In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Pat Clarke, Director of Engineering at Lumen Learning, to explore the evolving state of web development. They discuss everything from the monotony of today’s web design and the rise of cookie-cutter sites to the resurgence of personal websites and the need for creativity in web experiences. Pat shares insights on balancing innovation with business goals, the complexities of front-end development, and why full-stack developers may not always be the solution. Key topics include: - Why the web feels “gray and boring” today - The balance between data-driven design and user experience - The importance of front-end specialization in modern development - How to train developers to be well-rounded while embracing their strengths - Finding the right resources to skill up in a fast-moving industry Follow Pat Clarke on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/LeftShotDev Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-clarke-dev/ Lumen Learning: https://lumenlearning.com/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Danny Thompson sits down with David Mytton, founder and CEO of Arcjet and creator of the console.dev DevTools newsletter. They explore what makes a truly successful developer tool, the importance of great documentation, and how Arcjet is redefining "security as code" for modern applications. David shares insights into open-source strategies, balancing speed and innovation in startups, and the evolving role of AI in developer tools.

Chapters

0:00 - 1:41 Episode Introduction

1:42 - 2:55 David Mitten’s Background & Dev Tools Expertise

2:56 - 4:17 The Importance of Great Documentation

4:18 - 6:43 Challenges in Keeping Documentation Updated

6:44 - 9:20 Simplistic vs. Over-Stylized Docs

9:21 - 11:19 Why Arcjet Stands Out

11:20 - 13:01 Developer Security & Perceptions

13:02 - 15:07 Layered Security & Best Practices

15:08 - 16:46 Encouraging Developers to Prioritize Security

16:47 - 18:48 Dependency Management Challenges

18:49 - 20:30 Evolving Dev Tools Over Time

20:31 - 22:54 Modern Code Editors & Terminal Innovation

22:55 - 25:41 AI’s Role in Dev Tools

25:42 - 27:08 Benchmark Reliability in Dev Tools

27:09 - 30:57 Open Source Contributions & Strategy

30:58 - 32:54 Shipping Fast as a Small Team

32:55 - 34:06 Closing Remarks

Follow David Mytton on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/davidmytton

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmytton/

Website: https://davidmytton.blog/

Github: https://github.com/davidmytton

Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Dive deep into the fascinating world of SQLite and Turso with Gláuber Costa, the founder and CEO of Turso, as he shares insights into the evolution of modern database technologies. Hosted by Danny Thompson and Adam Rakus on the Modern Web Podcast, this episode unpacks SQLite's growing popularity, Turso's innovative managed database services, and how local-first architectures are changing the database landscape. From syncing databases to leveraging SQLite for offline use, discover how these advancements empower developers to build faster, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. Tune in to learn about Turso’s unique approach, real-world use cases, and the future of databases in edge computing and mobile applications. Topics Discussed:

- SQLite’s resurgence and why it’s trending in modern architectures - Turso’s fork of SQLite and its innovative features - Offline-capable databases and local-first architecture - The impact of no-SQL databases and why SQL is making a comeback - Practical examples and use cases of database syncing and encryption Follow Glauber Costa on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/glcst Linkedin:   / glommer   Github: https://github.com/glommer Turso: https://turso.tech/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Danny Thompson interviews Ryan Carniato, creator of SolidJS, about the evolving relationship between client and server technologies in web development. They explore the history of server-side rendering, single-page applications, and how SolidJS bridges these worlds with innovations like single-flight mutations, which cut down on server-client round trips for better performance. Ryan also shares his vision for the future of reactive systems, focusing on async models and proxy-based stores that enable precise state updates with minimal re-renders.

