Summary
Principal Software Engineer with 18 years of Windows platform expertise, building developer tools and CLI applications at scale.
Currently architecting AI-native platform capabilities at Microsoft — designing protocols, APIs, and tooling that enable AI agents to interact with Windows.
Deep experience shipping developer experiences to hundreds of millions of users. Passionate about making AI tools work seamlessly for Windows developers.
Experience
Microsoft, Redmond WA
- Architecting Windows as an AI-native platform — designing how AI coding tools discover and invoke OS capabilities
- Built lvt (Live Visual Tree) — open-source CLI enabling AI agents to inspect Windows app UI, debug XAML, and automate testing
- Designing MCP integration for Windows — protocol-level work enabling Claude and other agents to orchestrate multi-step workflows
- Collaborating with Anthropic on local server manifest specifications for tool discovery
- Building developer tooling for agentic workflows: VS Code extensions, CLI tools, and system-level capabilities
- Writing about AI platform architecture at asklar.dev — establishing thought leadership in agentic developer tools
Microsoft, Redmond WA
- Principal engineer on Windows Copilot integration — shipped AI-assisted developer experiences
- Drove developer tooling strategy across Windows platform, focusing on inner-loop productivity
Microsoft, Redmond WA
- Architect on Windows UI frameworks: XAML, WinUI 3, Windows App SDK — shipped to millions of developers
- Technical lead for lifting XAML out of the OS, enabling faster iteration for developer tooling
- Open source advocate: drove modern practices and improved cross-platform developer experience
Microsoft, Redmond WA
- Technical lead for Windows File Explorer — shipped to hundreds of millions of users
- Built developer productivity tooling, debugging infrastructure, and telemetry systems
- Led XAML UI framework development and cross-team architecture
Microsoft, Redmond WA
- Led User Experience team for security hotfixes across Windows XP through Windows 8
- Shipped updates with stringent safety requirements to hundreds of millions of customers
Projects
lvt (Live Visual Tree)
— github.com/asklar/lvt
Open-source C++ CLI for AI agents to inspect Windows app UI. Enables automated UI testing, XAML debugging, and agentic workflows. Works with Win32, WinUI 3, System XAML. MIT licensed.
Frontier Activation
Internal initiative coaching 100+ engineers on AI-powered development workflows. Built training deck, capability maturity model, and hands-on workshops.
Skills
Languages
TypeScript, C#, C++, Python, PowerShell
AI/Agents
Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, MCP, Prompt Engineering, Agent Orchestration
Windows
Win32, WinRT, XAML, WinUI, Windows App SDK, PowerShell, Package Managers (winget, scoop)
Tools
VS Code Extensions, CLI Development, Node.js/Bun, React, Git
Education
M.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering — GPA 4.0/4.0
Dual B.S. in Electrical Engineering + Computer Science (simultaneous)
First student in university history to complete both 5-year programs simultaneously