Don’t even know how I managed to miss this from my earlier posts. One of my former directs, Istvan Farmosi, did start a discussion with Microsoft nearly a decade ago on better isolating processes, similar to how Edge is doing it, but for desktop applications. Took a while, but with the help of many people from Microsoft, we managed to set up a new technology, now part of Windows natively, that do enable security isolation for desktop processes while keeping the performance intact and not to significantly affect how the process is able to interact with the operating system itself.

So, what is this new isolation model look like?

• Win32 App Isolation: A new security feature for Windows clients, aiming to be the default isolation standard built on AppContainers with added security features¹.
• Limiting Damage: It restricts app privileges to limit the impact of compromised apps, requiring multi-step attacks for breaches.
• Developer Tools: Microsoft provides tools like MSIX packaging and Application Capability Profiler (based on tech like ETL and WPA) to ease the update process for developers.
• User Experience: Ensures seamless integration with Windows interfaces without confusing security prompts, maintaining application compatibility.

Win32 app isolation stands out as a new security feature designed to enhance the security of Windows clients. Let’s delve into how it differs from other existing security features:

1. Foundation:
   • Win32 app isolation is built on the foundation of AppContainers. These containers encapsulate and restrict the execution of processes, ensuring they operate with limited privileges (commonly referred to as low integrity levels).
   • In contrast, other Windows sandbox options, such as Windows Sandbox and Microsoft Defender Application Guard, rely on virtualization-based security.
2. Purpose:
   • Win32 app isolation aims to be the default isolation standard for Windows clients.
   • It offers several added security features to defend against attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in applications (including third-party libraries).
   • The goal is to limit damage in case apps are compromised.
3. Developer Experience:
   • Application developers can update their apps using the tools provided by Microsoft to isolate their applications.
   • For more details on the developer experience, you can visit the GitHub page.
4. Privacy Considerations:
   • Isolation also helps safeguard end-user privacy choices. When a Win32 app runs with the same privilege as the user, it can potentially access user information without consent.
   • By isolating apps, unauthorized access to user privacy data by malicious actors is minimized.

It combines preventive and containment strategies, making it a powerful addition to Windows security. Also, it does employ several mechanisms to protect against attacks on third-party libraries:

1. Isolation Boundaries:
   • When an app runs in an isolated environment, it operates within strict boundaries. This containment prevents it from directly interacting with other processes or libraries outside its designated scope.
   • Third-party libraries are encapsulated within the same isolation boundary, reducing their exposure to potential attacks.
2. Privilege Separation:
   • Win32 app isolation ensures that each app runs with the minimum necessary privileges. This principle extends to third-party libraries.
   • Even if a library is compromised, its impact is limited due to the restricted privileges within the isolation boundary.
3. AppContainer Restrictions:
   • AppContainers are used to confine apps and libraries. These containers enforce fine-grained permissions and works together with Smart App Control effectively.
   • Third-party libraries are subject to the same restrictions as the app itself. They cannot perform actions beyond their allowed capabilities.
4. Multi-Step Attacks:
   • Win32 app isolation raises the bar for attackers. To breach an isolated app and its associated libraries, they must execute multi-step attacks.
   • This complexity deters casual exploitation and provides additional layers of defense.
5. Reduced Attack Surface:
   • By isolating third-party libraries, the overall attack surface is minimized.
   • Vulnerabilities in libraries are less likely to propagate to other parts of the system.
6. Secure Development Practices:
   • Developers can leverage MSIX packaging and Application Capability Profiler to ensure secure deployment.
   • These tools help identify dependencies and ensure that third-party libraries comply with security best practices.

In summary, Win32 app isolation combines privilege separation, isolation boundaries, and secure development practices to safeguard against attacks on third-party libraries, enhancing overall system security.

UI testing, especially if it is automated, has been a bullseye hard to hit when comes to software development. It is a cornerstone of delivering reliable and user-friendly desktop applications. It’s an essential practice for ensuring the quality and functionality of the user interface (UI), which is often the most visible and interacted-with component of an application. In this article, we delve into three popular approaches to automated UI testing for desktop applications: Sikuli, Selenium, and Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) based solutions.

Sikuli: Visual Automation Testing

Sikuli represents a unique approach to UI testing by leveraging image recognition technology. It allows testers to automate desktop applications by visually searching for UI elements, rather than relying on internal UI structure or code. This method is highly effective in situations where traditional object-based identification is challenging.

