Kent C. Dodds on Why he Traded Angular for React, Launching EpicWeb.dev, + What’s Next for EpicReact.dev

Kent C. Dodds joins Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel at THAT Conference-WI for a discussion about his journey from being an Angular developer to becoming a leading figure in the React community. Kent shares his motivations for making the switch, detailing how React's focus on JavaScript fundamentals and its incremental adoption of new features appealed to him. He also reviews his current and upcoming projects, including the launch of EpicWeb.dev, a comprehensive platform designed to provide end-to-end web development education. Kent talks about the updates coming to EpicReact.dev, including a new tutorial where developers can build useState and useEffect from scratch, aimed at deepening their understanding of React hooks. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:41 Preparing for a 90-Minute Keynote

05:37 Writing a Book and Other Projects

08:04 Surrounded by Ambitious People

09:01 Personal Stories and Balance

10:22 Lessons from Domo and Joe Eames

11:21 Learning from Experienced Engineers

12:41 The Importance of Surroundings

13:33 Choosing the Right People to Associate With

14:46 Kent's Organizational Skills

15:41 Balancing Work and Family

17:06 Committing to Big Things

18:04 Avoiding Burnout and Assessing Priorities

19:26 Sharing Personal Stories in Talks

20:21 Finding Effectiveness and Efficiency

21:17 Dealing with Burnout and Overwhelm

22:46 The Entrepreneurial Mentality

23:15 Running to the Top and Figuring It Out

24:14 Kent's Various Projects

25:41 Transitioning from Angular to React

Follow Kent C Dodds on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/kentcdodds

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentcdodds/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kentcdodds.com

Github: https://github.com/kentcdodds

EpicWeb.dev: https://www.epicweb.dev/

EpicReact.dev: https://www.epicreact.dev/

Learn More About THAT Conference Wisconsin 2024: https://thatconference.com/wi/2024/