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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Adrienne Braganza Tacke: Code Review Patterns & Principles - Episode 347
04/28/2025
Adrienne Braganza Tacke: Code Review Patterns & Principles - Episode 347
Adrienne Braganza Tacke is an accomplished author and software engineer with a passion for educating others about software development. Choosing a path distinct from the expected trajectory of nursing, she pursued a degree in management information systems at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Over the course of nearly eight years in the field, she has contributed her expertise across multiple industries, including healthcare and higher education. Currently, she serves as a software development engineer at DebtTrader, where she embraces the challenge of modernizing fintech workflows traditionally dependent on spreadsheets. Beyond her professional work, Adrienne is an international speaker, instructor, and dedicated advocate for STEM education. Her first book, Coding for Kids: Python, has consistently ranked among the top-selling children's programming books on Amazon. She frequently visits schools to inspire students with insights into software engineering and the transformative power of coding. When she’s not engaging with young aspiring developers, she speaks at tech conferences throughout the U.S. and Europe. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@AdrienneTacke) to stay updated on her latest endeavors. Topics of Discussion: [3:20] Adrienne’s journey and the happy accidents and formative moments that led her to working in this field. [5:46] What does a developer advocate do? [7:04] Adrienne started teaching in 2017, when tech influencers were starting to become more popular. [9:02] There is no one-size-fits-all about the code review process, and what it looks like will be different for every team. [11:19] The price of ineffective communication. [15:30] The power of fixing things during development and before the code review. [19:10] Adrienne gives a few real-life examples of time wasters in code reviews. [22:08] More about Adrienne’s book, , and how it can help streamline and save time. [23:44] Like Adrienne’s chapter title, if you can automate it — do it. [26:51] There are still errors that won’t be caught by static analysis. [30:46] Some tips to remember when using AI, like making sure your titles are descriptive. [36:17] Maybe an “auto-polite” button is coming soon? We wish. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo OFFER: First listener to use the code gets a free copy of the book: "braganza-FBEE"Instructions: 1. Go to book link () 2. Follow purchase process 3. Apply coupon (braganza-FBEE) at checkout Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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April Yoho: GitHub in 2025 - Episode 346
04/21/2025
April Yoho: GitHub in 2025 - Episode 346
April is a senior developer advocate and DevOps practice lead for GitHub, specializing in application transformation and DevOps ways of working. Her focus is working on Microsoft Azure to take customers on a journey from legacy technology to serverless and containers, where code comes first, while enabling them to take full advantage of DevOps. April was previously a cloud consultant and solution architect for various partners in the UK and brings her years of experience in helping customers plan their journey. She also serves as a Hashicorp Ambassador, dedicating much of her time to working with infrastructure as code (IaC). She enjoys making Azure and its features more accessible. Her technical expertise includes PowerShell, Golang, and occasionally TypeScript and C#. In her free time, April enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and scuba diving. Additionally, she is a triathlete who competes in Ironman and Half Ironman events. Topics of Discussion: [1:57] April’s career journey — from U.S. data center outages and 72-hour shifts to discovering cloud and automation after relocating to the U.K. [3:53] How an early Azure migration in 2013 ignited her passion for infrastructure as code and DevOps. [5:33] GitHub’s evolution into a full end-to-end enterprise platform, with a major focus on security, scalability, and developer productivity. [6:51] Code Spaces: VS Code in the cloud with 60 hours free per user — solving compute and environment parity issues across teams. [10:00] GitHub’s internal use of Code Spaces: every GitHub employee (aka “Hubber”) uses it to work on the github.com codebase. [12:29] Code Spaces’ advantages in lab and hackathon settings, including speed, security, and reliability. [13:55] Breakdown of GitHub Copilot’s flavors: chat, inline suggestions, edits, pull request reviews, and agentic AI. [17:12] Real-world uses of Copilot Edits: generating documentation, writing tests, and making cohesive multi-file changes. [20:00] GitHub’s goal of enabling the “10x developer,” not just in speed but in quality, consistency, and creativity. [25:00] How AI tooling is changing how we think about architecture, code reuse, and shrinking monoliths into modular libraries. [30:00] Prompting strategies: how different cultures and languages impact the way developers interact with AI tools. [32:47] GitHub Workspaces: start from requirements, generate a plan, and get a head start on writing and converting code. [35:00] April’s belief that AI-driven development is already here, and edits are one of the best ways to experience that transformation now. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Jerry Nixon: .NET Aspire and Databases - Episode 345
