Episode 041 – Source Generators with Andrew Lock
Welcome to the forty-first episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful and often underutilized features in modern C#—source generators. And we’ve brought in a special guest to help guide us through it: Andrew Lock, author, speaker, and all-around .NET expert.
Source generators are a feature of the C# compiler that let developers inspect user code during compilation and generate additional source files that are seamlessly added to the build. It’s like metaprogramming with superpowers—and it’s changing how developers think about code generation, performance, and boilerplate reduction in .NET projects.
With Andrew’s guidance, we explore how source generators work, when you should use them, and the benefits they bring to libraries, frameworks, and everyday applications. We also dig into practical examples, tooling support, performance considerations, and what the future of this feature could look like in upcoming C# releases.
If you’ve been curious about source generators or you’re looking for smart ways to reduce code duplication, improve compile-time performance, or just do some really cool things with the compiler, this episode is a must-listen.
Tune in to The Breakpoint Show and discover what every .NET developer should know about source generators—straight from one of the best in the biz!
Andrew’s Blog — https://andrewlock.net/
His newest book “ASP.NET Core in Action, Third Edition” — https://www.manning.com/books/asp-net-core-in-action-third-edition
Episode 040 – Musings on .NET Open Source!
Welcome to the 40th episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this milestone episode, we spotlight one of the most exciting and passionate parts of the .NET world, the open-source community and ecosystem.
From powerful community-driven libraries to independent tools that improve our daily development, we explore what’s happening in the .NET open-source space right now. We discuss how the ecosystem has evolved, the role of individual contributors and maintainers, and the growing importance of community governance, collaboration, and sponsorship.
We also chat about the challenges open-source projects face in the .NET world, from burnout to funding, and highlight some projects and contributors doing incredible work that you should definitely follow or support.
Whether you’re an open-source maintainer, a casual contributor, or someone who benefits from these excellent tools daily, this episode is packed with insights, appreciation, and a few spicy takes on where the .NET open-source world is heading next.
Episode 039 – Don’t Call My .NET Baby Ugly!
Welcome to the thirty-ninth episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest challenges many development teams face today: migrating .NET Framework applications to modern .NET. And we’re not doing it alone — we’re joined by special guest Tomas Herceg, an expert in .NET migrations and modernizing legacy systems.
Tomas shares his deep experience and practical advice on how to approach migrations the right way. We dig into the reasons why teams should consider upgrading, the common pitfalls to avoid, and the key questions developers need to ask before touching a single line of legacy code. From architectural considerations to tooling and strategy, we cover what it takes to successfully move your .NET Framework projects into the modern .NET world.
Whether you’re dealing with a large enterprise app that’s stuck in the past or just curious about what’s involved in modernization, this episode is packed with insights that will help you plan and execute a smoother migration.
Tomas also has a book that will help with these migrations –> Modernizing .NET Web Applications: Everything You Need to Know About Migrating ASP.NET Web Applications to the Latest Version of .NET.
Tune in for this valuable conversation with Tomas Herceg and get ready to future-proof your .NET projects!
Episode 038 – Jibber Jabber!
Welcome to the thirty-eighth episode of The Breakpoint Show! Last episode, we had a fascinating discussion with Hanna about quantum computing. This week, we’re taking a break from in-depth dives and special guests to focus on something just as important—catching up!
In this episode, it’s just us hosts hanging out and reflecting on all the exciting, frustrating, and downright quirky happenings in the .NET and web development world. We’ll discuss new tools, framework updates, community projects, and developer achievements, covering the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Expect a bit of ranting (because what’s a dev podcast without it?), some celebrating (the community, including you, is doing amazing things!), and plenty of candid opinions on where we believe the industry is headed. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining listen during your commute or just want to feel like you’re chatting with fellow developers over coffee, this episode is for you.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these topics or any other aspect of .NET and web development. Tune in to The Breakpoint Show for a casual, honest, and entertaining check-in on the state of .NET and web development in 2025!
Episode 036 – Episode of a Lifetime
Welcome to the thirty-sixth episode of The Breakpoint Show! This time, we’re diving into a core topic for every .NET and C# developer—dependency injection (DI)! Whether you’ve been using DI for years or still find some parts of it a mystery, this episode will help you understand the why, how, and when of using DI effectively in your .NET applications.
We’ll break down the fundamentals of dependency injection, why it’s such a powerful pattern in modern development, and how .NET’s built-in DI container simplifies things. But that’s just the beginning! We’ll also explore lifetime strategies—Singleton, Scoped, and Transient—and discuss when to use each one, common mistakes, and best practices for designing a maintainable and scalable system.
If you’ve ever struggled with DI configuration, memory leaks, or circular dependencies, don’t worry—we’re here to guide you through it all. Expect real-world examples, practical insights, and a few laughs along the way.
