.NET Rocks!

Michael Howard, a veteran at Microsoft and Senior Director in the Red Team, shares fascinating insights from over 30 years in application security. He delves into the evolution of security practices, emphasizing the importance of integrating security into development from the start. Michael discusses the arms race between attackers and defenders, explaining how the Red Team simulates real threats to bolster defenses. He also highlights the human factors in security vulnerabilities and the rising importance of AI-assisted measures to tackle evolving threats.

Billy Hollis, a Nashville-based software designer and developer specializing in user experience and healthcare systems, shares his insights on updating legacy applications. He discusses the importance of assessing whether a legacy app is still meeting modern workflows. Hollis highlights the challenges of balancing user-friendly design with the complexities of older systems and offers strategies for modernizing applications while respecting their critical roles. His extensive experience brings a unique perspective on the delicate art of enhancing usability in legacy software.

Hannes Lowette, a Principal Consultant at Axes in Belgium, dives into the world of event sourcing, sharing his passion for back-end development and scalability. He explains how moving away from traditional data storage can enhance application performance. With event streams, developers can generate necessary relational data easily while improving speed. Hannes also tackles the challenges of data privacy under GDPR, emphasizing how to maintain historical records without sacrificing compliance. It's a captivating look at modern data management!

Mark Seemann, a seasoned software developer and blogger, shares his critical insights on the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on the development community. He warns against the illusion of AI as a reliable source of truth, highlighting the need for developers to possess sufficient knowledge to evaluate AI-generated code. The conversation touches on the risks of inexperienced developers misusing these tools, underscoring the importance of accountability and critical thinking in software development. Mark emphasizes that as AI evolves, so must our approach to its implications and oversight.

Dive into the future of Progressive Web Apps as experts share innovative techniques and powerful features, including service workers and framework flexibility. Discover the amusing intersection of tech and comedy, with anecdotes about vocal dyslexia and AI's impact on programming jobs. Explore the evolution of the internet, quirky domain names, and the importance of user engagement in app development. Enjoy entertaining discussions on interactive games, Canadian cuisine, and humorous late-night snack stories.

Mark Miller, Chief Architect at Developer Express and a Microsoft MVP, shares his insights on integrating AI technology into coding practices. He discusses the benefits of voice-driven coding assistants that minimize context switching. The conversation covers how innovative AI tools enhance developer efficiency and problem-solving capabilities. Miller also emphasizes the ongoing evolution in software development and architectural improvements that ensure code quality while simplifying tedious tasks. Get ready to rethink your coding workflow with these advanced AI tools!

Join Seth Juarez, a Microsoft AI expert with a knack for making complex concepts understandable, as he unpacks agentic AI. Learn about the innovative potential of MCP and NLWeb for creating collaborative AI agents. Seth discusses the underlying mechanics of these tools, emphasizing the need for governance to harness their capabilities responsibly. The conversation also explores the evolution of AI agency and the nuances of prompt politeness, which can significantly impact AI performance. It's a deep dive into the future of AI in programming!

It's the Imagine Cup Finalists! While at Build, Carl and Richard sat down with Daniel Kim, Matt Steele, and Gheida Omar to talk about their projects in the Imagine Cup. Gheida discussed Signvrse, a mobile app that enables real-time translation of speech, text, and sign language. Matt tells the story of Hairmatch, a mobile app for women with textured hair. And Daniel describes Argus, the winner of the Imagine Cup, as a two-part wearable device for people with low vision that provides object detection, facial recognition, and spatial guidance. All amazing projects from a remarkable group of young people!

Nicole Forsgren, a DevOps and developer productivity expert at Microsoft and co-author of the influential book Accelerate, shares her insights on eliminating friction in software development. She discusses the transformative role of AI in enhancing workflows, focusing on automation in testing and deployment. Nicole highlights the challenges faced by junior developers and the cultural shifts necessary for improving developer experience. The conversation delves into integrating AI tools within DevOps and the potential pitfalls, as well as the importance of communication among developers.

Debbie O'Brien, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft with a decade and a half in front-end development, dives into the innovative features of Playwright MCP. She explains how AI can revolutionize web testing, like using LLMs to suggest and generate tests. The discussion also covers the transformative potential of MCP for automating test processes, enhancing user interaction simulations, and integrating with GitHub. With a humorous touch, Debbie shares real-world applications, making complex tech not just accessible, but enjoyable.