Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

1031: My Coding Skills Are Atrophying

Scott and Wes answer your questions about coding in the AI era, atrophying skills from too much autocomplete, whether it’s finally time to leave VS Code, chasing flow state with agents, and which single AI subscription is worth your money. Plus: AT Protocol vs Solid, making your AI config portable across tools, and bringing Shadcn-level UX to server-rendered frameworks. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 00:57 AI-Generated Code: Are My Skills Atrophying? * 06:03 Is It Time to Move On from VS Code? * 13:19 Hitting Flow State with AI Coding * See Wes’ Post on X [https://x.com/wesbos/status/2082102845126389887] * 19:15 AT Protocol vs Solid: Decentralized Web Approaches * 24:55 Which AI Should You Subscribe To? * 30:23 Making Your AI Setup Portable Across Tools * 33:56 When to Drop a Tool That Still Works * 40:12 UX Quality for Traditional Server-Side Frameworks * FluxUI [https://fluxui.dev/components/file-upload] * GraffitiUI [https://graffiti-ui.com/] * 44:14 Using Hermes and Self-Hosted AI Assistants * 49:27 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: ESP32-S3 [https://amzn.to/4g5nfon] * Wes: Sharge ICEMAG3 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZ9ZMF3N?th=1&tag=webo080-20] 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]

1030: AI Assistant Hacks Gym

An AI assistant goes rogue and hacks a gym website, a $9k surprise Cloudflare bill lands in someone’s inbox, and AI subscriptions start promising unlimited usage. Plus Meta’s Muse Glimmer, Agent Plugins, Kimi K3 in Copilot, and a pile of CSS chaos. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 02:30 Celld [https://celld.dev/]: self host distributed durable objects * 07:57 $9k Cloudflare Bill [https://x.com/jpschroeder/status/2086144942657712500] * 13:43 Ogygia [https://ogygia.puruvj.dev/] - SSR islands for SvelteKit * 18:49 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 19:51 Standard Code [https://standardcode.ai/] - Unlimited Use AI Subscription * 29:17 New Meta Model Muse Glimmer [https://research.meta.ai/blog/introducing-muse-glimmer-open-agentic-model] * 36:12 AI Assistant Hacks Gym [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/ai-assistant-hacks-gym-website-aus-cyber-attack/107007986] * 46:49 This Week in AI * 54:50 Prime Agent RLM harness [https://x.com/PrimeIntellect/status/2085086999267144083?s=20] * 01:01:02 Agent Plugin Spec [https://vercel.com/blog/introducing-agent-plugins] * 01:04:08 Adam Wathan: A Token is a Token [https://x.com/adamwathan/status/2085154641575100492] * 01:07:39 New JS Runtime [https://x.com/mjackson/status/2086219529131282445] from Remix Creator * 01:11:21 Lost phone found with Bluetooth meter [https://x.com/un1c0rnioz/status/2084686552299634805] * 01:17:24 Center a div with browser sidebars [https://seg6.space/posts/center-div/] * 01:19:49 Flexwind froggy [https://flexwindfroggy.com/] * 01:21:55 Thanks for watching! 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]

1029: The Workflow of the Future With Zed

Nathan Sobo joins Scott and Wes to explain why Zed was built in Rust, how GPUI works, and what happens to editors once agents write most of the code. They also talk about DeltaDB, Zed’s new Git-compatible version control system, and Delta, the collaborative agentic editor it powers. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Start * 00:35 Welcom to Syntax * 01:13 The Journey to Zed: Building the Ultimate Tool * 03:26 Why Rust was chosen for Zed? * 06:29 Brought to you by Sentry! [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 07:07 Building a UI from scratch in Rust * GPUI [https://gpui.rs/] * 15:55 AI’s role in coding and development * 18:42 The role of text editors in the age of AI * 21:52 Delta DB: The vision for collaborative development * DeltaDB [http://delta.dev/] * 29:06 The Evolution of Collaborative Coding * 44:45 The Future of User Interfaces * 52:42 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: * Wes: * Nathan Sobo: * Keychron Q11 [https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q11-qmk-custom-mechanical-keyboard] * Grant Green - Idle Moments [https://open.spotify.com/album/1lDtUlOPGKp56gQ24MvmNG?si=xFbX385lSbqs1u3y-0YtSQ&nd=1&dlsi=65a0440a1aaa4d1c] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Scott: * Wes: * Nathan Sobo: * DeltaDB [http://delta.dev/] 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]

