.NET Rocks!

How did the design of GitHub evolve? Carl and Richard speak with Diana Mounter about her experiences at GitHub, including her role as head of design. Diana discusses how she was drawn to GitHub as a designer and how her career evolved to lead design for the company. The conversation ranges over different design concepts, the Primer design language, and how to effectively combine design and development to achieve great results.

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!

Michael Howard, Senior Director at Microsoft Red Team with over 33 years in security, dives into the evolution of application security. He explores the role of Red Teams in identifying vulnerabilities by simulating black hat attacks. The discussion spans improved security tools, the significance of integrating security into agile development, and the need for user-friendly solutions. They also touch on the challenges of memory-safe programming, historical security failures, and the critical impact of human behavior on cybersecurity.

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.