Bill Doerrfeld
@doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
Independent tech journalist and editor. Editor of Nordic APIs, the leading API blog. I also contribute to enterprise IT publications and provide content, analysis, and consulting for tech companies.
www.doerrfeld.io
www.doerrfeld.io
Pinned
Anatomy of an AI agent knowledge base
For AI agents, a knowledge base fuels fast and accurate responses and enables complex reasoning. We asked the experts how to build one.
www.infoworld.com
What makes a solid knowledge base for AI agents? My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social picks it apart.
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
Contributing to the open source ecosystem is much more than altruism — it's a smart strategy with real business benefits.
Check out the latest DirectorPlus via @leaddev.com, featuring great insights from Manik Surtani, Block's head of open source!
leaddev.com/hiring/open-...
Check out the latest DirectorPlus via @leaddev.com, featuring great insights from Manik Surtani, Block's head of open source!
leaddev.com/hiring/open-...
Open source is a talent strategy
Says Manik Surtani, head of open source at Block.
leaddev.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Contributing to the open source ecosystem is much more than altruism — it's a smart strategy with real business benefits.
Check out the latest DirectorPlus via @leaddev.com, featuring great insights from Manik Surtani, Block's head of open source!
leaddev.com/hiring/open-...
Check out the latest DirectorPlus via @leaddev.com, featuring great insights from Manik Surtani, Block's head of open source!
leaddev.com/hiring/open-...
MIT reports that 95% of genAI initiatives don't produce a successful return. So — how do you actually get ROI from an AI initiative? My feature on @cio.com today explores how CIOs are driving this.
www.cio.com/article/4095...
www.cio.com/article/4095...
A CIO's 5-point checklist to drive positive AI ROI
Follow this multi-point checklist on effective change management to get results trending upward.
www.cio.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
MIT reports that 95% of genAI initiatives don't produce a successful return. So — how do you actually get ROI from an AI initiative? My feature on @cio.com today explores how CIOs are driving this.
www.cio.com/article/4095...
www.cio.com/article/4095...
What makes a solid knowledge base for AI agents? My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social picks it apart.
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
Anatomy of an AI agent knowledge base
For AI agents, a knowledge base fuels fast and accurate responses and enables complex reasoning. We asked the experts how to build one.
www.infoworld.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
What makes a solid knowledge base for AI agents? My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social picks it apart.
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
www.infoworld.com/article/4091...
Putting users in the driver's seat is critical for building trust in AI agents. LinkedIn VP of engineering Prashanthi Padmanabhan shares a peek at their latest AI agent development for my latest DirectorPlus edition with @leaddev.com:
leaddev.com/ai/how-linke...
leaddev.com/ai/how-linke...
How LinkedIn built an AI hiring agent
To make AI agents sustainable for the long haul, engineering leaders need to keep users at the forefront of design.
leaddev.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Putting users in the driver's seat is critical for building trust in AI agents. LinkedIn VP of engineering Prashanthi Padmanabhan shares a peek at their latest AI agent development for my latest DirectorPlus edition with @leaddev.com:
leaddev.com/ai/how-linke...
leaddev.com/ai/how-linke...
What are some great MCP servers for devops that folks are using?
October 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
What are some great MCP servers for devops that folks are using?
How do you make API documentation more discoverable for AI? Use structured descriptions, add thorough natural language descriptions, showcase examples, and be sure to version properly, recommends J Simpson on @nordicapis.com
nordicapis.com/how-to-optim...
nordicapis.com/how-to-optim...
How to Optimize API Documentation for AI Discoverability | Nordic APIs |
Learn how to optimize API documentation for AI discoverability with structured data, examples, and other best practices.
nordicapis.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
How do you make API documentation more discoverable for AI? Use structured descriptions, add thorough natural language descriptions, showcase examples, and be sure to version properly, recommends J Simpson on @nordicapis.com
nordicapis.com/how-to-optim...
nordicapis.com/how-to-optim...
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social digs into anti-patterns around platform engineering. Sinking platform engineering initiatives really boil down to a lack of a product mindset.
www.infoworld.com/article/4064...
www.infoworld.com/article/4064...
8 platform engineering anti-patterns
Golden paths gone gray? Avoid these common mistakes that sink platform engineering initiatives.
www.infoworld.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social digs into anti-patterns around platform engineering. Sinking platform engineering initiatives really boil down to a lack of a product mindset.
www.infoworld.com/article/4064...
www.infoworld.com/article/4064...
Last week's @nordicapis.com Platform Summit was phenomenal! Here are some of my quick takeaways.
www.doerrfeld.io/agentic-ai-a...
www.doerrfeld.io/agentic-ai-a...
