AI the deep dive continues…

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Description:

In this session, we’ll dive into the practical use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for software development, with a focus on how AI can enhance your coding workflows. I’ll demonstrate three powerful options: two cloud-based models—ChatGPT and Claude Sonnet—and one locally hosted solution, LLaMA. We’ll explore how these tools can assist in everything from code generation and debugging to documentation and testing. We’ll look at options for integrating them into your development environment, highlighting their strengths and limitations. This talk is designed to provide actionable insights for developers at any level. There will be ample time for questions, so come prepared to explore how AI can accelerate your software development process and improve your coding efficiency!

Agenda:

  1. Business Meeting
  2. Presentation
  3. Discussion
  4. Adjournment
  5. More Discussion @ the Pub (Optional)

Date / Time:

March 11th, 2025 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

Open Source AI with Marcel Gagné

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Description:

In this session, we’re going to take a practical, hands-on look at the state of generative AI, with a special focus on open-source models, particularly DeepSeek R1. I’ll cover what makes DeepSeek R1 noteworthy, how it compares to other models, and why there’s so much excitement around it. More importantly, I’ll show you how to run these models locally on Linux using tools like Ollama and LM Studio, so you can experiment without relying on the cloud. Since this is a friendly crowd of Linux enthusiasts, I’ll tailor the discussion to practical, real-world applications—including AI-assisted scripting, coding, and documentation generation, among other things. Expect a lively Q&A, so bring your curiosity—whether it’s about self-hosting models, fine-tuning, or the broader implications of AI in open source.

Agenda:

  1. Business Meeting
  2. Presentation
  3. Discussion
  4. Adjournment
  5. More Discussion @ the Pub (Optional)

Date / Time:

February 11th, 2025 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

React Java script Website building

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with Ron Barnes

Description:

Agenda:

  1. Business Meeting
  2. Presentation
  3. Discussion
  4. Adjournment
  5. More Discussion @ the Pub (Optional)

Date / Time:

January 14th, 2024 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

Annual General Meeting / Lightning Talks

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with Board of Directors

Agenda:

  1. Lighting Talks
  2. AGM
    • Treasurers Report
    • Nominations for Board of Directors
    • Vote (If Necessary)
    • Establishment of the 2025 Board of Directors

Date / Time:

December 10th, 2024 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

As the WordPress Turns

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with Ron Barnes and Evan Leibovitch

What’s the line between using open source and exploiting it?

WordPress is one of the world’s best-known open source applications, powers more than 40% of the world’s websites. But a recent drama between co-creator Matthew Mullenweg and CMS hosting outfit WP Engine has led to forced forks, strange code changes, acrimony and, of course, lawyers.

We’ll be trying to make sense of this story, giving the history, and looking for clues that might prevent this from happening to other major open source projects.

Date / Time:

November 12th, 2024 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

Linux, Open Source, and gaming: where is it going??

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Join us for a presentation and discussion about the current state of Linux and open source gaming, featuring:

  • Valve, the Steam Deck, and the challenge of porting major games to the Linux desktop;
  • Where politics meets open source; The strange and unfortunate story of the Godot gaming engine and its community turmoil

We will be hosting this in person and online so there are no excuses for not joining us! See all the details below…

Date / Time:

October 8th, 2024 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

Meeting our TMU Hosts with Dave Mason

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Dave Mason is the Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Toronto Metropolitan University He has been using the internet since the early 1980s, from the first Canadian university on the internet (toronto.edu which eventually became utoronto.ca). He has been using FOSS also since the 1980s (initially GNU Emacs, then XEmacs as well as an early adopter of Slackware). He was active in Unix Unanimous, ran one of the key Toronto usenet sites (tmsoft.ca). He has been a proponent of Linux/Unix at TMU/Ryerson for 40 years.

Dave will talk about TMU/Ryerson and, in particular the Computer Science Department and our use of Linux.

Dave’s major research is in programming languages. He will also give a short presentation on Zag Smalltalk and its research goals.

Date / Time:

September 10th, 2024 19:30 EST

Location:

In Person: TMU George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, 245 Church Street (just north of Dundas), Room 201 (See note below)

Online using Nextcloud: https://hub.gtalug.org/call/7m45sf9i

NOTE:

The doors to the building are normally locked. There will be someone from GTALUG at the doors on the southeast corner of Church and Gould to let people in. If you come late or don’t see anyone at the door please SMS at 647 657 6575 for THIS NIGHT ONLY. Do not call.

Pre-meeting: 

Traditionally many GTALUG attendees have met for dinner at Kabul Express, 126 Dundas East, about an hour before the scheduled meeting. We will try this again on the 13th, but since the dining options in the area have expanded dramatically since we last met, we may decide on other locations for future meetings.