I don't always recommend CSharp to beginners...
That might be shocking to you. I mean, dotnet is absolutely awesome and useful in many applications. It's also almost exclusively the language that I create content around.
So why might I recommend something like Python instead? Well, it's all about context.
I'm not going to sit here and debate every possible use case for every language, but if someone told me they just wanted to poke around with programming concepts... I'd absolutely suggest Python. If they told me that they want to just focus on front end web development, I'd probably direct them towards JavaScript.
This doesn't mean these languages only serve these purposes, or that no others could check the boxes. But they're good starting points. Programming languages are tools, so pick a tool that makes sense.
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Caching can be extremely powerful in software systems, but it's also non-trivial. In distributed systems with caches, we have to consider the concept of a "stampede" where many callers get a cache miss and hit a downstream service. There's a pattern we see in some caching libraries that combine getting or creating into one operation. This is often used to provide the structure for stampede protection by limiting downstream calls in a single process. But... Does the built-in IMemoryCache have stampede protection? 🤔

Getting started with Semantic Kernel in C# is SUPER easy! In only a few lines of code, you can have it wired up in your ASP NET Core application. And one of the best parts about that? It's that familiar fluent-builder syntax we all know and love! Try it out today!

You can't forget about these if you're trying to be a better software engineer... People skills. And at the most basic level, just being a good person to other people that you're working with. When I sat down to talk with Jade Wilson about software engineering and her experiences at Microsoft, we got into discussing people skills! In this clip, I'm highlighting to Jade that one of my main goals in content creation for software engineers is to remind them of the non-technical skills needed as software engineers. It's fascinating how much focus goes into the technical side but how many people are completely omitting the rest of it. I understand the importance of technical skills, but I also understand the value of more "soft" skills. What do you feel is one of the most neglected focus areas for software engineers? Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #CareerAdvice #Careers

We have an industry plagued by bad managers and bad leaders. These are the words of John Crickett and I completely agree with his take. John is *not* saying that good managers and leaders don't exist -- but there are certainly a number of them that don't do a stellar job. Management is not just about ordering around a bunch of software engineers to get some code written. And it certainly shouldn't feel like that on the receiving end. Software engineers should understand the reasons behind WHY they're solving certain problems. They should understand the needs of the business and be empowered to go solve these challenges. Managers and leaders should be trying to offer up as much of this clarity as possible (and yes, communication needs to be tailored to different experience levels). Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #Management #Leadership

Continuous improvement is the name of the game. I had the pleasure of sitting down to talk to John Crickett about software engineering. One of the topics was on development approaches and of course "Agile" came up. In this clip, John shares his perspective on the value of retrospectives -- even sharing that he and his wife do them for Coding Challenges! Some of the key points John calls out include: - Taking actionable steps to improve - Learning lessons from past experiences - Reflecting on past actions and outcomes - Examining what went well and what went badly - Identifying and continuing with successful practices - Recognizing and addressing aspects that didn't go well What are your thoughts on retrospectives? What would you add to John's points? Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer

I gave up. I shouldn't have done it, and I can't go back in time... But when I started Dev Leader originally, I gave up within months. I wasn't clear what my goals were when I started, but it felt like it was too much work and not enough reward: - Why was I spending my time writing articles? - Is anyone even reading what I'm saying? - Are their people deriving value from my curated lists of articles? - Is this going anywhere? - Are people even interested in this stuff? It was just easier to give up. But many years later I see some of my content-creating role models doing such an awesome job sharing knowledge and experience with their audiences that it seems so obvious to me now. Just. Keep. Doing. It. Keep posting. Keep sharing experiences. Keep making videos. Keep writing articles. The goal was never to go viral. The goal was to help others. It can take many years of consistency to build that audience but being consistent with it has been one of the most rewarding things. Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #Leadership #Management

What are behavioral interview questions? These are often misunderstood, but you've probably heard examples around: - Collaborating with other teams to deliver a project - Working with challenging team members - Leading a project on your team Many software developers hyper-focus on technology and explain in great detail the super cool technical things that they did. While that's neat, it's generally not the goal of these questions. Behavioral questions are an attempt for the interviewer to understand how you fit with key competencies they're looking for. Remember: try to understand the goal of what the interviewer is looking for before you explain why you chose MongoDB over Postgres in great detail. Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineer #SoftwareEngineers #SoftwareEngineering

You're going to fail interviews. And that's TOTALLY okay. Interviews aren't something we have regular practice with, and even if you have been practicing, there's many factors outside of your control. I just want to remind folks: Don't be discouraged if you fail. You will have more opportunities and the right one will line up. Use your failures to make the next interviews better. Livestreams have been an awesome opportunity for me to share my own experiences, including failed interviews, so check those out if you enjoy candid conversation! Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineer #SoftwareEngineers #SoftwareEngineering

Sharing your real story and helping others learn can be powerful for branding In my conversation with Anna Miller, we talked about branding as software engineers. While it might seem like an odd topic for engineers, it's very valuable! It's not just limited to how you post online, it can help with building working relationships with colleagues as well. Anna shares that being your authentic self can be powerful when you're sharing information with others. Yes, we all want feedback and engagement -- but there's a driving force we all have to help others. By sharing our lived experiences with others, they can learn and apply these learnings to their own journeys. Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #Learning

Ready to compete against hundreds, or thousands, of applicants for software engineering roles? When I was discussing software engineering job searches with Anna Miller, she explained that the landscape has shifted when it comes to job opportunities. Remote and hybrid work options have resulted in a significant increase in applications for a role. Companies now receive hundreds to thousands of applications within just a few days for these positions! The situation is even more intense for junior software engineering jobs! The competition is significantly more elevated given how many people can apply to such roles. What are your thoughts on how remote/hybrid work has affected job searches? What would you add to what Anna has mentioned? Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #Careers #CareerAdvice

Are you plugging into the right ecosystem for your software engineering job search? When I interviewed Anna Miller, she shared her tips for job searching for software engineers. One of her suggestions that might catch you off guard: Forget the job boards! Here's what else Anna suggests focusing on: - Networking is crucial for referrals and job interviews - Building a strong personal brand is essential for being seen - Look for companies and startups in the industry you are interested in - Consider media platforms such as podcasts related to your desired field - Connect with founders, professionals, and online communities discussing the field What else would you add to this list? Check out the full video on my YouTube channel! ---- 🔔 Follow for more software engineering and dotnet topics! 📨 Sign up for my FREE email newsletter by visiting my site (link in profile) 🗣️ Share with your network! #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineer #Careers #CareerAdvice