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Sr. Content Developer at Microsoft, working remotely in PA, TechBash conference organizer, former Microsoft MVP, Husband, Dad and Geek.
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Episode 847
Adi Polak on AI Agents and the Necessary Data Infrastructure
Adi Polak leads the Developer Advocacy team at Confluent. She talks about Agentic AI and some of the tools, processes, patterns, and best practices that go into creating AI Agents.
Welcome to F# Weekly,
A roundup of F# content from this past week:
News
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Blogs
Highlighted projects
Datastar = 
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That’s all for now. Have a great week.
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More protests against President Donald Trump are taking place today as part of “A National Day of Action” largely spearheaded by the decentralized 50501 movement. Events are scheduled in all 50 states, two weeks after millions of people attended more than 1,300 “Hands Off!” protests across the US and the world.
This time, over 700 rallies and community events are planned. A post on the official 50501 website describes some of the other efforts underway today:
Yes, there are marches, rallies, and courthouse demonstrations. But there are also diaper drives, skill shares, free community meals, and teach-ins happening all over the country. This is intentional. Because real change doesn’t just come from loud chants — it comes from deep connections.
“No one single march wins demands or ends injustice,” Ben Zinevich, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, which is participating in the protests, told The Washington Post yesterday, “It’s really about building a sustained movement that can show itself as a political force.”
Today’s actions, like those earlier “Hands Off!” demonstrations, are broadly aimed against the actions of President Donald Trump since his inauguration in January. That includes the rapid dismantling of the US administrative state at the hands of Elon Musk’s DOGE, chaotic tariffs, and apparent defiance of court orders, including one from the Supreme Court. Notably, today is the 250th anniversary of the first two major battles at the start of the American Revolutionary War.
People are generally posting about the protests under the same “#handsoff” hashtag that was used earlier in the month. Below are scenes from some of the most visible protest actions taking place today, starting with what looks like hundreds preparing for a march from New York City’s Bryant Park:
Protesters also gathered in Chicago’s Daley Plaza:
A large crowd showed up early this morning at Piatt Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, where protesters in the video below can be heard chanting “bring him home:”
They seem to be referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who the Trump administration initially admitted was sent to an El Salvador prison by mistake. In the wake of a unanimous Supreme Court order to “facilitate” his return, the administration has been attempting to retroactively justify Abrego Garcia’s deportation while doing “nothing,” as a federal judge said this week, to try to get him back.
Demonstrators also turned out at Halifax Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina:
In Buffalo, New York’s Niagara Square:
And Brittlebank Park in Charleston, South Carolina:
In a data-driven world, you need an efficient way to harness your data for actionable insights and gain a competitive edge. Azure Databricks is a powerful, unified analytics and AI platform that streamlines the entire AI project lifecycle—from rapid experimentation to production deployment. By consolidating data ingestion, transformation, and model tracking in one environment, Azure Databricks empowers teams to accelerate innovation and drive consistent, reproducible AI outcomes.
In this blog, we will explore our latest free resources—including our on-demand webinar series, Harness the Power of Azure Databricks for AI and Analytics, and new Plans on Microsoft Learn—that provide data professionals with the necessary knowledge and hands-on experience to master Azure Databricks.
Azure Databricks harnesses Azure’s powerful cloud infrastructure to deliver a unified analytics and AI platform that streamlines data processing, AI development, and business intelligence. This seamless integration enables data scientists, engineers, and analysts to collaborate efficiently, leveraging familiar tools and languages to drive faster insights and innovation, resulting in these key benefits:
The platform excels in numerous real-world applications—from processing massive IoT datasets for predictive maintenance to analyzing customer behavior for personalized marketing campaigns. Financial institutions use it for risk assessment and fraud detection, while healthcare organizations leverage it for patient outcome predictions and treatment optimization.
Looking to deepen your understanding of the value of Azure Databricks? You can explore on-demand sessions from our recent webinar, Harness the Power of Azure Databricks for AI and Analytics, which features product leaders sharing practical insights and best practices.
