New Year's Predictions 2026
Ten predictions across Microsoft, AI, and society from my 42-year-old self. A fun little experiment I hope to look back on in ten years, and maybe a new annual tradition.
Alex Duggleby
A personal website and blog by Alex Duggleby.
Latest posts
Midlife Cycle 2025
Around your 40s you're "supposed to" buy a car, invest in a bar or do something else drastic. Well, I bought a bike. But really only to replace my 15-year-old bike that still had a sticker of my first startup on it. Read on to find out how I flew that bike across Europe and then cycled it back to my home. If you're interested in doing a low-risk bike journey that you don't have to train for ages…
An Introduction to Azure Virtual Networks and Private Links
Learn how to secure Azure deployments using vnets and VPNs to minimize exposure and protect your services. A step-by-step guide on setting up a secure environment.
Deploying Frontdoor to ASP.NET in Different Regions with BICEP
Learn how to deploy ASP.NET apps in Azure with regional data segregation and Azure Front Door for optimal performance and security.
ASP.NET + SQL Server + Managed Identity with BICEP
Learn how to deploy an AppService with a SQL Server and set the right permissions for the managed identity to access the database. No more secrets in your configuration files.
Adding a reverse proxy to an Astro site hosted on Cloudflare Pages
Learn how to seamlessly integrate API calls into static Astro websites hosted on Cloudflare Pages with simple serverless functions.
Converting Astro redirects to Cloudflare redirects
Learn how to automate Astro redirects to Cloudflare's `_redirects` file for seamless site navigation management.
Migrating from Postmark Templates to React Email
In this blog I explore how to migrate from Postmark templates to React.Email for flexible email templating and reduce my dependency on a single provider. It covers converting templates from Postmark, creating a custom API, and deploying a scalable solution to support multiple ESPs.
Adding ASP.NET Rate Limiting Policies to individual Pages, Folders and Areas through Page Conventions
Discover how to enhance your ASP.NET apps with rate limiting for IP-based control and customizable policies for improved performance and security.
Adding Distributed Rate Limiting to ASP.NET Identity Pages
Secure your ASP.NET apps with distributed rate limiting and Altcha to protect against automated attacks. Learn how at my Minimal Identity UI project.
Adding a self-hosted captcha alternative to ASP.NET Identity
Discover how to enhance ASP.NET Identity forms with Altcha for bot protection, including a fix for replay attacks. A self-hosted, privacy-centric solution.
A more beautiful based ASP.NET Identity UI based on TailwindCSS and Preline
Revamp your ASP.NET Identity UI with a modern, TailwindCSS makeover using MinimalIdentityUI - simple, open-source, and ready to use!
Using Clerk as an OAuth Provider for ASP.NET Core
Discover how to integrate Clerk authentication with ASP.NET for secure server-side user management. Updates include OAuth scope and sign-out enhancements.
NextJS Router compatible Weglot Language Switcher
Discover how I enhanced SecureMailMerge with Weglot for easy multilingual support, tackling NextJS challenges along the way.
How to quickly setup typesense as a drop-in replacement for Algolia DocSearch on TailwindUI templates
"Discover how to easily switch from Algolia to Typesense for TailwindUI sites - a quick, cost-effective search solution!"
The books I read 2020
Discover how I turned reading into a daily habit, reading over 50 books in a year, and find my top picks with unique awards! Dive into my journey and recommendations.
Using Caddy 2 on an Azure VM to host static content from blob storage
Learn how to serve static websites with HTTPS on Azure for less than $5/month using Azure Blob, CDN, Cloudflare, and Caddy 2 with this step-by-step guide.
A handbook for running great co-working spaces
Discover the essentials and nice-to-haves for co-working spaces from a seasoned traveler's perspective, including must-have amenities and common pitfalls to avoid.
Creating and running a remote Estonian software business
Learn how I set up my software company in Estonia with e-residency, Xolo & more, making business admin smooth to focus on growth.
Exploration of Tenerife in 90 days
"Join me as I escape the winter to Tenerife, exploring its stunning landscapes & vibrant co-living community over 3 incredible months."
We're going to charge you extra for our new mandatory login mechanism
Discover my frustration with a new bank login app that adds security but charges for dual-device use. A digital age dilemma.
A Capetonian Comeback
Join me on my recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Explore with me as we venture outside the city center, experiencing areas like Blouberg and Strand, sharing my favorite restaurants, wine estates, and activities along the way.
Hoi An - A month visiting a Vietnam village
"Discovering the charm of Hoi An, Vietnam from coworking spaces to rice fields and stunning beaches. A digital nomad's paradise!"
