Podcast · Tech & Science

Merge Conflict

by soundbite.fm · English · Tech & Science

Merge Conflict is a weekly discussion with Frank and James on all things development, technology, & more. After years of being friends, Frank and James finally decided to sit down and start a podcast about their lives as mobile developers using C#, Xamarin, and .NET MAUI. Much more than just…

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest: 12 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026 · 40 minNew

536: Decisions, Microsoft-Decision-1, Decisions

This week we look at decision models, which have gone from a novelty to something every AI lab is now building. We start with a practical detour: where do you actually sell a high-end Mac mini these days? We compare local marketplaces and eBay, and the trust tradeoffs that come with each. Then we come back to decision models and explain why Jev got us interested in them again. We cover Microsoft's Decision One and what makes it notable: its benchmarks and its speed. We also walk through how decision models work in practice for games, robotics and structured control. Finally, we explain why…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

5 Oct 2026 · 47 min
535: Next-Gen Siri: Disappointingly Not the Chatbot We Wanted
James and Frank explore Apple's next-gen Siri and iOS 27 updates with mixed results—the chatbot fell short of expectations despite hype. They dive into AI agents, smart home automation potential, and why Apple's scattered AI integration lags behind competitors like OpenAI and Microsoft. Plus, practical developer updates on Xcode, .NET, and automating your digital life. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us ⭐⭐ Machine transcription…
28 Sep 2026 · 40 min
534: Why Developers Are Obsessed with Budget LLMs (Jev, Luna, & more)
Discover the emerging classifier revolution with Jev—a radical new take on LLMs that ditches generation for lightning-fast categorization. Plus, deep dives into the latest model releases (Luna, GPT-6 Sol, Claude Opus 5.5), practical strategies for iterative AI development, and why specialized models are reshaping how we work with AI. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us ⭐⭐ Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm…
21 Sep 2026 · 45 min
533: iPhone Duo Development: Navigating Dual Screens and Layouts
Apple's new iPhone Duo promises a game-changing foldable experience, but developers face a minefield of technical challenges. James and Frank break down the critical app adaptation work required—from handling multiple screen permutations to managing safe area insets and keyboard behavior—plus why native UI controls matter more than ever. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us ⭐⭐ Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm…
14 Sep 2026 · 43 min
532: HydraFusion: Multi-Model Orchestration Changes Everything
In this week's episode, James and Frank dive deep into how their approach to working with AI models has fundamentally shifted over the past few months. We explore a game-changing realization: you don't always need the most expensive, powerful model for every task. Instead, they share a strategic two-part workflow—using high-reasoning models for deep research and planning (generating comprehensive documentation and analysis), then switching to tiny, blazingly-fast models like Baby Luna or MAI Code 1.1 Flash for implementation, cutting costs by 90-95% while maintaining nearly identical…
7 Sep 2026 · 38 min
531: How AI Saved Our Lost Podcast Recording
In Episode 531 James and Frank recount a near‑disastrous data loss when local recordings died seven minutes in, forcing them to rely on Zencastr's cloud-recovery button and a hopeful rescue email. They walk through the panic and the clever fix—using GitHub Copilot CLI/Baby Luna, FFmpeg and AI-assisted workflows to rebuild a muxed video, repair audio‑video drift, and underscore lessons about testing restores and trusting backups. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer -…
31 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
530: WinUI Goes Open Source & Mac Mini/Studio Upgrades!
This episode kicks off with WinUI’s shift to open‑source‑first—what the GitHub‑centric workflow means for Windows devs—and James and Frank’s hands‑on tales modernizing apps, CI/CD, and the surprisingly smooth Microsoft Store pipeline. They then deep‑dive into Apple: M6 Mac mini and Mac Studio upgrades for local AI, Rosetta’s sunset and Intel‑Mac worries, foldable iPhone rumors, and possible Apple TV Thread/HDMI features—practical insights for choosing platforms and tooling. Note: We had issues with local recordings, so this is a cloud backup processed with Adobe Podcasts Follow Us Frank:…
