Athen Tech Bytes – August Edition I

Welcome back to the August edition of TechBytes!??

Today, we're serving up a developer’s dream menu: .NET, Azure, SharePoint, and Flutter. Get ready to level up your coding game as we explore the latest trends, tips, and tricks in these tech stacks. Without any further delay let's dive in!?

Spotlight:?

1. .NET 9 Preview 7 is now available!?
2. Elevate your AI deployments more efficiently with new deployment and cost management solutions for Azure OpenAI Service including self-service provisioned?
3. Most widely used SharePoint Framework ISVs from the Store?
4. What’s new in Flutter 3.24??

.NET 9 Preview 7 is now available!?

As the tech landscape evolves, staying ahead with the latest updates is crucial for innovation and efficiency. The new .NET 9 Preview 7 is now available, and it brings some noteworthy enhancements that could significantly impact your development workflow.?

At Athen, embracing the latest technologies is key to staying competitive. .NET 9 Preview 7 supports our goal of boosting productivity and innovation. These updates promise enhanced performance and efficiency, enabling our teams to deliver high-quality solutions faster.?

.NET 9 Preview 7: This update brings a host of enhancements across the .NET Runtime, SDK, libraries, C#, ASP.NET Core, Blazor, and .NET MAUI. ?

Here are some highlights:?

• Libraries: Complete removal of BinaryFormatter, new APIs for compression, and improved GUID creation.?

• Runtime: Enhanced ARM64 support and dynamic GC adaptation.?

• C#: New OverloadResolutionPriority attribute for better overload prioritization.?

• SDK: Improved container publishing and workload management.?

• ASP.NET Core: Support for trimming and Native AOT, improved Kestrel metrics, and more.?

• .NET MAUI: New HybridWebView, TitleBar control for Windows, and various improvements for iOS and Mac Catalyst.?

• Reference?

Elevate your AI deployments more efficiently with new deployment and cost management solutions for Azure OpenAI Service including self-service Provisioned?

Microsoft has announced significant updates for Azure OpenAI Service to help over 60,000 customers manage AI deployments more efficiently and cost-effectively.??

Athen views these updates as a strategic enhancement for managing AI solutions. The new self-service and pricing models align with our commitment to delivering agile and cost-effective solutions for their clients.?

Self-Service Provisioning and Model Independent Quota Requests?

• Self-Service Provisioning: Request Provisioned Throughput Units (PTUs) flexibly and efficiently.?
• Model Independent Quota Requests: Allocate resources based on immediate needs without relying on account team support.?

Visibility to Service Capacity and Availability?

• Real-Time Information: Access real-time data on service capacity in different regions to plan and manage deployments effectively.?

Provisioned Hourly Pricing and Reservations?

• Hourly No-Commitment Purchasing: Deploy for as little as an hour at $2 per unit per hour, ideal for testing scenarios.?

• Monthly and Yearly Reservations: Save up to 85% with long-term commitments, offering unmatched flexibility and cost savings.?

Benefits for Decision Makers?

• Flexibility: Scale deployments up or down based on immediate needs without long-term commitments.?

• Cost Efficiency: Substantial savings with Azure Reservations for long-term use.?

• Ease of Use: Enhanced visibility and simplified provisioning processes reduce administrative burdens.?

Customer Success Stories?

• Visier Solutions: Leveraged PTUs with Azure OpenAI for improved deployment efficiency.??

• Reference?

Most widely used SharePoint Framework ISVs from the Store?

The SharePoint Framework (SPFx) continues to gain momentum, with a notable rise in both submissions to the app source and usage of the SharePoint store. Below, we highlight the top 10 most widely used ISVs based on solution installations from the SharePoint store and Microsoft AppSource.?

Athen is pleased to see the growing adoption of SharePoint Framework (SPFx). The rise in SPFx submissions and usage highlights its expanding role in enhancing Microsoft 365 productivity. We’re excited to leverage these advancements to deliver innovative solutions that meet our clients' evolving needs.?

