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Jeffrey Palermo

The Azure & DevOps Podcast is a show for developers and devops professionals shipping software using Microsoft technologies. Each show brings you hard-hitting interviews with industry experts innovating better methods and sharing success stories. Listen in to learn how to increase quality, ship quickly, and operate well. Hosted by Jeffrey Palermo and sponsored by Clear Measure, Inc.

Azure DevOps Podcast

Jared Parsons is a Developer Manager for the .NET Tools team at Microsoft. He's also done extensive work on the C# Compiler Team. Everybody tuning in probably uses his code on a day-to-day basis! Jared started out at Microsoft over 20 years ago as a Developer; moved on to become a Senior Developer; then Principal Developer on Midori OS; and most recently, the Principal Developer on C# Compiler Team, and now a Developer Manager. He's spoken at many conferences, like Microsoft Build and others.
 
Mentioned in this Episode
 
 Episode 287
 
 Episode 53 
 
Github - Rosyln 
 
Github - Analyzers 
 
Github - Csharplang 
 
Jared's LinkedIn 
 

 Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Jared Parsons: The Latest with C# - Episode 380

Chris has 25 years experience as a seasoned SaaS and AI product leader known for practical, people-first strategies to harness value from Generative AI for operational excellence.
 
Chris developed the AI Vantage framework—a strategic approach that emphasizes process-driven transformation to unlock immediate and long-term value from GenAI technologies. He works for Viewport as the Head of Technology and is a respected voice in the AI and product management space, frequently sharing insights through training, blogs, and speaking engagements.
 
Chris holds certifications in SAFe Product Ownership and Pragmatic Marketing, and is an alumnus of Texas A&M University.
 
 Mentioned in this Episode
 
 Chris' Website
 
 Chris' X Account
 
 Chris' LinkedIn
 
 Want to Learn More? Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Chris Wilke: Generated AI Stories - Episode 379

Alvin is a senior content developer at Microsoft, author, and longtime leader in the .NET developer community. With over 27 years of experience in software development, Alvin has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for more than a decade, honored for his contributions to Windows development, Visual Studio, and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. He is currently writing docs for multiple Microsoft technologies.
 
In 2021, Alvin wrote a book for Packt Publishing, Learn WinUI 3.0. This is the first book Alvin authored and has been the technical reviewer for eight other .NET-related titles from Packt. Alvin is a founding board member of the TechBash Foundation and organizer of the annual TechBash developer conference in Pocono Manor, PA.
 
Alvin resides in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
 LinkedIn
 
Website 
 
 Alvin's Book 
 
 Episode 214 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Alvin Ashcraft: Community Conferences - Episode 378

Dan Clarke is a seasoned software consultant, Microsoft MVP, and founder of Everstack Ltd. Dan is widely known for his contributions to the .NET ecosystem and hosts the Unhandled Exception Podcast. With a background in DevOps, Azure, and developer tooling, Dan brings a thoughtful, systems-level perspective to software craftsmanship. His work spans technical education, community leadership, and content creation—from blog posts and newsletters to YouTube tutorials and conference talks. 
 
Dan resides in the UK and when he isn't programming, he enjoys daily weightlifting, playing the guitar, and a past life of skydiving and motorcycling.
 

 Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
Dan Clarke Website 
 
Dan's Podcast 
 
Dan's Newsletter 
 
Dan's Youtube
 
Dan's Blog 
 
Dan's Linkedin 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Dan Clarke: Personal Productivity - Episode 377

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.

Andrew Lock: Testing Frameworks - Episode 376

Ben Day is a seasoned software consultant and fractional CTO. With over two decades of experience, he brings a blend of hands-on coding expertise, strategic clarity, and people-focused coaching to help companies — from startups to Fortune 500s — deliver high-quality software faster and with less friction.
 
 
 
As the founder of Benjamin Day Consulting, Inc., Ben offers training, coaching, and architectural guidance rooted in Agile, Scrum, Azure DevOps, and GitHub best practices. He's a Microsoft MVP, a certified Professional Scrum Trainer for over 15 years, and a sought-after speaker who favors storytelling over slide decks.
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[2:30] The overlap between music and coding, with Ben explaining the empathy required in both fields.
 
[4:22] Jeffrey mentions the Sunday Sounds app, which allows users to create custom instruments using AI prompts.
 
[6:45] The process of creating Slide Speaker and how Slide Speaker takes screenshots of each moment in a PowerPoint presentation and generates MP4 files.
 
[13:01] Technical details of SlideSpeaker.
 
[16:18] Event-based scaling.
 
[17:10] How SlideSpeaker can be used for internal training presentations and compliance-approved content.
 
[26:06] The opportunity for even more voice models and the ability to create your own custom voice, accent, and tone.
 
[28:11] Ben talks about creating videos that help absolute beginners grasp C#.
 
[32:45] What's next for Ben and Slidespeaker?
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
Benjamin Day Consulting
 
Benjamin Day LinkedIn
 
Benjamin Day YouTube
 
SlidespeakerAI
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Ben Day: SlideSpeaker.AI - Episode 375

Josh Arzt is a Senior Solutions Architect with 25+ years of experience modernizing systems, solving complex problems, and delivering scalable cloud solutions. He is an expert in software engineering, DevSecOps, serverless architectures, and cloud migrations. He is a certified professional with a strong publication record in IT and applied mathematics.
 
 
 
His professional career began in the early 2000s, when he discovered .NET and all it had to offer in its early days. Using that framework, paired with his maturation in software architecture, helped shape how he approaches challenges — with curiosity, precision, and a focus on making technology practical and reliable. Along the way, he's led teams, modernized systems, written his own software in performance metrics, and helped organizations adapt to change, but what he values most is working with people: mentoring engineers, collaborating across disciplines, and finding ways to connect technical work to real human impact. He brings both experience and perspective — the ability to see the big picture while never losing sight of the craft that drew him to this field in the first place.
 
 
 
Josh is also a 2025-2026 board election candidate for .NET Foundation.
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[2:40] Josh talks about the .NET Foundation and its importance.
 
[7:08] A self-described dorky child, Josh recounts his early days in IT, starting with building computers as a child.
 
[9:33] Josh describes his transition from IT support to software development, driven by his interest in problem-solving.
 
[15:55] Josh discusses the evolution of .NET, from its early days to the current state.
 
[30:40] The importance of choosing the right tool for the job, regardless of the programming language.
 
[32:42] The challenges of managing tech debt and the importance of sustainability in software development.
 
[37:28] Josh shares his positive experiences with the .NET community and the support they provide.
 
[38:08] How thoughtful and consistent feedback shapes the evolution of the .NET ecosystem.
 
[40:02] Continuous learning and adaptation in the field of software development.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
Joshua Arzt LinkedIn
 
Technical Babble — XCalibur Systems
 
Xcalibur37 GitHub
 
User Xcalibur Stack Overflow
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Josh Arzt: 23 Years of .NET - Episode 374

Lee Brownhill is a Principal Cloud DBA at Cloud Rede with deep expertise in SQL Server performance tuning and automation. With years of experience across Azure and AWS, Lee helps clients optimize their cloud data platforms.
 
 
 
His journey began in IT support, quickly evolving into a passion for SQL Server that led him through roles as a Production and Developer DBA. Now, he's a trusted consultant, known for making systems run faster and smarter.
 
 
 
Lee is a Redgate Community Ambassador, a regular at SQLBits and Data Relay, and once spent a transformative week learning from T-SQL legend Itzik Ben-Gan. Whether on-prem or in the cloud, Lee's mission is simple: make SQL Server shine.
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[2:33] Lee shares his career journey, starting in general IT support and transitioning to a role involving Microsoft Dynamics NAV, which introduced him to SQL Server.
 
