1006: Can AI Make Good Design?

1006: Can AI Make Good Design?

Wes and Scott talk about whether AI can actually create good design, or if it just remixes the same patterns over and over. They dig into AI-generated UX, design systems, YouTube thumbnails, Google’s design.md spec, programmatic design, and the tools designers are actually using today. Show Notes * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 03:20 Can AI actually make you creative? * 08:52 Why AI-generated YouTube thumbnails all look the same * 10:34 Can good design be extrapolated from patterns? * 13:46 Google’s design.md and AI steering documents * 16:57 Can AI make good UX? * 19:37 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 21:03 Can good design be programmatic? * 23:57 Can AI optimize design for outcomes and conversions? * 27:40 Should designers use AI to enhance their work? * 32:41 The AI design tools people are actually using 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]

1005: Programatic and Skill based Video Creation with Remotion

Scott and Wes are joined by Jonny Burger, creator of Remotion, to talk about the explosion of programmatic video, going from 125k to 800k installs per day, and how AI and a new HTML-in-Canvas Chrome spec are changing the game. They dig into monetization, the wild world of video slop, motion graphics workflows, and the new Media Bunny tool. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * Remotion has skills! [https://github.com/remotion-dev/skills] * 02:20 Monetization Strategies and Sustainability * Remotion Pro [https://www.remotion.pro/] * 04:40 The Impact of AI on Video Creation * 07:46 User Demographics and Use Cases * 09:49 The Future of Video Editing Workflows * 13:14 HTML in Canvas: A Game Changer * 16:17 Technical Challenges and Innovations * 18:44 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 19:09 The Future of Remotion and Community Feedback * 22:59 Rendering CSS Animations and Performance Optimization * 27:05 The Underworld of Video Slop * 29:12 Transition to Media Bunny * remotion.dev/docs/mediabunny/ [http://remotion.dev/docs/mediabunny/] * 33:50 Motion Graphics Workflow * 39:42 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs SICK PICKS * Jonny: ENTTEC DMX to USB Interface [https://www.enttec.com/product/dmx-usb-interfaces/dmx-usb-pro-professional-1u-usb-to-dmx512-converter/] 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]

1004: TanHacked

Scott and Wes break down the “Mini Shai-Hulud” supply chain attack that compromised TanStack and other popular npm packages through a clever GitHub Actions cache poisoning exploit; a self-propagating worm that stole credentials and persisted through Claude Code hooks and VS Code tasks. They also cover how developers can protect themselves using pnpm’s security defaults, dev containers, and other practical defenses. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 00:25 Understanding the Shai-Hulud Worm [https://www.wiz.io/blog/shai-hulud-npm-supply-chain-attack] * Post Mortem of Shai Hulud Attack [https://posthog.com/blog/nov-24-shai-hulud-attack-post-mortem] * 02:47 Mechanics of the Attack: GitHub Actions and Cache * How the attack happened [https://x.com/sebastienlorber/status/2054108973352038618?s=20] * Who Was Involved in the Attack [https://x.com/hetmehtaa/status/2054158511073116266] * Several npm latest releases are compromised [https://github.com/TanStack/router/issues/7383#issuecomment-4424629798] * Socket.dev [https://socket.dev/blog/tanstack-npm-packages-compromised-mini-shai-hulud-supply-chain-attack] * Step Security [https://www.stepsecurity.io/blog/mini-shai-hulud-is-back-a-self-spreading-supply-chain-attack-hits-the-npm-ecosystem] * 05:44 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * 06:09 Propagation and Impact of the Worm * 09:30 Preventative Measures for Developers * Dead Man’s Switch [https://x.com/dabit3/status/2053956743621648789] * 12:33 The Role of Package Managers in Security * Block Exotic Subdeps [https://pnpm.io/settings#blockexoticsubdeps] * 18:39 Using Dev Containers * Why You Should Use Dev Containers [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPMA9cnpScU] * Scott Tolinski’s Security Review [https://github.com/stolinski/s-stack/tree/main/skills/security-review] * 20:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts * Sentry has Skills! [https://github.com/getsentry/skills] 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]

1003: Skills Skills Skills

Scott and Wes chat all things agent skills for web developers, sharing their favorites for everything from CSS animations and HTML generation to logo extraction, marketing copy, and video creation. Whether you’re just getting started with AI-powered development or looking to level up your workflow, this episode is packed with practical skills you can put to use today. SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:33 Hot Tip Skill [https://wesbos.com/tips] * 05:55 CSS Motion Systems [https://github.com/stolinski/s-stack/tree/main/skills/css-motion-systems] * 08:17 Agent Browser Skill [https://agent-browser.dev/skills] * 09:30 HTML Skill [https://github.com/stolinski/s-stack/blob/main/skills/html/SKILL.md] * 12:01 Extract Logos Skill * 13:34 Dex Task Skill [https://github.com/stolinski/s-stack/tree/main/skills/dex] * 14:50 Remotion and Hyper Frames Skills * Syntax Episode 550 with Remotion [https://syntax.fm/show/550/supper-club-remotion-react-video-with-jonny-burger] * 16:22 Discussion on AI and Design Skills * 18:50 Marketing Skills [https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills] and Copywriting [https://github.com/stolinski/s-stack/blob/main/skills/copywriting/SKILL.md] * 23:01 Final Thoughts and Resources * 24:10 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax] * Sentry Skills [https://github.com/getsentry/skills] 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]

1002: The Real Pricing of LLMs

In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott answer your questions about LLM usage-based pricing, security risks from malicious code in interviews, staying current in a fast-moving dev landscape, a new CSS linter, managing Node environments and tooling without losing your mind, and more! SHOW NOTES * 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! * 01:17 Copilot’s new usage-based pricing and the end of cheap AI * Model multipliers for annual Copilot Pro and Copilot Pro+ subscribers [https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-billing/models-and-pricing?utm_campaign=FY26APR-WW-LCM-BLA-ProPP-IND-Dev-TX-USGCHGMTH&utm_medium=email&utm_source=github#model-multipliers-for-annual-copilot-pro-and-copilot-pro-subscribers] * 08:53 Why Syntax dropped clever ad transitions * 10:33 Debugging issues on the Syntax website with Sentry * 12:51 Brought to you by Sentry.io [https://sentry.io/syntax/] * 13:01 Getting hacked through a fake recruiter and malicious repos * Adib Hanna’s hacking story [https://x.com/adibhanna/status/2046988777789555191] * scammer.md [https://gist.github.com/adibhanna/6c66552b94577951bc4cce877fcf7729] * DeskPad [https://github.com/Stengo/DeskPad] * 17:57 How to catch up after stepping away from dev * 25:10 React components vs native browser APIs * 32:41 New CSS linting tools and Project Wallace updates * csskit [https://csskit.rs/] * 36:06 How to interview developers in the age of AI * 41:21 Managing Node, package managers, and dev environments * 46:59 Sick picks + shameless plugs SICK PICKS * Scott: * ZEISS Lens Care [https://amzn.to/4eOF5No] * KeyboardCleanTool [https://folivora.ai/keyboardcleantool] * Wes: Amaran Halo 100x [https://amzn.to/41X69Tb] 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]