04/14/2025
Jerry Nixon: .NET Aspire and Databases - Episode 345
Jerry Nixon is a Principal Program Manager on the SQL Server team focused on the Data API builder. He’s also a fanatic for #CSharp, #StarTrek, and Etymology. He also serves as a professor at Colorado Christian University. Topics of Discussion: [3:34] Why Jerry describes his life as a pearl necklace. [5:15] Jerry recommends the book Never Eat Alone and the importance of community. [6:01] How engineers and parenting are aligned. [7:02] Jerry reflects on Microsoft’s history of evangelism, the rise of “opinionated” frameworks, and how .NET Aspire revives a form of proven prescriptive guidance. [9:35] Prescriptive guidance. [12:03] The inevitable evolution of .NET Aspire and how it simplifies container-based development by handling orchestration behind the scenes. [16:56] Paying more attention and awareness to the developer community. [18:30] How GraphQL fits into the Data API Builder experience, giving developers flexibility without needing to write complex backends. [21:40] Jerry talks about community feedback on Data API Builder and how real-world use cases help prioritize features and fix gaps in tooling. [31:02] Jerry’s perspective on building container-based solutions. [32:15] Data API Builder’s community involvement and upcoming features. [36:15] Docker Desktop. [38:58] The architectural concept of Data API Builder. [44:42] C# coding conventions at Microsoft and the friendly battles over things like naming, underscores, and formatting styles across internal teams. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Stephen Toub: AI in .NET - Episode 344
04/07/2025
Stephen Toub: AI in .NET - Episode 344
Stephen Toub is a Partner Software Engineer at Microsoft. Stephen has been at Microsoft for almost 24 years and has done it all. If it has to do with .NET, he’s been in it. And today, he looks after all the .NET libraries making sure .NET continues to be the fastest platform on the planet. He ran the MSDN Magazine before it morphed into the docs and blogs of today. He was a leader in the concurrency and async and parallel programming developments, and now he’s turned his attention to pushing the AI envelope with .NET. Topics of Discussion: [4:37] Stephen morphed a few of his many interests into the role he has today. [6:04] How moments like the push for parallel computing, the open-sourcing of .NET, cross-platform support, and performance goals shaped Steven’s current focus. [7:37] Steven highlights the two major AI tracks: (1) AI-augmented tools that improve developer productivity, and (2) building AI capabilities into applications themselves. [10:37] The future of user interfaces. [12:43] Why “agents” are basically advanced actor-based systems empowered by large language models and tool calling, enabling reasoning and orchestration beyond simple Q&A. [23:22] Model context protocol. [24:08] A paradigm shift in system integration. [30:24] How Stephen and the .NET libraries team factor out common AI abstractions for the ecosystem, so that different frameworks (Semantic Kernel, Onnx Runtime, Olama, etc.) can interoperate. [32:15] Steven gives examples of how minimal C# code, combined with locally hosted LLMs or cloud endpoints, can solve real tasks. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Bruno Capuano: AI Developer Training in .NET - Episode 343
03/31/2025
Bruno Capuano: AI Developer Training in .NET - Episode 343
Bruno Capuano is a Principal Cloud Advocate at Microsoft where he empowers teams to build AI solutions with Azure using programming languages like C#, Python, and C++. His approach is to solve complex problems with minimal effort, delivering simple and efficient solutions in today’s fast-paced AI landscape. Bruno has led innovation in teams at Avanade across Canada and Europe, transforming cutting-edge technologies into practical business solutions. He is passionate about working with teams, helping them grow, achieve high productivity, and foster collaborative, positive environments. As an international speaker, he advocates for making AI accessible to everyone, empowering teams and organizations to harness its transformative potential. Outside of tech, he is a runner, a lifelong learner, and always looking for his next challenge—whether it’s mastering new skills or tackling a marathon. Topics of Discussion: [5:08] Bruno explains how his passion for learning and community engagement led him to a role where he could dedicate himself to education and advocacy. [7:17] Why data scientists and new AI tools often favor Python first, and how Bruno and his team work to ensure .NET developers also have immediate access to modern AI capabilities. [10:31] The progression of getting developers into AI. [11:20] Starting with familiar tools like Notepad. [13:39] The “must have’s” for developers who want to start writing AI code. [17:20] The benefit of GitHub models. [23:47] Vector Databases & Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). [25:17] How vector databases store information using numerical representations and enable semantic search. [31:25] Bruno highlights how AI “skills” or “functions” can call external APIs to fetch real-time data. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Per Kops: Architecture of Ollama and Local LLMs - Episode 342
03/24/2025
Per Kops: Architecture of Ollama and Local LLMs - Episode 342
