HTML All The Things - Web Development, Web Design, Small Business podcast

HTML All The Things - Web Development, Web Design, Small Business

The adventures of Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan through the world of web development, web design, and small business management. As web development agency owners for the better part of a decade, they’ve worked with all sorts of technologies, through the rise of responsive web design, the revolution of serverless computing, and the popularity gain of many no-code tools for small business owners. They commonly discuss foundational web development technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript - including popular frameworks and tools such as Tailwind CSS, Svelte, WordPress, Vue, and more.

The adventures of Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan through the world of web development, web design, and small business management. As web development agency owners for the better part of a decade, they’ve worked with all sorts of technologies, through the rise of responsive web design, the revolution of serverless computing, and the popularity gain of many no-code tools for small business owners. They commonly discuss foundational web development technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript - including popular frameworks and tools such as Tailwind CSS, Svelte, WordPress, Vue, and more.

 

#357

Educating Devs That Get Hired w/ Thomas Chant

In this episode, Matt interviews Thomas Chant, an educator at Scrimba and creator of their Advanced JavaScript Course. Thomas shares insights from his journey as a TEFL teacher and web developer, highlighting his passion for teaching and technology. The discussion covers the role of educators in web development, leveraging social media for learning, and the evolving impact of AI on the industry. Thomas also provides tips for aspiring developers entering the job market and details Scrimba’s exciting annual event, JavaScriptmas. With the holiday season in full swing, JavaScriptmas has come once again to ring in some holiday cheer with coding challenges and cool prizes. Get involved and start learning some code by dominating challenges through December 24, 2024. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/educating-devs-that-get-hired-w-thomas-chant'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/educating-devs-that-get-hired-w-thomas-chant</a> JavaScriptmas 2024: <a href='https://scrimba.com/javascriptmas'>https://scrimba.com/javascriptmas</a> 10% off Scrimba discount (new accounts only, valid through 2024): <a href='https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings'>https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings</a>     ... Read more

12 Dec 2024

1 HR 33 MINS

1:33:23

12 Dec 2024


#356

Monorepos Unpacked: The Good, the Bad, and the Turbocharged

In this episode of the HTML All Things Podcast, Matt and Mike explore the concept of monorepos - what they are, why they have gained popularity in recent years, and how they compare to polyrepos. The discussion delves into the advantages of monorepos, such as simplified dependency management, improved code sharing and reusability, consistency across teams, and streamlined CI/CD processes. Mike shares personal experiences and insights on the challenges and solutions related to monorepos, particularly through their team's use of TurboRepo. The episode also covers the potential drawbacks, including scaling issues, overhead of tooling, access control challenges, and the risk of entanglement. Whether you're new to monorepos or considering implementing one, this episode provides valuable insights and practical tips. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/monorepos-unpacked-the-good-the-bad-and-the-turbocharged'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/monorepos-unpacked-the-good-the-bad-and-the-turbocharged</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

10 Dec 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:10

10 Dec 2024


#355

Can CSS Replace JavaScript? The Rise of Interactive Styling

CSS is typically reserved to just laying out pages, with any sort of interactivity or layout changes being left to JavaScript. As CSS matured, more features came out that gave it the ability to detect dynamic conditions on the page, create advanced animations, and apply advanced styling based on custom attributes. These advanced features give web designers the power of interactive design without the need for less-performant JavaScript. With JavaScript remaining one of the top choices for building web pages, should web developers be concerned with advanced CSS features both present and future? Or is offloading these tasks onto CSS concerning to the JavaScript community? In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed, debated, and analyzed interactive CSS, covering some features that Matt has been using and reading up on lately. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/can-css-replace-javascript-the-rise-of-interactive-styling'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/can-css-replace-javascript-the-rise-of-interactive-styling</a> Sponsors: Magic Mind Black Friday Deal!!! - 50% off until December 6, 2024 at our link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbf'>https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbf</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

03 Dec 2024

59 MINS

59:51

03 Dec 2024


#354

Does AI Have Tech Bias? | AI All The Things

In this episode, Matt and Mike introduce a new episode type dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving world of AI. As AI tools advance at lightning speed, staying informed is critical for developers navigating this transformative era. This week, they dive into the evolution of AI-powered development tools, from simple autocompletes like Copilot and TabNine to full-scale IDE solutions like Cursor and Supermaven. They discuss the pros and cons of using these advanced tools for multifile code generation and manipulation, highlighting both the efficiencies and risks they bring. The conversation then shifts to the rise of AI-driven full-stack application generators, such as Bolt.new, V0, and GitHub Spark. These tools can build entire applications from simple prompts but come with a notable downside: tech bias. Matt shares his experience building a podcast website and highlights how AI's reliance on popular frameworks can limit the adoption of emerging technologies. Finally, the duo debates the future of AI in the development industry. Will AI replace developers in 1, 3, or even 10 years? Tune in to find out! Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/does-ai-have-tech-bias-ai-all-the-things'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/does-ai-have-tech-bias-ai-all-the-things</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:41

26 Nov 2024


#353

Are Developers Making Page Builders Too Powerful for Content Editors?

