JavaScript Jabber

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, we sit down with Vinicius Dallacqua, a seasoned software engineer with a passion for performance and developer tooling. Vinicius shares his journey from coding in central Brazil with limited connectivity to building cutting-edge tools like PerfLab and PerfAgent. We dive into the intersection of AI and DevTools, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming performance debugging, web development workflows, and even the future of browsers.We also tackle the big questions: How do developers avoid bias when building in high-performance environments? What role will agentic browsers play in the evolution of the web? And how can AI-powered DevTools lower the barrier for developers intimidated by performance profiling? If you’re curious about the future of frontend performance, DevTools, and AI-driven development, this conversation is packed with insights.Links & ResourcesPerfLab – Performance tooling platformPerfAgent – AI-powered DevTools assistantVinicius Dallacqua on X (Twitter)Paul Kinlan’s AI Focus – Essays on AI and the webPerfNow Conference – Leading performance conference in AmsterdamBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

Join Erik Hanchett, a Senior Developer Advocate at AWS focused on JavaScript and AI-assisted coding, as he shares vibrant insights from VueConf. Discover the exciting rise of Nuxt 4 and its community, alongside discussions on the invaluable networking opportunities that in-person conferences offer. Erik dives into how AI is revolutionizing development workflows and details the powerful Amazon Q CLI for smarter coding. Get ready for a tech-packed exploration that highlights the future of Vue and the pivotal role of community engagement!

Dimitri Mitropoulos, the mastermind behind running Doom within TypeScript's type system and co-founder of SquiggleConf, dives into this mind-bending experience. He explores the evolution of TypeScript to Turing-completeness and the philosophical implications of his project. Discover the challenges of type-level programming, functional recursion, and even ASCII art as output. Dimitri shares his journey fueled by determination and obsession, reflecting on balancing personal life and burnout while pushing the boundaries of computation in a unique, geeky way.

Join Ryan Christian, core maintainer of Preact, as he explores the lightweight UI library that's gaining traction in the JavaScript world. He dives into how Preact's tiny footprint outshines React, maintaining performance without unnecessary bloat. Hear about its compatibility layer, the engineering behind its speed, and the exciting upcoming features in Preact v11. Plus, Ryan discusses trends in frontend frameworks and why Preact remains unapologetically focused on modularity and simplicity over full-stack aspirations.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I am joined by three incredible guests — Ariel Shulman, Liad Yosef, and Evyatar Alush — to dive into the world of public speaking in tech. From the jitters of their first talk to the professional and personal growth that comes with hitting the stage, we unpack the full journey of becoming a tech speaker. Whether you're just curious about getting started or want to sharpen your presentation game, this episode is packed with real talk and insights from experienced voices in the community.We get personal about the why, the how, and the what next of conference speaking — covering the motivations, the process of getting accepted, tips for preparing standout talks, and even how public speaking can open doors to career-changing opportunities. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to be heard on stage, this conversation might just be your launchpad.🔗 Links & ResourcesReact Next ConferenceNo TLB ConferenceJS Heroes RomaniaSessionize - CFP platformReversim Tech ConferenceReact SummitGitNation ConferencesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

Mathias Madsen, CEO of Holepunch and a prolific open-source contributor, discusses how JavaScript is evolving with peer-to-peer technology. He shares his journey from discovering JavaScript in college to creating Bear.js, a minimalist runtime that simplifies app distribution across platforms. Mathias explains how Holepunch's Pair system enables direct application sharing without servers, revolutionizing app development. He highlights the flexibility of Bear.js, which allows seamless integration across devices, optimizing performance and developer experience.

In this episode, Dan and I (Steve) dove deep into what turned out to be a surprisingly complex, yet incredibly insightful topic: gradually migrating a massive legacy JavaScript project over to TypeScript. We're talking about nearly 1,000 JS files, 70,000+ lines of code, and years of developer history—all transitioning carefully to a typed, modern future.Dan walked us through how he started by setting up the project for success before converting even one file—getting CI/CD ready, setting up tsconfig.json, sorting out test dependencies, dealing with mock leaks, and even grappling with quirks between VS Code and WebStorm debugging.We talked tools (like TS-ESLint, concurrently, and ts-node), why strict typing actually uncovered real bugs (and made the code better!), and why it’s crucial not to touch any .js files until your TypeScript setup is rock solid.Key Takeaways:Gradual migration is 100% possible—and often better—than ripping the bandaid off.TypeScript can and will catch bugs hiding in your JavaScript. Be prepared!Use VS Code extensions or TS-Node to support your devs’ tooling preferences.Don't underestimate the setup phase—it’s the foundation of long-term success.Start small: Dan's team converted just one file at first to test the whole pipeline.If you’re sitting on a legacy JS project and dreaming of TypeScript, this episode is your blueprint—and your warning sign.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

Ariel Shulman, a TypeScript expert and full stack developer, and Liran Tal, a security advocate from Snyk, dive into the nuances of TypeScript and its security implications. They discuss how TypeScript is widely adopted, yet often misinterpreted as a security tool. Key insights include the concept of type juggling and the vulnerabilities it can introduce. They also explore Zod for runtime type checking, highlighting its pros and pitfalls. Join them as they unpack the balance between type safety and real-world application complexities.

In this discussion, Matthew Henage, a full-stack developer and AI innovator, dives into the transformative world of agentic AI. He introduces his platform, WAOS.ai, describing how it simplifies building web apps with embedded AI workflows. Matthew unveils the concept of agent swarms—specialized AI agents collaborating on complex tasks, akin to a dream dev team. The impressive SpeakMagic project showcases this with over 40 agents creating fully animated videos from story prompts. The fusion of creativity, technology, and coding strategies takes center stage!

In this engaging discussion, Aral Roca, an open-source enthusiast from Barcelona and the creator of Brisa, dives into reinventing web development. He shares how Brisa allows for minimal or zero client-side JavaScript, focusing on server-side actions and streaming HTML. The framework’s lightweight nature catches attention, with components that are incredibly small and efficient. Aral reveals future plans for multi-platform integration and improved features, tantalizing developers with endless possibilities in web frameworks.