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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 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 Wes sit down with Evan You, creator of Vue, Vite, and VoidZero, to dig into the future of frontend tooling. From the speed of Rolldown to why he chose Rust, they explore the evolution of developer experience, bundlers, and what’s next for the web.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

00:31 Who is Evan You?

Vue.js.

Vite.

Void0

01:19 Making the shift from UI to Toolchains.

02:37 How aesthetics contributed to the success of Vue and Vite.

05:26 Adding Rollup plugins to the Dev Server.

07:31 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

07:56 Rollup and Rolldown explained.

09:29 NAPIRS.

10:02 Why Rust and not Go?

SWC, OXC.

12:04 Rolldown’s speed and performance.

OXC Allocator.

15:09 Dealing with massive buildtimes.

17:42 How has the transition been?

20:34 Why do we even need a bundler?

23:25 Vite’s superior developer experience.

26:01 Fullstack Vue?

31:45 Node and Vite’s relationship.

35:41 Wes’ wishlist.

vite-dir.

37:28 Hot takes.

37:37 Would Next be better with Vite?

41:09 Thoughts on React Server Components.

43:40 Thought on Remix 3.

46:22 Tell us about Void0.

51:36 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs.

Sick Picks

Evan: Laravel Lamborghini Shaped Stress Toys

Shameless Plugs

Evan: Viteconf, Vite, CultRepo.

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

939: Creator of Vite: Evan You

Wes and Scott dive into some hot takes and classic debates—tabs vs spaces, camel vs snake case, export styles, barrel files, variable naming, and more.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:26 CSS variables: descriptive vs. semantic

03:38 snake_case vs. camelCase

04:54 Default exports vs. named exports

06:23 Barrel files vs. direct imports

09:15 Function declaration vs. function expression

11:00 Inferred types vs. explicit types

13:40 Brought to you by Sentry.io

14:40 Long and explicit variable names vs. short with comments

16:27 Self-documenting code vs. code comments

17:03 Rebase vs. merge commit

18:39 Naming event parameters: e vs. event

20:33 Tabs vs. spaces

22:18 Big line height vs. small line height

23:50 Hard line length vs. line wrap

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

938: Hot Takes + Bike Shedding

Scott takes Wes on a tour of Omarchy, DHH’s polished Arch + Hyprland Linux setup that promises speed, beauty, and endless keyboard shortcuts. From first impressions to daily workflows, Scott debates whether it’s good enough to pull him out of the Apple ecosystem for good.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

02:31 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

02:55 What is Omarchy?

02:57 Arch-based distribution.

03:42 Hyprland window management.

05:08 Wayland Display Server Protocol.

06:27 Installation Defaults.

06:53 System-wide shortcuts.

09:01 My first impressions.

09:41 Connecting to my NAS.

10:54 Gigantic UI.

12:21 Day 2 Experiences.

13:22 Resizing window challenges.

16:11 Neovim and Lazyvim.

16:49 Lazygit.

19:07 How do you use it and why is it good.

19:14 Command Palette.

19:49 Raycast.

Recreating Raycast.

20:50 Using the app launcher.

21:25 Screensavers.

21:59 OS Style.

22:55 My apps, my apps, my apps, check it out.

25:07 Is the hardware comparable to Mac’s M processors?

27:24 Installing new apps.

29:26 Web apps as first class citizens.

32:47 What I’ll miss.

35:56 What’s going on with MacOS UI?

38:37 Annoyances.

39:31 My advice.

Read the Manual.

44:39 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs.

Sick Picks

Scott: Omarchy Manual.

Wes: Ugreen 200w Charger, Silicone USB C.

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

937: Is The Omarchy Hype Real?

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

747: Middleware Explained

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