Reading Notes #667

This week post explores the intersection of AI, cloud, and DevOps, featuring updates on Microsoft’s Logic Apps integration, practical .NET tools for system automation, and strategies to enhance documentation for AI-driven workflows. Whether you’re refining enterprise security practices with NuGet’s Trusted Publishing or diving into the ethical nuances of AI through vector databases, this post offers a blend of technical deep dives and thought-provoking discussions. Don’t miss the podcast highlights, from DevOps innovation to the business impact of employee well-being, perfect for developers, architects, and curious minds alike. Let’s connect the dots in a world where code, creativity, and collaboration drive progress.

Programming

• sleep-pc: a .NET Native AOT tool to make Windows sleep after a timeout (Andrew Lock) - Nice post, just like I like them explaining what works, what didn',t building an application, fixing a real-life issue.

• DOCX Meets Markdown: Preparing Enterprise Documents for AI (Bjoern Meyer) - I have been using Pandoc for years, but this also look like an nice tool.

AI

• Prompt Files and Instructions Files Explained - .NET Blog (Wendy Breiding) - One question I often hear is how can I tell Copilot the standard and conventions my enterprise uses. Well, now I can send them to this post. Well done!

• Here’s how to turn off Copilot (Mark Downie) - Thank you Mark for this post. Let me send you some people too😉

DevOps

• New Trusted Publishing enhances security on NuGet.org (Evgeny , Sean) - This tutorial explains how to use the new process with the 1h token for improved security.

Podcasts

• 113. Vector Databases and RAG for Grounding AI in Reliable Data - with Christian Peeters (Betatalks the podcast) - Great episode on tech education and how vector databases/RAG make AI more trustworthy with real data

• ohn Bristowe: The Latest from Octopus Deploy - Episode 368 (Azure & DevOps Podcast) - Loved this episode, I don't know a lot about Octopus. Discussing deployment pipelines, AI integration in DevOps, and the evolution from manual weekend deployments to automated, reliable workflows.

• The business case for employee well-being (Modern Mentor) - Really enjoyed this episode on how workplace wellbeing isn't just about perks but building better work systems that boost both results and employee experience

• Becoming A Podcast Guest Magnet: Sharing The Benefits Of Guesting On A Podcast (Feed Your Brand) - Packed episode on how to make your podcast irresistible to high-profile guests by focusing on what's in it for them and turning your show into a guest magnet.

• Making Video Games in 2025 with Celeste's Noel Berry (Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman) - Cool episode about the tech-behind-the-scene of building indie games. I had so many WHATS!? listening to this one.

Miscellaneous

• Microsoft Introduces Logic Apps as MCP Servers in Public Preview - InfoQ (Steef-Jan Wiggers) - Interesting idea, I can totally see how an AI agent could use different workflows to start processes or get information and continue pretty cool

• llms.txt: Robots.txt for Docs in the AI Era (Dewan Ahmed) - Oh nice! Let's update this on our websites.

Sharing my Reading Notes is a habit I started a long time ago, where I share a list of all the articles, blog posts, and books that catch my interest during the week.

If you have interesting content, share it!

~frank

Reading Notes #666

Welcome to another edition of my reading notes! This week I've gathered some interesting finds across programming, AI, and general tech topics. From exciting Cake updates to practical AI implementation advice, here are the articles that caught my attention recently.

Programming

• Cake.Sdk 5.0.25257.82-beta released (devlead) - I'm happy to see the new release of this cake version coming to a recent .NET version. I have one of my projects using cake, and I was waiting for it; this is amazing

AI

• Performance Improvements in .NET 10 (Stephen Toub) - There's a lot of good advice in this post. Assuming you're using AI you should definitely read it

• Reka Speech: High Throughput Speech Transcription and Translation Model with Timestamps (reka team) - Because not only should the text be translated into different languages, but the voice too! If it's now possible very easily.

• Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it (Dominic-Madori Davis) - True experience of a new ‘AI babysitters’...

Miscellaneous

• 9 Rules for AI PoC Success That Actually Ship (Jim Clark) - Very useful post that shares great advices that are easy to implement and that will have a huge impact on your projects

Sharing my Reading Notes is a habit I started a long time ago, where I share a list of all the articles, blog posts, and books that catch my interest during the week.

If you have interesting content, share it!

~frank

Reading Notes #665

In this edition, we explore modern development's evolving landscape. From Microsoft's .NET Aspire simplifying distributed applications to AI security considerations, Git workflow optimizations, and backlog management strategies, there's something here to spark your next breakthrough.

The tech world never sleeps, and neither does innovation. Let's explore what caught my attention this week and might just spark your next big idea or solve that problem you've been wrestling with.

Programming

• .NET Aspire - Why We Should Consider It And How To Get Started (Barret Blake) - If you didn't try the .NET Aspire yet, just give it a try, create a new project and after the Ooh! and Aah! I'm sure you will want to use it everywhere.

• How to delete all squash-merged local git branches with one terminal command (Salma Alam-Naylor) - Nice tool. The best ones are often the ones you create yourself. But be careful when it deletes stuff.

• Identity and Access Management for .NET (Khalid Abuhakmeh) - This package looks very interesting to add multiple handlers to an HTTP client. The first question that pops in my mind is why this is not already in .NET, I think it should. I'll definitely give it a try.

AI

• Docker Acquires MCP Defender for Agentic AI Security (Andy Ramirez) - Security stays a priority, and Docker made a good move with this acquisition.

• AI Injection Attacks (ericlaw) - Great post that talks about the current risk when using AI and how we should try to do our best to protect the important information.

Open Source

• Prioritizing your backlog (Mark Downie) - So true! Sorting the backlog is not always that simple.

Podcast

• How to Get Things Done, Stay Focused, and Be More Productive (The Mel Robbins Podcast) - This compelling episode (available in audio and video) takes a fresh approach to productivity. Having read their books, I found the conversation particularly engaging and highly recommend it.

~frank