
Eytan Seidman, VP of product at Shopify, joins the podcast to unpack Shopify's Winter '26 Edition and how AI is emerging into the market for developers and merchants. They discuss the new Dev MCP server, showing how tools like Cursor and Claude Desktop can rapidly scaffold Shopify apps, wire up Shopify functions, and ship payment customization and checkout UI extension experiences that lean on Shopify primitives like meta fields and meta objects across online stores and point of sale. Eytan also breaks down how Sidekick connects with apps, why the new analytics API and ShopifyQL open fresh analytics use cases, and more.

Shruti Kapoor comes back onto the podcast to discuss React 19.2, how it builds on React 19 and React 18, and new features like Activity, View Transitions, useEffectEvent, and React server components improvements powered by cacheSignal. They explore partial pre rendering, Suspense boundary batching, the stable React Compiler for auto memoed apps, and new Chrome dev tools performance tracks. The episode also covers Next.js 16 framework support and the updated ESL plugin react hooks.

In this repeat episode, Dominik Dorfmeister unpacks the pitfalls of React’s useCallback and useMemo, revealing how these hooks often introduce more complexity than performance gains. He explores the promise of the React Compiler, the practical power of the “latest ref” pattern, and strategies to boost code readability and maintainability at scale. Learn why overusing useEffect and manual memoization can do more harm than good, and how teams can level up their PR reviews and performance practices using tools like the ESLint React Compiler plugin.React useCallback, React useMemo, React memoization, React performance optimization, React compiler, React hooks best practices, React ref pattern, useEffect pitfalls, React readability, React ES Lint plugin, latest ref pattern React, React virtualized lists, React performance myths, useEffect overuse, React self review PRs, Dominik Dorfmeister React, Tans Stack Libraries

Jack Herrington talks with Will Madden about how Prisma ORM is evolving in v7, including the transition away from Rust toward TypeScript, less magic, and a new Prisma config file for more predictable good DX. They dig into Prisma Postgres, improvements to Prisma Studio, better support for serverless environments, and how JavaScript ORM tools like Prisma as an object relational mapper will fit into future agentic coding workflows powered by LLMs.

In this episode of PodRocket, Jack and Paige dive into the latest GitHub Octoverse report, covering trends like shipping faster with AI, the dominance of TypeScript as the top language, the rise of AI-generated pull requests, and the concerning drop in code review comments. They unpack the growing role of Copilot, the tension between OSS contributions and burnout, and the surge in AI infrastructure projects like Ollama. The discussion also touches on open source governance, the docs gap, prompt injection risks, and whether AI-powered browsers can succeed beyond the dev crowd.

Barry Pollard from the Chrome devrel team joins PodRocket to discuss the speculation rules API, a new browser feature designed to improve web performance through prefetch and pre-render techniques. Barry breaks down the history of speculative loading, contrasts SPA vs MPA behavior, and explains the nuances of hover prefetching, conservative prefetch, and the powerful new pre-render until script mode. Learn how Shopify and WordPress are adopting the API, what telemetry from Chrome Status reveals, and what developers need to know about potential pitfalls, caching behavior, and how the API is becoming a standard for static sites and e-commerce performance.

This months panel dives into Remix v3 without React, exploring its DIY VDOM framework and manual reactivity approach. We discuss the latest React Foundation governance changes and what React 19.2 brings, from the Activity component to useEffectEvent and server streaming support. The conversation also covers how the proposed H-1B $100,000 fee could affect tech hiring, thoughts on Firefox, the Perplexity and Washington Post paywall, and a spicy Tailwind vs CSS debate.

Dominic Gannaway joins us to talk about RippleJS, a new TypeScript-first UI framework built with its own templating language and a focus on clarity and reactivity. We explore how RippleJS handles fine-grained updates through its track and block system, why it avoids global state, and how context plays a key role. Dominic also walks us through the developer experience, from the language server and VS Code integration to syntax highlighting and the Prettier plugin, plus how the framework handles error boundaries, server-side rendering, future plans, and more.

Ever wondered how source maps actually work? In this episode, Nicolo Ribaudo, Babel maintainer and TC39 delegate, breaks down how source maps connect your JavaScript, TypeScript, and CSS back to the original code — making debugging, stack traces, and observability smoother in Chrome dev tools. We dive into how source maps help in both development and production with minified code, explore tools like Webpack, Rollup, Next.js, and Svelte, and share when you should turn off source maps to avoid confusion.