24 Aug 2026 · 43 min
529: Agent, MCP, and Tooling: Taming Cross‑Platform DevFlows
In this update-packed episode James and Frank dive into developer tooling: the VS Code Mobile Canvas that embeds emulators into your editor, MAUI DevFlow’s rewrite enabling plain .NET/native (and desktop AppKit) support, and the growing MCP/agent ecosystem that ties editors, the Copilot app and CLI together. They share practical takeaways—Mobile Canvas works across frameworks, DevFlow supports non‑MAUI apps, agent instruction files matter, and you can automate Microsoft Store publishing—giving cross‑platform builders clear next steps. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter ,…
17 Aug 2026 · 40 min
528: Build, Ship, Repeat: AI Tools Changing App Development
In episode 528 James and Frank riff on software updates, AI-powered documentation and rapid app-building—covering a WebAssembly Oh My Posh demo, a LocalMorph/FFmpeg bridge, and MAUI-native builds—showing how AI can speed onboarding, re-theme UIs and generate CI/CD pipelines. They close with a lively debate on distribution—Homebrew vs app stores—sharing practical guidance on when to use package managers versus polished consumer releases, plus a playful detour into Frank’s FIRE calculators. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter ,…
10 Aug 2026 · 50 min
527: AI Agents Meet Mobile: GitHub Copilot Canvas Revolution
AI agents are revolutionizing mobile development! James and Frank explore GitHub's new Mobile Canvas extension that lets AI agents see and interact with iOS and Android apps in real-time, no matter what framework you're using. They discuss how this tool finally closes the feedback loop for native developers and break down the emerging plugin standard reshaping AI-assisted coding. Link: https://github.com/Redth/mobile-canvas-ghcp Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer -…
3 Aug 2026 · 43 min
526: GitHub Stacked PRs: Managing Complex Code Changes
In this episode, James and Frank dive deep into GitHub's biggest release in years: Stacked Pull Requests. Learn how this long-awaited feature finally solves the challenge of managing massive, complex code changes by breaking them into smaller, independently reviewable chunks while maintaining dependencies—plus discover how Merge Queues work alongside this innovation to streamline workflows in high-velocity projects. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by…
27 Jul 2026 · 39 min
525: Why Christopher Nolan's IMAX Vision is Fading
In this episode, James and Frank explore the bittersweet reality of experiencing cinema in 2026, starting with Frank's disappointing discovery that Seattle's Pacific Science Center—home to a true IMAX theater—has ditched its iconic 70mm film projection for digital laser technology. Despite Christopher Nolan's passionate advocacy for shooting on IMAX film, fewer theaters worldwide can actually deliver his intended experience, raising questions about whether premium cinema experiences are disappearing. The hosts dive deep into what made true IMAX special and the broader trend of losing analog,…
20 Jul 2026 · 38 min
524: A .NET MAUI AI Revolution
On episode 524 James and Frank dive into the new .NET MAUI developer stack—covering the MAUI CLI/Maui Doctor that auto-provisions SDKs and emulators, the Maui Sherpa GUI for device/Xcode/provisioning management, and DevFlow's MCP server that lets AI agents inspect, interact with and automatically test apps (closing the loop). They also highlight the VS Code MAUI agent/skills, profiling tools, and the shift to core CLR in .NET 11 with performance tradeoffs to watch. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on…
13 Jul 2026 · 46 min
523: UI.md - Opinionated design rules for coding agents
Frank releases UI.md, a practical markdown guide distilled from 25 years of software development that captures essential UI/UX principles to help AI (and developers) build better interfaces. The hosts dive deep into why users expect consistency, how small details create polish, and why understanding your users' mental models beats flashy design every time—with real-world examples from their own apps. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review…
6 Jul 2026 · 37 min
522: Our Thoughts on Slate: The $25K Modular Pickup Changing EVs
James and Frank dig into Slate’s modular electric pickup — a $24,950, 205‑mile, no-frills truck you can customize later — and unpack how factory vs dealer options, aftermarket mods and build quality will make or break the idea. They also cover real-world charging (level 1/2/3), fleet and daily-use practicality, and why a DIY, upgradeable EV could reshape affordable vehicle ownership. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us ⭐⭐ Machine…
