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Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

Full Stack Developers Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski dive deep into web development topics, explaining how they work and talking about their own experiences. They cover from JavaScript frameworks like React, to the latest advancements in CSS to simplifying web tooling.

Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott answer your questions about keyboard shortcuts, choosing frameworks in the age of AI, markdown vs CMSs, backup strategies, moving countries for work, staying relevant as a developer, and more!

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

02:28 Do keyboard shortcuts actually improve productivity?

Hyperkey

08:41 What is Error Lens, and why use it?

Ep 956: Should I Keep Using WordPress?

11:44 How Scott is using a Svelte 5 service worker

14:52 Does tech stack choice still matter with AI coding?

Ep 951: A first look at Remix 3

20:15 What stack should you choose for a greenfield SaaS?

22:38 What’s the right stack for a band website?

28:24 Is moving countries for work worth the tradeoff?

34:59 Brought to you by Sentry.io

36:16 How should you manage commits with AI tools?

40:50 Is programming still a good career in the AI era?

47:03 How should you back up large files and media?

Ep 949: Web Dev HORROR Stories + Spooky Trivia! (Spooky Stories Pt. 1)

Ep 962: The Home Server / Synology Show

53:29 What backup setup works for small teams and clients?

55:14 How should you store sensitive files safely?

58:07 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Scott: Philips LED Ultra Definition

Wes: LEGO Builder App

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

964: Markdown as a CMS is a bad idea

Scott and Wes chat with YouTuber and security consultant Matt Brown about breaking into IoT devices, extracting firmware, and decoding the hidden tech inside everyday gadgets. Matt shares his methods, the legal boundaries, and the wild stories behind his most interesting hacks.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:21 Curiosity in Hacking

03:28 Understanding IoT Devices

07:15 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

07:40 Linux vs Microcontrollers

10:11 UART Console Access

13:56 Firmware Extraction Techniques

14:19 Guessing Usernames and Passwords

19:22 Extracting Password Hashes

23:15 Legal Considerations in Hacking

30:06 Where does the inspiration come from?

31:20 Using Logic Analyzers

37:45 CAN Protocol in Automotive

45:42 Influence of Lewis Rossman

54:05 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Matt: Key Person of Influence

Shameless Plugs

Matt:Matt Brown on YouTube, Brown Fine Security

Hit us up on Socials!

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963: Hardware Hacking with Matt Brown

Wes and Scott talk about their evolving home-server setups—Synology rigs, Mac minis, Docker vs. VMs, media servers, backups, Cloudflare Tunnels, and the real-world pros and cons of running your own hardware.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:35 Why use a home server?

07:29 Apps for home servers

16:23 Home server hardware

18:27 Brought to you by Sentry.io

20:45 VMs vs containers and choosing the right software

25:53 How to expose services to the internet safely

30:38 Securing access to your server

Hit us up on Socials!

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Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

962: The Home Server / Synology Show

Scott and CJ go live from JS Nation NYC to talk about how developers can actually stay current without drowning in the constant churn of new tools and trends. They break down how to see through the fluff, focus on why tech exists before adopting it, and build a healthier, curiosity-driven approach to learning in 2025 and beyond.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

00:39 Scott delivering a non-technical talk at JS Nation.

03:24 Lamenting the frequency of change as developers.

03:46 Understanding why things exist before deciding to learn them.

05:11 Learning styles are a myth?

07:41 First dates and psychology exams.

10:39 Discovering is step one, playing is step two.

13:32 Learn with a project that you actually want.

18:16 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

18:34 Cutting through the noise of new tech.

21:40 Using AI as a learning tool

25:12 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs.

Sick Picks

Scott: dbrand Ghost Case 2.0

CJ: analog watches

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

961: Keeping Up With The Fast and Furious 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

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

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

959: TypeScript on the GPU with TypeGPU creator Iwo Plaza

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!

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Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

958: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

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.

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Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

957: CSS: Advanced and Obscure

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

956: Should I Keep Using WordPress?

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!

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Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

955: SvelteKit has solved data loading

In this Hasty Treat, Scott and Wes talk about how to develop for slow internet connections.
 LogRocket - Sponsor LogRocket lets you replay what users do on your site, helping you reproduce bugs and fix issues faster. It’s an exception tracker, a session re-player and a performance monitor. Get 14 days free at logrocket.com/syntax.
 Show Notes 02:26 - Types of Slow connections
 Slow upload
 Slow download This could be that your kids are watching a show and your partner is on a zoom call
 
 High latency
 Intermittent
 07:47 - Loading UI
 Show loading UI for everything, but after X seconds
 Page transitions on SPAs
 Form switches - enter country, get list of provinces/shipping/whatever
 11:58 - Account for XHR failures
 Sometimes I’m in a loading state forever
 State machines will account for this
 13:26 - “Still working” timeouts
 Some sort of timeout so the user can get feedback
 Links Sentry

 Sapper

 Backblaze

 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

Hasty Treat - Developing for Slow and Spotty Connections

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