Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC), Azure Policy, and resource locks can all prevent changes in Azure. Because they can produce similar results, it's easy to think they're interchangeable. They aren't. Each one serves a different purpose. RBAC controls who can act, Azure Policy controls what can exist, and a …

Read More

Have you ever opened a file in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), clicked another file, and watched the first one disappear? That's not a bug. It's a feature called preview mode. This article shows you how to recognize a preview tab and keep it open with a quick double-click. I learned this tip from Steven Judd while we …

Read More

If you've ever watched a live demo where the presenter says "I'll just run this" and code appears out of nowhere, you know how easy it is to lose the audience. They can't see which keys you pressed, which command you ran, or where you clicked. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has a built-in feature that solves this …

Read More

In Deploy an Azure VM with Bicep and Azure PowerShell, I deployed an Azure virtual machine (VM) with private networking, Trusted Launch, and a layered validation workflow. This article deploys the same architecture with a different toolchain: Terraform defines the infrastructure, and Azure CLI handles authentication …

Read More

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) lets you define, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure through code instead of manually creating resources in the Azure portal. You can store the configuration in source control, review changes, validate it before deployment, and consistently reproduce infrastructure across environments. …

Read More

Microsoft announced that the original Secure Boot certificates introduced during the Windows 8 development cycle begin expiring in June and October 2026. For full details about the impact, timelines, and update process, see the official Microsoft articles listed in the references section of this article. This article …

Read More

Technical writers often need to embed code in their articles, whether snippets, configurations, commands, or examples. When presented clearly, code in your articles reinforces understanding and helps readers follow along more easily. When presented poorly, it creates confusion and frustration. This article …

Read More

In the first two parts of this Markdown series, you explored how to get started with Markdown and use lists effectively. Now, you'll learn how to write clear, structured, and actionable step-by-step instructions. Whether you're documenting PowerShell scripts, Azure setup tasks, or admin procedures, your readers need …

Read More

In Part 1: Getting Started with Markdown for Technical Writers, I introduced the basics of Markdown, including how to format both ordered and unordered lists. This article builds upon that foundation, providing everything you need to know about using lists in Markdown, from basic syntax to advanced formatting …

Read More

Markdown is the standard for writing technical documentation at Microsoft and many other organizations. Its simplicity, readability, and compatibility with other tools make it an ideal choice for blogging, documenting software, procedures, APIs, and more. Whether you're authoring a user guide, README, or knowledge …

Read More