Editor's note
I pulled together another deliberately mixed issue today, from low-level .NET 9 memory work with Span, Memory, and ref structs to pragmatic EF Core 10 concurrency handling in Web API. The Durable Workflows post for Microsoft Agent Framework also stood out because it shows where agent orchestration is getting concrete, while the BackgroundService behavior change in .NET 11 is the kind of runtime detail that can save debugging hours.
EF Core Concurrency, Agents, and Span
Jasen Fici
May 15, 2026
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Jasen's take on today's picks
Working with Span, Memory, and ref structs in High-Performance Apps using .NET 9
A practical refresher on the allocation-free toolbox in .NET 9, with the right focus on GC pressure and when stack-backed types actually help.
Why not have changes in API behavior depend on the SDK you link against?
Classic Raymond Chen: a sharp reminder that API behavior tied to linked SDKs creates compatibility traps you really do not want.
Modernising a Legacy Fleet Platform: Architectural Decisions, Scope Uncertainty, and a Phased Path…
Good architectural write-up on modernization trade-offs, especially the phased path when scope is still moving under your feet.
Optimistic Concurrency in EF Core 10: ASP.NET Core Web API Guide
Useful for teams building APIs that need sane conflict handling instead of hand-wavy concurrency stories.
Prompt Engineering in C#: System Messages, Few-Shot Examples & Structured Output
Structured output and few-shot prompting in C# remains highly relevant as more .NET apps embed LLM features.
Durable Workflows in the Microsoft Agent Framework
This is one of the more concrete agent posts lately, showing durability and orchestration instead of just high-level AI abstractions.
The Complete C# Guide: From Access Modifiers to Zero-Allocation Memory — Everything a Production…
Broad in scope, but there’s value here for developers trying to connect language features with production concerns.
5 MAUI UI Techniques Behind a Complete Netflix-Style App
A nice UI-focused MAUI piece that shows how far you can get without reaching for extra libraries.
Containerization Assist Integration with AKS VSCode Extension
Worth a look if you live in VS Code and want a smoother path from app to AKS deployment.
BackgroundService exceptions now propagate in .NET 11
Important runtime change to know about; silent-ish failure modes around BackgroundService have bitten plenty of teams.
Announcing the WinApp VS Code Extension — Run, Debug, and Package Windows Apps in VS Code
A meaningful tooling move for Windows app developers who prefer VS Code over the full Visual Studio experience.