Wei-Meng Lee
Founder
Wei-Meng Lee is a technologist and founder of Developer Learning Solutions (http://www.learn2develop.net), a technology company specializing in hands-on training on the latest Microsoft technologies.
Wei-Meng speaks regularly at international conferences and is the author of ASP.NET 2.0: A Developer’s Notebook and Visual Basic 2005 Jumpstart (both from O'Reilly Media, Inc).
Wei-Meng is currently a Microsoft Device Application Development MVP.
Contact Wei-Meng at weimenglee@learn2develop.net.
Contact Information:
Articles Authored
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Exploring LangChain: A Practical Approach to Language Models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Last updated: Thursday, December 19, 2024
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2025 - Jan/Feb
Wei-Meng Lee provides an in-depth guide to using the LangChain framework for building applications incorporating large language models (LLMs). He emphasizes LangChain's modular design, enabling developers to create complex workflows with customizable components and integrate external data sources, facilitating Retrieval-Augmented Generation. Key topics covered include constructing chains, maintaining conversational context with memory management, and leveraging Microsoft and Hugging Face's models for enhanced flexibility and privacy. Wei-Meng also demonstrates implementing RAG for document-based querying, offering a comprehensive overview of LangChain's capabilities for developing dynamic, data-driven solutions.
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Container Orchestration Using Kubernetes
Last updated: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2024 - September/October
Wei-Meng delves into the intricacies of managing and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes. He begins by introducing minikube, a simplified local Kubernetes environment, and guides readers through the process of setting up a basic Kubernetes cluster. The article covers essential Kubernetes components such as Pods, Deployments, Services, NodePort, and ConfigMaps, illustrating their roles in deploying and managing applications effectively. By the end of the article, you'll have practical insights into leveraging minikube to experiment with Kubernetes, making the tool more approachable for developers and system administrators.
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Prototyping LangChain Applications Visually Using Flowise
Last updated: Monday, November 11, 2024
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2024 - March/April
Wei-Meng Lee introduces Flowise as a low-code/no code drag-and-drop tool that simplifies the creation of LangChain applications. LangChain is a framework for building applications using Large Language Models (LLMs) and Flowise allows users to visually prototype and build LLM apps without writing code. The article provides an overview of Flowise's key features and guides readers through building several example applications, including a language translator, a conversational chatbot, and a tool for analyzing CSV data files.
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An Introduction to OpenAI Services
Last updated: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2023 - July/August
OpenAI offers services, APIs, and Python packages for both end-users and developers to make use of their AI capabilities. These include ChatGPT, which is able to hold intelligent conversations with human beings, and GPT-2 and GPT-4, which are pre-trained models used for tasks such as language translation, generating new content, and providing suggestions and recommendations. Get an overview of these services and APIs and how to work with them.
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Using DuckDB for Data Analytics
Last updated: Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2023 - May/Jun
In this article by Wei-Meng Lee, the author introduces DuckDB, a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that supports Structured Query Language (SQL) and is designed for data analytics. Unlike traditional database systems, DuckDB does not require installation and can run queries directly on Pandas data. The article provides examples and demonstrations of how to use DuckDB for data analytics tasks, including loading datasets, querying data using SQL, and performing analytics on the data. The author also discusses the recently added support for JSON ingestion in DuckDB. Overall, the article highlights the convenience and efficiency of using DuckDB for data analytics tasks.
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Programming Smart Contracts on Ethereum
Last updated: Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2023 - January/February
Learn about smart contracts: a key enabling technology of blockchains. In this article, developers will learn to create a smart contract using Remix IDE, Goerli testnet, MetaMask (an Ethereum crypto-wallet), and the Alchemy developer platform.
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Using the Polars DataFrame Library
Last updated: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2022 - November/December
Wei-Meng shows you how Polars powers up speed and takes a bite out of inefficiencies in large datasets. Polars is a DataFrame library written in Rust, and despite its cute name, it brings all the power to bear that you could need on your projects.
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Developing Dashboards Using Grafana
Last updated: Friday, January 10, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2022 - July/August
Wei-Meng explores creating dashboards using Grafana, a great tool for creating charts and other visual presentations of your data.
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Implementing Face Recognition Using Deep Learning and Support Vector Machines
Last updated: Friday, January 10, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2022 - May/June
If you have a fancy new computer or phone, you might already be using facial recognition. Wei-Meng explains how this exciting technology is at once simpler than you think and crazy complicated—and super cool!