1028: Cloudflare Wallets

Cloudflare is rolling out crypto wallets with claimable handles as identity, and a real React compiler finally landed for regular hooks-based code. Plus: OpenAI's pricing war, Vue Vapor benchmarks, GitHub's new npm malware scanning, and an active supply chain attack hitting 868 packages. Show Notes * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:02 Shai Hulud is back! * New Shai-Hulud announcement [https://x.com/IntCyberDigest/status/2084636007790449126?s=20] * Attacked keyv packages [https://socket.dev/supply-chain-attacks/keyv-and-cacheable-compromise] * 05:27 GitHub scans your npm packages for malware [https://github.blog/changelog/2026-07-28-npm-publish-time-malware-scanning-and-dual-use-metadata/] * 06:42 Your agent has a wallet now * Make your own [https://cloudflare.pay/] * Cloudflare wallet announcement blog post [https://blog.cloudflare.com/wallets/] * X402 payments [https://x402.org/] * 12:10 Yet another React compiler? * Ripple.ts [https://www.ripple-ts.com/] * Inferno.js [https://www.infernojs.org/] * Dominic Gannaway’s launch post [https://x.com/trueadm/status/2081764408741540071] * Octane [https://octanejs.dev/] * Native Script [https://nativescript.org/] * Reactivity + Rendering Benchmark [https://rbench.nullvoxpopuli.com/results?q=7] * 27:19 Scott switched his browser AGAIN! * Dia [https://www.diabrowser.com/] * Knock off extension [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/knockoff-amazon-etsy-shop/pjgickchbiikhdfpmecaabkphmofpdce] * 31:56 AI Mental health survey [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdij87S57ibtMm2yPotcL0Ipd-c4ybQ45FgPqNTvVVW4pGU5w/viewform] * 32:29 OpenAI models are becoming cheaper? [https://openai.com/index/building-abundant-intelligence/] * 38:49 GitHub stacked PRs finally arrived [https://github.blog/changelog/2026-07-30-stacked-pull-requests-are-now-in-public-preview/] * 41:48 AI video podcasts * HeyGen launch post [https://x.com/HeyGen/status/2082510248489943367] * Hank Green’s unhealthy AI usage [https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/01/youtuber-hank-green-says-his-ai-usage-is-not-healthy/] * 48:15 Brought to you by Sentry! [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 49:28 News from the TC39 meeting * ECMAScript news [https://bsky.app/profile/tc39.es/post/3mrdjr6uq2t2i] * Await dictionary [https://github.com/tc39/proposal-await-dictionary] * TC39 Process [https://tc39.es/process-document/] * 56:58 Qwen 3.8 [https://qwen.ai/blog?id=qwen3.8] * 01:02:31 Latest and greatest in CSS and UI libraries * Foley.dev [https://usefoley.dev/] * Morphicons [https://www.morphicons.com/] * Lucide [https://lucide.dev/] * Nucleo [https://nucleoapp.com/] * 8bit library [https://8bit.cnlibs.com/theme] * CSS radar [https://cssradar.com/] * Impeccable [https://impeccable.style/] 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]

1027: The Rise of the Design Engineer

Scott and Wes tackle your questions on the rise of the design engineer, why AI still lacks “taste” (and why it’s about more than just looks), and how to actually write tests in the age of AI-assisted coding. Plus: is AI a bubble about to burst, keeping coding agents efficient in massive codebases, introducing kids to AI, a Linux life update, and more! SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:18 The Rise of the Design Engineer Role * 08:39 Why AI Has No Taste: It’s Not Just How It Looks * 14:28 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 14:52 Testing in the AI Era: Are We Using AI to Write Tests? * 20:09 Is AI a Bubble? Will It Burst? * The AI Bubble is Bursting on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgOZWGvzDpA] * 24:35 Negative Public Sentiment Towards AI and Data Centers * 30:16 Update on Scott Using Omarchy and Linux * Is The Omarchy Hype Real? [https://youtu.be/aWWo4ypLXds?si=e48H6HijGycJyLny] * 38:14 Introducing AI to Kids: A Parent’s Perspective with Dr. Courtney * 49:34 Getting Hired Without AI Experience: How to Catch Up * 52:53 Keeping Coding Agents Efficient: Token Usage, Speed, and Accuracy * Modem.dev Article [https://modem.dev/blog/how-coding-agents-read-your-code] * Fallow Docs [https://docs.fallow.tools/] * 57:10 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: Kitchen Sink Brush [https://amzn.to/4fqEstn] * Wes: Magnet Fishing [https://amzn.to/45sjLHC] SHAMELESS PLUGS * Scott: Phases Podcast [https://phases.fm/], Phases Podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKC_qfYDUsiRej_-dGHIT2A] 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]