The Weekly Dev's Brew

What does it take to build a web browser when everyone says it's impossible? In this episode, we sit down with Andreas Kling, the engineer behind Ladybird—the only major browser project that doesn't take money from Google.Andreas breaks down a uncomfortable truth: Google funds every major browser through search deals. Chrome, Firefox, Safari—they're all dependent on Google's advertising revenue. Ladybird is building the first truly independent alternative since the early Firefox days.We dive deep into the technical challenges of implementing web standards from scratch, why their 700,000 lines of code can compete with Chrome's 100+ million, and how they're making browser code that actually mirrors the specifications. Andreas reveals why they switched from UTF-8 to UTF-16, why they didn't choose Rust, and how they handle the constant evolution of living web standards.From the "draw the owl" problem of CSS specifications to building a sustainable nonprofit model with sponsors like Shopify, Andreas shares the engineering and business decisions behind their ambitious timeline: alpha in 2026, beta in 2027, and v1.0 by 2028.Our Fantastic GuestAndreas KlingPresident of the Ladybird Browser Initiative.XLinks and ResourcesLadybird Browser WebsiteWeb Platform TestsFil-C (memory-safe C++ compiler)Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

What does it take to accidentally become the maintainer of one of React's most popular libraries? In this episode, we sit down with Dominik Dorfmeister (aka. TkDodo), maintainer of React Query (now TanStack Query), to unpack his unexpected journey from answering Discord questions during COVID to maintaining a library with 10 million weekly downloads.Dominik reveals how spending months just helping people on Discord led to becoming a core maintainer of the TanStack ecosystem. We dive deep into React Query's stability-first approach, the challenges of managing breaking changes across multiple frameworks, and why the React adapter is surprisingly the most complex to maintain.From deleting 20,000 lines of dead code at Sentry to building platform teams that enable developer productivity, Dominik shares insights into maintaining software at scale. Our Fantastic GuestDominik Dorfmeister Software Engineer from 🇦🇹, working at Sentry, maintaining TanStack QueryBlueSkyLinks and ResourcesDominik's Blog Query.gg Knip Docs Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

What does it take to build one of the fastest-growing database ORMs from scratch? In this episode, we sit down with Andrii Sherman, co-founder of Drizzle, to unpack their philosophy: "If you know SQL, you know Drizzle."Andrii breaks down why their "headless ORM" approach is winning over developers frustrated with traditional ORMs. We dive deep into Drizzle's smart migration system, the growing ecosystem (DrizzleKit, DrizzleStudio), and how they've built a sustainable business model around open source with a 15-person team—all while working from Ukraine.From SQL template tags to building developer tools that don't get in your way, Andrii reveals the engineering decisions behind Drizzle's rapid adoption. We explore their unique approach to database migrations, why they're still not v1.0, and how they've created an entire ecosystem of tools that just work.Whether you're curious about modern database tooling, open source sustainability, or building developer-first products, this conversation offers rare insights into creating technology that developers actually love using.Our Fantastic GuestAndrii Sherman Drizzle Team co-founderX (formerly twitter)Links and ResourcesDrizzle TeamDrizzle ORM DocumentationDrizzle ORM v1 RoadmapDeep State ProjectSponsor DrizzleThank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

Ever wondered who actually decides how JavaScript evolves? In this episode, Jan-Niklas Wortmann sits down with Daniel Ehrenberg, President of Ecma International and long-time TC39 contributor, talking about how the language evolves—from vague idea to official spec.We unpack how proposals move through the stages, the philosophy behind JavaScript’s gradual evolution, and why some ideas never make it into the spec. From syntax debates to ecosystem pressures and the role of Babel, bundlers, and browser vendors—this conversation gives you a rare inside look at how your favorite language changes.Whether you’re a JS nerd, framework author, or just curious about why import() works the way it does, this episode pulls back the curtain.Our Fantastic GuestDaniel EhrenbergDaniel Ehrenberg is a software engineer on Bloomberg’s JavaScript Infrastructure & Tooling Engineering team. He serves as the Vice President of Ecma International and contributes to Ecma TC39, the JavaScript standards committee. Daniel has dabbled in WebAssembly and web standards as well, both while at Bloomberg and in his previous positions at Igalia, a free software cooperative, and at Google on the V8 team, the JavaScript engine in Chrome.BlueskyChapters00:00 - Welcome & Inside TC39: How JavaScript Evolves08:03 - The Politics of Proposals & Consensus Building16:05 - Syntax Innovation and Ecosystem Challenges24:06 - Influencers of the Spec: Babel, Bundlers & Beyond32:09 - Future Features: Import Defer, TS Gaps & Module Plans40:00 - Community Involvement & What Comes NextProduction support for this video was kindly provided by WebStorm. Thanks for helping bring this idea to life!Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

Join us in this insightful episode of The Weekly Dev's Brew as we sit down with Jeff Cross, co-founder of NX, to explore the evolution of monorepos and their impact on modern web development. Jeff shares his journey from working on the Angular team to launching his own successful ventures, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the tech industry. Discover how NX is transforming enterprise development with JavaScript frameworks and what the future holds for open source and AI in software engineering. Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with expert insights and practical advice for developers and entrepreneurs alike.Our Fantastic GuestJeff Cross - Co-founder and CEO of Nx.X (Twitter)LinkedInThank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

In this episode of The Weekly Dev's Brew, Jan sits down with Maya Shavin, Lead Software Engineer at Salesforce and mother of four, to explore an unconventional truth: parenting might be the best management training you never knew you needed. From navigating tantrums (both toddler and teammate) to mastering the art of patience in code reviews, Maya reveals how raising four kids transformed her approach to leading engineering teams. We dive deep into her journey from startup culture at Cloudinary to the corporate giants of Microsoft and Salesforce, uncovering why being "senior" means something completely different at each scale. Plus, Maya shares her bold prediction about which developer roles AI will replace first (spoiler: it's not what you think). Whether you're a parent juggling career growth, a team lead struggling with mentorship, or simply curious about work-life balance in tech, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who's mastered both domains.☕ Grab your brew and discover why some of the most valuable leadership skills might come from outside the office.Our Fantastic GuestMaya Shavin Lead Software Engineer at Salesforce, passionate about frontend development, Vue author, and mom of 4WebsiteX (Twitter)Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

In this episode of The Weekly Dev's Brew, Jan sits down with Michael Arnaldi, founder of Effect TS, to tackle a controversial truth: JavaScript's async model is fundamentally broken. From promises that lie about their errors to the nightmare of production-grade error handling, we delve into why traditional JavaScript tools in the realm of web development set us up for failure. Discover how Effect TS, built on TypeScript principles, offers a radically different approach for developers seeking to strengthen their web development skills. Whether you're drowning in try-catch blocks, struggling with graceful shutdowns, or wondering how to build truly reliable systems in JavaScript, this episode delivers hard truths and practical solutions tailored for developers using JavaScript and TypeScript. ☕ Grab your brew and learn why some of the biggest companies are betting their backends on a TypeScript-first future.Our Fantastic Guest Michael Arnaldi (Author of Effect)X formerly Twitter Links and Resources Effect TS Website  Effectful Technologies  "Simple Made Easy" by Rich HickeyJohn De Goes Effect TalkThank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

In this episode of The Weekly Dev’s Brew, Jan sits down with Daniel Roe to dive deep into a topic devs often overlook: web fonts. From performance pitfalls to implementation strategies, Daniel breaks down why your font choices might be slowing down your site—and what you can do about it. Whether you’ve been blindly copy-pasting Google Fonts or wondering how to ship faster, cleaner web experiences, this episode delivers practical insights with zero fluff.☕ Pull up a brew and learn how to stop letting fonts wreck your performance budget.Our Fantastic GuestDanie RoeDaniel leads the Nuxt core team. Previously, he was CTO of a SaaS startup and founder of a creative agency focusing on clarity of vision and message.His open-source work has a focus in the Vue.js and Nuxt ecosystems. He's a keynote speaker at conferences and involved in consultancy with companies around the world, particularly around JAMstack, serverless and software architecture.Bluesky GitHub LinkedIn Chapters00:00 - Into00:36 - performance impact of fonts03:03 - Font Optimization04:37 - What is font subsetting?06:54 - How to handle font licenses?11:05 - How to prevent layout shifts?17:07 - How to learn about fonts?20:01 - What are Variable Fonts?22:55 - Accessibility of Fonts26:38 - System vs Custom Fonts30:46 - About Font Providers33:15 - How to know which font is applied?35:48 - Local vs remote fonts36:41 - Dynamical changing fonts?38:17 - Fonts and i18n40:45 - On Ligatures42:36 - OutroLinks and ResourcesStoyan's BlogProduction support for this video was kindly provided by WebStorm. Thanks for helping bring this idea to life!Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

