HTML All The Things - Web Development, AI, and Developer Careers

In this episode Mike had the pleasure of sitting down with Maximilian Schwarzmüller to discuss developer education. Before the days of AI, developers would typically go to a traditional school program, do a Udemy course, or maybe take part in a bootcamp. In 2025, the AI era has shifted a lot of things, including developer education into a new space. Mike and Max explore the evolution of developer education, the role of AI in your 2025 learning journey, and what skills (if any) you should prioritize in these new exciting times. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/developer-education-w-maximilian-schwarzmuller

Dive into the comeback of Web News as we discuss popular AI coding tools, the new "vibe coding" trend, and Firefox's new TOS changes. Coding with AI has become commonplace over the past couple years with consumer tools like ChatGPT showing off their coding competence. As professional developers adopt AI into the workplace they may start with ChatGPT, but will likely adopt coding-specific tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Windsurf. Vibe Coding is a new trend where you fire up an AI assistant and let it do the coding work for you through human language prompts - opening up rapid prototyping for experienced developers and helping newbies have their ideas realized (to some extent). Firefox has made headlines recently regarding changes to their TOS regarding privacy - are they still the "privacy browser" that many users trusted them to be? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/vibe-coding-cursor-vs-windsurf-firefox-did-what Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring today's episode! Get up to 25% off their new gummies by using our affiliate link (https://magicmind.com/HTMLGM), or promo code (HTML25).

In this episode we had the pleasure of sitting down with Kent C. Dodds, a celebrated educator, open-source advocate, and React expert. He’s the creator of the Epic Web conference starting on March 25th 2025 and has created some of the best React workshops and courses out there. Together, we dove deep into how AI has made it almost impossible to apply to jobs the traditional way and if junior developers should turn off their AI chatbots when learning. We also covered what framework you should be learning and the roadmap for learning it. (Spoiler alert... it’s React). Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/ai-has-broken-the-web-developer-job-market-w-kent-c-dodds

Dive into this episode of HTML All the Things as hosts Matt and Mike unlock the secrets to thriving in the world of remote work! They break down every model—from synchronous and asynchronous setups to hybrid and freelance paths—so listeners can find the perfect match for their lifestyle and personality. Matt and Mike share actionable strategies for boosting productivity, covering everything from time management and work environment hacks to mastering communication and leveraging top tools like Slack, Notion, and Zoom. The hosts also tackle the challenges unique to remote work, such as isolation, miscommunication, and the elusive work-life balance, offering practical advice on overcoming these hurdles. Plus, they provide expert tips on landing remote web development jobs, building a standout portfolio, acing remote interviews, and spotting red flags in job listings. Whether you're a seasoned remote pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights to help you succeed in the ever-evolving remote landscape. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/how-to-be-successful-as-a-remote-developer

In this episode, Matt and Mike tackle real-world SEO client scenarios and how to solve them. From small business owners struggling to be found online to demanding clients who just want to be “#1 on Google,” we break down the biggest SEO challenges and what it actually takes to improve rankings. We’ll cover: Helping local businesses improve their online visibility, managing client expectations when it comes to SEO, fixing common website and Google My Business mistakes, and the right way to approach SEO for long-term success. If you've ever worked with clients on SEO—or if you're trying to improve your own business’s search rankings—this episode is packed with practical advice you can use. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/i-want-to-rank-1-on-google-how-to-solve-real-seo-problems

Web developers use a lot of tools to get the job done and unfortunately, those tools sometimes get dropped in favor of newer and shinier ones. In this episode Matt and Mike take a trip down memory lane to revisit and discuss some of the JavaScript tools that have since lost presence in the zeitgeist. These tools include jQuery, MomentJS, Apache Cordova, and more! Some of these tools, while not as spry as they once were, are still fully supported and have new versions in development. While they might not be exciting enough to make headlines on the daily, many are still viable tools projects depending on a project's needs, wants, and age. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/javascript-tech-we-loved-but-dont-use-as-much-anymore

Are developers forced to choose the popular option? This week, Matt had the pleasure of sitting down with Colby Fayock, a content creator and Shopify engineer to discuss the difficulty of choosing tools, plugins, frameworks, and more. Typically when you want stability and support, a safe bet is a popular tool run by a large company or community. However, last year's WordPress drama had many wondering how a platform so massive had a future that suddenly seemed so uncertain. Can options other than the popular ones be a good choice sometimes? Show notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-popular-option-w-colby-fayock

