Azure & DevOps Podcast
The Azure & DevOps Podcast is a show for developers and devops professionals shipping software using Microsoft technologies. Each show brings you hard-hitting interviews with industry experts innovating better methods and sharing success stories. Listen in to learn how to increase quality, ship quickly, and operate well. Hosted by Jeffrey Palermo and sponsored by Clear Measure, Inc.
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Chris Ayers: .NET Aspire and AI - Episode 335
02/03/2025
Chris Ayers: .NET Aspire and AI - Episode 335
Chris Ayers is a Senior Site Reliability Engineer on Microsoft’s AzRel Risk SRE team, drawing on years of experience in cloud architecture, software development, and DevOps practices. He’s passionate about continuous improvement, driving reliability, and sharing industry best practices. Outside of work, Chris is a devoted father, technology enthusiast, and avid gamer. Connect with him online to explore insights into cloud operations, agile methodologies, and more. He also organizes DevOpsDays Tampa Bay. Topics of Discussion: [2:50] Chris Ayers’s career journey and formative moments in site reliability engineering. [3:33] The importance of being open to learning and stepping outside your comfort zone. [8:53] Chris’s talk on Aspire, Azure, and Open AI. [9:30] How Chris is improving Azure’s reliability through internal innovation. [10:16] Benefits of Aspire: orchestration, integration, and abstraction for infrastructure. [12:29] AI extensions in Aspire: how they enable developers to work with different AI models like OpenAI and local models. [14:09] Using OpenTelemetry for seamless integration and monitoring in Azure. [18:38] Prompt engineering: crafting prompts as part of business logic. [20:50] Exploring agentic AI development and multi-agent chatbots. [21:05] AI use cases in healthcare and responsible AI principles. [29:22] Simplifying Azure resource management with Aspire and opinionated defaults. [32:35] Using Honeycomb and other tools for effective telemetry and logging. [33:39] Hugging Face and KAITO: enabling access to a marketplace of specialized AI models and Kubernetes AI integration. [34:10] Running Olama models locally: balancing scale, cost, and use cases. [39:38] AI as a tool to enhance productivity rather than replace people. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Scott Ambler: The State of Agile - Episode 334
01/27/2025
Scott Ambler: The State of Agile - Episode 334
Scott Ambler helps people and teams adopt new ways of working (WoW) and evolve their ways of thinking (WoT), particularly around data warehousing and data quality. He is the creator of the Agile Modeling (AM) (AgileModeling.com) method and Agile Data (AD) (AgileData.org) methods. With Mark Lines, he co-created PMI’s Disciplined Agile (DA) toolkit. As a conference keynote speaker, he speaks about continuous data warehousing (DW)/business intelligence (BI), how to address enterprise data debt, how to succeed at corporate AI, and agile architecture. He has also (co-)authored several books, including Choose Your WoW!, An Executive’s Guide to Disciplined Agile, Refactoring Databases, and Agile Modeling. For a full list of his books, visit . Topics of Discussion: [4:29] Scott talks about his career journey. [6:53] Scott’s early involvement in Agile. [8:34] Needing to up our game in the Agile space. [8:55] this summer in Denver, CO. [11:20] Challenges and evolution within the Agile community. [20:01] Are we going to have a new Agile gold rush? [21:47] Keeping an eye out for inappropriate processes. [25:38] How we can do better. [28:17] The Agile Manifesto. [35:03] Importance of database refactoring and continuous data operations. [36:46] What best practices does Scott recommend? Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Ryan Booz: The State of the Database in 2025 - Episode 333
01/20/2025
Ryan Booz: The State of the Database in 2025 - Episode 333
Ryan is an Advocate at Redgate focusing on PostgreSQL. Ryan has been working as a PostgreSQL advocate, developer, DBA, and product manager for over 20 years, primarily working with time-series data on PostgreSQL and the Microsoft Data Platform. Ryan is a long-time DBA, starting with MySQL and Postgres in the late ’90s. He spent more than 15 years working with SQL Server before returning to PostgreSQL full-time in 2018. He’s at the top of his game when learning something new about the data platform or teaching others about the technology he loves. Topics of Discussion: [4:10] What made Ryan a database guy? [6:11] . [6:58] Discovering the potential of SQL Server. [12:02] The state of the database in 2025 and the things generalist developers should know. [15:27] The challenge of interfacing between database types. [19:57] Is Microsoft Fabric the future? [22:44] Postgres for .NET developers. [24:46] Nuances of migrating from SQL Server to Postgres. [26:01] Postgres resources for data professionals. [35:29] Postgres and its innovative edge. [38:30] What is a vector database? [39:45] The power of Postgres indexing. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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James Montemagno: .NET Aspire with Azd - Episode 332
01/13/2025
James Montemagno: .NET Aspire with Azd - Episode 332