Per is an experienced software architect and developer with more than 19 years of experience in designing, developing, and testing software. He is currently serving as a Distinguished software developer at Delegate, a Microsoft Partner in Denmark. Topics of Discussion: [3:02] More about Per’s background in nearly two decades in .NET and Azure consulting. [6:11] The concept of a boutique consultant. [7:00] Founding ATC-Net to share common .NET libraries and avoid duplicative coding. [10:02] Building trust with customers by open-sourcing “generic” components. [11:50] Creating a connector to run Olama (local LLMs) with Semantic Kernel. [20:08] Why Per “fell in love” with Semantic Kernel’s abstraction layers and extension possibilities. [21:44] The role of vector stores (like Azure Cognitive Search) in retrieval-augmented generation. [24:33] What do we mean by “vector” in the AI space? [26:39] What is a “text chunker”? [31:43] Azure AI search. [34:07] Finding the right tool for the right task. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Patrick Escarcega: Software Engineering Principles - Episode 341
03/17/2025
Patrick Escarcega: Software Engineering Principles - Episode 341
Patrick Escarcega is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Meserow Design, a company known for its excellence in developing and maintaining custom software solutions. His background is in software engineering and has been leading software teams for many years. His technical focus has been on Microsoft development and cloud technologies. Topics of Discussion: [3:30] Patrick recalls the moment he transitioned from individual software developer to leading teams, highlighting the importance of understanding how software adds business value beyond just code. [5:00] Patrick describes the joy he rediscovered in coding when starting his own company, emphasizing the delicate balance between hands-on coding and leadership responsibilities. [7:50] The head chef and food scientist analogy. [9:26] The importance of creating a safe environment, a “pit of success,” so developers can naturally follow best practices without feeling constrained. [10:36] Why readable, maintainable code is crucial, especially for senior leaders whose time is spent reading code more than writing it. [13:27] Comparing software engineering creativity to building an engine from “invisible Lego bricks," emphasizes the hidden creativity involved in engineering solutions. [15:08] The importance of leaders giving developers space and freedom to craft innovative solutions, rather than overly prescribing methodologies. [17:00] Running integration tests. [20:41] Accessibility and WCAG compliance explained: Why accessibility should be an integral part of software development and testing workflows. [23:14] EqualWeb accessibility checker and Chrome browser extension. [25:02] Practical everyday use of AI in software development, especially GitHub Copilot, and why developers should embrace AI tools regularly to remain productive and competitive. [31:10] Patrick encourages developers to embrace AI and keep learning, emphasizing that continuous adaptation will keep careers vibrant over the next decade. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Daniel Roth: .NET 10 Preview 1 - Episode 340
03/10/2025
Daniel Roth: .NET 10 Preview 1 - Episode 340
Daniel Roth is a Principal Product Manager on the team working on Core, Blazor, and other web features. He has previously worked on various parts of .NET, including System.Net, WCF, XAML, and . His passions include building frameworks for modern Web frameworks that are simple and easy to use. Topics of Discussion: [3:15] Daniel shares his journey from back-end services to front-end development and his role in making .NET open-source and cross-platform. [6:10] Blazor and its impact on development. [8:32] A few of the strengths we get with .NET. [9:24] .NET 9 and performance improvements. [12:45] .NET 10 Preview 1 and new features. [17:32] Architectural guidance for Blazor applications. [30:17] The importance of handling state persistence to avoid memory bloat and security issues. [32:32] Observability and telemetry in Blazor. [36:28] Is the nature of the UI web user interface changing as we integrate AI technology and large language models and agents? [37:12] Integration of AI and Generative AI in Blazor. [37:38] The new Microsoft Extensions AI library for interfacing with chat services in .NET applications. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Dustin Campbell: C# 13 - Episode 339
03/03/2025
Dustin Campbell: C# 13 - Episode 339
Dustin is a Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft. He works on enhancing .NET tooling and contributing to the design of the next version of C# as part of the language design team. Prior to his current role, he spent several years working as a program manager on Project Roslyn. He also contributed in a strong way to the Razor UI framework. He recently presented a session at .NET Conf 2024 on What's new in C# 13. Topics of Discussion: [4:04] Fun fact: Dustin has a jazz guitar performance degree! [3:39] The unique appeal of C#. [5:06] Evolution of C# and its features. [10:48] Impact of Async and Await on C#. [13:17] The compatibility of C# 13 with older .NET versions, specifically .NET 8. [15:04] How developers can leverage the latest C# features while still targeting older .NET frameworks, and the challenges associated with runtime support for new language capabilities. [17:04] Hacking the C# compiler. [17:28] The evolution of records from their initial introduction to the added features. [18:46] Records vs. Classes in C#. [22:51] AI’s influence on developer productivity. [25:46] The future of AI developer tools. [33:26] The need for better support for testing with large language models and other AI-driven dependencies. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo , by Jeffrey Palermo — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Scott Nichols: Azure AI Foundry - Episode 338