[5:48] Jeffrey discusses the challenges faced by young programmers who work with databases but lack deep experience.
 
[7:05] Lee highlights common anti-patterns in SQL Server.
 
[8:04] The concept of "row by agonizing row." 
 
[8:46] Lee shares his thought process when addressing performance problems in SQL Server.
 
[9:12] Categorizing issues based on their severity and urgency using a tried-and-true checklist.
 
[10:36] Taking a step back to look at the issue holistically before diving into specific details.
 
[16:04] An optimal database structure and segmentation in 2025, and the importance of normalization to avoid redundant data and ensure data integrity.
 
[20:00] The different ways to host SQL Server in Azure and the benefits of each.
 
[23:02] Metrics for determining if an Azure SQL instance is over- or under-provisioned.
 
[25:02] The value of Azure's costing tools in helping to optimize resource usage and reduce costs.
 
[26:07] The work of site reliability engineers who use KQL to analyze logs and identify issues.
 
[30:09] Lee's blog is a repository of technical topics, including SQL Server, performance tuning, and unit testing.
 
[32:10] SQL Server 2025 features and the importance of learning and understanding new technologies.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
Lee Brownhill's Blog
 
Lee Brownhill LinkedIn
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Lee Brownhill: The Data Community - Episode 373

Aaron Palermo is a Senior Solutions Architect, DevOps engineer, and all-around cybersecurity expert. He works for a global cybersecurity services company, Appgate. Aaron was last on the show in episode 196, sharing about Zero Trust Networking.
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[3:20] Aaron shares his excitement for learning new things and solving innovative challenges, which keep him engaged in the field.
 
[3:30] Aaron explains his current role at Appgate, a zero-trust network access company.
 
[4:25] The importance of direct-routed solutions for federal customers who want to own and manage their infrastructure.
 
[6:27] Aaron recounts how he applied insights from previous ADP guests Scott Hunter, Burke Holland, and Greg Leonardo.
 
[7:56] He explains the process of querying the Appgate API with natural language and the insights gained from the AI agent's code generation.
 
[8:24] Testing an Integration in the Lab.
 
[11:05] Jeffrey and Aaron discuss the benefits of using open-source tools and the flexibility of Proxmox for network testing.
 
[14:47] VS Code and Copilot Integration, and what's next.
 
[19:39] Aaron introduces n8n.io as a low or no-code automation platform that integrates with AI agents and APIs for workflow orchestration.
 
[21:15] Integrating simple automation examples, such as weather-based watering systems and data-driven decisions without sensors.
 
[28:09] OpenWRT's flexibility and customization.
 
[30:01] What are some of the scenarios where a software-defined network might be the right tool?
 
[33:26] Know what you want, and write from a purpose.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
 Ep 196 with Aaron Palermo
 
n8n
 
AppGate
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Aaron Palermo: Cyber Security and Systems Engineering with AI-Driven Development - Episode 372

Jonathan Tower is known to friends and colleagues simply as "J." J. is a Microsoft MVP, Telerik Developer Expert, and the founder of Trailhead Technology Partners, a global custom software consultancy. With nearly 25 years of experience in the industry, J. has held roles ranging from senior architect to director of development, and now leads a team building high-quality, large-scale applications across a wide range of technologies.
 
 
 
J.'s technical expertise spans C#, .NET, ASP.NET MVC, and modern JavaScript frameworks, along with mobile app development. But what truly sets him apart is his passion for building community. He's the driving force behind Beer City Code, Michigan's largest software conference, and serves on the board of SoftwareGR, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the software industry in West Michigan.
 
 
 
He's also a frequent speaker at conferences and meetups around the world, a LinkedIn Learning course author, and a mentor to many through his work with robotics teams and local tech groups.
 