James Montemagno is a Principal Lead Program Manager for the Developer Community at Microsoft. He has been a .NET developer since 2005, working in a wide range of industries including game development, printer software, and web services. Prior to becoming a Principal Program Manager, James was a professional mobile developer and has been crafting apps since 2011 with Xamarin. In his spare time, he is most likely cycling around Seattle or guzzling gallons of coffee at a local coffee shop. He co-hosts the weekly development podcast Merge Conflict . Topics of Discussion: [:36] Jeffrey introduces the concept of .NET Aspire and highlights its integration with Azure DevOps and .NET ecosystem tools. [2:51] The evolution of .NET mobile and desktop development since 2005. [4:45] An overview of .NET Aspire and its focus on simplifying app development and infrastructure orchestration. [11:45] How .NET Aspire supports both local development and cloud deployment. [16:24] Integrating DevOps automation for Azure deployments using bicep templates and Azure Developer CLI (azd). [25:30] Generating infrastructure manifests and deploying them with Azure Developer CLI. [32:51] Configuring Azure resources like Redis Cache for development and deployment scenarios. [35:11] Simplifying cloud deployment for developers using Azure Container Apps. [39:37] Polyglot support in .NET Aspire projects, allowing integration with Python, JavaScript, and more. [44:50] Plans to integrate development tunnels to streamline mobile app testing. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Brady Gaster: Upgrading .NET apps - Episode 331
01/06/2025
Brady Gaster: Upgrading .NET apps - Episode 331
Brady Gaster is a Principal Program Manager on the .NET and Visual Studio team at Microsoft where he works on Orleans, SignalR, microservices, APIs, and integration with Azure service teams in hopes of making it exciting for developers who work on .NET apps to party in the cloud! Topics of Discussion: [6:27] Collaboration with Azure Developer CLI. [8:08] The challenges of integrating ASP.NET Core with existing deployment methods like App Service. [11:45] The main questions they heard at the panel. [13:53] Deploying your dashboard to Azure Container apps. [24:31] Aspire builds on .NET and everything you can do with .NET, you can keep doing. [27:03] Tips for developing against Aspire resources. [27:50] The future focuses on security. [30:02] Optimizing your development environment around DevOps. [34:28] How much is Kubernetes an actual dependency, or can normal .NET applications just use App Service and not be tied to Kubernetes? [39:37] Brady’s thoughts on the benefits of containers and the potential for easier alternatives in the future. [44:06] AI doing a better job of suggesting the right code. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Aaron Powell: .NET Aspire Community Toolkit - Episode 330
12/30/2024
Aaron Powell: .NET Aspire Community Toolkit - Episode 330
Aaron is a Developer Advocate at Microsoft. Having spent 15 years doing web development, he’s seen it all, from browser wars to the rise of AJAX and the fall of 20 JavaScript frameworks (and that was just yesterday!). Always tinkering with something new, he explores crazy ideas like writing your own implementation of numbers in .NET, creating IoC in JavaScript, or implementing tic-tac-toe using git commits. When not sitting at a computer, he can be found spending time with his wife and kids. Topics of Discussion: [4:38] Aaron shares his career journey, including his time in consulting and technical sales. [6:48] The importance of understanding both technical and business aspects of software development. [7:36] .NET Aspire and the community toolkit. [15:21] Having a centralized place for discovering and contributing integrations. [17:02] Running Ollama. [21:12] Diving in more to the integration. [24:27] Deployment options for .NET Aspire applications, including Azure Container Apps and Kubernetes. [29:08] Testing and Acceptance with .NET Aspire. [35:02] The process of attaching debuggers to applications and the challenges of debugging distributed applications. [41:23] The community toolkit provides clear guidelines and contributing guides to help developers get involved. [43:42] How people can get more involved and contribute. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! h Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Sam Basu: Using AI for the User Interface - Episode 329
12/23/2024
Sam Basu: Using AI for the User Interface - Episode 329
Sam Basu is a technologist, author, speaker, Microsoft MVP, and gadget-lover and is the Developer Advocacy Manager for Progress Software. With a long developer background, he now spends much of his time advocating modern development platforms & tools on Microsoft/Telerik technology stacks. His spare time calls for travel, fast cars, cricket, and culinary adventures. You can find him as @samidip on the internet. Topics of Discussion: [3:09] Sam shares his career journey and more about his background as a developer. [5:18] Meeting the users where they are and the importance of adaptability. [8:07] What kinds of use cases are available today for developers to use AI when it comes to UI? [9:15] The two-pronged approach to UI and UX. [13:33] Challenges and opportunities in AI integration. [16:21] Future of the user interface. [21:43] The AI models are exceptionally smart in understanding natural language. [25:41] How GitHub Copilot can help developers. [26:48] The limitations of GitHub Copilot. [30:46] The gap in training for developers for Copilot. [33:06] Use cases on Smart AI. [36:14] The importance of responsible AI development. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Jeff Fritz: .NET 9 and Beyond - Episode 328
12/16/2024
Jeff Fritz: .NET 9 and Beyond - Episode 328
Jeff Fritz is an experienced developer, technical educator, and PM on the .NET team at Microsoft. He’s the producer of the .NET Conf online series of events, and regularly livestreams builds of websites and fun applications. You can follow Jeff for more .NET, .NET Core, and, Visual Studio content on Twitch and Twitter at @csharpfritz. Topics of Discussion: [2:40] Jeff’s background and the many roles he is involved in. [6:17] Key announcements from .NET Conf. [6:18] Starting with .NET Aspire, and getting it right with version 3. [11:24] Version 3 covers the unattended deployment process. [12:20] Benefits of the website. [18:23] AI extensions for .NET. [22:28] Recommendations for hardware for AI development. [25:35] The static assets features. [28:57] Using Github Copilot. [30:13] Remembering that AI is just a text calculator. [36:21] How people can catch up with the content from .NETConf. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! be Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Ravi Ram: TechBash & Community Conferences - Episode 327
12/09/2024
