Vision to Visualisation: Using GitHub Copilot for Azure and Diagrams

In this talk, we will explore the transformative capabilities of using GitHub Copilot and the GitHub Copilot extension for Azure in VSCode for cloud deployments and architectural analysis. We will learn how to harness the power of AI to seamlessly deploy technical system architectures into Microsoft Azure, simplifying complex processes and enhancing productivity.

We will demonstrate how GitHub Copilot can assist in writing deployment code, enabling efficient resource provisioning in Microsoft Azure. Additionally, we will delve into using Copilot to also analyse existing Azure deployments. This analysis will include converting existing deployment resources into JSON format and use this data with AI to generate detailed architectural diagrams and documentation using Mermaid diagrams to visualise and diagram the architecture making it easier to see how everything fits together visually.

By the end of this session, you will gain a deeper understanding of how GitHub Copilot can be leveraged to not only create and deploy resources and technical system architectures but also to analyse, document and diagram existing ones. Harnessing the power of GitHub Copilot does not only have to be for developers and the demo will show you how GitHub Copilot can benefit and empower cloud architects, security analysts, DevOps engineers and developers alike to better understand and document their infrastructures hosted in Microsoft Azure, ultimately driving greater efficiency, security, clarity and understanding of their cloud hosted landscape in Microsoft Azure.

Terraform with GitHub Copilot Chat

In this session we will look at GitHub Copilot Chat integrated into VSCode and how we can write Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using terraform along with the help of Copilot Chat

Terraform - Keep dependencies up to date with Dependabot (Azure DevOps version)

In this post we will look at how you can automate and maintain your terraform module versioning using a dependency management tool originally ported from the GitHub Security Toolset called Dependabot but used in Azure DevOps instead.

Securing Your Code with GitHub

In this guide, we will walk you through the varied features, from security alerts for vulnerable dependencies to secret scanning, to help you fortify your code using the GitHub Security Toolset

GitHub Pro Tips - GitHub Repository Best Practices

As a DevOps engineer, managing GitHub repositories is as crucial as the code they contain. A well-maintained GitHub repo sets the stage for effective collaboration, code quality, and streamlined workflows. In this session we'll discuss and look at my top 10 tips for best practices in managing GitHub repositories effectively.

Reusable GitHub workflows to automate tokens

This talk is on how to create reusable GitHub Action workflows that can be called as separate jobs in other workflows. By carving up large workflows and referencing reusable workflows we can cut down on duplication and also make our workflows much more dynamic.

Also included is a demo of using reusable GitHub Action workflows to automate Azure Service Bus SAS tokens to generate short lived usable tokens with a validity period of 10 minutes and securely store the newly generated SAS tokens inside of an Azure Key Vault ready for consumption.

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/automate-azure-service-bus-sas-tokens-with-github-37ok

Session duration: 45-60min

Azure Verified Modules

In this session we take a closer look at (AVM) Azure Verified Modules. With AVM the aim is to provide a trusted platform for organisations to find and deploy solutions that can be easily integrate with their Azure-based services and infrastructure. They can span a wide range of solutions, using popular infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Bicep and Terraform.

Multi environment AZURE deployments with Terraform and GitHub

This talk goes into detail on how to build out multi environment AZURE deployments with Terraform and GitHub. What you'll get out of this talk are:

- Learn about GitHub Actions and how to use them.
- Learn how to integrate terraform deployments with CI/CD using GitHub.
- Learn how to deploy resources in AZURE at scale using GitHub.
- Learn about multi-stage deployments and approvals using GitHub Environments.
- Learn how to build Terraform modules using a non-monolithic approach.

Automate Azure Role Based Access Control (RBAC) using Azure DevOps

a technical discussion on how to maintain and administer custom role definitions (RBAC/IAM) in Azure using source control and Azure DevOps

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/automate-azure-role-based-access-control-rbac-with-devops-2ehf

Session duration: 30-45min

Automate Azure Role Based Access Control (RBAC) using GitHub

A technical discussion and tutorial on how to automate, version and maintain custom role definitions (RBAC/IAM) with GitHub.

