Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

978: Should A New Coder Use AI?

Wes and Scott answer your questions about AI agents, learning to code with AI, pagination patterns, skilling up from outdated tech stacks, balancing side projects with family life, real-world hacking attempts, and more! SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:39 Are devs really running multiple AI agents at once? * Scott’s Tweet [https://x.com/stolinski/status/2018401957858402437?s=20] * 09:41 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 12:45 What is pagination and why do websites use it? * 18:17 Should beginners use AI while learning to code? * 30:24 The real-world skills CS degrees don’t teach you * 35:59 Someone tried to hack Syntax * 38:12 How Wes and Scott became co-hosts * 42:00 Moving from junior to mid-level when your skills are outdated * 45:42 How do you balance time for side projects, life, and family * 52:45 Building a ChatGPT-style RAG search for your resume * 56:15 Why Chad Whitacre videos were on the Syntax YouTube channel * Chad’s YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@ChadWhitacre] * 58:44 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: Trmnl [%5Bhttps://trmnl.com/?ref=levelup%5D(https://trmnl.com/?ref=levelup)] * Wes: RYOBI Soldering Iron [https://www.amazon.com/RYOBI-Cordless-120-Watt-Soldering-Topper/dp/B0BQ1DCG1Q/] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Syntax YouTube Channel [https://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]

977: We built a CSS Challenge platform

Scott and Wes break down how they built SynHax, the real-time CSS Battle app powering the upcoming Mad CSS tournament. From SvelteKit and Zero to diffing algorithms, sync conflicts, and a last-minute hackweek glow-up, this one’s a deep dive into shipping ambitious web apps fast. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 00:50 March Mad CSS [https://madcss.com/] Tournament. * 03:19 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax]. * 03:59 What the heck is a CSS Battle? * 05:34 The tech stack. * 06:30 Svelte Kit. * 06:44 Zero Sync. * Zero Docs [https://zero.rocicorp.dev/] * Zero Svelte [https://github.com/stolinski/zero-svelte]. * 07:32 Drizzle [https://orm.drizzle.team/docs/overview]. * 07:58 Supabase [https://supabase.com/]. * 08:23 Graffiti [https://graffiti-ui.com/]. * 10:45 Sync Server. * 12:10 Cloudflare Workers. * 12:23 Local File System. * 13:26 How Zero Works. * 13:48 Zero Sync Client. * 15:39 API server. * 19:34 Dealing with states and conflicts. * 24:25 The Hackweek Project. * 25:29 The Diffing Algorithm. * 35:22 The bugs. 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]

976: Pi - The AI Harness That Powers OpenClaw W/ Armin Ronacher & Mario Zechner

Wes and Scott talk with Armin Ronacher and Mario Zechner about PI, a minimalist agent harness powering tools like OpenClaw. They unpack why Bash is “all you need,” the risks of agents, workflow adaptability, and where AI coding agents are actually headed. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 03:28 What is Pi [https://github.com/mitsuhiko/pi-mono], and why does it matter? * OpenClaw [https://openclaw.ai/] * 05:54 What do we actually mean by “agents”? * 11:04 Prompt injection: how LLMs get tricked * 14:19 Is Claude Cowork [https://claude.com/product/cowork] actually secure? * 22:01 How Armin and Mario use agents day to day * 26:37 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 27:25 Memory and search: teaching agents to remember * 33:04 Do coding agents even need memory? * 34:36 “Bash is all you need” * 37:21 Adding power: how agents learn new tricks * 47:02 Tools and models Armin and Mario are using right now * 54:15 Sick picks + shameless plugs SICK PICKS * Mario: Cards for Ukraine [https://cards-for-ukraine.at/] * Armin: Pro-Ject Audio Turntable [https://www.project-audio.com/] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Armin: * Thorsten Ball Newsletter [https://substack.com/@thorstenball] * Simon Willison [https://simonwillison.net/] 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]

975: What’s Missing From the Web Platform?

Scott and Wes run through their wishlist for the web platform, digging into the UI primitives, DOM APIs, and browser features they wish existed (or didn’t suck). From better form controls and drag-and-drop to native reactivity, CSS ideas, and future-facing APIs, it’s a big-picture chat on what the web could be. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * Wes Tweet [https://x.com/wesbos/status/2011110928012791836] * 00:39 Exploring What’s Missing from the Web Platform * 02:26 Enhancing DOM Primitives for Better User Experience * 03:59 Multi-select + Combobox. * Open-UI [https://open-ui.org/] * 04:49 Date Picker. * Thibault Denis Tweet [https://x.com/ThibaultDe8548/status/2011134396108288508] * 07:18 Tabs. * 08:01 Image + File Upload. * 09:08 Toggles. * 10:23 Native Drag and Drop that doesn’t suck. * 12:03 Syntax wishlist. * 12:06 Type Annotations. * 15:07 Pipe Operator. * 16:33 APIs We Wish to See on the Web * 18:31 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 19:51 Identity. * 21:33 getElementByText() * 24:09 Native Reactive DOM. Templating in JavaScript. * 24:48 Sync Protocol. * 25:52 Virtualization that doesn’t suck. * 27:40 Put, Patch, and Delete on forms. * Ollie Williams Tweet [https://x.com/hypeddev/status/2011381049197220331] * SnorklTV Tweet [https://x.com/snorklTV/status/2011400065731154296] * 28:55 Text metrics: get bounding box of individual characters. * 29:42 Lower Level Connections. * 29:50 Bluetooth API. * 30:47 Sockets. * 31:29 NFC + RFID. * 34:34 Things we want in CSS. * 34:40 Specify transition speed. * 35:24 CSS Strict Mode. * 36:25 Safari moving to Chromium. * 36:37 The Need for Diverse Browser Engines * 37:48 AI Access. * 44:49 Other APIs * 46:59 Qwen TTS [https://www.alibabacloud.com/help/en/model-studio/qwen-tts] * 48:07 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: Monarch [%5Bhttps://monarch.com/referral/tp2gjynkoo?r_source=copy] * Wes: Slonik Headlamp [https://sloniklamps.com/] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Scott: Syntax on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@sytaxfm] 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]

974: Clawdbot (Moltbot), Agents and the Age of Personal Software

Wes and Scott talk about building hyper-specific personal software with AI. They explore personal agents, home automation, JSON-as-a-database, and how LLMs unlock fast, custom apps that reduce friction and replace bloated SaaS. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:53 What is personal software (and why it matters) * 04:49 Using AI agents to build hyper-specific apps for yourself * Clawdbot [https://clawd.bot/] * ClawdHub [https://clawdhub.com/] * 13:43 Supercharging your dev workflow with Tailscale [https://tailscale.com/] * 19:06 Privacy when working with LLMs * MLX-Audio [https://github.com/Blaizzy/mlx-audio] * 21:39 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 22:21 Real-world personal app ideas * 39:14 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: FTPManager [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ftpmanager-ftp-sftp-client/id525959186] * Wes: Roku Streaming Stick [https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streaming-Device-Vision-Controls/dp/B09BKCDXZC] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Syntax YouTube Channel [https://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]