Ravi Ram: TechBash & Community Conferences - Episode 327
Ravi Ram is a software engineer specializing in .NET, Azure, and intensive, high-stakes software. He started developing in 1998 with basic websites. Moved from Classic ASP with Cart.ASP. After learning about SQL injections after a client hack, he was hired by the California Department of Justice to do that work. Ravi is completely self-taught and has contributed to countless software projects over 30 years. Topics of Discussion: [3:24] Ravi shares his career journey, starting with web design for a neighbor, moving to classic ASP, and eventually to .NET. [5:12] is a .NET conference in Pennsylvania, emphasizing its family-friendly atmosphere and the high attendance of families. [8:00] A few of Ravi’s favorite moments and sessions from TechBash. [12:57] Going through code in real-time with one of the TechBash speakers. [16:51] How approachable, diverse, and friendly TechBash is. [17:11] Ravi talks about a session on scope logging with OpenTelemetry, which impressed him with its configuration capabilities. [27:49] Why the duo loves the word “seam”! [28:07] Encouragement for first-time speakers who may be interested in TechBash. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Sandi Metz' Rules For Developers Llewellyn Falco refactoring Metz' Rules For Developers Llewellyn Falco refactoring Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Greg Leonardo: The latest in Azure & AI - Episode 326
12/02/2024
Greg Leonardo: The latest in Azure & AI - Episode 326
Greg is a Cloud Architect who assists organizations with cloud adoption and innovation. He is currently the Head of Microsoft Cloud Services at Built Global and also the founder of Webonology. He posts on a daily Cloud Blog — . He has been working in the IT industry since his time in the military and is a developer, teacher, speaker, and early adopter. Greg has worked in many facets of IT throughout his career and is currently the president of TampaDev, a community meetup that runs #TampaCC and various technology events throughout Tampa. Greg holds a certification as a Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert and Microsoft Certified Trainer and is an Azure MVP. Topics of Discussion: [3:14] Greg’s career journey, his role as an innovator, and his early adoption of Azure. [4:00] The utility of “compute” in Azure and how it simplifies application deployment. [4:44] Recent developments in Azure and AI. [5:17] The pendulum swings between cloud and on-premises solutions, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach. [10:21] Strategies for streamlining business productivity — understanding there is no single “silver bullet.” [14:08] How AI can enhance productivity and its evolving role in the workplace. [18:45] Encouraging the younger generation to challenge the status quo and simplify processes. [25:11] Addressing the global tech talent shortage and the role of AI in filling productivity gaps. [29:49] Ethical considerations and challenges in AI adoption, including the risks of misinformation and biases. [33:14] The potential future convergence of AI and quantum computing, and its implications for software development. [37:10] The responsibility of developers to verify AI-generated outputs, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Mads Torgersen: C# Insights with Language Designer - Episode 325
11/25/2024
Mads Torgersen: C# Insights with Language Designer - Episode 325
Mads is the Lead Designer of the C# language and has been at Microsoft for 18 years. Prior to this, Mads was a professor and contributed to a language starting with J. He was previously on episode 164 of the podcast where he spoke about the latest on C# at the time. Topics of Discussion: [3:43] Mads’s career journey. [5:14] C# Compiler and language evolution. [9:18] C# 12 and 13 features. [14:35] The impact of the new features. [18:11] The importance of gathering user feedback in refining and expanding new features. [22:19] What’s the best avenue to learn if you’re coming in fresh? [26:30] Mads explains the goal for C# this year. [37:51] Mads views generative AI as a productivity boost rather than a replacement for human programmers. [38:00] Does C# have a category? [40:55] Generative AI and its impact on programming. [43:43] Serving as another productivity booster for developing code. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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John Callaway: Blazor and IoT - Episode 324
11/18/2024
John Callaway: Blazor and IoT - Episode 324
John Callaway is an International Speaker and author and has received many Microsoft MVP awards. He has been a professional developer since 1999, focusing primarily on web technologies. Currently, he specializes in C# and .NET in Azure. Clean code and professionalism are particularly important to him, as well as mentoring and teaching others what he has learned along the way. He was a podcaster for several years at the 6Figure Developer podcast. He is available for independent and freelance software consulting work and enjoys speaking and presenting on various topics. You can contact him at . Topics of Discussion: [3:08] A few of John’s career highlights. [4:53] What is the RetroPie Manager? [9:24] Details of the RetroPie Manager Project. [13:50] Used Vehicle Checklist. [18:45] The use of local storage in the checklist application and the potential for future enhancements. [21:23] Future trends in web development and AI tools. [27:00] The impact of AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot on development productivity and quality. [28:01] John emphasizes the need for developers to continue defining application architectures and translating user requirements. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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David Morton: What is a Data Scientist - Episode 323
11/11/2024
David Morton: What is a Data Scientist - Episode 323
