Azure & DevOps Podcast

Graham McMillan, CTO at Redgate Software and a savvy leader with decades of tech experience, shares his journey from curious consultant to Database DevOps expert. He reveals how round-the-world sailing instilled crucial leadership lessons. Graham emphasizes the evolving role of DBAs in ensuring data integrity and performance. He discusses the impact of AI on SQL tooling, advocating for developer empowerment while maintaining safety. He also highlights the need for clean data as AI initiatives rise, emphasizing innovative Redgate products designed for modern data challenges.

Carola Lilienthal, an architect and author focused on sustainable software architecture, teams up with Henning Schwentner, a software architect known for his work in domain-driven design. They dive into how domain-driven design (DDD) can rejuvenate legacy systems, emphasizing the extraction of valuable insights rather than starting from scratch. The conversation highlights key DDD concepts like strategic design and ubiquitous language, while offering practical methods for transformation. They also explore domain patterns and the benefits of automated testing in modernizing software.

Reflecting on 2025, the discussion highlights the rise of AI coding agents and Microsoft's innovative strategies. There's buzz about hardware trends and the shift back to desktops for developers. As software projects evolve, the focus shifts from handcrafted code to AI assembly lines, emphasizing design and automated testing. Looking ahead to 2026, collaboration is set to change with stakeholders influencing code directly. It's an exciting time for software development as AI takes center stage!

Scott Hanselman, Vice President at Microsoft and a seasoned content creator, shares his passion for coding through creative projects that reignite his enthusiasm. He discusses AI as a syntax helper rather than a complete solution, emphasizing the enduring need for developers' expertise. Reflecting on tech's promises, Scott highlights the shift towards design in coding and the importance of understanding complex systems for junior developers. He also advocates for multimodal user interfaces, envisioning a future where collaboration between machines and humans enhances software development.

Join Glenn Condron, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, as he explores the innovative Aspire strategy for .NET. With a background in developing software for government departments in Australia, Glenn discusses simplifying cloud-native development, focusing on defaults that enhance resiliency and observability. He dives into file-based apps for easier onboarding and shares insights on using AI for project generation. Tune in for an engaging conversation about the future of polyglot apps and exciting advancements in tooling!

Jared Parsons, Developer Manager for the .NET Tools team at Microsoft, shares his passion for programming and the evolving C# ecosystem. He explores the recent momentum of .NET 10, emphasizing ref safety and performance enhancements. Jared discusses innovations like compiler logs for faster bug triage and the impact of GitHub Copilot on productivity. He reveals strategies for the upcoming .NET 11, highlighting discriminated unions and AI synergies with file-based applications. Tune in for insights from a seasoned developer shaping the future of C#!

Chris Wilke, a seasoned SaaS and AI product leader and Head of Technology at Viewport, dives into how generative AI mirrors the early web revolution. He shares practical insights on using AI for coding and improving workflows, focusing on tools like Codex and their impact on productivity. Chris discusses the nuances of personal, team, and enterprise AI, and emphasizes the importance of simplicity in engineering. He also reveals his vision for the future, including investments in coding tools and effective deployment strategies.

In this discussion, Alvin Ashcraft, a senior content developer at Microsoft and community leader with over 27 years in software development, shares his passion for the tech world. He details the rise of the TechBash conference, emphasizing its community focus and the challenges of organizing multi-day events. Alvin also explores the exciting innovations in .NET 10, the evolution of scripting, and the future of chat-driven APIs. Plus, he offers insights into becoming a technical reviewer and announces opportunities for upcoming TechBash speakers!

Dan Clarke, a seasoned software consultant, Microsoft MVP, and founder of Everstack Ltd., dives into the world of productivity. He shares insights on building tool-based habits, focusing through distractions, and utilizing techniques like time blocking and the Pomodoro method. Dan discusses the value of IDE automation and his experiences with AI tools like GitHub Copilot to accelerate development. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining code quality and the potential risks of AI-generated apps for junior developers.

Andrew Lock is a staff software engineer at Datadog and educator whose contributions to the .NET ecosystem have shaped how developers approach modern web applications. Located in the UK, Andrew is a Microsoft MVP, Author of ASP.NET Core in Action, and has an active blog all about his experience working with .NET and ASP.NET Core. Topics of Discussion: [2:56] Andrew talks about appreciating the joy of coding and the minutiae of figuring out the correct way to do things. [3:28] Andrew discusses the various testing frameworks available for .NET, including MS Test, NUnit, XUnit, and TUnit. He explains the history and evolution of these frameworks, noting that XUnit has become the de facto default version. [7:41] Andrew explains his interest in TUnit, a newer testing library that addresses some of the limitations of XUnit. [9:29] TUnit is designed to be fast, supporting parallel execution and native AOT for better performance. [12:16] Is there a way to radically speed up the execution of big test suites? [15:39] Andrew explains the importance of each type of test in providing confidence that the software works as intended. [21:26] Andrew notes that full system tests can provide strong confidence by exercising critical pathways in the application. [29:44] Andrew mentions that tools like Octopus Deploy can be used to automate smoke tests as part of the deployment process. [30:26] Advice to new developers regarding automated testing, and the importance of writing code that is easy to test, and thinking about testing when writing code. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Andrew Lock "Andrew Lock: Containers in .NET8 - Ep 281" "Andrew Lock: Web Applications in .NET6 - Ep 198" "Updates to Docker images in .NET8" Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.