our WhatsApp group to connect before and after the event:\*\*👉 [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg "https://chat.whatsapp.com/GisOCaIiMeKEehV5Lv7qxg")

Join me for a fun Drama class every Wednesday evening from 6:30 pm- 8:30pm at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham Common. Acting helps with confidence and awareness. In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, you will meet new people and learn all about Acting. No experience is needed. We'll do relaxation exercises, games, improvisations, storytelling, and a bit later on we'll start working on character and text. The year ends with an exciting Showcase where friends and family come and see how all your hard work has paid off :) £10 pounds for the trial class to be paid before or after class. Different payment options if you decide to join. In order to reserve a place, please contact me at catherine@thebrightdaycompany.net. For more info: https://www.thebrightdaycompany.net/about I look forward to seeing you!

**Important:** Register on the [event website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026040809) is required for admission. **RSVP on meetup is turned off** Enjoy afterwork drinks and practical discussions on Apache Kafka, ClickHouse, PostgreSQL and much more. Enjoy a session designed for data engineers, architects and technical decisions-makers like you, who want to address the challenges they face in data-infrastructure. No high-level pitches but straight into practical discussions on how to build scalable, efficient open sourced-powered data platforms. **Why Attend?** * Connect with local data and tech professionals * Get practical insights into streaming, storage, and analytics with Kafka, Iceberg, PostgreSQL, and ClickHouse * Learn how to reduce operational overhead while scaling your data infrastructure performance * Bring your questions and challenges for direct discussions with Aiven experts **Agenda:** * 4:00pm\~4:30pm: Checkin, Food, Networking * 4:30pm\~6:00pm: Tech talks and Q&A * 6:00pm\~7:00pm: Happy hour, Open discussion, Networking * **Tech Talk: Context Is the New Infrastructure** **Speaker:** Stan Dmitriev (Aiven) **Tech Talk: Apache Kafka on Aiven** **Speaker:** Hugh Evans (Aiven)

Join us for fun drama games and improv. No experience required. Book here or www.actorverse.co.uk

Elixir London Meetup; February 2026 edition. All are welcome. **Session 1: Anton Borisov - Distilling Kafka's Binary Protocol into Elixir** We'll trace a produce request to show what any Kafka client has to get right. In the BEAM ecosystem, erlkaf wraps librdkafka, brod implements the protocol in Erlang, and [kafka_ex](https://hex.pm/packages/kafka_ex) goes pure Elixir. Kafka_ex's approach is to generate serializers at compile time from Kafka's own schema definitions: plain structs, pattern matching, structural boilerplate isolated from the logic you actually think about. That design is what let us jump two major versions ahead and adapt to significant protocol changes. Let's dig into the idea, the code, and the tradeoffs. **Session 2: Evadne Wu** **\- JavaScript Execution Strategies in Elixir\-based Agent Frameworks** We'll look at integration points between elixir agents (in the AI fashion) and JavaScript execution, and all the foot guns involved. *The event is kindly sponsored by* [Fresha](https://www.fresha.com). **Time** Doors open at 18, start at 18.30. **Venue** Fresha The Bower, 207-211, Old St, Tower, London EC1V 9NR **Refreshments** Food and drinks will be provisioned on the day. **IMPORTANT**: **If you wish to take photos and post online during the event, please notify organisers first, so that attendees can opt-out from being in photos.**

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.

The Databricks London Meetup is back after a short break, and we’re looking forward to bringing the community together again for another friendly, in-person evening of data, AI, and good conversation. Join us for a relaxed meetup where data and AI professionals can swap ideas, hear a couple of practical talks, and meet others working with Databricks in the real world. Whether you’re deep into the platform already or just keen to learn from the community, this is a great chance to pick up something useful and meet some excellent people along the way. This session will include the latest Databricks updates, a practical talk from the Advancing Analytics team on how they used Lakebase to power AI projects, and time for questions with the Databricks team before we round things off with pizza and networking. **17:30 - 18:00:** Arrival & Networking **18:00 - 18:10:** Opening Remarks & Introductions **18:10 - 18:30** What’s New in Databricks - Simon Whiteley **18:30 - 19:00** Building Better AI Projects with *Lakebase* \- Toyosi Babayeju from Advancing Analytics **19:00 - 19:15** Q&A with the Databricks team **19:15 onwards:** Pizza, Drinks & Networking *Join us for a fantastic evening of learning and networking at the London Databricks meetup!*

