Behind my Cloud

Does working my bicep files make me stronger?

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

In Stream #440, Frank shifted gears on the Azure URL Shortener project to focus on “Plan B”—moving away from expensive container apps toward more budget-friendly resources like Azure Functions and App Service. After some initial troubleshooting with the Azure Developer CLI (AZD), he teamed up with GitHub Copilot to refactor the Bicep infrastructure files and successfully triggered a new deployment. The session was a classic mix of cloud architecture deep-dives and lively community interaction, complete with a chaotic “bomb wall” and a record-breaking 0.5 landing score in the drop game.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 440

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Raids

@mahybe has raided you with a party of 15

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @therealsurlybot with 99.48
😭Biggest loser: @ndoherty48 with 1 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @therealsurlybot with best score 99.48 and only 20 drops
🎖️Super participant: @mcnets with 23 drops

Prep for Azure Migration - AzUrlShortener

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

Frank kicked off Stream #439 by showcasing his new “shout-out” feature for Cloudbot (CB), which uses local AI to research streamers’ past videos and craft personalized intros. The session was a fun, high-energy mix of community interaction and deep-diving into the AzUrlShortener migration, where Frank wrestled with moving from expensive Azure Container Apps to a more cost-effective Azure Functions setup. While he hit some hurdles with how Azure Developer CLI (azd) handles Aspire projects, he mapped out a plan to tackle the Bicep infrastructure files in the next stream to get those costs down.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 439

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Raids

@QTkittE has raided you with a party of 7

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @theunoriginaljerk with 99.55
😭Biggest loser: @codebymistakes with 7 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @theunoriginaljerk with best score 99.55 and only 7 drops
🎖️Super participant: @jtsom with 11 drops

Infrastructure As Code (IaC) we must master / AzUrlShortener

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

Frank explores ways to make his open-source AzUrlShortener more budget-friendly by transitioning from Azure Container Apps to a split-resource architecture using Azure Functions and App Services. During the stream, he experiments with new dev tools like Kepler and the AZD CLI to customize deployment templates, all while navigating some typical “live coding” keyboard hurdles. The session is a classic BehindMyCloud vibe—full of community interaction, tool testing, and the honest reality of learning new tech even after 20 years in the industry.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 438

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Subscribers

@tetedampoule66 4 month(s)

Raids

@mahybe has raided you with a party of 17

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @mcnets with 97.64
😭Biggest loser: @tbdgamer with 2 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @mcnets with best score 97.64 and only 9 drops
🎖️Super participant: @jtsom with 12 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

MS Foundry Local https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/what-is-foundry-local
Azure Developer CLI schema reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/developer/azure-developer-cli/azd-schema

Experimenting different Azure Resources for AzUrlShortener

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

In this episode, Frank dives back into the AzUrlShortener project, exploring ways to reshuffle its architecture to make it more budget-friendly. He experiments with splitting the deployment—moving the redirect engine to Azure Functions and the admin tool to an App Service—all while trying to leverage .NET Aspire and AI to automate the infrastructure changes.

Beyond the code, the stream kicks off with a demo of Frank’s new tracking camera and some amusing stories about “rogue” AI agents automatically merging his GitHub PRs overnight. It’s a classic mix of cloud architecture, home lab experiments, and community interaction, capped off with some troubleshooting of the Azure Developer CLI.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 437

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @a_friend_asks with 98.7
😭Biggest loser: @n3thun_vader with 3 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @a_friend_asks with best score 98.7 and only 1 drops
🎖️Super participant: @fredda_the_cat with 15 drops

Azure Function, App Service and other for Url Shortener

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

Frank exploring cost-efficient ways to host his URL shortener, weighing options between Azure Container Apps, Azure Functions, and App Service sidecars. The session was a deep dive into the Azure ecosystem and Aspire, featuring experimental coding with AI agents like OpenCode and Anti-gravity to find the best architectural balance. Between technical discussions on “sidecar” patterns and infrastructure as code, the community caught up on vacation stories and tested out some fun new interactive stream games.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 436

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @groversaurus with 98.61
😭Biggest loser: @marcipopsis with 7 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @groversaurus with best score 98.61 and only 7 drops
🎖️Super participant: @jtsom with 16 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

New Follower @nahlian
New Follower @0ffmarket_7
Migrating your Docker Compose applications to the Sidecar feature: https://azure.github.io/AppService/2025/04/01/Docker-compose-migration.html
I am eating a double scoop ice cream. Banane und Straciatella. Doggo is not happy I dragged her this far
AZD - Bicep steps to use side cars AzUrlShortener: https://gist.github.com/fboucher/169b3e436dbf040443636d2031ac1952
I am rested, time to walk back with my second ice cream
New Follower: @Kurisatoo
New Folower: localdadmin