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of freelancing—a rewarding but often challenging career path for web developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts alike. As 10+ year veterans of their own web dev agency, the guys share their personal insights and experiences when freelancing. Learn how to: make the most out of freelancing platforms like GURU, build an online presence for marketing, leveraging word of mouth once established, and dig up leads in unconventional places. Whether you’re considering freelancing as a side hustle or aiming to go full-time, we’re here to share actionable tips and strategies to set you up for success. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/freelancing-for-web-development

In this episode Matt and Mike delve into the world of asynchronous JavaScript, inspired by a listener's request. The discussion covers essential concepts such as synchronous and asynchronous operations, explaining how JavaScript's single-threaded nature can lead to blocking issues. The hosts explore various methods to handle async operations, including callbacks, promises, and the increasingly popular async/await syntax. They also address practical issues like error handling and best practices for writing maintainable and performant async code. This episode is ideal for developers looking to deepen their understanding of JavaScript's asynchronous capabilities. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-is-async-javascript Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore why vanilla JavaScript remains a powerful tool for developers. From small projects that don’t need the complexity of frameworks, to performance-critical and fine-control use cases, they discuss when and why going framework-free can be the better choice. They also dive into learning and debugging benefits, reducing dependencies, and ensuring compatibility with legacy browsers. Whether you’re prototyping, enhancing no-code platforms, or striving for leaner, faster projects, vanilla JS has its place in every developer’s toolkit. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stop-using-frameworks-for-everything-vanilla-javascript-in-2025 Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy up to 45% off the Magic Mind bundle using our link: https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbjan Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of CSS, breaking down essential concepts to help developers write cleaner, more effective stylesheets. Topics include how to avoid over-specificity, the effective use of modern layout tools like Grid and Flexbox, leveraging custom properties for dynamic styling, and adopting methodologies such as BEM to ensure maintainable code. They’ll also explore the newest CSS features, such as container queries and scroll-linked animations, while highlighting how CSS can improve accessibility. Whether you’re just starting with CSS or looking to refine your skills, this episode is packed with insights to level up your stylesheets. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stop-overcomplicating-css-master-layouts-variables-and-modern-best-practices Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Matt and Mike dive deep into the results of the State of JavaScript 2024 survey. The discussion covers various topics such as declining happiness with JavaScript frameworks, the rise of the Astro framework, and the increasing shift towards TypeScript. Additional discussions include the use of AI for code generation and some new JavaScript features that developers are excited about. The guys also discussed the complexities and evolving nature of web development, and whether the modern JavaScript learning curve is sustainable for aspiring junior developers. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-is-everyone-unhappy-with-javascript-state-of-javascript-2024-survey Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy up to 45% off the Magic Mind bundle using our link: https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbjan Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of JavaScript environments, exploring the key differences between client-side and server-side JavaScript. Whether you're a beginner curious about how JavaScript works across the browser and the server, or an experienced developer looking for a refresher, this episode has you covered. Learn about the unique roles of client-side and server-side JavaScript, their common use cases, and when to use each. Plus, discover the latest trends like serverless environments, JAMstack, and exciting tools like Astro and Deno. Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of JavaScript's dual nature! ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/client-side-vs-server-side-javascript Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike take a look back at 2024, reflecting on the milestones and challenges of the past year. From tackling tough web development topics to experimenting with new strategies, it’s been a year of growth and learning for the podcast and its community. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/2024-year-in-review-looking-towards-2025 Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Holidays are a time to recharge, but for web developers, they can sometimes feel like an extension of the workweek. In this episode, Matt and Mike share strategies to set boundaries, avoid burnout, and truly disconnect during the holiday season. They also cover pre-holiday planning tips, ways to make the most of your time off, and how to start the new year with realistic expectations. Whether you're a freelancer or part of a team, these tips will help you balance work and rest this holiday season. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/how-to-actually-enjoy-the-holidays-as-a-web-developer Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode of the HTML All The Things Podcast, Matt and Mike dive into why good HTML practices are essential for building better, more accessible, and maintainable websites. They kick things off by explaining the importance of semantic HTML for readability, SEO, and accessibility—covering useful tags like <header>, <footer>, and <article>. Matt and Mike also discuss how developers can properly create and use custom attributes—like data-* attributes—to store extra information cleanly without relying on fragile class naming conventions. Finally, they emphasize HTML's critical role in accessibility, highlighting best practices such as using ARIA attributes appropriately and providing meaningful alt text for images. To cap off the episode, the hosts share some lighthearted updates about their holiday plans and give a shout-out to this episode’s sponsor, Magic Mind. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stop-using-divs-for-everything-master-semantic-html-custom-attributes-and-accessibility Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt interviews Thomas Chant, an educator at Scrimba and creator of their Advanced JavaScript Course. Thomas shares insights from his journey as a TEFL teacher and web developer, highlighting his passion for teaching and technology. The discussion covers the role of educators in web development, leveraging social media for learning, and the evolving impact of AI on the industry. Thomas also provides tips for aspiring developers entering the job market and details Scrimba’s exciting annual event, JavaScriptmas. With the holiday season in full swing, JavaScriptmas has come once again to ring in some holiday cheer with coding challenges and cool prizes. Get involved and start learning some code by dominating challenges through December 24, 2024. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/educating-devs-that-get-hired-w-thomas-chant JavaScriptmas 2024: https://scrimba.com/javascriptmas 10% off Scrimba discount (new accounts only, valid through 2024): https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings

In this episode of the HTML All Things Podcast, Matt and Mike explore the concept of monorepos - what they are, why they have gained popularity in recent years, and how they compare to polyrepos. The discussion delves into the advantages of monorepos, such as simplified dependency management, improved code sharing and reusability, consistency across teams, and streamlined CI/CD processes. Mike shares personal experiences and insights on the challenges and solutions related to monorepos, particularly through their team's use of TurboRepo. The episode also covers the potential drawbacks, including scaling issues, overhead of tooling, access control challenges, and the risk of entanglement. Whether you're new to monorepos or considering implementing one, this episode provides valuable insights and practical tips. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/monorepos-unpacked-the-good-the-bad-and-the-turbocharged Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

CSS is typically reserved to just laying out pages, with any sort of interactivity or layout changes being left to JavaScript. As CSS matured, more features came out that gave it the ability to detect dynamic conditions on the page, create advanced animations, and apply advanced styling based on custom attributes. These advanced features give web designers the power of interactive design without the need for less-performant JavaScript. With JavaScript remaining one of the top choices for building web pages, should web developers be concerned with advanced CSS features both present and future? Or is offloading these tasks onto CSS concerning to the JavaScript community? In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed, debated, and analyzed interactive CSS, covering some features that Matt has been using and reading up on lately. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/can-css-replace-javascript-the-rise-of-interactive-styling Sponsors: Magic Mind Black Friday Deal!!! - 50% off until December 6, 2024 at our link: https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbf Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike introduce a new episode type dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving world of AI. As AI tools advance at lightning speed, staying informed is critical for developers navigating this transformative era. This week, they dive into the evolution of AI-powered development tools, from simple autocompletes like Copilot and TabNine to full-scale IDE solutions like Cursor and Supermaven. They discuss the pros and cons of using these advanced tools for multifile code generation and manipulation, highlighting both the efficiencies and risks they bring. The conversation then shifts to the rise of AI-driven full-stack application generators, such as Bolt.new, V0, and GitHub Spark. These tools can build entire applications from simple prompts but come with a notable downside: tech bias. Matt shares his experience building a podcast website and highlights how AI's reliance on popular frameworks can limit the adoption of emerging technologies. Finally, the duo debates the future of AI in the development industry. Will AI replace developers in 1, 3, or even 10 years? Tune in to find out! Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/does-ai-have-tech-bias-ai-all-the-things Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

How much power should you give your clients and non-tech colleagues? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the evolving landscape of web development tools and workflows, inspired by Webflow's new page and component slots. They discuss how these innovations, along with popular page builders and CMSs, are empowering non-tech staff to take on more responsibilities, reducing developer involvement in day-to-day content updates. However, this shift comes with risks like design inconsistency, security vulnerabilities, and technical debt. The duo also examines the future of page editing, from AI-driven templates to voice-activated tools and automated quality checks, highlighting the balance between empowering editors and maintaining developer oversight. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/are-developers-making-page-builders-too-powerful-for-content-editors Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Level up your vanilla JavaScript with these powerful Web APIs that every developer should know. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into essential Web APIs that can take your web development skills to the next level. Discover how Web APIs differ from external APIs and explore their powerful capabilities—from manipulating the DOM and fetching data to enabling offline functionality for native app-like uses (ie PWAs). They’ll cover must-know APIs like Fetch, Storage, and Service Worker, along with user experience (and native app-like) boosters like Geolocation and Notifications. Tune in to learn practical applications, security tips, and best practices that will help you create fast, interactive, and native-like web apps. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/web-apis-that-every-javascript-developer-should-know Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Rushed timelines and last-minute jobs are something that most developers are all too familiar with. While frequent rush jobs can signal deeper management issues, the fast-paced nature of the world means unexpected challenges often arise. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore strategies for developers to take charge when work needs to be completed quickly. They discuss how project leadership and effective decision-making can help prevent a rush job from turning into endless overtime. By taking ownership of the work order, setting realistic expectations, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape, developers can streamline communication with their teams to prioritize coding time and deliver results efficiently. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-control-in-a-rush Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

The WordPress drama between WPEngine and Matt Mullenweg has been quite the stir up for primarily WordPress, but also the open source community in general. Not to mention, all the WPEngine customers that are effectively collateral damage having their websites adversely affected, sometimes without even realizing what's happening. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the WordPress drama and touched on how it could affect open source projects moving forward. Is WordPress in the right? Is WPEngine? You decide... Disclaimer/Correction: A section of this episode states a misinterpretation of the GPL license. We've published a correction in the show notes under the "Disclaimer & Correction" section. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/open-source-is-dead Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Side projects are often done as a for-fun and potentially for-profit outlet for web developers looking to break free from client projects where they have little control. Unfortunately, just like client projects, side projects can easily spiral out of scope to the point of developer exhaustion. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how scope creep can derail personal projects, offering practical strategies to prevent it. They discuss defining a solid MVP, niching down to maintain focus, and prioritizing features using methods like the MoSCoW framework. By setting clear boundaries and establishing achievable milestones, developers can avoid common pitfalls and keep their side projects on track. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/side-projects-the-eternal-loop-of-never-ending-features Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode Matt and MIke, continue their deep dive into the toughest concepts in web development. The guys tackle topics like mastering responsive design, ensuring web accessibility (a11y) for all users, and the complexities of server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and client-side rendering (CSR). They also explore the challenges of event-driven architectures, managing project dependencies efficiently, and setting up smooth CI/CD pipelines. Whether you're building scalable web applications or just want to level up your dev game, this episode has actionable insights to help you through some of web development's most intricate concepts. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-2 Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 40% off your subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD40 Code: HTMLPOD40) This offer is only available for the first 10 people that use the link and code!! Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Web development is not easy! Websites need to work on multiple devices, respect SEO best practices, and must deliver everything from blogs through complex design programs. These demanding sees web developers navigating not only demanding topics, but ones that are also difficult to engineer, implement, and maintain. In this episode, Matt and Mike start a discussion the toughest concepts in web development. In this first of two parts series, the duo discussed: Asynchronous programming & promises, state management, security concerns (ie XSS CSRF, SQL Injection), performance optimization, scalability & architecture, and cross-browser compatibility. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-1 Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Matt and Mike had a great conversation with Shashi Lo this week! Shashi is a senior software engineer at Microsoft and founder of Gridiron Survivor - an open source NFL Survivor pool SaaS application that’s designed to help the junior developers working on it further their skills and knowledge through real-world experience. Unlike self-taught personal projects, Shashi walks us through how his mentees on the Gridiron Survivor project are guided through corporate standards such as writing clean code and covering all the bases with proper testing - concepts that may seem superfluous on small portfolio project, but are a must-have in a corporate setting. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/mentoring-developers-with-shashi-lo Companion Article: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/blog-posts/bridging-the-skills-gap-empowering-junior-developers-through-apprenticeship-programs

While trying to solve a coding problem this week, Matt found himself buried in a collection of solutions offered by ChatGPT and Google search results. Some of the solutions were completely new to him and so he got to thinking about how "safe" it would be to implement them. Not from a security perspective, as there wasn't any private data involved in this particular case, but his concern was more for the page UX itself. How efficient were the solutions he was about to implement, would it slow the web page down? Were these new topics even being used in the correct context and being implemented appropriately? In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed how to think through problems like this in terms of project architecture, website performance, and troubleshooting/research time spent. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-your-code-too-complex-troubleshooting-fixing-and-implementing-solutions Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