Join us for this essential episode of The Breakpoint Show and master dependency injection and lifetime strategies in .NET and C#!
Episode 035 – .NET Features: Love it or Hate it
Welcome to the thirty-fifth episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this episode, we take a nostalgic and opinionated journey through the best and worst features of .NET over the years. From the innovations we’ve loved to the ones that made us question our life choices, we’re breaking it all down with a mix of insight, humor, and maybe a little therapy.
Join us as we reminisce about the .NET features that changed the game, made development easier, and pushed the ecosystem forward. But, of course, we’ll also call out the ones that were frustrating, overcomplicated, or just didn’t quite hit the mark. Whether it’s language features, frameworks, or API design choices, no topic is off-limits.
If you’ve been working with .NET for years, you’ll probably recognize some of the same features that made us cheer—or cringe. And if you’re newer to .NET, consider this a fun history lesson with some hard-earned developer wisdom thrown in.
Tune in for a lively, no-holds-barred discussion on the .NET features we’ve loved, hated, and everything in between. You don’t want to miss this one!
Episode 034 – Greenfield Projects
Welcome to the thirty-fourth episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this episode, we’re shifting our focus from legacy code to the exciting world of greenfield projects. Starting fresh can be both thrilling and overwhelming, so we’re here to break down how to set your new project up for success—before you even write a single line of code.
We’ll discuss the critical steps that often get overlooked, like defining clear goals, understanding project requirements, and creating a solid architecture. It’s not just about diving into code—it’s about thoughtful planning to avoid headaches down the road.
Of course, we’ll also cover the essential tools that can help you get the job done efficiently. From project management tools to development environments, frameworks, and CI/CD pipelines, we’ll share our go-to resources to streamline your workflow and set the foundation for a successful project.
Whether you’re leading a new product, starting a personal project, or just curious about best practices for greenfield development, this episode is packed with insights to help you kick things off the right way.
Tune in to The Breakpoint Show and learn how to build smarter from day one!
Episode 033 – New Year New Apps
Welcome to the thirty-third episode of The Breakpoint Show! In the latest episode of The Breakpoint Show, we’re tackling the challenges of migrating older projects from .NET Framework to today’s .NET. From handling outdated codebases to leveraging new tools and strategies, we’ll walk you through what it takes to bring your legacy projects into the modern age.
But before you dive in, there are critical questions every team needs to ask:
❓ Why are you migrating?
❓ What are the risks and challenges?
❓ Which parts of the code are worth modernizing—and which should be left behind?
Whether you’re leading a significant migration effort or just thinking about updating NuGet packages, this episode is packed with tips, insights, and lessons learned to help you future-proof your projects and avoid common pitfalls.
Tune in to The Breakpoint Show and prepare to give your legacy projects a fresh start in today’s .NET world!
Episode 031 – We don’t need Khalid! (but maybe we do)
Welcome to the thirty-first episode of The Breakpoint Show! In this episode, Maarten and Woody hold down the fort while Khalid enjoys some well-deserved vacation time (don’t worry, we didn’t need him anyway).
This week, we keep it short and sweet with a quick chat about the exciting features in .NET 9 and the latest buzz in the developer community. We’ve covered you with all the highlights, from tech updates to upcoming events and happenings.
So, grab your favorite drink, tune in, and join Maarten and Woody for a laid-back, byte-sized episode of The Breakpoint Show. Who needs Khalid when you’ve got these two holding it down? (Just kidding, Khalid, we miss you… kinda.)
Episode 030 – October 2024 Catchup
Welcome to the thirtieth episode of “The Breakpoint Show”! In this episode, the hosts delve into some thrilling news from JetBrains. The game-changing decision to make Rider and WebStorm free for non-commercial and personal use is set to revolutionize the development landscape. We explore the profound impact of these powerful IDEs becoming more accessible and how developers—both professionals and hobbyists—can now harness their full potential for their projects.
To find out more about Rider and WebStorm, go here https://jb.gg/free_rider and https://jb.gg/free_webstorm
But that’s not all! The hosts also catch up on where AI stands in today’s tech world. We chat about the hype, the realities, and how AI tools are shaping (or not shaping!) the everyday developer experience. Are we living in the AI-powered future we were promised?
And let’s not overlook the highly anticipated upcoming release of .NET 9 and C# 13! We dissect the key features and improvements that have us on the edge of our seats and explain how these updates will revolutionize your development workflow.
This episode is a treasure trove of insightful conversations, from exploring new tech tools to sharing thoughts on the future of AI and .NET. Whether you’re a JetBrains user, an AI enthusiast, or a developer eagerly awaiting .NET 9, there’s something here for everyone.
Tune in for a laid-back, informative chat and join us on this milestone 30th episode of “The Breakpoint Show”!
