Maarten Casteels

62 people showed up to a 19th-century gatehouse in Ghent on a Tuesday night for five live demos of OpenCode / OpenClaw and other OSS AI Tools. A full house, thank you all for showing up and thanks to Herberg Macharius and their volunteers! I organized the first Open Source (OpenClaw / OpenCode) AI Show & Tell on April 8. Didn't know what to expect. My demo was Paul, the AI chief of staff I built in OpenCode. A team of named agents with job titles, seniority, geolocations to have diverse perspectives on the tasks at hand, connected to Slack, GitLab, Gmail, Drive and a ton more. Memory as a knowledge graph. The insight: an org chart of specialists beats one generalist. Also known as Gas Town. Walid Serokh demoed CLNK-02 inbox triage on OpenClaw with 3 categories: "NOT GREAT", "IT'S FINE", "WILL RUIN YOUR DAY". A chocolate promo that was about to expire got the worst label 😄. Bram Veenhof showed Lisa: Maya the PMM, Sam the Tech Lead, Dave the PM. Turning point was persistent memory and full-fledged Slack integration where they talk to each other. Built with AutoClaude, OpenClaw and a ton of other trials-and-errors. Brent Gees demoed Kilo Code. Frederik W. stepped in when a speaker cancelled and showed Dobbie: a family AI on a kitchen screen. He wrote a blog post live on stage and published before the talk ended. Strongest reaction was the non-developer use case. Patterns I noticed: give agents a role, memory is the bottleneck, diverse teams outperform generalists, and demo effects are universal 😉 Would you want to join a second iteration of this? Maybe a different city? Blog from Frederik Wouters and event page in first comment 👇 #OpenSource #AI #Ghent

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Throwback to a thought-provoking Flanders AI Forum 2025 with Bernd Van Werde 🧠💬   The key theme?  𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 and how they’re transforming the way we think about system design, monitoring and collaboration between tech and business.   Some takeaways that stuck with me: ✔️ Not all agents need 𝗟𝗟𝗠𝘀 there’s a world beyond ✔️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 > training: efficiency matters ✔️ Agentic systems need 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, not just smart tech ✔️ Success starts with 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 and strong feedback loops The hype is real, but building real value with GenAI takes clarity, data discipline and iteration. 📩 Let’s connect if you're exploring use cases 👉 Or reach out via Acumen: https://acumen.be/contact 📄 Or read more in our latest AI whitepaper: https://lnkd.in/eZyB7xSW #ai #genai #agents #businesscases #prompting #acumen #drivenbydata #dedicatedtodeliver #LLM Thanks for bringing together the data and AI community and for organizing this event: Flanders AI Forum 2025 VLAIO Agoria Voka-Vlaams netwerk van ondernemingen VAIA - Vlaamse AI Academie

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I didn’t learn Rust because it’s cool. I learned Rust because it kept telling me I was wrong — with receipts. Ownership, borrowing, traits… none of it is “hard” once you realise Rust’s real job is stopping you from lying to yourself about correctness. Annoying? Yes. Useful? Painfully so. If you’ve been Rust-curious but allergic to hype, this write-up is for you.

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What do a Caravaggio 🖼️ and your codebase have in common? More than you think… To understand a work of art (let’s leave postmodernism aside 😉 ), you need knowledge of history, culture, sometimes the artist and their technique. Knowledge that isn’t encoded in the painting itself. The same goes for source code. To truly understand it, you need context: domain knowledge, patterns, conventions… In my latest blog post, I argue that self-documenting code is a fallacy. You can read more 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/dHDg6vDz Curious to hear your thoughts — do you agree or not?

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Companies are looking for IT talent. The market is full of junior candidates from bootcamps. And in between? A whole range of expectations, misconceptions and unspoken “buts”. Our colleagues Christophe Beaujard and Emilia Schullery shared their perspective with FonTech.sk on whether self-taught developers and bootcamp graduates really stand a chance. From their daily work with clients and candidates, it’s clear: ✔️ Yes, they do, but only if they can prove results, not just course certificates ✔️ Companies that focus on potential and hands-on skills tend to give these candidates a real opportunity ✔️ On the other hand, many corporates still prioritize traditional CVs: university degrees, work experience, teamwork ✔️ What matters most is how well the candidate can present their value – portfolios, GitHub, real-life examples and mindset.   At S&you Czechia&Slovakia, we go beyond the CV. We care about long-term fit, readiness to grow and the value a person can bring to the team. 📖 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eDPwykEJ 📨 Contacts us if you are looking for IT experts: https://lnkd.in/estwQxD6 You imagine the right person. We find them. #sandyouczechia #sandyouslovakia #synergiecesko #synergieslovensko #techhiring #talentacquisition #culturefit #hrpartnership #headhunting  

