.NET Rocks!

How has DevOps changed in 2025? Carl and Richard talk to Michael Levan about his experiences helping teams automate their development workflows, and dealing with all the details that help the entire team focus on providing customer value. Michael digs into the role of the new AI tools in facilitating better workflows around code, testing, deployment, telemetry, and more. Then the conversation turns to security - and the many challenges that exist to make applications that are secure when deployed, and help with the security challenges that happen while in operation!

Diana Mounter, the head of design at GitHub with a rich background in systems thinking and inclusive design, shares her journey in shaping GitHub’s user experience. She discusses the evolution of design at the platform, the importance of integrating design with coding, and insights into the GitHub Primer design system. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of collaboration between design and engineering, the role of generative AI in shaping modern design, and how creativity must balance with practicality in tech.

What's coming in C#14? Carl and Richard chat with Dustin Campbell about the next version of C#, discussing what it takes to continue advancing software development in the Microsoft ecosystem. Dustin discusses how features are selected from version to version, including long-developed features like extension members, which have been in development for years. The conversation also turns to Razor Pages, which Dustin helps contribute to, and the dynamic of what should be language, what should be framework, and what should be tooling. And there's much more to come!

How has application security evolved over the decades? Carl and Richard talk to Michael Howard about his experiences working in security at Microsoft. Michael discusses his current role as a member of the Red Team at Microsoft, which identifies security vulnerabilities within the organization by creating scenarios that black hats might employ, such as stealing tokens or hijacking financial transactions. The conversation examines how security continues to evolve, with improved tools, new attack surfaces, and increasingly serious attacks. It's an arms race, but one the good guys can win!

Billy Hollis, a seasoned software designer known for his contrarian views, dives into the complexities of modernizing legacy applications. He emphasizes the critical nature of these systems and the need for careful updates. The conversation explores enhancing user experiences through optimized workflows, accessibility, and the use of tools like Copilot. Hollis also shares insights on balancing client expectations with design challenges and highlights the importance of interpersonal skills in navigating legacy systems and user-centric designs.

Hannes Lowette, a principal consultant at Axes in Belgium, is passionate about back-end development and event-driven architectures. He discusses how event sourcing revolutionizes application scalability by favoring event streams over traditional data storage. Hannes emphasizes the efficiency of managing commands and states, and how this approach works harmoniously with relational databases. He also tackles the complexities of complying with GDPR while maintaining event integrity, showcasing the future of scalable architecture in data management.

Mark Seemann, a programmer with an economics background and blogger at blog.ploeh.dk, shares his insights on the impacts of AI, particularly large language models, on software development. He addresses the pitfalls of viewing AI as an ultimate source of truth and the essential knowledge required to evaluate AI-generated code. The conversation touches on the challenges faced by junior developers, the ethical implications of AI, and the importance of critical thinking in an era increasingly reliant on technology. Practical discussions around integrating AI tools highlight the need for careful oversight.

How do you build progressive web apps in 2025? Carl and Richard talk to Lemon about his experiences building all sorts of PWAs for customers and entertainment. Lemon discusses going beyond the icon in PWAs and leveraging more powerful features, including service workers. The conversation also digs into some of the crazy talks done over the years, as well as gaming from browsers and more!

Mark Miller, Chief Architect at Developer Express and a Microsoft MVP, joins the conversation on leveraging AI to enhance coding efficiency. He discusses the innovative features in CodeRush, emphasizing a voice-driven assistant that minimizes context-switching. The dialogue explores the evolution of AI tools and their transformative impact on productivity. Mark reflects on overcoming challenges in coding with AI, ensuring consistency, and optimizing workflows, while also touching on historical milestones in AI development.

Seth Juarez, a machine learning expert from Microsoft, dives deep into the world of agentic AI. He explains the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how it allows AI agents to collaborate more effectively. The discussion highlights the challenges of managing these advanced tools and emphasizes the need for clear governance. Listeners will enjoy insights into the evolution of AI, including the balance needed when working with user instructions in AI outputs, and the importance of narrowing tasks for better performance in real-world applications.