Stephen Shaw is a Front End Developer at CodePen. But his journey into the world of web development traces back to his earliest memory, captured in a nostalgic photo from 1987 of him sitting on his dad's lap gazing at a computer tower.

Today Stephen contributes to building one of the most widely used code editors for the web. CodePen, as Stephen reveals, is a dynamic social network where people share code samples and demos among a vibrant community. Stephen reminisces about his involvement in working on Ken Wheeler's cash and using classic web animation tools like GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform). He's also keen on exploring what lies ahead. Stephen predicts that Apple's rumored headset device will harness the power of AR/VR, pushing developers to adapt to the technology.

In this episode, Stephen talks to Robbie and Chuck about his challenges using typescript at CodePen, the evolution of web animation tools, and the future of VR and AR on the web.

Key Takeaways

[00:35] - An Introduction to Stephen Shaw.
[01:53] - A whiskey review: Angels Envy Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
[07:00] - Tech hot takes.
[09:58] - Why Stephen’s team is converting projects to typescript.
[18:21] - Stephen talks about his time maintaining cash.
[21:11] - How to design web animations.
[24:44] - Stephen discusses the future of VR and AR on the web.
[35:07] - Stephen’s career journey.
[42:45] - Chuck, Robbie, and Stephen explore gaming.
[47:48] - Stephen's other hobbies.

Quotes

[07:32] - “If you have an existing code that works, don’t add typescript. That's not going to make your life any easier.” ~ Stephen Shaw

[25:00] - “I think that we’re very close to a crossroads. Similar to back in 2007 when the iPhone was introduced and suddenly everyone was scrambling to have a mobile website.” ~ Stephen Shaw

[39:57] - “That’s my idea of a web developer. I want to make information accessible. I want to figure out who the audience is and make them connect with what they need.” ~ Stephen Shaw

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