Working on the Url Shortener

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

Frank jumped back into the Easy URL Shortener project, focusing on cost optimization to make the popular open-source tool more budget-friendly. He triaged community issues with his custom agent and reviewed AI-generated reports on migrating from Azure Container Apps to more efficient serverless options like Azure Functions. It was a classic “BehindMyCloud” vibe—lots of technical brainstorming, chat interaction, and catching up with the community after a day at the office.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 435

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @mcnets with 82.87
😭Biggest loser: @surlydev with 3 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @mcnets with best score 82.87 and only 4 drops
🎖️Super participant: @groversaurus with 6 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

“Cloud Cloak” Browser Extension https://github.com/microsoft/cloudcloak

Upgrade, update, and more for our Url Shortener

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

In this stream, Frank dove back into his long-running URL Shortener project to focus on making it more budget-friendly and easier to maintain after moving under a new GitHub umbrella. He explored using .NET Aspire to manage Azure resources, discussed a few potential feature updates like a homepage news section for users, and even shared some photos from his recent kayaking and cycling adventures in Montreal. The session was a mix of hands-on infrastructure troubleshooting and friendly catch-ups with the community, ending with a deep dive into Azure CLI integration.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 434

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azurlshortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azurlshortener

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @groversaurus with 70.77
😭Biggest loser: @mcnets with 9 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @groversaurus with best score 70.77 and only 4 drops
🎖️Super participant: @mcnets with 9 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

Upgrade AZD 1.27.1 -> 1.28.0
McNets Subscribed !! THANK YOU
that’s a rigged game csharpMad
Need to learn more about using existing Azure Resources while in dev https://aspire.dev/integrations/cloud/azure/local-provisioning/ could be useful

Doing some issue triage on AzUrlShortener

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

In this stream, Frank returned to his roots and did some much-needed issue triage for the AzUrlShortener project, migrating issues from the official Microsoft repo back to his personal one to maintain control over the project’s development. He spent time discussing a creative new project idea—a CI/CD bot for validating acronyms in documentation—and caught up with the community about his new office commute and two-PC streaming setup. The vibe was chill and conversational, serving as a productive administrative session to set the stage for future coding.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 433

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azUrlShortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azUrlShortener

Notes/ References / Snippets

@surlydev Subscribed
Thanks @tbdgamer to share https://streamcord.io/

Looking at AzUrlShortener, what works, what need love

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

Looking to breathe some life back into his open-source AzUrlShortener project after a six-month hiatus, Frank focused on updating dependencies and modernizing the deployment workflow using the Azure Developer CLI (AZD) and .NET Aspire. Despite some initial friction with missing environment variables and SDK mismatches, he successfully pushed a fresh deployment to Azure while troubleshooting the process in real-time. The stream had a classic, relaxed “back on Linux” vibe, filled with community catch-ups, travel stories, and a collaborative spirit as the chat helped navigate the nuances of budget-friendly cloud architecture.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 432

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: azurlshortener - https://github.com/FBoucher/azurlshortener

Game Results

Statistics

🏆Best score: @mcnets with 95.72
😭Biggest loser: @jeffs_hat_stand with 1 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @mcnets with best score 95.72 and only 14 drops
🎖️Super participant: @mcnets with 14 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

Frank admitted to thinking about SurlyDev away from stream.

NoteBookmark is on Android, now what?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Summary

In this session, Frank dives back into NoteBookmark, refining the Android experience using .NET MAUI after successfully getting the app working offline. The stream focuses on “the little things” that make a difference: designing and implementing a clean new logo and fixing layout UI issues like the post grid and footer.

Working alongside a chatty “CB” (Cloud Bot) and using Gemini as a pair programmer, Frank demonstrates how he uses AI to rapidly bridge the gap between web development and mobile design. The vibe is a perfect mix of technical deep-dives into Fluent UI and lighthearted banter about retro-gaming, new job transitions, and the constant struggle of “landing” in the stream’s physics-based leaderboard.

📺 - Twitch archive - stream no. 431

Replay

Project

All the code for this project is available on GitHub: NoteBookmark - https://github.com/FBoucher/NoteBookmark

Game Results

@jtsom: 84.13
@tbdgamer: 72.13
@fboucheros: 68.06
@mcnets: 66.16
@fredda_the_cat: 65.31
@groversaurus: 50.51
@surlydev: 47.42
@jddoesdev: 0
@stoney_eagle: 0
@qtkitte: 0
@thindal: 0

Statistics

🏆Best score: @jtsom with 84.13
😭Biggest loser: @stoney_eagle with 9 drops and no high score
🍀Luckiest: @jtsom with best score 84.13 and only 13 drops
🎖️Super participant: @mcnets with 24 drops

Notes/ References / Snippets

SurlyDev was here from the start of the stream this time
the drop game is still rigged ;)
It’s rigged!!!
We got a Raid from @QTkittE