Agentic AI and MCP dominated Platform Summit 2025
This year's Platform Summit felt reinvigorated, with many new motivations and areas to discuss. Of course, AI agents and MCP stole the show.
www.doerrfeld.io
October 21, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Last week's @nordicapis.com Platform Summit was phenomenal! Here are some of my quick takeaways.
www.doerrfeld.io/agentic-ai-a...
www.doerrfeld.io/agentic-ai-a...
...And @nordicapis.com Platform Summit 2025 is a wrap! But good news — we'll be back Oct 12-14, 2026! Mark your calendars 📅. The event page, call for speakers, and sponsorship will open shortly.
October 16, 2025 at 7:14 AM
...And @nordicapis.com Platform Summit 2025 is a wrap! But good news — we'll be back Oct 12-14, 2026! Mark your calendars 📅. The event page, call for speakers, and sponsorship will open shortly.
Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld
. @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social kicking off #platformsummit25
October 14, 2025 at 7:11 AM
. @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social kicking off #platformsummit25
One week til @nordicapis.com Platform Summit 2025!
Excited to kick off the opening keynote and moderate some panels & sessions. Plus, we have a new unconference on day 0 this year! A lot of goodies are in the works...
Registration and info here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
Excited to kick off the opening keynote and moderate some panels & sessions. Plus, we have a new unconference on day 0 this year! A lot of goodies are in the works...
Registration and info here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
October 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
One week til @nordicapis.com Platform Summit 2025!
Excited to kick off the opening keynote and moderate some panels & sessions. Plus, we have a new unconference on day 0 this year! A lot of goodies are in the works...
Registration and info here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
Excited to kick off the opening keynote and moderate some panels & sessions. Plus, we have a new unconference on day 0 this year! A lot of goodies are in the works...
Registration and info here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld
MCP servers are everywhere right now. But most are collecting dust.
The key lesson we’ve learned at Multiplayer: scope matters. 🧵
The key lesson we’ve learned at Multiplayer: scope matters. 🧵
What's it like launching an #MCP server into the wild? My latest DirectorPlus edition via @leaddev.com brings in Thomas Johnson, co-founder and CTO of Multiplayer, to discuss helpful lessons learned releasing their MCP server.
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
Lessons learned launching an MCP server
Steps you can follow if you're thinking about launching your own MCP server.
leaddev.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
MCP servers are everywhere right now. But most are collecting dust.
The key lesson we’ve learned at Multiplayer: scope matters. 🧵
The key lesson we’ve learned at Multiplayer: scope matters. 🧵
What's it like launching an #MCP server into the wild? My latest DirectorPlus edition via @leaddev.com brings in Thomas Johnson, co-founder and CTO of Multiplayer, to discuss helpful lessons learned releasing their MCP server.
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
Lessons learned launching an MCP server
Steps you can follow if you're thinking about launching your own MCP server.
leaddev.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
What's it like launching an #MCP server into the wild? My latest DirectorPlus edition via @leaddev.com brings in Thomas Johnson, co-founder and CTO of Multiplayer, to discuss helpful lessons learned releasing their MCP server.
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
leaddev.com/ai/lessons-l...
Do you really need a vector-native DB, or will traditional DBs with vector support cut it?
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social looks at the world of vector databases and breaks down the differences, use cases, and tradeoffs.
www.infoworld.com/article/4060...
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social looks at the world of vector databases and breaks down the differences, use cases, and tradeoffs.
www.infoworld.com/article/4060...
Do vector-native databases beat add-ons for AI applications?
Even though traditional databases now support vector types, vector-native databases have the edge for AI development. Here’s how to choose.
www.infoworld.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Do you really need a vector-native DB, or will traditional DBs with vector support cut it?
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social looks at the world of vector databases and breaks down the differences, use cases, and tradeoffs.
www.infoworld.com/article/4060...
My latest for @infoworld.bsky.social looks at the world of vector databases and breaks down the differences, use cases, and tradeoffs.
www.infoworld.com/article/4060...
Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld
MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
When Is MCP Actually Worth It?
MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.
bit.ly
September 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
When does using MCP make sense? My latest for @thenewstack.io cuts through the hype to answer this loaded question head-on.
thenewstack.io/when-is-mcp-...
thenewstack.io/when-is-mcp-...
When Is MCP Actually Worth It?
MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.
thenewstack.io
September 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
When does using MCP make sense? My latest for @thenewstack.io cuts through the hype to answer this loaded question head-on.
thenewstack.io/when-is-mcp-...
thenewstack.io/when-is-mcp-...
How are software orgs using multiple AI agents for business leverage? For my latest DirectorPlus column with @leaddev.com, I synced with JB Brown, VP of engineering at Smartsheet, to learn how it's giving them an advantage.
leaddev.com/ai/turning-m...
leaddev.com/ai/turning-m...
Turning multi-agent AI into strategic business leverage
Using AI to help bolster business strategy, not just for the sake of it.
leaddev.com
August 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
How are software orgs using multiple AI agents for business leverage? For my latest DirectorPlus column with @leaddev.com, I synced with JB Brown, VP of engineering at Smartsheet, to learn how it's giving them an advantage.
leaddev.com/ai/turning-m...
leaddev.com/ai/turning-m...
The agenda for this year's @nordicapis.com Platform Summit is announced! 60+ speakers over 3 tracks, all curated to help API platform architects stay on top of this year's biggest trends. Check it out here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
August 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The agenda for this year's @nordicapis.com Platform Summit is announced! 60+ speakers over 3 tracks, all curated to help API platform architects stay on top of this year's biggest trends. Check it out here: nordicapis.com/events/platf...
Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld
While hyperscalers still dominate in market share, alternative clouds are closing the functionality gap while delivering high availability and lower pricing.
Story by @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
Story by @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
What alternative clouds are good for
Cost-effective alternatives are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers in supporting AI workloads, edge computing, private clouds, and more.
www.infoworld.com
August 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
While hyperscalers still dominate in market share, alternative clouds are closing the functionality gap while delivering high availability and lower pricing.
Story by @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
Story by @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
Alternative clouds are having a moment. Today on @infoworld.bsky.social, I look at what's driving this shift and explore how alt clouds are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers.
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
What alternative clouds are good for
Cost-effective alternatives are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers in supporting AI workloads, edge computing, private clouds, and more.
www.infoworld.com
August 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Alternative clouds are having a moment. Today on @infoworld.bsky.social, I look at what's driving this shift and explore how alt clouds are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers.
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
www.infoworld.com/article/4040...
Digital sovereignty is now "impossible to ignore." In my latest for CIO. I spoke with global CIOs and analysts about how they're responding.
www.cio.com/article/4038...
www.cio.com/article/4038...
Why CIOs need to respond to digital sovereignty now
As data and clouds go regional, global CIOs feel growing urgency to adapt to an increasingly localized digital era.
www.cio.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Digital sovereignty is now "impossible to ignore." In my latest for CIO. I spoke with global CIOs and analysts about how they're responding.
www.cio.com/article/4038...
www.cio.com/article/4038...
Multi-agent AI workflows are poised to reshape the developer's day-to-day. But is it really all it's cracked up to be? My latest on @infoworld.bsky.social gets to the bottom of this new trend:
www.infoworld.com/article/4035...
www.infoworld.com/article/4035...
Multi-agent AI workflows: The next evolution of AI coding
Instead of working with a single coding agent, developers will soon realize gains by guiding a team of them.
www.infoworld.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Multi-agent AI workflows are poised to reshape the developer's day-to-day. But is it really all it's cracked up to be? My latest on @infoworld.bsky.social gets to the bottom of this new trend:
www.infoworld.com/article/4035...
www.infoworld.com/article/4035...
Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld
Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
What To Do When Critical Open Source Projects Go End of Life
Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.
bit.ly
August 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social
Constant OSS churn, shrinking version lifespans, abandoned projects... open source changes aren't always easy to respond to. My latest for @thenewstack.io looks at what to do when a critical open source project goes end of life.
thenewstack.io/what-to-do-w...
thenewstack.io/what-to-do-w...
What To Do When Critical Open Source Projects Go End of Life
Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.
thenewstack.io
August 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Constant OSS churn, shrinking version lifespans, abandoned projects... open source changes aren't always easy to respond to. My latest for @thenewstack.io looks at what to do when a critical open source project goes end of life.
thenewstack.io/what-to-do-w...
thenewstack.io/what-to-do-w...
Today on @nordicapis.com we look at the benefits of using OpenAPI as a source of truth for MCP server generation.
by Janet Wagner
nordicapis.com/why-openapi-...
by Janet Wagner
nordicapis.com/why-openapi-...
Why OpenAPI Should Be The Foundation For Your MCP Server | Nordic APIs |
Using OpenAPI can simplify MCP server creation while cutting LLM token costs. But it takes best practices to do it right.
nordicapis.com
August 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Today on @nordicapis.com we look at the benefits of using OpenAPI as a source of truth for MCP server generation.
by Janet Wagner
nordicapis.com/why-openapi-...
by Janet Wagner
nordicapis.com/why-openapi-...