program greetings

  print *, 'heeey CompSoc!'

end program

We're halfway through Trinity! Sadly, this also means it's almost time to bid our goodbyes to event-packed weeks (and hello to our upcoming exams; or goodbye if you're done already, good for you).

Let's mark this halfway checkpoint with a blast of events: a Competitive Programming Contest on Monday; a talk by our sponsor Jump Trading on Tuesday; a G&Ds social (nom) on Wednesday; a talk by one of our former presidents and SWAG officers Hera Brown on Thursday; _{nothing on friday somehow;} and a Learn-to-Code session, a CTF Night, AND a Module Info Session on Saturday!

Good luck on your exams / thesis / projects; and check out an event from our friends over at FLOSS (at the bottom of this newsletter)!

— Acie/Amos, CompSoc Vice President

Fun Computing Fact: Want to build a simple, graphical, working machine that can basically act as a computer and run it on your laptop / desktop / tablet / whatever? Look no further than everyone's (possibly not) favourite slideshow tool: PowerPoint!

Yes, PowerPoint (and actually most slideshow / presentation tools supporting animations on click) is Turing complete*! In fact, there's even a SIGBOVIK entry about this.

Now you know what to make in your free weekends :)

* not guaranteed to be efficient or simple or painless to build a computer in though

Slide from the SIGBOVIK presentation:

Still not a member? How?! Membership only costs £1 for LIFE, with tons of benefits - discounts on merch and tickets, free food at all socials, our exclusive Discord server and more - so it's definitely worth signing up!

or, go to https://ox.compsoc.net/product/lifetime-membership/

Get ready for the finale of this academic year's competitive programming contests on Monday at 7pm! As usual, we'll have a roster of snacks and pizza to accompany you in the UGSA as you conjure up your algorithmic solutions.

When: 7pm, Monday 18th May 

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503738336701976586

This Tuesday, we’ll be joined by our sponsor Jump Trading, who will be giving a talk in LTBR from 5pm! If you’re interested in trading or finance, remember to sign up through the forms link (or the QR code), and don’t miss it!

When: 5-6pm, Tuesday 19th May

Where: Bill Roscoe Lecture Theatre, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/NbnBbYYpjK

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503738540431773737

What’s a better way to cool off during a sunny day than ice cream (well it might be slightly chilly but ice cream is welcome any day)! Head on down to G&Ds on St Aldate’s on Wednesday from 5pm to enjoy a scoop of ice cream (or waffles, or coffee, or whatever else they serve there)!

When: 5-6pm, Wednesday 20th May

Where: George & Danver, 94 St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1BT

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503738683759656960

This Thursday, we’re joined by our lovely member and ex-President/SWAG-officer/IT-officer Hera Brown, who will be giving a talk on a result from her thesis on Hardy Field functions and Presburger Arithmetic! Come to LTBR from 5pm and don’t miss it!!!

When: 5-6pm, Thursday 21st May

Where: Bill Roscoe Lecture Theatre, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503738860272881826

We’ll be closing off this year’s Learn-to-Code sessions with a banger: Gamedeving in Godot! Join us on Saturday from 5:30pm in Seminar Room 051 for our last LTC session of the academic year. If you liked Slay the Spire (1 and 2) or Buckshot Roulette and wonder how they’re made, this session is for you!

When: 5:30-6:30pm, Saturday 23rd May 

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503739030557167626

Yet another event on Saturday is our fortnightly Capture-the-Flag night! If you’re planning on doing Computer Security next year; or like poking around with Burp, nmap, nikto; or just want an excuse to pull an all-nighter solving problems, join us from 7pm on Saturday in the UGSA!

When: 7pm, Saturday 23rd May 

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503739221578612837

If you’re an upcoming second/third/fourth year who’s unsure about what options to choose next year, join us from 7pm on Saturday in the UGSA! We’ll be holding our totally-original-and-not-Invariants-ripoff Module Info Night, where you’ll hear members who have survived / thrived through certain courses rant about their suffering (or enjoyment, if they’re lucky)!

When: 7pm, Saturday 23rd May 

Where: Undergraduate Social Area, Department of Computer Science 7 Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QG

Click “Going” here: https://discord.com/events/493582175506268191/1503739380039290950

does anyone actually read this far? good job for checking out what our collaborating societies / sponsors are saying

<- meme of the week as i slowly lose my mind in revision hell

For the next event in our Free, Libre, and Open-Source Software group, Audrey Tang will be giving a talk on Friday 22 May, from 15:30 to 16:30 UK time, in Oxford and online. You're welcome to join (should also be recorded)! https://ox.ogeer.org/event/good-enough-ancestor-software-freedom-as-civic-care-across-generations-audrey-tang-2025-right-livelihood-laureate-and-taiwans-cyber-ambassador

The topic is "Good Enough Ancestor: Software Freedom as Civic Care across Generations". It will connect the software freedom movement to Audrey's and Caroline Green's framework for local, community-governed, more caring AI systems rather than reliance on centralised systems. Tang and Green work in the local University of Oxford Institute for AI Ethics. Tang is also first Digital Minister of Taiwan, and 2025 Right Livelihood laureate. Before ministership and research, Tang was a prolific FLOSS programmer, and since has for example helped persuade Pol.is to adopt the AGPL license.

Make sure to join OxWoCS (Oxford Women in CS), a society we're working closely with, if you identify as a woman or woman-adjacent person in CS! They have a host of wonderful events on, including talks, panels and socials. Computer Science is unfortunately a subject with one of the biggest gender gaps in Oxford and worldwide, and addressing this is at the core of OxWoCS.

A message from our sponsors at TPP:

We are currently looking for bright graduates to join our close-knit technical team, this diverse role will allow you to kick start your career in the tech industry.  Don’t be put off by the breadth of this role as on the job training will be provided in all areas listed below!

SQL Server DBA – optimisation, upgrading & managing

Cyber Security & Networks – research & implementation

Hardware – projects to test & upgrade both hands on & remotely

Scoping and building global infrastructure for our mobile patient apps

Windows & Server Administration – patching & performance testing

You will actively participate in the designing, maintaining and upgrading of services that are critical to the NHS and many healthcare organisations around the world. You will be working as a team to address the current challenges such as the rapid expansion of our mobile Apps and AI as we scale on an international level.

To apply, please visit https://tpp-careers.com/roles/graduatetechnicalengineer/ and send your CV.

A message from our sponsors at Perplexity:

Students get free Perplexity Pro and exclusive student features like flashcards and quizzes when you verify your student status. Sign up at perplexity.ai/students

or, contact us at committee@ox.compsoc.net

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