**Please register on [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ljc-meet-up-at-tessl-java-and-gen-ai-jvm-agents-with-embabel-tickets-1985712292922) to join in-person.** **About this event** vJUG Connect is teaming up with the London Java Community for a special evening exploring the future of Java in the age of Generative AI. Join us both online and in London for a deep dive into how JVM developers can lead the next wave of innovation with agent-based systems. We’re excited to host Rod Johnson, creator of Spring, as he introduces Embabel, a new framework designed to push Java and Kotlin to the forefront of agentic AI. From building safe, testable, and enterprise-ready AI agents to rethinking how Java fits into the Gen AI ecosystem, this session will give you a front-row seat to what’s next. Whether you join us virtually or in person at Tessl HQ, expect an evening of cutting-edge ideas, practical insights, and great conversations with the Java community. Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually, register here: [https://luma.com/s9rp5nem](https://luma.com/s9rp5nem) **Agenda:** ​6:00pm – Doors open (live stream begins on YouTube with vJUG) ​6:45pm - Kick off and message from our partners ​7:00pm – Session kicks off Java and Gen AI: JVM Agents With Embabel by Rod Johnson (Spring Creator) (live stream ends) ​8pm – Networking 9pm – Wrap-up **​Java and Gen AI: JVM Agents With Embabel by Rod Johnson (Spring Creator)** Since the emergence of Gen AI, it's become obvious that agents will be a big part of our future as both technologists and citizens. Building predictable, safe, manageable, testable agents that integrate with existing enterprise systems is critically important to us all. ​In this session, Rod Johnson will show how JVM developers can be central to unlocking the business value of agentic AI, using the Embabel agent framework: [https://github.com/embabel/embabel-agent](https://github.com/embabel/embabel-agent) Embabel is an innovative framework for Java and Kotlin developers, seamlessly integrated with Spring. Built in Kotlin, it aims not to play catchup with Python frameworks like Crew AI, but to leapfrog them to be the best agent framework, period. ​Embabel innovates in several ways. It introduces a planning step that maximizes autonomy while maintaining determinism and safety. It is type safe, ensuring excellent toolability and avoiding errors in prompts. It enables developers to use a rich domain model, defining not just types but behavior exposed to user code and to LLMs as tools. ​ Read more about the [vision](https://medium.com/@springrod/the-embabel-vision-967654f13793?utm_source=luma); and also the call to action for Java developers in recent Devoxx keynote: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbx1_P7W1DM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbx1_P7W1DM&utm_source=luma) **​Rod Johnson, Creator of the Spring Framework and Embabel Agent Framework** ​ Rod Johnson is a developer, author, entrepreneur and advisor. He is the creator of the Spring Framework and Embabel agent framework. ​Twitter: [https://x.com/springrod](https://x.com/springrod) ​LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsonroda/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsonroda/) Huge thanks to our friends at Tessl for sponsoring this event and supporting our community. This event is organised by [RecWorks](https://recworks.co.uk/) on behalf of the London Java Community. The London Java Community is sponsored by Hazelcast, Neo4j, Redis, and Discover You can see our latest jobs [here](https://recworks.co.uk/java-developer-jobs-london/) You can see our privacy policy [here](https://recworks.co.uk/privacy-policy/) Continue the conversation at our Slack Group: [https://londonjavacommunity.slack.com](https://londonjavacommunity.slack.com/) Sign up here if you're not a member: [https://bcrw.typeform.com/to/IIyQxd](https://bcrw.typeform.com/to/IIyQxd)

Topic to be announced. **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/ **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: https://www.veeam.com/ **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Topic to be announced! **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/ **THANK YOU** *Leading EDJE* for hosting our meetup! Leading EDJE specializes in helping organizations innovate and solve complex problems. EDJE does this with their "A" player team of professionals using agile methodologies and SCRUM management techniques to give organizations a competitive advantage that sets them apart. Learn more at https://www.leadingedje.com/ **THANK YOU** *Amazon Web Services* for sponsoring pizza! Learn more at https://aws.amazon.com/. **DIRECTIONS** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300 Dublin, OH 43017 (3rd floor) **FREE PARKING** at the Endres Garage across the street, 6540 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab for a future meetup?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Join us for **Ben Frain**'s talk ... Ben's book "Responsive Web Design With HTML5 and CSS" caught my attention (and should interest you as well). Find it here: [https://rwd.education/](https://rwd.education/) ***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (non-AI generated) code!*** Food and drinks will be available. **LOCATION:** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 **FREE PARKING:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

Join us for an in-depth workshop on Agentic AI through AWS, where we’ll explore foundational concepts, real-world use cases, key AWS services, and how to get started building your own intelligent systems. Led by AWS Solutions Architect and Dev Advocate Fabricio Flores. Hosted at Pomerene Hall 250!