29 Jun 2026 · 48 min
521: Polish Matters: UI, Icons, and AI Design Fails
Episode 521 James and Frank obsess over “polish”: the tiny design and packaging details that make apps feel finished. They start with impeccable.style, product.md and design.md (and why agents.md and readme aren’t enough), then dig into UI fit‑and‑finish — tray/menu UIs, icon choice, grouping settings and why AI agents still struggle with layout and whitespace. The conversation then moves deep into Windows packaging: WinApp SDK versions, trimming woes with WinRT, ready‑to‑run vs. single‑file self‑contained builds, MSIX tradeoffs, and strange cases where builds bloat with unwanted packages.…
22 Jun 2026 · 58 min
520: Inside the New GitHub Copilot App: Sessions, Canvases, Automations
This episode dives into the new GitHub Copilot app — a hub for agent sessions, multi‑repo orchestration, PR‑first workflows, automations and the new canvas metaphor for triage and planning. James and Frank unpack how sessions can spawn and coordinate across repositories, agent‑aware merges that respect CI and code review, support for local models and extensions, and the token tradeoffs to be aware of. The canvas demos (swipe‑to‑triage, Kanban agent assignment) show how Copilot is trying to move beyond chat windows into real UX for developer workflows. They also tour Windows dev work:…
15 Jun 2026 · 52 min
519: WWDC Deep Dive: Apple’s New AI for Developers
James and Frank break down WWDC’s developer-focused news—from Apple’s AI push (local models, a new private cloud for foundation models, and a command‑line API) to Xcode’s new agent integrations, the device hub/simulator overhaul, and macOS/UI polish. If you build apps, pay attention: small developers now get subsidized cloud models, Intel Macs are being sunset, and you’ll need to test many form factors and new Swift/AI APIs. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by…
8 Jun 2026 · 47 min
518: Windows is Back! New Microsoft AI Coding Models
Microsoft Build 2026 brought a major shift: homegrown AI models designed for efficiency and real-world developer workflows. From the cost-effective MAI Code 1 Flash to sandboxed code execution and Windows developer tools, discover how Microsoft is making powerful AI accessible without breaking the bank. James shares his hands-on experience proving that you don't need expensive flagship models for most agentic coding tasks. Windows: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dev-tools Microsoft AI: https://microsoft.ai/news/building-a-hillclimbing-machine-launching-seven-new-mai-models/…
1 Jun 2026 · 35 min
517: Plan First, Think Less: Save Tokens, Improve Code
Episode 517 starts with a light chat about AI avatars and new text‑to‑speech deepfakes before diving into LLM “thinking” modes—what baked‑in planning actually does, why it multiplies token costs, and when it helps or hurts. James and Frank give concrete dev advice: try low‑thinking settings, use big models for creative planning then smaller ones to execute, leverage harnesses/system prompts, and beware quantized local models often do better without thinking. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord…
25 May 2026 · 43 min
516: Evolving Agent Session Management
James and Frank unpack AI-driven development shifts—agent SDKs, session management, and the rise of agent-first UIs like Google’s anti-gravity and GitHub Copilot—showing how VS Code’s Agents window, worktrees, sub-sessions and tunnels help manage multi-repo cloud and local workflows. They share practical takeaways—why SDKs are essential, when to stay code-first, how subsessions and remote tunnels protect your machine, and what to watch for in sandboxing and integration gaps. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website ,…
18 May 2026 · 44 min
515: Mini-LED, IPS, and the Great Monitor Rabbit Hole
James and Frank share thrift‑store monitor triumphs (and a retro Wii audio nightmare) before diving into a no‑nonsense guide to buying displays: what ports, VESA mounts, and speakers really matter. They demystify HDR, mini‑LED vs OLED, refresh‑rate math (why 40/120Hz divides matter), and modern upscaling—plus the surprising developer headaches of getting HDR to actually work. Practical tips and geeky fun for anyone shopping or building. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer…
11 May 2026 · 56 min
514: Running Local LLMs in VS Code
