Use HybridCache for expensive AI work in .NET
Use HybridCache to avoid duplicate AI model calls, with a cached summarization example and deliberate cache-key design.
Dotnet
AsNoTracking belongs on read paths
Skip EF Core change tracking for queries that only read entity data, but keep tracking for load-change-save updates.
Use idempotency keys for retryable writes
Make a retried write replay the same operation instead of creating a duplicate side effect.
Generate Useful Test Data in .NET with Bogus
How to use the Bogus library to generate realistic, repeatable, and domain-shaped test data in .NET, including faker rules, related objects, seeds, and practical boundaries.
Use ValueTask only when you know why
Prefer Task unless you have a measured allocation reason and a simple consumption contract.
Keep agent tools narrow and boring
Expose only the small, specific capabilities the agent needs for the current workflow.
Make logs structured before adding dashboards
Capture queryable fields first so dashboards are built on data, not text search.
Use evals before changing prompts
Treat prompt changes like code changes: measure the behavior before deciding whether the edit helped.
Keep RAG citations tied to retrieved chunks
Citations should point back to the retrieved evidence, not to sources the model guessed after answering.
Observability for Agents with OpenTelemetry, Aspire, and Application Insights
How to make Microsoft Agent Framework behavior visible in production with OpenTelemetry traces, token usage, model calls, tool calls, Aspire local debugging, and Application Insights monitoring.