Key Features:

• Visual Match: Sikuli operates by matching screenshots of UI elements, making it intuitive and less reliant on underlying UI framework details.
• Scripting Flexibility: It uses a simple scripting language that integrates with Python, enabling the creation of complex test scenarios.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Sikuli can be used for testing desktop applications across various operating systems.

Pros and Cons:

• Advantages: Ideal for applications with dynamic UIs and for scenarios where internal UI structures are inaccessible or unreliable.
• Limitations: The accuracy can be affected by screen resolution and color scheme changes.

Sikuli excels in situations where you need to identify and interact with UI elements based on their visual appearance.

Scenario: Testing a calculator application where you need to click the buttons ‘5’, ‘+’, ‘2’, and ‘=’ to perform an addition.

# Sikuli script to test a simple addition in a calculator app
from sikuli import *

# Path to images of calculator buttons
five_button = "five_button.png"
plus_button = "plus_button.png"
two_button = "two_button.png"
equals_button = "equals_button.png"

# Click the '5' button
click(five_button)

# Click the '+' button
click(plus_button)

# Click the '2' button
click(two_button)

# Click the '=' button
click(equals_button)

# Verify the result (assuming the result is visible in a specific region)
result_region = Region(10,10,100,20)
if result_region.exists("7.png"):
    print("Test Passed")
else:
    print("Test Failed")

Selenium: A Versatile Web and Desktop Testing Tool

Originally designed for web applications, Selenium also extends its capabilities to desktop applications, particularly those with web-based UIs or embedded web components.

Key Features:

• WebDriver: Selenium WebDriver interacts with the UI elements of the application, simulating real-user interactions.
• Language Support: Supports multiple programming languages like Java, C#, Python, allowing integration into diverse development environments.
• Community and Ecosystem: Has a large community, extensive documentation, and numerous third-party tools for enhanced testing capabilities.

Pros and Cons:

• Advantages: Highly effective for applications with web-based UI components; supports a wide range of browsers and platforms.
• Limitations: More suited for web components; can be complex to set up for pure desktop application UIs.

Selenium is ideal for automating web-based components within desktop applications or applications that expose their UI elements in a web-like structure.

Scenario: Automating a form submission in a desktop application with embedded web components.

# Selenium script to fill out and submit a form
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

# Setting up WebDriver (assuming appropriate driver for the desktop application)
driver = webdriver.Chrome()

# Navigate to the form
driver.get("app://local/form")

# Fill out the form fields
driver.find_element(By.ID, "name_input").send_keys("John Doe")
driver.find_element(By.ID, "age_input").send_keys("30")

# Click the submit button
driver.find_element(By.ID, "submit_button").click()

# Verify submission (checking for a confirmation message)
confirmation = driver.find_element(By.ID, "confirmation_message").text
assert "Thank you" in confirmation

driver.quit()

MVVM-Based Solutions: Leveraging Architectural Patterns

Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) is a software architectural pattern primarily used in developing user interfaces. In the context of automated UI testing, it separates the development of the graphical user interface from the development of the business logic or back-end logic of the application. This separation allows for more manageable, scalable, and testable code.

Key Features:

• Separation of Concerns: By decoupling UI from business logic, it enables more focused and efficient testing.
• Data Binding: MVVM facilitates automated testing by using data binding, allowing tests to interact with the UI logic rather than UI elements directly.
• Test Frameworks Integration: Easily integrates with test frameworks like NUnit, xUnit, enabling comprehensive unit and UI testing.

Pros and Cons:

• Advantages: Facilitates maintainable and scalable code; ideal for large and complex applications with extensive UI logic.
• Limitations: Requires initial learning curve and strict adherence to the MVVM pattern; may not be necessary for simpler applications.

In MVVM architecture, UI testing often focuses on the ViewModel, which acts as an intermediary between the View and the Model, enabling easier testing of UI logic.

Scenario: Testing a ViewModel in a WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) application.

// C# NUnit test for a ViewModel in an MVVM architecture
[Test]
public void TestAdditionCommand()
{
    // Arrange: Create ViewModel with necessary dependencies
    var calculatorViewModel = new CalculatorViewModel();

    // Set the inputs
    calculatorViewModel.Input1 = "5";
    calculatorViewModel.Input2 = "2";

    // Act: Invoke the command that triggers addition
    calculatorViewModel.AddCommand.Execute(null);

    // Assert: Verify the outcome is as expected
    Assert.AreEqual("7", calculatorViewModel.Result);
}

Conclusion

Automated UI testing for desktop applications is an evolving field with multiple approaches, each suited to different types of applications and development methodologies. Sikuli offers a unique visual approach, Selenium extends its robust web testing capabilities to desktops, and MVVM-based solutions provide a structured way to manage and test complex UIs. The choice between these solutions depends on the specific needs and context of the project, including the nature of the application’s UI, the development team’s expertise, and the overall project requirements. With the right tools and strategies, automated UI testing can significantly improve the quality and reliability of desktop applications.