Andreas Rossberg unpacks WASM 3.0, covering new capabilities like garbage collection, exception handling, tail calls, and support for 64-bit addressing with multiple memories. The discussion explores deterministic profiles following relaxed sim, WebAssembly’s capability-based security model, and advances in sandboxing and module design. Andreas connects these features to practical use cases in JavaScript engines and applications like Google Sheets, then looks ahead to experimental work on threading, stack switching, and async programming models shaping the next phase of the WebAssembly ecosystem.

Jono Alderson joins the podcast to discuss why semantic HTML still matters today. He shares how thoughtful markup can improve accessibility and performance, from using the picture tag and responsive images to optimizing with content-visibility CSS. The conversation dives into common pitfalls like div soup, the shift toward more template-centric design, and techniques for improving the critical rendering path. Jono also discusses preloading, HTTP early hints, and the evolving role of structured data, LLMs, and Google’s trust signals in shaping a more meaningful and efficient web.

In this episode of PodRocket, Adam Argyle and Kevin Powell discuss the results of the latest State of CSS survey and share how new capabilities like functions, mixins, nesting, and container queries are changing the way developers approach styling. We dive into the ongoing conversation around Tailwind and pre-processors, and look at the practical impact of features such as scroll driven animations, view transitions, and cascade layers. Adam and Kevin also explain how advances like relative color syntax and app property are making CSS variables more dynamic and reliable. Along the way, we touch on browser interoperability and imagine what’s ahead for CSS, from motion blur to fit text and beyond.

Is the web breaking under the weight of AI crawlers, platform consolidation, and nonstop security breaches? We dive into the state of browsers, developer burnout, and whether tech regulation can actually keep up. In this panel discussion: * We debate if robots.txt and AI licensing standards like RSL can realistically control how AI scrapes the web. * The fallout from DIA’s acquisition by Atlassian and what it means for indie browser innovation in a Chromium-dominated world. * Why Google’s antitrust victory might embolden other tech giants, and what that means for competition. * How supply chain attacks like the NPM malware and Shai Hulud worm are exploiting GitHub workflows and package vulnerabilities. * The pushback against AI mandates at work, including Coinbase’s controversial policy requiring developers to use Copilot.

Feross Aboukhadijeh, founder of Socket, joins us to break down the recent wave of NPM supply chain attacks hitting the JavaScript ecosystem, including how attackers used phishing to target developers, snuck malware into popular packages like Prettier and "is", and even abused tools like Claude, Gemini, and TruffleHog. We dig into how GitHub Actions vulnerabilities were exploited, what makes postinstall scripts risky, and and what you can do to protect yourself from future attacks.

Mark Dalgleish joins us to talk about the latest in React Router, including its growing support for React Server Components (RSC). He breaks down what RSC data mode, framework mode, and declarative mode mean for developers, and how features like the middleware API and route module API are simplifying work across tools like Vite and Parcel. We also dive into how React 19, static site generation with RSC, and smarter data batching are reshaping performance and the future of server-side rendering in React apps.

Jimmy Bogard joins Pod Rocket to talk about making monoliths more modular, why boundaries matter, and how to avoid turning systems into distributed monoliths. From refactoring techniques and database migrations at scale to lessons from Stripe and WordPress, he shares practical ways to balance architecture choices. We also explore how tools like Claude and Lambda fit into modern development and what teams should watch for with latency, transactions, and growing complexity.

Alexander Lichter joins the podcast to talk about Rolldown, a bundler built in Rust by Void Zero that aims to replace Rollup and ESBuild with faster builds and better enterprise scalability. He dives into the power of OXC and Oxlint, the push toward a unified JavaScript toolchain, and previews what to expect at ViteConf 2024.

Dominik Dorfmeister unpacks the pitfalls of React’s useCallback and useMemo, revealing how these hooks often introduce more complexity than performance gains. He explores the promise of the React Compiler, the practical power of the “latest ref” pattern, and strategies to boost code readability and maintainability at scale. Learn why overusing useEffect and manual memoization can do more harm than good, and how teams can level up their PR reviews and performance practices using tools like the ESLint React Compiler plugin.

Is the AI industry an unsustainable bubble built on burning billions in cash? We break down the AI hype cycle, the tough job market for developers, and whether a crash is on the horizon. In this panel discussion with Josh Goldberg, Paige, Paul, and Noel, we tackle the biggest questions in tech today. * We debate if AI is just another Web3-style hype cycle * Why the "10x AI engineer" is a myth that ignores the reality of software development * The ethical controversy around AI crawlers and data scraping, highlighted by Cloudflare's recent actions Plus, we cover the latest industry news, including Vercel's powerful new AI SDK V5 and what GitHub's leadership shakeup means for the future of developers.

