I share my experience building a custom Twitter analytics tool because the platform's limited 28-day analytics window frustrated my desire for deeper historical insights. I detail my initial attempts to use Azure Logic Apps, highlighting the challenges posed by strict API rate limits that prevented successful data retrieval. This post explains why I pivoted away from Logic Apps and considered Azure Functions to overcome these technical hurdles.

I’m thrilled to share my upcoming speaking engagements at Microsoft Ignite 2019, where I’ll present on unique projects like building a connected summer cabin with Azure IoT Hub and creating a random number generator using Azure AI and a lava lamp. These sessions focus on tangible, hands-on solution building rather than just cloud deployment, offering a different perspective for attendees. I look forward to connecting with you in Orlando to discuss Azure, Microsoft 365, and the two new projects I plan to release around the event.

I wanted to solve the missing RSS feed issue in my static WordPress site by building a custom tool rather than relying on plugins. I decided to leverage the WordPress REST API to fetch post data as JSON, avoiding the complexities of parsing static HTML files, to generate a proper XML feed for my readers.

Drawing on my decade of experience with Microsoft Azure, I reveal the actual monthly costs of a personal solution that tracks AKA.MS URLs from Twitter, which averages around €26 despite my efforts to minimize expenses. I break down how the Azure SQL database accounts for over 80% of the bill after an upgrade was necessary to handle growing data volumes, emphasizing why relying on initial estimates rather than active monitoring leads to unexpected spending.

After closing my Dropbox account, I decided to audit my other monthly subscriptions to see how much I’ve really spent over the years. In this post, I break down the costs of services like Netflix, Spotify, and local news to help you evaluate whether your recurring expenses are truly worth it.

I explore the newly announced Windows Terminal, highlighting how it serves as a powerful, versatile alternative to the traditional Command Prompt and PowerShell. I walk you through the installation process using the Microsoft Store or Chocolatey, and introduce the basic usage features of this preview version.