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Building Dashboards Using Bokeh
Last updated: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2021 - November/December
Wei-Meng shows you how to use charts and graphs to both display data and to let users interact with data. It’s all done with a Python library called Bokeh.
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Introduction to Containerization Using Docker
Last updated: Friday, January 31, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2021 - March/April
Wei-Meng explains how Docker Engine replaces virtual machines with containers to host the apps and libraries you need, completely independent of which OS you’re using. Docker is written to run natively on the Linux platform. If you're using Windows or Mac OS, Docker creates a Linux virtual machine, which itself hosts the containers.
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Introduction to the Go Programming Language
Last updated: Thursday, November 24, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2020 - November/December
Get started with the Go programming language. Use Visual Studio Code as your editor to write Go code. Learn Go variables, strings and data structures including arrays, slices, maps, structs and more. Go supports the standard if-else staement and switch statement. It supports the for loop. Learn to use Go functions, goroutines, packages and modules.
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Introduction to SwiftUI
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2020 - May/June
Learn to use SwiftUI, a state-driven, declarative framework, to build iOS and macOS applications without having to use Storyboard.
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Introduction to Deep Learning
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2020 - March/April
Learn about deep learning, and a bit about the math involved, in this overview of a very complex topic, including activation functions, backpropagation, TensorFlow and Keras, how to train a neural network and more.
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Cross-Platform Mobile Development Using Flutter
Last updated: Friday, March 19, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2019 - September/October
Using Flutter, Google’s latest cross-platform framework for developing iOS and Android apps, Wei-Meng shows you how easy developing mobile-apps can be.
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Introduction to Kotlin
Last updated: Monday, March 29, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2019 - July/August
Kotlin is now the preferred language for Android developers. Are you ready to make the switch? Wei-Meng shows you how.
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Introduction to Cloud Firestore
Last updated: Sunday, January 5, 2025
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2019 - May/June
The article "Introduction to Cloud Firestore" by Wei-Meng Lee introduces developers to the Cloud Firestore service from Google. The author explains how Cloud Firestore is a NoSQL document database that allows developers to store data on the cloud and keep clients synchronized through real-time listeners. Lee provides step-by-step instructions on setting up Cloud Firestore in a React Native application, as well as demonstrating how to add, retrieve, update, and delete documents in the database. The article serves as a beginner's guide to getting started with Cloud Firestore and highlights its benefits for building responsive apps that can work online and offline.
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Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Using Microsoft Cognitive Services
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2019 - March/April
Using Cognitive Services, Wei-Meng shows you how ordinary mortals can create intelligent machines with human-like reactions. Siri and Alexa (and your Roomba) are going to have some new friends once you see how accessible it all is.
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Implementing Push Notifications in Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) Using Firebase
Last updated: Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2019 - January/February
Using Firebase Cloud Messaging, Wei-Meng shows you how to enable PWA push notifications as if they were native code, and how to host your REST API as a serverless app.
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Understanding Blockchain: A Beginners Guide to Ethereum Smart Contract Programming
Last updated: Monday, April 26, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2018 - May/June
If you need your data secure, there’s probably no better way to ensure it than a Blockchain. Wei-Meng explains how it all works and then helps you build your own.
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Introduction to the R Programming Language
Last updated: Friday, April 30, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2018 - March/April
Learning R sets you up for creating machine learning projects. Wei-Meng takes a close look at the language, which can implement a wide variety of statistical techniques, tests, analysis, classification, clustering, and can help you produce publication-quality graphs.
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Implementing Machine Learning Using Python and Scikit-learn
Last updated: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2017 - November/December
Instead of implementing machine learning algorithms manually, Wei-Meng found that someone else had already done the hard part. Come along as he explores a Python tool, called Scikit-learn, and builds a couple of models.
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Getting Started with Machine Learning Using Microsoft Azure ML Studio
Last updated: Thursday, May 13, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2017 - September/October
Got a sinking feeling that you’re missing something in Artificial Intelligence? This article is only the tip of the iceberg, but Wei-Meng offers you a helping hand into the lifeboat called Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio.
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Accessing Platform-Specific Functionalities Using DependencyService in Xamarin.Forms
Last updated: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2017 - July/August
You can avoid all that pesky overhead when dealing with multiple platforms by using Microsoft’s library of APIs, Xamarin.Forms. Wei-Meng shows you how to efficiently map to the various platforms’ respective native UI elements at run time.
