A weekly podcast about web design and development with a little zest from Amy Dutton and Brad Garropy
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September 2, 202546 min
205 | Where Web Dev Tools Meet People
Web development is constantly evolving, and so are the tools we use to build. In this episode, Amy and Brad chat with the organizers of Squiggle Conf about the future of web dev tooling, how conferences shape the developer experience, and why community matters just as much as code. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 0:34 - Meet the Guests: Squiggle Conf Organizers Squiggle Conf 1:19 - What Makes Squiggle Conf Unique 3:19 - Tooling and Developer Experience 3:30 - Penguins, IMAX, and the Conference Venue 4:18 - Who Should Attend Squiggle Conf 5:31 - How Talks Are Selected and Curated 6:51 - Social and Community Aspects of the Conference 12:19 - Behind the Scenes of Organizing a Conference 17:46 - Lessons Learned from Running Events 23:30 - The Role of Tooling in Modern Development 27:21 - Browser-Based Tools and Their Impact 28:51 - Shoutout to Astro and Other Frameworks Astro Starlight - Astro's template for documentation 33:51 - Comparing Different Conference Experiences 38:55 - Building Momentum in the Developer Community 40:45 - Looking Ahead: The Future of Squiggle Conf 42:02 - Final Thoughts from the Organizers 43:43 - Picks and Plugs Are the Types Wrong? — a package & CLI tool by Andrew Branch from the TypeScript team The Harry Potter movie series Cloudflare One Switch - Mac Menu Bar App RedwoodSDK
July 8, 202552 min
204 | Why Vue? A Deep Dive with Alex Riviere
Vue developer Alex Riviere joins Amy to explore the fundamental differences between Vue and React, diving deep into Vue's unique approach to reactivity, templating, and developer experience. From the magic of V-Model eliminating controlled/uncontrolled input complexity to Vue's proxy-based reactivity system that "just works," Alex explains why Vue's mental model clicked for him coming from jQuery. The conversation covers Vue 3's Composition API and Script Setup syntax, the evolution from VueX to Pinia for state management, and exciting developments like Vue Vapor Mode that will eliminate the virtual DOM entirely. Alex also breaks down Evan You's recent $4.6M VoidZero funding to revolutionize JavaScript build tooling, the flexibility of Nuxt as a meta-framework, and why Vue remains approachable enough to sprinkle into any project without complex build steps. Show Notes 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - How Alex Got Started with Vue 03:00 - Vue vs React Mental Models 08:00 - Vue's Approach to Forms and V-Model 10:20 - Vue Frameworks: Nuxt and the Ecosystem 17:00 - Vue 2 to Vue 3 Migration Challenges 19:00 - Nuxt as a Dev Dependency vs Runtime 22:30 - When Do You Need a Framework with Vue? 25:30 - Laravel Integration and Alpine.js Connection 27:40 - Vue's Reactivity System and Proxies 29:40 - State Management: VueX to Pinia Evolution 32:20 - SSR and Server Components in Vue 34:10 - Hosting and Deployment Options 35:40 - Evan You's VoidZero Funding and Vision 43:10 - Vue Vapor Mode: Eliminating Virtual DOM 47:40 - Getting Started with Vue Resources 48:40 - Picks and Plugs Links and Resources People Mentioned Alex Riviere - @alexriviere Evan You - Vue.js creator - @youyuxi Ben Hong - Vue core team member - @bencodezen Daniel Roe - Nuxt team - @danielcroe Taylor Otwell - Laravel creator - @taylorotwell Vue.js Resources Vue.js Official Site - vuejs.org Vue.js Documentation - vuejs.org/guide Vue School - vueschool.io Vue Mastery - vuemastery.com Frameworks & Tools Mentioned Nuxt - nuxt.com Vite - vitejs.dev Astro - astro.build Pinia (Vue state management) - pinia.vuejs.org VueX (legacy state management) - vuex.vuejs.org Alpine.js - alpinejs.dev Laravel - laravel.com Livewire - livewire.laravel.com Solid.js - solidjs.com React - react.dev Svelte - svelte.dev Build Tools & Infrastructure ESBuild - esbuild.github.io Rollup - rollupjs.org NitroPack - nitro.unjs.io Webpack - webpack.js.org VoidZero (Evan You's new company) - voidzero.dev Hosting Platforms Netlify - netlify.com Vercel - vercel.com Cloudflare - cloudflare.com React Ecosystem (for comparison) Next.js - nextjs.org Remix - remix.run RedwoodJS - redwoodjs.com Gatsby - gatsbyjs.com Podcasts & Content Deja Vue Podcast - dejavue.fm (mentioned Evan You VoidZero interview) Vue.js Conferences - VueConf events Technical Concepts to Research Vue Composition API - vuejs.org/guide/extras/composition-api-faq.html Vue Script Setup - vuejs.org/api/sfc-script-setup.html Vue Directives - vuejs.org/guide/essentials/template-syntax.html#directives Vue Reactivity - vuejs.org/guide/extras/reactivity-in-depth.html Vue Vapor Mode (experimental) - github.com/vuejs/core-vapor JavaScript Proxies - MDN Proxy Documentation Signals (reactive programming) - General concept in modern frameworks Picks & Plugs Dropout TV - Nobody Asked - dropout.tv CodeMash Conference - codemash.org Whoosh Screen Cleaner - https://amzn.to/4nBR5Ut Additional Helpful Resources Vue 2 to Vue 3 Migration Guide - v3-migration.vuejs.org Vue vs React Comparison - vuejs.org/guide/extras/composition-api-faq.html#comparison-with-react-hooks Islands Architecture - jasonformat.com/islands-architecture
May 13, 202546 min
203 | Feature Flags, Framework Wars, and Landing Your Next Dev Job
In this hosts-only episode, Amy and Brad get real about the developer experience - from the stress of job interviews to the complexities of choosing the right framework. They discuss why companies are comparing candidates more than ever, share strategies for answering behavioral interview questions, and debate the merits of Remix versus Next.js (spoiler: Brad's all-in on Remix). The conversation shifts to feature flags and progressive rollouts, with insights from Brad's work at Stripe. Sponsor WorkOS helps you launch enterprise features like SSO and user management with ease. Thanks to the AuthKit SDK for JavaScript, your team can integrate in minutes and focus on what truly matters—building your app. Chapter Marks 00:00 - Intro 00:41 - Sponsor: WorkOS 01:47 - Brad's Keyboard and Mouse Shopping Spree 04:30 - Keyboard Layout Discussion 07:23 - Apple Ecosystem: Reminders and Notes 09:23 - Family Sharing and Raycast Integration 09:43 - Notion vs Apple Notes for Project Management 11:31 - File Storage and Backup Strategies 14:00 - Machine Backup Philosophy 16:46 - Job Interview Preparation Tips 19:40 - Answering the "Weakness" Question 21:53 - Addressing Weaknesses: Delegation Examples 24:29 - Conflict Resolution Interview Questions 25:46 - Company Research Before Interviews 27:00 - Tech Stack Considerations: Remix vs Next.js 28:30 - Framework Migration Decisions 29:30 - Astro for Content Sites 31:02 - Backend Languages: Go vs TypeScript 32:30 - React Server Components Future 34:23 - Feature Flags and Boolean as a Service 35:30 - Feature Flag Segmentation and A/B Testing 36:54 - PostHog and Analytics Tools 38:30 - Progressive Rollouts and Error Monitoring 40:20 - Amy's Picks and Plugs 43:35 - Brad's Picks and Plugs
April 8, 202553 min
202 | Framework Trade-offs: What Laravel Offers JavaScript Developers
Josh Cirre joins us to discuss his transition from the JavaScript ecosystem to Laravel, revealing why PHP frameworks can offer a compelling alternative for full-stack development. We explore the "identity crisis" many frontend developers face when needing robust backend solutions, how Laravel's batteries-included approach compares to piecing together JavaScript services, and the trade-offs between serverless and traditional hosting environments. Josh also shares insights on Laravel's developer experience, front-end integration options, and his thoughts on what JavaScript frameworks could learn from Laravel's approach to abstraction and infrastructure. Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:02 - Sponsor: Wix Studio 1:46 - Introduction to Laravel 2:25 - Josh's Journey from Frontend to Backend 5:40 - Building the Same Project Across Frameworks 6:32 - Josh's Breakthrough with Laravel 8:20 - Laravel's Frontend Options 10:25 - React Server Components Comparison 12:00 - Livewire and Volt 13:41 - Josh's Course on Laracasts 14:08 - Laravel's DX and Ecosystem 16:46 - MVC Structure Explained for JavaScript Developers 18:25 - Type Safety Between PHP and JavaScript 21:12 - Laravel Pain Points and Criticisms 22:40 - Laravel Team's Response to Feedback 24:50 - Laravel's Limitations and Use Cases 26:10 - Laravel's Developer Products 27:20 - Option Paralysis in Laravel 30:46 - Laravel's Driver System 33:14 - Web Dev Challenge Experience 33:38 - TanStack Start Exploration 34:50 - Server Functions in TanStack 37:38 - Infrastructure Agnostic Development 41:02 - Serverless vs. Serverful Cost Comparison 44:50 - JavaScript Framework Evolution 46:46 - Framework Ecosystems Comparison 48:25 - Picks and Plugs Links Mentioned in the Episode Laravel - PHP framework TanStack Start - React meta-framework Josh created a YouTube video about Livewire - Laravel's HTML-over-the-wire front-end framework Inertia.js - Framework for creating single-page apps Volt - Single file component system for Livewire Laravel Cloud - Managed hosting solution for Laravel applications Herd - Laravel's tool for setting up PHP development environments Forge - Laravel's server management tool Envoyer - Laravel's zero-downtime deployment tool Laracasts - Where Josh has a course on Livewire Josh Cirre's YouTube channel HTMX - Frontend library Josh compared to Livewire Web Dev Challenge with Jason Lengstorf (featuring Josh and Amy) Josh Cirre's BlueSky account (@joshcirre) Amy's BlueSky account Brad's BlueSky account Additional Resources Laravel Documentation Svelte's new starter kit (mentioned as a good example) Nightwatch - Latest product from Laravel Laravel Vapor - Serverless deployment platform for Laravel Theo's Laravel exploration (discussed in the criticism section) Laravel Breeze Laravel Jetstream Laravel Fortify (authentication package mentioned) Adonis.js (JavaScript framework compared to Laravel) Anker USB powered hub (Josh's pick) Grether's Sugar Free Black Currant Pastilles (Josh's pick) JBL Portable Speaker (Amy's pick)
April 1, 202546 min
201 | The Backend Dilemma: Laravel's Strengths in a JavaScript World
In this episode, Amy and Brad dive into the ongoing debate between Laravel and full stack JavaScript frameworks. They explore both ecosystems from their unique perspectives. Amy shares her real-world experience building a project in Laravel after working extensively with JavaScript frameworks, highlighting where each approach shines and struggles. From Laravel's backend prowess to the cognitive load of context switching between languages, this episode offers practical insights for developers weighing these technology choices. Show Notes 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Sponsorship: Sanity 01:59 - Origins of the Laravel vs JavaScript Discussion 03:59 - Amy's Experience Building a Project in Laravel 06:59 - PHP Development and Linting Experience 11:59 - Understanding MVC Architecture 15:00 - Challenges with JavaScript Backend Services 18:00 - Backend Strengths of Laravel 20:00 - Frontend Challenges in Laravel 23:00 - Comparing Laravel and JavaScript Ecosystem Solutions 26:59 - JavaScript Full Stack Frameworks Discussion 30:00 - Architectural Differences Between Frameworks 33:00 - Framework Choice Considerations 38:59 - Picks and Plugs: Newsletter and Cameras 42:00 - Picks and Plugs: Games and YouTube Links and Resources Sanity.io (sponsor) Laravel Sam's podcast: Frontend First RedwoodJS Remix Next.js Astro Supabase Inngest Resend (email service) Postmark (email service) OpenAI Prisma PHP Storm Laravel Blade (templating language) Laravel Livewire Alpine.js Laravel Breeze Laravel Eloquent ORM Adonis/AdonisJS Episode 54: Why RedwoodJS is the App Framework for Startups, with David Price Vite Storybook Amy's newsletter: Broken Comb Insta360 X2 camera Insta360 Go 3 camera Stardew Valley (game) Brad's YouTube channel Cloudinary channel and Dev Hints series