 
 
Outside of tech, J. is an adventurer at heart. He and his family recently completed a year-long road trip across the U.S., visiting 58 of the 63 national parks. He's also a fan of photography, hiking, reading, and catching every Best Picture nominee before the Oscars.
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[3:30] Fun fact! J. has been to 58 of the 63 national parks, with his current favorite being Glacier National Park.
 
[4:46] J. explains his early interest in creating things and his discovery of software development in middle school.
 
[7:33] J.'s journey into leadership and consulting.
 
[11:04] J. talks about his Blue Blazes podcast and the inspiration behind the name.
 
[14:27] The "shiny object syndrome" and the misuse of microservices architecture.
 
[15:06] Understanding the true needs of a project before implementing complex solutions.
 
[21:20] AI should be viewed as a collaborative tool, not a replacement for team members.
 
[22:51] The insight that J. got at a Ford Factory about how AI can help us shape and create jobs instead of just replacing them.
 
[27:50] J. mentions he recently released courses on Dome Train about migrating legacy applications.
 
[29:05] Choosing the framework that is the most similar model.
 
[31:29] The type of traits that J. would look for in a lead engineer or a team leader.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Clear Measure Way
 
Architect Forum
 
Software Engineer Forum
 
Jonathan "J." Tower LinkedIn
 
JTower Website
 
Trailhead Technology
 
 Jonathan "J." Tower MVP
 
Blue Blazes Podcast
 
.NET Foundation
 
 Dome Train — Jonathan Tower
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.

Software Leadership with Jonathan "J." Tower - Episode 371

Today's episode is all about the future of Azure Pipelines. To discuss this topic is Chris Patterson, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft.
 
Chris has been working at Microsoft for over 13 years — starting in 2005 as a Technology Specialist, then transitioned into his current role in 2006. His focus is on the Team Build features of Team Foundation Server and Visual Studio Team Services.
 
In this episode, Jeffrey and Chris discuss how the infrastructure of Azure Pipelines is changing, what a build will mean in the future, the goal of Azure Pipelines evolution, and more.
 
 
 
Tune in to hear today's conversation about the future of Azure Pipelines!
 
 
 
Topics of Discussion:
 
[1:07] About today's episode with Chris Patterson.
 
[1:30] What Chris was excited for at the Microsoft Connect 2018 Conference.
 
[2:30] Chris's background working at Microsoft.
 
[5:30] Chris outlines what's in store for the future of Azure Pipelines, starting by looking at the past.
 
[7:50] The goal of what Azure Pipelines is evolving into.
 
[8:47] Will it be difficult to move into this change (or evolution)?
 
[11:02] How close does Chris think they'll get to Jeremy Epling's vision of the future of Pipelines? And how soon?
 
[14:40] A word from Azure DevOps sponsor: Clear Measure.
 
[15:08] The changes to come in the Pipelines infrastructure, and what users can use right now in Windows Containers vs. what they have to wait for (come next year).
 
[20:53] Some occasional downsides with Windows Containers.
 
[23:25] Chris and Jeffrey discuss the recent performance improvement.
 
[30:26] What does "shift the product right" mean?
 
[34:52] Jeffrey and Chris talk log analytics, DevOps diagnostics, and workflows.
 
[37:30] Resources Chris recommends listeners follow up on.
 
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
 Azure DevOps
 
 Azure Pipelines
 
Microsoft Connect Conference
 
YAML
 
 Azure Devops Podcast: Jeremy Epling on Azure Pipelines
 
Clear Measure (Sponsor)
 
 Windows Containers
 
 Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
 
 Service Fabric
 
 Azure Pipelines Agent Docker
 
 VS 2019 Preview
 
PhantomJS
 
 Azure Repos
 
GitHub
 
 
 
Want to Learn More?
 
Visit AzureDevOps.Show for show notes and additional episodes.
 
 
 
Follow Up with Our Guest:
 
Chris Patterson's LinkedIn
 
Chris Patterson's Twitter
 
Chris Patterson's GitHub Profile

Chris Patterson on the Future of Azure Pipelines - Episode 015

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