HTML All The Things - Web Development, AI, and Developer Careers

In what's becoming an annual feature, Matt and Mike discussed the results of the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025. There are an absolute ton of different categories and results in this survey, the guys have cherry picked a few key metrics to drive conversation and debate on the state of the 2025 developer market. With AI tools coming in hot this year (and last for that matter), many think that the industry is in a state of upset - do you think the survey results confirm that?

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stack-overflow-developer-survey-2025

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AI is everywhere—popping up in every tool, platform, and app we use. But with all this supposed productivity, why are we spending so much time tinkering with AI tools instead of just... working? In this episode, we dig into whether the time we spend learning and adjusting AI is actually worth it—or if it's starting to backfire. Is this just a phase of growing pains, or will "tinkering" always be part of using AI as it rapidly evolves?

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/we-shouldnt-focus-on-ai

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore whether learning the fundamentals of coding is still necessary in 2025, now that powerful AI tools can write, refactor, and explain code in seconds. Do new developers still need to understand things like variables, loops, and logic, or can they jump straight into building projects with AI assistance?

We talk about the pros and cons of skipping the basics, when foundational knowledge becomes essential, and how modern devs can balance AI-driven productivity with real skill-building. We also dive into how this all ties into web development, vibe-coding, and the rise of no-code/low-code tools.

Whether you're just starting out or building your 10th project, this conversation will help you decide where to focus your learning next.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/are-coding-basics-still-relevant-in-the-age-of-ai

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AI tools are getting faster, cheaper, and—some say—good enough to replace junior developers. In this episode of Web News, we dive into the recent X discussion between Brian Coords, Matt Mullenweg, and others about whether AI agents could do junior dev work for just $12k–$15k a year. Are junior developers truly cooked? Could the career path for new devs become unpaid or low-paid work until you “level up” to senior? We explore the implications for the industry, the future of developer salaries, and whether entry-level jobs are at risk.

‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-this-the-end-for-junior-developers

In this episode, Mike explores his growing dependence on AI tools like Cursor and ChatGPT to handle everyday coding tasks. From code generation and DevOps to security reviews and task planning, AI is integrated into nearly every part of his workflow. But as these tools take over more responsibilities, Mike asks the hard questions: Am I losing my edge? Should I still code manually even if AI can do it faster—or better? He shares how he uses AI day-to-day, when he steps in to take control, and whether it’s time to focus on solving tougher problems that AI can’t yet tackle.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/boosting-developer-productivity-with-ai-without-losing-your-edge

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As web developers, we often wear a lot of hats — designer, developer, project manager, client liaison, support desk, and more. But where’s the line between taking initiative and taking on too much?

In this episode, Matt and Mike dig into the slippery slope of overcommitting in web development — whether it’s a single project that’s way too big or an avalanche of client work that becomes unmanageable. They explore how this can affect your health, your business, and your ability to actually get things done.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-on-too-much-responsibility-as-a-web-developer

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We all know what it’s like to be fired—but what about firing a client? In this week’s Web News, Matt and Mike explore what happens when a freelance relationship goes sour. Is it ever okay to walk away from a paying client? What if they’re disruptive, draining your time, or you’ve simply lost interest in their project? They break down when it’s appropriate to cut ties and how to do it professionally.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-it-ever-okay-to-fire-a-client

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In this episode, Matt and Mike dive deep into web app security by walking through a simple SaaS note-taking app and breaking down vulnerabilities at each layer—from frontend and backend to auth and hosting. With 16 billion credentials recently leaked and AI increasing attack complexity, even indie devs need to lock things down. They cover common security pitfalls like XSS, CSRF, IDOR, insecure cookies, and more—along with practical mitigations using tools like tRPC, Prisma, and Next.js. Whether you’re building solo or part of a team, this episode will help you build safer apps from the ground up.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/we-should-care-more-about-web-app-security

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Sometimes a customer asks you to do something that you’ve never done before - when it’s mission critical this can be nerve wracking. We’ve all Googled and researched our way to learning new skills before, however, putting them to use and into production straight away seems daunting.

- What’s your policy when it comes to implementing a critical feature for a client, when you’re brand new to the tech at hand?

- Do you disclose that you’re new at it?

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/trying-new-things-on-customer-sites

In this episode, Matt shares his “Write for Google” process — a strategic, keyword-first approach to planning SEO-friendly content. He walks through how he researches keywords, analyzes top-ranking articles, and builds heading structures that make writing feel like filling in the blanks. Matt also explains how he uses AI as a helpful second set of eyes to validate ideas and fine-tune outlines before writing begins.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/write-less-rank-more-my-fill-in-the-blank-seo-method

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