In this episode James and Frank dive into running AI coding models locally versus in the cloud—BYOK/Open Router, VS Code’s chat/agent harness, model runners (Olama, vLLM), and the practicality of 27B models on a 3090 using 4‑bit quantization. They share hands-on takeaways—how recent engineering (MT/MTPLX) boosts inference to usable token rates, when auto model selection makes sense, cost and hardware trade‑offs, and why local models can liberate your workflow while still needing smarter, unified tooling. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict:…
4 May 2026 · 58 min
513: Agents Over Chat: The Future of Developer Workflows
James and Frank explore the future of developer workflows powered by AI agents, revealing how developers are shifting from coders to testers and product strategists. They dive into new research-planning-implementation cycles, GitHub's usage-based pricing changes, and why developers must think strategically about model choices and token costs. Plus, reflections on Apple's leadership transition and the need for bold hardware innovation. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer -…
27 Apr 2026 · 37 min
512: Does Matter Really Matter?
After a quick round of Apple dev updates, James and Frank dive into Matter — why Frank went from skeptic to devotee and why it’s poised to fix IoT chaos. They break down how Matter (an app-layer protocol running over Wi‑Fi/IPv6) and Thread (an open mesh transport) simplify secure onboarding with QR/Bluetooth, enable true interoperability across Apple/Google/Amazon, and make DIY devices easy to build and integrate. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by…
20 Apr 2026 · 50 min
511: Terminals, Remote Sessions, No More Watches!
In episode 511 James and Frank dig into audio gear (why impedance matters and the pros/cons of hardware DSP and headphone high‑power modes), explore GitHub Copilot CLI's new Remote Sessions for mobile access to your local dev environment, and reveal a clever hack: MIDI‑over‑USB turns modern iPhones into reliable wired controllers for embedded hardware and robotics. Tune in for practical tips, safety notes on power/latency, and real‑world developer workflows. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord…
13 Apr 2026 · 47 min
510: AI Agents: Claws, Copilot, GUI vs CLI Debate
James and Frank dig into the messy world of AI agents—Claudes, Copilots, “claws”—and why now is the wrong time to over-box these tools. They debate GUI vs. CLI futures, explain when AI should be invisible and baked into workflows, and warn about AI-produced “slop” and long-term maintenance. Plus, James’ Light Phone/e-ink experiment adds a practical take on simplicity and real-world tradeoffs. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface ⭐⭐ Review Us ⭐⭐…
6 Apr 2026 · 42 min
509: How AI Fleets Fixed 31 Issues in Two Days
In this episode Frank and James riff on everything from accidental source‑map leaks (yes, even Apple slips up) to using Copilot and multi‑agent AI workflows to triage issues, write PRs and even plan trips. They share hands‑on tips—use “plan mode” and deep research, turn plans into issue artifacts, run multi‑model code reviews, cap concurrent agents (~3), and babysit agents—to boost productivity while avoiding chaos and burnout. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine…
30 Mar 2026 · 40 min
508: Agentic Workflows - Markdown Automation for GitHub Actions
At MVP Summit we dig into Agentic Workflows — write Markdown prompts that drive AI agents to run CI, open PRs, and automate cross‑repo tasks — and MAUI DevFlow, which lets agents interact with native UIs to click, screenshot and validate designs. Listen for practical takeaways on ditching brittle YAML/scripts and automating tedious maintenance and testing, plus the real caveats: security front‑matter, a compile/lock step and token costs. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer…
23 Mar 2026 · 43 min
507: iCircuit UI Roast: Toolbar, Popovers, and Polish
In Episode 507 James grills Frank about UI choices in his iCircuit app—crowded toolbars, popover behavior on iPhone vs iPad, and flaky TestFlight/App Store review timing. They trace a nasty bug to Apple’s deprecated OpenURL behavior in iOS 26, debate in-app browsers vs Safari and multi-window docs, and remind developers that subtle platform changes and lack of polish can silently break UX—practical lessons for shipping mobile apps. Follow Us Frank: Twitter , Blog , GitHub James: Twitter , Blog , GitHub Merge Conflict: Twitter , Facebook , Website , Chat on Discord Music : Amethyst Seer -…

About Merge Conflict

Merge Conflict is a English tech & science podcast from soundbite.fm. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: soundbite.fm
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest episode: 12 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1133064277
Website: mergeconflict.fm

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