The webinar consists of four chapters tailored to help your team leverage Azure Databricks for predictive insights, automation, and innovation:
After watching the on-demand webinar, continue your team’s learning journey with a series of new Plans on Microsoft Learn, which are free, expert-curated guides for mastering Azure Databricks functionalities. Each Plan combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, allowing your team to apply concepts in realistic scenarios.
Transform data for AI solutions with Azure Databricks—Discover how to implement AI and machine learning solutions using Azure Databricks, including generative AI, data transformation, pipeline implementation, and more.
By completing this Plan on Microsoft Learn, you should be able to:
Run large data engineering workloads with Azure Databricks—Build crucial data engineering skills in Azure Databricks, starting with foundational knowledge and advancing through data management, pipeline automation, CI/CD workflows, and more to ensure effective handling of large-scale workloads.
This Plan on Microsoft Learn equips your team to:
Run data analytics solutions with Azure Databricks—Master Apache Spark and Azure Databricks to tackle large cloud data engineering. Prepare and analyze data, implement AI solutions, and establish efficient CI/CD workflows. Develop comprehensive data analytics and AI skills within the Azure environment.
After completing this Plan on Microsoft Learn, you’ll be able to:
To provide a well-rounded education on Azure Databricks, Microsoft Learn also offers four specialized learning paths:
Each of these learning paths provides in-depth knowledge tailored to different areas of expertise. IT teams should explore all four paths to build a robust understanding of Azure Databricks and its applications in various business scenarios.
Azure Databricks is transforming modern data analytics and AI, making it essential for businesses to upskill their teams. Our on-demand webinar series, Harness the Power of Azure Databricks for AI and Analytics, and a series of Plans on Microsoft Learn, and individual learning paths offer free, high-quality educational resources to help IT professionals master Azure Databricks.
By leveraging these learning opportunities, teams can:
Start your team’s learning journey today and empower them with the cutting-edge data analytics skills needed to thrive in today’s data-driven landscape. These free resources represent an invaluable investment in your organization’s future success.
The post Upskill your team on Azure Databricks with an on-demand webinar and Microsoft Learn appeared first on Microsoft Azure Blog.
GitHub supports dark mode and light mode, and as developers, we can make our README images look great in both themes. Here’s a quick guide to using the <picture> element in your GitHub Markdown files to dynamically switch images based on the user’s color scheme.
When developers switch to GitHub’s dark mode (or vice versa), standard images can look out of place, with bright backgrounds or clashing colors.
Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all image, you can tailor your visuals to blend seamlessly with the theme. It’s a small change, but it can make your project look much more polished.
Here’s the magic snippet you can copy into your README (or any Markdown file):
Log in
<picture>
<source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="dark-mode-image.png">
<source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="light-mode-image.png">
<img alt="Fallback image description" src="default-image.png">
</picture>
Now, we say it’s magic, but let’s take a peek behind the curtain to show how it works:
<picture> tag lets you define multiple image sources for different scenarios. <source media="..."> attribute matches the user’s color scheme.
media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)", the browser loads the srcset image when GitHub is in dark mode. media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)", the browser loads the srcset image when GitHub is in light mode. <picture> element, or the user’s system doesn’t match any defined media queries, the fallback <img> tag will be used.You can use this approach in your repo README files, documentation hosted on GitHub, and any other Markdown files rendered on GitHub.com!
What’s better than a demo to help you get started? Here’s what this looks like in practice:
The post How to make your images in Markdown on GitHub adjust for dark mode and light mode appeared first on The GitHub Blog.
GitHub Universe returns to San Francisco on October 28 and 29—bringing together the builders, dreamers, and changemakers shaping the future of software. From first-time speakers with big ideas to DevRel pros with demos to share and business leaders rethinking workflows with AI, we believe that a diverse range of voices belong on our stage.
