Chats with Kent C. Dodds

In the podcast, Saron Yitbarek, the founder of Code Newbie, shares insights into empowering developers through enhanced learning resources, financial opportunities, and community building. With Code Newbie evolving into a comprehensive media company and her successful venture into designing The Story Graph, Saron highlights the importance of newsletters for personal engagement and the benefits of fostering a learning-centric community. Additionally, she underlines her commitment to financial empowerment for developers via the "Big Cash Money" community, paving the way for broader discussions at the Epic Web Dev conference. Watch this episode. Meet Saron at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Saron Yitbarek Twitter: @saronyitbarek GitHub: @sarony Website: bigcashmoney.com Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

Lina Mahrouch, a software engineer, recounts her transition from professional gaming to web development and her subsequent mastery of Remix for full-stack applications. The podcast highlights Remix's strengths in data handling, caching, and SEO, while also pointing out common pitfalls in its use. Kent and Lina stress the importance of networking in career advancement, particularly through conferences like the upcoming Epic WebConf. Discussions also touch on the exciting potential of AI in web development and the enduring value of personal interactions in the tech industry. Watch this episode. Meet at Lina Epic Web Conf. Guest: Lina Mahrouch Twitter: @lina_mahrouch GitHub: @LinaMahrouch Twitch: @elina_cs Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

Kent C. Dodds welcomes Ben Ilegbodu to discuss his work with front-end platforms and the coined term "DivOps," focusing on non-UI aspects like configurations and optimizations that enhance app performance and developer workflows. Ben shares insights into why JavaScript's ecosystem fosters a unique need for DivOps, emphasizing its role as a legitimate discipline crucial for app optimization and improved user experiences. The conversation also touches on the diverse challenges and solutions within DivOps, expectations for the Epic WebConf in Utah, and the value of community and knowledge sharing in advancing the field. Additionally, Ben's personal goal to visit every NBA arena adds a personal touch to the discussion, illustrating the blend of professional and personal interests that enrich the tech community. Watch this episode. Meet Ben at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Ben Ilegbodu Twitter: @benmvp GitHub: @benmvp Website: benmvp.com Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

Mandy Hartman, a front-end developer at Jenzabar, shares her insights on the importance of continuous learning in web development, drawing on her own transition from academia to tech. She discusses her hands-on learning experiences, including participation in the "#100DaysOfCode" challenge and creating personal projects for skill demonstration in job interviews. Hartman's readiness to utilize online communities for support, her application development inspired by her time in museums and archives all underscore her dedication to constant skill refinement and knowledge-sharing. Her story is a testament to the benefits of lifelong learning for both aspiring developers and those shifting careers. Come to Epic Web Conf. NOTE: Due to personal conflicts, Mandy will not be able to attend Epic Web Conf after all. Maybe next year! Guest: Mandy Hartman Twitter: @hartmandyyy GitHub: @hartmandy Website: mandywebdev.com Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

In the podcast, Artem Zakharchenko, a software engineer specializing in APIs, delves into his journey shifting from his job to focus on open-source contributions, notably the Mock Service Worker library. He emphasizes the importance of efficient testing in software development and his commitment to enhancing his knowledge and the tools he develops, such as adding WebSocket support to MSW. His upcoming workshop at the Epic Web Conference will cover the essentials of automated testing and writing assertions, encouraging developer participation in a discussion on testing challenges to foster a collaborative learning environment. Watch this episode. Meet Artem at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Artem Zakharchenko Twitter: @kettanaito GitHub: @kettanaito Website: kettanaito.com Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

Web developer Alex Anderson speaks with Kent about his side project, Thorium, an open-source spaceship bridge simulator game designed for science education, which also encapsulates the principles of Local First architecture. Anderson elaborates on the advantages of Local First design in ensuring direct data access and enhancing web syncing, all while balancing privacy with user experience. A specific focus is given to integrating Local First architecture with a Remix app to enable seamless online and offline app functionality. Additionally, the conversation touches on the personal joys and communal aspects of baking, showcasing the human side of tech experts engaged in pioneering web development and community-driven projects. Watch this episode. Meet Alex at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Alex Anderson Twitter: @ralex1993 GitHub: @alexanderson1993 Website: ralexanderson.com Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

In this insightful conversation with Kent, Chrome team's CSS and UI expert Adam Argyle delves into the transformative power of CSS custom properties in web development. Likening them to a basil leaf that elevates a meal, Adam teases his upcoming talk at Epic WebConf, promising to elaborate further on the subject. He spotlights current innovations in Chrome and CSS that include color variants, automated designer interactions, and dynamic features such as view transitions and scroll-driven animations. These developments not only enrich web design but also advocate for progressive enhancement to ensure a captivating and interactive user experience. Adam's expertise offers a valuable resource for staying abreast of the evolving landscape of CSS and web design. Watch this episode. Meet Adam at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Adam Argyle Twitter: @argyleink GitHub: @argyleink Website: nerdy.dev Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

Kent C. Dodds introduces Season 5 of "Chats with Kent," highlighting its unique focus on the speakers of the upcoming Epic WebConf 2024 on April 11th. This season aims to familiarize listeners with the conference speakers through 10-15 minute intros, offering insights into their backgrounds and what they'll be discussing. Kent encourages both attending the conference in person for a richer experience and utilizing the available live stream for those unable to attend. This season serves as a platform for listeners to engage with the content and speakers, whether they plan to participate in-person or online. Meet at Epic Web Conf. Guest: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds Host: Kent C. Dodds Website: kentcdodds.com Twitter: @kentcdodds GitHub: @kentcdodds YouTube: Kent C. Dodds Epic Web: epicweb.dev

The path of teaching yourself to code isn't for the faint of heart. It takes consistency, discipline, and the ability to recognize you're actually making progress. Tutorials are an excellent tool, but they are also a trap. If all you do are tutorials, retaining the skills you learn is going to be extremely difficult. Without applying those skills they aren't going to become ingrained, and you aren't going to see how they're used in context. You also won't make progress if you aren't being consistent. Without consistency, your skills will fade and when you start coding again you'll have to relearn things instead of advancing on to more advanced topics. In this episode, Tiger Abrodi chats about how he uses projects, habits, and self-assessment to consistently advance his skills as a programmer. HomeworkTake 20 minutes to do a little self-evaluation and assess how well your professional growth as a developer is going.Write down some specific habits that you want to develop to help you with your goalsGuest: Tiger AbrodiTwitter: @TAbrodiGitHub: @tigerabrodiWebsite: tigerabrodi.techHost: Kent C. DoddsWebsite: kentcdodds.comTwitter: @kentcdoddsGitHub: @kentcdoddsYouTube: Kent C. DoddsEpic React: epicreact.dev

It's easy to become entrenched in what you already know how to do. You might have a fun project idea that requires creating really awesome CSS animations, and it might seem out of reach if you haven't done anything like that before. But getting through that mental block is an extremely rewarding experience. You gain technical skills and improve your general problem-solving abilities. If you've ever struggled with side-projects, check out this episode where you'll learn how Jhey Tompkins never seems to run out of things to build and get his expert advice on how he problem solves. HomeworkStart keeping a list of every random idea that you have. Use the list for project inspirationResources@beesandbombs - cool animationsGuest: Jhey TompkinsTwitter: @jh3yyGitHub: @jh3yWebsite: jhey.devHost: Kent C. DoddsWebsite: kentcdodds.comTwitter: @kentcdoddsGitHub: @kentcdoddsYouTube: Kent C. DoddsEpic React: epicreact.dev