Engineer In the Looop

In this episode Alec and Brian talk about AI, turkey, and AI turkey?

Cory House (Pluralsight/DomeTrain author and principal at ReactJS Consulting) shares the story of going “all-in” on JavaScript/React and how that focus grew into a successful independent consulting and training career. We dig into the tradeoffs of deep specialization vs breadth, how to spot real opportunities, and the “two-way door” idea for tech career moves. Cory also walks through his current pivot: using AI as a developer accelerator (how teams use it, where it helps most, what to watch out for) and how experimentation today — while tooling is cheap and rapidly evolving — is valuable. Along the way we surface mindset lessons (Cal Newport, Carol Dweck), how to balance giving away content vs paid courses, and practical tips for auditors/consultants trying to scale their impact.Guest: Cory House — https://www.bitnative.com/ · Consulting & training: https://www.reactjsconsulting.com/ · Courses: Dometrain (TypeScript: Getting Started / Deep Dive) · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@housecor · X: https://x.com/housecor · GitHub: https://github.com/coryhouse · DevOpsDays Des Moines (speaker): https://devopsdays.org/events/2025-des-moines/welcome/ · Podcast: https://eitl.ai/podcast/ · Books: So Good They Can’t Ignore You (Cal Newport), Mindset (Carol Dweck)

Founder of .NET Conf and 20-year Microsoft MVP Javier Lozano joins Engineer in the Loop to talk about what’s changed—and what hasn’t—in web development. We riff on MVP categories, why demos are easy and production is hard, and how AI is a force multiplier that still demands human judgment. Javier shares “SIMON” (Simplified Minutia and Operational Nonsense), his vision for agents that run conference ops, plus practical takes on trust, determinism, and the trade-off between faster output and more defects. We hit identity’s growing role, WebAssembly’s promise, and why tools (the picks and shovels) often win the gold rush. If you build .NET apps, run cloud workloads, or just want a grounded view of AI’s near future, this one’s packed with hard-earned lessons and optimistic realism.

From Exchange 2003 to Azure landing zones, Elliott shares 15 years of lessons on moving beyond VMs, building platform ops that devs actually love, and keeping cloud costs sane.Key TakeawaysPlatform engineering > “just cloud”: Guardrails, vending, and templates win hearts (and roadmaps).FinOps framing: Translate infra to “cost per sale/visit” and budgets to anomaly alerts.PaaS by default: Avoid VMs unless there’s a clear reason.DX = adoption: The easier you make it, the faster devs ship safely.AI is force-multiplier, not autopilot: Keep humans in the loop for security, design, and intent.Chapters00:00 – Cold Open & SetupWelcome to Engineering the Loop. Alec introduces Elliott Leighton-Woodruff, Principal Architect at Synextra, and shouts out his pro studio setup.01:18 – Origin Story: From Helldesk to ArchitectElliott’s path through managed services, Exchange migrations, and into Azure—why his “O365 is only for SMBs” take aged badly and what that taught him about platform shifts.03:00 – Cloud Era PivotFrom AD/Exchange to Azure/Entra, early lift-and-shift vs. today’s PaaS-first mindset: “How do we avoid servers?” and drive ROI/security simultaneously.04:32 – Compliance Across the PondGDPR, UK/EU data residency, and pragmatic risk: why proper data handling matters more than headlines—and the nuance of Microsoft’s US metadata access.09:08 – SaaS/PaaS > IaaS & Vendor Lock WorriesWhy “vendor lock-in” is often less risky than running your own racks—and how integrated ecosystems (Microsoft, Apple) win on user experience.14:48 – IaC Choices in the WildARM → Terraform → Bicep (and back). When Terraform’s versatility wins, when Bicep is “good enough,” and how state files can be a superpower for diffing real changes.17:49 – Standards & ModulesMinimal code, shared module repos, and composable templates; using internal modules to enforce good defaults and speed delivery across clients.21:10 – Developer Experience (DevEx) as the SellResource vending, guardrails, and starter pipelines so devs ship .NET without touching VNet/front door/APIM—but still stay within policy.26:40 – Cost Control & Landing Zones 101What an Azure landing zone really is (governance + network + RBAC + policy). Budgets, quotas, and anomaly alerts to prevent “surprise bills.”32:59 – Real Billing War StoriesCostly misconfigs (AKS + Log Analytics, Custom Neural Voice hosting), forgiveness policies, and AWS vs. Azure leniency, plus why alerts matter.38:19 – Spot & Batch = Cheap ComputeSpot VMs and batch patterns for big workloads; tradeoffs and when to queue jobs for 80%+ savings.41:45 – FinOps Mindset ShiftTalk in cost per X (visit/transaction/customer) instead of monthly totals; why scaling beats fixed VMs when revenue is on the line.49:50 – Agents, “Vibe Coding,” and Reality ChecksAI can ship features, but humans still set direction and prevent face-palm security mistakes (like leaking waitlist emails via DevTools).52:19 – The Junior Talent QuestionIf agents do the grunt work, where do juniors learn? Potential futures for hiring, training, and the skills that stick.55:49 – Hybrid, Edge, and HCI Use CasesAzure Stack/HCI examples (manufacturing/food QA) and the appeal of local inference with cloud aggregation.57:39 – The (Maybe) Dystopian FutureMeetings → summaries → agents; what stays human, what becomes automated—and why good platform ops multiply teams.58:08 – How to Reach Elliott & SynextraWhere to follow Elliott and Synextra; why they give away “do-it-yourself” playbooks and when to call them for the hard stuff.Platform engineering > “just cloud”: Guardrails, vending, and templates win hearts (and roadmaps).FinOps framing: Translate infra to “cost per sale/visit” and budgets to anomaly alerts.PaaS by default: Avoid VMs unless there’s a clear reason.DX = adoption: The easier you make it, the faster devs ship safelyAI is force-multiplier, not autopilot: Keep humans in the loop for security, design, and intent