02/24/2025
Scott Nichols: Azure AI Foundry - Episode 338
Scott Nichols is a Principal Cloud Solutions Architect at Microsoft. He works for the commercial enterprise division serving the high-tech division out of Silicon Valley. He is also the leader of the .NET and the Azure user groups in Boise, Idaho. He started his career in the IT profession in 1993 as a mainframe and web developer. Since then, he has served as a Lead Software Engineer/Solution Architect, a Software Development Engineering Manager, a Sr. Cloud Software Solution Architect, and a Sr. Enterprise Solution Architect. When not at the keyboard, he loves the outdoors hunting, camping, fishing, archery, and working in the yard. Topics of Discussion: [4:03] Generative AI’s turning point. [5:52] Bridging the AI coding gap. [6:39] Scott explains the shift in project workloads to generative AI-based projects, both customer-facing and internal. [7:25] Networking companies using AI to analyze telemetry data and create new products. [8:49] Azure AI Foundry is a web portal that allows developers to spin up Azure Compute and access over 1800 models. [13:00] Although a “Cloud Guy,” Scott values his on-prem hardware as a playground for learning and experimenting with AI tools. [15:04] The benefits of using open source or on-prem tools to start working with AI without incurring cloud costs right away. [15:40] The rapid pace of innovation. [20:41] An example of Khan Academy using AI to create an online tutor, requiring significant prompt engineering to ensure accurate responses. [27:12] AI agents monitoring AI agents. [27:59] AI’s limitations and opportunities. [31:56] Testing strategies for AI-Integrated systems. [35:37] The future of AI and how it’s a great time to be in AI. [39:35] Great advice for the next generation of developers and software engineers. Mentioned in this Episode: — New Video Podcast! Email us at . (Sponsor) , by Jeffrey Palermo , by Jeffrey Palermo — Follow to stay informed about future events! Want to Learn More? Visit for show notes and additional episodes.
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Shaun Walker: Seven Years of Blazor - Episode 337
02/17/2025
Shaun Walker: Seven Years of Blazor - Episode 337
Shaun Walker is the founder and CEO of Devessence, a global technology consultancy with a boutique approach. He’s also the founder of the Oqtane and DotNetNuke web application frameworks, which have earned the recognition of being amongst the most pioneering and widely adopted open-source projects native to the Microsoft platform. He has over 30 years of professional experience in architecting and implementing enterprise software solutions for private and public organizations. Topics of Discussion: [4:38] While AI can be a useful tool, it won’t replace the need for traditional programming. [8:32] The gap between mainstream AI messaging and the reality of digital transformation. [9:22] While AI is a significant advancement, it should be seen as just another tool in a developer’s toolkit. [9:39] The history and evolution of Blazor. [13:31] The versatility of Blazor and its ability to adapt to various hosting models make it a powerful tool for different types of applications. [14:06] Challenges and best practices in Blazor development. [16:26] The decision to make Blazor official and its impact on the .NET ecosystem. [18:12] The evolution of Blazor Server vs. Blazor WebAssembly and why both are still relevant. [21:06] When to use Blazor Static, Blazor Server, or Blazor WebAssembly, based on project needs. [24:17] The tendency for technologists to be critics without actually using the technologies. [34:36] The advantages of Octane and why it streamlines Blazor development. [39:56] The . 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 McCleary: Telemetry & Observability in .NET Aspire - Episode 336
02/10/2025
Matt McCleary: Telemetry & Observability in .NET Aspire - Episode 336
Matt McCleary is a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft working on observability tools to empower developers to be successful. Matt started his career in engineering and has worked in tech for 10 years, the latest 8 at Microsoft. He’s been on the Azure Monitor team for most of that time. His passion is listening to customers and finding ways to make the product better. In his spare time, he finds himself coaching his 8-year-old son’s basketball team and playing in an adult men’s basketball league. Topics of Discussion: [3:26] Matt recounts his early interest in engineering and a pivotal moment during a college tour, along with his transition from civil engineering to business intelligence consulting, which led him to telemetry. [6:29] The strategy around Azure Monitor. [10:04] The three pillars of logs, traces, and metrics. [15:02] Recording custom metrics. [17:29] What is a distributed trace? [24:08] The concept of a custom event. [27:29] Future plans for Azure Monitor. [31:04] Integration with .NET Aspire. [34:04] Guidance on the best practices for Azure Monitor. [36:40] Application insights resources. 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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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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