Unexpected Rust advantages and developer ergonomics

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.