Here's a little life update and AI/Tech news for October 1st 2025[Anthropic Joins Microsoft 365 Copilot](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/09/24/expanding-model-choice-in-microsoft-365-copilot/)[Claude Sonnet 4.5 Is Out!](https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/claude/anthropics-claude-sonnet-4-5-is-available-now-the-best-ai-model-in-the-world-for-real-world-agents-coding-and-computer-use)[Amazon unveils new generation of AI-powered Kindle and other devices](https://apnews.com/article/amazon-ai-alexa-kindle-echo-4e2983e166b8b62b2a3e51fc30a4a46c)

Ready for a master-class in mentoring, managing, and staying sane in the age of AI? In this no-filter chat, Alec Harrison and Brian Gorman welcome returning guest Cameron Presley—engineer, functional-programming fan, and self-proclaimed “hot-take factory.” Together we cover:From Junior to Jedi: practical ways leaders can help devs find their lane—and how to nudge the rock-stars and shooting stars on your team without burning them out.When Life Smacks Your Sprint Plan: candid advice on supporting teammates through family crises, caregiver duties, or just plain “I’m tapped-out” seasons.The AI Performance Debate: Microsoft’s leaked memo that says “Using AI is no longer optional”—and what mandatory Copilot metrics could mean for your next review. ⁠Business Insider⁠Networking That Doesn’t Suck: why real-world user groups, conferences, and mastermind circles beat random LinkedIn cold-pitches every time.Managing Your Toughest Employee—You: swapping stories on the brutal self-talk solo consultants dish out, and healthier ways to keep yourself accountable.Expect spicy sound bites, a couple of trains barreling through Brian’s mic, and plenty of actionable tips for every rung of the career ladder—from fresh grads to CTOs.Business Insider: “Microsoft pushes staff to use internal AI tools more, and may consider this in reviews.” (June 27, 2025) — ⁠https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-internal-memo-using-ai-no-longer-optional-github-copilot-2025-6⁠(Did we promise another resource and miss it? Ping us and we’ll drop it here!)