Chapters

0:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome

1:52 – Challenges of Client and Server Models in Modern Web

4:05 – Importance of Page Load Time and SEO

6:00 – Balancing Client-Server Interactions in Frameworks

9:03 – Exploring React Server Components and Astro Islands

12:00 – Single Page Apps and Data Serialization Challenges

16:02 – Understanding the Cost Triangle of Modern Frameworks

20:02 – The Router Approach in Solid and Its Benefits

27:00 – Framework Opinionation and Flexibility in Ecosystems

35:03 – Vendor Lock-in Trends and React’s Evolution

43:04 – Single Flight Mutations: Concept and Benefits

46:05 – Current Work: Reactivity and Signals in Solid

52:00 – Exploring Mutable Reactivity and Performance Gains

57:02 – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts Follow Ryan Carniato on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/RyanCarniato Dev.to: https://dev.to/ryansolid Github: https://github.com/ryansolid Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Discover how Makeswift empowers developers and marketers with seamless Next.js integration in this episode of the Modern Web Podcast. Hosts Rob Ocel, Adam Rackis, and Danny Thompson talk with James Q. Quick, Head of Developer Experience at Makeswift, about building dynamic web experiences using Next.js. Learn how Makeswift combines a powerful visual builder for marketers with developer-friendly customization through Next.js. James shares insights on bridging the gap between no-code and full-code development, enabling teams to create flexible, scalable websites with ease. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Banter 01:36 - Official Welcome & Guest Introduction 03:28 - Next.js Conf Recap: Major Takeaways 07:26 - Server Components in Next.js: Impact & Challenges 14:17 - Caching & Revalidation in Next.js 18:13 - Next.js Learning Curve & Education 24:06 - Learning the Platform vs. Learning Next.js 27:59 - TanStack Start: The Next Big Framework? 30:03 - What Is Makeswift? 33:50 - Why Choose Next.js for Makeswift? 36:51 - Where to Learn More 37:06 - Outro & Final Thoughts Follow James Q. Quick on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/jamesqquick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesqquick/ Github: https://github.com/jamesqquick Makeswift: https://www.makeswift.com/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Backstage at All Things Open 2024, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson talk with Max Howell, creator of Homebrew and founder of the Tea Protocol, about making open source sustainable. Max shares his journey from building Homebrew as a passion project to launching Tea Protocol, which uses token-based economics to support maintainers without compromising open source values. They explore challenges like corporate involvement, project monetization, and building resilient open source communities.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

02:20 - Max’s Open Source Journey

09:09 - The Problem with Open Source Sustainability

13:54 - Why Traditional Funding Models Fail

16:08 - Tea Protocol’s Economic Model

18:34 - What Happens Without Open Source?

20:59 - Sacrifices Open Source Maintainers Make

23:09 - Capturing Value in Open Source

25:10 - Advice for Aspiring Open Source Developers

27:36 - Where to Learn More

Follow Max Howell on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/mxcl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxcl/

Check out Tea Protocol: https://tea.xyz/

Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, recorded backstage at All Things Open, hosts Rob Ocel and Tracy Lee sit down with Bermon Painter, Composable Platforms Leader at Slalom, to explore how behavioral economics shapes ethical UX design. They discuss real-world examples like continuous glucose monitors, AI-driven personalization, and tackling dark patterns while balancing user trust and business goals. Berman also shares career tips and his unique open office hours, making this a must-watch for designers, engineers, and leaders alike.

Chapters

Introduction and Guest Welcome – 00:00

What is Behavioral Economics? – 02:36

Real-World Application: Voting Policies – 04:37

Healthcare Example: Continuous Glucose Monitors – 05:52

Design Challenges for Healthcare Apps – 08:12

Personalization and AI in UX Design – 12:52

International UX Design Differences – 14:08

The Ethical Dilemma of Dark Patterns – 17:28

Ethical Frameworks for Product Design – 20:33

Balancing Profit and Ethics – 22:39

Behavioral Economics for Engineers – 27:10

Berman’s Open Office Hours and Final Thoughts – 28:56

Outro and Sponsor Shoutout – 30:59

Follow Bermon Painter on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/bermonpainter

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bermonpainter/

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, recorded at All Things Open in Raleigh, NC, Rob Ocel talks with Tobie Morgan Hitchcock, co-founder and CEO of SurrealDB, about redefining databases. SurrealDB consolidates the complexity of using multiple database models—relational, graph, document, and more—into a single platform, enabling advanced queries and features like time travel. Toby shares insights on its innovative approach to separating storage and compute layers, the challenges of building from scratch, and the enthusiastic adoption by developers and enterprises.

Chapter

00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Stage

01:46 - Why Create Another Database?

