tldr –
Where: Online
When: 28th March 2026 09:30 GMT → 16:00 PDT
What: Lightning talks, open space
Why/Who?: People with projects, People interested in optimsation, python→?? compilers, Green Compute
Registration: Eventbrite
Hi!
I’m organising an ONLINE Python “Lighting Camp” for 28th March, 2026, and would like to invite you to come along.
Who’s it for, what’s the focus/format?
- People like you - python projects people want to share, people interested in optimisation, python compilers and green compute
The idea behind the format is Lightning Talks + Unconference. Nominally 09:30 GMT - 17:00 GMT, but I’m planning on leaving the space open until 16:00 PDT if there is interest from US adjacent time-zones - so 09:30 GMT → 16:00 PDT
This is a free online event over zoom (using standing breakout rooms in place of physical rooms), but does require registration through Eventbrite
When is it?
It starts at 09:30 GMT 28 Mar 2026, and carries on until late after, but if there is interest in attendance from time-zones vertical to the US, I’ve planned for a second “opening session” at 12:30 EDT, 09:30 PDT, so please do also consider yourself welcome.
The event has reached a minimum critical mass of people, with some lightning talks already proposed, but it’d be really nice to see you attend if you are available and the time/date works for you 
Motivation
Well, I’m starting a project called “compilepython.com” - which I’m planning to be a a “tripadvisor-like” site for python compilers (and related tools). As part of the original micro:bit prototype I had to build a (restricted) python to C++ compiler and made a mini one afterwards. I’m well aware of great projects like ShedSkin, Codon, Mojo and Mypyc (etc) and how difficult the task is they’re trying to solve.
I’ve tried using these for different projects - and I think they’re all fantastic. However, the knowledge around what each tool works well for could be captured better. The day job at the moment is in assisting scientists improve their research software engineering, and in green compute and so I know how useful a cross-tool, cross community resource could be.
So the idea behind compilepython.com is to collate real world projects, experiences in attempting optimisation using these tools and others, and collating what really works - to give a boost to these tools, people using python and green compute generally.
Who is THIS event for?
You. If you’re reading this, almost certainly, you.
This will work best with a broad group of people, so that’s the reason for the lightning camp - to make a space where people
- With interesting Python projects
- Interested in optimisation (experienced and/ inexperienced)
- Creating compilers & associated tools
- Interested in making the python ecosystem greener
… can come together and capture things and share knowledge.
The idea being for me “If you bring your project, even if you’re not interested in compilation/green compute/optimisation, to me it’s an interesting real world project for me to look at as an optimisation/compile test”. (Which is much more random than me selecting them.
If you fall into one of these groups and can’t make it, but this event announcement space a little late for you, and my apologies if you fall into one of these groups and can’t make it, but I’m planning 3 more events later in the year (approx 1 per quarter), and this event is the kick off point, not the end
Format
So the format will be:
- Lightning talks
- Open space with 3 tracks - one of which reserved for compilepython.com things, the rest are usual “free for all” as long as the avergae python person would be interested.
If you are available on Saturday 28th March, I’d love to see you there! If not, I hope the output is useful to you as time goes on.
Support
This project is something I’m doing as part of a fellowship with the Software Sustainability Institute in the UK (The support is for events, not time/income ) As a result, we inherit their code of conduct (which like most boils down to “be nice, play nice, don’t make others uncomfortable”).
Who am I?
Been around the python community a fair while, released various things, - in and out periodically over the past 20 years, helped the original crew found PyconUK back in 2007, built the original pilot micro:bit device and software stackwe trialled in schools before bringing the partnership on board. Recently found myself doing green compute tasks and thought “wouldn’t it be nice if we could work together towards that”. So that’s who I am.
(Lastly, but by no means least, I have found this event announcement space a little late, my apologies - but there’ll be follow on events in early summer, autumn and winter too)