In the complex world of internet infrastructure, the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) stands out as a crucial component. But what is BGP, and how does it compare to its predecessor, the Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)? More importantly, why is it often associated with internet outages? This article delves into these questions, offering insight into the workings of the internet.

What is BGP?

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the protocol governing how data packets are routed across the internet. It’s responsible for finding the most efficient paths for data transfer across different autonomous systems (AS), which are large networks operated by internet service providers, universities, and large corporations.

BGP vs EGP

BGP is often compared to EGP, the protocol it superseded. While EGP was designed for a more simplistic, hierarchical internet structure, BGP was developed to address the burgeoning complexity of the network. Here’s how BGP improved upon EGP:

1. Flexibility and Scalability: BGP introduced more sophisticated route selection criteria, allowing for a more flexible, scalable approach to routing decisions.
2. Policy-Based Routing: BGP supports complex routing policies suitable for the multifaceted nature of modern internet topology.
3. Robustness and Stability: BGP’s ability to recompute routes dynamically contributes to overall internet robustness and stability.

Why Does BGP Cause Outages?

Despite its advancements, BGP is often linked to internet outages. These are primarily due to its trust-based nature and complexity:

1. Misconfigurations: Human error in configuring BGP can lead to routing paths being announced incorrectly, causing traffic to be misrouted.
2. Security Vulnerabilities: BGP lacks built-in security features, making it susceptible to hijacking and other malicious activities.
3. Interdependency: The interdependent nature of BGP means that a single issue can cascade through the network, causing widespread disruptions.

Enhancing BGP: Towards a More Secure and Resilient Protocol

Improving BGP involves addressing its inherent vulnerabilities while capitalizing on its strengths. Several strategies are key to making BGP more secure and resilient:

1. Implementation of Security Protocols: Introducing protocols like Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) helps authenticate route originations, reducing the likelihood of route hijacking. Similarly, implementing BGPsec, an extension of BGP that adds cryptographic security, can ensure the integrity and authenticity of the routing information exchanged.
2. Better Monitoring and Automation: Improved monitoring tools can detect anomalies in routing behavior more quickly, minimizing the impact of misconfigurations or attacks. Automating responses to these anomalies can further reduce reaction times and human error.
3. Policy and Process Improvements: Establishing clearer policies for routing and more rigorous processes for configuration management can help prevent misconfigurations. Regular audits and adherence to best practices are vital.
4. Collaboration and Information Sharing: Encouraging greater collaboration and information sharing among ISPs and other network operators can lead to faster identification and resolution of issues. This collective approach is crucial in a globally interconnected environment.
5. Training and Awareness: Investing in training for network engineers and raising awareness about BGP’s intricacies and potential risks can help in better management and quicker response to issues.

Implementing these improvements can significantly enhance the reliability, security, and overall performance of BGP, making the internet a more robust and secure network for all its users.

Conclusion

BGP represents a significant advancement over EGP, offering flexibility, scalability, and robust routing capabilities. However, its complexity and trust-based model contribute to vulnerabilities that can result in large-scale internet outages. Addressing these vulnerabilities through improved practices and enhanced security measures is essential to maintaining the resilience of internet infrastructure. As the internet continues to evolve, the role and functioning of BGP will remain a critical area for ongoing innovation and development.

In the realm of personal productivity and time management, the concept of “eating the frog” has emerged as a popular and effective strategy. The phrase, derived from Mark Twain’s famous quote, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day,” serves as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day—the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, but also likely to have the biggest impact on your life.

Understanding the Concept

“Eating the frog” means identifying the most significant task you have on your to-do list and completing it first. This approach ensures that you deal with your most critical and challenging tasks when your energy and concentration levels are at their peak. By doing this, you not only get the toughest part of your day out of the way early but also gain momentum and a sense of accomplishment that propels you through the rest of the day’s tasks.

