{dev.talk} - The One Where PMs Ask, Designers Imagine, and Devs Improvise

Welcome to our next {dev.talk} event, we have 3 interesting speakers this time, to take us through the lifecycle of software development.

Venue

TBC, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus.

Doors open at 6:50pm

Event starts at 7pm

Event finishes at 9pm

Speaker

Rachel Adedoyin

Building Products Developers Love to Build
This session explores how Product Managers and Developers can work better together, with fewer frustrations and more impact. Drawing on real stories, Rachel Adedoyin will share practical lessons on clarity, collaboration, and respecting the craft of development. Expect honesty, humour, and insights into how PMs can make developers’ lives easier while keeping the focus on building products that matter.

Speaker

Sophia Meacham

Domain-Specific Languages in Action: Why, When, and How — Experiences from Medical and Veterinary , Data science, and Legal domains

This talk will introduce Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) — what they are, why they represent a promising software engineering solution, and where they are best applied. We will explore the kinds of problems that benefit most from DSLs and why developers and organizations should consider them.
I will also share our real-world experiences applying DSLs in several domains:
• Medical and veterinary practice
• Data science and analytics
• Legal documents and compliance
These case studies will demonstrate how DSLs can simplify complexity, improve communication with domain experts, and deliver practical, impactful solutions across industries.

Bio
Dr Sofia Meacham is a Principal Academic in Computing at Bournemouth University,

where she has worked for the past 11 years. With more than 20 years of experience

in the field, she has built a career spanning industry, R&D, and academia. Her

research focuses on domain-specific languages (DSLs) for domains such as data

science, health, and education, and she consistently publishes work with strong

industrial applicability. Sofia has collaborated with partners in telecoms, healthcare,

and software engineering, delivering solutions that bridge technical rigor with real-

world needs. She also explores the intersection of DSLs and the latest developments

in AI, including large language models, positioning her at the forefront of innovation in

applied computing.

Speaker

Ollie Pauffley

Nix for Reproducible Developer Environments
The quickest and most painful way of getting developers on the same dependencies

Who is {dev.talk}

{dev.talk} (pronounced "dev dot talk") is a community-driven monthly meetup bringing together software engineers and tech professionals in the Bournemouth and Dorset area.

Free to attend and run by community volunteers, we create an inclusive space where developers of all experience levels can learn, share knowledge, and connect.

Each meetup features sessions from community members (mostly of a technical nature), with time for networking and discussions between talks. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, you'll find a welcoming environment to explore new ideas and "geek out" with fellow tech enthusiasts.

To extend our reach beyond the in-person events, all sessions (with speaker permission) are recorded and shared on our YouTube Channel, creating an accessible resource for the wider developer community.

Our mission is simple: build a thriving, supportive tech community in Dorset where everyone can grow professionally while making meaningful connections.

More details about us, and how to get involved are here: https://devdottalk.uk/

We are always supported by the good people at re:connect and JustPickOneUK

Website - https://devdottalk.uk/

Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/devdottalk.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@devdottalk

Discord - https://discord.gg/N4JGyRthDt