Betatalks the podcast

What makes software easier for AI coding agents to understand, maintain, and change? In episode 139 of Betatalks, Rick & Oscar welcome Hannes Lowette, Head of Learning & Development at Axxes, to talk about event sourcing, domain-driven design, and the architectural choices that help both developers and AI agents.

Hannes explains how recording meaningful business events and separating command handlers, projections, and downstream actions keeps the context of a change small, and why that could make event-sourced systems a strong fit for AI-assisted development. But when does event sourcing add value, and when is it just extra complexity?

They also cover microservices versus modular monoliths, choosing architecture for the wrong reasons, AI-assisted legacy migration, and why naming, tests, and ADRs still matter.

Beyond the tech: coaching, conference speaking, and how woodworking, a handmade travel guitar with a Visual Studio inlay, and The Linebreakers connect Hannes to the developer community.

An episode for developers, architects, and tech leads thinking about maintainable systems and the role of AI agents in software engineering.

About this episode, and Hannes Lowette in particular: you can find Hannes on LinkedIn.
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

What does it take to trust AI with a complex codebase—not just a quick prototype? 

Jesse Houwing, GitHub Star, Microsoft DevOps MVP, and trainer at Xebia, joins us to share how he uses Copilot to investigate difficult bugs, improve the PowerShell Analyzer, and turn everyday frustrations into working tools.
We discuss managing Copilot costs at scale, why AI can struggle with new APIs and undocumented company knowledge, and how developers can tell useful AI-generated code from convincing-looking “AI slop.” Jesse also considers how the role of developers may evolve—from writing code toward guiding AI, curating knowledge, and applying hard-won engineering judgment.
A candid conversation about AI’s promise, its limits, and why experience still matters.

About this episode, and Jesse Houwing in particular: you can find Jesse on LinkedIn.
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

New episodes coming, stay tuned!
About Betatalks: watch our podcast videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. 
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

In this episode, Rick & Oscar talk with Wilco Burggraaf about why greener software is about much more than writing faster code. They explore how reducing digital waste, improving architecture, and making smarter technical decisions can lower energy use while also improving performance and reducing costs. Wilco shares practical examples, discusses the impact of AI, and explains why sustainable software is also maintainable software. This episode shows how small changes in software design can create a big impact.
About this episode, and Wilco Burggraaf in particular: you can find Wilco on LinkedIn.
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

In this episode, Rick & Oscar talk with Carina de Vries, Microsoft MVP for Teams and Copilot and founder of Workspace Heroes, about why technology adoption is ultimately about people, not tools. Carina shares her inspiring journey into IT and explains why empathy, continuous guidance, and practical habits are essential for helping colleagues embrace technologies like Microsoft Copilot. Together, they explore resistance to change, the importance of making technology simple and accessible, and why IT professionals should work closely with the business. It's an inspiring conversation full of practical insights for anyone navigating AI and digital transformation. 
About this episode, and Carina de Vries in particular: you can find Carina on LinkedIn. You can also watch her YouTube video about Copilot adoption here. 
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 
About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.