SSW Events

NET User Group for June: Beyond the API: MCP and the Death of Integration Hell with Calum Simpson

Integration hell is real, and developers have battled it for years. But with Model Context Protocol (MCP) gaining momentum, we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In this talk, we’ll take a step back to understand how we got here, where MCP fits into the modern dev toolkit, and why it’s more than just another protocol. You’ll pick up practical insights for both devs and non-devs (Scrum Masters, I see you 👀), plus five fresh tips for thriving in the age of AI.

Then, buckle up for the main event: a proof of concept showing how MCP tools can power autonomous agents to tackle complex workflows - think Manus, but local; N8N, but agentic. Whether you're building, planning, or just trying to keep up with it all, this session will challenge how you think about integration, and show why MCP might just be the missing piece.

Agenda:

6:00pm - Pizza and networking at SSW Sydney 6:30pm - The Tech news with Eve and Adam Cogan, followed by MCP and the Death of Integration Hell with Calum Simpson

Can't make it? Join us on the live stream! 🔴 ➡️ https://www.ssw.com.au/live

AI Hack Days are community-run events for Developers or people who want to learn AI for free.

There will be something for everyone. Experienced AI developers can share ideas with other experienced developers. If you’re a beginner, then there’s plenty to learn on the day.

If you then want to build something yourself, you’ll need some of the Microsoft AI and/or Machine Learning (ML) tools already set up and installed. If you’ve never played with AI or ML before, it would be good to do a little bit of learning before the day but it’s not a requirement as all experience levels are welcome.

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is rapidly gaining traction as a pivotal standard for integrating LLMs with real-world tools and data sources. By providing a structured, context-rich interface, MCP enables AI agents to interact seamlessly with external systems, enhancing their utility and effectiveness.

In this session, we'll delve into the core concepts of MCP, explore its architecture, and demonstrate how to build and publish your own MCP server. We'll also cover advanced features like Server-Sent events and the new A2A protocol, along with essential security considerations. Whether you're currently working with AI or planning to, this talk will equip you with the knowledge to make your systems LLM-compatible.

The NDC Copenhagen Developers Festival will be back in 2025 with more than 90 talented speakers and artists coming from all around the world! Don't miss out on, secure your tickets now!

AI Hack Days are community-run events for Developers or people who want to learn AI for free.

There will be something for everyone. Experienced AI developers can share ideas with other experienced developers. If you’re a beginner, then there’s plenty to learn on the day.

You’ll need a laptop to follow along.

If you then want to build something yourself, you’ll need some of the Microsoft AI and/or Machine Learning (ML) tools already set up and installed. If you’ve never played with AI or ML before, it would be good to do a little bit of learning before the day, but it’s not a requirement as all experience levels are welcome.

NDC TechTown is an annual conference focusing on C, C++ and Embedded development. If you have an idea for a talk or a workshop then please submit a proposal!

NDC TechTown 2025 is in Kongsberg, Norway from 22-25 Sept.22-23 September will consist of hands-on workshops. 24-25 September will be a two-day, multi-track conference relevant for engineers and technical managers working with software for devices and appliances for industrial, automotive, medical, defence, consumer, and commercial use.

Azure Dev Summit 2025 is a premier event for software developers, initiated and supported by Microsoft. This conference is a collaborative effort between NDC Conferences and Techorama, bringing together some of the most influential voices from Microsoft and the broader Microsoft Community.

Attendees can look forward to insightful sessions and workshops led by key figures in the industry, providing a unique opportunity to learn, network, and grow. For more information about the event promoters, visit Techorama and NDC Conferences.

Azure Dev Summit will have more than 100 sessions and workshops.

Format and duration

Regular talks: 60 minutes

Post-Conference Workshops: 1 day

In this 2-day hands-on Workshop, we will cover the best approach to building enterprise applications using Clean Architecture & .NET Core. You will be building your own application from scratch.

Introduction

The explosive growth of web frameworks and the demands of users have changed the approach to building enterprise applications. Many challenges exist and just getting started can be a daunting prospect. Let's change that now.

This hands-on workshop will provide practical guidance and recommendations. We will cover architecture, technologies, tools, and frameworks. We will examine strategies for organizing your projects, folders, and files. We will design a system that is simple to build and maintain - now and well into the future.

You will leave this hands-on workshop having developed the foundation and structure for your next enterprise application, along with the knowledge to take your enterprise application development to the next level.

This year, NDC Porto takes a deeper dive with the entire event dedicated solely to workshops. The event kicks off with a 2-day workshop followed by three days of 1-day and half-day workshops.

Multiple workshops will be running in parallel, offering plenty of topics to choose from. The 2-day workshops are pre-booked and will be published soon, while the 1-day workshops will be selected from a formal Call for Papers in mid-May.

The conference will cover topics such as:

.NET - AI - Architecture - Big Data - Cloud - Continuous Delivery - Cross-Platform - Database - Design - DevOps - Docker - Ethics - Fun - Functional Programming - JavaScript - Languages - Machine Learning - Microservices - Microsoft - Mobile - People - Security - Serverless - Soft Skills - Testing - Tools - UX - Web and more

In this 2-day hands-on Workshop, we will cover the best approach to building enterprise applications using Clean Architecture & .NET Core. You will be building your own application from scratch.

Introduction

The explosive growth of web frameworks and the demands of users have changed the approach to building enterprise applications. Many challenges exist and just getting started can be a daunting prospect. Let's change that now.

This hands-on workshop will provide practical guidance and recommendations. We will cover architecture, technologies, tools and frameworks. We will examine strategies for organizing your projects, folders and files. We will design a system that is simple to build and maintain - now and well into the future.

You will leave this hands-on workshop having developed the foundation and structure for your next enterprise application, along with the knowledge to take your enterprise application development to the next level.