The Network Engineer's Guide to Python Tooling
The "best" Python workflow isn't about using the newest tools—it's about reducing friction for your team while maintaining reliability. Many successful network automation teams use hybrid approaches: modern dependency management under the hood with simple, consistent interfaces on top.
Git vs. Source of Truth: Real-World Network Automation Data Management
The choice between Git and source of truth platforms isn't binary. The best approach often combines elements of both, leveraging structured data management while maintaining the change control and versioning that make network automation reliable.
Design-First, Trust-Always: Summarizing what we learned at AutoCon3
AutoCon 3 demonstrated that network automation has evolved from experimental scripts to business-critical infrastructure. But perhaps the conference's most important insight came from recognizing that automation success depends as much on psychology, trust, and user experience as it does on technical correctness.
Fine-Tuning LLMs for Network Configuration Intelligence
Rather than wholesale AI adoption or rejection, Baumann advocated for thoughtful application: understand the technology, identify appropriate use cases, implement with realistic expectations, and validate results.
Security's Missing Link in Network Automation
Network automation without proper security creates systematized vulnerabilities—insecure practices get codified and replicated across infrastructure. Howard's work demonstrates that secure automation isn't significantly harder than insecure automation; it just requires different initial choices and proper tooling.
Escaping the Screen Scraping Trap with BGP Monitoring Protocol
Dorlandt's presentation showcased the evolution from reactive (screen scraping) to proactive (push-based) network monitoring. BMP represents a fundamental shift in how we gather BGP intelligence—from resource-intensive polling to efficient, real-time data streams.
Disrupting Enterprise Wi-Fi with Automation and Open Source
For organizations deploying large-scale wireless infrastructure—hotels, campuses, public venues—this approach offers dramatic cost savings while maintaining enterprise functionality. The key insight: automation doesn't just improve existing operations; it can enable entirely new economic models.
Taming Multi-Vendor SONiC with Abstraction APIs
Saul's presentation addressed a practical challenge many organizations face: leveraging open networking benefits while managing vendor implementation differences. SONiC offers genuine multi-vendor consistency, but abstraction layers become essential for operational simplicity.
The Black Box Problem: Why Trust is the Missing Piece in Network Automation
Garros's presentation addresses automation's adoption challenge from a refreshingly honest perspective. Technical capability isn't enough; automation must inspire confidence in its users. This requires deliberate design choices that prioritize user trust alongside functional correctness.
The Long Arc of Network Automation: Lessons from a 25-Year Journey
Edelman's keynote captured the network automation community at an inflection point. The foundational work is done—tools exist, communities are established, and early adopters have demonstrated value. But mass adoption remains elusive. The challenge isn't technical anymore. It's cultural, organizational, and educational. How do we help more organizations and individuals navigate the journey from CLI-centric operations to automation-enabled efficiency?
Beyond Data: Why Design-Driven Automation is the Missing Link
Querol's design-driven approach addresses a fundamental automation challenge: the gap between what network architects envision and what gets implemented. By codifying design logic and protecting design-driven data, organizations can ensure that automation implementations match architectural intent.