📄 Episode Description:In this episode, we welcome back Cameron Presley, now the owner of Small Batch Solutions, to dive deep into the real work of building better engineers—not just better apps. We talk about how to create environments where interns and junior developers can thrive, why mentorship is a long game, and how AI might be reshaping the way we learn (for better or worse).From Pokémon metaphors and force pushes to production, to tough love truths about bad internship programs—this one’s packed with hard-earned wisdom, spicy takes, and plenty of laughs.Plus:🔥 Why some teams should not hire interns🌱 What it really takes to grow junior talent🤖 The role (and limits) of AI in developer learning🧪 Real talk on tests, professionalism, and legacy code🔗 Links & Mentions:🎉 KCDC – Kansas City Developer Conference: https://kcdc.info🧠 Cameron Presley: blog.softwarementor.com🐦 Cameron on BlueSky: ‪@thesoftwarementor.com‬🚀 Alec’s company: https://eitl.ai

Nebraska.Code 2025 is right around the corner, but before you pack for Lincoln, join Alec and Brian as they tackle the hottest developer question of 2025: How do I harness AI agents without handing the keys to my codebase—or my laptop—over to Big Tech?In this candid therapy-session-meets-tech-deep-dive, we unpack everything from Model Context Protocol (the “USB-C of AI apps”) to rolling your own “Cursor-style” IDE assistant. You’ll hear:The exact trade-offs between GPT-4-class models in the cloud and leaner Phi 3/Llama models you can run on-prem with Foundry Local for air-gapped privacy.Why agent-driven search is replacing static web pages—and how building an Azure OpenAI chatbot today keeps your organization off the “left behind” list.A pragmatic roadmap for leveling-up: free AI-900 / AI-102 learning paths, sample GitHub repos, and the one-day AgentCon tour that drops actionable agent patterns straight into your toolbelt.Whether you’re a developer sick of dependency-update tickets or an underwriter who’d rather review the interesting policies, this episode shows you how AI can erase the drudgery—without erasing your intellectual property.+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+| NEBRASKA.CODE 2025 – REGISTRATION || https://whova.com/portal/registration/IOhJf-6D449qSu-mYLa9/ |+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+| AGENTCON 2025 – KANSAS CITY (Global AI) || https://globalai.community/chapters/kansas-city/events/agentcon-2025-kansas-city/ |+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+| GET STARTED WITH FOUNDRY LOCAL (Microsoft Learn) || https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ai-foundry/foundry-local/get-started |+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+| MICROSOFT CERTIFIED: AZURE AI FUNDAMENTALS (AI-900) || https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-ai-fundamentals/ |+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+| VS CODE + MCP SAMPLE REPO (mcp-for-beginners) || https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners |+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

🚀 Description:In this packed episode of Engineering the Loop, we break down everything you need to know from Microsoft Build 2025—and trust us, it’s not just incremental upgrades. From the rise of AI agents and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to the total transformation of search, software development, and even how you cool a data center, this year’s Build proves Microsoft is all in on an AI-first future.We cover:Why MCP might replace traditional APIs (and kill search engines as we know them)How Copilot is leveling up with Agent Mode and SRE capabilitiesRunning your own copilots locally with AI Foundry LocalThe wild vision of NL Web for conversational internetAnd why every developer needs to pay attention—fastWhether you’re a developer, an architect, or just fascinated by what’s next in AI, this episode will catch you up and spark ideas.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Welcome & Build 2025 OverviewKickoff and why this year’s conference felt like a seismic shift.02:30 – Agents and MCP 101What are agents? What is Model Context Protocol? Why do they matter so much?10:20 – Copilot EverywhereCopilot Studio, Copilot Agent Mode, GitHub Copilot Chat, and the rise of SRE agents.19:15 – AI Foundry Local & Bring Your Own ModelsHow you can run and fine-tune your own models—locally and securely.25:40 – NL Web & The Death of SearchCould conversational agents replace traditional search engines?31:00 – Data Center Innovations & SustainabilityImmersive cooling, carbon negativity, and the future of green AI infrastructure.35:10 – Developer Productivity SuperchargedSwagger specs, MCP servers, and Copilot building entire applications for you.41:45 – Governance, Security & What Comes NextManaging agents, protecting MCP endpoints, and Microsoft’s vision for AI governance.47:00 – Closing Thoughts & PredictionsWhere do we go from here?🎧 Listen now and join the conversation—because the future is arriving faster than you think.

