Reading Notes #655

Welcome to the 655th Reading Notes. This edition explores embedding Python in .NET, working with stacked git branches, and an introduction to cloud-native. Plus, a quick tip for the Azure Portal and using local AI for code reviews. 

Open Source

• Embed Python in .NET applications to run models with transformers (Anthony Simmon) - Yes you read it right, we can now mix python in our .NET code.

Programming

• Working with stacked branches in git (Part 2) (Andrew Lock) - Second part of the series about using multiple branches when doing a feature very interesting

• Upgrade Your Application and Prepare for the Future with .NET Aspire (Mike Yeager) - Great story of a migration. Disposed share the tools used for that migration the reason why they were used very interesting story thank you for sharing your journey

Cloud

• Introduction to Cloud Native Computing (TNS Staff) - Very complete and interesting article that is the perfect point to get started with clout native application covering what it is the strategy the architecture everything

• Azure Tech Tip: Go to Azure Portal with Specific Credentials (Jani Nevalainen) - Nice and easy tip to ease the login

AI

• Local code review with Docker and smollm2 before pushing to git (Gerardo Lopez) - Great idea to validate our code before pushing using the brand new model feature of Docker.

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 #654

Welcome to another edition of my reading notes! This week, I’ve gathered a selection of insightful articles and resources covering topics like AI, cloud security, open source, and developer productivity. Whether you’re interested in best practices, new tools, or thought-provoking perspectives, there’s something here for everyone. 

Dive in and enjoy the highlights!

Suggestion of the week

• Copilot, The Good Parts: Efficiency (Rob Conery) - I love that post, it's so true! There are good and bad ways to use any tools. And I personally would really like seeing Rob build his stuff. Let's him know If you think like me.

Programming

• Zero-Trust Architecture for Cloud-Based AI Systems (Goodness Woke) - This is a perfect article to get started on zero trust architecture, its complete details and very interesting

• Fantastic Alert Messages Using SweetAlert (Héctor Pérez ) - A great component to manage our alerts in C# instead of having JavaScript. That makes code easier to test when all is in the same language.

• You DON’T Need Microservices for Serverless! (Derek Comartin) - A great post that explained the difference between cold coupling and monolithics versus microservices great post.

Open Source

• How to convince your boss to sponsor Open Web Docs (Patrick Brosset) - Open source is important! And to contribute, it doesn't have to be code. Nice post that shares ideas and explains a few things about OSS.

Databases

• What’s New in MSSQL Extension for VS Code v1.33 ( Carlos Robles) - It's great to have such a nice tool as an extension. I wish it would support more databases.

Miscellaneous

• Local code review with Docker and smollm2 before pushing to git (Gerardo Lopez) - This is a great idea! Definitely a good way to avoid the light of shame and be able to quickly validate that your code looks okay. It's also a great way to experiment free hook.

~frank

Reading Notes #653

Welcome to Reading Notes #653 another packed edition of insights, tools, and updates from the tech world! This week's roundup dives into legendary engineering wisdom, AI controversies, and the latest innovations in Docker, Azure, and VS Code. Whether you're exploring MCP, refining your scripting skills, or gearing up for the newest Azure Developer CLI release, there's something here for every developer.

Let’s get into it!

Cloud

• Azure Developer CLI (azd) - June 2025 (Kristen Womack) - Love that tool, great updates, so many new features and improvements in this version, very looking forward to try all of them, turning them all

AI

• Publishing AI models to Docker Hub (Kevin Wittek) - Running model locally is a lot of people are looking forward to it, so this is good news can't wait to try it

• Build Agents using Model Context Protocol on Azure - MCP is still a thing and can definitely be used in your app, and helps your agents. Learn more about how to get started in the doc.

• The Complete MCP Experience: Full Specification Support in VS Code (Harald Kirschner, Connor Peet, Tyler Leonhardt) - Sweet, looking forward to try it with the URL shortener mCP server that I created but notification scaling everything is looking very exciting

• How to Build, Run, and Package AI Models Locally with Docker Model Runner (Vladimir Mikhalev) - Nice new model feature integrated within docker..

• AI Toolkit for VS Code June Update (junjieli) - Nice update to a great extension, learn more about it

• What humans and Github Co-Pilot have in common (John Hilton) - This controversial tool, is it good or bad? I like the way the author of this post answers that question.

Programming

• Run C# Scripts With dotnet run app.cs (No Project Files Needed) (Milan Jovanović) - Really cool and light way to use C#. Nice post with real scenarios.

Miscellaneous

• Why Legendary Engineers Build Systems, Not Just Code (Peter Smulovics) - So true! It's all a question of time, but maybe not where (or when) you think.

~frank