In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson chat with Lawrence Lockhart, Developer Advocate at Vaadin, about using Java on the front end. Lawrence introduces Vaadin’s frameworks, Flow and Hilla, which empower Java developers to build full-stack applications without needing JavaScript. They discuss Vaadin's web components, built-in accessibility, seamless integration with Spring Boot, and how it simplifies complex web applications for enterprise use. Chapters 00:03 - Introduction 01:02 - What is Vaadin and Full-Stack Java 03:12 - Why Use Vaadin? 05:58 - Vaadin’s Communication Layer 08:13 - Vaadin vs. Traditional Front-End Frameworks 11:04 - Flexibility and Support for Web Components 15:14 - Micro Front-Ends and Cross-Team Collaboration 17:57 - Accessibility in Vaadin 19:27 - Sponsor Break 20:37 - Vaadin’s Backend Integration 22:39 - Power of Web Components in Vaadin 24:07 - Open Source and Community 26:15 - Testing with Vaadin 27:02 - Success Stories with Vaadin 30:09 - Customization and Theming in Vaadin 32:51 - Danny’s Perspective on Vaadin 34:02 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks Follow Lawrence Lockhart on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/LawrenceDCodes Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencelockhart/ Github: https://gist.github.com/lawrencedcodes/forked Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Rob Ocel and co-hosts Tracy Lee, Adam Rackis, and Danny Thompson talk with tech educator Ankita Kulkarni about her journey from engineering leader to full-time educator. Ankita shares insights on teaching Next.js, bridging practical knowledge gaps, and helping developers tackle real-world challenges. They discuss Next.js as a React-based framework, its benefits, and the challenges it presents for beginners. Chapters Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 00:01   Meet Ankita Kulkarni, Tech Educator 00:26    Ankita's Transition to Full-Time Education 01:41    Teaching Practical Knowledge in Next.js 03:19    Effective Methods for Teaching Next.js 05:27   Challenges of Being a Full-Time Educator 07:48   Balancing Broad and Specific Examples 09:54    Embracing Mistakes as a Teaching Tool 12:13   Pair Programming and Mentorship 14:00    Discussion on Next.js and Framework Adoption 16:48    Advantages and Challenges of Next.js 18:12   Choosing the Right Framework for Your Needs 20:35    Impact of Next.js in React Documentation 22:26    Learning Paths for New Developers 23:24    The Rise of Full-Stack Web Development 25:09    Benefits of Frameworks Abstracting Complexity 26:27    OpenNext and Deployment Flexibility 28:06  Ankita's Excitement for New Next.js Features 30:35   The Future of Next.js Without Vercel 32:16   Final Thoughts and Where to Find Everyone Online 34:21 Follow Ankita Kulkarni on Social Media  Twitter: https://x.com/kulkarniankita9 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kulkarniankita Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Annie Sexton, Developer Advocate at Fly.io, to discuss Fly.io’s approach to simplifying cloud deployment. Annie shares Fly.io's unique position as a public cloud that offers the flexibility of infrastructure control with a streamlined developer experience. They explore Fly.io’s private networking and distributed app capabilities, allowing developers to deploy applications close to users worldwide with ease. Annie also addresses common challenges in distributed systems, including latency, data replication, and the balance between global reach and simple, single-region projects. Chapters: - 00:00 - 01:32 Introduction to the Modern Web Podcast and Guests - 01:33 - 04:00 Overview of Fly.io and Annie’s Role as Developer Advocate - 04:01 - 06:35 What Makes Fly.io Stand Out Among Cloud Platforms - 06:36 - 08:57 Distributed Applications: Benefits and Use Cases - 08:58 - 11:28 Understanding Distributed Web Servers and Private Networking - 11:29 - 13:49 Challenges in Distributed Data and Replication Techniques - 13:50 - 16:12 Fly.io’s Unique Solutions for Data Consistency - 16:13 - 18:34 When to Consider a Distributed Setup for Your Application - 18:35 - 20:35 Tools and Tips for Evaluating Geographical Distribution Needs - 20:36 - 22:22 Simplifying Global Deployment with Fly.io’s Command Features - 22:23 - 24:18 Considerations for Latency and Performance Optimization - 24:19 - 26:45 Balancing Simplicity with Advanced Control for Developers - 26:46 - 29:04 Easy Deployment for Hobbyists and Smaller Projects - 29:05 - 31:27 Getting Started on Fly.io with Fly Launch - 31:28 - 33:48 Developer Advocacy and Meeting Diverse Needs in the Cloud - 33:49 - 36:15 Catering to Beginners and Experienced Developers Alike - 36:16 - End Closing Remarks and Where to Find Fly.io and the Hosts Follow Annie Sexton on Social Media Twitter:https://x.com/_anniebabannie_ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-sexton-11472a46/ Github: https://github.com/anniebabannie

