Philip Japikse: Catching up - Episode 359
An international speaker, Microsoft MVP, ASPInsider, MCSD, PSM II, PSD, and PST, and a passionate member of the developer community, Phil has been working with .NET since the first betas, developing software for over 40 years, and has been heavily involved in the Agile community since 2005 as well as a Professional Scrum Trainer. Phil has taken over the best-selling Pro C# books (Apress Publishing), including Pro C# 10, is the President of the Cincinnati .NET Users Group (Cinnug.org), and the Cincinnati Software Architect Group, founded and runs the CincyDeliver conference (Cincydeliver.org), and volunteers for the National Ski Patrol. During the day, Phil works as the CTO & Chief Architect for Pintas & Mullins. Phil always enjoys learning new tech and is always striving to improve his craft. Topics of Discussion: [2:53] Why Phil still loves writing software after 40-plus years. [5:39] The difference between being a consultant and supporting code long-term. [8:27] Agile roles and user experience. [8:40] Embedding engineers in the business to avoid “telephone game” decisions. [11:30] “Move fast” vs. move efficiently — real-world cautionary tales. [13:40] Using Figma for business rule diagramming before writing a single line of code. [14:52] Releasing 4 x per week and getting rapid feedback. [16:49] NASCAR, motocross, and the connection of slow builds of how software teams avoid friction. [18:41] Measuring team efficiency, and how Phil eliminated emergency production fixes by mandating quality. [22:00] Feature flags, PBI coverage, and the team’s shared ownership of the code. [26:09] AI in legal tech: where it works, where it doesn’t. [34:56] The architectural shift created by LLMs, vector databases, and agents. [39:42] AI is not the goal — it’s just a tool for solving the right problems. [44:03] How Phil uses GitHub Copilot’s agent mode to streamline development. [46:03] Final thoughts: “It’s not about the tech. It’s about making someone’s life better.” Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. “Clear Measure, Inc.” (Sponsor) “Philip Japikse: Professional C# in .NET - Episode 230” “Philip Japikse: Migrating from .NET Framework to .NET 8 - Episode 296” Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
21 Jul 48min
Mark Miller: CodeRush AI - Episode 358
Today’s guest is Mark Miller, a multi-time C# MVP whose work blends software architecture with cognitive science. As the Chief Architect of the IDE Tools division at Developer Express, Mark is the visionary behind CodeRush — a toolset designed to maximize developer productivity through intelligent design. With nearly four decades of experience creating software tools, Mark’s expertise spans decoupled design, plug-in architectures, and the nuanced craft of great user interfaces. He’s a top-ranked international speaker, known for unpacking complex ideas with clarity, and he shares his thought process in real time on Twitch.tv/CodeRushed. Topics of Discussion: [3:20] Why Mark still loves building developer tools. [6:31] Mark talks about GitHub Copilot agent technology and other AI coding tools. [8:00] The unique edge of CodeRush AI and its distinct advantages in user interface design. [8:39] The future of AI in code generation, predicting increased speed and accuracy in large language models. [9:02] The importance of managing multiple virtual developers in the future, compared to managing traditional software developers. [15:21] Demonstration of CodeRush AI features. [23:51] Mark creates a new class with properties and initializes it with realistic data. [24:40] Mark highlights AI’s ability to modify and integrate code changes automatically, reducing the need for manual copying and pasting. [36:32] AI Find. [37:09] Advantages of CodeRush AI over competitors. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) “Mark Miller: The Science of Great UI in Software - Episode 212” CodeRushed - Twitch Mark Miller on LinkedIn Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
14 Jul 39min
Uncle Bob Martin: Software Leader - Episode 357
