Content preparation

Prepare your content and visual settings so your audience has a consistent, readable experience.

Theme and appearance

Stick to dark theme across all tools (IDE, terminal, browser dev tools, etc.) for a consistent viewing experience. Switching between dark and light themes is jarring for the audience and makes it harder for their eyes to adjust.
If you must use a light theme (e.g., projectors on white backgrounds or brightly lit spaces without backlit screens), commit to light across all tools — do not mix.
Evaluate contrast ratios for your chosen theme to ensure readability. Use tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker or browser DevTools accessibility panels to verify text meets at least WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text).
Ensure selection colors are visible against your theme:
- Visual Studio Light: set selection color to Yellow.
- Visual Studio Dark: default blue works well.
Increase font sizes and zoom levels in all apps you will show (browsers, VS, VS Code, GitKraken, etc.) so content is legible at stream or projector resolution.

Have materials ready to share, including slides, links, and QR codes.
Consider leaving dead space in your slides for overlays. Camera views (picture-in-picture), chat notifications, or other overlays may be displayed over your content.
Avoid motion GIFs unless they add clear value; unnecessary movement distracts.
Provide a clear agenda so viewers know where you are headed.
Ensure demos are reset and ready before going live.

Rehearse your opening a few extra times; first impressions set the tone.
Prepare a first Q&A question in case the audience is quiet. This can help break the ice and encourage engagement.