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

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

Dive into the essentials of CSS, where developers learn to write cleaner stylesheets. Discover the power of Grid and Flexbox for modern layouts, and explore custom properties for dynamic styling. Master the art of specificity and methodologies like BEM for maintainability. Unlock the latest features, such as container queries and scroll-linked animations, all while enhancing accessibility. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, gain insights that will elevate your CSS skills significantly!

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