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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

It’s that time of year again, Scott (as Dracula) and Wes (as a big bad shark) return for their annual Spooky Stories special! They’re joined by a mysterious guest for a round of creepy coding trivia and chilling true tales of web dev gone wrong; dropped databases, haunted passwords, and more. Beware: these are real developer horror stories.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

00:05 Scott’s vampire costume.

00:38 New to live-streaming.

00:54 AWS Outage.

01:50 What is Spooky Stories?

02:01 (Wes is wearing a shark costume)

02:34 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

03:30 PHP MyHeadache.

06:23 A Browser Hack.

08:30 Browser Hack Gameshow & Special Guest!

17:01 Ghost Password.

21:32 Just A Patch.

24:12 Don’t drink and Deploy.

34:47 Discount.

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

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

Wes and Scott talk about what makes Zed—the hot new editor built in Rust—fast, beautiful, and finally ready for primetime. From Git UI to extensions and AI tools, they break down what Zed gets right, what it still lacks, and whether it’s time to finally ditch VS Code.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

Syntax San Francisco Meetup

We need your Spooky Stories

02:37 Brought to you by Sentry.io

04:07 What is Zed?

06:46 Zed UI: fast and clean

10:17 General editor experience

11:44 Extensions marketplace

17:53 Git UI

22:03 Problems UI

26:01 Real-time collaboration

Remote Development

27:39 Command prompt tricks and built-in tools

31:03 Zed’s AI features

AI Coding Sucks

37:08 What kept Scott away—and why he’s back

40:33 What’s still missing

Text Manipulation Kung Fu for the Aspiring Black Belt

46:43 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Scott: Zojirushi 5.0 Liter Water Boiler

Wes: Syntax Keycaps

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

948: Zed is Ready For Primetime

Scott and Wes break down the top-tier MCP servers developers are using right now. From browser automation to debugging superpowers, they explore how these servers are changing what’s possible in modern dev workflows.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:52 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

02:46 Submit your Spooky Stories!

03:37 Syntax San Francisco Meetup.

04:11 S-Tier MCP Servers.

04:17 Sentry MCP Server (not sponsored).

05:01 Pause, what the heck is an MCP server.

05:45 Back to the Sentry MCP.

07:07 Spotlight JS.

09:08 ElevenLabs MCP hack.

11:19 Docs Tools.

11:29 Context7.

15:55 GitHub MCP Registry.

16:10 Nuxt MCP Server.

16:25 Svelte MCP Server.

20:35 Cloudflare MCP Servers.

22:34 Chrome Dev Tools (Playwright) MCP Server.

25:17 Stripe MCP Server.

27:55 Mastra.

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

947: S-Tier MCP Servers for Developers

In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott answer your questions about why devs neglect their own websites, hosting shady projects (hypothetically), AI rules in version control, balancing side projects and family life, and more!

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:43 Why devs neglect their own websites (and how to convince your parents coding is a real job)

07:04 AirPods, Nothing Ear, and the ANC struggle

10:22 Shipping Syntax merch from Canada

12:43 Scott’s update on Omarchy and Linux laptop life

18:05 What to do when a user account gets hacked (and how to prevent it)

21:33 Should you commit LLM context files and AI-generated docs to Git?

25:27 How to balance career, side projects, and family life

29:25 Building and hosting a “legally dubious” website

33:27 Best practices for dealing with images

42:46 Where to find Wes’ awesome wallpapers

44:19 Can you trust services with a generous free tier?

ServerlessHorrors

50:32 Do we still use GIFs?

52:23 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

55:59 Brought to you by Sentry.io

Sick Picks

Scott: Mkv-Quicklook

Wes: Momofuku Sweet & Savory Korean BBQ Sauce

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

946: We Got Roasted for Our Websites — Fair

Scott and Wes dive into Chrome’s new MCP server; a dev tools API powered by Puppeteer that gives your scripts, editors, and AI agents full access to Chrome. They break down how it works, what it can (and can’t) do, and how it might change debugging and automation for developers

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:15 Syntax San Francisco Meetup.

01:55 We need your Spooky Stories!

02:42 What is an MCP Server?

04:28 MCP servers are not only for code editors.

06:43 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

07:49 Dev Tools MCP is similar to Puppeteer.

09:20 Setting up an MCP Server.

11:36 Example of MCP with Dominos Pizza.

13:23 Accessing Dev tools from your editor.

14:23 In VS Code, you can “Open Link”.

15:22 Using the MCP server.

16:26 Chrome has Debug insights inside of chrome’s dev tools.

18:38 Real world things the Chrome MCP server can do.

18:43 Analyzing performance.

19:55 Taking screenshots.

21:17 Performance fix feedback loop.

22:33 Remote connecting browsers.

24:54 Browser-use.

25:18 What are the limitations?

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

945: Chrome Dev Tools MCP Server

Wes and Scott talk with Kyle Cesmat about how Coinbase is writing nearly half its code with AI—while keeping quality and security front and center. They dig into tools like Cursor and Claude Code, agent-driven workflows, code review challenges, and how AI is reshaping developer productivity without replacing developers.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

03:29 Defining and measuring “quality” at a large company

05:05 How AI-generated code is reviewed and shipped at Coinbase

07:35 A developer’s workflow using AI—from ticket to production

10:30 Standard vs. team-specific tools for AI development

12:55 Using MCP servers to power internal AI workflows

14:42 MCP vs. custom agent integrations

17:16 What kinds of code AI is writing at Coinbase

19:48 Which languages and tasks does AI handle best?

21:21 Getting AI to follow existing code conventions

greptile

24:36 Brought to you by Sentry.io

25:01 How AI affects hiring, velocity, and developer focus

28:16 AI’s role in speeding up code reviews

31:28 The most valuable AI tool in Coinbase’s stack

33:48 Managing AI costs and model choices

35:10 Security considerations for using external AI models

37:04 How often Coinbase tunes and adjusts its AI systems

39:26 Using AI to write code vs. embedding AI in customer-facing features

42:29 Kyle’s big-picture take on AI as a tool—not a magic bullet

Measuring the Impact of Early-2025 AI on Experienced Open-Source Developer Productivity

44:33 The future of hiring engineers with their own “backpack” of agents

45:53 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Kyle: UltraShelf

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

944: Is Coinbase Really Writing Half Their Code With AI?

Scott and Wes sit down with Ricky Hanlon from the React core team at Facebook to dive into the latest features and APIs shaping modern React development. From transitions and Suspense to fetching strategies and future directions, this episode breaks down what’s next for React and how developers can take advantage of it.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:20 Who is Ricky Hanlon.

02:10 Setting the Stage: Modern React APIs

02:48 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

03:12 Defining Transitions in React

05:08 Practical Examples of Scheduling.

08:23 useDeferredValue.

09:30 Suspense.

11:13 Fallbacks and animations.

12:35 How do you get psychological performance data?

13:39 Are these considerations reasonable for the average dev?

15:37 useOptimistic.

17:35 Removing delayMs (referred to as maxDuration in later iterations).

19:49 How to fetch data in React.

21:58 Is React now just Nextjs?

23:23 Will React give us a Signals-based state management?

24:44 The challenges of building in public.

30:12 Making LLMs cooperate with React.

32:05 The lifting will happen at framework level.

32:59 This is not time slicing.

35:47 Sick Pick + Shameless Plug.

Sick Picks

Ricky: iPhone 17 Pro

Shameless Plugs

Ricky: https://conf.react.dev/

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

943: Modern React with Ricky Hanlon (React Core Dev)

Wes and Scott talk with Dr. Courtney Tolinski about supporting neurodivergent teammates, navigating workplace dynamics, and recognizing strengths beyond labels. They explore ADHD diagnosis and treatment, productivity mindsets, burnout, AI in mental health, and practical routines for focus and balance.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

00:09 Meet Dr. Courtney Tolinski

01:46 Supporting neurodivergent team members

12:26 Should I disclose my ADHD diagnosis at work?

17:21 Characteristics of autism and ADHD

22:37 Seeking diagnosis as an adult developer

28:04 Brought to you by Sentry.io

32:18 Uncoupling identity from productivity

38:06 Is overtime ever “worth it”?

42:34 AI as a mental health tool: hope or hype?

46:32 Will therapists be replaced by AI?

49:29 Burnout warning signs in high-performers

55:15 Sick picks + shameless plugs

Sick Picks

Courtney: Bentgo Glass Containers

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

942: Mental Health Q&A w/ Dr. Courtney Tolinski

Scott heads to Microsoft’s campus for the VS Code Insider Summit to sit down with Dr. Sarah Bird and explore what “Responsible AI” really means for developers. From protecting user privacy to keeping humans in the loop, they dig into how everyday coders can play a role in shaping AI’s future.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:27 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

03:13 The path the machine learning.

04:44 How do you get to ‘Responsible AI’?

06:43 Is there such a thing as ‘Responsible AI’?

07:34 Does the average developer have a part to play?

09:12 How can AI tools protect inexperienced users?

11:55 Let’s talk about user and company privacy.

13:57 Are local tools and services becoming more viable?

15:06 Are people right to be skeptical?

16:58 The software developer role is fundamentally changing.

17:43 Human in the loop.

19:37 The career path to Responsible AI.

21:21 Sick Picks.

Sick Picks

Sarah: Japanese pottery

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

941: Is Responsible AI Possible? with Dr. Sarah Bird of Microsoft

In this potluck episode, Wes and Scott answer your questions about modern full-stack stacks, Node.js backend options, managing database indexes, developer burnout, handling toxic bosses, and more!

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

02:36 What’s your go-to Node.js backend in 2025?

Polka

06:18 Do you proactively manage database indexes—or fix them only when they become a problem?

09:40 Brought to you by Sentry.io

12:14 After planning a new project, what’s your real-world dev workflow?

931: Project Init - How to Make Good Choices When Starting a New Coding Project

18:19 What to do when you’re feeling burned out as a developer

23:34 Picking the right tech stack for your partner’s website

28:18 How do you deal with a toxic boss?

33:10 The ideal tech stack for launching a SaaS MVP

39:46 Is GraphQL still worth it vs REST or RPC?

44:26 Is Vercel steering modern web dev in the wrong direction?

51:20 What’s up with TanStack Forms?

TanStack Form Latest

59:35 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Scott: Flesh and Code

Wes: WAGO connectors

Shameless Plugs

Syntax YouTube Channel

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

940: Picking a Fullstack Stack, Is Next.js Too Complex? Services vs Self-Hosted + More

Scott and CJ dive into a potluck of developer queries, from their favorite tech reads to essential web dev fundamentals. Tune in as they dish out expert advice on migrating React projects to TypeScript, crafting precise timers for countdown apps, and navigating the world of free-tier plans.
 Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
 01:20 Brought to you by Sentry.io.
 02:16 What book changed your life? Whatever you think, think the opposite

 It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be

 Crucial Conversations thanks @benvinegar

 
 04:58 What are the web development fundamentals for beginners? Command Line Power User

 
 08:39 What are your thoughts on Chris Coyer’s post on his sale of CSS-Tricks? Chris Coyer’s Post

 
 11:51 Advice for migrating an existing React project to TypeScript.
 20:38 Countdown apps, performance vs accuracy.
 25:19 Are you listening to podcasts? Which ones?
 31:46 With AI on the rise, will free-tier plans become a thing of the past? Coolify

 Syntax 730: Own Your Own Paas

 
 35:59 What is SemVer anyway? semver.org

 npmjs

 TypeScript on Semantic Versioning

 
 40:14 A question on ergonomics, home office aesthetics and productivity.
 47:59 Do you ever stop to consider VueJS in 2024? Why or why not? unjs.io

 
 52:12 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs.
 Sick Picks Scott: Ellenos Yogurt

 CJ: Flat Iron Pepper

 Shameless Plugs Syntax.fm 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

742: Potluck: Migrating to Typescript, Semver Explained, Accurate Timers and Countdowns

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