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Introduction to Data Science using Python
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2016 - November/December
If you’re curious about Data Science or Python—and if you’re interested in the Internet of Things, you should be—you’ll find this introduction both important and exciting. Wei-Meng makes it all clear for us by explaining the basics.
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Introduction to IoT Using the Raspberry Pi
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2016 - July/August
Special tools are necessary to make the switch from clunky desktops to fluid mobile apps, and if you want to give your mobile device (or your clients’) access to the Internet of Things (IoT), you need to know about them. Wei-Meng and Clarence have done the hard part of researching it, and they recommend Raspberry Pi.
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Developing Pebble Applications
Last updated: Friday, September 3, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2014 - September/October
Harkening to Dick Tracy comics, the new “smart” watch creates new opportunities for creative development. Wei-Meng introduces us to the coolest new mobile app-development platform with an exploration of what the Pebble is capable of already and some interesting things to think about for building your own apps.
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Understanding and Using iBeacons
Last updated: Thursday, December 23, 2021
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2014 - May/June
Want a great way to tell prospective customers or conference attendees that you’re open for business? Wei-Meng explains how iBeacons work, tells you how to build one, and shows you many clever uses for iOS and Android mobile devices.
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Developing Cross-Platform Mobile Apps using Xamarin
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2014 - January/February
Wei-Meng gives us a step-by-step guide to making seamless cross-platform mobile apps with Xamarin.
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Implementing Drag and Drop in Your Windows Application
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2008 - March/April
One of the important features of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) is drag and drop.Using a mouse you can drag and drop a file from one location to another or you may drag a file and drop it onto an application to launch it.
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Adding Smart Tags to Windows Forms Controls
Last updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2007 - July/August
One new features in Visual Studio 2005 is the support for smart tags. A smart tag is a panel that displays next to a control and contains a list of commonly used properties.
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Fun with RFID
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2006 - November/December
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is an identification system that uses radio waves to retrieve data from a device called a tag or transponder. RFID surrounds us in our daily lives-in supermarkets, libraries, bookstores, etc. RFID provides a quick and efficient way to collect information, such as taking stock in a warehouse, as well as tracking the whereabouts of items.
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Programming Windows Mobile 5.0 Applications Using the .NET Compact Framework
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2006 - September/October
Microsoft has recently launched the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform for Pocket PCs and Smartphones. With the proliferation of Windows Mobile-based devices in the marketplace, companies are gradually mobilizing their enterprising applications to let their staff gain the competitive mobile advantage.
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An Overview of Windows Presentation Foundation
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2006 - March/April
By now you should have heard of several new acronyms that are usually associated with Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn).
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An Overview of Windows Presentation Foundation
Last updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2006 - January/February
By now you should have heard of several new acronyms that are usually associated with Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn).
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Data Binding in Windows Forms 2.0
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2006 - January/February
Using Visual Studio 2005, create a new Windows application by choosing New Project from the File menu. Click on the Visual Basic (Windows) project type, and select the Windows Application template. Call the new app something like Databinding, and click OK.
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Using the New Security Controls in ASP.NET 2.0
Last updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2005 - September/October
ASP.NET 2.0 comes with several new security controls (located under the Login tab in the Toolbox; see Figure 1) that greatly simplify the life of a Web developer. Using the new security controls, you can now perform tasks such as user logins, registration, password changes, and more, with no more effort than dragging and dropping controls onto your Web form. In this article, I will show you how you can use these new controls to perform user authentication.
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What's New in Visual Basic 2005?
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2005 - May/June
If you have been a hardcore VB6 programmer and you've hesitated about switching to Visual Basic .NET, Visual Basic 2005 will change your mind and you'll want to take the leap forward to move to .NET.The common complaint that people who have made this leap already often hear from programmers who are reluctant to move to VB .NET is that it is not VB-like, and moving to .NET means you have to unlearn many of the things you have painstakingly mastered in VB6.
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Localizing ASP.NET 2.0 Applications
Last updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Published in: CODE Magazine: 2005 - March/April
As we compete in the global economy, companies are increasingly developing applications for the world audience. Part of the challenges in globalizing is in understanding the language and culture of the local audience. An application written for the American market may not be useable in the Asian market. Hence, special considerations must be factored in when designing your application for the world market; in essence-you need to localize your application.As we compete in the global economy, companies are increasingly developing applications for the world audience.Part of the challenges in globalizing is in understanding the language and culture of the local audience. An application written for the American market may not be useable in the Asian market. Hence, special considerations must be factored in when designing your application for the world market; in essence?you need to localize your application.