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RPG environments in Belgium: market insights & real-life examples Through recent conversations with both clients and consultants, I’ve been taking a closer look at the current RPG / IBM i environments on the Belgian market. While often labeled as “legacy”, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced: long-term business-critical systems, progressive modernization, coexistence with more recent technologies, and very different contexts depending on the organization. I’m interested in exchanging perspectives with peers on a few observations I keep encountering: – The types of RPG environments still in place today in Belgium – The balance between run & maintenance versus modernization or transformation initiatives – How these environments are typically organized (in-house, via integrators, or managed services) I’m also curious to hear which types of organizations or sectors you see actively working with RPG / IBM i today, either directly or through partners. The intent here is purely to sharpen my market reading and stay closely aligned with the realities on the ground. Thanks for sharing your perspectives 🙏 (Comments or DMs both welcome) #afinIT #IBMi #IBMiinBelgium #IBM AfinIT Marc Pelsser Ludovic Gasc Rebecca Mpungu

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🚨 Website not opening? Let me teach you how a real DevOps engineer thinks (step-by-step) 👨‍🏫 First understand this in the simplest way: When you open a website: 👉 You type: myshop.com 👉 System converts it to: IP address (like 1.2.3.4) 👉 Then request goes to server This conversion is called DNS ⚠️ Important: If DNS fails, 👉 your request NEVER reaches the server 🧪 Now let’s troubleshoot like a pro Step 1: Check DNS (always start here) Open CMD / Terminal and run: nslookup myshop.com What you see: 👉 Case 1: You get an IP ✔️ DNS is working → move ahead 👉 Case 2: You see error (NXDOMAIN) ❌ DNS is not configured 👉 Case 3: Wrong IP ❌ Traffic going to wrong server Step 2: Confirm using public DNS Run: nslookup myshop.com 8.8.8.8 nslookup myshop.com 1.1.1.1 👉 If both give different IP 👉 It’s a DNS propagation issue (Simple meaning: update is still spreading) Step 3: Check if server is actually working Run: curl http:// 👉 If this works ✔️ Server is fine ❌ Problem is DNS 🛠️ How to fix (real work) Go to your DNS provider (AWS / GoDaddy) Add or update this: Type: A Name: myshop.com Value: your-server-ip 💡 Simple understanding (remember this) DNS = Address book 👉 If address is wrong 👉 User goes to wrong place 👉 Or nowhere 🎯 Interview tip If asked: “Website not opening?” Start with: 👉 “I’ll first check DNS using nslookup” This shows you think in the correct order 🧠 One line to remember 👉 If DNS fails, nothing else matters #DevOps #DNS #Networking #BeginnerFriendly #SRE #Cloud #Debugging #TechLearning

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🎥How can organizations approach file transfer in a more secure and manageable way? Together with Cegeka, we’re delivering MFTaaS, supporting organizations in making their file transfers more secure, compliant, and easier to manage. For more information check out our website: https://lnkd.in/eFERSQuh #MFT #MFTaaS #DataProtection #ITSecurity

