Steve Endow's Business Central Podcast

I Need Coffee - Episode 191 - Weekly BC Review! (Nov 28, 2025)1. Thanksgiving Vibes   - Happy post-Thanksgiving (yesterday in US); wearing a turkey hat with Santa legs; overate like everyone.2. AL Vibe Coding Launch & Speedrun   - Debuted new live stream: "AL Vibe Coding" (inspired by Andrej Karpathy quote); chill, Bob Ross-style with custom analog TV theme (AI-generated CRT for visuals).   - Monday speedrun: Built full BC extension (real project) in 6 hours vs quoted 28 dev hours; added extras like auto-data gen, Excel export, logging.   - Full speed ahead: Laundry list of topics; GitHub Copilot Workspace updates (e.g., auto-fixing errors, multi-file edits).3. Tech Woes & Rants   - Windows boot failure (black screen + cursor; 1-hour fix).   - AI bloat: Rumor of AI/tables/formatting in Notepad → "game over for Windows."   - Shy Hallude malware: Infected 500-800 npm packages via GitHub compromises; Node.js security "dumpster fire" (concerns for BC MCP servers).4. Project Troubleshooting & Opportunities   - 3 days debugging registration/license system error → vibe code overhaul needed (new dashboard, telemetry).   - 1099 changes in BC27: Complete overhaul; Ronald becoming team expert via vibe-coded code analysis (26 vs 27 diffs).5. Berlin, El Salvador Invasion & Team Updates   - "Two blondes" (Tanya Henderson + Shannon Mullins, BC MVP) visited: Toured ERP Center of Excellence, met team; first official visitor.   - Joselyn: Fighting config packages; vibe-coded bulk delete tool; starting MB800.   - David: Config packages for new impls; SOD expert (hit limits on customer craziness); MB800.   - Ronald: 1099 war room lead; helping Berlin English Academy grads with RSM trainee apps (English exams, resumes, typing).   - Franklin: Vibe coding master; rapid partner dashboard progress (defer upgrades button).   - Fatima: Submitted PMP application (50+ hours study); wrapping Elco Christmas Festival (Dec 13-14); applied for El Salvador DUG.6. Berlin English Academy & Nearshore Wins   - 4 grads applying to RSM US El Salvador trainee program (9-10 weeks, Sat sessions; exposure to depts like BC, cyber, IT).   - EF EPI 2025: El Salvador #2 in Central America, #5 in Latin America for English proficiency; ideal nearshore (US time zones, USD, safe).7. Q&A / Misc   - Hyperpolyglot Von Smith: Speaks 24 languages fluently (learned via random encounters); brain scan shows unique activity; day job: carpet cleaner (amazing YouTube vid by Ali Richards).TL;DR: Post-Thanksgiving turkey hat fun; launched AL Vibe Coding stream + 6-hour speedrun miracle; Windows/AI rants; npm malware scare; Berlin "invasion" by Tanya/Shannon; team vibe coding 1099s/configs; English Academy grads eyeing RSM; El Salvador English proficiency rising. Vibe code or bust!