By utilizing CI/CD workflows in GitHub with GitHub Actions we can easily maintain our Azure (RBAC) custom role definitions from a GitHub repository through source control and automatically publish and deploy Custom RBAC into Azure without much effort.

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/automate-azure-role-based-access-control-rbac-using-github-2349

Session duration: 30-45min
Level: 200-300

Automate Azure Resource Decommissions (with tracking)

A look at a common use case around resource management in Azure, how to manage resource decommissions more effectively using a serverless Azure Function app, and even having the ability for users/consumers to self serve resource decommissions by simply using an Azure tag, and also be able to track decommissions or failed decommissions using a tracker table (Azure table storage).

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/automate-azure-resource-decommissions-with-tracking-aok

Session duration: 30-45min

Automate password rotation with Github and Azure

Technical discussion on how to automate password rotation for Azure VMs using Azure Key Vault and GitHub actions.

Featured talk at:
- Festive Tech calendar 2021 (3 Dec 2021): https://youtu.be/nSSQtOvwVzA
- DevCon6 (9 Jan 2022)

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/automate-password-rotation-with-github-and-azure-412a

Session duration: 30-45min

GitHub Terraform and Dependabot - A real world example

This talk focusses on using GitHub Dependabot on managing and maintaining Terraform module versions and dependencies and includes terraform module testing and release processes to the public Terraform registry.

This is a deep technical discussion with a main focus on GitHub Dependabot. Includes a real world demo on how to manage IaC dependencies and automatically test and release new versions of terraform modules by using GitHub Dependabot and CI/CD GitHub workflows and Actions in combination to test and release new versions of a module when dependency version releases are detected by Dependabot.

This is a level 300 talk and a written blog version can be seen here:
https://dev.to/pwd9000/automated-terraform-tests-for-azure-using-github-actions-4349

Introduction to GitHub Codespaces - Building your first Dev Container

In this talk l we will look at how easy it is to create a basic GitHub Codespace to get started and also take a deeper look into how to customise the codespace and building your very first Dev Container and what the benefits are to Codespaces.

This session / talk is roughly 45mins and there is also a written blog version of the talk that can be seen here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/introduction-to-github-codespaces-building-your-first-dev-container-69l

Passwordless authentication between GitHub and Azure using federated credentials

Hey folks, ever wondered how you can authenticate GitHub Actions with Azure? In this talk we look at GitHub Actions authentication methods for Azure, two ways that you can accomplish this and why you’d want to switch the passwordless method using Open ID Connect (OIDC) instead.

A written version of this talk is published on my blog here: https://dev.to/pwd9000/bk-1iij

Session duration: 30-45min

Best Practices for Using GitHub Secrets

In today's fast-paced development environment, automation and DevOps is key. However, this often requires the handling of sensitive information such as API keys, credentials, and other secrets. Managing these securely is crucial to avoid unauthorised access and data breaches.

In this talk we explore the best practices for managing sensitive information in GitHub automation workflows by using GitHub Secrets starting from basic usage in the GitHub Website UI and giving a general overview and feel for GitHub Secrets and why you would want to use them.

Then move on to a more advanced integration where we look at how we can store Secrets securely in Azure Key Vault and how to integrate GitHub automation Workflows with Azure for retrieving Secrets from Key Vault to use in workflows, giving another flexible way of using secrets in code and offers a more centralised management of Secrets.

The target audience are aimed towards DevOps and Developers using GitHub and with a focus on how to use secrets in CI/CD processes and automation with GitHub Actions. Session duration: 30mins

Transforming DevOps with AI: Insights from Azure AI Foundry

This talk explores how Azure AI Foundry can be used and leveraged to enhance DevOps best practices & Infrastructure as Code (IaC) workflows by integrating bespoke documentation, security guidelines, and processes using Azure AI Foundry.

The demo, set in the fictional company "Contoso," showcases custom code and documentation using their tailored Terraform IaC, bespoke GitHub Actions, and governance practices. It demonstrates how Large Language Models (LLMs) with private, customised data can accelerate DevOps workflows. While specific tools are highlighted, the techniques are applicable to many other use cases and DevOps practices.

