Modern Web

In this special episode of the Modern Web podcast, Tracy Lee and Ben Lesh are joined by Netflix Engineering Managers Ryan Burgess and Jem Young. They tackle the transition from coding to management roles, debunking myths and shedding light on real challenges. Emphasizing that management isn't a simple promotion, but a unique career track requiring distinct skills. Their candid conversation exposes the value of experienced architects guiding junior team members, fostering well-rounded teams. The group engages in lively banter, debunking the idea that management is the sole path to career growth, exploring industry trends, including streamlining management hierarchies for efficiency. This episode resonates with diverse tech career trajectories, inspiring you with insights into leadership, team dynamics, and the evolving landscape. HostsTracy Lee, CEO of This Dot LabsBen Lesh, Author of RxJS GuestJem Young, Engineering Manager at NetflixRyan Burgess, Engineering Manager at Netflix Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Tracy Lee is joined by co-host Jessica Wilkins and guest Chris Coyier, co-founder of CodePen, a company that provides an online code editor. They discuss various topics related to web development and technology. Chris talks about his background and his work at CodePen. They are currently working on CodePen 2.0, a major update to the platform. Chris mentions that although the interface of CodePen may not have changed much over time, there's value in maintaining reliability and consistency for users. They touch upon the challenges of keeping up with the ever-evolving landscape of web technologies. Chris expresses the importance of providing an online code editor that supports various technologies and languages, allowing users to experiment without setting up complex development environments. He also acknowledges the growing trend of AI integration in coding tools. The conversation then shifts to the debate surrounding different tools, frameworks, and technologies in the web development space. C

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Rob Ocel dives into the intricate world of reliability engineering in software development with Maggie Johnson-Pint, co-founder of Stanza Systems. Uncover the secret behind the stampede effect that can cripple your application during traffic surges and gain insights into the indispensable need for a balanced blend of proactive and reactive strategies to ensure unwavering reliability. Reliability engineering goes beyond mere availability metrics, encompassing user experience, performance, and trustworthiness. While the giants of the industry like Google and Silicon Valley enterprises discuss it at length, the broader developer community often finds these concepts elusive. Stanza deciphers the code to crafting resilient systems that sail through unexpected challenges and observability that unveils the hidden dynamics of your software. Picture a scenario where your system functions flawlessly until it's pushed to its limits. Stanza’s solution: wield the power of rate li

Uncover the best ESLint hacks with open source maintainer Josh Goldberg in this episode of the Modern Web Podcast. Enhancing Your Code Quality: TypeScript ESLint brings a new dimension to linting by blending ESLint's capabilities with TypeScript's type-checking. Now, developers can analyze TypeScript code with ease, utilizing linting rules and tools that leverage TypeScript's type-checking APIs. Say goodbye to tedious manual checks and embrace the power of automated code analysis. Version 6.0 Breakthrough: Discover the latest release of TypeScript ESLint V6.0, where preset configurations have been thoughtfully reworked. Developers can now enjoy more granular control over rules, tailoring their linting experience to suit their team's unique preferences and needs. With the separation of stylistic, strict, and opinionated rules, your codebase will reach new heights of consistency and excellence. User-Centered Experience: TypeScript ESLint focuses on developers' needs, actively seeking community feedback and enga

In this episode of Modern Web, Tracy Lee and Ben Lesh are joined live at RenderATL by Francesco Ciulla, Tessa Mero, Ady Ngom, and Jessica Wilkins!  Tune in as they double click into the highly debated subject of Tailwind CSS and explore the advantages, readability concerns, and overall consensus on its usage. Discover why Tailwind CSS is making waves in the industry, particularly for new projects, and how it can simplify your development process while enhancing productivity. But that's not all! The conversation takes an intriguing turn as the group dives into the realm of web components. Hear opinions on whether web components can be a viable alternative to traditional frameworks. Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding web components, including server-side rendering and widespread adoption. HostsTracy Lee, CEO of This Dot LabsBen Lesh, Author of RxJS PanelFrancesco Ciulla, DevRel at daily.devTessa Mero, Developer Advocate at AppwriteAdy Ngom, Chief Consultant at Techlabs 28Jessica Wil

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast live at RenderATL, Tracy Lee interviews Michelle “Mish” Mannering. As an advocate for developers at GitHub, Mish emphasizes the importance of effective communication and creating tutorials that cater to developers of all levels. Get inspired as Tracy and Mish reveal their unconventional journeys into the tech industry, proving that diverse backgrounds can lead to remarkable success in Developer Relations. With their infectious enthusiasm, they describe the joy of engaging with the vibrant developer community, attending events, and witnessing awe-inspiring projects come to life. Tune in now to the Modern Web Podcast and join Tracy and Michelle as they delve into the exciting world of Developer Relations, uncovering valuable insights, and fostering a stronger developer community. GuestMichelle "Mish" Mannering, Developer Advocate at GitHub HostsTracy Lee, CEO of This Dot Labs This episode is sponsored by This Dot Labs.