Erik Rasmussen, principal product engineer at Attio, joins PodRocket to discuss how React can be used far beyond the web. From custom React renderers for IoT and hardware to a secure plugin architecture using iframes and JSON rendering, Erik dives into platform agnostic rendering, React reconciler, xState, and how Adio empowers developers to build third-party apps with React. A must-listen for anyone curious about React's future outside the DOM.

Aurora Scharff, Senior Consultant at Crayon, joins to break down how modern React development is evolving with features from React 18 and React 19. She explores real-world use cases for useTransition and useOptimistic, highlights improvements in async UI rendering and performance, and shares insights on building responsive interfaces with concurrent rendering patterns. The conversation also touches on server components, Next.js, and tools like Aria Kit and Redwood SDK, all shaping the next era of React development.

Sacha Greif, creator of the State of Devs 2025 survey, joins PodRocket to share insights on developer life beyond the code. We talk about sleep habits, mental health, job titles, workplace culture, and shifting values across regions. Learn why "engineer" titles often pay more, what developers worldwide think about Elon Musk, and how trends differ by country, gender, and company size.

In this episode of PodRocket, Daniel Roe, lead dev over at NuxtLabs, joins Paul to discuss the big news: NuxtLabs is joining Vercel. They dive into what this partnership means for Nuxt, the independence of the open-source framework, and how products like Nuxt UI Pro, Nuxt Studio, and Nuxt Hub are evolving. Daniel also shares insights on zero-config deployments, maintaining choice for developers, and the philosophy behind keeping Nuxt open and flexible.

TypeScript might feel slow, but is it really? In this episode, Mike Hartington DevRel at Nx joins us fresh off his React Miami talk to unpack what actually causes TypeScript slowdowns in large monorepos, and how techniques like project references, workspaces, and precompiled DTS files can supercharge your dev experience. We also dig into the upcoming Go-based TypeScript compiler and how it could deliver 10x+ performance gains.

Kent C. Dodds is back with bold ideas and a game-changing vision for the future of AI and web development. In this episode, we dive into the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the power behind Epic AI Pro, and how developers can start building Jarvis-like assistants today. From replacing websites with MCP servers to reimagining voice interfaces and AI security, Kent lays out the roadmap for what's next, and why it matters right now. Don’t miss this fast-paced conversation about the tools and tech reshaping everything.

Max Prilutskiy, co-founder and CEO of lingo.dev, about the lingo.dev compiler, a powerful open-source tool that automates multilingual support in React applications. Max dives deep into how the compiler uses ASTs and AI to eliminate the traditional friction of i18n workflows, offers build-time translations, and supports hot module replacement, static builds, and frameworks like Vite, Next.js, and React Router.

David Khourshid, founder of Stately.ai, joins us to discuss better ways to manage complex state in React applications. We explore the pitfalls of overusing useState, how discriminated unions and state machines improve app logic, the role of server components, and the growing importance of query strings and persistent state management. He also shares insights on modern third-party libraries, React’s missing "store" primitive, and when developers should rethink their entire approach to state modeling.

Brooks Lybrand, Developer relations manager for Remix and React Router, joins the pod to discuss the latest developments in React Router v7, its evolving community, and the migration path from Remix. We also explore the router's new open governance model, framework mode, and how server-side rendering and data handling are being reimagined for modern web apps.

In this episode of PodRocket, Michael Shilman, product lead at Storybook, joins us to explore the major updates in Storybook 9. We dive into component testing, browser mode in Vitest, AI workflows, React Server Components, accessibility audits, and Storybook’s growing support for frameworks like Next.js, Svelte, and React Native. Michael also shares behind-the-scenes insights on Storybook’s evolution from a documentation tool to a full-fledged UI development and testing suite.

In this repeat episode, Nikolas Burk, DevRel at Prisma, talks about Prisma Postgres, its unikernel architecture, and its seamless integration with cloud infrastructure. Discover how Prisma Postgres is revolutionizing database management with features like cold start elimination, real-time event handling and advanced caching strategies!

Rafael Gonzaga, a Node.js TSC member, joins us to unpack the key features and updates in Node.js 24. We explore major changes like the new permission model, async local storage improvements, V8 engine updates, and the future of built-in HTTP capabilities. Rafael also shares insights on security trends, the evolution of the Node ecosystem, and how developers can get involved.

