920: How to Build MCP Servers

Scott and Wes are joined by special guest Xenova to explore local AI models in JavaScript. From Hugging Face to Transformers.js and practical applications like real-time speech recognition and object detection, this episode dives deep into the world of machine learning. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:41 Brought to you by Sentry.io 01:05 Who is Xenova? 02:08 What is Hugging Face? 03:29 What is Transformers.js? 06:16 How was the library developed? SponsorBlock 09:04 How is it able to run? 10:09 Do they have to run in Python and how does Onnx work? Onnx.ai Hugging Face Optimum 14:19 What are some things you can do with this tech? 16:15 Vision tools. 17:38 This is actually running locally. 18:35 Doodle Dash 21:09 They currently run on CPU, what is required to make it run on GPU? 24:44 Can you run in JavaScript? 28:32 How it works with image vectors. 34:23 Why would people want to run it in another language? 35:55 Resizing images in the browser instead of on the server. 38:55 Applications distributed on the web vs running locally. 43:54 Electron has Node and Chrome, where would you run Transformers.js? 44:32 The API of Transformers.js 46:30 Object Detection. Semantic Image Search Client Real-Time Object Detection Background Removal Tool 48:33 What is the easiest way to get started? 51:26 Real-time speech recognition on the horizon? 52:08 Will we ever be able to run Stable Diffusion via JavaScript? 56:10 The Web LLM. 57:22 Practical applications for YouTube. 59:39 What we want to build for Syntax.fm. 01:06:43 Mean pooling, why it’s necessary. 01:09:30 Stopping YouTube spam comments. 01:10:34 K-Means Clustering. Text Clustering 01:13:49 Quantization. 01:17:35 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Xeonva: WebGPU Shameless Plugs Xenova: Xenova on X Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

8 Maalis 20241h 19min

Join Wes and Scott as they explore LoFi (local first) web development, delving into CRDT, Websockets, IndexedDB, SQLite, and more. Discover when Local-First shines and when it’s better to steer clear in this episode packed with practical insights. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 03:18 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 04:08 What is LoFi? localfirst.dev 05:02 The Seven Ideals for Local-first. 05:29 1: No Spinners. 06:48 2: Your work is not trapped on one device. 07:56 3: The network is optional. 08:50 4: Seamless collaboration with your colleagues. 09:35 Oops, we for got to read 5: The Long Now. 09:37 6: Security and privacy by default. 09:45 7: You retain ultimate ownership and control. Actual Budget Finance App Ink & Switch 13:01 Sounds great, let’s go! Not so fast, this stuff is hard. 14:07 The technology involved. 14:30 CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types). Wikipedia Definition James Long dotJS 2019 dotconfrences 17:48 How does it prioritize conflict resolutions? 19:36 Websockets. 20:17 IndexedDB + SQLite. 21:23 Service Workers. 22:16 The software involved. 22:24 Replicache. 24:48 YJS. 25:06 Electric SQL. 25:51 The most basic LoFi application. 31:26 Some bigger concepts. 32:34 Answering some common questions. 35:19 Some real-world examples of LoFi. Habit Path by Scott Tolinski 37:18 What about Apple PWA nonsense? 38:20 This seems similar to real-time software and multiplayer. 38:47 Sounds like too much work. Triplit Fullstack Database Electric SQL Evolu 40:46 Some useful links. Local-First Web Development Local-First Lo.fi YouTube Local-First Ink & Switch Local-First Reddit Syntax GitHub Local-First 43:30 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Wes: Dresscode.dev Scott: Monarch Money Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

6 Maalis 202452min

Process is important. This show is dedicated to examples of non-developer tasks that can be improved by coding scripts. Join Scott and Wes for a deep dive into automation magic. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 02:11 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 03:02 FFmpeg, a tool for video producers. FFmpeg FFprobe 06:35 Markdown validation. Syntax Markdown Validation 09:21 AI timestamps for inform editing process. Episode 456 Transcript 12:19 Generating clips for social media. 13:31 YouTube find and replace tool. YouTube Find & Replace - work in progress 15:03 What other scripts can you create? 16:17 Packaging a tool for a non-developer to use. 16:54 Apple Scripts 17:45 Stand-alone website. 19:25 Script Kit: Shortcut to Everything 20:19 Other ways to run scripts. ZX Dax 22:05 Get in touch with your tips. Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

4 Maalis 202423min

Get ready to learn all about the JSR package registry with Wes, Scott, and special guest Luca Casonato of Deno, as they discuss its benefits, share insights on when to use it, and teasing some secret features that promise to enhance your coding journey. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:37 Brought to you by sentry.io. 00:51 Who is Luca Casonato? 01:18 Why do we need another package registry? Wes Bos Tweet 04:35 Is it ESM only? 06:08 What exactly is JSR? 07:22 How do you install things from this registry? 09:38 NPM specifier in NodeJS? 12:18 Why can’t we just fix NPM? 14:28 When you make things easier, people make cooler stuff. 17:49 A little bit about auto-documentation. 21:18 Auto-Types. 22:33 Can’t you just put TypeScript files on an NPM? 24:04 Package Provenance. NPM Package Provenance 25:14 Does JSR have any plans for scanning dependencies? 27:56 GitHub action integration. 30:08 Does JSR replace url imports in Deno? Import Maps, Ep.596 32:15 What about publishing JSX, TSX, CSS, WASM, etc? 34:16 What are Slow Types? 36:34 Do you think we’ll ever see another implementation of a TypeScript type checker? 38:23 Types as comments or adding types to JavaScript. 40:10 What is the anticipated timeline? 41:52 Are there any parts of TypeScript that you don’t like? 43:32 What about when TypeScript breaks? 46:20 JSR community funding. 49:39 Are you planning on pre-registering popular names? 52:26 Super secret new features! 56:39 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Luca: Hono Shameless Plugs Luca: jsr.io Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