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ENG 🇬🇧 The mainframe world turns its eyes to Ghent (summery below) NL 🇳🇱 Mainframewereld richt ogen op Stad Gent (artikel in de comments) FR 🇫🇷 Le secteur des mainframes a les yeux rivés sur Gand (Article dans les commentaires) Large companies are working hard to appeal to applied computer science students at HOGENT University of Applied Sciences - especially those in the mainframe specialization year. The program, which is unique in Europe, is rapidly growing. Despite long-standing predictions since the 1990s that the mainframe would disappear, it remains essential and will continue to be so for decades. Many companies expected to retire their mainframes around now, but instead the transaction volume on these systems continues to rise. Meanwhile, the older generation of mainframe experts is now retiring, creating an urgent demand for new specialists. Recognizing this, HOGENT expanded the school’s highly specialized mainframe curriculum. Students in the professional bachelor of applied informatics can choose the mainframe option in their third year, which includes six weeks of theory, seven weeks of work-based learning, and a fourteen-week internship. The track almost always leads to a job contract. Enrollment grew from just three students in 2018 to twenty-eight this year. The goal is not mass enrollment, but awareness - ensuring students can consciously choose the option. At the start of the academic year, HOGENT organized a Mainframe Day, where companies pitch themselves to students rather than the other way around. Mainframe-heavy organizations such as KBC, Belfius, Partena, Securex, Euroclear, and major Dutch players like Rabobank, ABN-AMRO, and the Dutch Tax Authority (which operates Europe’s largest mainframe environment) were all present. These companies rely strongly on mainframe technology because it handles huge workloads very quickly, offers high availability and strong security, and has a small ecological footprint per transaction. This makes it indispensable - especially for banks and HR service providers - which is why replacing it with inferior alternatives makes little sense. However, keeping mainframes running requires expertise, which is scarce everywhere - except in Belgium, thanks to HOGENT’s program. The initiative has gained international attention: major industry players such as IBM, Broadcom, Rocket Software, and Deloitte attended Mainframe Day. Thank you to Data News for the excellent article and for bringing visibility to the developments happening in the mainframe landscape. And a big thank you to Broadcom Mainframe Software, Rocket Software, Unisys, Deloitte, TALENT-IT, CROZ and Capyx for sponsoring the HOGENT Mainframe Day and making this happen!

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🔑 The secret of IT managers who keep their teams for years Ever noticed? Some IT managers keep their teams for years, while others see their developers leave every 6 months. The difference isn't about salary or benefits. It lies in 4 essential qualities that TCREW has identified among the best IT managers in the Belgian market. The secret? They understand that managing in IT isn't about managing resources—it's about orchestrating creative talents who need autonomy, technical recognition, and protection from organizational chaos. These managerial profiles literally transform team retention and tech performance. Swipe to discover these 4 game-changing qualities 👉 🎯 Looking for this type of rare manager? We know where to find them: info@tcrew.be #TCrew #ITRecruitment #JobOpportunities  #Expertise #CareerBoost #SendYourCV #JoinUs #Belge  #belgique #bruxelles #CareerOpportunities #ITJobs #jobsearch #Cybersecurity #CloudComputing #DevOps #SaaS #CareerBoost #Belgium

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New eBook! Is your IT landscape ready for tomorrow’s social security needs? Legacy systems slow things down. They make it harder to meet rising expectations and new EU rules. Modernisation is no longer optional — it’s a must. This new eBook from Cegeka helps you move forward: 👉 It shows the risks of outdated IT 👉 It gives clear steps to modernise 👉 It shares how to build a strong and future-proof setup The focus is on real impact — better services, more security, and long-term progress. 📘Read the eBook in our library: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gPDdSiYr 👈 Thank you Christine Vermeiren and Cegeka for sharing! #Beltug #KnowledgeSharing #ApplicationModernization #eGov #DigitalTransformation #PublicServices

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I am proud to announce the latest edition of DevSessions Zwolle on April 8th, with the theme Accountability by Design! DevSessions is the new name of WebDev Zwolle, as our meetup has covered topics way beyond Web Development for a while now! During this event we want to talk about API Governance, Pair Programming and the importance of documentation. All of these topics are important parts of designing software that is accountable! I'll be speaking about API governance and the fantastic Stacy Cashmore and 👑Luise Freese will cover pair programming and documentation! Do you want to learn more? Check the URL in the comments!

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🍻 Great Brewt event yesterday at Cegeka! We started with Maxime R., who did a live demo of an AI agent roasting his Playwright tests — Comedy Central–style 😄 The tests were intentionally full of testing smells, bad practices, and code waste… and wow, the AI didn’t hold back. What made it really cool wasn’t just the laughs: ✅ The agent correctly identified all the smells and bad practices ✅ It returned the feedback in a structured and genuinely funny roast ✅ And it made some deep testing concepts instantly understandable Why this AI roasting agent example is so interesting: • It explains how skills work in an entertaining and memorable way • It shows why and how to split skills properly • It sparks ideas on how to truly leverage the strengths of AI in testing After the presentation, we wrapped up with a very lively open space discussion — and that’s where things went even deeper. We exchanged experiences, tips, tricks, and open questions on topics like: • How to test AI‑infused applications • Whether MCP can be used for data and environment provisioning • Practical ways to infuse a testing mindset into projects • And many other real‑world challenges the group is facing Great energy, honest discussions, and lots of shared learnings — exactly what a Brewt event is about 🚀 👏 Thanks everyone for contributing! #QA #SoftwareTesting #AIinTesting #TestingCommunity #SoftwareQuality #QualityEngineering

