In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the concept of systems thinking—what it means, why it matters, and how it applies beyond just coding. Scott recalls an insightful conversation with a colleague, who argues that while younger generations are taught to code, they aren’t taught to understand the larger systems in which code operates. They discussed how systems thinking approach contrasts with traditional code practices. They also explored th...
Mar 05, 2025•31 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the history and evolution of ZoomIt, a popular screen annotation and zooming tool Mark created over 25 years ago. Originally built to enhance technical demos, ZoomIt has become an essential utility for countless users, including Scott, who calls it second nature. Mark shares how the tool's intuitive, keystroke-driven design surpasses alternatives like Windows Magnifier, making it a favorite for presenta...
Feb 19, 2025•21 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the art of giving technical talks. With Scott preparing for a keynote abroad and Mark gearing up for an internal presentation, the duo reflects on their journeys as speakers, from their very first presentations to commanding stages with thousands of attendees. They discuss how preparation evolves with experience, balancing off-the-cuff speaking with intensive demo prep. From brown bag sessions to high-s...
Feb 05, 2025•28 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore the evolution of cloud computing, tracing its roots from the early days of Azure to its transformation into a powerful, flexible platform. Mark explains the shift from "pets" (individual servers) to "cattle" (easily replaceable servers) as cloud infrastructure became more scalable and cost-efficient. They discuss the challenges of scaling websites, from physical data centers to cloud-based solutions, and ...
Jan 22, 2025•36 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the topic of hobbies and how they balance tech work with leisure activities. Mark opens up about his long-time love for the Battlefield video game series, where he’s spent countless hours playing multiplayer, while Scott shares his passion for retro gaming on his Steam Deck. The conversation explores their favorite games, including Half-Life: Alyx , and how gaming serves as a much-needed release. They a...
Jan 08, 2025•26 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich delve into the critical developer skill of debugging crash dump files, both kernel dumps and application dumps. They start sharing insights from their experiences with blue screens and system crashes. They discuss tools like WinDBG ("Windbag") for analyzing dump files and demonstrate "Not My Fault," a tool for simulating crashes. Mark also showcases Procdump, highlighting its advanced features for capturing dumps...
Dec 11, 2024•26 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich delve into the intricate world of undocumented APIs, examining their associated risks and benefits. Mark shares his journey into reverse engineering, starting with the Apple II and evolving through his exploration of Windows internals. He elaborates on his PhD thesis on fault management, which sparked his interest in undocumented APIs. The conversation includes technical insights into disassembling and debugging, ...
Nov 27, 2024•19 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode of Scott & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich take a detour into the fabulous world of skincare, proving that everyone deserves a little TLC! With Scott both amused and bewildered by Mark's radiant complexion, they launch into a lively debate about grooming habits. From the champagne of shampoos to moisturizing rituals and the must-have essentials for looking sharp in the tech world, Scott and Mark share their best beauty tips. Plus, discover the profou...
Nov 18, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the quirks and philosophies of programming languages—debating the purpose of small languages, like Erlang, versus giants like JavaScript. Along the way, they discuss whether modern languages with hindsight (like Kotlin) are inherently better and reminisce about the good old days of writing code in C, Delphi, and even 6502 assembler. Mark reflects on transitioning to Rust for system-level code in Azure, m...
Nov 13, 2024•24 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore the evolving role of AI in tech, from leveraging tools like GitHub Copilot to boost productivity in coding, to the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI. They discuss how AI is reshaping both education and professional development and reflect on the challenges of large language models (LLMs), including issues like hallucinations, indirect prompt injection attacks, and jailbreaks. Mark highlights how m...
Oct 30, 2024•28 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich discuss the concept of shipping the org chart, a term used to describe when different teams' outputs are inconsistently integrated, reflecting the organizational structure rather than a cohesive product. Scott recounts his experience test-driving an electric vehicle with a disjointed interface, which made him question the internal coordination within the automaker. Mark explains how Microsoft addresses this ...
Oct 16, 2024•20 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Scott & Mark Learn To , Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the art of influencing without authority. Scott, who recently took on new responsibilities at Microsoft, shares his approach to leadership and advocacy, encouraging his team to push boundaries and advocate for the customer. Mark, Deputy CISO and CTO of Azure, discusses the importance of using influence over authority, drawing from his experiences both at Microsoft and his earlier days running his o...
Oct 16, 2024•19 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Join tech industry veterans Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich as they dive into the challenges and innovations of today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re an experienced developer or simply curious about technology, each episode offers a fresh perspective on emerging trends, familiar topics, and insights that go beyond the strictly technical. From the latest in AI to effective ways to influence without authority, Scott and Mark set out to 'learn' something new in every episode, and they’re br...
Oct 07, 2024•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