March 19, 202542 min
200 | Creating Databases as Easily as Notion Pages with Prisma Postgres
Join Amy, Brad, and special guest Ryan Chenkie as they unpack Prisma's expanding ecosystem of database tools. Ryan explains why Prisma launched their own hosted Postgres service and what sets it apart from competitors in the space. The trio examines Prisma's comprehensive feature set including Accelerate for connection pooling, Pulse for real-time events, and optimization tools that help identify performance bottlenecks. They also discuss the upcoming transition from Rust to TypeScript for Prisma's core engine, making it lighter and faster. If you've been curious about modern approaches to database management or wondering which ORM is right for your next project, this conversation provides practical insights and expert perspectives. Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Working with Prisma and Supabase 2:29 - Prisma Postgres Introduction 4:17 - Why Choose Postgres 6:36 - Prisma's Database Adapter Flexibility 8:14 - Serverless Database Architecture 11:13 - Connection Pooling with Accelerate 14:13 - Pulse for Real-time Database Events 16:54 - Studio Integration in Prisma Console 18:01 - Database Optimization Tools 20:00 - Benefits of Prisma Schema Language 22:10 - Prisma Schema vs SQL Definitions 23:01 - Comparing Prisma and Drizzle 26:24 - Future Improvements to Prisma 28:52 - Ryan's History with Prisma 32:05 - Learning Resources for Prisma 33:37 - Picks and Plugs Links and Resources Prisma Resources Prisma Website Prisma Twitter/X Prisma YouTube Channel Prisma Postgres Documentation Prisma Console Prisma VS Code Extension Prisma Accelerate Prisma Pulse Prisma Optimize Prisma Studio Ryan Chenkie Resources Ryan's Website: https://holodeck.run Ryan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@holodeck_run Ryan on Twitter/X Framework and Technologies Mentioned Remix Redwood JS Supabase PlanetScale Drizzle ORM Postgres MySQL MongoDB Brad's Resources YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@bradgarropy Remix Starter: https://github.com/bradgarropy/remix-app Amy's Resources Build12 Projects: https://buildtwelve.com Other Resources Mentioned Skylight Frame Aura Frame Netflix Show: "Making Fun" Netflix Show: "Is It Cake"
March 4, 202533 min
199 | AI in Web Design: Balancing Speed with Creativity
Join us as we talk with Nir Sadeh, Head of Product at Wix Studio, about the platform designed specifically for web professionals. Nir breaks down how Wix Studio differs from the traditional Wix editor by offering advanced capabilities for agencies and freelancers. Learn about their newest feature—AI-powered visual sitemaps and wireframes—that helps designers quickly create site structures and get client approval. We also explore how Wix balances no-code solutions with developer flexibility, their approach to responsive design using AI, and opportunities in the Wix app marketplace. Nir shares valuable insights about product development, user research methods, and his perspective on the impact of AI on the future of web design. Show Notes 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Journey to becoming Head of Product 01:48 - Transition from individual contributor to manager 02:21 - Team structure at Wix 03:42 - Goal setting and KPIs 04:36 - Overview of Wix Studio 06:08 - Web-based application functionality 07:03 - Code editing experiences in Wix Studio 08:07 - Client control and access capabilities 09:02 - New features: Visual sitemap and wireframes 10:57 - AI integration points in Wix 12:35 - AI generating layouts and websites 14:50 - Upcoming roadmap items 15:54 - User creativity surprises 16:12 - Wix app marketplace 17:34 - Design trends and components 18:59 - User research approach 20:57 - Data-driven decision making 22:16 - Balancing user preferences with brand goals 24:02 - Career advice for aspiring product managers 25:40 - Balancing customization and consistency 26:44 - Mobile responsiveness and browser support 28:06 - Native apps and business management 28:37 - SEO tracking and analytics 29:45 - Picks and Plugs Links and Resources Wix Studio - The professional website creation platform discussed throughout the episode Velo by Wix - The robust code solution mentioned at 06:45 Visual Sitemap and Wireframes - The new AI feature launched by Wix Studio Wix App Market - The marketplace where developers can build and sell apps VS Code integration with Wix Studio Wix Studio AI Assistant - Mentioned as a coding help feature Figma to Wix - Mentioned as having import capabilities to Wix Studio Picks: Severance (TV Show) - Nir's pick Remix Dev Tools (becoming React Router DevTools) - Brad's pick AeroPress - Amy's previous pick (referenced) Prismo filter - Amy's previous pick (referenced) Milk frother - Amy's current pick
February 25, 202551 min
198 | The Great Formatting Debate: ESLint, Prettier, and TypeScript
Josh Goldberg joins Amy and Brad to unpack the recent ESLint V9 release and its impact on the TypeScript ecosystem. From explaining the nuances of flat config migration to debating the proper separation between Prettier and ESLint, Josh offers practical advice for improving developer workflows. The conversation covers Josh's journey as a full-time open source maintainer, the Open Source Pledge initiative, and best practices for implementing linting in CI/CD pipelines. Plus, Josh shares behind-the-scenes details from the inaugural SquiggleConf event. Chapter Marks 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Welcome Josh Goldberg 01:06 - Working in open source and getting paid 03:10 - The Open Source Pledge 04:49 - ESLint V9 and flat config changes 07:25 - Migration challenges with flat config 09:52 - Understanding ESLint config format 11:50 - How most people use ESLint 16:20 - Prettier vs ESLint responsibilities 18:47 - Conflict between Prettier and ESLint 21:26 - TypeScript's role in ESLint 25:01 - TypeScript ESLint packages explained 27:43 - Linters for other languages 29:31 - ESLint in CI/CD pipelines 32:03 - Auto-fixing in different environments 37:14 - AI's role in linting and formatting 41:45 - SquiggleConf discussion 44:15 - Conference tooling and Q&A system 46:33 - Future SquiggleConf plans 47:13 - Picks and Plugs Brad Garropy Pick : Philips Hue smart lighting system - Set up Christmas lights with Hue smart outlets for easy control via phone or voice commands Plug : Brad's BlueSky account - @bradgarropy.com Josh Goldberg Pick : BlueSky social network - Appreciates how it feels like early Twitter without spam bots and complicated server setups Plug : SquiggleConf - Web development tooling conference returning in September 2025 Amy Dutton Pick : The Inheritance Games (book) - Describes it as an easy-to-read young adult fiction with puzzles, similar to Knives Out Plug : Amy's BlueSky account - @selfteachme Links Mentioned in the Episode TypeScript ESLint ESLint v9 migration docs ESLint Config Inspector Sentry Grave $750k to Open Source Maintainers Open Source Pledge initiative Squiggle Conf website Prisma Pulse Philips Hue smart lighting The Inheritance Games (book mentioned by Amy) Social Media Accounts Brad's BlueSky account: @bradgarropy.com Amy's BlueSky account: @selfteachme Josh Goldberg's BlueSky Account: @joshuakgoldberg.com Related Resources ESLint Stylistic project ESLint Config Prettier ESLint Plugin Prettier "Create TypeScript Apps" project (Josh's tooling package) Awesome ESLint repo (collection of ESLint plugins) Manual to Magical: AI in Developer Tooling : Tobbe's talk on using AI to write code mods Nicholas Zakas discussing the ESLint config system on Syntax podcast Tools Mentioned Husky Lint-staged Cursor Biome and OXLint (Rust-based linters) GitHub Actions
