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Lessons learned launching an MCP server

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · 8d

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...

Steps you can follow if you're thinking about launching your own MCP server.

Do vector-native databases beat add-ons for AI applications?

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · 15d

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...

Even though traditional databases now support vector types, vector-native databases have the edge for AI development. Here’s how to choose.

When Is MCP Actually Worth It?

Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld

The New Stack @thenewstack.io · 27d

MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.

By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social

MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.

bit.ly

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · 27d

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-...

When Is MCP Actually Worth It?

MCP shines in novel, multitenant agentic environments. But you might not need it for predictable automation.

thenewstack.io

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 30

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...

Turning multi-agent AI into strategic business leverage

Using AI to help bolster business strategy, not just for the sake of it.

What alternative clouds are good for

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 27

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...

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Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld

InfoWorld.com @infoworld.bsky.social · Aug 25

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...

Cost-effective alternatives are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers in supporting AI workloads, edge computing, private clouds, and more.

What alternative clouds are good for

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 25

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...

Cost-effective alternatives are filling gaps left by the hyperscalers in supporting AI workloads, edge computing, private clouds, and more.

Why CIOs need to respond to digital sovereignty now

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 20

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...

As data and clouds go regional, global CIOs feel growing urgency to adapt to an increasingly localized digital era.

www.cio.com

Multi-agent AI workflows: The next evolution of AI coding

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 11

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...

Instead of working with a single coding agent, developers will soon realize gains by guiding a team of them.

What To Do When Critical Open Source Projects Go End of Life

Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld

The New Stack @thenewstack.io · Aug 11

Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.

By @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social

Open source software churn is accelerating. Here's how to plan for EOL and mitigate projects with uncertain futures.

bit.ly

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 8

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...

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

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 7

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-...

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.

LiveCast: MCP Security | Nordic APIs

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Aug 5

Excited for this chat all about MCP security next week via @nordicapis.com. Get it into your calendars!
August 13, 2025 | 11:30 AM EST
nordicapis.com/events/mcp-s...

Join us for a LiveCast on MCP security. We'll explore key vulnerabilities and how both publishers and consumers should respond.

Yes, the majority of language migrations are driven by hype

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 30

Yep, most developers admit their migrations are driven more by hype than proven outcomes...

Today, I cover an interesting report on @leaddev.com, with some expert takes on how to avoid poor hype-driven outcomes.

leaddev.com/technical-di...

More than 71% of experienced software developers say their language migration decisions were influenced more by industry hype than by proven outcomes.

How Stack Overflow is innovating to keep up with AI disruption

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 28

The latest edition of DirectorPlus for @leaddev.com explores how Stack Overflow is reinventing itself in the AI age.

Director Ellen Brandenberger shares how cross-functional teams have been clutch for quickly building and validating untested AI products.

leaddev.com/technical-di...

Large language models, trained on public data, have pushed Stack Overflow toward an existential crisis.

Can System Initiative fix devops?

Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld

InfoWorld.com @infoworld.bsky.social · Jul 14

System Initiative turns traditional devops on its head. It translates what would normally be infrastructure configuration code into data, creating digital twins that model the infrastructure. (Story by @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social)

System Initiative proposes a radical overhaul of infrastructure automation to address infrastructure-as-code chaos and longstanding devops toil.

LiveCast: MCP Security | Nordic APIs

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 11

Announcing a timely @nordicapis.com LiveCast for next month! We're bringing in the experts to talk about MCP security, the risks, and mitigations.

Join us on August 13 at 11:30 AM EST.

nordicapis.com/events/mcp-s...

Join us for a LiveCast on MCP security. We'll explore key vulnerabilities and how both publishers and consumers should respond.

What you absolutely cannot vibe code right now

Reposted by Bill Doerrfeld

Liberation Technology @liberationtech.bsky.social · Jul 9

What you absolutely cannot vibe code right now www.infoworld.com/ar... vai @InfoWorld | LLMs fail at hard and medium difficulty problems where they can’t stitch together well-known templates. You should still use them.

Large language models fail at hard and medium difficulty problems where they can’t stitch together well-known templates. You should still use them.

Why CIOs see APIs as vital for agentic AI success

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Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 10

Without API access, AI agents are limited in what they can do. My latest for @cio.com explores why CIOs view APIs as critical to agentic AI success.
www.cio.com/article/4018...

Today's AI is all talk. Tomorrow's will tap APIs to drive real action.

www.cio.com

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 2

If you're looking to quickly generate an MCP server to wrap an API, check out this list of tools from J Simpson on @nordicapis.com. It reviews 10 options, from free libraries/OSS to commercial platforms.
nordicapis.com/10-tools-for...

10 Tools For Building MCP Servers | Nordic APIs |

Explore 10 top tools for building MCP servers from OpenAPI specs, including dynamic, static, and CLI-based options for all dev stacks.

How AI Agents Are Changing API Rate Limit Approaches | Nordic APIs |

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jul 1

How does API rate limiting adapt in the new age of AI agents? Janet Wagner covers how rate limiting is evolving today on @nordicapis.com
nordicapis.com/how-ai-agent...

AI agents are changing API usage patterns — here's how adaptive rate limiting helps handle their unpredictable, high-volume traffic.

How to get the most out of AI tooling

Bill Doerrfeld @doerrfeldbill.bsky.social · Jun 27

DirectorPlus just turned 1! 🎂

After a year of engineering leadership interviews, one thing’s clear: AI is everywhere — but making it work takes more than hype.

I checked in with past guests to ask what’s actually delivering.
Featuring Spotify, GitLab, Yelp + more:

leaddev.com/uncategorize...

A year after launching our DirectorPlus newsletter, past contributors have returned to share their uncensored thoughts on AI.