Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

990: Vite Is Taking Over (Vite+)

Wes, Scott, and CJ talk about Vite+, a unified JavaScript toolchain that combines linting, formatting, task running, monorepos, and more. They break down its evolution, open-source shift, performance gains, Node version management, and whether it can realistically replace today’s fragmented dev tooling. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 00:54 What Vite+ [https://viteplus.dev/] is and what’s changed since launch * 03:43 Why the ecosystem needs Vite+ * 06:41 What Vite+ actually does for your workflow * 10:18 Built-in Node version management * 12:32 Type-aware linting with tsgolint [https://github.com/oxc-project/tsgolint] and oxc [https://github.com/oxc-project] * 15:27 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 16:28 Should config live inside vite.config? * 22:56 Monorepos and task running in Vite+ * 26:28 Task caching and faster builds * 29:01 Final thoughts and current limitations HIT US UP ON SOCIALS! Syntax: X [https://twitter.com/syntaxfm] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/syntax_fm/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@syntaxfm] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/96077407/admin/feed/posts/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@syntax_fm] Wes: X [https://twitter.com/wesbos] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wesbos/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@wesbos] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbos/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@wesbos] Scott: X [https://twitter.com/stolinski] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stolinski/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stolinski] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stolinski/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@stolinski] Randy: X [https://twitter.com/randyrektor] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/randyrektor/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randyrektor] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@randyrektor]

989: State of JS 2025

Scott and Wes dig into the latest State of JS survey results, breaking down which JavaScript libraries, frameworks, and tools are rising, falling, or holding steady in the ever-shifting JS ecosystem. From front-end frameworks and meta-framework pain points to JavaScript runtimes, hosting services, and the growing role of AI tools in developer workflows, this one’s packed with takes, tier lists, and plenty of opinions. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:06 JavaScript Features [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US], not overly interesting. * 02:15 JavaScript Libraries popularity and usage over time [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/#tools_arrows]. * 07:52 Library Tier List [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/#tier_list]. * 10:55 Library Ratios Over Time [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/#tools_ratios_over_time]. * 13:09 Other Front-End Frameworks [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/front-end-frameworks/#front_end_frameworks_others]. * 15:24 Meta-framework Ratios Over Time [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/meta-frameworks/#meta_frameworks_ratios]. * 19:34 Meta-Framework Pain Points [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/meta-frameworks/#meta_frameworks_pain_points]. * 21:57 Backend Frameworks [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/back-end-frameworks/]. * npm Trends express-vs-hono [https://npmtrends.com/express-vs-hono]. * 25:14 LLM Stack Suggestions. * 27:54 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax]. * 30:37 Testing Frameworks [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/libraries/testing/]. * 33:15 Libraries Other Tools [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/other-tools/#libraries]. * 37:20 Utilities [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/other-tools/#utilities]. * npm Trends biome-vs-oxlint [https://npmtrends.com/@biomejs/biome-vs-oxlint] * 40:53 JavaScript Runtimes [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/other-tools/#runtimes]. * 45:04 Hosting Services [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/other-tools/#hosting]. * 51:39 AI Tools [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/other-tools/#ai_tools]. * 54:16 AI Code Generation. * 55:04 Awards [https://2025.stateofjs.com/en-US/awards/]. * 01:00:19 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs. SICK PICKS * Scott: Anker MagSafe Charger Stand [https://amzn.to/4rphUMj] * Wes: Battery-powered Heat Gun [https://amzn.to/3NaD4Qo] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Scott: Syntax on YouTube [www.youtube.com/@syntaxfm] HIT US UP ON SOCIALS! Syntax: X [https://twitter.com/syntaxfm] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/syntax_fm/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@syntaxfm] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/96077407/admin/feed/posts/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@syntax_fm] Wes: X [https://twitter.com/wesbos] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wesbos/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@wesbos] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbos/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@wesbos] Scott: X [https://twitter.com/stolinski] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stolinski/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stolinski] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stolinski/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@stolinski] Randy: X [https://twitter.com/randyrektor] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/randyrektor/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randyrektor] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@randyrektor]

