110. Smart Cloud Migration with Azure Technologies - with Rick & Oscar

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Yasen Dinkov, an artist turned engineer and head of engineering at Blue10. Yasen shares how his love for visual arts led him to programming and how he sees both art and software as creative acts shaped by imagination and constraints. He explains how his team builds a SaaS platform that uses AI to process documents while blending seamlessly into users’ workflows, focusing on solving real problems rather than following every request. Yasen also reflects on how music and nature inspire his creativity, showing innovation as a journey driven by curiosity and collaboration.About this episode, and Yasen Dinkov in particular: you can find Yasen on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

Rick and Oscar talk with Alvin Ashcroft, Senior Content Developer at Microsoft, about how AI is transforming developer documentation. Alvin explains how tools like Copilot and MCP servers help improve Microsoft’s technical content. They discuss the rise of local AI models, Windows AI APIs, and the shift toward open-source collaboration. Alvin also shares his career journey and passion for community-driven projects. About this episode, and Alvin Ashcraft in particular: you can find Alvin on LinkedIn and on his website. You can also buy his book here.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Paula Januszkiewicz, founder and CEO of CQURE, a Cybersecurity Expert, Microsoft MVP, and passionate speaker. Paula shares how cybersecurity evolved from curiosity-driven exploration to a professional, high-stakes discipline shaped by major technological shifts. She highlights the move from one-time penetration tests to continuous security practices and the power of storytelling in making cybersecurity engaging. Paula also reflects on her role as a woman leader promoting openness, learning, and continuous improvement in the tech community.About this episode, and Paula Januszkiewicz in particular: you can find Paula on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Jelle Fremery, who moved from psychology into software development and now works as a Principal Cloud and AI Architect at Betabit. They discuss how his background influences his approach to technology and the rise of generative AI. They reflect on the power and unpredictability of Large Language Models (LLMs). Jelle stresses the importance of human oversight, security, and ethics in AI. They end with an optimistic look at AI’s future in software development. About this episode, and Jelle Fremery in particular: you can find Jelle on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar are joined by Jelle Fremery, Principal AI Architect at Betabit. They look back at the evolution of .NET and C#, discussing coding styles and records. They compare how newcomer TUnit stacks up against titans NUnit and xUnit. The hosts also discuss Azure’s growing tools, including Logic Apps and the Durable Task Scheduler, and share experiences adapting to new coding practices. They reflect on AI advances like GPT-5 and the importance of appreciating rapid technological progress. About this episode, and Rick, Oscar & Jelle in particular: you can find them on LinkedIn: Rick, Oscar & Jelle.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Christian Peeters, a principal Cloud Architect at Betabit and a certified Microsoft trainer. They discuss the intersection of technology, teaching, and continuous learning in software development. They explore emerging tools like vector databases and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), breaking down their complexity while stressing the importance of grounding AI models in real data to ensure trustworthiness.About this episode, and Christian Peeters in particular: you can find Christian on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Jos Eilers, a cloud principal at Twyzer,  about his path from engineering to cloud and data platforms, focusing on the rise of Microsoft Fabric. Jos highlights how Fabric unifies data engineering, science, and business intelligence, while simplifying access with features like OneLake. They also discuss challenges around compute resources, the importance of planning capacity, and the critical role of data quality. About this episode, and Jos Eilers in particular: you can find Jos on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Bram Albers, Principal Quality Assurance at Betabit, about how software testing has evolved from an afterthought to a core part of development. They discuss how automation and AI improve efficiency but risk reducing critical thinking, making tester instincts and skepticism essential, and Bram warns against confirmation bias while stressing the value of exploratory testing to uncover issues automation might miss. The conversation challenges traditional models like the test pyramid, supporting adaptable, project-specific approaches, with the core message that quality is a shared responsibility.About this episode, and Bram Albers in particular: you can find Bram on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

In this podcast episode, Rick and Oscar discuss Virtual Vaults' journey of evolving their cloud infrastructure. They reflect on the shift from early cloud deployments to modern containerized solutions, detailing their use of Azure technologies like web roles, app services, and Azure Functions. Emphasizing a pragmatic and incremental approach, they highlight the importance of continuous learning, experimentation, and adaptability. About Betatalks: watch our podcast videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Jamie Maguire, a Microsoft MVP in AI and a certified Azure AI engineer associate. Jamie shares his journey from documenting his technical insights through blogging to becoming an active contributor to the tech community. They reflect on the evolution of AI from manual language processing to powerful tools like Semantic Kernel and discuss his hands-on approach to learning through projects such as a Raspberry Pi-based home security system. Jamie also emphasizes the value of experimenting, building small projects, and consistently sharing knowledge. About this episode, and Jamie Maguire in particular: you can find Jamie on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and GitHub. Visit his website to read all his blogs and check out his YouTube channel for more content.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky.