Coding Chats episode 52 - Robert Balicki discusses Isograph, an opinionated framework designed to simplify the development of data-driven applications, particularly with GraphQL and React. He explains the challenges faced in web development, such as over-fetching data and network waterfalls, and how Isograph addresses these issues by allowing developers to focus on specific components and their data needs. The discussion also covers the technical foundation of Isograph, built using Rust, and the challenges of compiler development. Robert emphasizes the importance of testing, CI/CD integration, and the potential for Isograph to scale effectively in large projects. He invites developers to get involved in the project and contribute to its growth.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Isograph
05:11 Understanding the Problem Isograph Solves
09:57 The Concept of Opinionated Frameworks
13:40 Exploring Network Waterfalls
16:43 Testing and CI/CD Integration
20:49 Scaling with Monorepos and Integration
27:57 Future Vision for Isograph
28:04 Understanding Isograph's Runtime and Compiler
29:40 The Influence of Rust in Compiler Development
32:04 The Challenges of Building a Compiler
35:53 Transitioning from Batch to Incremental Compilation
45:28 Leveraging Rust for Enhanced Developer Experience
52:55 Community Engagement and Future of Isograph
56:32 Exploring Related Content
LINKS
Robert's Links:
Isograph: http://isograph.dev/
John's Links:
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.
Takeaways
Isograph simplifies building data-driven applications.
The framework is opinionated, promoting best practices.
Network waterfalls can degrade user experience.
Isograph allows for precise data fetching.
Testing is a key focus in Isograph's development.
Rust provides safety and performance benefits.
The framework aims to support SQL backends in the future.
Isograph encourages a full-stack development approach.
Community involvement is welcomed through Discord.
The developer experience with Isograph is superior to other frameworks.