988: Cloudflare’s Next.js Slop Fork

Wes and Scott talk with Steve Faulkner about vinext, a Vite-powered Next.js fork. They dive into AI coding workflows, agent browsers, code quality, and what modern dev tooling looks like in an AI-first world. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 02:01 Knowing how to use AI * 02:31 The idea behind “slop fork” * vinext [https://github.com/cloudflare/vinext] * How we rebuilt Next.js with AI in one week [https://blog.cloudflare.com/vinext/] * 06:27 How to approach a project like this * Super Whisper [https://superwhisper.com/] * 07:53 Using markdown as a planning and thinking tool * 12:35 Steve’s OpenCode setup * 14:31 What agent browsers are and how they work * agent-browser [https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-browser] * 15:34 Where agent browsers fall short * 19:02 Why agents work best with tight feedback loops * 21:23 Dealing with poor code quality from AI * 23:54 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 24:19 Searching for a reliable AI workflow * 25:54 What about security? * 28:46 When it makes sense to port a framework vs switch * 32:03 What an AI-first programming language might look like * 33:16 TypeScript in an AI-driven workflow * 35:36 Cloudflare and improving developer experience * 38:10 Being excited and uneasy about where AI is heading * 39:06 Which industries AI disrupts next * 41:29 Sick picks + shameless plugs SICK PICKS * Steve: IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX [https://www.iwc.com/us-en/watches/pilot-watches/iw328201-pilots-watch-mark-xx] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Steve: vinext [https://github.com/cloudflare/vinext] HIT US UP ON SOCIALS! Syntax: X [https://twitter.com/syntaxfm] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/syntax_fm/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@syntaxfm] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/96077407/admin/feed/posts/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@syntax_fm] Wes: X [https://twitter.com/wesbos] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wesbos/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@wesbos] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbos/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@wesbos] Scott: X [https://twitter.com/stolinski] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stolinski/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stolinski] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stolinski/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@stolinski] Randy: X [https://twitter.com/randyrektor] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/randyrektor/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randyrektor] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@randyrektor]

987: Remote Coding Agents

Scott and Wes break down the world of remote coding agents — what they are, why you’d want one, and all the different ways you can run them, from Cursor Cloud and Claude Code to an old laptop sitting on your floor. They cover real-world use cases, environment setup, API key management, and the wild variety of interfaces that let agents work while you sleep. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 03:14 Introduction to Remote Coding Agents * 05:32 Practical Examples of Remote Agents * 05:34 Website data grunt work. * 07:48 Research assistant * 08:57 Travel agent… agent * 09:57 Where and When Remote Agents Run * 10:43 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 13:31 Where Remote Agents Run * 19:14 CLI and User Interfaces for Remote Agents * 24:53 Remote Development Environments * 31:21 DIY Agents and Custom Solutions * 36:09 The environment * 38:08 Managing API Keys and Access * 41:02 Web search HIT US UP ON SOCIALS! Syntax: X [https://twitter.com/syntaxfm] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/syntax_fm/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@syntaxfm] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/96077407/admin/feed/posts/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@syntax_fm] Wes: X [https://twitter.com/wesbos] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wesbos/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@wesbos] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbos/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@wesbos] Scott: X [https://twitter.com/stolinski] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stolinski/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stolinski] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stolinski/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@stolinski] Randy: X [https://twitter.com/randyrektor] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/randyrektor/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randyrektor] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@randyrektor]

986: Does Code Quality Matter Anymore?

In this potluck episode, Wes and Scott answer your questions about popover navigation patterns, the Vibrate API on iOS, whether code quality still matters in the AI era, Wes’s evolving Obsidian second-brain setup, where to start with modern full-stack JavaScript, and more! Show Notes * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:02 Using display none with popover and hamburger navigation * 03:37 Vercel on iOS and experimenting with the Vibrate API * 05:47 Does code quality still matter in the AI age? * 11:08 Wes’ second brain update and Obsidian [https://obsidian.md/] workflow * QMD [https://github.com/tobi/qmd] * 19:57 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 20:21 Supporting older browsers and missing out on modern web features * 23:32 iPad browsing quirks and dealing with outdated Safari * 28:26 What to do when you encounter a badly built or inaccessible website * 33:37 Is the Effect TypeScript library [https://effect.website/] worth the learning curve? * 37:04 Where to start with modern full-stack JavaScript * 43:39 Are column grid frameworks still relevant with modern CSS? * Graffiti [https://graffiti-ui.com/] * 49:54 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs Sick Picks * Scott: AVerMedia Video Capture Card [https://amzn.to/4rLksVT] * Wes: Power Bar Extension Cord [https://amzn.to/4b2Z5sb] Shameless Plugs * Phases Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@phasesfm] Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X [https://twitter.com/syntaxfm] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/syntax_fm/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@syntaxfm] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/96077407/admin/feed/posts/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@syntax_fm] Wes: X [https://twitter.com/wesbos] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wesbos/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@wesbos] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesbos/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@wesbos] Scott: X [https://twitter.com/stolinski] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stolinski/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stolinski] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stolinski/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@stolinski] Randy: X [https://twitter.com/randyrektor] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/randyrektor/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randyrektor] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@randyrektor]