David Morton is a technologist with extensive experience across various sectors, including retail, finance, consulting, energy, and commodities trading. David has successfully contributed to companies of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises with up to 60,000 employees. Renowned for his ability to simplify complex concepts and solutions, he believes in using the most effective tools to address challenges efficiently and elegantly. Topics of Discussion: [2:41] David Morton’s background and early Career. [5:30] What is a data scientist? [7:35] Data Science vs. Software Engineering. [12:08] Hypothesis Testing and Model Building. [12:49] David explains the concept of a model in data science, using the metaphor of how a grandmother thinks about someone. [13:04] How models are mathematical representations of the real world, used for prediction and analysis. [15:06] Data science models vs. a GPT model. [18:08] The importance of using the right tool for the job. [26:10] The operational side of data science and the role of machine learning. [35:56] Practical examples of Data Science applications. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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David Fowler: Architecture of .NET Aspire - Episode 322
11/04/2024
David Fowler: Architecture of .NET Aspire - Episode 322
David Fowler is a Distinguished Engineer and has been at Microsoft for over 16 years working on developer frameworks and tools in the .NET space. He’s one of the creators of several popular OSS frameworks and tools such as .NET Aspire, NuGet, SignalR, and Core. He also architected the Azure SignalR Service, a service for doing real-time WebSocket-based communication at scale. He’s an avid open-source advocate and developer currently focused on simplifying developer experiences in the microservice space. David is also passionate about mentoring, supporting individual contributors in their careers, and helping underrepresented folks get interested in technology. Topics of Discussion: [3:14] David’s career journey. [4:28] Development of.NET Aspire. [6:47] Evolution of front-end and back-end architectures. [13:27] Challenges and Improvements in.NET Aspire. [19:08] The set of resources they chose to start with. [21:48] The Infrastructure Library. [25:23] The potential for creating templates to streamline the bootstrapping process for teams and projects. [28:58] Does Azure API include networking in the firewall rules? [31:52] What are the things David is most excited about with DevStory? [32:3] The “wait for” feature. [38:03] The complexity of implementing health checks. [44:53] What is Dapper? [44:01] Future Vision for.NET Aspire. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Bob Ward: SQL Server - Episode 321
10/28/2024
Bob Ward: SQL Server - Episode 321
Bob Ward is a Principal Architect for the Microsoft Azure Data team, which owns the development for Microsoft SQL Edge to Cloud. Bob has worked for Microsoft for 30-plus years on every version of SQL Server shipped from OS/2 1.1 to SQL Server 2022, including Azure SQL. Bob is a well-known speaker on SQL Server, Azure SQL, AI, and Microsoft Fabric, often presenting talks on new releases, internals, and specialized topics at events such as SQLBits, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit, DevIntersection, and VS Live. You can also learn Azure SQL from him on the popular series . You can follow him at @bobwardms or . Bob is the author of the books Pro SQL Server on Linux, SQL Server 2019 Revealed, Azure SQL Revealed, and SQL Server 2022 Revealed, available from Apress Media. Topics of Discussion: [4:22] Bob’s long history with Microsoft and the evolution of SQL Server. [6:41] What are the big use cases that SQL Server can now do? [7:38] Beyond RDBMS framework. [9:34] Building innovation off an already trusted brand. [9:50] What’s the vision of AI on SQL Server? [10:51] It’s all about smarter searching. [14:26] AI assistance features in SQL Server, such as the SQL Copilot and natural language to SQL query generation. [16:02] Hybrid searching. [19:41] Challenges and opportunities in AI Integration. [20:43] Content moderation is now being added to the loop. [22:39] The categories of different models. [23:16] The potential for industry-specific models to enhance AI capabilities in fields like insurance underwriting. [28:19] Knowing which model to use. [33:17] The trend towards industry-specific training of AI models to better suit specific business needs. [34:07] The current vision for SQL Server. [35:22] Innovating in the cloud. [38:30] The potential for SQL Server to handle AI workloads on small form factors, such as edge devices and standalone boards. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Jeff Wouters: PowerShell Programming - Episode 320
10/21/2024
Jeff Wouters: PowerShell Programming - Episode 320
Jeff was born and raised in The Netherlands and is an IT geek with a passion for automation. At the young age of 6, he had his very first computer and started developing his own Pacman to learn Batch programming. Looking back, the performance was terrible, but it worked. Over the years, he has always kept in touch with some sort of scripting or programming languages, such as Batch, (Turbo) Pascal, PHP, Delphi, Kixtart, Visual Basic Scripting (VBS), VB .NET, PowerShell, and C# .NET (Core). He is the owner of Methos, a consultancy and managed services company from The Netherlands focused on Microsoft Modern Workplace (Windows + Intune + Office365) and Azure through automation and Infrastructure-as-Code. Topics of Discussion: [4:19] Jeff’s passion and the three turning points in his career. [8:47] The architecture and intention behind PowerShell being built on .NET. [12:33] What are the biggest mistakes Jeff sees people making when it comes to PowerShell? [11:50] Best practices for using PowerShell in DevOps environments, and common mistakes to avoid. [16:04] Differences between binary and PowerShell-based modules, and the benefits of exploring module code. [18:18] Leveraging .NET code in PowerShell scripts and the advantages of this approach. [20:00] Preferred methods for writing automated tests for PowerShell code. [23:39] Jeff’s current focus areas, including certifications and his upcoming “script portal” project. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Database Hygiene: Grant Fritchey - Episode 319
10/14/2024
Database Hygiene: Grant Fritchey - Episode 319
Grant Fritchey has over thirty years of experience in IT, specializing in development and database administration. He works for Red Gate Software as a Product Advocate and writes articles for SQL Server Central and Simple-Talk. He is the author of “SQL Server Execution Plans” and “SQL Server Query Performance Tuning.” He also co-authored “Query Store for SQL Server 2019,” “Expert Performance Indexing,” “SQL Server MVP Deep Dives 2,” “Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration,” and “Pro SQL Server 2012 Practices.” He presents at conferences and user groups worldwide and is available for part-time, short-term consulting contracts.Since 2009, he has been recognized as a Microsoft SQL Server MVP. He has received the AWS Community Builder award for the past five years. In 2014, he was honored as a Dunn & Bradstreet MVP, and in 2011, he received the Tech10 Award in Rhode Island. Topics of Discussion: [:35] Introduction of Grant Fritchey and his career in IT and database administration. [3:23] Grant’s journey from software development to becoming a DBA. [5:13] The importance of database selection and how different types of databases serve different needs. [11:27] Grant’s view on the addition of document support to major database platforms. [13:29] Database hygiene basics and the importance of regular backups and restore practices. [19:26] The business side of database recovery and balancing cost with recovery objectives (RPO/RTO). [25:03] Grant’s recommendations for testing database restores. [28:08] Automation in DevOps and the importance of human training in recovery processes. [31:53] Managing data warehouses and recovery strategies for large databases. [35:12] Resources for developers without dedicated DBAs to ensure good database hygiene. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Programming Windows: Dave Plummer - Episode 318
10/07/2024
Programming Windows: Dave Plummer - Episode 318
Dave was a developer or development manager on each of the major operating systems from MS-DOS 6.2 through Server 2003 while at Microsoft from 1993 to 2003. He’s worked on MS-DOS products, OLE objects, Win95, Windows NT, and the NT Pinball game. He also wrote and helped design the initial prototype of Windows Media Center. Dave also added Product Activation to the Windows platform including various anti-tampering mechanisms to prevent illegal copying of the product. He’s also worked on Task Manager, Zip Folders, and Calculator as he focused on the Windows Shell. He currently runs a very popular online show called Dave’s Garage on YouTube, where he demystifies various software engineering topics. Topics of Discussion: [:35] Introduction of Dave, his background, and his career at Microsoft. [3:47] Dave’s experience at Microsoft in the 1990s: the environment, culture, and working with some of the best developers in the world. [5:19] What led Dave to work on the Windows shell and user interface development. [7:38] The challenges of porting code from Windows 95 to Windows NT and working with operating system differences. [9:25] Dave’s work on Task Manager, Zip Folders, and Windows Media Center. [13:23] The state of software engineering today: Dave’s take on modern systems, embedded programming, and the rise of AI. [14:34] Embedded systems programming: Dave’s work with ESP32 chips, their features, and applications. [19:16] Thoughts on AI and its impact on software development: Will AI eventually write all the code? [21:14] The future of software engineering: How AI will change the role of developers and the need for debugging and architectural understanding. [22:47] Dave’s advice for young programmers: Learning C++, Python, and the importance of understanding system architecture. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Programming Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Jeff Sutherland: The History of Agile - Episode 317
09/30/2024
Jeff Sutherland: The History of Agile - Episode 317
Jeff is the co-creator of Scrum and a leading expert on how the framework has evolved to meet the needs of today’s business. The framework he developed in 1993 and formalized in 1995 with Ken Schwaber has since been adopted by the vast majority of software development companies around the world. However, Jeff realized that the benefits of Scrum are not limited to software and product development. He has adapted this successful strategy for several other industries, including finance, healthcare, higher education, and telecom. As the CEO of Scrum Inc., Jeff sets the vision for success with Scrum. He continues to share best practices with organizations around the globe and has written extensively on Scrum rules and methods. With a deep understanding of business processes — gleaned from years as CTO/CEO of eleven different software companies — Jeff is able to describe the high-level organizational benefits of Scrum and what it takes to create hyperproductive teams. Topics of Discussion: [:35] Introduction of Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum. [3:47] Jeff Sutherland’s background: His experience at West Point and lessons in making work visible. [5:19] Fighter pilot experiences that influenced the operational side of Scrum. [6:02] Transition to the Air Force Academy and work in AI at Stanford. [7:38] Learning complex adaptive systems and the origin of Agile from complex systems theory. [8:30] How complex systems theory impacts Scrum and Agile teams today. [9:25] Jeff’s first experiences applying Scrum in the banking industry. [11:25] The development of Scrum and the 2001 Agile Manifesto. [12:57] Making work visible and organizing teams, from West Point to Toyota to the Agile Manifesto. [13:23] Fast forward to 2024: Issues in Scrum and Agile practices, including sprint lengths and backlog grooming. [14:34] Jeff’s new book: First Principles in Scrum and its relation to Scrum technology stacks. [16:23] Building autonomous systems: Lessons from radiation physics, AI, and complex adaptive systems. [19:16] The influence of autonomous robots on the creation of Scrum. [21:14] Discussion of Scrum and AI, leading to “Extreme Agile.” [22:47] Predictions for the future of Scrum and Agile: Teams becoming 30 to 100 times faster by 2030. [23:37] Example of AI in action: Developing a system to handle expense reports using Scrum principles. [29:37] Challenges with AI-generated code and the need for strong software architecture knowledge. [33:24] The importance of following Scrum “by the book” to achieve hyperproductivity. [35:30] Jeff’s closing advice on adapting to extreme agile to stay competitive by 2030. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Ryan Riley: Leading a Software Engineering Team - Episode 316