In this episode of Modern Web, co-hosts Tracy Lee and Ben Lesh sit down live at RenderATL with Scott Tolinski, co-host of the Syntax podcast and of Level Up Tutorials, to discuss his journey as a web development tutorial creator and YouTuber. He shares his experiences of transitioning from a full-time developer to creating YouTube tutorials as a side project. Initially, Scott started his YouTube channel to fill his free time but eventually saw it gain popularity and became his full-time career in 2017. However, he faced challenges when attempting to monetize his content and struggled to convince his audience to pay for his courses after providing free content for years. Scott also talks about the technical aspects of his work, highlighting the benefits of using Svelte, a JavaScript framework, and his preference for its close resemblance to the DOM. He also mentions the evolution of his content creation strategies, such as releasing teaser videos on YouTube to redirect viewers to his website, where the main co

Andrew Knight, popularly known as automation panda, was recently interviewed on the Modern Web Podcast by host Rob Ocel. Andrew, a software quality champion, developer advocate, and test automation expert, shared his insights and experiences in the interview. He spoke passionately about testing and the importance of improving software quality. Andrew discussed the challenges he faced early in his career and how he recognized the opportunity to enhance software stability, readability, and speed through effective testing. The conversation then shifted to the current state of testing in various tech communities. Andrew highlighted the wide variation in testing practices across companies, irrespective of programming languages or tech stacks. Smaller companies often lacked proper testing processes, while larger companies relied on traditional testing approaches that were deeply ingrained. Advancements in web testing frameworks and tools were another topic of discussion. Andrew acknowledged the long-standing availa

In this episode of Modern Web, Tracy Lee and Adam Barrett talk with Kevin Åberg Kultalahti of Svelte Society to discuss the long anticipated release of Svelte 4. Listen in as they explore the exciting technical enhancements that Svelte 4 brings to the table, including its reduced package size, enhanced web component support, and optimized performance. Svelte 4 introduces a revolutionary approach to web development by compiling components at build time rather than relying on a runtime framework. This means smaller bundle sizes, faster loading times, and improved performance for your applications. We delve into the technical details of how Svelte achieves this impressive feat, providing practical examples and insights into the inner workings of the framework. Compatibility is a key concern for any web development framework, and Svelte 4 addresses this head-on. With improved web component support, Svelte 4 enables seamless integration with existing codebases and allows developers to leverage the power of Svelte

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Ben Lesh (RxJS Core Team Lead) and Ryan Carniato (Principal Engineer at Netlify, Creator of SolidJS) to discuss Signals. They talk about what Signal are, why they're suddenly so popular, how Signals differ from Observables, and whether Signals (or Observables) should be integrated into the web platform. They also cover how engineers should think about the "Signals hype", and how Signals are implemented differently from framework to framework. GuestsRyan Carniato - Principal Engineer @Netlify, Creator of @solid_js, and the CEO of Signals - @RyanCarniatoBen Lesh - RxJS Core Team Lead, and the CEO of Observables? - @BenLesh HostRob Ocel - Architect and Engineering Lead @ThisDotLabs - @robocell

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Debbie O'Brien (Senior Program Manager at Microsift and Playwright Developer Advocate) to discuss automated testing with Playwright! They talk about the evolution of the testing pyramid, how to write Playwright with the Playwright recorder, and some of the upcoming features of Playwright to deal with Shadow DOM, frames, selector issues, and so much more!  Guest Debbie O'Brien: Senior Program Manager at Microsoft and Playwright Web Developer Advocate. @debs_obrien Host Rob Ocel: Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs. @robocell