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Rob Ocel is joined by Adam Rackis, Danny Thompson, and guest Braydon Coyer, Senior Front-End Developer at LogicGate to talk about using Angular Signals for improved state management and DOM performance. Braydon explains how Signals simplify Angular development and offer better readability and efficiency compared to traditional methods like RxJS. The conversation also touches on hiring in the AI era, discussing challenges around take-home tests and live coding, and how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the interview process. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction   00:57 - The Angular Renaissance   02:24 - Signals in Angular   03:27 - Transitioning to Signals   04:19 - Signals in Utility Development   05:09 - RxJS and Signals   07:52 - Signals vs Other State Management Solutions   09:34 - Testing Signals   10:29 - Control Flow and Standalone Components in Angular   12:02 - Angular's Evolution and Accessibility   13:28 - Angular’s Framework Governance   17:10 - Hiring in the Age of AI   19:15 - Pair Programming and Real-Time Problem Solving   22:24 - The Role of AI in Interviews   27:58 - Wrapping Up Follow Braydon Coyer on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/BraydonCoyer Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braydon-coyer/ Github: https://github.com/braydoncoyer

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson, Director of Technology at This Dot Labs, hosts a conversation with Theresa Mammarella, JVM engineer at IBM, and Brian Sam-Bodden, Applied AI Engineer at Redis. They explore their talks at JCONF in Dallas, Texas, covering topics like GenAI architectures in the Java community and OpenJDK's Project Valhalla. Their conversation covers Java’s evolution, AI applications, semantic caching, and how these technologies are impacting development workflows and performance optimization. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction   01:00 - Brian on GenAI in the Java Community   01:47 - Java’s Safe Evolution Path   02:17 - Teresa on Project Valhalla   03:54 - Value Classes and Performance   04:33 - Brian on Semantic Caching   06:54 - Challenges of Rewording Prompts   09:15 - What is RAG Architecture?   11:34 - Java’s Role in AI   13:57 - Cost of LLMs and Caching Strategies   15:57 - Teresa on Java’s Future   18:22 - Learning Resources for Java Developers   20:44 - Addressing Misconceptions About Java   22:39 - Final Thoughts   Follow Theresa Mammarella & Brian Sam on Social Media Theresa Mammarella Twitter: https://x.com/t_mammarella?lang=en Brian Sam-Bodden Twitter: https://x.com/bsbodden Theresa Mammarella Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmammarella/ Brian Sam-Bodden Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sambodden/

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Rob Ocel and co-hosts Adam Rackis, Tracy Lee, and Danny Thompson discuss the importance of unit testing for maintaining code quality and reliability, emphasizing its role in scaling projects and ensuring long-term stability. The conversation also highlights the benefits of TypeScript in improving code safety and developer productivity, sharing experiences on how it catches errors early in the process. They also examine the growing role of AI in automating development tasks, weighing the efficiency gains against the risks of over-reliance on automation while stressing the importance of understanding the underlying processes. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview 02:59 - The Importance of Unit Testing 10:03 - Best Practices for Implementing Unit Tests 17:15 - TypeScript’s Role in Code Safety and Productivity 2:30 - AI in Software Development: Automating Tasks 29:16 - Balancing AI Automation with Developer Expertise 32:07 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson, Director of Technology at This Dot Labs, sits down with Vincent Mayers, a seasoned tech conference organizer with over 15 years of experience. They discuss the intricacies of running successful conferences, including the challenges of selecting event locations, building community engagement, and creating memorable experiences for attendees. Vincent also shares insights into the evolution of tech conferences, from the importance of shorter talks to the value of the "hallway track" for networking. Tune in for an inside look at how these events shape the tech ecosystem and tips for organizing your own conferences! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Vincent Mayers' Background 03:50 - Choosing Conference Locations 06:10 - Building Community and Spreading the Word 08:40 - Sponsorship and Funding Challenges 11:00 - Securing Speakers for Tech Conferences 14:20 - Improving the Conference Experience 16:30 - Badge Design and the Attendee Experience 18:50 - Engaging Attendees Beyond Talks 21:00 - The Role of Tech Conferences in the Java Ecosystem 23:12 - Attendees Still Using Older Java Versions 26:00 - Balancing Cutting-Edge Tech with Fundamentals 28:15 - Evolving Attention Spans in Tech Conferences 30:00 - The Importance of the Hallway Track 33:19 - Closing Remarks Follow Vincent Mayers on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/vincentmayers Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentmayers/Github: https://github.com/vincentmayers Sponsored by This Dot.

