Modern Web

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

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, John Crichton, Chief Technology Officer at Lightning Step Technologies, shares insights on balancing privacy and compliance requirements while fostering innovation in the electronic medical records (EMR) space. The discussion explores the complexities of healthcare data, the evolving use of AI to improve efficiency and patient care, and the importance of servant leadership in building high-performing teams. John also reflects on his experience transitioning from the financial services industry into healthcare, offering advice on integrating AI and developing team culture in both fields. Chapters [00:00 - 00:25] Introduction and Welcome [00:26 - 01:07] Guest Introduction: John Crichton [01:08 - 02:21] The Lack of Standardization in EMRs [02:22 - 02:52] Challenges in Clinical Trials and EMR Data [02:53 - 04:28] Balancing Innovation and Compliance in Healthcare [04:29 - 06:51] The Impact of Shifting Compliance and Privacy Concerns [06:52 - 07:10] The AI and Data Privacy Challenge in Healthcare [07:11 - 09:43] Integrating AI While Ensuring Data Security [09:44 - 12:33] Leveraging AI for Developer Productivity and Clinical Efficiency [12:34 - 15:13] AI in Enhancing Patient Care: Lightning Intelligent Assistant [15:14 - 16:41] Ethical Considerations Around AI in Healthcare [16:42 - 19:00] Comparing Regulatory Challenges: Financial Services vs. Healthcare [19:01 - 21:22] Healthcare Records and Financial Records: Privacy and Security [21:23 - 24:00] The Role of AI in Agile Development Processes [24:01 - 26:21] Leadership Lessons: Mentorship and Servant Leadership [26:22 - 29:12] Building a High-Performing Team Through Culture and Leadership [29:13 - End] Closing Remarks and Where to Find John Crighton Find John Crighton on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrighton/ Lightning Step Technologies: https://lightningstep.com/

Machine Learning and AI expert Shivay Lamba, discusses the evolution of machine learning tools, and his work on MLOps and deploying large language models (LLMs). The conversation covers the accessibility of AI, the power of JavaScript in machine learning through tools like TensorFlow.js, and the growing importance of ethical AI practices. Shivay also discusses the transition of web-based AI tools, the importance of transfer learning, and how developers can break into the space of AI and machine learning. Chapters 1. Shivay’s Journey into Machine Learning (00:00 - 03:30) 2. The Power of TensorFlow.js and Web AI (03:31 - 07:00) 3. Challenges in Hackathons: Using Pre-trained Models (07:01 - 10:00) 4. Navigating the AI Ecosystem: Python vs. JavaScript (10:01 - 13:30) 5. LLMs and Their Growing Popularity (13:31 - 17:00) 6. The Importance of Core Machine Learning Knowledge (17:01 - 20:00) 7. AI Ethics & Challenges in Scaling Models (20:01 - 23:00) 8. Shivay’s Content & Community Involvement (23:01 - 25:00) 9. Conclusion & Final Thoughts (25:01 - End) Follow Shivay on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/HowDevelop Github: https://github.com/shivaylamba Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Nick Taylor, Senior Software Engineer at OpenSauce discusses the current state of open source, including the challenges around funding, sustainability, and contributor burnout. Nick shares insights into how open source has impacted his career and highlights the growing importance of tools like TypeScript in the open-source ecosystem. The panel also discusses the evolution of TypeScript, its widespread adoption, and its role in shaping the modern web development landscape. They explore the nuances between JavaScript and TypeScript, the friction that developers sometimes face when working with types, and how TypeScript has grown into a default tool for many projects. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Co-Host Introductions 00:47 - Guest Introduction: Nick Taylor 01:37 - The Current State of Open Source 02:50 - Funding Challenges in Open Source 03:54 - Open Source Success Stories and Funding Examples 05:35 - Open Source Burnout and Quiet Quitting in Tech 06:43 - Challenges for Open Source Maintainers 07:26 - Motivation and Incentives for Contributing to Open Source 08:35 - Career Benefits of Open Source Contributions 10:11 - Nick’s Journey into Open Source Contributions 12:38 - The Burden of Managing Popular Open Source Projects 14:27 - Hacktoberfest and Low-Quality Contributions 16:14 - Challenges for Beginners Contributing to Open Source 18:01 - The Impact of Hacktoberfest and Mitigating Spam PRs 20:12 - TypeScript's Rise in Popularity 23:16 - Why TypeScript Became Popular in Open Source 25:45 - The Debate Around Static Typing in JavaScript 27:08 - TypeScript vs. JavaScript: Future Considerations 30:21 - The Role of Build Steps in Modern Development Frameworks 33:35 - The Complexity of TypeScript for Different Developer Levels 36:12 - Enum Usage and TypeScript's Type System 38:53 - TypeScript’s Structural Typing and Its Implications 39:47 - Nick’s Contact Information and Closing Remarks Follow Nick Taylor on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/nickytonline Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickytonline/ Github: https://github.com/nickytonline Sponsored by Wix Studio: https://www.wix.com/studio