What is SharePoint Framework (SPFx)??

SPFx is an extensibility model for Microsoft 365 applications like Viva, Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. It allows developers to use the same code across these platforms, with single sign-on (SSO) and automatic hosting. SPFx has tens of millions of monthly active users.?

Latest SPFx Roadmap Highlights:?

• Chart Card Support: Available in SPFx 1.19 release for Viva Connections, with additional options in the upcoming 1.20 release (beta in August 2024).?

• Deprecation of Legacy Models: SharePoint add-in and Azure ACS authentication models are being deprecated. SPFx-powered implementations will take their place, improving UX without impacting existing SPFx solutions.?

• SPFx 1.18 Release: New capabilities and features for SharePoint Framework solutions in Microsoft 365.?

• Viva Connections Integration: SPFx solutions will be automatically set for suitable Viva Connections targeted solutions in the app source and store.?

• Microsoft 365 Expansion: Extending SPFx solutions across Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva, Outlook, and more, with details in the v1.16 release announcement.?

• Packaging Model Alignment: Aligning SPFx solution packaging with Microsoft Teams packages for broader compatibility.?

• Teams Store Support: Future support for SPFx solutions in the Microsoft Teams store, dependent on packaging model alignment.?

• Enhanced Extensibility: Support for new, edit, and view panels in SharePoint lists and libraries.?

AI Extensibility with SPFx:?

SPFx is also embracing AI capabilities. The upcoming Build 2024 session will showcase how to integrate bots and Copilot experiences natively into SharePoint and Viva Connections. This will be further discussed in our public community calls in autumn 2024.?

• Reference?

What’s new in Flutter 3.24?

Flutter 3.24 introduces major updates including the Flutter GPU preview for advanced graphics, multi-view embedding for web apps, and video ad monetization support. These new features promise to enhance app development and user engagement.?

Athen is excited about Flutter 3.24's advancements, especially the Flutter GPU and video ad monetization. These updates align with our goal to integrate the latest technology and improve app experiences for our clients.?

• Flutter GPU Preview: A major addition allowing advanced graphics and 3D scenes with custom renderers using Dart and GLSL shaders.?

• Multi-View Embedding: Web apps can now incorporate multiple Flutter views, providing greater flexibility for complex web integrations.?

• Video Ad Monetization: New support for instream video ads with the Interactive Media Ads (IMA) plugin, boosting revenue opportunities for mobile apps.?

Framework Enhancements:?

• New Slivers: Introduces PinnedHeaderSliver and SliverResizingHeader for dynamic app bar behaviors.?

• Cupertino Library Updates: Enhanced haptic feedback and customization options for CupertinoActionSheet and CupertinoButton.?

• TreeView and CarouselView Widgets: New widgets for performant scrolling trees and Material Design carousels.?

Engine Improvements:?

• Impeller Performance: Enhanced text rendering and fidelity, with continued preview on Android.?

• Image Rendering Defaults: Default filter quality improved for better image rendering.?

Web and Monetization Updates:?

• Multi-View Embedding: Allows dynamic management of multiple Flutter views in web apps.?

• Video Ad Support: IMA plugin for monetizing video content with pre-roll ads.?

iOS and Ecosystem:?

• Swift Package Manager Support: Initial support for easier dependency management.?

• Shared Preferences Plugin: New APIs for managing preferences with asynchronous and cached options.?

DevTools and IDEs:?

• DevTools Enhancements: New features like Rebuild Stats, improved sidebar in VS Code, and expanded DevTools Extensions framework.?

Breaking Changes: Includes updates to Navigator’s pages API and other deprecations.?

Flutter 3.24, along with Dart 3.5, is now available on the stable channel. Upgrade today and explore the new capabilities to elevate your development projects. For detailed information, check out the release notes and change log.?

• Reference?

That wraps up this edition of TechBytes! We hope you’re inspired by the latest updates and ready to implement new strategies in your projects. Stay tuned for more insights and innovations in our upcoming issues. Happy coding!?