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

Are developers forced to choose the popular option? 

This week, Matt had the pleasure of sitting down with Colby Fayock, a content creator and Shopify engineer to discuss the difficulty of choosing tools, plugins, frameworks, and more. Typically when you want stability and support, a safe bet is a popular tool run by a large company or community. However, last year's WordPress drama had many wondering how a platform so massive had a future that suddenly seemed so uncertain. Can options other than the popular ones be a good choice sometimes?

Show notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-popular-option-w-colby-fayock

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of freelancing—a rewarding but often challenging career path for web developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts alike. As 10+ year veterans of their own web dev agency, the guys share their personal insights and experiences when freelancing. Learn how to: make the most out of freelancing platforms like GURU, build an online presence for marketing, leveraging word of mouth once established, and dig up leads in unconventional places. Whether you’re considering freelancing as a side hustle or aiming to go full-time, we’re here to share actionable tips and strategies to set you up for success.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/freelancing-for-web-development

In this episode Matt and Mike delve into the world of asynchronous JavaScript, inspired by a listener's request. The discussion covers essential concepts such as synchronous and asynchronous operations, explaining how JavaScript's single-threaded nature can lead to blocking issues. The hosts explore various methods to handle async operations, including callbacks, promises, and the increasingly popular async/await syntax. They also address practical issues like error handling and best practices for writing maintainable and performant async code. This episode is ideal for developers looking to deepen their understanding of JavaScript's asynchronous capabilities.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-is-async-javascript

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore why vanilla JavaScript remains a powerful tool for developers. From small projects that don’t need the complexity of frameworks, to performance-critical and fine-control use cases, they discuss when and why going framework-free can be the better choice. They also dive into learning and debugging benefits, reducing dependencies, and ensuring compatibility with legacy browsers. Whether you’re prototyping, enhancing no-code platforms, or striving for leaner, faster projects, vanilla JS has its place in every developer’s toolkit.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stop-using-frameworks-for-everything-vanilla-javascript-in-2025

Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy up to 45% off the Magic Mind bundle using our link: https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbjan

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of CSS, breaking down essential concepts to help developers write cleaner, more effective stylesheets. Topics include how to avoid over-specificity, the effective use of modern layout tools like Grid and Flexbox, leveraging custom properties for dynamic styling, and adopting methodologies such as BEM to ensure maintainable code. They’ll also explore the newest CSS features, such as container queries and scroll-linked animations, while highlighting how CSS can improve accessibility. Whether you’re just starting with CSS or looking to refine your skills, this episode is packed with insights to level up your stylesheets.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/stop-overcomplicating-css-master-layouts-variables-and-modern-best-practices

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Matt and Mike dive deep into the results of the State of JavaScript 2024 survey. The discussion covers various topics such as declining happiness with JavaScript frameworks, the rise of the Astro framework, and the increasing shift towards TypeScript. Additional discussions include the use of AI for code generation and some new JavaScript features that developers are excited about. The guys also discussed the complexities and evolving nature of web development, and whether the modern JavaScript learning curve is sustainable for aspiring junior developers.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-is-everyone-unhappy-with-javascript-state-of-javascript-2024-survey

Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy up to 45% off the Magic Mind bundle using our link: https://magicmind.com/htmlpodbjan

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into the world of JavaScript environments, exploring the key differences between client-side and server-side JavaScript. Whether you're a beginner curious about how JavaScript works across the browser and the server, or an experienced developer looking for a refresher, this episode has you covered. Learn about the unique roles of client-side and server-side JavaScript, their common use cases, and when to use each. Plus, discover the latest trends like serverless environments, JAMstack, and exciting tools like Astro and Deno. Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of JavaScript's dual nature!

‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/client-side-vs-server-side-javascript

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Matt and Mike take a look back at 2024, reflecting on the milestones and challenges of the past year. From tackling tough web development topics to experimenting with new strategies, it’s been a year of growth and learning for the podcast and its community.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/2024-year-in-review-looking-towards-2025

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio

Holidays are a time to recharge, but for web developers, they can sometimes feel like an extension of the workweek. In this episode, Matt and Mike share strategies to set boundaries, avoid burnout, and truly disconnect during the holiday season. They also cover pre-holiday planning tips, ways to make the most of your time off, and how to start the new year with realistic expectations. Whether you're a freelancer or part of a team, these tips will help you balance work and rest this holiday season.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/how-to-actually-enjoy-the-holidays-as-a-web-developer

In this episode of the HTML All The Things Podcast, Matt and Mike dive into why good HTML practices are essential for building better, more accessible, and maintainable websites. They kick things off by explaining the importance of semantic HTML for readability, SEO, and accessibility—covering useful tags like

Matt and Mike also discuss how developers can properly create and use custom attributes—like data-* attributes—to store extra information cleanly without relying on fragile class naming conventions. Finally, they emphasize HTML's critical role in accessibility, highlighting best practices such as using ARIA attributes appropriately and providing meaningful alt text for images.

To cap off the episode, the hosts share some lighthearted updates about their holiday plans and give a shout-out to this episode’s sponsor, Magic Mind.

Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode, enjoy 20% off one-time purchases and subscription using our link and code (Link: https://magicmind.com/HTMLPOD20 Code: HTMLPOD20)

Thanks to Wix Studio for sponsoring this episode! Check out Wix Studio, the web platform tailored to designers, developers, and marketers via this link: https://www.wix.com/studio