Whiskey Web and Whatnot: Web Development, Neat

Whether you're a seasoned coder or just starting out, the tech you choose can make a big difference. Sometimes choosing the wrong tech can be frustrating and ruin a great project. David Cramer, Co-Founder and CTO of Sentry, joins Chuck and Robbie to talk about some well-known frameworks in the tech space. They discuss the challenge of selecting a good tech stack. David sheds light on the considerations behind choosing Vercel for Remix apps and the complexities of integrating Fastify for backend services. David also explains the downsides of GraphQL and why it is only relevant for Facebook. Later, he reflects on his gaming nostalgia, sharing experiences of gaming as a teenager and the struggle to find time for immersive gaming as an adult. In this episode, David talks to Robbie and Chuck about hot takes on GraphQL, crucial development stack decisions, and some of the challenges with adult gaming. Key Takeaways [00:42] - Introduction to David Cramer. [01:26] - A whiskey review: High Wire Distilling Co New Southern Revival Jimmy Red Bourbon [10:10] - David talks about the history of Sentry and lessons learned. [14:38] - Tech hot takes. [26:05] - David’s take on work-life balance. [33:36] - Why David built Peated. [42:03] - David talks about his interest in eFoils. [45:07] - Chuck, Robbie, and David discuss gaming. [48:18] - If David wasn’t in tech, what career would he choose? Quotes [19:31] - “The maturity I’ve gotten as a developer over the years is to stop caring about silly things.” ~ David Cramer [27:42] - “Nothing great in history has ever been done without a lot of effort.” ~ David Cramer [34:51] - “One of the best things you can do, if you actually want to get good at something is to have a side project.” ~ David Cramer Links David Cramer LinkedIn David Cramer Twitter Sentry Peated High Wire Distilling Co New Southern Revival Jimmy Red Bourbon Starburst Jim Beam Maker’s Mark Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Twitter Django GitHub Microsoft Tailwind CSS Vanilla CSS Remix Next JS Dropbox Facebook National Geographic Rust GraphQL Google Bottle Blue Book Vercel React Miami The Primeagen World of Warcraft Steam Factorio SimCity The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom FIFA 23 Walmart Spotify Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Need a last minute holiday gift and want to support the podcast? We have just the thing! Pick up a Whiskey Web and Whatnot Holiday Sweater on our new merch store: https://whiskey.fund/

Jhey Tompkins, Senior DX Engineer at Vercel, talks about Tailwind simplifying CSS, his Backbone Marionette app, and experience with modern frameworks like Vue, Astro, and Svelte. He also discusses the inspiration behind his bear logo and the nostalgia for old-school frameworks.

Podcasts are a popular way to share knowledge, stories, and ideas in the tech space and the medium continues to evolve rapidly. But what does it truly take to create a successful podcast that captivates an audience? Andrew Lisowski, Senior Software Engineer at Descript, and Justin Bennett, Engineer at Oxide, are seasoned podcasters and hosts of the Devtools FM podcast where they talk to industry leaders about developer tools. They shared insights on the evolving landscape of podcasting, highlighting the importance of having a sustainable workflow and maintaining consistency. Andrew and Justin believe a major key to podcasting is understanding your audience, their preferences, and how to keep them engaged. Throughout the episode, the conversation covers an array of topics, including the influence of developer tools, the resurgence of HTML-first web development, and the role of WebAssembly (Wasm) in shaping the future of the web. In this episode, Andrew and Justin talk to Robbie and Chuck about developer tools, the future of tech, and the world of podcasting in the tech space. Key Takeaways [00:55] - Introduction to Andrew and Justin. [03:17] - A whiskey review: Great Jones Straight Bourbon Whiskey. [14:13] - Tech hot takes. [37:57] - Andrew and Justin give tips and tricks for podcasting. [47:45] - Careers that Andrew and Justin would choose if they weren’t in tech. [48:58] - Andrew and Justin take over Whiskey Web and Whatnot. Quotes [20:32] - “I don’t actually think Git is good. It is a utility, and it is good enough for most cases.” ~ Justin Bennett [33:22] - “If there is a future for Webpack, it’s Rspack.” ~ Andrew Lisowski [36:46] - “The best frameworks, in my opinion, learn from what other folks are doing.” ~ Justin Bennett Links Andrew Lisowski Twitter Andrew Lisowski LinkedIn Justin Bennett Twitter Devtools FM Podcast Bun NPM Jarred Sumner Anthony Fu Unison Great Jones Straight Bourbon Whiskey Buffalo Trace Distillery Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Rust GitHub Mercurial Perforce Tailwind CSS Vanilla CSS React Million JS Aiden Bai Lululemon JSON Webpack ByteDance Rspack Node JS Deno Vue Svelte Sentry Descript The Primeagen ART19 Twitter Nuxt Apple WordPress Django Google Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

