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Welcome to the January 2026 {dev.talk} Meetup!

The One Where We Don't Break the Platform (or Believe the Hype)

Hi there,

We're thrilled to have you join us for this month's {dev.talk} event! Thank you for reserving your free ticket and being part of our amazing community of software engineers and tech enthusiasts.

Quick Reminder: Organizing these events takes a lot of time and effort from our dedicated volunteers. If your plans change and you can't make it, please cancel your ticket via Eventbrite or drop us an email at contactus@devdottalk.uk. This helps us manage the event better and allows others to attend.

Event Details

Getting There

Talbot Campus Location Map

Kimmeridge House location within Talbot Campus

Campus Map: Download PDF

Entrance: Kimmeridge House is a separate building on campus. Follow the paths and look for the purple star on the campus map. We're upstairs — just follow the {dev.talk} signs!

Travel: If you're arriving by bus, it will drop you off at the main entrance. From there, follow the blue line on the map to the purple star. Cyclists, there are plenty of bike routes available too!

Parking: Campus car parks (marked with a blue star on the map) should be available and free during the event. Please double-check signage when parking.

Accessibility: The room is on the first floor and accessible via a lift.

What to Expect

We'll have soft drinks and some snacks available to keep you refreshed throughout the evening. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergen concerns, please let our organizers know.

Upon arrival, we'll check your ticket and provide you with a name badge. This is a great opportunity to network with fellow attendees, so don't be shy, introduce yourself!

Important Notes

Photography and Recording: Please note that the event will be recorded and photographed. If you prefer not to be included in any photos or videos, kindly inform the camera operator. These materials will be used to promote future events and shared on platforms like YouTube.

Speakers

Herve Tribouilly

Solution Architect

How to Keep Proven Platforms Flexible in the 2020s

Many teams struggle to evolve their platforms without increasing cost, complexity, or upgrade risk. Monolithic systems can become hard to change, while micro-services are often too heavy for most organisations. This session introduces the Feature Isolation Pattern — a practical way to keep a stable core platform (such as Magento or WordPress) while building customer-facing features that can be developed, tested, and deployed independently. Using real examples, the talk shows how this approach improves flexibility, performance, and long-term maintainability without rebuilding the platform or adopting full micro-services.

Dr. Rushan Arshad

Productivity Data Scientist

The AI Integration Framework: When to Automate, When to Wait

Do you have broken processes that needs fixing? Have you hired expensive consultants who have told you that AI is a magical wand that will fix everything for you? You are not alone in this scam. In this session, you'll gain a practical decision framework to cut through the AI hype and make strategic automation choices for your business. Rather than focusing on what AI can do, we'll explore when it should be used versus traditional automation tools.

We Can't Wait to See You!

Thank you for being part of {dev.talk}. We're excited to connect, learn, and grow together as a community. See you soon!

Warm regards,

The {dev.talk} Team