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates listed for this series are about 95% reliable. We are completing our 2026 schedule as we speak, so minor adjustments are still occurring. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee, though this first offering is free on a first-come, first-served basis. 3. Each class, from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective, is a separate entity. **Introduction:** HTML5 is the foundational technology for modern web development, serving as the standard markup language for structuring and presenting content on the World Wide Web. Developed through a collaboration between the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG), HTML5 provides a robust system of elements (tags) that tell a browser how to display text, images, and multimedia in a clear and meaningful way. It works in concert with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for presentation and JavaScript for interactivity, forming the core technology stack for virtually all websites and many web applications today. One of the significant advancements of HTML5 is the introduction of powerful new features and elements designed to improve functionality and simplify development. Key additions include native multimedia support via the \ and \ tags, allowing developers to embed media without third-party plugins. It also offers new form controls for better user input, such as date and email types, and introduces web storage capabilities to store data offline for enhanced performance. These features streamline the process of building rich, interactive web experiences. A significant focus of HTML5 is enhanced semantics and better structural organization of content. New semantic elements like , , , , and \ provide meaningful structure to documents, which aids in search engine optimization (SEO) and improves accessibility for assistive technologies. These elements define different parts of a webpage (e.g., a header for the top, a nav for navigation links, a footer for the bottom), making the code more readable and understandable for both developers and machines. This emphasis on clear structure helps in creating more logical and maintainable websites. Developing websites in today's competitive environment requires taking advantage of every technique you can to get the maximum exposure possible. Our HTML5 class will not only show you what's new in the HTML specification, but also the best way to develop optimized web pages that get the attention your client and/or company requires. **The breakdown of the four-class series is as follows:** **Class 1: Introduction to Web Structure and Basic HTML5** This class introduces the core concepts of web development, the history of HTML, and the fundamental structure of an HTML5 document. * **Topics**: * **Web Architecture Overview**: How browsers, servers, and web pages interact. * **HTML Fundamentals**: Understanding elements, tags, and attributes. * **Basic Document Structure**: Using !DOCTYPE html, html, head, and body. * **Text Formatting**: Headings (h1 to h6), paragraphs (p), and text-level semantics (e.g., strong, em, br). * **Lists and Links**: Creating ordered (ol) and unordered (ul) lists, and linking between pages using anchor tags (a). * **Activity**: Students create a basic personal webpage containing text, a list of hobbies, and a link to an external website. **Class 2: Semantic HTML5 and Multimedia Integration** Class 2 focuses on modern HTML5 elements that provide meaning (semantics) to content, improving accessibility and search engine optimization. It also covers adding images and multimedia. * **Topics**: * **Semantic Elements**: Understanding and implementing elements like header, footer, nav, section, and article. * **Images**: Adding images using the img tag and attributes like src, alt, width, and height. * **Multimedia**: Embedding audio and video content using the audio and video tags. * **File and Folder Structure**: Best practices for organizing project files and managing file paths. * **Activity**: Students refactor their Class 1 project to use a proper semantic layout and add an image and a link to a video file. **Class 3: Forms and User Input** This session is dedicated to building interactive HTML5 forms, which are essential for capturing user data and input. * **Topics**: * **Form Basics**: Using the form element, action and method attributes. * **Input Types**: Exploring various input types (e.g., text, password, checkbox, radio, date, submit). * **Form Elements**: Utilizing label, textarea, select, option, and button. * **Client-side Validation**: Implementing HTML5 validation attributes like required, minlength, and pattern. * **Activity**: Students build a complete contact form with different input fields, radio buttons, and basic HTML5 validation. **Class 4: Introduction to CSS3 and Basic Styling** The final class introduces Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to style the HTML content and make the web pages visually appealing and accessible. * **Topics**: * **CSS Fundamentals**: The role of CSS, selectors, properties, and values. * **Integrating CSS**: Using inline, internal, and external style sheets. * **The Box Model**: Understanding margin, padding, border, and content for basic layout. * **Basic Styling**: Changing colors, fonts, and text alignment. * **Accessibility Basics**: Identifying principles of web design usability and accessibility, including ARIA labels. * **Activity**: Students apply an external CSS file to their Class 3 form project to style the layout, colors, and fonts, culminating in a well-structured and styled webpage.

We're bringing the community together for a casual happy hour with ServiceNow-themed trivia, food and drinks, and great conversation. Details coming soon - for now, save the date and plan to join us for connection and fun.