Benefits of Eating the Frog

1. Boosts Productivity: Starting with the most challenging task requires discipline, but it maximizes productivity by focusing your efforts on high-impact tasks.
2. Reduces Procrastination: This approach forces you to confront the tasks you are most likely to put off, thereby reducing the likelihood of procrastination.
3. Increases Focus: When you know your biggest challenge is out of the way, it’s easier to focus on other tasks without the looming dread of an unfinished major task.
4. Enhances Decision Making: Tackling the most critical task first often requires high-level decision-making, best done when your mind is fresh.

Implementing the Strategy

1. Prioritize Your Tasks: Start each day by identifying the “frog” – the task that is most important and perhaps most daunting.
2. Avoid Distractions: Begin your day in a quiet environment where you won’t be easily distracted.
3. Break It Down: If your frog is particularly large, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps.
4. Reward Yourself: Once you’ve eaten your frog, reward yourself with a break or a more enjoyable task.
5. Reflect and Adjust: At the end of the day, reflect on the process and adjust your approach as needed.

Challenges and Overcoming Them

Eating the frog isn’t always easy. Sometimes the task may be so large or complex that it feels overwhelming. To overcome this, start by breaking the task into smaller parts and focus on one segment at a time. If motivation is a problem, try to focus on the benefits of completing the task rather than the process of doing it.

Conclusion

Time management is a crucial skill in the fast-paced modern world. By adopting the “eat the frog” approach, you can ensure that your most impactful tasks get completed, thereby improving your productivity and satisfaction. Remember, it’s about prioritizing effectively and being disciplined in your approach. Once you make this method a habit, you’ll find your days becoming more productive and less stressful.

In the realm of continuous integration and software development, ensuring that tests are reliable and consistent is crucial. Flaky tests, especially asynchronous ones, can be a significant hurdle when using GitHub Actions for CI/CD. These tests occasionally fail without any changes in code, leading to a false sense of code instability. This article aims to provide practical strategies for minimizing flakiness in asynchronous tests in GitHub Actions.

Understanding Flakiness in Asynchronous Tests

Flaky tests are those that exhibit both passing and failing outcomes under the same configuration. In asynchronous testing, flakiness often arises due to timing issues, external dependencies, and uncontrolled test environments. As GitHub Actions automates workflows, these inconsistencies can disrupt the development process and diminish trust in testing procedures.

Strategies to Avoid Flakiness

• Increase Timeout Thresholds: Asynchronous operations might take longer to complete under different conditions. Ensure your tests have appropriate timeout settings to account for variability in execution time. In C#, you can adjust timeout settings for async tests using the `Timeout` attribute in your test methods. This helps when tests fail due to varying execution times under different conditions.

   [Test, Timeout(1000)] // Timeout in milliseconds
   public async Task TestMethod()
   {
       // Async operations
   }

• Use Mocks and Stubs: Dependence on external services can introduce unpredictability. Utilize mocks and stubs for external API calls to create a more controlled and consistent test environment.    Employ libraries like Moq or NSubstitute to create mock objects. This is crucial for tests involving external API calls or database interactions.

   var mockService = new Mock<IExternalService>();
   mockService.Setup(service => service.GetDataAsync()).ReturnsAsync(mockedData);

   var controller = new MyController(mockService.Object);
   // Test controller actions

• Implement Retries with Exponential Backoff: In cases where flakiness is unavoidable, such as with network-related tests, implement a retry mechanism with exponential backoff to increase the chances of passing on subsequent attempts.    For network-related tests, retry logic can be implemented. Polly is a great library for this.

   var retryPolicy = Policy
       .Handle<SomeExceptionType>()
       .WaitAndRetryAsync(new[]
       {
           TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1),
           TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2),
           TimeSpan.FromSeconds(4)
       });

   await retryPolicy.ExecuteAsync(async () => 
   {
       // Code that might throw
   });

• Isolate Tests: Ensure each test is independent and doesn’t rely on the state of another test. Shared state between tests can lead to intermittent failures. Ensure each test is self-contained. Use setup and teardown methods to configure the test environment independently for each test.

   [SetUp]
   public void Setup()
   {
       // Setup test environment
   }

   [TearDown]
   public void Teardown()
   {
       // Cleanup
   }

• Optimize Test Database Management: When dealing with database operations, reset the database state before each test run to avoid state-related issues. Use in-memory databases like Entity Framework Core’s In-Memory Database for database-related tests.

   var options = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<MyDbContext>()
       .UseInMemoryDatabase(databaseName: "TestDb")
       .Options;

   using (var context = new MyDbContext(options))
   {
       // Perform test operations
   }

• Ensure Proper Synchronization: Pay special attention to synchronization in your tests. Make sure that the test waits for the asynchronous operation to complete before asserting the results. Use `await` correctly to ensure that the test waits for async operations to complete before assertions.

   public async Task AsyncTest()
   {
       var result = await SomeAsyncOperation();
       Assert.That(result, Is.EqualTo(expectedResult));
   }

• Regularly Monitor and Audit Tests: Keep an eye on your test suite’s performance. Regular monitoring helps in identifying flaky tests early.
• Utilize GitHub Actions Features: Leverage features like matrix builds to test across multiple environments and configurations, which can help identify environment-specific flakiness.