09/23/2024
Ryan Riley: Leading a Software Engineering Team - Episode 316
Ryan Riley is a Principal Software Engineer at Wise Rock in Houston, TX. He enjoys learning and collaborating on simple, creative solutions to problems, and implementing those solutions with others through teamwork, training, and mentoring. He has worked as a Solution Architect and Team Lead for local and remote teams, focusing on front-end UX and back-end, distributed applications and APIs to delight customers across many industries. Topics of Discussion: [:36] Intro to Ryan and his experience in software engineering leadership. [4:10] Ryan’s early career journey and transition from the .com bubble to software development. [6:17] How Ryan stepped into leadership roles through initiative and team collaboration. [8:40] Balancing hands-on coding with team leadership in a long-term software engineering career. [12:10] The importance of experience and technical knowledge for effective leadership in development teams. [14:27] Empowering team members to lead projects and grow their skill sets. [18:15] Key non-negotiables for young developers, including pull requests, testing, and small commits. [21:28] Architectural patterns Ryan favors, like JSON APIs and balancing between monoliths and microservices. [28:55] Key strategies for supporting software in production and ensuring stability. [34:41] Challenges of cloud costs and performance and the importance of managing resources efficiently. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Erik Darling: Database Technical Debt - Episode 315
09/16/2024
Erik Darling: Database Technical Debt - Episode 315
Erik Darling makes your database faster in exchange for money. He is a DBA, developer, and architect with a track record of tackling even the most challenging technical issues. He runs a SQL Server Consulting and Coaching practice. In addition to his consulting services, he is also passionate about blogging, training, and contributing to open-source projects that help with SQL Server troubleshooting. He's given many public speaking engagements on the topic at conferences and events around the world, like PASS Summit and SQLBits. Topics of Discussion: [2:57] Eric's journey into SQL Server and database performance tuning. [4:25] Challenges faced in early SQL Server work and evolving technical debt. [7:47] The standard problems with databases over time. [11:14] How technical debt shows up in SQL Server databases. [15:20] How abstraction layers like ORMs contribute to technical debt. [22:38] Performance issues as a result of technical debt in databases. [25:19] Key advice on database schema design to improve performance. [30:46] Key differences between Azure SQL DB and managed instances. [37:23] Staffing challenges and solutions for managing SQL Server environments. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Kent Beck: Tidy First - Episode 314
09/09/2024
Kent Beck: Tidy First - Episode 314
Kent Beck is an original signer of the Agile Manifesto, author of the Extreme Programming book series, rediscoverer of Test-Driven Development, and an inspiring Keynote Speaker. I read his TDD book 20 years ago. Topics of Discussion: [3:46] What led Kent to extreme programming? [7:52] What critical practices have stood the test of time? [10:58] The role of software design in Agile Development. [13:11] The inspiration behind Tidy First? [16:16] Why software design is both a critical skill and an exercise in human relationships. [22:05] What is “normalizing symmetry”? [25:04] Empirical design. [28:09] Design changes tend to be reversible. [30:41] Experimentation with the GPT phase of AI on publications. [35:13] Advice for young developers and programmers. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Matt Gordon: Database DevOps - Episode 313
09/02/2024
Matt Gordon: Database DevOps - Episode 313
Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with SQL Server since 2000. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's an IDERA ACE alumnus and Redgate Community Ambassador. His original data professional role was in database development, which quickly evolved into query tuning work that further evolved into being a DBA in the healthcare realm. He has supported several critical systems utilizing SQL Server and managed dozens of live site SQL Server implementations. As a Microsoft Lead Data Architect at Centric Consulting, he works with customers large, medium, and small to migrate to the cloud, make their data estate operate efficiently, and find the right tools and solutions within the Microsoft Data Platform. Topics of Discussion: [3:08] Matt’s career journey and overcoming a fear of public speaking. [5:42] Changes and consistencies in working with SQL Server over the years. [7:18] Advice on the process and tools for database change management and DevOps. [12:29] Recommendations for database monitoring and observability. [19:30] Specific monitoring tool recommendations and their pros and cons. [24:04] The role of ORMs and their impact on database performance. [30:59] Thoughts on the evolution of microservices and database architecture patterns. [36:55] Considerations for working with small versus large database sizes. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Henry Quillin: What it’s Like as a Computer Science Student - Episode 312