1 Maalis 202458min

Scott and Wes introduce Syntax’s new Senior Content Producer, CJ Reynolds, who will be creating video deep-dives and companion content for topics covered on the podcast. CJ, also known as the host of Coding Garden, shares his passions for web development, teaching and experimenting with new technologies. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:06 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 04:39 What got you into web development? 09:23 Does a degree in computer sciences help you in your day to day as a web developer? Bell Curve Meme 11:39 Wes downloads every single .com domain name. 15:19 What was your very first web development job? 18:12 How did you go from C# to websites? 21:12 What is the worst thing you’ve had to do as a developer? 22:31 What are some of your favorite projects? Is It New Years Day Dung Hero 26:32 What tech are you into right now? What inspires you? 27:52 Why do you like experimenting with new technologies? 29:39 Hono v4.0.5. 30:29 HTMZ 31:44 If you were to build a startup today, what would your stack be? 32:39 What’s your tech setup? Coding Garden GitHub RK Royal Kludge Keyboard 37:51 What got you into live-streaming? 40:13 Why do you use a blue screen? 41:19 What’s your philosophy on teaching? Bloom’s Taxonomy 43:56 What are your non-developer hobbies? CJ Skateboarding with Syntax deck CJ’s floofy doggo, Pig Sony VX10000 Sony Mavica 51:00 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks CJ: Ergonomics, More on Ergonomics Scott: Project Farm YouTube trash bag comparison Wes: Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel Shameless Plugs CJ: Coding Garden Scott: Syntax on YouTube Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

28 Helmi 202456min

Wes shares the story of how the Taliban stole his .af domain. Scott and Wes discuss top-level domain (TLD) best practices, how to find unique custom domain names for your website, and how to avoid having yours stolen. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:16 Brought to you by Sentry.io 01:11 The story of how the Taliban stole my domain. 05:10 When you purchase a domain, does that country receive the registration fee? Country Code Top-Level Domain Infrastructure Top-Level Domain Generic Top-Level Domain Sponsored Top-Level Domain 07:29 Notion lost their .so domain. Notion 09:18 .ai domain names. 09:53 Other popular TLD options. tolin.ski wes.io 12:05 What are the best TLDs? 13:18 iwantmyname Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

26 Helmi 202415min

Scott and Wes welcome HTMX creator Carson Gross to discuss the versatile applications and optimal scenarios for using HTMX, alongside insights into its creation and evolution. Join us as we explore the future prospects and improvements as we look towards HTMX 2.0. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:52 Brought to you by Sentry.io 02:22 Who is Carson Gross? BigSkySoftware GitHub BigSkySoftware 03:53 What exactly is HTMX? htmx.org htmx.org/examples 07:04 What made you want to create something like HTMX? intercooler.js 10:01 Would HTML look more like HTMX if we were to rebuild it today? 12:54 Isn’t HTMX a step backward into old-school AJAX? 16:09 When would you avoid using HTMX? 17:56 Does HTMX put an unnecessary load on the server? 21:46 What are your thoughts on rendering everything on the server? 26:29 What is your favorite stack? 28:49 Things that are lost moving to the JavaScript framework world. 30:16 HTMX coupling your front end and back end. 32:28 How do you feel about web components? 33:40 What are the big templating engines and your top pick? HTMX Essays 36:33 Object-oriented HTML. 37:38 Is there an offline story or a “local-first” story for HTMX? 38:44 What does the future of HTMX look like given its rise in popularity? 40:03 HTMX and X (Twitter). Syntax Show 726 HTMX on X 42:30 The Microsoft story. 45:26 Carson’s thoughts on de-escalating the language around HTMX. 47:44 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Carson: AlpineJS, Datastar Shameless Plugs Carson: Hypermedia Systems, HTMX Swag Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

23 Helmi 202452min

In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott discuss egress, scraping, Safari EU changes, and answer questions on updating dependencies and SetInterval. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:35 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 02:49 I have over 100,000 user images on Cloudinary. How do I migrate to another service? Cloudflare-Cloudinary Proxy 07:27 Switching from Mac to PC. Figma, DaVinci Resolve 12:32 What’s your take on the Safari 17.4 PWA removal debacle for EU users? Bug Report Fullscreen API Bug Report 19:45 Is there any clear front-runner when it comes to monorepo tools? 23:44 Some big web apps have a div relatively high in the DOM with a class like “scroll-container” or “cursor-events”, why is that? 32:15 Is ChatGPT Plus worth it? I’m trying to avoid death by 1000 subscriptions. ElevenLabs 37:47 Performance vs accuracy when working with timers. 40:37 How do you update the dependencies to work with a current version of Node? Also, if you are building from scratch, how do you determine what dependencies to use? Syntax show 425: Updating Project Dependencies 45:52 Clarification on the browser blocking. Mozilla’s vision for Firefox MV3 49:19 Problems when working with JavaScript’s new Date(). 54:27 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Scott: LED Flashlight Shameless Plugs Wes: Syntax YouTube Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott:X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

21 Helmi 202459min