HTML All The Things - Web Development, Web Design, Small Business

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the 80/20 rule and how developers can use it to boost productivity, reduce burnout, and prioritize what matters—plus how AI is reshaping the rule itself. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-the-80-20-rule-really-means-for-web-developers Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Endless ideas, abandoned projects, and a pile of unused domain names—sound familiar? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how developers can avoid false starts and take meaningful first steps when launching new projects. They dig into why buying a domain name might feel productive (but often isn’t), when it's actually the right move, and how jumping into real problem-solving helps build momentum and deeper focus. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-first-step-trap-why-buying-domain-names-isnt-starting-your-project Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

In this edition of Web News, Matt and Mike discuss the rapidly evolving world of AI, and AI tooling. As web developers, the guys are no stranger to online tools that promise to do everything under the sun - but lately it feels like an infinite amount of new ones are coming out all the time due, powered by AI. Is it possible to keep up with everything that's coming out? Should you even bother trying?  Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/overwhelmed-by-ai-youre-not-alone Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

The hosts dive into the current job market for web developers, discussing layoffs, AI's impact, and how to leverage networking effectively. They share actionable strategies for standing out, like personalizing applications and specializing in technologies such as React. Discussions cover the importance of building connections through social media and open source projects, as well as exploring niche markets for sustainable success. Finally, they highlight the need for developers to adapt through ongoing learning and embrace automation in their workflows.

In this episode of HTML All The Things, Mike chats with William Madden, Developer Advocate at Prisma, to uncover what makes modern ORMs essential in today's development workflows. They break down what an ORM is, why developers should care, and how Prisma sets itself apart in the crowded ORM space. William also dives into the technical challenges of building an ORM, the reasoning behind Prisma’s shift from Rust binaries to TypeScript, and what’s on the horizon for the platform. Whether you’re deep in backend development or just getting started with databases, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-prisma-is-still-the-best-orm-w-william-madden Try out Prisma: https://www.prisma.io/docs/getting-started Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

As developers and business owners, it’s easy to get stuck in the daily grind — coding, responding to emails, handling support — and forget to actually build the business. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into what it really means to work on your business instead of just in it. The guys explore strategies to avoid becoming your own overworked employee, how to delegate or automate low-leverage tasks, and the mindset shifts that help you move from operator to true owner. Inspiration for this episode came from the guys' own experience regarding their business for the past few years, where the workload from clients has overwhelmed their day-to-day, leaving strategy and business development completely stagnant. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/work-on-your-business-not-just-in-it Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Tom Barrasso from Cloud Phone to explore why flip phones are still relevant in 2025. They discuss the rise of digital detox, who’s using feature phones today, and how developers can still build apps for low-spec devices. From KaiOS and Cloud Phone to nostalgia and screen-time reduction—this is a deep dive into the flip phone revival and the tech powering it. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-flip-phones-still-matter-in-2025-w-tom-barrasso Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Even if you’re not "doing DevOps," understanding it can seriously level up your development career. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into why every web developer should care about DevOps practices, even at a basic level. They explore how deployment pipelines work, how Git supports safe code changes, and how you can prevent and fix production issues faster. You'll hear real-world examples showing how small habits—like writing good commit messages, checking build logs, and knowing when to rollback—can make you a better teammate and a more reliable developer. Whether you're working with GitHub Actions, Vercel, Jenkins, or another CI/CD system, this episode will help you work smarter, troubleshoot faster, and stay calm under pressure. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-junior-web-developers-need-to-know-about-devops Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the temptation to always chase the latest and greatest in tech—whether it's new frameworks, tools, or workflows that dominate developer discourse. While the buzz can be exciting, blindly adopting bleeding-edge technology can lead to serious downsides like poor documentation, tiny communities, and unstable tools. The guys discuss how these risks affect both personal and client projects, when it's actually worth going cutting-edge, and why it's perfectly okay (and often smarter) to use tried-and-true tech. If you've ever felt FOMO seeing everyone jump to the next hot thing, this one's for you. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-hype-trap-why-cutting-edge-isnt-always-the-best-choice 20% off Scrimba with our affiliate link. Full details in the show notes.

The hosts dive into the promising role of AI in launching startups, suggesting it could empower developers beyond big tech. They compare the fast-paced, innovative culture of startups with the structured environment of large tech firms. Personal anecdotes highlight how each setting affects career growth and job security. Exploring the dynamics of bureaucracy in big corporations versus the agility of startups reveals the balance of reliability and adaptability needed in tech. Plus, insights into internal rivalries at Microsoft add an entertaining twist!