Conclusion

Flakiness in asynchronous tests is a challenge, but with the right strategies, it can be managed effectively. By understanding the root causes of flakiness and implementing best practices in test design and environment management, developers can create more reliable and robust test suites in GitHub Actions. Consistency in testing not only improves the quality of the software but also maintains the team’s confidence in their continuous integration processes.

The quote, “Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe,” encapsulates a profound philosophical and spiritual principle that reverberates through various wisdom traditions. It speaks to the divergent responses to solitude exhibited by the average person and the spiritually enlightened individual. This dichotomy between the ordinary and the masterful approach to solitude provides a rich ground for exploration in the realms of psychology, spirituality, and personal growth.

The Fear of Solitude in the Ordinary Mind

For many, solitude is synonymous with loneliness, a state to be avoided. The human experience is often defined by a pursuit of connection, whether through relationships, social activities, or even digital communication in the modern age. This aversion to solitude is rooted in several psychological and societal factors.

1. Social Conditioning: From an early age, people are taught to seek out social interactions and value them as a source of happiness and validation. Solitude, in contrast, is often portrayed as undesirable, associated with social rejection or personal inadequacy.
2. Fear of Self-Reflection: Solitude forces an individual to confront their thoughts and feelings without distraction. For many, this introspection can be uncomfortable, revealing insecurities, unresolved problems, or unfulfilled desires.
3. Existential Anxiety: Alone, one may grapple with fundamental existential questions about purpose, mortality, and one’s place in the universe. Such profound contemplation can be daunting and overwhelming.

Embracing Solitude: The Path of the Master

In contrast to the ordinary man, the Master – a term symbolizing a spiritually enlightened or self-actualized individual – embraces solitude as a powerful tool for growth and connection with the universe.

1. Self-Reflection and Growth: The Master understands that solitude offers a unique opportunity for deep self-reflection. In silence and isolation, one can engage in introspection, leading to self-awareness and personal growth. This process is central to many spiritual and philosophical traditions, such as Buddhism, Stoicism, and Transcendentalism.
2. Connecting with the Universe: Solitude for the Master is not about disconnection from the world but about achieving a deeper connection with it. In the stillness of being alone, the boundaries between the self and the universe begin to blur. This experience is often described as a feeling of oneness or unity with all that exists, a concept echoed in mysticism, pantheism, and many indigenous spiritualities.
3. Cultivating Inner Peace and Strength: The Master leverages solitude to cultivate inner peace and resilience. Away from the distractions and noise of everyday life, one can develop a grounded sense of self, unaffected by external circumstances. This inner strength is a hallmark of many revered spiritual leaders and philosophers.

Integration in Modern Life

In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, the wisdom encapsulated in the quote is more relevant than ever. Integrating moments of solitude into daily life can provide numerous benefits:

1. Mental Health: Regular periods of solitude can aid in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting overall mental well-being.
2. Creativity and Problem-Solving: Solitude can enhance creativity and clarity of thought, providing the mental space necessary for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
3. Enhanced Relationships: By becoming more attuned to one’s own needs and thoughts, individuals can engage in healthier and more meaningful relationships.

Conclusion

The contrast between the ordinary man’s aversion to solitude and the Master’s embrace of it underscores a profound lesson: solitude is not just a physical state but a mental and spiritual journey. It offers a path to deeper self-understanding, inner peace, and a profound connection with the larger tapestry of existence. In recognizing and embracing the value of solitude, one may step closer to the wisdom of the Master, realizing that true connection and understanding come from within.

I recently wrote about speaking slow – I wanted a quick course correction here; I think, making decisions on the other hand, you should be quick. In the dynamic and fast-paced world of business, decision-making speed is often as critical as the decisions themselves. Jeff Bezos (formerly posted his quote), the founder of Amazon and a renowned figure in the entrepreneurial world, has a unique approach to decision-making that emphasizes speed and adaptability. He advocates for a principle where most decisions should be made with about 70% of the information you wish you had. This perspective not only sheds light on his success with Amazon but also serves as a guiding philosophy for leaders and managers in various fields.

