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Leeds Coding Dojo
Pair up, pick a kata, and sharpen your craft in Leeds
When
Thursday 14 May
Time
17:00
Venue
Platform
City Centre
Price
Free
Leeds Coding Dojo is a hands-on coding session run by Software Crafters Leeds, held on the first floor of Platform on New Station Street. The format is deliberately low-pressure: after a short intro, attendees split into pairs or small groups — or work solo if they prefer — and work through a programming kata. The group has seen Python, JavaScript, C#, Java, VB, Rust and Elixir used at past sessions, and you pick the language yourself.
The session runs from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday 14 May 2026. There is no set curriculum. If you have a specific topic or technique you want to practise, you can suggest it on the night. The emphasis is on collaboration: sharing approaches, discussing trade-offs, and picking up habits from people who write code differently to you. Food and drinks are provided, including vegetarian and vegan options. Bring a laptop if you want to code; you do not need one to attend.
The event is free and open to anyone with an interest in software development. You do not need to be a professional developer. Codurance, which recently opened a Leeds office, sponsors the space and supports the community. Software Crafters Leeds has been running these sessions as a regular fixture for the Leeds development community, offering a practical alternative to talk-heavy meetups.
The group is also looking for people willing to give a short 10–15 minute talk on a relevant topic at a future session. If that is you, mention it on the night or contact the organiser Stephen directly through the Meetup page.
Why attend
You will spend most of the two hours actually writing code, not watching slides. That makes it useful in a way that a lot of meetups are not. Katas are short enough that you can finish something in an evening, and pairing with someone who uses a different language or approach tends to surface habits you did not know you had.
The crowd is mixed — professional developers, people learning, people switching stacks. Codurance's involvement means there is usually someone in the room with strong opinions about software craft worth arguing with. Food is on, it is free, and Platform is two minutes from Leeds station.
Agenda
- 18:00 Doors open, introductions
- 18:10 Short intro and kata selection
- 18:20–19:50 Coding in pairs, groups or solo — language your choice
- 19:50 Wrap-up, share-out and networking
Organiser
Software Crafters Leeds
Software Crafters Leeds is a community group for developers in Leeds who care about how code is written, not just that it works. They run regular coding dojos and occasional talks, hosted with support from Codurance, which has a Leeds office. The group is run by Stephen and welcomes developers at all levels.
Venue
Platform, City Centre
Platform is a co-working and events space on New Station Street, directly above Leeds railway station. The first-floor meeting room is a regular home for Leeds tech meetups and is straightforward to reach from anywhere in the city.
FAQs
- Is the Leeds Coding Dojo free to attend?
- Yes, the event is free. Food and drinks are also provided on the night, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
- Where exactly is the venue?
- 1st Floor Meeting Room, Platform, New Station Street, Leeds LS1 4JB. It is directly above Leeds railway station. The what3words reference is fortunate.brings.lasts.
- Do I need to register in advance?
- The event is listed on Meetup.com via the Software Crafters Leeds group. Sign up there to let the organiser know you are coming.
- Do I need to be an experienced developer to attend?
- No. The session is open to anyone interested in software development. You do not need to be a professional developer or have a specific skill level.
- Do I need to bring a laptop?
- Bring a machine if you want to code along, but it is not required. You can pair with someone else or simply observe and discuss.