I Need Coffee - Episode 190 - Weekly BC Review! (Nov 21, 2025)1. Health & Weekend Recap   - Lingering cold (week 3+), bad headaches from monitor glare → tried dark mode but Office apps break (toolbars/formatting/screenshots).   - Car troubleshooting: Rear wiper/sprayer failed → Perplexity gave generic advice; 2017 forum post nailed it (window not fully up).   - Rainy LA; played video game but anti-cheat required BIOS update/secure boot fixes (AMD firmware bug from 2021; 2-hour ordeal).   - Linux gaming progress (Steam Machine on Arch); worked on AL Vibe Coding live stream idea (chill Bob Ross-style).2. Vibe-Coding / AI Dev Updates   - GitHub Copilot Workspace: Game-changer for AL dev? Creates full repos from prompts/PRDs; Steve tested a Support Plan app → 100% success but random errors persist.   - Cursor innovations: Composer (multi-file gen), rules (enforce patterns); still better UX than Copilot but extension limits.   - AI for SOWs: Tried feeding his style/blogs → "horrible" output (6th-grade level); can't use yet.   - New live stream: "Steve's Stupid AL Vibe Coding Tricks" – random, chill sessions this weekend (no schedule).3. Project Management Rants   - SOWs are "kryptonite": 4+ hours each due to vague requirements (e.g., no customer # in imports); partners underestimate.   - Cash receipts import: Excel can't change, multi-applies, hates payment journal UI/apply entries.   - Real PM vs theory: Fatima passed PMP (congrats!); Steve: Study dumpster-fire projects (overselling, blame games) over PMBOK ideals.   - GP customers: Spending $10k+ entrenching in outdated system they barely use.4. BC/Admin & Outages   - BC outage: Azure Front Door global DDoS (15 Tbps from 500k devices) → survived, but Front Door is ironic single-point failure.   - Partner dashboard: Auto-defer upgrades; flag bad settings.5. Cybersecurity Nightmares   - CAPTCHA fatigue malware: Tricks users into running Win+R / Ctrl+V / Enter to install.   - Black Hills pentest webcast: Go straight to Copilot for sensitive data exfil.   - Fortinet CVEs: New kill-chain cluster → "dumpster" their appliances.   - ZTNA/firewall configs, NAT routing, code-signing certs – impossible to expert everything.6. Infrastructure Deep Dives   - Azure geo-redundancy: Manual failover (West/East US); first manual SQL backup (.bacpac format – schema/metadata/data zipped; mind-blown).   - Relies on infra he doesn't fully understand (iPhone, Linux servers).7. El Salvador Team & Events   - Joselyn: RDLC fights, config packages, MB800 study.   - David: Report layouts, SOD limits (w/Tanya), MB800.   - Ronald: Mastered McCorma/Continia; onto new journey.   - Franklin: Partner dashboard (defer upgrades button).   - Fatima: PMP passed; Elco Christmas Festival (Dec 13-14; Steve/Tanya attending); Dynamics User Group signup.   - Conferences: Partner in Vibe (Jan 28-30, South Padre – Steve going); Directions NA (Apr 27-29, Orlando – submitted w/Brad); DynamicsCon (May 12-15, Vegas – 2 sessions submitted); Dynamics Minds (May, Slovenia).8. Misc / Fun   - Tech meme: What companies think we want (RGB overload) vs need (more USB ports).   - BC certifications/training for team (and maybe Steve).

I Need Coffee - Episode 189 - Weekly BC Review! (Nov 14, 2025)1. Audio/Tech Setup Woes   - Scarlet Focusrite interface dials failing annually → open to sub-$1k alternatives.   - Blue Origin rocket launch (full booster landing on ocean ship) impressed him.2. Health & Weekend Recap   - Lingering cold (week 2+) → limited productivity.   - Cursor vs Copilot testing: Cursor better UX but can't use Microsoft extensions (licensing issues); sideload hacks break things like Cosmo Alpaca.   - Watched delayed Brazil F1 race (chaotic) + movie "The Family Man" (loves it).3. AI Integration & Mindset Shift   - Using Perplexity 10x/day for everything (recipes to app settings).   - AI-first routine: "Hey, could AI do this?" → reviewed a full AL project in Cursor, caught missing setup option & suggested fixes.   - Dev question: When to abandon AI? Steve's cutoff ~1 hour if it's leading astray (avoid sunk cost); restart with new prompts/approach.4. Support Tickets & BC Quirks   - Integration error: Field length overflow after 1 year (255 chars limit hit); added truncation.   - Cronus sales order won't post to "invoice only" (needs "ship & invoice" first) → bad error message; Perplexity failed to help.   - Corrections from order-to-invoice don't recreate editable invoice copy.   - Seeking US equivalent to SEPA direct debit (avoid relying on Europe-specific features).5. Security & Phishing Rants   - "Phishing-resistant MFA" buzz (e.g., passkeys, conditional access).   - Partner got phished (distracted, entered creds) → "How? Really?"   - Microsoft account locked popup confusion (too many logins); discovered .microsoft TLD (e.g., admin.cloud.microsoft).6. External APIs & Vendor Nightmares   - SAS API delays: Promised Sept feature → still missing in Nov; requires drilling into each transaction (thousands possible).   - Wells Fargo supplier payment portal: "Horrible" – no pasting, repeated passwords, aneurysms-inducing UX → just print checks instead.7. Tuesday Morning Catastrophe   - Cat sat on Apple TV remote at 5:30 AM → blasted F1 Brazil race at full volume/brightness.8. Conferences & Submissions   - Submitted co-presenter session for DynamicsCon 2026 (Las Vegas, May 12-15).   - Upcoming: Summit NA Road Shows (Dec 9 Houston, Dec 11 Fort Lauderdale); DynamicsCon Regionals 2026 (Jan Tampa, Mar Vancouver, Apr Denver).9. Berlin, El Salvador Team Updates   - Joselyn: RDLC reports, KB article on vendor refunds.   - David: Custom reports/layouts, SOD mods.   - Ronald: McCorma supercheck/overflow demo prep.   - Franklin: Partner dashboard PRs.   - Fatima: PMP exam prep (180 questions, 4 hours); Elco Christmas Festival planning (Dec 13-14, Steve/Tanya attending).   - Starting Dynamics User Group in El Salvador.10. Mechanical Keyboards Rabbit Hole    - Ergonomics focus: Kinesis Advantage 360 ($400-600) for RSI prevention (floating hands, thumb keys) – used by Lex Fridman, but too pricey/funky.    - Coffee-themed keycaps spotted.    - OG typing: IBM Selectric typewriter (golf ball heads, correction ribbons, humming motor).11. Q&A / Misc    - Framework Laptop: Modular/repairable, $1,500-1,900 for mid-high specs → cool but he'll stick to used ThinkPads.    - Heading to "important meetings with fancy people."

Show Notes: Episode 188 - I Need Coffee (Nov 7, 2025)1. Still Sick (Week 2)   - Persistent cold since Halloween → low energy, cancelled calls, mostly resting.2. Vibe-Coding / AI-Agent-Assisted AL Development   - Spent the previous weekend refining a full “Vibe Coding Benchmark” PRD for a hypothetical Support Plan / Contract Management app.   - Now consistently hitting **99 % correct code** from a single prompt + detailed Markdown PRD + PowerPoint wireframes.   - Tested **Cursor vs GitHub Copilot** head-to-head:     - Code quality essentially identical.     - Cursor wins on **UX, speed, and innovation** (rapid new features, smoother flow, no constant approval dialogs).     - Copilot feels “dialogue-fatigued” and exposes too much plumbing.   - Best practices he now recommends:     - Write PRD in **Markdown** (VS Code) → Git from day one.     - Use **PowerPoint** for quick wireframes (screenshots → docs folder).     - Explicitly define **launch.json**, **app.json**, **number series**, and **setup pages** — agents have no intuition here.3. Partner Dashboard (formerly Tenant Admin Dashboard)   - Actively building an in-BC app to centrally manage all customer environments:     - Auto-list prod environments, flag non-recommended update windows/next-version settings.     - Will use BC Admin API to bulk-fix update windows, dates, etc.   - Triggered by a painful incident: customer auto-scheduled to 27.0 instead of 26.5 → Tuesday morning chaos (PTEs uninstalled, users locked out).4. BC Update & Admin Center Nightmares   - New minimum 6-hour update window (can no longer do 2-hour windows).   - Restore-point quirks: can’t always roll back to just before an upgrade if inside the window.   - Email notification overload is untenable → partner dashboard is the solution.5. Funny / Annoying Stuff   - Windows File Explorer “Date” column is meaningless (random mix of created/modified) → caused PRD rollback disaster → another reason for Git.   - Got asked to be a “subcontractor” who pretends to work for the customer (use their email, timesheets, etc.) → hard pass.   - Competitor claiming they’ll migrate **30 years** of history → Steve: “Hand them the deal and grab popcorn.”   - New Business Central icon announced at Directions EMEA → RIP to the guy with the old BC logo sculpted into his office ceiling.   - “Set Applies-to ID” in cash receipt journal still applies the **full invoice amount** even when payment is smaller → change request submitted. 6. AI Agent Security / Shenanigans   - Prompt-injection exploits now being embedded invisibly in websites (Oreos & baseball example).   - Perplexity’s Comet agent shopping on Amazon → Amazon is suing them.7. Events & Travel   - Directions EMEA happening now (new icon + 2026 Wave 1 focus areas).   - DynamicsCon 2026 (Las Vegas, May 12-15) session submissions just opened (closes Dec 31).8. Berlin, El Salvador Team Updates   - Joselyn (joined June 2024, zero accounting background) now deep in complex financial reports & RDLC.   - David crushing report layouts & Simple Object Designer work.   - Ronald becoming the **Western Hemisphere’s #1 McCorma Super Check + Overflow Remittance guru**; prepping big demo.   - Franklin refining the partner dashboard (new beta released).   - Fatima finishing PMP prep (50+ hours study + 100+ practice questions).