You'll learn how to build an AI assistant for DevOps with an organisation’s unique naming conventions, security guidelines, and guardrails. This assistant can help developers and engineers interpret documentation, ask relevant questions, and generate code examples suited to their Azure environment. This approach streamlines IaC processes, ensuring consistency and improving productivity across DevOps, Platform, and SRE teams.

The target audience are aimed towards AI, DevOps, Platform, SRE and Development teams. Session duration: 30-50mins

Instructions and Prompt Files in VS Code using GitHub Copilot

Unlock GitHub Copilot's true potential! This session dives into customising Copilot in VS Code using repository-level instructions and prompt files. Go beyond generic suggestions and tailor your AI pair programmer to your team and projects unique coding standards, architecture, tooling, targeted knowledge and workflow.

Imagine having agentic persona's iterate through your code right from your IDE VS Code via the use of customisable prompt files, such as a security code reviewer with its own tooling and persona, or perhaps an SRE or documentation specialist to update and sanitise documentation? Neat huh?

Learn practical steps to boost code consistency, reduce boilerplate, and significantly enhance developer productivity by using instruction files and prompt files. Perfect for any team looking to get more out of their AI-assisted development. We'll cover setup, best practices, and a live demo showing the power of a truly intelligent Copilot within VS Code.

What you will learn:
- How to configure repository-level GitHub Copilot instructions.
- The power of prompt files for specific coding scenarios.
- Strategies for enforcing team coding standards with AI.
- Practical tips to boost consistency and reduce boilerplate.
- Real-world benefits of a finely-tuned AI pair programmer.

The Demo will be in the latest version of VS Code pre-installed with GitHub Copilot extension and active.
A sample repository pre-cloned for the demonstration.

Target Audience:
Software Developers (all levels), Team Leads & Architects, DevOps Engineers.
Anyone currently using or considering GitHub Copilot in VS Code
Teams interested in improving code consistency and developer productivity with AI tools.

Preferred Session Duration:
Standard Talk: 45-60 minutes (including 10-15 min for Q&A).
Deep Dive/Workshop: 90 minutes (if interactive elements are desired beyond demo).

Supercharge VSCode GitHub Copilot using Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Dive into the future of AI-assisted development! This session explores GitHub Copilot's powerful Model Context Protocol (MCP) within VS Code. Learn how MCP allows Copilot to interact with external tools and data sources, transforming it into a truly context-aware agent. We'll demystify the setup process, from configuring MCP servers to integrating custom tools, enabling Copilot to go beyond code generation and actively act on your GitHub project's unique environment. Expect practical steps, real-world use cases, and a live demo showing how MCP empowers Copilot to perform tasks like reviewing PRs, Creating Issues, Comparing your Repo's code with other public projects out there on GitHub, interacting with APIs and much much more, all from your IDE. Elevate your development workflow with truly intelligent AI!

What you will Learn:
- Understand the core concepts and benefits of GitHub Copilot's Model Context Protocol (MCP).
- Learn how to configure and enable MCP servers within VS Code. (Local and Remote)
- Discover how to integrate external tools and data sources with Copilot.
- See practical examples of how MCP enables Copilot to perform complex, context-aware tasks.
- Gain insights into building a more powerful and autonomous AI pair programmer.

Technical Requirements (for live demo):
Stable Wi-Fi connection required for GitHub Copilot functionality and MCP server interactions.
IDE: Latest VS Code pre-installed with GitHub Copilot & GitHub Copilot Chat extensions installed and active.
Runtime Environments: Node.js (for npx-based MCP servers) or Python (for python-based MCP servers) depending on the demo servers chosen.
(Optional): A sample repository with a .vscode/mcp.json configuration and a simple custom MCP server setup for demonstration.

Target Audience:
Software Developers (mid-to-senior level)
DevOps Engineers & Tooling Specialists
AI/ML Enthusiasts in a development context
Anyone currently using GitHub Copilot and looking to extend its capabilities significantly.
Teams interested in building more autonomous AI-powered workflows.
Preferred Session Duration:

Standard Talk: 45-60 minutes (including 10-15 min for Q&A).
Extended/Workshop: 75-90 minutes (if detailed setup and multiple MCP server types are demonstrated, allowing for more in-depth exploration).