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Rick Conrades, Engineering Manager at This Dot Labs, to discuss software development and engineering management! They discuss how to identify and mitigate risks, how to make difficult technology tradeoffs, and how to "manage up"! Finally, they share tips for all software engineers about relating to engineering managers, and the surprising challenges that engineering managers face with their teams. GuestRick Conrades, Engineering Manager at This Dot Labs HostRob Ocel, Software Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Jesse Tomchak is joined by Sam Julien, Director of Developer Advocacy, for Auth0 at Okta. What is the day to day of someone in developer advocacy outside of what we see from blog posts and conference talks? Sam is passionate about helping developers become the best versions of themselves through Tiny Experiments book, and his current newsletter, Developer Microskills. We dive into the idea of self taught developers, developer productive that is actually effective, sustainable progress, and so much more.   GuestSam Julien - Director of Developer Advocacy, Auth0 at Okta HostJesse Tomchak - Architect and Engineering Lead at ThisDotLabs - @robocell   Developer Microskills newsletter (https://developermicroskills.com) Sam's website (http://www.samjulien.com/) How to Finish What You Start article (https://www.samjulien.com/how-to-finish-what-you-start) Guide to Tiny Experiments book (https://learn.samjulien.com/guide-to-tiny-experiments)Getting Started in Developer Relations book (http://www.gettin

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Jenny Truong, Head of Operations and Developer Relations at Stately, to talk about state machines, XState, and mental health. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of starting a company from an open-source project, the benefits of user research and how Stately has used it to develop their new stately studio, and they extensively discuss Jenny's recent talk at AgentConf on looking at moods, burnout, and stress through the lens of state machines. Finally, they talk about the fun of being a doughnut connoisseur. ‌GuestJenny Truong- Head of Operations and Developer Relations at Stately  HostRob Ocel - Architect and Engineering Lead @ThisDotLabs - @robocell   Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Dominik Dorfmeister (Frontend Tech Lead at Adverity and Maintainer of TanStack Query), to talk about open-source software, TanStack Query, and more! They discuss the rapid growth of the TanStack, how Dominik first became involved as a core team maintainer and the challenges he's faced, the future of the TanStack and data-management as a driving force in front-end framework development, using TanStack in other frameworks, and the joys of skiing. Guest Dominik Dorfmeister, Frontend Lead at Adverty and Maintainer for TanStack Query Host Rob Ocel, Software Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Jesse Tomchak is joined by Tanner Linsley of smash hits like TanStack Table, Query, and Router, for a discussion about Tanner's latest project: TanStack Start. Tanner discusses the problems he’s trying to solve, how building on existing ideas in the community has accelerated development pace, and how he went about solving it in a very "TanStack" fashion. Guest Tanner Linsley, Co-Founder at nozzle.io and Creator of TanStack Host Jesse Tomchack, Software Architect at This Dot Labs   Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Rob Ocel, is joined by Trecia Kat, to talk about breaking into tech, building a social media following, and finding community. They discuss how to find a niche through being yourself on social media, choosing between DevRel and engineering career paths, CSS, and even their hopes and fears for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.   Guest Trecia Kat, Self-Taught Developer and DevRel Engineer   Host Rob Ocel, Engineering Lead & Software Architect at This Dot Labs   Sponsored by This Dot Labs

On this episode of The Modern Web, we catch up with Scott Spence, Developer Relations Engineer at Storyblok, and SvelteSociety London meetup organizer. We dive into the ins and outs of Svelte, ramping up from React, what’s it like to a second career developer, and the importance of paying it forward to developers who are new to the community.   Guest Scott Spence, Developer Relations Engineer at Storyblok   Host Jesse Tomchak, Software Architect at This Dot Labs   Sponsored by This Dot Labs

This week on Modern Web Alyssa Nicoll from Progress takes the web out of the browser and into native apps. Bringing you the cutting edge of native applications with embedded web technologies, Angular offers the best of both worlds. We take some minor detours into learning backend technology stacks as a long life JavaScript developer, and the awesome communities and friends we’ve made along the way. Join us for a spectacular journey and a couple tangents.   Guest Alyssa Nicoll, Sr. Developer Advocate at Progress   Host Jesse Tomchak, Software Architect at This Dot Labs   Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Gant Laborde (CIO @infinite_red, Author of “Learning TensorFlow.js: Powerful Machine Learning in JavaScript”, Chain React organizer), to talk about React Native, conference organizing, and the promise of AI in development.  They discuss the flexibility and power of hybrid native apps, the upcoming new architecture of React Native, the trials and tribulations of organizing conferences, the state of AI tooling and education, and the opportunities and challenges for developers in a future working alongside AI.   Guest Gant Laborde - CIO at Infinite Red, Author of “Learning TensorFlow.js: Powerful Machine Learning in JavaScript”, Chain React organizer, Google GDE and Microsoft MVP   HostRob Ocel - Architect and Engineering Lead ThisDotLabs   Sponsored by This Dot Labs