Robert C. Martin, more often known as Uncle Bob, has been programming since 1970 and has served as a mentor to generations of software engineers. He’s one of the original authors of the Agile Manifesto and played a foundational role in forming the Agile Alliance, where he served as its first chairman. But beyond titles and organizations, Bob’s lasting impact comes through his writing, his lectures, and his philosophy of software craftsmanship. He has spoken at conferences around the world — QCon, Agile 20XX, IT Days, and countless other industry gatherings — always advocating for clarity, discipline, and ethical responsibility in code. And if you’ve ever read Clean Code, The Clean Coder, or Clean Architecture, you know that he doesn’t just teach how to build systems — he challenges us to become better professionals in the process. His most recent work, Functional Design, continues this legacy, distilling decades of experience into patterns and principles that are just as relevant today as they were when he first put finger to keyboard. Topics of Discussion: [2:22] Uncle Bob’s advice for young programmers entering the field: Be cautious with AI tools, learn fundamental programming skills, and understand that AI won’t replace programmers. [4:42] Get to the basics first, and then you can move on: Master core programming skills and fundamentals before relying too heavily on AI or advanced tools. [8:19] The impact of AI on experienced developers. [15:44] Highlighting the role of programmers in managing low-level details that managers and customers don’t want to think about. [18:43] Programmers as language learners. [27:19] The state of Agile methodologies. [29:33] The original Agile goal of making small teams work efficiently together, which remains a crucial challenge. [35:37] Discussing the limitations of university computer science programs and the potential of trade school or apprenticeship models. [36:07] What’s next for Uncle Bob? Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) Clean Agile: Back to Basics Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship We, Programmers: A Chronicle of Coders from Ada to AI “Uncle Bob Martin: Clean Code and How to Do Software Well - Episode 283” Functional Design: Principles, Patterns, and Practices UncleBob on GitHub The Clean Code Blog Agile Principles, Patterns, Practices Clean Coders Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
7 Jul 43min
Jimmy Bogard: MediatR & AutoMapper - Episode 356
Today’s guest is a true heavyweight in the .NET open-source world — someone whose work has quietly but profoundly shaped the way countless developers build software. Jimmy Bogard is the creator and maintainer of two of the most widely used OSS libraries in the .NET ecosystem: AutoMapper and MediatR. If you've ever tried to simplify object mapping or decouple application logic, chances are you've used his tools. Based in Austin, Texas, Jimmy is an independent software consultant and a perennial recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award every single year since 2009. That’s more than a decade and a half of consistent, community-driven excellence. AutoMapper alone has been around for 17 years and has racked up hundreds of millions of downloads. It started as a personal tool to streamline development for client projects and grew into a global standard for object mapping. Topics of Discussion: [3:15] What keeps Jimmy passionate about coding? [5:19] The decision to commercialize both libraries. [6:33] What dual licensing means in practice. [12:11] Which version of each library will include the license change? [16:26] Current major versions of AutoMapper (v14) and MediatR (v12). [17:28] MediatR: the problem it solves and how it structures code. [20:45] Organizing code by use case. [26:00] AutoMapper: what it is and why it helps. [33:28] API design strategy and tailoring endpoints to use cases. [37:25] OpenAPI vs asyncAPI for message-based systems. [41:49] Blazor WebAssembly and remote handlers. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) “Jimmy Bogard: .NET 7 and Azure Modernization - Episode 264” GitHub — Jimmy Bogard eShop GitHub — Jimmy Bogard GitHub — Automapper NuGet Gallery NuGet Gallery — MediatR Releases — J. Bogard Jimmy Bogard AutoMapper and MediatR Licensing Update Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
30 Jun 46min
Steve Smith: Software Architecture - Episode 355
Steven Smith, also known in the developer community as Ardalis, is an entrepreneur, author, and software architect with a deep passion for building effective, maintainable software. Through his company, NimblePros, Steve helps organizations — ranging from household names like Microsoft and Quicken Loans to growing teams across industries — maximize their development potential. His clients frequently describe him as a “force multiplier,” amplifying the productivity and impact of the teams he supports. Steve has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for over two decades and continues to lead through education and mentorship. He’s published numerous courses on Pluralsight and Dometrain, focusing