.NET Rocks!

Can you improve a legacy application? What's the right way to go about it? Carl and Richard talk with Billy Hollis about his work updating legacy applications, starting with the most essential question: should you? Billy begins by defining what it means to be a legacy application and how, invariably, these applications are critical to the organization, so you have to tread lightly. Typically, the focus is on modernizing the client-side of the app, which brings us to the crux of the matter: Are the workflows of the company today well reflected in the older application? Lots of great thoughts from one of the longest-serving guests of .NET Rocks!

Hannes Lowette, a principal consultant at Axes and passionate back-end developer, shares his insights on event sourcing and its transformative ability for scalable applications. He emphasizes moving away from traditional data storage methods to object event streams, which enhance speed and efficiency. The discussion also touches on managing entity states via API interactions and the intricate balance between event sourcing and relational databases. Hannes delves into GDPR compliance challenges within event streams, offering practical strategies for maintaining data quality.

Mark Seemann, a former bad economist turned programmer, shares his insights on the concerns surrounding AI's impact on software development. He discusses the perceived reliability of tools like ChatGPT, stressing the importance of having a solid understanding to validate AI-generated code. The conversation touches on ethical considerations and the challenges faced by junior developers in an AI-driven environment. Seemann also emphasizes the need for accountability and trust as technology evolves, urging caution in incorporating AI into critical systems.

Discover the future of Progressive Web Apps as experts discuss leveraging service workers and innovative features that go beyond just icons. Dive into the challenges and balances developers face in user experience and app store access. The conversation also touches on the humorous evolution of web games and creative coding trends, alongside nostalgic anecdotes about culinary experiences. This lively discussion blends tech insights with lighthearted stories, making it both informative and entertaining!

In this engaging discussion, Mark Miller, Chief Architect of the IDE Tools Division at Developer Express and a Microsoft MVP, shares his insights on enhancing coding with AI. He highlights the new voice-driven AI features in CodeRush that aim to streamline development workflows. The talk dives into the rapid evolution of software development, reflecting on how AI can enable developers to solve problems faster and improve coding accuracy. Mark also addresses the balance between manual coding and AI assistance, showcasing the future potential of these tools.

Seth Juarez, an AI expert from Microsoft, breaks down the intriguing concept of agentic AI, sharing how it can revolutionize development. He discusses the power of tools like MCP and NLWeb for inter-agent collaboration while addressing the challenges of managing these systems. The conversation dives into the technical underpinnings of agentic AI, touching on the limitations and the necessity for proper governance. They also explore the innovative ways prompts can influence AI responses, showcasing the evolving landscape of coding with AI.

Meet Matt Steele, a Georgia Tech grad focusing on AI, Gheida Omar, an innovator empowering girls in STEM, and Daniel Kim, a Stanford student merging math with neuroscience. They share projects that won accolades at the Imagine Cup. Gheida's Signverse app breaks communication barriers with real-time translation, while Matt's Hair Match focuses on hair care for textured hair. Daniel's Argus, a winner in the competition, offers assistive technology for those with visual impairments, showcasing remarkable innovation driven by personal passion.

Nicole Forsgren, a renowned expert in DevOps and developer productivity, shares insights on eliminating friction in software development. She discusses her upcoming book and the significant role of AI tools in workflow enhancement. The conversation dives into DORA insights that reshape software delivery, emphasizing the importance of culture and collaboration. Forsgren also highlights the balance between automation and creativity among junior developers, addressing challenges such as technical debt in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Debbie O'Brien, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft and Google developer expert, dives into the transformative features of Playwright MCP. She discusses how AI integration can streamline web testing, even illustrating how to automate test creation using large language models. The conversation highlights the balance between automated and manual testing, explores security challenges in cloud platforms, and introduces the playful concept of 'vibe coding' as a fresh approach in software development. Debbie's insights showcase the future of automated testing in an engaging manner.

How will coding agents change your code? While at Build, Carl and Richard chatted with Scott Hunter about the announcements around coding agents at the keynote. Scott talks about the agent mode available in Visual Studio Code - and now in Visual Studio! Agent mode allows the LLM to evaluate the code across an entire solution, not just the file you're currently looking at. You can create a workflow where GitHub issues are assigned to the agent, which then generates code and provides a pull request for evaluation. The agents are here and helping us do more!