83. Technology, process and people: Succeeding through digital evolution – with Karel Zikmund

In this episode, we talk with Sam Cogan, a Solution Architect from Willis Towers Watson. We discuss infrastructure as code and cloud automation. Sam shares his perspective on tools like Terraform, Pulumi, and Bicep - explaining why he prefers Pulumi's ability to use programming languages. We also dive into topics like simplifying container management with Azure Container Apps, the evolving state of cloud deployments and DevOps, and best practices for securely automating infrastructure. Beyond the technical discussions, we learn about Sam's work enabling large-scale risk analysis projects in the cloud. About this episode, and Sam Cogan in particular: you can find Sam on X @samcogan and GitHub. You can also take a look at his website to read more about him and watch his interesting videos.About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we talk with Karel Zikmund, a principal software engineer at Microsoft. We discuss the technical and soft skills needed to succeed at different career stages. Karel provides insights on hiring practices, performance optimization, code reviews, and adapting to change in the fast-paced tech industry. Regarding performance, he advocates measuring where bottlenecks exist before optimizing. Karel warns against premature optimization or choosing technologies solely based on benchmarks. He also recommends code reviews and demos during interviews to evaluate a candidate’s deep understanding. We emphasize qualities like passion, humility, and continuous learning that help developers adapt to a changing field. Tune in to hear first-hand advice on thriving in this dynamic and evolving industry.About this episode, and Karel Zikmund in particular: you can find Karel on X @ziki_cz and GitHub. You can also look at his website page to read more about him and his upcoming events.About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we talk with Pete Gallagher, a full stack manager at Avanade and an Azure and IoT MVP. We discuss the evolution of IoT technology and Microsoft's approach. As IoT has matured, the focus has shifted from standalone hype to integrating these capabilities into broader data platforms. We explore how services like Azure, IoT, Grid, and Azure Arc are now preferred over past favorites like IoT Hub, while ensuring existing investments remain supported. We also highlight the underutilized Event Grid platform and share experiences building scalable solutions leveraging Azure's full suite of services. Additionally, we dive into creative hands-on projects that combine hardware, code, and cloud skills, encouraging listeners to pursue diverse interests in fun IoT endeavors, including areas like robotics and automation.About this episode, and Pete Gallagher in particular: you can find Pete on X @pete_codes and GitHub. You can also look at his website to read all his interesting blogs, courses, and more. About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we talk with Henk Boelman, a senior cloud advocate at Microsoft. We discuss recent advances in artificial intelligence. Henk explains how models like GPT have made AI more accessible through natural language interfaces.  We delve into the rapid progression of the field and predict capabilities in multi-modal input and conversation. We discuss whether dedicated services will evolve independently or be replaced by generalized models. Testing and monitoring deployed AI is crucial, and we explore the need for more professionals in this area. Finally, we raise ethical issues surrounding the understanding of AI decisions. About this episode, and Henk Boelman in particular: you can find Henk on X @hboelman and GitHub. You can also take a look at his website. And don't forget to check out the 'AI community day' on the 14th of May 2024 in DeFabrique in Utrecht. Get your tickets now!About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel

In this episode, we talk with Mark Heath. He is a software architect at NICE Systems, a Pluralsight author, and a Microsoft MVP. In this podcast, we discuss some of the key challenges involved with microservices development and newer technologies that aim to address those challenges, such as Aspire and Dapr. We also touch upon concepts like sidecar patterns and how starting with a monolithic architecture first before extracting services can be beneficial. The use of serverless technologies through Azure Functions was examined in depth. Specifically how durable functions can help solve issues around workflow orchestration that often arise in microservices architectures. Additionally, we explore topics such as optimizing performance at scale in multi-tenant environments and audio programming using .NET. Lastly, we discuss the evolution of the Azure Functions programming model and stress the importance of understanding infrastructure implications when developing cloud-based applications.About this episode, and Mark Heath in particular: you can find Mark on X @Mark_heath and GitHub. You can also take a look at his website.About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Hanna Engel. She is an Azure Cloud Solutions Specialist at Azelis. We dive into how quantum computers operate differently than classical computers using qubits and probabilities. This makes them well-suited for problems in AI, simulation, and optimization. Some companies are already pairing quantum with AI for applications like optimizing battery production. While challenges remain, experts predict continued exponential progress could enable a million qubit computer within five years. Once more widely available, entirely new uses may emerge across industries like healthcare. We cover the current capabilities and the long-term potential of quantum computing to transform fields. We also discuss issues like privacy, security, and responsible development.About this episode, and Hanna Engel in particular: you can find Hanna on LinkedIn. About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Yannick Reekmans. He is a managing partner and Microsoft cloud solution architect at Qubix. We talk about Microsoft Power Platform and AI. We discuss various topics, including the challenges of using Copilot due to data security and privacy concerns, limitations of security tools in Power Platform, embracing constructive criticism in software development, and differences in introversion and social energy levels. We also discuss the potential impact of generative AI on low-code development and the importance of control and quality when using AI-powered Copilots.About this episode, and Yannick Reekmans in particular: you can find Yannick on X @yannickreekmans or LinkedIn. You can also read all his interesting blog posts on his website.About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we speak with Jessey Johnson, a Cloud Solution Architect and an Advanced Cloud Expert (ACE) at Microsoft, who serves as a bridge between business, IT, and technology. We delve into topics such as digital transformation, the evolving landscape of Azure, and address barriers to inclusion in the tech industry. Jessey shares her journey in assisting Dutch organizations to securely adopt cloud services and what ignited her passion for information security compliance. We explore Microsoft's emphasis on developing user-friendly security tools and discuss how cultural biases can hinder underrepresented groups.  About this episode, and Jessey Johnson in particular: you can find Jessey on LinkedIn. About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this special episode, Rick interviews Oscar. We talk about Oscar’s work at Virtual Vaults. For the people who don’t know, Oscar is the CTO of Virtual Vaults, a platform for M&A transactions. Mergers & Acquisitions, that is. We discuss the development of their SaaS platform, emphasizing security and compliance. Oscar highlights their focus on constant improvement through new features, evolving technologies, and an agile culture. He outlines their plans for the coming year, which include improving reliability, security, and developer experience through initiatives like moving to Azure Container Apps. We also cover topics like cloud adoption, software architectures, database choices, and lessons learned over the company's evolution.About this episode, and Oscar van Tol in particular: you can find Oscar on @oscarvantol on X and GitHub. About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel 

In this episode, we talk with Shay Rojansky. He is a Microsoft principal software engineer working on .NET data access and a performance member of the Entity Framework team. And he's a lead developer of Npgsql, the open source .NET data provider for PostgreSQL. We discuss various topics related to data and performance in .NET, such as the evolution of Entity Framework, debates on abstraction usage, database performance optimization, and breakthrough changes in software development. We share stories about improving performance for specific customer scenarios and benchmarking. Overall, we focus on gaining a full-stack understanding of software, using instrumentation to identify optimization opportunities, and emphasizing simple and accessible features over complexity. About this episode, and Shay Rojansky in particular: you can find Shay on @shayrojansky on X and GitHub. Also, check out his website where you can read all his very interesting blogs.About Betatalks: have a look at our videos and join us on our Betatalks Discord channel