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Rob Ocel, Danny Thompson, and Adam Rackis talk with Michael Liendo, Senior Developer Advocate at AWS, about building practical AI applications and tackling challenges like scalability, multimodal functionality, and cloud infrastructure choices. Michael shares insights on tools like AWS Amplify and DynamoDB, discusses strategies for managing cloud costs, and explores the evolving role of prompt engineering. Michael previews his upcoming talks at AWS re:Invent on AI and scalable B2B SaaS applications. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:30 - Talking Weather and Life in the Midwest 03:00 - Exploring Generative AI and Practical Applications 06:45 - Navigating Cloud Costs and Scalability Considerations 08:30 - Maintaining Creativity and Customization with AI 11:00 - Managed Services vs. On-Prem Infrastructure Debate 15:30 - Choosing a Tech Stack for Side Projects and Startups 18:45 - Learning Cloud: Paths for Full-Stack Cloud Development 22:30 - The Role of Cloud Certifications in Today's Market 26:00 - Preview of Michael’s Upcoming Talks at AWS re:Invent 32:00 - Where to Find Michael Online Follow Michael Liendo on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/focusotter Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/focusotter/ Sponsored by Wix Studio: wix.com/studio

Danny Thompson, Director of Technology at This Dot Labs, talks with Tanner Linsley, Creator of TanStack, about his latest project, TanStack Start. They discuss the challenges of existing frameworks like Next.js and Remix, the development of TanStack Router, and the future of React Server Components. Tanner also explains how caching strategies and fine-grained invalidation can transform the user experience. Chapters 1. Introduction & Tanner’s Background (00:00) 2. Going Full-Time on TanStack (01:00) 3. The Birth of TanStack Router (02:21) 4. Why Build Another Framework? (04:00) 5. React Server Components: Potential & Limitations (07:05) 6. Fine-Grained Cache Invalidation & UX (09:02) 7. Parallel Data Fetching in Routing (13:39) 8. TanStack Start: Alpha & Future Plans (16:41) 9. Where to Learn More About TanStack (18:48) Find Tanner Linsley on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/tannerlinsley Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerlinsley/ Github: https://github.com/tannerlinsley TanStack: https://tanstack.com/

Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel chat with Jason Torres about the challenges of breaking into tech, especially for self-taught and underrepresented developers. Jason shares his journey from a 15-year career in the film industry to pursuing software development, discussing the emotional and financial hurdles involved. They also discuss the importance of networking, finding a niche rather than mastering everything, and the impact of the tech downturn on junior developers. Chapters 1. Introduction and Tech Career Journeys (00:00 - 02:30) 2. The Struggles of Breaking Into Tech (02:31 - 06:00) 3. Jason’s Career Pivot from Film to Tech (06:01 - 10:30) 4. The Importance of Networking and Community (10:31 - 15:00) 5. Specializing vs. Being a Generalist in Tech (15:01 - 20:00) 6. Finding Your Path in Tech (20:01 - 25:30) 7. Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Belonging (25:31 - 30:00) 8. Final Thoughts and Tips for Breaking Into Tech (30:01 - 33:00) 9. Closing Remarks and Tech Talk Humor (33:01 - End) Follow Jason Torres on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/TasonJorres Linkeidn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejasontorres/ Sponsored by Wix Studio: https://www.wix.com/studio