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Tuesday at UGC Turnhout, professionals from Belgium and the Netherlands came together for an afternoon of knowledge sharing during the Cegeka Business Solutions Summit. Together with our Microsoft Power Platform wizard Kenneth Nicasens, I had the privilege of presenting two sessions about hyperproductivity that sparked a lot of interest. 🙌🏻 🔹 Session 1: Hyperautomation Demystified. We explored how Robotic Process Automation, Process Mining and Artificial Intelligence are not just buzzwords, but powerful tools that help our customers stay competitive and innovative. 🔹 Session 2: The Rise of Agentic AI. This session was all about showing real-life Agentic AI use cases. We demonstrated how our Power Platform team challenges customers to be disruptive, rethink their processes, and embrace a future where Agentic AI is at the heart of transformation. Huge thanks to everyone who attended, asked questions and shared insights. 💡 Cegeka #powerplatform #hyperautomation #agenticai #innovation #knowledgesharing

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I guess some understanding of the Dutch language is in order to “get” this one. And I laughed at this one because yes, we are using Codex. And yes, that makes us vulnerable to becoming exactly this. A claudeviool with a repo. I tried to find the Codex version. Codexviool doesn't do it for me Maybe Codexkwakzalver? Codexcuus? None of them hit the same. I guess Anthropic won that battle. But the point stands. The trick is not pretending the tool is magic. The trick is keeping the boring adult parts in place: intent, architecture, review, test cases, rollback logic, and someone who still knows what “working” actually means. AI-driven IDEs can move fast. So can a forklift with no driver. The question is not whether AI can help you build. The question is whether you are still steering, or just watching the spinner verbs while vibe gets pushed into production.

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We’re proud to announce the expansion of Cegeka's Board of Directors with three new members: Bart Van Den Meersche, Kurt Decat, and Bart Troubleyn. Their combined expertise in digital transformation, financial governance and international business operations will be instrumental as we enter the next phase of our growth and global expansion. In a fast-changing digital landscape, strong governance and experienced guidance are essential. With this strengthened Board, Cegeka is even better positioned to accelerate its long-term strategy and continue delivering the high-quality service our customers expect. Shaping digital together. 🔗 Learn more about our Board of Directors: https://hubs.ly/Q03W_wX40 #ShapingDigitalTogether #BoardOfDirectors

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Excited to welcome Koen Deryckere as the new CEO of Cegeka. With strong foundations already in place, this next chapter is about building momentum, accelerating growth, and expanding our impact across Europe and the U.S. In Cegeka Business Solutions, we see this as an opportunity to further strengthen our focus on Food & Beverage and Pharma & Life Sciences, continuing to deliver the digital capabilities our customers need to scale with confidence. Moments like this remind me why I am passionate about the work we do: empowering people, leveraging technology, and creating value that lasts. Here’s to an exciting chapter ahead and to everything we will achieve together. #CTG #Cegeka CTG Cegeka Business Solutions

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At Cegeka we are hosting a new edition of Fabric Analyst in a Day – a free, one-day workshop hosted by Cegeka in partnership with Microsoft on the 23rd of October. This edition brings you all the latest updates from FabCon 2025, translated into practical learnings you can immediately apply. What to expect: Two parallel tracks: • Business track – discover how Microsoft Fabric can transform reporting, governance, and decision-making. • Technical track – get hands-on with Shortcuts, Pipelines, and the newest Fabric features. ✔ Learn how to consolidate data into a single source of truth. ✔ Build powerful reports in Power BI. ✔ Boost productivity with the newest Fabric capabilities. Whether you’re a business professional exploring impact and opportunities, or a data expert ready to go hands-on, this workshop is designed for you. 👉  https://lnkd.in/e7U_4BtW – seats are limited, so don’t wait too long! Hope to see you there!

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