Heads-up, hallway-track fans! In this episode of Engineer in the Loop, Alec and Brian sit down with Nebraska.Code() co-founder Ken Versaw and “community & culture steward” Arthur Doler for an unfiltered look at:The 10-year rise of Nebraska.Code() and why the Cornhusker Marriott becomes the Midwest’s dev playground every July 23-25, 2025. whova.comKen’s origin story — from writing customer-service scripts to launching a conference so locals didn’t need a $2 k Orlando flight to learn.Arthur’s accidental pivot from data-science lightning talks to psychology-powered tech talks (and why Git visualisations changed lives).Speaker horror stories: empty rooms, “front-row-guy” derailments, and the perils of eight-hour workshops on tiny laptop screens.The real ROI for companies: momentum, problem-solving serendipity, team bonding and that one idea that pays for the ticket tenfold.Bonus: impromptu Billy-Joel sing-alongs in the hotel lobby, plus why BarCamp Omaha’s “un-conference” is the easiest on-ramp to speaking.Whether you’re conference-curious or a seasoned speaker, this conversation shows how live events fuel careers, communities and—yes—occasional chaos.Links You (Promised to) Drop in the Show NotesWhat Whywhova.comNebraska.Code() Speaker CFP / schedule http://nebraskacode.amegala.comBarCamp Omaha (un-conference) – get your first speaking rep https://barcampomaha.orgKen Versaw & Arthur Doler on BlueSky (Ken) @nebraskacode.bsky.social • (Arthur) @arthurdoler.bsky.social

In this wide-ranging Engineering the Loop chat, Alec Harrison and Brian Gorman welcome Peter Vasillion—CEO & AI Partner at Facet Interactive—to dissect how “models in the loop” are changing the way businesses ship software and automate everyday work.Peter traces his journey from rebuilding Pentium-2 towers in his parents’ Southern California warehouse to guiding Fortune-level AI roll-outs. The trio swap stories about:⚡ Rapid prototyping with LLMs – how Claude 4 Sonnet spun up a functional Blazor app for a non-developer in minutes, and why starting with a strong domain brief still matters.🧠 Treating your AI like a junior hire – prompt-engineering, RAG, and iterative feedback loops that “skill up” an agent the same way you’d mentor a new teammate.🛡️ Agent governance & bias – building ruler-slap guardrails in n8n workflows, the danger of hidden corporate filters, and what happens when monetization meets model moderation.🤖 Assistant futures – from AI scheduling podcast guests to autonomous purchase-making, and the sociotechnical ripples when your virtual assistant becomes a trusted coworker.Whether you’re wrestling with shadow-IT Power Apps, dreaming of a personal Telegram bot, or just curious about where the next wave of AI commoditization leads, this conversation is packed with practical war stories and forward-looking caution flags.Links promised in the show notesPeter Vasillion on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pvasilion/Facet Interactive – strategy, data & AI consulting https://facetinteractive.com/n8n.io – open-source, agent-friendly workflow automation

From jiu-jitsu to jumpstarting innovation at Toyota Connected, Renard Henry brings the heat in this episode of Engineer in the Loop. We talk AI in vehicles, life-saving tech, and the growing need for AI governance. Renard shares how Toyota stays lean while experimenting fast, why autonomous cars still need human oversight, and what the future holds for AI in healthcare and transportation. Whether you’re a tech lead, car geek, or just curious about how AI shows up in the real world—you’ll want to buckle up for this one.Checkout Renard's Podcast Black Belts & Boardrooms ⁨@BlackBeltsandBoardrooms⁩ 📌 Chapters:00:00 – The Invisible AI Already in Your Car01:37 – Meet Renard Henry: From Sports Medicine to Tech Leadership04:32 – Leadership Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu and Industry Hopping06:02 – Fast-Paced Innovation at Toyota Connected07:47 – Why Toyota Still Gets Lean Right09:21 – AI vs. Autonomy: How Toyota Approaches Both13:51 – Autonomous Traffic, White Stoplights, and Sci-Fi Reality17:04 – The Future of Vehicle Ownership & Passive Income Fleets21:05 – From IT to Intelligent Agents: What’s Coming Next22:11 – How AI Changed Renard’s Work and Worldview25:29 – AI in Healthcare: Personal Loss and Hopeful Progress27:16 – Ethics, Automation, and the Trolley Problem28:24 – Why AI Governance Will Be the Next Big Tech Role30:51 – Cost, Risk & Value: The Hidden Work of Enterprise AI34:55 – Avoiding the Wild West of Shadow AI36:29 – Innovation with Purpose: Vetting the Right Tools40:07 – Final Thoughts + Where to Connect with Renard