on topics like domain-driven design, software architecture, and design patterns. He also empowers developers through his mentorship platform, DevBetter.com, helping the next generation of professionals grow their careers with intention and clarity. Topics of Discussion: [2:28] What keeps Steve excited about computer programming and software architecture? [4:42] What is software architecture? [6:18] The importance of understanding the logical components of a software system and how they interact. [7:06] Artifacts for architecture decisions. [8:52] How lightweight documentation and diagrams, like those in the C4 Model, can clarify system design without overburdening the team. [10:53] The modern architecture books that have caught Steve’s eye. [12:57] The KISS principle and keeping software architecture simple. [19:38] Clean architecture and domain-driven design principles. [22:52] Managing out-of-process dependencies and service integrations. [26:07] Adapter pattern and interface abstractions. [28:33] Decorator pattern for adding functionality. [33:14] Pipeline Architecture. [40:35] What Steve thinks the future holds for AI-driven development, what he uses it for, and the challenges of AI currently. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) “Steve Smith: .NET 8 and Architecture” - Episode 276 NimblePros Architect Modern Web Applications with ASP.NET Core and Azure C4 Model “Simon Brown on Architecture for Developers - Episode 96” Fundamentals of Software Architecture, by Mark Richards & Neal Ford, summarized as a platform-agnostic, principle-driven guide .NET Rocks! “Architecture vs. Code with Steve Smith” .NET Rocks! “Vertical Slice Architecture with Jeremy Miller” GoF Adapter pattern .NET API interface estimate Decorator patternBus Vs. Pipeline patterns Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
23 Jun 50min
Bob Ward: SQL Server 2025 - Episode 354
Bob Ward is a Principal Architect for the Microsoft Azure Data team, which owns the development for Microsoft SQL Edge to Cloud. Bob has worked for Microsoft for 31-plus years on every version of SQL Server shipped, from OS/2 1.1 to SQL Server 2025, including Azure SQL. Bob is a well-known speaker on SQL Server, Azure SQL, AI, and Microsoft Fabric, often presenting talks on new releases, internals, and specialized topics at events such as SQLBits, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit, DevIntersection, and VS Live. You can also learn Azure SQL from him on the popular series https://aka.ms/azuresql4beginners. You can follow him on X at @bobwardms or linkedin.com/in/bobwardms. Bob is the author of the books Pro SQL Server on Linux, SQL Server 2019 Revealed, Azure SQL Revealed with a 2nd edition, and SQL Server 2022 Revealed available from Apress Media. Topics of Discussion: [1:38] Bob reflects on nearly 30 years at Microsoft, growing alongside SQL Server since 1993. [4:16] Transitioning from engineering to advocacy: why Bob now focuses on helping developers unlock the power of SQL Server. [6:12] Debunking myths about SQL Server — yes, it’s cloud-ready, developer-friendly, and supports containers and Linux. [10:15] Key tools and features for developers using SQL: containers, Bicep templates, SQLCMD, and DevOps pipelines. [16:23] SQL projects and source control: how modern database DevOps practices improve reliability and testing. [19:32] Common challenges in database development: fear of breaking production, limited test data, and cultural silos. [22:55] Bob’s perspective on responsible database change management and the importance of a good rollback plan. [26:02] The evolution of developer tooling in SQL Server, and how Microsoft is making the CLI and APIs first-class citizens. [30:47] Advice for new developers: SQL isn’t going anywhere, and it’s easier than ever to get started. [34:00] Resources and community support: Bob highlights docs, GitHub samples, training courses, and his book. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) Bob Ward: SQL Server - Episode 321 Bob Ward LinkedIn Bob Ward MBob Ward — Microsoft | LinkedInicrosoft Azure SQL Revealed: The Next-Generation Cloud Database with AI and Microsoft Fabric Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
16 Jun 42min
Michael Washington: The Nature Of Data - Episode 353
Michael is an ASP.NET and C# programmer who has extensive knowledge in process improvement, AI and Large Language Models, and student information systems. He is also the founder of the following websites, BlazorData.net, AIStoryBuilders.com, and BlazorHelpWebsite.com — fantastic resources that help empower developers. Michael resides in Los Angeles, California, with his son Zachary and wife, Valerie. Topics of Discussion: [2:09] Michael shares his background, starting with his first applications created for his uncle’s company using Access 2.0. [3:08] Michael mentions his new project, Personal Data Warehouse, which is an open-source, free tool for managing data. [5:20] He explains the inspiration behind the Personal Data Warehouse, focusing on the importance of data for making human decisions. [7:48] Michael’s finding: the reason we collect data is so that a human being can use that data to make decisions. [9:42] The three phases of data: collection, transformation, and reporting, and the significance of the transformation phase, where data is processed to make it useful for decision-making. [12:45] Data warehousing techniques and tools, and the use of Parquet files. [13:14] Michael talks about the use of SQL Server Reporting Services for generating reports, which can be accessed through the application. He encourages developers to explore the Personal Data Warehouse and its open-source code on GitHub. [22:33] Scenarios and use cases for Personal Data Warehouse. [32:09] AI and Language Models in Data Management. [36:17] The need to be responsible with AI and not use it to harm people. [37:07] Michael shares his experience with various AI tools, including CoPilot, OpenAI, and Google Notebooks. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) .NET DevOps for Azure: A Developer’s Guide to DevOps Architecture the Right Way, by Jeffrey Palermo Ep 286 with Michael Washington Webmaster@ADefWebserver.com AI Snake Oil AIStoryBuilders Blazor — Blogs Blazor Help Website BlazorData-Net / PersonalDataWarehouse GitHub Copilot Google NotebooksLM Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
9 Jun 41min
Rockford Lhotka: Software Architecture & Strategy - Episode 352
As the Vice President of Strategy at Xebia Microsoft Services, Rocky leads the vision and direction of the company’s software development solutions and services. He brings extensive expertise in framework design and implementation, distributed systems architecture, and cloud and container technologies, helping clients achieve their business goals and deliver value to their customers. He is also the creator of CSLA .NET, an open-source development framework that enables developers to build scalable, maintainable, and secure object-oriented applications. As an accomplished author, he has written multiple books on the subject and frequently shares his insights at major conferences worldwide. He is honored to be a member of the Microsoft Regional Director and MVP programs and serves as co-chair of Visual Studio Live! as well as chair of the Cloud & Containers Live conferences. His passion lies in advancing the software industry and empowering developers to create better software. Topics of Discussion: [3:30] Rockford shares his first job experience at an independent software vendor (ISV) building software to dispatch and manage the delivery of ready-mix concrete trucks. [8:30] The evolution of software and its connection to real-world processes. [9:53] The impact of technology advancements, such as miniaturization and material science, on modern software applications. [12:40] The influence of AI on software architecture and decision making. [19:15] Rockford about the importance of open-source libraries and personal projects in software development. [21:35] How does one become aware of what’s available these days? [23:14] Rockford suggests using RSS readers, curated feeds, and platforms like Feedly and Mastodon to stay informed about industry developments. [27:06] The upside to blogging and microblogging. [28:25] Importance of sharing knowledge and expertise. [29:19] Expertise through teaching and sharing. [32:19] Impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) on Coding. [38:22] Infrastructure challenges with AI. [40:21] Legacy software modernization. [40:52] Career advice for leaders and recognizing it as its own career path. Mentioned in this Episode: Clear Measure Way Architect Forum Software Engineer Forum Programming with Palermo — New Video Podcast! Email us at programming@palermo.net. Clear Measure, Inc. (Sponsor) .NET DevOps for Azure: A Developer’s Guide to DevOps Architecture the Right Way, by Jeffrey Palermo Azure & DevOps Podcast: Rocky Lhotka: CSLA - Episode 210 CSLA.NET Rockford on LinkedIn Rockford Lhotka Rockford’s Blog Feedly Morning Dew — Alvin Ashcroft Drive by Daniel Pink Visual Studio Live! Tunisia DevDays Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
2 Jun 45min