Richard Feldman on AI, Programming Languages, and High-Quality Software | Frontend Masters Podcast Episode #24

In this episode, Richard Feldman (creator of Roc, Elm educator, and Zed engineer) discusses AI’s focus on "vibe coding" over high-quality tools, why functional programming’s real value lies in ecosystems—not dogma—and how frustration with slow compilers led him to design the Roc programming language. He shares Zed’s pragmatic use of AI for code "rough drafts," lessons learned from teaching Elm and Rust, and why prioritizing outcomes always beats out industry hype. He shares some Java war stories, JSX’s early controversy, and why Zed’s performance-first approach defies today’s norms. Tune in for deep dives on language design, where he sees AI’s potential, and the myth about using "boring" tech.Check out Richard’s Frontend Masters courses here: https://frontendmasters.com/teachers/richard-feldmanFrontend Masters Online:Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrontendMastersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontend-masters/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrontendMastersInstagram: https://instagram.com/FrontendMastersAbout Us:Advance your skills with in-depth, modern front-end engineering courses — our 150+ high-quality courses and 18 curated learning paths will guide you from mid-level to senior developer! https://frontendmasters.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=home_link&utm_campaign=podcastepisode24