Authentication is a critical part of modern websites and web apps. Everything from ecommerce stores through membership sites will almost always have some form of authentication for their users. As a web developer, creating an authentication system can seem daunting because of the security that's involved in storing people's passwords and sensitive account data. It's difficult to keep up with all the security threats out there when you're juggling a DIY authentication system, maintenance, and developing new features. Luckily, there is tooling available for web developers that can help them authenticate their users with minimal effort. Products such as Firebase, Lucia, and NextAuth.js all provide ways to help offload authentication from your developer to-do list. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss why you would (or would not) roll your own auth, and your available options if you don't want to make your own. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/web-development-pitfalls-the-dangers-of-diy-auth Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT

It can be difficult to choose the right tech stack for your website or web app because there are so many to choose from. There are more traditional stacks like LAMP, MERN, and MEAN...as well as new serverless stacks that use Vercel/Netlify, Next.js, and Planetscale (MySQL). Furthermore, if you're working for a client in an agency or freelance, a single tech stack might not cut it. It's not uncommon for a client to bring you in to work on their website, setup their newsletter, and code up a new web app. Projects like this might use LAMP w/ WordPress for the website, serverless technologies for the web app, and Constant Contact for the newsletter. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss choosing your tech stack based on its pros and cons, the project's requirements, and how to avoid personal bias that could cost you money. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/how-to-choose-the-right-stack-for-your-clients Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT

In this podcast, the hosts discuss project planning for web developers, covering topics such as team setup, communication channels, and organizational techniques. They highlight the importance of breaking down big problems, considering SEO, and documenting thoughts and requirements. The significance of diagrams in project planning is also explored, along with the idea of finding one's own unique approach to project management.

Side hustles are a popular choice when looking to make additional money on top of your primary income. There are seemingly countless ways to make a little money on the side and many of them are done online. With that said, web developers, whose job it is to create online experiences, should arguably have an upper hand in this space with their technical knowhow and exposure to online marketing. This week, Matt and Mike discussed whether a web developer should start a side hustle. They covered the pros and cons of side hustles, the difference between side projects & side hustles, and whether junior developers have enough time between their job applications & learning to have a side hustle at all. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/do-web-developers-need-side-hustles Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT  

Discussion on the challenges and impact of the web developer job market, including AI tools in content creation, hiring slowdowns, layoffs, and government employee unionization. Advice for job seekers on perseverance, improving job applications, taking breaks, and upskilling.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the importance of choosing the right web host for your project's success. They explore various web hosting types including shared, dedicated, WordPress, reseller, and nodeJS. They delve into the features, limitations, and benefits of shared hosting and dedicated hosting. They also explain the differences between shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting, highlighting the advantages of VPS hosting. Additionally, they discuss managed hosting, WordPress hosting, and node.js hosting, outlining their benefits and limitations. The podcast concludes with a discussion on common pitfalls in web hosting and the importance of checking hosting plan details before making a purchase.

Your first week as a junior developer can be nerve wracking and anxiety inducing. Not only are you meeting a team of new people, but you're starting a new job as a newbie to coding. This week Matt and Mike discuss how to make the most of your first week of the job, making a great first impression on your team members, and hopefully letting you absorb as much knowledge as you can. By handling social situations with grace, asking valuable questions, and being honest about your capabilities; you'll be well on your way to becoming a valuable development team member.  Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/succeeding-in-your-first-week-as-a-junior-developer  

Web development hackathons can be a fun way to do some friendly competitive programming. The result is often a few great portfolio pieces for those involved and a cool prize for those that come out on top. For Paolo Ricciut and Antonio Sarcevic they not only won the Best Ecosystem Integration award at the SvelteHack Hackathon, but they created a project that could help push the Svelte/Kit industry forward with the creation of SvelteLab. SvelteLab is an in-browser code editor that quickly sets up SvelteKit environments where you can test and share your projects easily. Show Notes: www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/how-a-hackathon-changed-their-life-w-paolo-and-antonio Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT

Learning JavaScript from scratch can be as much about syntax as it is programming concepts, especially when it's your first language. Concepts like knowing how and why you need a place to store bits of data (variables), re-using code snippets instead of writing them repeatedly (functions), making decisions (conditional statements), and working with collections of data (arrays and looping) are all second nature to experienced developers. These concepts are the foundational building blocks that let you solve problems by thinking like a computer (sometimes this is called programmatic logic). In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss these key JavaScript basics including variables, functions, conditional statements, arrays, and looping. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/javascript-basics-learn-these-concepts-first Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT

Failure is a hard pill to swallow, but it's failure that allows us to grow as developers. When you're learning a language like JavaScript, there are a lot of concepts to take in, and even more ways to accomplish the same task. Sometimes, you'll choose a method that works...only to find out later that it's the "wrong" way to do it because of security, or efficiency. When that happens, many JavaScript developers will take the failure hard and let imposter syndrome take hold. In reality, these things will happen to you, and they should seen as a steppingstone as you work your way through junior developer all the way up to senior developer and beyond. Thanks to this episode's sponsor Clio Websites: https://cliowebsites.com/ Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/failure-will-make-you-a-better-javascript-developer Scrimba Discount: https://tinyurl.com/ScrimbaHATT