CODE Magazine — January/February 2026

What does practical AI look like when developers have to build, verify, and maintain real software? The January/February 2026 issue of CODE Magazine approaches that question from several angles, pairing hands-on AI features with deep dives into databases,.NET, cloud data, and modern application architecture.

AI with more than a clever prompt

Several features examine how AI can move beyond a standalone chat window. Wei-Meng Lee introduces agentic AI concepts and implementation with SmolAgents, while Sahil Malik walks through a stock-analysis application designed to ground its responses with search results and citations. Sonu Kapoor explores how the Model Context Protocol and Angular tooling can help AI assistants work with project context. Together, these articles consider both what AI-assisted development can do and why verification and context matter.

Choices across the developer’s toolkit

The issue also speaks to developers making foundational technology decisions. Shawn Wildermuth looks at PostgreSQL from developer’s perspective; Matthew Hess explains C# Nullable Reference Types; and Mike Yeager examines Microsoft Fabric’s approach to bringing data together in a governed platform. These pieces offer different ways to think about working with data, improving code, and choosing tools for evolving projects.

Building for distributed systems—and creative experiments

Joydip Kanjilal explores distributed applications that combine Rust and C# Aspire. Elsewhere, Jason Murphy compares four AI video-generation models through a playful cinematic challenge. An editorial by Rod Paddock considers accessibility in software, adding a human-centered perspective to an issue otherwise rich in tools and implementation details.

For curious working developers

This issue will interest software practitioners who want a broad, grounded look at current development topics—from AI agents and Angular to databases,.NET, data platforms, and accessibility. Choose a feature that meets your work today, or use the issue’s range of subjects to explore what might be useful in your next project.