Ryan Carniato, creator of SolidJS, joins the podcast to reflect on a decade of developing the framework. We dive into the evolution of frontend tooling, the rise of fine-grained reactivity, and why SolidJS continues to challenge virtual DOM conventions. Ryan also shares insights on open source maintenance, web standards, and the future of UI architecture.

Jack Herrington, podcaster, software engineer, writer and YouTuber, joins the pod to uncover the truth behind server functions and why they don’t actually exist in the web platform. We dive into the magic behind frameworks like Next.js, TanStack Start, and Remix, breaking down how server functions work, what they simplify, what they hide, and what developers need to know to build smarter, faster, and more secure web apps.

In this repeat episode, Chris Coyier, co-founder of CodePen, talks about the evolving landscape of HTML heading into 2025. He delves into topics like the slow evolution of HTML compared to CSS and JavaScript, the importance of backwards compatibility, new HTML elements and pseudo-elements, and the potential of declarative shadow DOM for server-side rendering in web components.

Miriam Suzanne, web developer, artist, and co-founder of OddBird, talks about the philosophy and evolution of web design. We explore CSS origins, the cascade, accessibility, and how the balance between user control and brand expression defines the spirit of the web.

Peter Pistorius, co-creator of RedwoodJS, talks about the evolution from RedwoodJS GraphQL to the new Redwood SDK, a React framework built for Cloudflare. They dive deep into serverless architecture, React Server Components, durable objects, AI-assisted development, and the challenges of modern deployment and hosting. Learn how Redwood SDK is empowering developers to focus on building and shipping, instead of managing infrastructure.

React Core team member Dan Abramov joins us to explore "JSX over the wire" and the evolving architecture of React Server Components. We dive into the shift from traditional REST APIs to screen-specific data shaping, the concept of Backend for Frontend (BFF), and why centering UI around the user experience—not server/client boundaries—matters more than ever.

Carson Gross, creator of HTMX, talks about its evolution from intercooler.js, its viral rise on social media, and its philosophy of simplicity and stability. They dive into how HTMX fits into the modern web dev ecosystem, the idea of building 100-year web services, and why older technologies like jQuery and server-side rendering still have staying power. Carson also shares insights on open-source marketing, progressive enhancement, and the future of web development.

Jemima Abu, Senior Product Engineer at CAIS, joins the podcast to unpack her no-fluff approach to functional programming in JavaScript. From why predictable code matters to how higher-order functions like map and reduce can save your sanity, Jemima breaks down real-world lessons on purity, immutability, and when it's okay to not be a functional purist.

Vue creator Evan You joins us to talk about the evolution of JavaScript tooling, the success of Vite, and what's coming next with VitePlus — a unified toolchain aiming to simplify dev workflows. We also touch on Nitro, multi-runtime support, and where AI might (or might not) fit into the mix.

Mitchell Hashimoto, founder of HashiCorp, joins us to talk about his latest project, Ghostty—a terminal that’s fast, feature-rich, and truly cross-platform. Mitchell shares the vision behind Ghostty, its architecture built around the libghosty core, how it's tackling long-standing limitations in terminal emulation, and why features like quake-style dropdowns matter more than you'd think. We also explore how the community can get involved and the future potential of Ghosty as a platform for modern text-based applications. Tune in to explore the innovative features that make Ghosty a standout cross-platform terminal!

Ben Holmes, product engineer at Warp, joins PodRocket to talk about local-first web apps and what it takes to run a database directly in the browser. He breaks down how moving data closer to the user can reduce latency, improve performance, and simplify frontend development. Learn about SQLite in the browser, syncing challenges, handling conflicts, and tools like WebAssembly, IndexedDB, and CRDTs. Plus, Ben shares insights from building his own SimpleSyncEngine and where local-first development is headed!

Luca Casanato, member of the Deno core team, delves into the intricacies of debugging applications using Deno and OpenTelemetry. Discover how Deno's native integration with OpenTelemetry enhances application performance monitoring, simplifies instrumentation compared to Node.js, and unlocks new insights for developers!

Anthony Fu, Framework Developer at Nuxt Labs, discusses the shift to ESM-only formats in JavaScript development. He covers the controversy surrounding ESM, the advantages of moving from CJS to ESM, and what this transition means for the future of web development. Tune in to learn why now is the ideal time for this change, and how it benefits developers!