Adam Argyle, Chrome CSS Developer Advocate at Google, is not your typical CSS expert. He is big on education and hosts two podcasts that aim to bridge the gap and help developers embrace the challenges of CSS. Adam approaches CSS with a dose of humility, acknowledging that it's one of the most complex and least understood aspects of web development. He’s not just a CSS advocate, he is also a gamer at heart, and throughout the episode, he connects the dots between CSS and the gaming industry. Adam highlights an issue in game development - the oversight of UI design. He pointed out that most efforts are concentrated on the technical aspects, often leaving the player experience lacking. He even shared his vision for a specialized UI agency that focuses exclusively on enhancing user interfaces in the gaming world. In this episode, Adam talks to Robbie and Chuck about leveraging CSS to improve your designs, the Tailwind vs vanilla CSS debate, and the challenges of building UI for games. Key Takeaways [01:47] - Introduction to Adam Argyle. [03:20] - A whiskey review: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye. [16:55] - Adam talks about his upbringing. [19:40] - Why CSS isn’t a programming language. [25:22] - Hidden CSS features that add flair to your designs. [30:54] - Adam’s take on milk. [33:47] - Adam, Chuck, and Robbie talk about games. [37:54] - Tech hot takes. [53:35] - Adam plays the banjo. [01:01:20] - If Adam wasn’t in tech, what career would he choose? Quotes [19.03] - “Everybody is pitching and selling, and you either know how to do it or you don’t.” ~ Adam Argyle [21:09] - “Here’s my hot take about CSS, it’s the only programming language that delivers types, and it forces them at run time.” ~ Adam Argyle [26:31] - “One of the most magical fairy dust things you can sprinkle on your website is View Transitions.” ~ Adam Argyle Links Adam Argyle Adam Argyle Twitter Adam Argyle LinkedIn Bad at CSS Podcast The CSS Podcast Wes Bos The Code Company Sentry Google Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye Coca-Cola RC Cola Pepsi Russell’s Reserve United States Postal Service The Wine Spot ShopTalk Show Garth Brooks The Rolling Stones Shakira Sinead O'Connor Ferragamo Prototype JS jQuery Scroll-driven Animations G.I. Joe The Primeagen Pokemon Go Monster Hunter Now Nintendo Hyperspin Systems Tailwind CSS Vanilla CSS Google Chrome Sarafi Mozilla Firefox Rust Travis Coldplay The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdon Steam Deck ASUS FIFA 2023 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Diablo 4 The Outer Worlds Starfield Bethesda Game Studios Starlink Microsoft Active Vision Chris Coyier Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

