858: How to Go Deeper With Your Learning

Ready to level up your career in web development? Join Wes and Scott as they discuss techniques and best practices for advancing in the field. From mastering technical skills to navigating workplace dynamics, this episode offers actionable advice to help you thrive in your career. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:17 How can a front-end developer advance in their career? 01:10 Brought to you by Sentry. 01:30 Syntax newsletter. Snack Pack 02:02 How do you get better at being a developer? 02:22 Asking questions. 08:09 Get your hands dirty. Hot Tips, Cool Treats 14:07 Share what you know. 17:35 Target your skills for what is needed. Ryan Carniato Tweet Episode 577 Justin Fagnani Tweet Episode 595 21:12 Get out of your comfort zone. 26:55 Getting a better job. 27:27 Understand the stakeholders. 29:18 Find the metric the business cares about and do that. 30:01 Make an impression as being the person that gets things done fast and reliably. 31:47 Improve communications. 35:04 Be the person they want to have in meetings. 37:44 Use systems and tools to help your deficiencies. 39:01 Dress to impress. 39:32 Care. 39:40 Cut the cynicism. Energy Vampire 42:16 Don’t put bad stuff out into the world publicly. 44:29 Get your camera + mic dialed in. 46:23 Leveling up at life. 46:32 Take care of your shit. 47:40 Exercise. Episode 748 47:57 Eat well. 48:22 Sleep as much as you can. 48:26 Clean your workspace. 49:17 Learn new skills. 49:31 Take care of yourself. Habit Path 54:09 Sick Picks. Sick Picks Scott: Zeiss Lens Care Pack Wes: Woosh Screen Cleaner 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

10 Apr 202457min

Scott and Wes dive into the cache problem, tackling user-specific data and caching security. From marketing A/B testing to content negotiation, they explore various challenges and solutions, including different URL/query parameters, edge logic, and client-side caching. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:22 Syntax is on YouTube. 02:16 Let’s talk about the cache problem. 03:33 User-specific data and caching security. 06:27 Why might this pop up? 06:29 Marketing A/B testing - cookie based. 06:55 User-selected features - such as themes. 06:58 Language or geo-based items - accept language. 07:11 Images - WebP for some browsers, jpg for others. 07:45 JSON/HTML based on accept header. 08:17 Different encoding. 08:26 Content negotiation. 08:54 The solutions. 09:04 Provide different URLs/Query parameter. 11:19 Don’t cache the page, cache the data based on query. 15:01 Implement a “Cache Key” - one render for every option. Netlify Fastly Cloudflare 18:17 Use edge logic. 19:52 Just do it client-side. 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 Apr 202424min

Which framework is best? Join Scott and Wes as they chat with Corbin Crutchley, author of the “Framework Field Guide”, diving into the world of frameworks, metaframeworks, and tips to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in web development. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:48 Who is Corbin Crutchley? 02:08 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 02:32 Hilton, like the hotel? 05:57 What is the best framework? 07:23 How do you compare these frameworks? 10:00 Do you feel like the metaframeworks are comparable? 11:02 Exciting announcements from ng-conf? 11:42 Are Wiz and Angular merging? 14:17 Angular signals and Vue comparison. PreactJS Signals 17:53 Adding signals to vanilla JavaScript and browsers. 21:02 What is derived state? 23:11 How can we store state within these different frameworks? 24:37 Passing children. 26:40 Which has the best implementation for passing children? 28:52 What’s the approach for building framework agnostic components? TanStack Store 30:31 How much of it is framework specific? 31:35 Headless or DOM-based? 32:48 What are the best practices for writing this? 35:28 What’s the biggest framework pain point? 36:21 Is there a language that requires significantly more code? 38:52 What about Web Components? 39:58 Your book is free? Framework Field Guide Shout-out Eduardo Pratti and Kevin Aguilar. 42:42 What’s the process of writing a book like this? 45:44 Not a physical book? 46:17 Walk us through the tech stack. 48:27 Supper Club Questions. 48:33 What text editor, theme and font do you use? 49:53 What terminal and shell do you use? 50:19 How do you stay up to date? 53:39 Do you have advice for beginners? 55:26 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Corbin: Shiki Syntax Highlighter Shameless Plugs Corbin: Framework Field Guide 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

5 Apr 202457min

Scott and Wes explore UI Components, discussing functionality, styling, accessibility, and theming. From headless components to styled starters, they share valuable insights to elevate your UI game. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 02:39 We’re on YouTube. 03:14 The four categories of UI libraries or frameworks. 03:46 What does a UI component need to do? 04:14 Must be functional. 06:20 They must fit styling. 06:33 They must be accessible. 08:09 “Internationalizationable.” 09:29 They must handle theming and variants. 10:05 A few common UI components. 10:14 Date Pickers. 12:10 Dropdowns. 13:21 Toast message. Svelte French Toast 15:11 Some honorable mentions. 16:10 Headless components. 18:54 React Aria. Behavior, Accessibility, Internationalization 19:34 Radix UI Primitives. 20:16 Downshift JS. 21:29 Tanstack Table and Forms. 26:00 Unstyled components. 28:04 Shoelace. 32:47 React Aria Components. 33:00 Headless UI. 33:04 Radix UI. 37:12 Base UI. 38:23 What’s up with Google’s design? 40:22 Styled Starters. React Aria Components Starter ShadCN Tailwind Catalyst MeltUI 47:50 What is the process for overriding with custom elements. 51:10 UI Kits and Design Systems. 53:06 Some things to consider. JS Nation 55:41 A few more options to consider. Pigment CSS Base UI Shoelace BaseLayer JollyUI DraftUI Radix UI PenguinUI Tailwind CSS TailwindUI VerveUI DaisyUI ChakraUI Flowbite FloatingUI Downshift JS Mantine 59:02 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Wes: Battery Daddy Scott: Lazy Susan, Rechargeable Batteries, Charger Shameless Plugs 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