In this episode of The Weekly Dev’s Brew, we dive into the current state of web development with Alexander Lichter, a core member of Nuxt and DevRel at Void Zero. Join us as we discuss Nitro, the innovative server engine powering Nuxt and its growing influence on frameworks like SolidStart and Analog. Discover how Nitro is transforming fullstack JavaScript development, allowing for leaner and more adaptable backends. Our conversation also touches on Vite, modern server patterns, and the realities of working in open source and developer relations today. Gain valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories from an expert shaping the tools we rely on in the modern web ecosystem. Whether you’re passionate about Nuxt, fullstack development, or just eager to know what’s next for server-side development experience (DX), this episode is packed with information worth exploring.Our Fantastic GuestAlexander LichterAlex is a Developer Relations Engineer at VoidZero, a Nuxt.js Team member, Web Engineering Consultant, and open-source enthusiast. He creates tech-focused video content, co-hosts the DejaVue Podcast, speaks at conferences, and leads workshops to empower developers and advance the web ecosystem.Bluesky  Youtube  LinkedIn  GitHub  x (formerly twitter)  twitch  Chapters00:00 - Intro00:14 - The origin of Nitro03:56 - How to use Nitro?06:39 - Nitro hidden Gems07:56 - Nitro under the hood10:17 - runtime agnostic - a myth?12:38 - Nitro Project Structure14:58 - Nitro 3 and Nuxt 4?16:58 - What's coming with Nitro 319:36 - Nitro and Vinxi?22:24 - What's the Vite Environment API?26:36 - Vite's out-of-the-box experience29:05 - Cargo for JavaScript?31:01 - Void 0, Rome & Biome?32:37 - Void 0 and standards?33:58 - OXC's part in Void 0 vision?35:15 - How do developer benefit?35:55 - Void 0 on formatting37:46 - Oxlint and ESLint40:44 - type checking vs type stripping42:30 - On Rolldown44:38 - Complexity of Compatibility47:08 - OutroLinks and ResourcesPodcast with Daniel  Podcast with Patak  Interview with Evan You   Production support for this video was kindly provided by WebStorm. Thanks for helping bring this idea to life!Thank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew

In this episode, join Jan-Niklas Wortmann and Ryan Carniato, creator of SolidJS and CEO of Signals, as they explore how signals are revolutionizing web development and reshaping JavaScript frameworks. Discover the ways SolidJS is competing with React through more than just superior performance, as well as the innovative features of Signals 2.0 and their potential impact on async JavaScript patterns and the broader framework landscape once again. Ryan shares insights from his career and open-source journey, discusses the evolution of async JavaScript patterns, and provides practical advice for developers navigating the fast-paced landscape of frontend technology. Whether you're a seasoned React developer expanding your toolkit or a tech enthusiast curious about the latest trends in web development, this conversation provides essential insights into the past, present, and future of JavaScript frameworks.Our Fantastic GuestRyan Carniato Ryan Carniato is the "CEO of Signals", JavaScript performance enthusiast and fine-grained reactivity superfan. He is the creator of the JavaScript framework SolidJS, and a Staff Engineer at Sentry, where he works on multiple open source projects to develop a better web.x (formerly twitter)Bluesky YouTubeChapters00:00 - Introduction to the Discussion02:00 - The Impact of Signals and SolidJS04:19 - Performance and React's Approach07:06 - The Shift in Frameworks and Performance29:09 - The Role of Open Source in Development37:13 - Balancing Work and Personal Life46:13 - Future Developments in Signals95:05 - Conclusion and ReflectionsLinks and ResourcesSignals 2.0 StreamThank you very much for listening! We are also pretty much on all social media platforms, so make sure to like and subscribe!Homepage - https://www.weeklybrew.dev/ BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/weeklybrew.devInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/weeklydevsbrew/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@weeklybrew.devYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theweeklydevsbrewLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/the-weekly-dev-s-brew