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

In this episode, Matt and Mike introduce a new episode type dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving world of AI. As AI tools advance at lightning speed, staying informed is critical for developers navigating this transformative era. This week, they dive into the evolution of AI-powered development tools, from simple autocompletes like Copilot and TabNine to full-scale IDE solutions like Cursor and Supermaven. They discuss the pros and cons of using these advanced tools for multifile code generation and manipulation, highlighting both the efficiencies and risks they bring. The conversation then shifts to the rise of AI-driven full-stack application generators, such as Bolt.new, V0, and GitHub Spark. These tools can build entire applications from simple prompts but come with a notable downside: tech bias. Matt shares his experience building a podcast website and highlights how AI's reliance on popular frameworks can limit the adoption of emerging technologies. Finally, the duo debates the future of AI in the development industry. Will AI replace developers in 1, 3, or even 10 years? Tune in to find out! Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/does-ai-have-tech-bias-ai-all-the-things Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

How much power should you give your clients and non-tech colleagues? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the evolving landscape of web development tools and workflows, inspired by Webflow's new page and component slots. They discuss how these innovations, along with popular page builders and CMSs, are empowering non-tech staff to take on more responsibilities, reducing developer involvement in day-to-day content updates. However, this shift comes with risks like design inconsistency, security vulnerabilities, and technical debt. The duo also examines the future of page editing, from AI-driven templates to voice-activated tools and automated quality checks, highlighting the balance between empowering editors and maintaining developer oversight. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/are-developers-making-page-builders-too-powerful-for-content-editors Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio  

Level up your vanilla JavaScript with these powerful Web APIs that every developer should know. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into essential Web APIs that can take your web development skills to the next level. Discover how Web APIs differ from external APIs and explore their powerful capabilities—from manipulating the DOM and fetching data to enabling offline functionality for native app-like uses (ie PWAs). They’ll cover must-know APIs like Fetch, Storage, and Service Worker, along with user experience (and native app-like) boosters like Geolocation and Notifications. Tune in to learn practical applications, security tips, and best practices that will help you create fast, interactive, and native-like web apps. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/web-apis-that-every-javascript-developer-should-know Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Rushed timelines and last-minute jobs are something that most developers are all too familiar with. While frequent rush jobs can signal deeper management issues, the fast-paced nature of the world means unexpected challenges often arise. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore strategies for developers to take charge when work needs to be completed quickly. They discuss how project leadership and effective decision-making can help prevent a rush job from turning into endless overtime. By taking ownership of the work order, setting realistic expectations, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape, developers can streamline communication with their teams to prioritize coding time and deliver results efficiently. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-control-in-a-rush Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

The WordPress drama between WPEngine and Matt Mullenweg has been quite the stir up for primarily WordPress, but also the open source community in general. Not to mention, all the WPEngine customers that are effectively collateral damage having their websites adversely affected, sometimes without even realizing what's happening. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the WordPress drama and touched on how it could affect open source projects moving forward. Is WordPress in the right? Is WPEngine? You decide... Disclaimer/Correction: A section of this episode states a misinterpretation of the GPL license. We've published a correction in the show notes under the "Disclaimer & Correction" section. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/open-source-is-dead Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio  

Side projects are often done as a for-fun and potentially for-profit outlet for web developers looking to break free from client projects where they have little control. Unfortunately, just like client projects, side projects can easily spiral out of scope to the point of developer exhaustion. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how scope creep can derail personal projects, offering practical strategies to prevent it. They discuss defining a solid MVP, niching down to maintain focus, and prioritizing features using methods like the MoSCoW framework. By setting clear boundaries and establishing achievable milestones, developers can avoid common pitfalls and keep their side projects on track. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/side-projects-the-eternal-loop-of-never-ending-features Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode Matt and MIke, continue their deep dive into the toughest concepts in web development. The guys tackle topics like mastering responsive design, ensuring web accessibility (a11y) for all users, and the complexities of server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and client-side rendering (CSR). They also explore the challenges of event-driven architectures, managing project dependencies efficiently, and setting up smooth CI/CD pipelines. Whether you're building scalable web applications or just want to level up your dev game, this episode has actionable insights to help you through some of web development's most intricate concepts. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-2 Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 40% off your subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD40  Code: HTMLPOD40) This offer is only available for the first 10 people that use the link and code!! Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

The challenges of web development are immense! Topics like asynchronous programming and state management take center stage. Security vulnerabilities such as XSS and SQL Injection are crucial concerns. Performance optimization and scalability are also discussed, highlighting the delicate balance between quality and loading speed. Plus, the episode dives into the trials of ensuring cross-browser compatibility, illustrated by a custom podcast player that stumbles on Safari. It's a deep dive into the technical mazes developers navigate daily!

Shashi Lo, a senior software engineer at Microsoft and founder of Gridiron Survivor, shares insights on mentoring junior developers through hands-on experience. He discusses the importance of understanding corporate coding standards and the value of feedback in the tech industry. The conversation highlights innovative apprenticeship programs that support learners transitioning from boot camps to real-world projects. Shashi also emphasizes the role of open-source contributions and navigating career paths while leveraging AI tools wisely.

While trying to solve a coding problem this week, Matt found himself buried in a collection of solutions offered by ChatGPT and Google search results. Some of the solutions were completely new to him and so he got to thinking about how "safe" it would be to implement them. Not from a security perspective, as there wasn't any private data involved in this particular case, but his concern was more for the page UX itself. How efficient were the solutions he was about to implement, would it slow the web page down? Were these new topics even being used in the correct context and being implemented appropriately? In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed how to think through problems like this in terms of project architecture, website performance, and troubleshooting/research time spent. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-your-code-too-complex-troubleshooting-fixing-and-implementing-solutions Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio