Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats23 Dec 2020

Potluck — New Macs × Podcast Statistics × E-commerce Testing × WordPress × Charging More × Learning Web Dev × More!

It’s another potluck! In this episode, Scott and Wes answer your questions about new Macs and web development, podcast statistics during COVID, is it still worth it to learn WordPress, dealing with imposter syndrome, and more! Freshbooks - Sponsor Get a 30 day free trial of Freshbooks at freshbooks.com/syntax and put SYNTAX in the “How did you hear about us?” section. Sentry - Sponsor If you want to know what’s happening with your errors, track them with Sentry. Sentry is open-source error tracking that helps developers monitor and fix crashes in real time. Cut your time on error resolution from five hours to five minutes. It works with any language and integrates with dozens of other services. Syntax listeners can get two months for free by visiting Sentry.io and using the coupon code “tastytreat”. Show Notes 00:47 - Roch Tolinski — You guys are doing a downtown job!!! 02:45 - Yesterday Apple announced their new Macs. They seem pretty sweet, but I was curious, what does this mean for the world of web developers? Will my current apps slowly stop being supported? Will things like brew and node and npm still work on those new machines? Would it be smart to start learning new programs to be prepared for the transition? 10:20 - Hey, great show! No really, great show. What is better for working at home/the office, iMac or MacBook Pro? 13:25 - What are your thoughts on Remix? And has your listenership gone down since COVID-19? I have heard that less people listen to podcasts now because they no longer commute. 19:33 - What is your approach to testing for e-commerce sites? I am about to launch a client’s online store and I’m sick with worry that a simple plugin upgrade will impact the store, and that I won’t know about it till a disgruntled customer complains. 24:57 - I’m getting into web development through college (just trying for an associate's to start) and I’m noticing the intro courses are very hard to get into. I’ve been self-teaching so I kind of feel like I’m ahead. The intro to computing logic (basic algorithms) teacher teaches very slowly and forces us to use an awful software called Raptor to create pseudo programs. I’ve been asking to actually use a language rather than the software but the teacher doesn’t have enough programming knowledge to grade the actual language assignments. I feel like this course is a step back from what I already know. I was just wondering if you guys have any tips on getting through the grueling “required” courses? 31:04 - So it's been announced now that Sapper will never hit 1.0, and instead Svelte core functionality is being expanded and Sapper is being deprecated. I know you all don’t have any inside info, but kind of wondering how Scott feels about this and what he’s doing with his Sapper site in the nebulous time between the big announcement and the release of the next Svelte version? 35:17 - I’m currently working through a full-stack Udemy course to make the switch away from my day job to try freelance web development. I want to start taking on some easier freelance jobs to help make a little extra money and build my portfolio, and I see WordPress recommended as an easy way to do this. My question is, would it be worth undertaking the learning process to pick up some PHP and learn basic WordPress development so that I can start freelancing now, or would I be better served just focusing on HTML, CSS and JS and waiting until I broaden my understanding of these languages before I start taking on some preliminary clients? 39:22 - If I plan to use WordPress as a headless CMS, how do I make sure the WordPress site itself is not publicly accessible? As far as I know, there’s no “API-only” mode for WordPress (like there is for, say, Rails or Laravel) and if I install a WordPress site on a server, it’s going to be discoverable online. I’d hate to have people find the WordPress API site and think it was my website — or for my static site to have to compete with my WordPress API for prominence in search engines. How do people ensure this doesn’t happen? 42:01 - If I have a Vue.js website running on WordPress, how could I dynamically insert Vue components from the WordPress backend (e.g. have a post that inserts a Vue.js poll component)? I don’t want to recompile every time. 44:24 - I’ve heard you mention previously that you have used WordPress to host sites in the past. I’m keen to learn how you have created your own themes for those sites. Did you write your own PHP, etc, or is there another way? I’m hoping to learn a bit more about developing for WordPress as it’s a skill I’d like to have in my back pocket, and would love to hear about any resources you would recommend for this. 47:51 - I’ve been a web developer for over 15 years. Unfortunately, I had to leave web development for personal reasons. I have a lot of great skills. Unfortunately, because I’ve been out of the game for so long my resume is full of holes. All the current experience I have is project-based or freelance-based. I do not have the ability to show long-term projects or anything stable on my resume. I’m trying to get my first job back in the field after my long absence. It has proven to be nearly impossible. I am listening to your Tasty Treat about certifications and certified education. I agree that certifications do not show actual skill. I also agree that just because I do not have longevity and consistency on my resume that I do not have the skills to pay the bills. How can I get my first job back in the field? I am working on small projects to highlight my skills but no one really seems to care. What would you do? 53:36 - I am currently in a food service job, but would love to move into the dev/design field. I have a year of experience in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS/Sass, as well as React, Gatsby, Next, and Node ( thank you both for helping with those ). I have a small amount of experience with freelance web design and development, but feel I am greatly underselling myself ($150 for a Gatsby site built for a friend and less than $100 for a couple Fiverr gigs). I have seen freelance work out well for my friends and family, but I am terrified of having to find clients. I have a hard time valuing my work and fold when money is brought up. There is always a part of me that says to just shoot high and have them talk the price down, but I hate the confrontation. How should I go about finding my first $1,000 client and how can I show the client that my work is worth more without talking about the tech involved? Links https://isapplesiliconready.com/ https://github.com/ThatGuySam/doesitarm https://www.electronjs.org/blog/apple-silicon#how-does-it-work Missive VS Code Screenflow Figma Sketch Brew MongoDB iTerm2 Hyper Davinci Resolve https://remix.run/ React Router ExpressionEngine Keystone.js Advanced Custom Fields Dreamweaver Sapper Svelte https://svelte.dev/blog/whats-the-deal-with-sveltekit Rollup https://www.snowpack.dev/ Udemy Laravel https://www.tempertemper.net/blog/stop-search-indexing-for-netlify-deploy-previews-and-branch-deploys Vercel Netlify Syntax 297: Hasty Treat - Certifications? Government Specified JavaScript Skills? Design is a Job by Mike Monteiro ××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ××× Scott: 1: Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen 2: Q Clearance: The Hunt for QAnon Wes: truLOCAL Shameless Plugs Scott: Deno 101 For Web Developers - Sign up for the year and save 25%! Wes: All Courses - Use the coupon code ‘Syntax’ for $10 off! Tweet us your tasty treats! Scott’s Instagram LevelUpTutorials Instagram Wes’ Instagram Wes’ Twitter Wes’ Facebook Scott’s Twitter Make sure to include @SyntaxFM in your tweets

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960: Reacting to the Weird + Creative Corners of the Web

Wes and Scott talk about the weird, creative corners of the web—from live-coded music with Strudel and wild Hydra visuals to shader wizardry, projection-mapping art, fully synced Christmas lights, and more. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:10 Strudel https://www.tiktok.com/@dj_dave__/video/7541104277234748685 https://www.tiktok.com/@switch.angel/video/7542776528057257229 03:45 Hydra https://www.tiktok.com/@spacetiger3000/video/7552354878635511095?q=hydra%20video%20synth&t=1762879433461 05:44 P5.js https://www.tiktok.com/@julian_hespenheide/video/7408511121323248929?q=p5.js%20&t=1762879954031 https://www.tiktok.com/@m171148385929472638284/video/7544793538496679190?q=p5.js%20&t=1762879954031 08:03 ShaderToy https://shaders.com/ https://www.shadertoy.com/view/ldlcRf https://www.tiktok.com/@phi.graphics/video/6927475445059292421?q=shadertoy&t=1762879566343 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifi_cgi/video/7255109146062687494?q=shadertoy&t=1762879566343 11:13 Brought to you by Sentry.io 11:37 MadMapper https://www.tiktok.com/@dfiftyd50/video/7556202990529563920 https://www.tiktok.com/@dfiftyd50/video/7569626387577965844?q=projection%20mapping&t=1762879388084 14:13 Touch Designer https://www.reddit.com/r/TouchDesigner/ https://www.tiktok.com/@bedareveryday/video/7558850186601172246?q=Touch%20Designer&t=1762879652502 https://www.tiktok.com/@maze88196/video/7521311510488943894?q=Touch%20Designer&t=1762879652502 https://www.tiktok.com/@valen.bertol/video/7475117172847562039?q=Touch%20Designer&t=1762879652502 16:45 xLights https://www.tiktok.com/@ravespotlight/video/7311729112425516320?q=lights%20christmas&t=1762879799384 https://www.tiktok.com/@thatlightguy_/video/7315199858338565418?q=xlights%20show&t=1762879927155 20:19 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs Sick Picks Scott: NeueCast Wes: 6 Port 2.5G Unmanaged Ethernet Switch UGREEN USB to Ethernet Adapter 2.5Gb 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 Dec 27min

959: TypeScript on the GPU with TypeGPU creator Iwo Plaza

Scott and CJ sit down live at JSNation NYC with Iwo Plaza, creator of TypeGPU, to dig into how WebGPU is unlocking a new wave of graphics and compute power on the web. They chat about shader authoring in TypeScript, the future of GPU-powered AI in the browser, and what it takes to build a killer developer-friendly graphics library. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:32 What is TypeGPU? High-level overview and why it exists 01:20 WebGPU vs WebGL – the new era of GPU access on the web 01:47 Why shader languages are hard + making them accessible 02:24 Iwo’s background in C++, OpenGL, and discovering JS 03:06 Sharing graphics work on the web vs native platforms 03:29 WebGPU frustrations that inspired TypeGPU 04:17 Making GPU–CPU data exchange easier with Zod-like schemas 05:01 Writing shaders in JavaScript + the unified type system 05:38 How the “use_gpu” directive works under the hood 06:05 Building a compiler that turns TypeScript into shader code 07:00 Type inference, primitives, structs, and TypeScript magic 08:21 Leveraging existing tooling via Unplugin + bundler integration 09:15 How TypeGPU extracts ASTs and generates TinyEST metadata 10:10 Runtime shader generation vs build-time macros 11:07 How the AST is traversed + maintaining transparency in output 11:43 Example projects like Jelly Shader and community reception 12:05 Brought to you by Sentry.io 12:30 Does TypeGPU replace 3JS? How it fits the existing ecosystem 13:20 Low-level control vs high-level abstractions 14:04 Upcoming Three.js integration – plugging TypeGPU into materials compute shaders 15:34 Making GPU development more approachable 16:26 Docs, examples, and the philosophy behind TypeGPU documentation 17:03 Building features by building examples first 18:13 Using examples as a test suite + how docs shape API design 19:00 Docs as a forcing function for intuitive APIs 20:21 GPU for AI – browser inference and future abstractions 21:11 How AI examples inform new libraries (noise, inference, etc.) 21:57 Keeping the core package small and flexible 22:44 Building “TypeGPU AI”-style extensions without bloating the core 23:07 The cost of AI examples and building everything from scratch 23:41 Standard library design and future of the ecosystem 24:04 Closing thoughts from Iwo – OSS, GPU renaissance, and encouragement 24:34 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs Sick Picks Iwo: Perogies Shameless Plugs Iwo: Syntax Podcast 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 Dec 25min

958: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The Syntax team brings us their annual Holiday Gift Guide! They’ve curated the best gadgets, tools, food, and even kitchen essentials for the dev in your life — plus a few treats anyone would love to unwrap. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax 00:54 Our Favorite Things 01:03 Wes - Bambu Lab 3d Printers 01:50 Wes - Leatherman Arc Multi-tool 03:07 Kaitlin - Ruffwear Roamer Bungee Dog Leash 04:49 Niki - Magic Mirror Home Screen 06:42 Randy - Everything Presence Light 08:22 Randy - Henson Safety Razor 10:24 CJ - Viltrox 28mm Pancake Lens 11:17 Scott - 3D Printers 11:37 Scott - Anker 4-Port Charger 12:45 Randy - DJI Mic Mini 13:37 Randy - Velcro Cable Ties 14:22 Kaitlin - Prequel Skin Care 16:18 Kaitlin - Coros Pace 3 Running Watch 17:30 Niki - Steam Machine 18:02 Niki - VR Headset 18:18 Under $30 18:25 Wes - ESP32 18:45 Wes - WS2811 LED Strips 19:44 CJ - Precision Screw Driver Set 20:42 Scott - Magsafe Popsocket 21:23 Wes - Digital Calipers 22:45 CJ - Microfiber Device Cloth 23:33 Scott - Candle Warmer 25:30 Wes - Matte Screen Protectors 25:38 Desk Items 25:46 Wes - MX Master 4 Logitech Mouse 26:40 Scott - Elgato Stream Deck 29:12 CJ - Magsafe Phone Stand 30:13 Office Items 30:21 Wes - Heated Vest 31:33 CJ - USB Hand Warmers 32:23 Tech / Storage 32:32 Scott - MoCa Ethernet Adapter 33:41 CJ - 4TB Drive and 1TB SD Card 35:06 Wes - BenQ Programming Monitors 37:28 Food 37:37 Scott - Biena Edamame 38:08 Wes - Heartbeat Hot Sauce 39:11 Wes - Seoul Sisters Kimchi Mix 39:32 CJ - Clif Protein Bars 39:55 CJ - Z Energy Strips 40:51 Kitchen Gadgets 41:00 Wes - Carbon Steel Frying Pan 42:35 CJ - Air Fryer 44:45 Scott - Zojirushi Water Boiler 45:43 Scott - Teak Cutting Board 47:36 Clothes 48:26 Wes - Hooke / Naked and Famous 49:24 Scott - Octobre Clothing 50:31 Scott - Sezane Clothing 52:11 CJ - Blank Mineral Wash Shirts 53:10 Kids 53:17 Wes - Yoto Player 54:47 Scott - Tonie Box 56:06 CJ - Large Hedgehog Plush 56:43 CJ - Tortilla Blanket 57:04 Smarthome 57:08 Scott - Lutron Caseta 57:38 Wes - Meross and Refoss 01:00:41 Scott - Apollo Automation 01:01:29 CJ - Kauf Smart Home 01:02:52 CJ - Plant LED Bulb 01:04:03 Scott - Roland Electronic Drum Set 01:04:58 Thanks! 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 Nov 1h 5min

957: CSS: Advanced and Obscure

Scott and Wes face off in a CSS-themed round of STUMP’d, quizzing each other on shape functions, scroll snap types, obscure functions, and long-forgotten spec history. From ray() to cross-fade() to print-color quirks, this episode is packed with rapid-fire frontend trivia guaranteed to sharpen your CSS brain. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:54 Which of the following are valid CSS Shape Functions? 02:03 CSS Selectors 4 specification demo. 03:20 How many functions are there in CSS? 04:22 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 04:47 Explain the 3 CSS Scroll Snap types. 06:38 What does the xywh() do? 09:15 What about ray()? 11:25 What do CSS Namespaces do? 14:37 What year was CSS paint() bug tracker introduced in Firefox? 17:34 What does print-color-adjust do? 20:26 What is cross-fade()? 23:54 Name 3 reasons you might use CSS @property. 27:36 List all 10 CSS Filter Functions. 32:41 Name 5 font properties. 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

24 Nov 37min

956: Should I Keep Using WordPress?

In this potluck episode, Wes and Scott answer your questions about paid vs. free SSL, the state of frontend jobs, headless WordPress trade-offs, organizing TypeScript types, and more! Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:51 Recapping the GitHub Meetup 05:14 Is there any real benefit to picking a paid SSL over Let's Encrypt? 08:03 Is the pure frontend role disappearing? 11:17 Is the gravy train over for software devs? 20:48 How Scott automates versioning with GitHub Actions changesets Intro to using changesets zero-svelte graffiti 25:16 Brought to you by Sentry.io 25:41 Thoughts on VS Code alternatives and the rise of Zed 33:01 Should I switch to headless WordPress or continue rolling my own PHP templates? 37:33 How do you organize TypeScript types in a frontend project? 40:55 How do I continue to level up as a developer? 45:36 Stay in a comfortable job or embrace new challenges? 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

19 Nov 50min

955: SvelteKit has solved data loading

Scott and Wes break down SvelteKit’s new remote functions and why they finally solve the long-standing pain of page-level data in Svelte. They cover queries, forms, batching, caching, and all the clever RPC ergonomics that make Svelte’s approach feel surprisingly powerful and refreshingly simple. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:45 Lots of RPC library options. 01:22 Svelte’s Page-Level Data Always Felt Off 02:12 Progress on the new Syntax site. 03:47 Remote functions explained. Svelte Remote Functions Docs. 04:15 Make a .remote.ts file. 05:07 Querying data. 07:52 Brought to you by Sentry.io. 08:17 Svelte’s leg up on React. 10:13 Query Arguments. 11:39 The benefits of Standard Schema. 13:13 Refreshing Queries. 13:29 query.batch 15:18 Form function. 21:13 Enhance. 22:31 Refresh. 23:16 Command query. 24:25 Prerender. 25:22 Caching. 27:44 My Local Cache Service Worker. 31:23 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs. Sick Picks Scott: CoffeeSock ColdBrew Filter, Chemex Filter. Wes: Bosch Dishwasher. 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

17 Nov 36min

954: Fullstack TanStack! The Scoop with Tanner Linsley

Live from GitHub Universe, Wes and Scott talk with Tanner Linsley about the latest from TanStack, including TanStack DB’s local-first syncing, new routing ideas, and fresh perspectives on server components and “magic” directives. They explore performance, incremental adoption, and what’s next for the rapidly growing TanStack ecosystem — plus a few spicy takes along the way. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 01:12 What’s new in the TanStack universe? 01:57 Introducing TanStack DB: local-first sync engine 05:17 How syncing and transactions actually work in TanStack DB 07:03 Next.js 16 Workflows: durable functions and the directive debate 08:46 Brought to you by Sentry.io 09:41 Tanner’s case for fewer “magic directives” 12:36 TanStack’s approach to React Server Components 14:30 The momentum of leading an ecosystem 15:38 Top-secret TanStack project in the works 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

12 Nov 18min

953: Why v0 creator left Vercel to fix GitHub (GOAT Jared Palmer)

Scott and Wes sit down with Jared Palmer of GitHub (formerly of Vercel) to unpack all the biggest announcements from GitHub Universe 2025. They dive into the future of developer workflows with agents, how GitHub is rethinking project interfaces, and where there’s still room to improve the dev experience. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! GitHub Universe Recap. 00:21 Who is Jared Palmer? 01:19 The developer workflow with agents. 03:33 Opening ongoing tasks in VS Code. 06:08 The benefit of agnostic agents. 07:04 GitHub’s biggest opportunities for improvement. 09:38 What’s your interface of choice for a new project? 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 Nov 16min

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