The 70% Information Rule

Bezos’s rule suggests that waiting for 90% or more information before making a decision is typically a sign of excessive caution. In the rapidly evolving market, such hesitance can be detrimental to growth and opportunity capitalization. The 70% threshold is not arbitrary; it represents a balance between being informed and being nimble. This principle acknowledges that while having all the facts is ideal, it is often impractical in a business environment where conditions change quickly.

The Cost of Being Slow

One of the core tenets of Bezos’s philosophy is the recognition that being slow in decision-making can be more costly than making a wrong decision. In the world of business, opportunities come and go swiftly, and the ability to act promptly is invaluable. The cost of missed opportunities can often outweigh the risks associated with rapid decision-making.

Embracing Errors and Quick Course Correction

A significant aspect of Bezos’s decision-making approach is the acceptance of errors as an integral part of the process. He emphasizes the importance of being adept at quickly recognizing and rectifying bad decisions. This mindset fosters a culture of experimentation and learning, where the fear of failure does not impede progress. The ability to pivot and correct course is crucial, as it reduces the long-term impact of incorrect decisions.

Application Beyond Amazon

While this philosophy has been a cornerstone of Amazon’s ethos, its implications extend beyond just one company or industry. Leaders and managers in various sectors can adopt this approach to enhance their decision-making processes. It encourages a more dynamic and proactive style of leadership, where decisions are made swiftly, and adjustments are made as more information becomes available.

Conclusion

Jeff Bezos’s approach to decision-making underscores the importance of speed and adaptability in the modern business landscape. By advocating for decisions to be made with about 70% of the desired information, he highlights the balance between being informed and being agile. This approach, complemented by an emphasis on recognizing and correcting bad decisions quickly, offers valuable insights for leaders striving to navigate the complexities of today’s business environment. Whether in the tech industry, retail, or any other sector, the principles of rapid decision-making and adaptability remain universally applicable and crucial for success.

Microsoft Azure has taken a significant leap in cloud networking capabilities with the limited General Availability (GA) of Accelerated Connections. This new feature in the Azure Network portfolio is set to redefine the standards of connection per second (CPS) and total active connections (TAC) for virtual machine (VM) workloads. By integrating specialized hardware within the Azure fleet, Accelerated Connections promises to elevate VM performance to levels up to 10-25 times higher than previously achievable.

Revolutionizing VM Workloads

Accelerated Connections is specifically designed to cater to customers with intense connection demands. This includes scenarios involving network virtual appliances, web front ends, and other critical infrastructures that require maintaining a high volume of connections over time or establishing them rapidly. By doing so, it opens new horizons for handling heavy connection loads efficiently and effectively.

Enhanced Networking and Storage Capabilities

Building on the success of Azure’s Accelerated Networking, which already offers high bandwidth and ultra-low latency, Accelerated Connections is a step further in enhancing Azure VMs. It complements the existing offerings, including Azure Boost—a feature that accelerates storage and networking performance. The integration of Accelerated Connections with both Accelerated Networking and Boost (planned for later this year) will significantly enhance CPS and TAC capabilities. This integration is set to offer an unprecedented level of performance, similar to bare-metal network experiences, within the cloud environment.

Target Audience and Application

The primary beneficiaries of Accelerated Connections are enterprises that depend heavily on maintaining numerous connections simultaneously or establishing them at a rapid pace. This makes it an ideal solution for sectors like e-commerce, online gaming, and high-traffic web services, where performance can directly impact user experience and business outcomes.

Benefits of Accelerated Connections

• Unmatched Performance Levels: By leveraging specialized hardware, Azure’s Accelerated Connections can deliver up to 25 times the performance of previous offerings.
• Scalability for Demanding Workloads: This feature allows Azure customers to efficiently scale their operations to meet the needs of the most demanding cloud workloads.
• Seamless Integration with Existing Services: Accelerated Connections enhances the capabilities of Accelerated Networking and Azure Boost, providing a comprehensive and powerful networking solution.
• Cost-Effective Performance Enhancements: With this upgrade, customers can achieve near bare-metal network performance, potentially reducing the need for more expensive physical infrastructure upgrades.

Conclusion

Azure Network Accelerated Connections marks a pivotal advancement in cloud networking technology. This offering is not just an improvement; it represents a transformation in how cloud-based VM workloads can be managed, delivering performance, scalability, and flexibility at an unprecedented level. With its integration into the existing Azure technology stack, Microsoft continues to lead the way in cloud innovation, empowering customers to achieve more in the cloud with less.