February 11, 202541 min
197 | How Jam.dev Turned Bug Reporting Frustration into an 85,000-User Product
Join us for an insightful conversation with Dani Grant, co-founder of Jam.dev, as she shares her journey from Cloudflare PM to startup founder. Learn how Jam.dev persevered through eight failed attempts before finding product-market fit and growing to 85,000 users. Dani reveals valuable lessons about product-led growth, building in public, and raising venture capital. From tactical fundraising tips to creative community building strategies like jam.pizza, this episode is packed with practical insights for founders and anyone interested in the startup journey. Sponsor Convex is the backend for founders. Convex is the backend application platform for product-obsessed founders. Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:29 - Sponsor: Convex 1:08 - Meeting Dani Grant 1:41 - Early Career at Cloudflare 3:09 - Finding Internships & Career Growth 5:25 - Starting Jam.dev 11:56 - Product Evolution & User Growth 16:57 - Product Features & Implementation 21:22 - Monetization Strategy 23:37 - Technical Deep Dive: How Jam Works 27:49 - Future Plans & Mobile Development 29:12 - Fundraising Tips & Strategies 34:00 - Supporting Developer Communities 36:18 - Picks and Plugs Links Companies/Products: Jam.dev Cloudflare Convex (sponsor) Sentry Data Dog Hotjar FullStory JIRA Metabase Notion Social/Personal: Dani Grant's Twitter Dani Grant's email ( dani@jam.dev ) Brad Garropy's Twitter ( @bradgarropy ) Learn Build Teach Discord Deals for Devs project Books/Media: "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (book mentioned by Dani) Matt Wolf's YouTube channel (AI recaps) Career Resources: jam.dev/careers (mentioned they're hiring) jam.pizza (community meetup sponsorship form) Technical Tools Mentioned: Vite Remix ES Build Products Similar to Jam: FullStory Hotjar Sentry Datadog Development Tools: Chrome Extension Store (where Jam is available) Community: LearnBuildTeach.com Deals for Devs
February 4, 202552 min
196 | Building the Future: Tanstack's Approach to React Server Components
Join us as Tanner Linsley, the creator and founder of TanStack Start talks about its transition from Vinci to a more streamlined architecture built on Nitro. Learn about the framework's innovative approach to server functions, its isomorphic design philosophy, and how it differs from other frameworks like Remix. Tanner also shares insights into TanStack's sustainable open-source business model and his journey to building developer tools that prioritize user experience over rapid growth. Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Welcome Tanner Linsley 3:43 - React Server Components and TanStack Evolution 6:04 - TanStack Start Overview and Vinci Transition 11:26 - Nitro Integration and Framework Architecture 15:19 - Server Functions and Framework Comparisons 20:58 - API Design Philosophy 24:19 - Testing and Development Process 30:58 - Team and Collaboration Discussion 33:38 - Open Source Sponsorship Strategy 36:32 - Netlify Partnership Announcement 38:37 - Open Source Sustainability Discussion 41:03 - Picks and Plugs Links Products & Tools: TanStack Vinxi by Nikhil Saraf Nitro React Router TRPC Remix H3 (web request library) XPro (Tweet Deck) Deck.blue (BlueSky client) MOTU M4 audio interface Bamboo Lab A1 3D printer Lashbrook Designs (Brad's wedding band) Companies & Sponsors: Convex Clerk AG Grid Sentry Netlify Games & Entertainment: Blockus (board game) Severance (TV Show on Apple TV+) " First Lie Wins " (book) Personal Projects & Links: buildtwelve.com (Amy's project) Brad on BlueSky (@bradgaropy.com) Nozzle (Tanner's startup) Technical Resources: Babel Dead Code Elimination (by Pedro Katori) GitHub 3D Contribution Graph Generator React Server Components documentation Other Projects Mentioned: Solid Start Astro
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