But writing a compelling conference session submission can feel like decoding a complex algorithm. What makes your idea stand out? How do you grab the content committee’s attention? And what if you’ve never done this before?
Good news: we’ve cracked the code, and we’re sharing it with you.
Here are four proven tips to help you put together a proposal that’s clear, compelling, and uniquely you.
Apply to speak or nominate a speaker to take the stage at GitHub Universe by Friday, May 2 at 11:59 pm PT to be considered.
Here’s the truth: passion is magnetic. If you’re excited about your topic, it shows. It pulses through your proposal, powers your delivery onstage, and pulls in your audience—content committee included.
Instead of chasing the latest trends, talk about something that lights you up. Maybe it’s a story from building an open source project in your off-hours. Maybe it’s how your team shipped something new using GitHub Copilot. Or maybe it’s the unexpected way you quickly scaled developer experience across a global org. Your unique perspective is your superpower.
Content committees can sense authenticity. They’re not just looking for polished buzzwords. They’re looking for people who care deeply and can teach others something meaningful.
🎤 Pro tip: If it’s a topic you’d talk about over lunch with a teammate or geek out about on a podcast, it’s probably a great fit.
Think of your session title like an email subject line—it’s your chance to make a strong first impression, and it needs to do the heavy lifting for you. A strong title shouldn’t just sound good. It should clearly communicate what your talk is about and why it matters.
Let’s take our title as an example:
✅ Clear: “How to wow the acceptance committee at your next tech event” leaves no doubt about the topic.
✅ Action-oriented: It promises practical takeaways, not just theory.
✅ Balanced: It walks the line between fun and professional.
Avoid vague titles (“A new approach to software”) or clickbait (“This one trick will fix your codebase”). Instead, aim for clarity with flair. Give the content committee a reason to want to learn more along with the confidence that your talk can deliver.
🎤 Pro tip: After you write your title, ask yourself—would I attend this session? Would I understand what I’m getting from it in five seconds?
The content committee is rooting for you, but you’ve got to help them out. The best submissions remove all ambiguity and make a strong case for why this session matters.
Here’s how:
Spell out the takeaways: What will people learn? Tools, frameworks, fresh mindsets?
Tie it to the event: Why does this belong at GitHub Universe? How does it support the event’s themes?
Also, show that your content has a life beyond the stage:
Is your abstract compelling enough to be featured in a marketing email or keynote recap?
Will attendees be able to apply what they learned the next day?
🎤 Hot tip: Think beyond the talk itself. That’s pure gold for event organizers.
Yes, your session submission is the star, but reviewers on the content committee can also look you up. Your online presence helps us understand:
Your speaking experience (or potential!)
How easy it will be to promote you as a speaker
You don’t need a massive following. But you do want a strong, relevant footprint. Here are a few tips to consider:
On LinkedIn:
Make your “About” section shine with links to talks, blogs, and projects.
Add speaking experience under “Experience” or “Featured.”
On GitHub:
Pin key repos or projects you’ve contributed to.
Be active in discussions, even if most of your code is private.
🎤 Hot tip: Post about your submission journey! Sharing your process helps you engage with the community and might even inspire someone else to apply.
You’ve got the ideas. Now you’ve got the blueprint. If you’ve made it this far, we hope you feel ready—and excited—to throw your hat in the ring. Let’s recap:
Craft a clear, compelling title that grabs attention and gives the content committee an immediate idea of your session topic and takeaways.
Make your submission a no-brainer by showing how it aligns with the event and adds value.
Polish your online presence—it might just tip the scale in your favor.
Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or stepping into the spotlight for the first time, we can’t wait to hear from you. And if you don’t have a session idea this year, you can also nominate a speaker who deserves to take the stage. Submit a session proposal or a speaker nomination from now until Friday, May 2 at 11:59 pm PT to be considered!
Let’s build the future together—one session at a time. 💫
The post Cracking the code: How to wow the acceptance committee at your next tech event appeared first on The GitHub Blog.