04:31 - How SurrealDB Works

07:36 - The Developer Experience with SurrealDB

11:01 - Time Travel in Databases

16:21 - Challenges and Opportunities in Database Innovation

20:01 - Educating Developers on SurrealDB + Community and Adoption

Follow Tobie Morgan Hitchcock

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiemorganhitchcock

Twitter: https://x.com/tobiemh

Hosts Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel talk with Jesse Hall, Staff Developer Advocate at MongoDB, about the future of databases, web frameworks, and the evolving role of developers. They explore how MongoDB's latest release is transforming data storage and access patterns, the mindset shift required for adopting document databases, and the rise of vector databases. The conversation also covers the current state of frontend frameworks like Svelte, Next.js, and Angular, and how AI and low-code tools are reshaping the developer landscape. Whether you're a database enthusiast or a web development pro, this episode offers valuable insights into the technologies shaping the industry.

00:00 - Intro and Setting the Scene

02:30 - Behind the Scenes at All Things Open

04:00 - The Evolution of Databases

08:00 - Understanding Document Databases

10:45 - Vector Databases and AI Integration

14:00 - Frontend Frameworks: The State of the Ecosystem

18:30 - Collaboration Across Frameworks

22:00 - AI and the Future of Development

26:00 - The Future of Server-Side Rendering

29:00 - Closing Thoughts and Resources

30:00 - Outro

Follow Jesse Hall on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/codeSTACKr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codestackr/

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, recorded live at All Things Open in Raleigh, NC, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Dr. Sally Wahba, Principal Software Engineer at Splunk. Dr. Wahba shares her experience tackling on-call burnout, offering insights into reducing fatigue through better observability, automation, and thoughtful team practices.

The conversation also touches on mentorship and growth in the tech industry, including practical advice for junior engineers navigating the transition from academics to professional roles and tips for companies to better support new talent.

Chapters

00:00:13 - Introduction to Marketing This Dot

00:01:00 - Asking for Help Effectively

00:02:21 - Reducing On-Call Fatigue

00:04:42 - Observability Best Practices

00:07:07 - Balancing Alerts and On-Call Efficiency

00:09:30 - The Role of On-Call in Modern Engineering

00:11:29 - Insights from the Grace Hopper Celebration

00:13:56 - Mentorship and Team Dynamics

00:16:14 - Rapid Changes in Technology and Adaptation

00:18:39 - Automation, Observability, and Debugging Challenges

00:21:04 - Addressing the Talent Gap and Junior Engineer Growth

00:24:00 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More

Follow Dr. Sally Wahba on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/sallyky

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sallywahba/

Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson sits down with Ferdinand Como and Baptiste Leproux from Nuxt Labs to uncover the story behind Nuxt Studio, a tool that's transforming how developers and non-technical users interact with Nuxt applications.

Ferdinand and Baptiste share how Nuxt Studio bridges the gap between developer customization and user-friendly content management. Built to empower agencies, freelancers, and their clients, Nuxt Studio combines powerful features like live previews, Vue component integration, and schema-driven forms to make managing content seamless.

The conversation also explores the broader mission of Nuxt Labs—building sustainable open-source tools that enhance developer experience and meet real-world needs. With insights into the future of Nuxt Studio and its potential to scale for larger organizations, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about innovation in web development.

Chapters

1. Introduction and Setting the Stage (00:00:00)  

2. The Vision Behind Nuxt Studio (00:03:10)  

3. Nuxt Studio’s Core Features (00:08:45)  

4. Challenges in Building Nuxt Studio (00:16:20)  

5. Target Audience and Use Cases (00:22:35)  

6. Sustainability in Open Source (00:29:00)  

7. The Future of Nuxt Studio (00:35:10)  

8. Nuxt Studio’s Role in the Nuxt Ecosystem (00:42:30)  

9. Closing Thoughts and What’s Next (00:48:00)  

10. Sponsor Shoutout and Wrap-Up (00:53:20)  

Follow Baptiste Leproux and Ferdinand Coumau

Baptiste Twitter: https://x.com/_larbish

Ferdinand Twitter: https://x.com/CoumauFerdinand

Baptiste Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baptiste-leproux-618842b0/
Ferdinand Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdinand-coumau-nuxt/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co