3 Apr 20241h 6min

Get stoked, jQuery 1.2 is here! Join Scott and Wes as they discuss jQuery Mobile, slicing PSD files, CSS rounded corners, CoffeeScript features, WordPress 2.3, and the rise of Skeuomorphism, shaping the landscape of web development this year. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:16 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 02:17 jQuery 1.2 released! 07:38 jQuery Mobile. 09:34 Skeuomorphism. 10:25 How do you slice up your .PSDs? Slicy By MacRabbit 12:34 Cufon, new font method. 14:06 CSS rounded corners. CSS3Please 15:17 Coda Tip. 16:48 Top 5 CoffeeScript Features. 18:44 Conference Talks to Spotlight. BatmanJS, your new favorite JavaScript superhero 20:35 WordPress 2.3! 21:15 PHP 5.2.0 PHP 5.2.0 Release Announcement 21:53 Sponsored by Media Temple. 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 Apr 202424min

Scott and Wes are joined by special guests Trudy MacNabb and Anne Thomas from Design Packs, diving into the nitty-gritty of Shopify design. Tune in as they dissect the pros and cons, challenges, and unveil their daily toolkit for crafting stunning Shopify websites. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:59 Who is Anne Thomas? 02:30 Who is Trudy MacNabb? 04:06 Shopify themes, how does one build a theme? 05:34 Do you have enough control with LiquidJS? 07:52 Changing components of a liquid template. 08:58 LiquidJS improving their dev tools. 09:29 LiquidJS email marketing. 10:32 Can you make your own LiquidJS methods? Too Many Tabs 11:34 How would you create a theme from scratch using modern tools? 13:30 What about local dev and live reload? Shopify Tools CLI 15:17 Is Shopify improving? 17:13 What do you hate about Shopify themes? Shopify Tools Theme Kit 18:59 Have you used Hydrogen? Shopify Hydrogen 20:09 Headless has sacrifices. 22:02 Are people building full websites in Shopify? 23:56 Apps and integrations. 25:56 Are people creating businesses around these integrations? 29:16 What are design packs? 31:26 Do you run your own servers? 31:57 How does billing work with clients? 33:18 Apps being ‘Sherlocked’. ‘Sherlocking’ Explained 35:21 Where is the data stored? 36:35 Can you make a custom UI? 38:40 What are the downsides of building apps on Shopify? 39:17 Are you expected to maintain versions? 40:46 Do you manage all the support independently? 42:01 How do you match with their existing themes? 43:54 What are the most popular blocks? 45:17 Does Shopify provide bundlers or compilers? 46:47 Shopify moving to blocks. 47:38 Living as a digital nomad. Syntax Episode 586 on Nomad Developing 49:48 A new app Anne and Trudy launched. 51:35 Limited by block size. 54:08 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Trudy: Bar of Shampoo Anne: Alie Ward Ologies Podcast Shameless Plugs Trudy: 25% off using SYNTAX25 at Design Packs 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

29 Mars 202458min

Level up your coding game -and your gains! Today, Scott and Wes weigh in on the importance of physical fitness for developers, covering motivation, diet, lifting basics, routines, and swole-inducing supplements. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:14 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 03:10 A very quick disclaimer. 03:32 A brief view of our fitness history. 06:19 Why is fitness important for developers? 09:12 Setting your goals. 13:06 Getting started with fitness. 13:13 Body-weight. 13:58 Stretching. 16:47 Fun activities that don’t feel like workouts. 17:48 Lifting weights. Stronglifts StartingStrength 25:47 Home gym gear. Rogue Stall Bar 37:14 Fitness programs. 40:53 I guess we have to talk about diet. MacroFactorApp 46:37 Motivation. 47:42 Supplements. BulkSupplements.com Creatine 51:23 Sick Picks. Sick Picks Wes: Wikday Pull Up Bands Scott: Booty Bands 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

27 Mars 202455min

Join Wes and Scott for a hasty episode of Syntax as they unpack the power of middleware for developers, covering caching, authentication, A/B testing, error handling, and user redirection in a quick, punchy rundown to supercharge your backend skills! Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:41 Syntax on YouTube. 01:28 What is middleware? 05:04 Some real-world examples of middleware. 05:10 Authentication. 07:44 Redirecting users to a specific instance. 08:28 Logging + statistics. 09:41 Debugging. 10:00 Timers. 10:46 A/B testing. 11:59 Error handling + logging. 12:23 Caching. 13:02 Multi-tenant applications. 15:08 Where does it run? 18:07 What are the limitations? 21:52 Next.js middleware is one file only. NextJS Middleware 23:35 Sveltekit solution. Sveltekit Hooks 24:31 Connect style. Fastify Express Fastify Middle 25:28 One last thing, NPM Installing. 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

25 Mars 202427min