Scott & Mark Learn To...

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into how they each manage the flood of information, reminders, and ideas that fill their daily lives. From handwritten to-do lists to OneNote archives, they explore the balance between productivity tools and procrastination, and how offloading tasks can clear mental space. The two reflect on the psychology of lists, the illusion of control, and whether we’ll ever have a true second brain. A funny, self-aware, and relatable conversation about memory, focus, and the systems that keep us (mostly) functional.    Takeaways:    Writing things down can free up mental space and reduce cognitive load Procrastination can serve a purpose when your brain keeps working in the background Organization doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping software engineering and the career paths of developers. They discuss the emerging “AI boost” for experienced engineers versus the “AI slowdown” that can hinder those early in their careers, emphasizing the need for companies to create structured learning environments rather than rely solely on AI-driven productivity. The conversation dives into mentorship, apprenticeship models, and how senior engineers must evolve into teachers to ensure vital knowledge transfer. Together, Scott and Mark challenge the industry to rethink how it trains, supports, and measures success for the next generation of software professionals.   Takeaways:    Companies should reward senior engineers who invest time in developing junior talent Critical thinking and troubleshooting skills can’t be automated or shortcut through AI tools Senior developers gain efficiency, while newcomers risk falling behind without proper guidance   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive deep into the promises and pitfalls of AI-assisted coding. They debate whether large language models can truly handle complex software projects, discuss the limitations of current AI systems in areas like synchronization, and explore the difference between human learning and machine pattern-matching. Along the way, they touch on the dangers of over-anthropomorphizing AI, the rise of “thinking tokens” in new models, and the impact these tools may have on junior developers learning the craft.    Takeaways:    The ongoing debate: can AI scale into true general intelligence or not? The risks of relying too heavily on AI when you don’t understand your own code What junior developers may lose and gain in a world of AI-assisted programming   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the realities of career progression at Microsoft and in tech more broadly. They discuss the different paths engineers can take, whether through management, deep technical expertise, or individual innovation and the role that scope, impact, and even luck plays in promotions. Along the way, they reflect on the challenges of leveling, the importance of communication, and the balance between recognition, influence, and personal fulfillment in a long-term career.   Takeaways:    Engineers can advance without becoming managers through individual contributions Communication and influence are critical for advancing to senior levels Promotions hinge on measurable business outcomes, not just effort or shipped work   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the technical side of modern AI research and development workflows. They discuss the power of remote development with VS Code, building custom chatbot tools for jailbreak testing, and exploring token probabilities with log probes. Mark also shares how he leveraged AI to generate a working UX in one shot, why temperature settings matter for model outputs, and his plans to open source his custom chatbot client. Takeaways:   Discover how Mark uses VS Code split between local and cloud for AI researchExplore the risks and creativity behind context injection jailbreakGet insights into model temperature settings and output logprobsWho are they?    View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn  Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube      Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to         Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore the challenges and opportunities of coding with AI assistants. They compare different models, discuss the quirks of “vibe coding,” and share insights on building tools that bridge LLMs and APIs. Mark walks through his experience developing an academic reference checker, highlighting how AI can help structure messy data, uncover edge cases, and speed up complex development work. The conversation also touches on the evolving joy of coding, from puzzle-solving by hand to managing AI-driven workflows, and how these shifts are reshaping both productivity and creativity.Takeaways:   Mark’s journey building an academic reference checker with AIHow AI assistants are changing the way developers find joy in codingRefChecker source code: https://github.com/markrussinovich/refchecker Who are they?    View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn  Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube      Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to         Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore vibe coding with AI, testing how Copilot Agent Mode can analyze their transcripts to see who talks more on the show. They discuss coding with AI as a collaborative sculpting process, debate crediting AI for its contributions, and reflect on the human judgment still needed for prompting and refining outputs. Along the way, they generate graphs, poke fun at each other’s talk time, and share insights on how AI is changing coding and creative work.   Takeaways:    See how Copilot Agent Mode can generate graphs from transcripts Learn the difference between vibe coding and spec-driven development Explore the potential for interactive charts using D3.js for podcast data   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich discuss innovative tools they built with AI assistance: Mark’s smart directory navigation tool that streamlines moving through nested folders by typing partial names, and Scott’s study website that transforms complex topics into structured, digestible material with AI-generated answers and progress tracking. They explore the challenges of AI “hallucination,” where models invent detailed but fictional information, and share insights on computer science history, including Leslie Lamport’s contributions. Their conversation also touches on evolving UI design trends from minimalist styles to flashy effects like “liquid glass” and debates the balance between aesthetics, usability, and energy efficiency in modern technology.   Takeaways:    Challenges of owning gaps in knowledge and the value of asking questions boldly How AI can invent convincing but false project details Mark demonstrates his new AI-assisted directory navigation tool called MCD   Who are they?     View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn    Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube        Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts