I am very excited to announce that for the first time, the dotNetDave Rock The Nation Tour will be leaving the US, headed for Ukraine! On September 19th, I will be speaking at the NETwork Conference in Lviv. I will be doing the session below:

Röck Yoür Cöde Using Code Contracts

This session will introduce developers to the new powerful feature that is part of the .NET 4.5 framework called Code Contracts. Code Contracts brings the advantages of design-by-contract programming to .NET programming. Contracts are used to improve testing via runtime checking, enable static contract verification, and documentation generation. We will also explore the new Smart Unit Tests in Visual Studio 2015 that work best with Code Contracts.

10 Years Later: Remembering Ukraine

It’s been a decade since my first trip outside the United States—to the beautiful country of Ukraine—where I had the honor of speaking at a developer conference. Ukraine captivated me from the start: layered history, striking architecture, and generous people.

Castles and first impressions

The organizers arranged a guide for two days so I could get to know the region better. Day one took us beyond Lviv to three castles dating back to the 11th–12th centuries. As an American—where castles aren’t exactly a thing—that alone was worth the flight. Walking those courtyards and stone corridors brought centuries to life.

Lviv on foot

On day two, we explored Lviv on foot—cathedral squares, cobblestone streets, coffee aromas around every corner. A highlight: slipping into the opera house while a band rehearsed. Thanks to my guide’s connection with the manager, we practically had a private concert in that grand hall. It felt like stepping into a film set.

Food & coffee (yes, I became that person)

I fell hard for Ukrainian food—bright, fresh, and made from scratch. Even hotel meals tasted like a local kitchen, not a freezer. And the coffee… let’s just say it was strong enough that I added sugar, and I never add sugar. I brought back pounds for myself and friends. Sorry, Starbucks—Ukraine won that taste test.

The engineers who kept me on my toes

The software engineers were sharp, curious, and asked some of the toughest questions I’ve had at any conference. I also learned that roughly 40% of the engineers and DevOps professionals there are women—a number I wish we saw more often in the U.S.

Gratitude, and a hope for the future

Huge thanks to NETwork for inviting me and treating me so well. I’ve wanted to return ever since. Sadly, with Russia’s renewed invasion, that hasn’t been possible. One day—after I retire and after the war ends—I hope to come back. If you’re reading this and have the chance to visit when it’s safe, do it.

Below are a few photos from that trip. I hope they give you a sense of why Ukraine left such a mark on me—and maybe inspire your own visit when the time is right.

https://mccarterphotography.smugmug.com/Travel/Ukraine