In this episode, Lee Robinson, who works at Vercel, discusses the company’s impact on web development despite its relatively small size. He explains their approach to empowering small, founder-led teams to build impactful tools, highlighting their new open-source Flags SDK. They also discuss the importance of server-side feature flagging to improve performance and reduce UI shifts, while warning against exposing sensitive data through client-side experimentation. The conversation then shifts to Vercel’s internal innovation culture, particularly the development of v0, an AI-driven tool for building full-stack web applications quickly, which is especially accessible for non-developers with creative ideas.

In this episode, we dive into an engaging conversation with Kelvin, where we explore his approach to full-stack JavaScript development and the power of using simple, stable technologies to speed up app development. Kelvin shares his exciting project, "Project 50," where he’s challenging himself to build 50 apps in 50 days, highlighting the importance of leveraging "boring" stacks to streamline the development process. We also touch on his journey in teaching web development through free resources and screencasts, aiming to make it easier for developers to build real-world apps quickly.  Along the way, we discuss the value of strategy games like chess and Go, and how they help foster critical thinking and continuous learning. It’s a great mix of tech, strategy, and entertainment, making this episode a must-listen for developers and anyone looking to level up their skills. Tune in for a fun and insightful discussion!

This episode is a little different—thanks to a U.S. holiday, I’m flying solo. But that just means we get to have a one-on-one chat! I dive into my career journey—not to brag, but to offer insights for anyone feeling stuck, of how my inventor grandfather sparked my early interest in tech, how I transitioned from electrical engineering to computer engineering, and how I went from IT support to discovering my love for programming while solving real-world problems at Mosey with Ruby on Rails.

Welcome back to another episode of Top End Devs! This week, we're diving into a fascinating journey through the history of computing with none other than Uncle Bob Martin. Joining our host Charles Max Wood and panelists AJ O'Neil and Dan Shappir, Uncle Bob shares intriguing stories from his book "We Programmers," highlighting the pivotal figures and groundbreaking moments that have shaped the computer programming world.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, our host Charles Max Wood, panelist Dan Shappir, and special guest Yoav Abrahami, CTO of Wix Enterprise, engage in a fascinating discussion on the evolving landscape of web frameworks.

In this enlightening episode of JavaScript Jabber, hosted by Charles Max Wood and Steve Edwards, panelist AJ O'Neil is joined by guest Ishaan Anand to delve deep into the intricacies of AI and large language models. Ishaan, an expert with over two decades of experience in engineering and product management, shares insights into his innovative implementation of GPT-2, providing a comprehensive breakdown of how transformers work in AI.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, panelist Dan Shappir sits down with guest Aden Bai to delve into the nuances of React performance. Broadcasting from Tel Aviv, Dan welcomes Aden, who is based in San Francisco, for an insightful discussion on optimizing React apps. Aden, known for his projects Million JS and ReactScan, shares his journey into coding and his focus on enhancing web performance.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, host Steve Edwards is joined by panelists Dan Shappir and AJ O'Neil, along with special guest Tanner Lindsley, to explore the innovative world of TanStack, a collection of open-source libraries designed to enhance web development. Tanner shares insights into the origins and evolution of TanStack, highlighting its journey from simple libraries like React Table to a comprehensive toolkit including TanStack Query, TanStack Virtual, and more.

Hey, everyone. Welcome back to another exciting episode of JavaScript Jabber, part of the Top End Devs Network. I'm your host, Charles Max Wood, joined by our amazing panelist, Dan Shappir. In this episode, we dive into the latest developments in the world of JavaScript as we kick off a new year. You might recall we covered this topic about a year and a half ago in episode 590. Today, we're revisiting the updates to see what's progressed and what's newly introduced in the JavaScript standard.

Welcome to another riveting episode of Top End Devs! In today's "Year in Review" special, hosts Charles, AJ, Dan, and Steve Edwards take you on a retrospective journey through their most memorable moments and thought-provoking discussions of the year. From the amusing and insightful exchanges with influential guests like Rich Harris and Kyle Simpson to their deep dives into emerging tech trends like Svelte 5 and AI integration in development, this episode has it all.

In this episode, Charles, AJ, and Dan explore the intricacies of team dynamics, technological choices, and the challenges of web development with our distinguished panel. Joining them is a very special guest, the legendary Uncle Bob Martin. They delve into team collaboration and decision-making, with Uncle Bob emphasizing the importance of reasonable debates and team buy-in when it comes to mental models and project directives. Dan discusses how, in startups, the initial developer often ends up making key decisions.

In today's episode, Charles and AJ are joined by Anselm Eickhoff, a trailblazing full-stack software engineer. Anselm delves into the world of "Local First" software development and the innovative tool he’s developed, "Jazz." They explore how Jazz leverages schema information for type inference and runtime validation, enabling real-time collaboration and seamless offline functionality. They dive into the simplifications brought by Jazz's API changes, the flexibility offered through open protocols, and the local-first approach using CRDTs.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the JavaScript Jabber podcast, hosted by Charles alongside our expert panelists Dan and AJ. Today, they are thrilled to be joined by Avishai Ish-Shalom a seasoned technologist with an eye for challenging conventions in the tech world. In this episode, Avishai takes us through fascinating discussions comparing industrial food products to technological abstractions, including his unique perspective on the “marshmallow effect” and the evolving complexities of virtualization. They delve into the challenges of backward compatibility in modern tech, using real-world parallels like AWS virtual storage options, and discuss the impact of technologies like Docker and cloud services on our understanding of underlying infrastructures. Charles shares his upgrade journey from an aging Mac laptop to a powerful System76 desktop for AI tasks, reflecting the changing demands on development environments. Listen in as they explore the nuances of binary vs. textual protocols, the importance of future-proofing legacy systems, and Avishai's compelling arguments in his articles "Don't Paint the Roses" and "The Marshmallow Effect." Plus, they discuss Avishai's career evolution and the intellectual challenges faced by today’s engineers in the rapidly advancing tech landscape. Whether you’re a casual listener or a tech enthusiast, this episode promises to offer valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions. Stay tuned!

This is the second part of the deep dive into the essential practices and principles for successful Node.js development. Our esteemed guests, Michael Dawson, James Snell, Matteo Collina, and Natalia Venditto, bring their extensive expertise to the table, discussing key topics like how to manage dependencies in a Node.js project.

In this episode, Dan sits down with TypeScript expert Matt Pocock to dive deep into the world of TypeScript migration, learning curves, and developer challenges. They explore why having a TypeScript "wizard" is crucial for teams transitioning from JavaScript and how TypeScript's integration with development environments like Visual Studio Code has been a game changer. Dan and Matt discuss the importance of real-time typechecking, the community's role in TypeScript's success, and practical strategies for migrating large codebases to TypeScript. You'll hear about Matt's journey from drama school to becoming a DevRel expert, his contributions to the XState library, and his philosophy of type-driven development. Together, they highlight TypeScript's advantages, such as enhanced code reliability and the nuanced benefits of explicit vs. inferred types. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting with TypeScript, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice to help you harness the full power of static typing in your projects. Tune in for a fascinating discussion that underscores the value of "boring" code, the need for continual learning, and the ongoing evolution of software development practices. Stay with us as we unravel the intricacies of TypeScript and share practical tips to elevate your coding journey.