There is a lot of tech out there! It seems every day someone is coming out with a new way to edit images, use AI, build websites, assist developers, and the list goes on and on. This week, Matt and Mike decided to zoom in and discuss some of the tech that they enjoy using at the moment including Svelte/SvelteKit, TailwindCSS, Supermaven, and much more! The technologies that web developers change all the time - and not always obvious things like frameworks and plugins, but also more logistical elements of the job like where to host, compress images, etc. What are you using in your projects? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/tech-we-love-as-web-developers-sveltekit-vercel-supermaven-and-more Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Scope creep is a very dangerous thing that can endanger a team's productivity and mental health. It involves taking the original scope of a project, and slowly but surely, adding more and more tasks to it. Often times scope creep is not done nefariously, as those that request tasks from developers are ignorant of the technical complexities of their requests. Unfortunately, there are those that will add to a project's scope willingly to take advantage of their employees, or there may be some mismanagement within the company that leads to additional work in a short period of time. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the who, what, where, when, and why of pushing back against customer requests in order to keep projects in-scope. They discussed the importance of pushing back sometimes, when to push back, and whether it's appropriate to push back when acting as a freelance contractor. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/saying-no-to-scope-creep-how-web-devs-can-push-back Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Code quality matters! When developers write better, cleaner, and safer code - their deliverables improve significantly. When code is safer, there are less problems with crashes and unintended errors. When code is cleaner, team members find it easier to read, peer review, and add on to down the line. Improving the quality of your code is easier said than done, however, as it takes more than just "getting good" at coding. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the importance of and how to improve your code quality by keeping coding styles consistent with your team, refactoring, writing good tests, using prettier formatting, and linting. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-code-quality-matters-testing-linting-refactoring Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Should AI run in the cloud or on-device? Some people think that on-device is the only way forward as it ensures a certain level of privacy, while others worry that our local hardware (PC, smartphone, smartwatch) is not powerful enough to deliver cutting-edge features. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how on-device AI and cloud-based AI work. The guys discussed the benefits of each approach while analyzing and debating their differences on both a hardware/software and user-experience level. Are you worried about your AI information being out in the cloud? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/should-our-ai-data-be-in-the-cloud---on-device-ai-vs-cloud-based-ai Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

This week Matt and Mike took a trip down memory lane to discuss, debate, and reflect on some of their biggest projects that shaped their careers as web developers. As with many tech careers, the road to becoming a web developer is anything but straightforward. In the case of Matt and Mike, their planned IT startup took a hard right turn based on the opportunities they were afforded over the years such as working for a large medical clinic under the scrutiny of strict government regulations, being caught up in Chrome OS fever as Chrome Apps landed on Windows, helping a large fast food franchise deliver important info to their franchisees, and many more! The pathway to becoming a web developer is anything but linear and the guys hope that this episode's conversations prove that there is no one single pathway to success in the web dev game. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/our-biggest-projects-how-we-became-developers Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