The transition from coder to manager isn’t easy for developers who love the creative satisfaction and thrill of coding. But both sides of the fence have unique challenges. Sarah Drasner, Senior Director of Engineering, Web, Android, iOS, and Multiplatform Core Infrastructure at Google, didn’t seek out engineering leadership. Sarah admits that she sometimes misses the flow state of coding but has a new appreciation for management now that she is on the other side. She discusses the culture at Google, navigating the company’s tech stack, and how much she values working with a dedicated and hardworking team. Beyond her tech pursuits, Sarah shines a light on She Code Africa, a nonprofit organization she supports, empowering women in tech. In this episode, Sarah talks to Robbie and Chuck about why she initially avoided Angular, the challenges of management, and the flow state she misses from coding. Key Takeaways [01:01] - Introduction to Sarah Drasner. [03:26] - A whiskey review: Brenne French Single Malt Whisky. [15:00] - Tech hot takes. [39:05] - What is going on with Angular. [47:09] - Sarah’s experiences being a manager. [52:10] - The career Sarah would choose if she wasn’t in tech. Quotes [22:48] - “I like the idea of being explicit, but I appreciate when languages are a little more bulletproof.” ~ Sarah Drasner [43:56] - “Dealing with change as a developer is the main reason why you use a framework.” ~ Sarah Drasner [45:58] - “That’s the reason why so many senior devs go towards this ‘it depends’ way of thinking because we see many different implementations over time.” ~ Sarah Drasner Links Sarah Drasner Sarah Drasner Twitter Sarah Drasner LinkedIn Engineering Management for the Rest of Us She Code Africa Ada Nduka Oyom RenderATL Sagamore Spirit GitHub React Vue JS Microsoft Netlify Google Apple Ember JS Angular Brenne French Single Malt Whisky Craigellachie Distillery Michter’s American Peerless Distilling Co Willett Distillery Angel’s Envy Bourbons Whiskey Del Bac Mountain Dew Solid JS Ryan Carniato YouTube Nuxt Next JS Tailwind CSS Vanilla CSS CSS-Tricks Jason Lengstorf First We Feast Soundcloud Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

Being a great engineer doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a great engineering manager. So how do you know if a leadership role is right for you? Taylor Poindexter, Software Engineering Manager at Spotify, believes you have to try before you can decide and also know when to walk away. Taylor started out as a tech lead. She knew she wanted to help people advance their careers, and that passion led her to management. She emphasizes that emotional intelligence and patience are a major part of the role and the signs of an effective leader because people are complex. She talks about some of her personal strengths as a leader and the importance of motivating your team, giving feedback, and taking uncomfortable criticism. Managing people isn’t an easy job, and Taylor’s advice for engineers who realize they don’t love leadership is to walk away before creating an unhappy work culture for your team. In this episode, Taylor talks to Robbie and Chuck about tech hot takes, building effective engineering cultures, and the challenges and rewards of being an engineering manager. Key Takeaways [00:50] - Introduction to Taylor Poindexter. [02:38] - A whiskey review: Barrel Private Release DJX2. [12:19] - Tech hot takes. [18:32] - Taylor talks about her skills as an engineer and manager. [22:26] - Taylor’s advice for a developer who isn’t sure they want to be a manager. [27:41] - Types of employees managed by Taylor. [35:01] - Taylor unpacks her tweet about food spending. [42:15] - Chuck, Robbie, and Taylor talk about the subscription model. [45:10] - If Taylor wasn’t in tech, what career would she choose? [48:32] - Chuck talks about his trip to France. Quotes [19:32] - “I think I’m really good at motivating people. I think partially because, at the end of the day, they know I’m really honest and trustworthy.” ~ Taylor Poindexter [20:19] - “The constant iteration of improving things makes the team a good place.” ~ Taylor Poindexter [23:03] - “I realized that it was so important to me to give somebody else an enhanced career in whatever way I could.” ~ Taylor Poindexter Links Taylor Poindexter Taylor Poindexter LinkedIn Taylor Poindexter Twitter Taylor Poindexter Instagram Spotify Black Code Collective Barrell Private Release DJX2 Jack Rose Dining Saloon Twitter I.W. Harper Laravel WordPress Django Disaronno Sagamore Spirit Rye Suntory Jim Beam Bun University of Virginia Virginia Tech Solid JS Ryan Carniato Astro Aperol Hammer & Nails CleanMyMac Verizon Adobe Netflix Blockbuster Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

The Primeagen, a Software Engineer at Netflix, discusses masculinity, social media use, and pornography. He shares his thoughts on React's evolution, the impact of social media, and his journey growing up with a single mother. He also talks about his father's passing and his problem-solving initiatives at Netflix.