Show Notes: Episode 187 - I Need Coffee (oct 31, 2025)1. Personal / Life Updates   - Persistent cold, late start, brewing coffee   - Rotated 18-month-old generator gasoline (10 gallons)   - Homemade “Zante bowls” (rice-beans-tofu bowls)   - Replaced/filled tiki torches for Halloween party   - Visited first ERP client/mentor (1996) who now has early Alzheimer’s2. Hardware & Power-Saving Obsession   - LA electricity prices insane (~33–55 ¢/kWh, bill up 63% in 4 yrs)   - Switched 24/7 servers to Lenovo M910Q Tiny PCs     - Ubuntu Server idle: 3.6–4.4 W (!)     - Windows 11 idle: 9–10 W   - Entire “data center” (3 servers + NAS) now <20 W3. Linux Desktop vs Windows Reality Check   - Tried Linux desktop again → quickly remembered why he doesn’t use it   - Deep Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Excel, Word, OneNote, Outlook, Teams, Snagit, etc.) simply doesn’t work well on Linux   - “You should use Linux” crowd ignores the “you” part (Lamborghini SVJ vs family minivan analogy)4. Open-Source Realities   - Comic about endless unpaid feature requests = open-source life   - Customer asked detailed security questions about 2012 closed-source GP ISV → ironic because open-source is now seen as higher risk by some auditors   - Attended Directions webinar on BC open-source apps → cool but maintenance is a thankless job5. Business & Project Updates   - Building multiple custom file-import solutions (sales/purchase invoices, bank deposits, AR apply)   - Customer on 15-year-old Dynamics GP10 waffling between upgrade vs BC   - Teaching Franklin about proper Statements of Work, scope, exclusions, change management   - Top practical PM practices he values: (1) crystal-clear scope, (2) budget tracking, (3) change management, (4) risk awareness (still figuring out how to formalize)6. Microsoft Outages & Azure Front Door   - Second major Azure Front Door global outage in a few weeks (90+ minutes for many BC tenants)   - Front Door is marketed as high-availability but itself becomes single point of failure7. AI & Development   - Cursor released Composer v1 (very fast frontier coding model)   - AI agent/MCP security nightmare is beginning (prompt injection, exfiltration, etc.)   - OnePassword adding “agentic autofill” with human-in-the-loop (scary but at least trying)   - Terminology chaos: agent vs persona vs MCP vs skill8. Upcoming Conferences & Travel   - Directions EMEA (Poland) next week   - Partner in Vibe Conference – Jan 28-30, 2026, South Padre Island (Steve is going)   - Directions NA – Apr 27-29, Orlando (call for speakers opens Nov 12)   - DynamicsCon May 12-15, Las Vegas9. El Salvador / Berlin Team Updates   - Helping huge multinational GP customer whose entire IT is in El Salvador   - Team bringing 500 ft Cat5e + rice cooker on next trip   - Ronald finished 70-hour “Berlin English Academy – Call Center” program with certificates & Halloween party10. Fun / Miscellaneous    - Windows 11 tiny taskbar icons “feature”    - Ridiculous BC admin job posting in Baton Rouge asking for one person to do 20 different senior roles    - Mechanical keyboard rabbit hole → hot-swappable custom boards (drooling over retro ThinkPad-style board)    - Family Halloween costumes & teenager’s party (Steve may be exiled from his own house)