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"

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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

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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

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