ASP.NET Identity Cookies in Office 365 / Outlook Add-Ins and the SameSite security setting
Discover how setting SameSite to None enables Office365 Add-Ins to authenticate seamlessly across devices using web technologies.
OneDrive PSA: the day it forgot about history
Discover the truth behind OneDrive's offerings & how its business version lacks crucial security features. Learn from a ransomware incident recovery.
A month of tropical co-working in Koh Lanta, Thailand
Discover the wonders of Koh Lanta, Thailand as a digital nomad at KoHub's tropical co-working space. My journey, experiences, and why it's a top pick!
Three Months in the Mother City - Cape Town, South Africa
Discover why Cape Town is a top destination for digital nomads in my winter adventure, from scenic hikes to vibrant city life. #TravelBlog #CapeTownAdventure
Some notes on working, travelling and being a "digital nomad"
"Join me on my digital nomad journey: from newbie doubts to expert tips on travel, co-working, and living globally with minimal baggage."
The Aegean Month at Birds Bay - Digital Nomads Lesbos
Discover serene Lesbos: A digital nomad's paradise for tranquility, nature, and efficient work amidst Greek beauty. Perfect for a peaceful retreat.
Azure Key Vault - Add Custom Role for Deployment Access Only
Secure Azure deployments with custom roles in KeyVault to deploy without accessing secrets – ideal for teams!
Azure KeyVault - Authenticating with Certificates and Reading Secrets
Learn how to securely use Azure KeyVault for web app configurations, avoiding the pitfalls of storing sensitive info in files or app settings.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Using Certificates from KeyVault in AppServices
Learn to secure your Azure AppService & set up SSL with custom domains using KeyVault certificates, including a self-signed cert guide.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Securing your Parameters with KeyVault
Learn how to securely store secrets in Azure using KeyVault instead of exposing them in resource templates. Ideal for safe, scalable deployments.
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Deploying a Website with a Database
Learn to deploy a web app with a database to Azure using Resource Manager templates. Perfect for beginners in cloud deployment!
Azure Resource Manager Templates - Working with variables, parameters, functions, and loops
Discover the power of Azure Resource Manager Templates for efficient cloud deployments, using variables & parameters for easy changes.
Azure Resource Manager Templates 101
Learn how to deploy Azure resources efficiently using ARM templates & JSON in our latest blog post. Dive into incremental updates & error handling!
Azure/AzureRM PowerShell 101
Explore the essentials of managing Azure with PowerShell, focusing on the transition to AzureRM for improved control.
Flying around the world with a broken leg
A cautionary tale of injury in Indonesia, prompt medical care in Bali, and my journey back to Germany for recovery. A must-read for digital nomads.
Not quite a month in Sanur, Bali
Discover the magic of Sanur, Bali through my eyes: pristine beaches, vibrant coworking spaces, and a true nomad's adventure, until an unexpected twist.
A month in Ubud, Bali
Join me as I embrace a nomadic lifestyle, starting with an unplanned stay in Ubud, Bali, filled with culture, adventure, and remote working.
Loading Geonames.org data into SQL Server and SQL Azure or "Why Integers just aren't the right choice for population fields"
Learn how to import GeoNames data into SQL with my simple guide, from file conversion to bulk import and Azure loading.
My Tarifa Experiment - A little braindump for digital nomads
Discover the charms of Tarifa: a haven for kite surfers, digital nomads, and adventurers seeking a unique blend of work and play by the windswept shores.
Excluding Resource Mailboxes (e.g. rooms) from Dynamic Distribution Groups in Office365
Discover a fix for Office365's dynamic groups auto-adding meeting rooms to your invite list with this PowerShell guide!
The mysterious blue tea
Discover the ancient, vibrant world of blue oolong tea, a treasure from China's tea tradition with a brewing secret waiting to be explored.
How colorful is your tea?
Discover the colorful world of tea beyond black and green, exploring the six traditional Chinese tea colors and their unique processing methods.
WhatsApp conversations increase your medical bills? When ads are not just ads.
Discover why the WhatsApp exodus in Europe post-Facebook buyout reflects deeper privacy concerns and the implications of ad-targeting.
Visual Studio 2013 Preview and Apps for SharePoint
Solved: How to fix common errors when setting up an App for SharePoint in Visual Studio 2013 on a new machine. Essential prerequisites listed!
When a missed flight is not a lost opportunity - the birth of a product
Discover how a missed flight led to innovative solution development for document creation at easydocs.co. A tale of turning delays into opportunities.
"Bob is on BeardGroomers.com" - Your system is leaking information
Learn how hackers use email alerts to uncover private info and how to enhance your site's security against such tactics.
The Importance of Committing
Discover the power of "commitment" in uniting diverse start-up teams for shared success. #Teamwork #StartUpJourney