The landscape of application development is constantly evolving, with new architectural patterns emerging to address the changing needs of developers and users. Among these, Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) has been a longstanding favorite in the realm of XAML-based platforms like WPF, UWP, and Xamarin.Forms. However, with the rise of Uno Platform, a new contender has entered the arena: Model-View-Update-XAML (MVUX). This article aims to compare MVVM and MVUX, focusing on their application in Uno Platform development.

MVVM: The Established Standard

MVVM is a design pattern that has been instrumental in simplifying the development of user interfaces in applications. It divides the application into three interconnected components:

• Model: Represents the data and business logic of the application.
• View: The UI of the application, displaying information to the user.
• ViewModel: Acts as a mediator between the Model and the View, handling UI logic and state.

The key advantage of MVVM is its support for two-way data binding, reducing the need for boilerplate code to synchronize the view and its underlying data. This separation of concerns makes the codebase more maintainable, testable, and scalable. In the context of Uno Platform, which allows for creating cross-platform applications with a single codebase, MVVM’s ability to separate the UI layer from the business logic is particularly beneficial.

MVUX: The Uno Platform Innovation

MVUX, on the other hand, is a variation of the Model-View-Update (MVU) pattern adapted specifically for the Uno Platform and XAML. It retains the core principles of MVU but modifies them to better suit the XAML paradigm. The components of MVUX are:

• Model: Like MVVM, it represents the data and business logic.
• View: The XAML-based UI, but in MVUX, it’s more of a direct representation of the Model.
• Update: A key differentiator, this component is where the state management happens. It processes messages (or commands) and produces a new state (or Model).

MVUX’s primary advantage lies in its approach to state management. Instead of two-way data binding, MVUX uses a unidirectional data flow, where state changes are handled in the Update component. This leads to more predictable state changes and can simplify debugging and testing.

Comparing MVVM and MVUX in Uno Platform Development

State Management

• MVVM: Relies on two-way data binding and observable properties.
• MVUX: Uses unidirectional data flow, potentially leading to simpler and more predictable state management.

Complexity and Learning Curve

• MVVM: Familiar to many developers, especially those with a background in XAML-based platforms.
• MVUX: Might have a steeper learning curve, especially for developers not accustomed to unidirectional data flow patterns.

Testing and Maintainability

• MVVM: The separation of concerns facilitates testing and maintainability.
• MVUX: The explicit state management can simplify testing, as the state is managed in a more predictable way.

Performance

• MVVM: Performance is generally good, though complex data bindings can sometimes lead to performance issues.
• MVUX: The unidirectional data flow can lead to more optimized performance, as it reduces the overhead of monitoring property changes.

Community and Ecosystem

• MVVM: Has a vast community and many resources available, given its long history.
• MVUX: Being relatively new, it may have fewer resources available, but it’s growing alongside the Uno Platform.

Conclusion

The choice between MVVM and MVUX in Uno Platform development largely depends on the specific needs and preferences of the project and the development team. MVVM offers a familiar and proven approach with robust community support, while MVUX brings a fresh perspective on state management and unidirectional data flow, which might be more suited to certain types of applications. Ultimately, both architectural patterns have their strengths, and the decision should be based on the project requirements, team expertise, and the specific benefits each pattern offers within the context of Uno Platform development.

Early January I got invited to speak at EY’s internal Falcon conference, as part of a virtual panel, to talk about o Spatial Computing! We got many interesting questions from our moderators, Maxime Rotsaert, Natalya Mestetskaya and the executive sponsor of the conference, Marcus Gottlieb.

On the panel, I was joined by Domhnaill Hernon (the same as in Spatial Computing Panel at OSFF23), head of Spatial Computing and Metaverse lab at EY, and by Quynh Mai, from the company Qulture focusing on future centric media innovations. The session was not recorded, but to give an idea what we discussed, here are the questions I got and more or less what I answered to them:

1. How might the Metaverse transform the way business is done in the near future? What steps are businesses taking to join the Metaverse?

The Metaverse, an immersive virtual world facilitated by advancements in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and blockchain, is poised to significantly transform business operations in the near future. Its potential to offer a fully interactive, three-dimensional digital environment opens up innovative avenues for commerce, marketing, and customer engagement. For instance, businesses could establish virtual storefronts, allowing customers to browse and purchase products in a more interactive and engaging manner than traditional online shopping. The Metaverse also enables unprecedented opportunities for remote work and collaboration, where virtual offices and meeting spaces can mimic real-life interactions more closely than current video conferencing tools. Furthermore, with the integration of blockchain technology, the Metaverse promises a secure and transparent environment for transactions, potentially revolutionizing areas like supply chain management and intellectual property rights in a digital context.

