Author Image

Hi, I am Barret

Barret

A little bit of my mind, crafted with code at Barret Codes

I wear many hats. Father, husband, Microsoft MVP, developer, Azure Solutions Architect, gamer, blogger, speaker, teacher, mentor, model railroader, Buckeyes fan, and more. I’ve been blessed greatly by this industry, and so this site is one way I try to give a little bit back. When I can find the time, I add a bit of my coding knowledge and experience to share with whoever might find it of worth.

Microsoft MVP
Microsoft MVP
AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals
AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals
C#
Power Automate
JavaScript
SQL
Azure
Angular
Awesomeness

Engage With Me

hero image
Mentoring

If you are a student or someone in a different career field and looking to move into software development, I am happy to provide what time I can spare to speak with you 1 on 1 and provide what guidance or insight I can. You can schedule time with me on my Calendly.

    Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read
    hero image
    Speaking Engagements

    Looking for someone speak on your podcast, video, user group, conference, or company? Here’s a few of my current sessions. Contact me to set up a time.

      Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read
      hero image
      My Creative Side

      Not everything is about tech. I’ve got a creative side too… Sometimes. Take a look if you want something other than tech. My Creative Side

        Saturday, January 1, 2000 | 1 minute Read

        Recent Posts

        Testing in .NET with xUnit + NSubstitute + Shouldly
        Testing in .NET with xUnit + NSubstitute + Shouldly

        There’s a better stack, a better way to approach testing – and it’s been sitting in the .NET ecosystem the whole time.

        Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 23 minutes Read
        Train Station Signage
        Give .NET Its Props - Central Package Management

        You update a package in one project, but then you forget that you’re also using that package in another project. .NET has the solution for your…. solution: central package management.

        Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 9 minutes Read
        A photo of massive bird migrations
        EF Core Migrations Best Practices

        Migrations feel simple, and they are… until they aren’t. A bad migration, especially in production, leads to a really bad day. It’s important to do all you can to get it right from the start.

        Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 13 minutes Read
        Code samples of FastEndpoints and Minimal APIs side by side
        FastEndpoints vs ASP.NET Minimal APIs in 2026

        MVC controllers are legacy and no longer the go-to technology for handling your endpoints. Minimal APIs are the mainstream, but FastEndpoints has developed a strong following

        Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 10 minutes Read
        How I Use AI To Help With My Blog thumbnail
        How I Use AI To Help With My Blog

        AI is great and has it’s uses. One of those uses is to help my content making to be more efficient and productive.

        Friday, March 27, 2026 | 1 minute Read
        Mistake and Delete
        EF Core Global Query Filters - The Soft Delete Pattern You Should Be Using

        It’s one of the eternal debates of software development data management: How do you manage records that get deleted?

        Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 9 minutes Read

        Silly Little Apps

        A few little apps I've built and deployed to the web, just for fun.

        Barret's Quiz Game screenshot

        Barret's Quiz Game

        A fun trivia quiz game to test your knowledge across a variety of topics.

        Visit App
        Quasar Space Trader screenshot

        Quasar Space Trader

        A canvas-based space trading game. Buy low, sell high, and survive the cosmos.

        Visit App
        Gloomstep Dungeon screenshot

        Gloomstep Dungeon

        A roguelike dungeon crawler. Navigate underground levels, pick up items, and descend ever deeper.

        Visit App

        Podcasts

        I've been on a few podcasts and shows over the years as an MVP. Here's a few of them you can check out on the interwebs.

        Finding a Job in This Tough Job Market w/Barret Blake MS MVP & Architect

        MVPbuzzChat with Barret Blake

        Tech interviews - Best practices from an Engineering Manager

        Smart Cherrys Thoughts

        From Model Railroads to Azure Architect - Barret Blake's Journey and the Future of AI

        S1E90 - The Tech Sharmit Podcast - Expert Talks (TTSP)

        Rockin’ The Code World with dotNetDave ft. Barret Blake Ep. 77