08/26/2024
Henry Quillin: What it’s Like as a Computer Science Student - Episode 312
Henry Quillin is a student in the Canfield computer science and business honors program (CSB) at UT Austin and a software engineer intern at Bank of America. He likes building things. He is interested in software development, entrepreneurship, and blockchain/crypto. He has completed several internships and other contracts and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He always has several software projects going, and when not buried in VSCode or books, he enjoys weightlifting, cooking, and listening to podcasts. He's currently helping artists monetize their scrapped music as the CTO of Scraps. You can check out his website at henry . Topics of Discussion: [3:49] Henry’s college experience and mindset shift. [5:00] Realizing the value of college. [6:48] Henry describes the computer science courses he took in his freshman year, including data structures, discrete math, and operating systems. [11:16] The computer programming classes Henry took in his freshman year. [12:54] The importance of practical experience and the value of hands-on learning in computer science. [20:27] Living arrangements and the social dynamics of college. [23:27] Advice for aspiring computer scientists. [28:07] Why internships are great, and how to make the most out of them. [33:12] Henry’s Bank of America internship experience. [35:24] Learning to be comfortable with new and emerging technologies. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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David Starr: Azure Cloud Marketplaces - Episode 311
08/19/2024
David Starr: Azure Cloud Marketplaces - Episode 311
David Starr is a Principal Solutions Architect at Microsoft, focusing on Azure and cloud marketplaces. With over 20 years of experience, he has led software development initiatives, held architectural responsibilities, built high-performance teams, and fostered technical learning. He is passionate about delivering great software, designing cloud-scale solutions, and quality-focused engineering practices. He has contributed to or led several team initiatives that enable and accelerate the Azure Marketplace, such as the Marketplace FastTrack Copilot using Azure Open AI, the SaaS Accelerator, the Data Sales Accelerator, and the .NET and Java SaaS fulfillment libraries. Additionally, he is the program owner for Mastering the Marketplace, a comprehensive learning platform for Microsoft partners and customers. Topics of Discussion: [6:09] Agile methodologies, Scrum, and software development leadership. [6:38] Working with Agile Alliance and Scrum.org. [7:50] What David learned working for several years at GoDaddy. [9:49] Using Azure Marketplace to sell software and services, with examples of successful partners and their experiences. [15:20] Who has full admin rights on MongoDB? [17:49] Pricing models for AI models in Azure Marketplace. [21:56] AI cost estimation and model selection. [29:40] Azure Cloud Marketplace and AI advancements, with insights on how to get started with product development. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Brian Randell: GitHub and DevOps - Episode 310
08/12/2024
Brian Randell: GitHub and DevOps - Episode 310
Brian A. Randell is a Staff Developer Advocate at GitHub where he works to help tell the good word about GitHub and how it can help you deliver solutions faster and more securely. For more than 30 years, he has been building software solutions. As a Partner at MCW Technologies, he educated teams on Microsoft technologies via writing and training — both in-person and on-demand. He’s been a consultant for companies small and large, worldwide, including Fortune 100 companies like Microsoft. Brian is a passionate software craftsman who still enjoys coding as he helps teams to improve their processes from idea to release. He was a Microsoft MVP for 18 years and has co-authored books, written magazine articles, and more. When not working, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, dog, and extended family. Topics of Discussion: [3:01] Brian’s career journey from software development to education and consulting. [8:20] Brian’s role as a developer advocate at GitHub. [11:57] GitHub’s CoPilot feature and its benefits for developers. [12:04] The impact of GitHub on software delivery and security. [18:22] How CoPilot can save you time and energy to spend more on innovation. [20:36] CoPilot Workspace. [24:11] Best setup for .NET development teams between Azure DevOps and GitHub. [32:21] Prioritizing developer experience and value delivery in software development. [40:09] Leading with a developer-first mindset. [41:15] Using GitHub for code storage and collaboration. [43:32] More info on the upcoming Essential DevOps book and San Francisco event. [46:31] What is platform engineering? Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Management Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Jason Haley: Azure Services For Artificial Intelligence - Episode 309
08/05/2024
Jason Haley: Azure Services For Artificial Intelligence - Episode 309
Jason Haley is a Full Stack Solution Architect at Jason Haley Consulting, LLC, where he provides custom Azure and .NET application development solutions for a variety of clients. With over 20 years of experience using Microsoft technologies, he has earned the title of Microsoft Azure MVP and holds numerous certifications. His expertise lies in developing Web Applications and Single Page Applications (SPA) using Blazor, Angular, jQuery, ASP.Net Core, Entity Framework Core, Redis, SQL Server, and Windows Azure Active Directory. In addition, he customizes build processes for Azure DevOps pipelines and creates courseware for .NET and Azure topics. He is deeply passionate about learning and sharing his knowledge with the local Azure and .NET community, and he leads two user groups in the Boston area. Topics of Discussion: [3:40] The two things that have stuck out in Jason’s career. [5:36] When Jason started paying attention to GenAI. [9:12] Looking at GenAI from a solution perspective. [10:52] Where to start as a .NET developer. [16:49] Why aren’t there more examples in C#? [18:02] What is Graph RAG? [19:11] Using language models for natural language processing tasks, including prompt engineering and token limits. [20:56] The importance of prompt engineering, and how to optimize prompts. [25:04] Cost and mechanics of using OpenAI's language model in Azure. [32:12] Using Azure AI services for business problems and thinking about AI as an intern. [34:48] Recommendations for .NET developers to get started with Azure Open AI and semantic search. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Gene Kim: Wiring a Winning Software Organization - Episode 308
07/29/2024
Gene Kim: Wiring a Winning Software Organization - Episode 308
Gene Kim has been studying high-performing technology organizations since 1999. He was the founder and CTO of Tripwire, Inc. for 13 years, running an enterprise security software company. As an author, Gene’s books have sold over 1 million copies, including earning recognition as a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. He most recently co-authored Wiring the Winning Organization, as well as The Phoenix Project, The DevOps Handbook, and the Shingo Publication Award-winning book, Accelerate. Since 2014, he has been the organizer and program chair of the DevOps Enterprise Summit, now called the Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit, which studies the technology transformations of large, complex organizations. Topics of Discussion: [2:11] Gene joins the show and shares more about his career background. [9:51] Gene discusses the three key mechanisms that are common across various frameworks and methodologies: certification, simplification, and amplification. [10:06] What has changed since Gene released his first book in 2004? [14:42] The two revelations in the book. [18:25] The importance of layer 3 (organizational wiring) in complex systems. [21:16] Reducing communication barriers in software development teams. [24:33] Overcoming obstacles as a team. [25:56] IT department's role in business, including challenges with communication and coordination. [27:06] The Check Box project. [30:11] Is the concept of the IT department a good or bad idea? [32:11] What caused the DevOps moment? [38:40] Wiring software organizations for success. [43:08] How Gene learned what good architecture looks like. [44:41] Gene is blown away by how important the notion of independence of action is. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! , by Gene Kim , by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, et al. Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Craig Loewen: Windows Subsystem for Linux - Episode 307
07/22/2024
Craig Loewen: Windows Subsystem for Linux - Episode 307
Craig Loewen has had a love for technology ever since he was a child and has grown passionate about building things that empower people. From constructing his own quadcopter for photography to delivering developer tools that aid developers in driving technological innovation, he has done it all. As a product manager at Microsoft, he is responsible for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), a developer tool used by over 3 million developers and IT professionals. He defines the product vision and prioritizes the feature roadmap based on customer data, technical feedback, and market studies. On the personal side, he volunteers as a mentor at First Robotics, teaching high school students how to build robots and fostering a passion for STEM. Topics of Discussion: [3:52] Craig’s career journey, starting as an intern working on Windows console and WSL features. [5:18] Common use cases for WSL — allowing developers to use Linux tools while staying on Windows. [7:43] How to get started with WSL. [8:59] Does Craig have any favorite Linux programs? [10:05] New Dev Home feature for managing WSL distros with a graphical interface. [11:36] How WSL works using virtualization technology. [13:35] Memory management in WSL — typical usage and automatic optimization. [15:22 WSL is designed primarily for development scenarios, not production environments. [20:33] Integration of local AI and small language models with WSL using VS Code AI Toolkit. [23:37] Using small language models for various tasks, including issue labeling and search functionality. [27:35] Intro to Sudo for Windows, bringing Linux-like elevated permissions to Windows commands. [28:39] What exactly is Sudo? [32:39] New enterprise features for WSL, including security controls and integration with Microsoft Defender. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Damian Brady: GitHub Copilot - Episode 306
07/15/2024
Damian Brady: GitHub Copilot - Episode 306
Damian Brady is a Staff Developer Advocate at GitHub. He’s a developer, speaker, and author specializing in DevOps, MLOps, developer process, and software architecture. Formerly a Cloud Advocate at Microsoft for four years, and before that, a dev at Octopus Deploy and a Microsoft MVP, he has a 25-year background in software development and consulting in a broad range of industries. In Australia, he co-organized the Brisbane .Net User Group and launched the annual DDD Brisbane conference. Topics of Discussion: [3:45] When Damian realized he was interested in the things surrounding software development. [6:40] GitHub Copilot and AI tools to improve developer workflows. [8:50] What can people love GitHub Copilot for today? [16:06] How GitHub Copilot can assist developers without replacing them. [21:11] AI-powered code generation and bug detection. [25:15] Improving AI’s ability to complete tasks by providing context and grounding it in truth. [29:23] How the process of adding a new field works. [34:03] Using Copilot to improve code development workflows. [42:03] The “ship to learn” idea. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) — Available on Amazon! — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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