How much power should you give your clients and non-tech colleagues? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the evolving landscape of web development tools and workflows, inspired by Webflow's new page and component slots. They discuss how these innovations, along with popular page builders and CMSs, are empowering non-tech staff to take on more responsibilities, reducing developer involvement in day-to-day content updates. However, this shift comes with risks like design inconsistency, security vulnerabilities, and technical debt. The duo also examines the future of page editing, from AI-driven templates to voice-activated tools and automated quality checks, highlighting the balance between empowering editors and maintaining developer oversight. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/are-developers-making-page-builders-too-powerful-for-content-editors'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/are-developers-making-page-builders-too-powerful-for-content-editors</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a>   ... Read more

19 Nov 2024

1 HR 12 MINS

1:12:17

19 Nov 2024


#352

Web APIs That Every JavaScript Developer Should Know

Level up your vanilla JavaScript with these powerful Web APIs that every developer should know. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into essential Web APIs that can take your web development skills to the next level. Discover how Web APIs differ from external APIs and explore their powerful capabilities—from manipulating the DOM and fetching data to enabling offline functionality for native app-like uses (ie PWAs). They’ll cover must-know APIs like Fetch, Storage, and Service Worker, along with user experience (and native app-like) boosters like Geolocation and Notifications. Tune in to learn practical applications, security tips, and best practices that will help you create fast, interactive, and native-like web apps. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/web-apis-that-every-javascript-developer-should-know'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/web-apis-that-every-javascript-developer-should-know</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

13 Nov 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:38

13 Nov 2024


#351

Taking Control in a Rush

Rushed timelines and last-minute jobs are something that most developers are all too familiar with. While frequent rush jobs can signal deeper management issues, the fast-paced nature of the world means unexpected challenges often arise. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore strategies for developers to take charge when work needs to be completed quickly. They discuss how project leadership and effective decision-making can help prevent a rush job from turning into endless overtime. By taking ownership of the work order, setting realistic expectations, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape, developers can streamline communication with their teams to prioritize coding time and deliver results efficiently. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-control-in-a-rush'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-control-in-a-rush</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

05 Nov 2024

48 MINS

48:23

05 Nov 2024


#350

Open Source Is Dead

The WordPress drama between WPEngine and Matt Mullenweg has been quite the stir up for primarily WordPress, but also the open source community in general. Not to mention, all the WPEngine customers that are effectively collateral damage having their websites adversely affected, sometimes without even realizing what's happening. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the WordPress drama and touched on how it could affect open source projects moving forward. Is WordPress in the right? Is WPEngine? You decide... Disclaimer/Correction: A section of this episode states a misinterpretation of the GPL license. We've published a correction in the show notes under the "Disclaimer & Correction" section. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/open-source-is-dead'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/open-source-is-dead</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a>   ... Read more

29 Oct 2024

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:09

29 Oct 2024


#349

Side Projects: The Eternal Loop of Never-Ending Features

Side projects are often done as a for-fun and potentially for-profit outlet for web developers looking to break free from client projects where they have little control. Unfortunately, just like client projects, side projects can easily spiral out of scope to the point of developer exhaustion. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how scope creep can derail personal projects, offering practical strategies to prevent it. They discuss defining a solid MVP, niching down to maintain focus, and prioritizing features using methods like the MoSCoW framework. By setting clear boundaries and establishing achievable milestones, developers can avoid common pitfalls and keep their side projects on track. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/side-projects-the-eternal-loop-of-never-ending-features'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/side-projects-the-eternal-loop-of-never-ending-features</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

22 Oct 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:54

22 Oct 2024


#348

The Toughest Concepts in Web Development (Part 2)

In this episode Matt and MIke, continue their deep dive into the toughest concepts in web development. The guys tackle topics like mastering responsive design, ensuring web accessibility (a11y) for all users, and the complexities of server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and client-side rendering (CSR). They also explore the challenges of event-driven architectures, managing project dependencies efficiently, and setting up smooth CI/CD pipelines. Whether you're building scalable web applications or just want to level up your dev game, this episode has actionable insights to help you through some of web development's most intricate concepts. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-2'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-2</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 40% off your subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD40'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD40</a>  Code: HTMLPOD40) This offer is only available for the first 10 people that use the link and code!! Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

15 Oct 2024

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:06

15 Oct 2024


#347

The Toughest Concepts in Web Development (Part 1)

Web development is not easy! Websites need to work on multiple devices, respect SEO best practices, and must deliver everything from blogs through complex design programs. These demanding sees web developers navigating not only demanding topics, but ones that are also difficult to engineer, implement, and maintain. In this episode, Matt and Mike start a discussion the toughest concepts in web development. In this first of two parts series, the duo discussed: Asynchronous programming & promises, state management, security concerns (ie XSS CSRF, SQL Injection), performance optimization, scalability & architecture, and cross-browser compatibility. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-1'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-toughest-concepts-in-web-development-part-1</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

09 Oct 2024

1 HR 06 MINS

1:06:56

09 Oct 2024


#346

Mentoring Developers with Shashi Lo

Matt and Mike had a great conversation with Shashi Lo this week! Shashi is a senior software engineer at Microsoft and founder of Gridiron Survivor - an open source NFL Survivor pool SaaS application that’s designed to help the junior developers working on it further their skills and knowledge through real-world experience. Unlike self-taught personal projects, Shashi walks us through how his mentees on the Gridiron Survivor project are guided through corporate standards such as writing clean code and covering all the bases with proper testing - concepts that may seem superfluous on small portfolio project, but are a must-have in a corporate setting. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/mentoring-developers-with-shashi-lo'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/mentoring-developers-with-shashi-lo</a> Companion Article: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/blog-posts/bridging-the-skills-gap-empowering-junior-developers-through-apprenticeship-programs'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/blog-posts/bridging-the-skills-gap-empowering-junior-developers-through-apprenticeship-programs</a>   ... Read more

03 Oct 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:56

03 Oct 2024


#345

Is Your Code Too Complex? Troubleshooting, Fixing, and Implementing Solutions

While trying to solve a coding problem this week, Matt found himself buried in a collection of solutions offered by ChatGPT and Google search results. Some of the solutions were completely new to him and so he got to thinking about how "safe" it would be to implement them. Not from a security perspective, as there wasn't any private data involved in this particular case, but his concern was more for the page UX itself. How efficient were the solutions he was about to implement, would it slow the web page down? Were these new topics even being used in the correct context and being implemented appropriately? In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed how to think through problems like this in terms of project architecture, website performance, and troubleshooting/research time spent. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-your-code-too-complex-troubleshooting-fixing-and-implementing-solutions'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-your-code-too-complex-troubleshooting-fixing-and-implementing-solutions</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

30 Sep 2024

56 MINS

56:33

30 Sep 2024


#344

Tech We Love as Web Developers: SvelteKit, Vercel, Supermaven, and More

There is a lot of tech out there! It seems every day someone is coming out with a new way to edit images, use AI, build websites, assist developers, and the list goes on and on. This week, Matt and Mike decided to zoom in and discuss some of the tech that they enjoy using at the moment including Svelte/SvelteKit, TailwindCSS, Supermaven, and much more! The technologies that web developers change all the time - and not always obvious things like frameworks and plugins, but also more logistical elements of the job like where to host, compress images, etc. What are you using in your projects?   Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/tech-we-love-as-web-developers-sveltekit-vercel-supermaven-and-more'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/tech-we-love-as-web-developers-sveltekit-vercel-supermaven-and-more</a>   Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

24 Sep 2024

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:07

24 Sep 2024


#343

Saying No to Scope Creep: How Web Devs Can Push Back

Scope creep is a very dangerous thing that can endanger a team's productivity and mental health. It involves taking the original scope of a project, and slowly but surely, adding more and more tasks to it. Often times scope creep is not done nefariously, as those that request tasks from developers are ignorant of the technical complexities of their requests. Unfortunately, there are those that will add to a project's scope willingly to take advantage of their employees, or there may be some mismanagement within the company that leads to additional work in a short period of time. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the who, what, where, when, and why of pushing back against customer requests in order to keep projects in-scope. They discussed the importance of pushing back sometimes, when to push back, and whether it's appropriate to push back when acting as a freelance contractor. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/saying-no-to-scope-creep-how-web-devs-can-push-back'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/saying-no-to-scope-creep-how-web-devs-can-push-back</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

17 Sep 2024

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:46

17 Sep 2024


#342

Why Code Quality Matters: Testing, Linting, Refactoring

Code quality matters! When developers write better, cleaner, and safer code - their deliverables improve significantly. When code is safer, there are less problems with crashes and unintended errors. When code is cleaner, team members find it easier to read, peer review, and add on to down the line. Improving the quality of your code is easier said than done, however, as it takes more than just "getting good" at coding. In this episode, Matt and Mike discussed the importance of and how to improve your code quality by keeping coding styles consistent with your team, refactoring, writing good tests, using prettier formatting, and linting. Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-code-quality-matters-testing-linting-refactoring'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-code-quality-matters-testing-linting-refactoring</a> Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

10 Sep 2024

1 HR 16 MINS

1:16:43

10 Sep 2024


#341

Should Our AI Data Be in the Cloud? On-Device AI vs Cloud-Based AI

Should AI run in the cloud or on-device? Some people think that on-device is the only way forward as it ensures a certain level of privacy, while others worry that our local hardware (PC, smartphone, smartwatch) is not powerful enough to deliver cutting-edge features. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how on-device AI and cloud-based AI work. The guys discussed the benefits of each approach while analyzing and debating their differences on both a hardware/software and user-experience level. Are you worried about your AI information being out in the cloud?  Show Notes: <a href='https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/should-our-ai-data-be-in-the-cloud---on-device-ai-vs-cloud-based-ai'>https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/should-our-ai-data-be-in-the-cloud---on-device-ai-vs-cloud-based-ai</a> Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: <a href='https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20'>https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20</a> Code: HTMLPOD20) Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: <a href='https://www.wix.com/studio'>https://www.wix.com/studio</a> ... Read more

03 Sep 2024

1 HR 17 MINS

1:17:11

03 Sep 2024