It's often said that in order to become a junior developer, you should learn the three foundational pillars of web development before moving onto a framework, plugin, or other specialty. These pillars are of course: HTML (for site structure), CSS (for page styling), and JS (for advanced UI interactivity) - we refer to them as vanilla tech. Way back in the day, these pillars were pretty much the only thing most developers used to create websites (minus backend tech), but these days most jobs require that you have experience with a popular toolset like React + Next.js, or Svelte + SvelteKit. In this episode, Matt and Mike check in on HTML, CSS, and JS in 2024. The duo discussed these technologies through the frontend lens exclusively, pushing aside things such as JavaScript usage in the backend, or being typed by TypeScript - in order to capture what these technologies were initially used for. Through this discussion the guys question how relevant vanilla tech is 2024, and whether or not it is primarily used as a learning tool by today's standards. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-vanilla-tech-just-for-juniors-exploring-the-role-of-html-css-and-js-in-2024 Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive deep into the results of the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024, uncovering the latest trends, technologies, and tools shaping the programming world. From the most popular programming languages and frameworks to the evolving work environments and career satisfaction of developers, the guys break down the data to give you a comprehensive look at the state of software development today. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights into where the industry is headed and how you can stay ahead of the curve. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/developers-hate-technical-debt-stack-overflow-survey-2024 Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Today, we're diving deep into the vital topic of navigating ethics in web development. As developers, we face numerous decisions that fall under the umbrella of ethical practice, from ensuring digital privacy and user consent to integrating accessibility features and prioritizing data security. We'll explore how ethical considerations influence our choices, such as selecting sustainable hosting options, responsibly implementing cutting-edge technologies like AI, and making mindful UI/UX design decisions. Additionally, we'll discuss the complexities of client intentions and our responsibility as developers to uphold ethical standards. Join Matt and Mike as they unpack these essential aspects to create a more ethical web. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-right-way-to-code-navigating-ethics-in-web-development Magic Mind Trial using our link (https://magicmind.com/HTMLPODTRIAL) and our code (HTMLPODTRIAL) - Full details can be found in the show notes! Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Web development is regarded by many as an absolute cluster f*ck. You can't just grab the "right" language and start making a website, there is a seemingly endless supply of no-code tools, libraries, JavaScript frameworks, and more. Even if you and a developer friend are trying to make the exact same project, your finished product will likely be largely the same...but the technology that powers it can be wildly different. What makes matters worse is that problems in the industry are addressed relatively quickly by community projects that of course spawn competing alternatives, and then rather quickly (at times) become old and outdated by even more modern solutions that push them out of the way. While it's great to have such an active community, if you're looking from the outside in, the web development industry looks like a total disaster. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore why web development seems so messy. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-is-web-development-a-cluster-f-ck Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Explore the dynamics of synchronous vs asynchronous work as Matt and Mike discuss, analyze, and debate these two popular team workflows. Learn the pros and cons of both work styles, including security, flexibility, and team collaboration. Discover how these methods impact web developers with practical examples of onboarding, mentoring, and deep work. Tune in to understand how to effectively balance sync and async environments for optimal productivity and employee satisfaction. Whether you're a team leader or a solo developer, this episode has valuable takeaways for everyone in the tech industry. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/async-work-for-web-developers-revolution-or-redundancy Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers.

In this episode we dive into the toughest situations web agencies face. From budget cuts and impossible deadlines to social media crises and viral success, Matt and Mike discuss practical strategies for managing stress, negotiating with clients, and maintaining quality. Learn from the guys' experience as they explore real-life scenarios like “The Budget Slash,” “The Perfect Storm,” and “The Design Diva,” offering insights and solutions to keep your agency thriving. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/navigating-difficult-situations-as-a-web-agency Thank you to this episode's sponsors! Check them out below. Limited Time Magic Mind Discount: Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases. Use our link and code (at checkout) to claim the discount! Link (affiliate): https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Discount Code: HTMLPOD20 Wix Studio: The Web Platform for Agencies and Enterprises Give Wix Studio a try today: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, we dive into the challenges companies face when balancing rapid feature development with maintaining stability and processes. We explore what it means to build fast, including establishing a tech stack that allows for quick iteration, easy rollback, and efficient database management. We discuss the importance of getting ideas from concept to production swiftly, while ensuring quality through early QA involvement. The episode also covers why it’s sometimes okay to break things, especially when dealing with a small user base, and the critical areas where building fast is not advisable, such as user data security. Join us as we unpack strategies for maintaining velocity without compromising on quality. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/build-fast-and-break-things Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers.

In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed time management and time respect as a web developer, specifically diving into their thoughts on different types of billing, invoicing, and availability requirements. Some freelancers feel as though they should charge for every minute that they're on the clock since they're trading their time for money - while others believe more in the project angle, they're dedicated to getting the job done and therefore will often work "unpaid overtime" or will essentially be on-call for no additional pay. For small business owners, the duo also discussed their thoughts on invoicing, comparing and contrasting invoices will very little detail, versus ones that describe every thing that was done and how much those items cost. Then towards the end of the episode, the guys zoomed in on package deals - and how loose or strict you should be when enforcing the confines of a package deal (ie website maintenance package). Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/do-you-respect-your-time-as-a-web-developer Limited Time Magic Mind Discount: Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases. Use our link and code (at checkout) to claim the discount! Link (affiliate): https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Discount Code: HTMLPOD20

Learning web development is not a clear linear path. At the highest level there's frontend development and backend development...but these categories break down into a tonne of different technologies including (but not limited to) React, Vue, Svelte, SvelteKit, HTML, CSS, JavaScript....and the list just keeps going on. For a beginner, this spider-web of technologies seems like an insurmountable learning path. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed where they think you should start learning web development, touching on different pathways, and eventually laying out their preferred path in detail. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/where-the-f-ck-do-i-start-learning-web-development Scrimba 20% discount - time limited, details in show notes: https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings

The classic 5-page website is often called a "small business website" or a "basic website" among web development agency owners. It's a staple of the industry because it symbolizes a basic site that many businesses will start their online presence with, and it can easily be sold as a package deal alongside hosting to onboard new clients. As the web has matured, other tools such as Squarespace, Wix, and Webflow have come up with DIY solutions that bring the power of web design, ecommerce, and hosting to users with often a single affordable monthly fee. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the small business website landscape to-date in 2024. Through their discussions they debate whether it's worth it for a web dev agency to offer 5-page small business websites anymore, if there's any value in a 5-page website in today's SEO, and whether a business' budget makes a difference which direction they should go. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/do-small-businesses-need-web-dev-agencies-in-2024 Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/links/htmlallthethings

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Clark Sell, the creator of THAT Conference to discuss the importance of community among developers, and different relationships that you can have with your community. We also discussed at length the who, what, where, when, and why of THAT Conference - diving into Clark's inspiration when creating THAT, what the event is all about, and what the speaking landscape is like there. We even talked a little bit about Clark himself and what he used to do before THAT. Get 10% off Wisconsin 2024 tickets with promo code: HTMLALLTHETHINGS Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-is-that-conference-w-clark-sell Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/links/htmlallthethings

JavaScript has seen its fair share of insults and critiques over the years, with some developers outright refusing to touch it and other skirting around the edges by relying heavily on the server-side of things (ie PHP). Love it or hate it, JavaScript is what the web runs on and it's been that way since 1995. Vanilla JavaScript runs in the client's browser, bringing interactivity to user interfaces, while keeping the server out of calculations and computations. With the introduction of Node.js, JavaScript escapes the client-side, and moves it's way into the backend scene. With such a versatile language, why does JavaScript get so much hate? Is JavaScript really that bad? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-javascript-really-that-bad Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/links/htmlallthethings

Creating a website is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, as projects can vary wildly in complexity and amount of work needed. Over the years we have come up with a process that defines a clear structure while providing enough flexibility to accomodate most web development projects for small to medium businesses. The process helps keep development on-track, payments flowing, mitigates working with clients that aren't serious about their project. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/our-website-creation-process-2024 Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?ref=htmlallthethings

Sometimes web development deadlines can come up faster than expected, or even worse, your workload may overwhelm the amount of time you have left until a deliverable is due. When this happens, it's easy to panic, procrastinate, or even quit altogether. Thankfully, development has a lot of wiggle room in how tasks are performed and can typically be worked on anywhere (in office, at home, on-the-go). This week, Matt and Mike discussed how to save time when you're working on your website's UI, more specifically, Matt reflected on a recent busy week where he pulled out all the stops on time saving while doing front-end development. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/time-saving-tips-for-front-end-developers Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?ref=htmlallthethings

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jacob Jackson, the creator of TabNine and Supermaven to discuss AI as a whole. It's no surprise that LLMs are taking over most of the current chatter in the tech world, but their rapid rise in popularity has also led to a rapid rise in concern. Many people believe that AI is coming for our jobs, working to replace human developers and other workers. On the other side of the fence, people are using AI to boost their productivity both at work and at home. Developers seem to be getting a great deal of this productivity boost with the creation of tools like Supermaven that can help speed up coding. If you've ever had any questions or doubt surrounding AI, or LLMs in general, then you're not going to want to miss this episode. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/will-ai-replace-us-w-the-creator-of-tabnine-and-supermaven-jacob-jackson Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?ref=htmlallthethings

Web development is a multifaceted field that demands the integration of numerous technical skills for success. Given its complexity, it's common to encounter various pitfalls while navigating the terrain. In this episode, Mike divulges a list of insights he wishes he had known before embarking on a career in web development—advice that could have spared him time and frustration. This includes mastering your tools to fully leverage them (such as AI), recognizing the importance of completing projects, the advantages of engaging with a community, and many other valuable tips. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-becoming-a-web-developer Learn with Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?ref=htmlallthethings