Social media platforms have become our virtual playgrounds, and the choices we make in this realm can have profound impacts on our lives. Are we sacrificing our privacy for the sake of convenience Jack Rhysider, Creator of the Darknet Diaries podcast, brings an interesting perspective on the world of online communities, privacy concerns, and the delicate balance between convenience and safeguarding personal data. He blends his creativity and knack for storytelling with his expertise in digital security to report some of the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, stories from the dark corners of the internet. Jack shares his thoughts on whether it’s harmful for people to flock to online communities where everyone is like them. He also delves into his opinions on Twitter and the privacy issues that arise from using the platform. In this episode, Jack talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience with various programming languages, the dynamic world of social media, and the perpetual tug-of-war between privacy and convenience in the digital age. Key Takeaways [00:27] - Introduction to Jack Rhysider. [03:23] - A whiskey review: Stellum Rye the Lone Cypress. [11:11] - Jack's experience as a craps dealer in Las Vegas. [20:41] - Jack discusses TunnelsUp and programming in Perl. [28:38] - Jack’s favorite story he has told so far. [34:39] - Music genres that Jack enjoys. [42:40] - How Jack feels about the current state of Twitter. [46:24] - Jack talks about obtaining privacy online. [55:01] - If Jack didn’t have his podcast, what would he be doing? Quotes [02:48] - “That’s my favorite when truth is stranger than fiction.” ~ Jack Rhysider [23:11] - “I used to have the motto, ‘Windows at work, Apple at home, and Linux everywhere else.’” ~ Jack Rhysider [32:57] - “Always it’s been, I want those people that can’t tell their story, I want the story that’s never been told, I want that secret stuff.” ~ Jack Rhysider Links Jack Rhysider LinkedIn Jack Rhysider Twitter Darknet Diaries TunnelsUp Ep45: Xbox Underground Google Stellum Rye the Lone Cypress Defcon Sagamore Spirits Node JS Windows Apple Linux Perl Ruby on Rails Ember JS Star Wars The Mandalorian Marvel Xbox Twitter Discord Slack Bluesky Social Mastodon GrapheneOS NBTV React MySudo Strava Amazon Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

Welch Canavan, Principal Engineer II at Stitch Fix, shares his unconventional journey into coding, the complexities of maintaining state in URLs, and the innovative solutions by T3 stack. He also discusses the current state of boot camps, his responsibilities at Stitch Fix, and why he quit veganism after 20 years. Other topics include CSS preferences, buying vs. building authentication services, improving appearance and camera setups, and the challenges of managing state and URLs in web applications.

As the tech industry advances at breakneck speed, traditional university programs are struggling to keep pace. Outdated course content and failure to adapt are encouraging developers to go the untraditional route. Can certifications carry the weight of tech education? Dr. Kate Holterhoff, Analyst at RedMonk, is an educator championing certifications in the tech space. Her background in academia, including teaching stints at institutions like Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech gave her a wealth of insights on what is best for the future of tech education. Kate sheds light on the challenges faced by tech education, emphasizing the role of community-driven learning, and exploring the impact of certifications on the modern job market. She also explores the contrast between the knowledge gained in traditional universities and the skills demanded by the tech industry. In this episode, Dr. Holterhoff talks to Chuck and Robbie about her thoughts on popular X (Twitter) debates, the shifting landscape of tech education, and the role of certifications in developer education. Key Takeaways [00:43] - Introduction to Dr. Kate Holterhoff. [02:46] - A whiskey review: Hirsch Horizon Bourbon. [09:08] - Tech hot takes. [20:30] - The next chapter for SPAs after the framework wars. [31:15] - Certifications in the tech industry. [50:45] - Kate, Chuck, and Robbie talk about RenderATL. [54:44] - Chuck and Kate talk about restaurants in Cincinnati. Quotes [21:41] - “React isn’t going anywhere. So if what you’re worried about is a job, React is a good place to go.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff [28:58] - “That’s what always comes up when I think about AI. Everyone has got a chatbot now.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff [35:02] - “Folks with CS degrees, information science degrees. They actually have to upskill themselves after they get that degree.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff Links Dr. Kate Holterhoff Dr. Kate Holterhoff Twitter Dr. Kate Holterhoff LinkedIn RedMonk RenderATL Hirsch Horizon Bourbon Twitter LinkedIn Bluesky Mastodon Discord Reddit Bing Slack Instagram React Vue Angular jQuery Facebook Home Depot Tesla Ruby AWS Georgia Institue of Technology iPad Nintendo Switch Kelly Vaughn Chris Coyier Gus’s Fried Chicken Red Phone Booth Gold Star Chili Skyline Chili Riverfront Pizza & Sports Bar Connect with our hosts Robbie Wagner Chuck Carpenter Ship Shape Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Whiskey Web and Whatnot Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.