- Announce - lists.gtalug.org

Upcoming Meetings and announcements
by Alan Heighway 19 Jun '25

19 Jun '25

Hello GTALUG Here's a quick update on some of our upcoming meetings. *July* * Fireside chat * - Got a burning question about Linux, Foss, or anything related? Bring it with you to July's meeting and we'll try to get it answered for you! *August * * Lighting Talks * - Do you have a topic you can talk about but it won't fill a whole meeting? A lighting talk is for you. Put together a 5 - 15 minute talk, and send a quick message to speakers(a)gtalug.org and we'll add you to the list. *September* * OBS - Open Broadcast Software with Alan Heighway * - What is OBS? Who uses it? How to get online. Live demo, quick tips, and Q&A *Other Notes...* Coming soon to the website: we will be listing any topics that we have collected along with the speakers if we have one, and any scheduled talk date. If there is a topic without a speaker, and you know someone who could speak on that topic, let us know! We are always looking for new topics and speakers, you can send any suggestions to speakers(a)gtalug.org. Thank you all! Alan. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca 416-712-5247 VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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Reminder: General Meeting - May 13th, 2025
by Alan Heighway 11 May '25

11 May '25

Round Table Discussion <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=244> Description: Got a burning question or a topic you’re eager to explore? Whether it’s something we haven’t touched on yet or a subject from a previous discussion you’d like to revisit, this is the meeting for you. Join us for an open, round-table style session where the agenda is driven by *you*. We’ll be collecting questions and topics from both in-person attendees and online participants, and we’ll address each one during the meeting. This is your chance to: - Ask the questions you’ve been holding onto - Share insights or experiences related to ongoing conversations - Suggest new ideas or areas for group exploration No topic is too big or too small—if it sparks curiosity or conversation, we want to hear it. And if any discussion opens the door to a deeper dive, we’ll consider dedicating a future meeting to that subject alone. Come ready to speak, listen, and engage. This is your platform. Speaker: Moderator: Alan Heighway Agenda: 1. Business Meeting 2. Presentation 3. Discussion 4. Adjournment 5. More Discussion @ the Pub (Optional) Date / Time: May 13th, 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca 416-712-5247 VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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April Meeting Reminder
by Alan Heighway 04 Apr '25

04 Apr '25

Open Source AI? No such thing. But we can get close? <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=228> Description: *No current mainstream AI chat system meets the full definition of Open Source or Free Software. In this presentation we will discuss the state of openness in current AI chat systems, where conventional concepts of open source can be applied and where they can’t. Legal and licensing difference between the various options reveal that some are far more open than others, and that “OpenAI” isn’t really that open at all.* *Also, Evan will be announcing the creation of a new organization, formed by Canadian AI and IT professionals, to support of Open Access AI in Canada.* Speaker: Evan Leibovitch Agenda: 1. Business Meeting 2. Presentation 3. Discussion 4. Adjournment 5. More Discussion @ the Pub (Optional) Date / Time: April 8th, 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca 416-712-5247 VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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Reminder: General Meeting - Topic : AI the deep dive continues…
by Alan Heighway 08 Mar '25

08 Mar '25

AI the deep dive continues… With Kevin Glendenning 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca 416-712-5247 VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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REMINDER: Tomorrow Night, General Meeting
by Alan Heighway 10 Feb '25

10 Feb '25

Open Source AI with Marcel Gagné <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=198> 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca 416-712-5247 VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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February Meeting Reminder: Open Source AI with Marcel Gagné
by Alan Heighway 29 Jan '25

29 Jan '25

Open Source AI with Marcel Gagné <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=198> 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.

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Meeting Reminder
by Alan Heighway 14 Jan '25

14 Jan '25

React Java script Website buildingOpen Source AI <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=154> with Ron BarnesAgenda: 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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REMINDER: AGM and General Meeting
by Alan Heighway 13 Dec '24

13 Dec '24

Annual General Meeting / Lightning Talks <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=142>December 3, 2024/0 Comments <https://www.gtalug.org/?p=142#respond>/in Uncategorized <https://www.gtalug.org/?cat=1>/by Alan Heighway <https://www.gtalug.org/?author=3> with Board of DirectorsAgenda: 1. Lighting Talks 2. AGM - Treasurer's 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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GTALUG Membership Dues
by Warren McPherson 12 Nov '24

12 Nov '24

With the AGM arriving, please remember to send in your dues. It is easy to do. In your bank's online app, select Interac e-Transfer. Send $20 to "membership(a)gtalug.org" Thank you!

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October Meeting Reminder
by Alan Heighway 08 Oct '24

08 Oct '24

Calling All Gamers! Gaming on Linux Discussion <https://new.gtalug.org/?p=106> We’re going to have a discussion about gaming on Linux. Bring you questions, comments, concerns, and complaints about your experiences with Linux gaming. This will be a discussion, so participation is encouraged. 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. *A*lan *H*eighway <http://heighway.ca/> heighway.ca VA3WAH / VA3YKZ [image: Please consider the environment before printing]

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