.NET Rocks!

David Wengier, a principal software engineer at Microsoft, leads the Razor tooling experience for Visual Studio and VS Code. In this chat, he reveals the exciting co-hosting model with Roslyn that turbocharges Razor performance and reliability. David dives into the shared capabilities between Visual Studio and VS Code, enhancing developer tools through the Language Service Protocol. He also shares upcoming improvements in Visual Studio 2026, including faster Hot Reload and bug-fixing guidance, making for a more seamless coding experience.

In this engaging chat, Mads Kristensen, a Program Manager for the Visual Studio team at Microsoft and extension enthusiast, shares exciting developments for the upcoming Visual Studio 2026. He discusses deep AI integration for tasks like code completion and debugging, making the developer experience smoother than ever. The conversation also touches on Visual Studio's role in project management and its seamless integration with cloud services and GitHub, while recalling humorous moments from the past and the evolution of development tools.

In this engaging discussion, Michael Levan, a seasoned engineer and Microsoft MVP, shares insights on the transformation of DevOps in 2025. He highlights how AI tools are streamlining workflows from coding to deployment. Michael also tackles pressing security challenges, including misconfigurations and the importance of maintaining a software bill of materials. His emphasis on collaboration and proactive security measures sets the stage for a future where teams can effectively focus on enhancing customer value.

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!