In anticipation of these transformative possibilities, many businesses are actively taking steps to join the Metaverse. This includes investing in the necessary technology infrastructure like VR and AR devices, and developing or acquiring digital real estate in existing virtual worlds Companies are also exploring partnerships with Metaverse platforms to establish their presence and tailor their services for these new environments. For example, some brands have started launching virtual products and experiences, targeting the Metaverse’s growing user base. Additionally, there’s an increasing focus on acquiring talent with expertise in VR/AR development, digital currency, and blockchain technology. By embracing these strategies businesses are not only preparing to enter the Metaverse but also shaping its evolution as a new frontier for commerce and collaboration.

2 Beyond mental health, are there any unintended consequences you are concerned about with a wider use of Metaverse or any you’re currently aware of? Are there areas of the Metaverse do you see as the “highest risk” for potential exploitation or negative downstream impacts, apart from mental health?

Beyond mental health, the widespread adoption of the Metaverse raises several unintended consequences that warrant concern. One such issue is privacy and data security. In a digital world where users interact through detailed avatars and engage in various activities, vast amounts of personal data can be generated and collected. This includes not just what users say or do, but also potentially sensitive data like biometric information derived from their interactions with VR and AR devices. There’s a risk that this data could be misused or inadequately protected, leading to privacy violations or data breaches. Additionally, the immersive nature of the Metaverse could blur the lines between reality and virtual experiences, potentially leading to issues like addiction or the exacerbation of certain psychological conditions. Another concern is the digital divide as the Metaverse becomes a more integral part of daily life and business those without access to the necessary technology or skills may find themselves increasingly marginalized.

Certain areas of the Metaverse pose higher risks for potential exploitation or negative impacts. The virtual economy, for example, is a prime area for financial crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and scams, especially as transactions in the Metaverse might involve cryptocurrencies or other digital assets that are currently less regulated than traditional financial systems. The anonymity and freedom provided by virtual environments could also foster unethical behaviors, including harassment, cyberbullying, and the spread of extremist ideologies. Furthermore, as the Metaverse evolves, there’s the risk of monopolistic practices by a few dominant platforms, which could limit competition and control over user data and experiences. These high-risk areas require careful regulation and oversight to ensure that the Metaverse develops into a safe, inclusive, and equitable space for all users.

3. We’ve seen many technologies in the past that looked very promising but somehow they never achieved mass adoption, why should this be different with the metaverse?

The Metaverse stands apart from many past technologies due to its convergence of several rapidly advancing fields including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), blockchain, and artificial intelligence (Al). Unlike technologies that relied on a single breakthrough or innovation, the Metaverse is being built on a foundation of multiple, interrelated advancements, each reinforcing the other. This integrated approach addresses a broader range of applications and user needs, making it more adaptable and relevant across various sectors. The Metaverse’s potential extends beyond entertainment, encompassing areas like education, remote work, social interaction, and commerce, offering a more comprehensive and immersive experience. Moreover, the increasing digitalization of society, accelerated by global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, has primed both individuals and organizations to be more receptive to virtual interactions and online communities, creating a more favorable environment for the Metaverse to thrive.

However, it’s important to recognize that the success of the Metaverse is not guaranteed. Its adoption depends on overcoming significant challenges, including the development of affordable and accessible hardware, ensuring privacy and security, and creating engaging and sustainable virtual environments. The Metaverse also needs to offer clear value and improvements over existing platforms and technologies to encourage widespread adoption. Unlike past technologies that may have been too niche or ahead of their time, the Metaverse is emerging in an era where digital interconnectivity is already a fundamental aspect of daily life. Its development is being watched and guided by major tech companies and a growing community of innovators, which could help steer it towards more practical and widely applicable uses. This collaborative and iterative approach, along with the alignment of the Metaverse with current technological trends and societal needs, suggests a stronger potential for it to achieve mass adoption compared to many previous technologies.

I also provided summary on how would I describe the Metaverse – I mostly talked about blockchain based persistability there, the other aspects were covered by the other panelists; and also what do I see as the future for businesses; where I mostly talked about all the various possible problems we can see, from fraud to cyberbullying, and how the society has to step up similar how it did for other media to stop it from happening.