JavaScript Jabber

This week on JavaScript Jabber, we’re joined (again!) by Val Karpov — the maintainer of Mongoose — to talk about what’s new in Mongoose 9, how async stack traces are changing the debugging game, and why AI is quietly reshaping the way we build developer tools.

We dig into stricter TypeScript support, the removal of callback-based middleware, and what it really takes to modernize a massive codebase. Then we shift gears into Mongoose Studio, a schema-aware, AI-enhanced MongoDB GUI that brings streaming query results, map visualizations, and even LLM-powered document generation into your workflow. If you’ve ever wrestled with debugging database issues or squinting at raw JSON, this episode will get your wheels turning.

We also explore Cassandra integration, vector search, Bun vs. Deno, and what AI means for the future of software engineering. There’s a lot here — especially if you’re working in Node.js, MongoDB, or building backend-heavy JavaScript apps.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Mongoose – https://mongoosejs.com
• Mongoose Studio – https://mongooseStudio.app
• ElysiaJS – https://elysiajs.com
• Todoist – https://todoist.com
• Kent C. Dodds – https://kentcdodds.com
  • https://epicai.pro
  • https://epicweb.dev
  • https://epicreact.dev
• MasteringJS – https://masteringjs.io

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In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Matteo Collina—chair of the Node.js project and founder of Platformatic—for a deep, no-fluff conversation about Node.js performance in the real world. We dug into what actually happens when you run Node at scale, especially with server-side rendering, Kubernetes, and modern frameworks like Next.js.

We also challenged some popular assumptions—like whether newer runtimes automatically mean better performance—and explored how benchmarking, flame graphs, and smarter scheduling can completely change the reliability of production systems. If you’re running Node in Kubernetes, doing SSR, or trying to squeeze more performance out of your backend, this episode will definitely make you rethink your stack.

Links & Resources

• Platformatic – https://platformatic.dev
• Watt Application Server (WattPM) – https://www.npmjs.com/package/wattpm
• Node.js Core Web Vitals (CrUX Dataset) – https://developer.chrome.com/docs/crux
• Matteo Collina on X (Twitter) – https://twitter.com/matteocollina
• NodeLand Newsletter – https://nodeland.dev

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It’s great to be back behind the mic! In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I’m joined by Dan Shapir and our guest Jack Harrington from Netlify and TanStack for a wide-ranging, high-energy conversation that covers everything from modern frontend architecture to AI tooling—and a few entertaining detours along the way.

We dig into what’s new and exciting in the TanStack ecosystem, including TanStack Start and TanStack AI, and explore how these tools rethink the balance between frontend-first development and server-side capabilities. Along the way, we unpack React Server Components, AI SDKs, agentic workflows, and how developers can realistically use AI today without losing their minds—or their context windows.

Links & Resources

• TanStack – https://tanstack.com
• TanStack Start – https://tanstack.com/start
• TanStack AI – https://tanstack.com/ai
• Netlify – https://www.netlify.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Shruti Kapoor, independent content creator and longtime React educator, to dig into what’s actually new — and worth getting excited about — in React 19.2. While it may sound like a “minor” release on paper, this update delivers some genuinely powerful improvements that can change how we build and reason about React apps.

We talked through React Compiler finally becoming stable, how the new Activity component can dramatically simplify state management and UX, what View Transitions mean for animations, and why new tooling like Performance Tracks in Chrome DevTools is such a big deal for debugging. If you care about performance, async React, or writing less code with better results, this one’s for you.

Links & Resources

• Shruti Kapoor’s YouTube Channel (React, AI, Web Dev):
  👉 https://www.youtube.com/@shrutikapoor08
• React 19 & 19.2 Documentation:
  👉 https://react.dev
• CodeRabbit (AI Code Review Tool):
  👉 https://coderabbit.ai

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

AI is writing more of our code than ever before—but should we actually trust it? In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Itamar Friedman from Qodo (formerly Quoto) to dig into one of the biggest questions developers are wrestling with right now: What happens when AI is generating code, reviewing code, and shaping how we ship software?

We explore where AI fits into modern code review, whether developers should be worried about job security, and how human responsibility still plays a critical role—even in an AI-powered workflow. From guardrails and quality standards to the future of agent-driven development, this conversation goes beyond hype and gets into what’s actually working today (and what still needs a human in the loop).

AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s changing how we build, review, and take ownership of software. If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to rate, follow, share, and review JavaScript Jabber. It really helps the show, and it helps more developers join the conversation. Thanks for listening—and we’ll see you next time!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, Steve Edwards and I kick things off by catching up on life — from winter weather and marathon training to health journeys, CrossFit, and some behind-the-scenes personal stories that shaped how we think about wellness and longevity. After warming up, we shift our focus to the state of the tech job market, something both of us have been watching closely and experiencing firsthand.

We dive into the challenges developers are facing today — especially juniors — and compare our hiring and job-hunting experiences, the impact of AI on resumes and screening, the slowdown in bootcamps, and why the industry feels different than it did even a few years ago. We also unpack economics, incentives, and business realities affecting hiring, plus what developers should be doing right now to stand out.



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In this episode, I sit down with developer and speaker Sagi Carmel to dive deep into Astro, why it’s gaining so much traction, and how it compares to frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt, Remix, and SvelteKit. We explore what makes Astro uniquely powerful — from its server-first approach and island architecture to its simplicity, speed, and ability to integrate with any front-end framework you want.

Sagi also walks me through real-world use cases, including how he built Israel’s official Census website with Astro, why scoped CSS and server components simplify the development experience, and how tools like HTMX and view transitions make web UX buttery smooth. If you’ve been curious about Astro, this conversation is a terrific deep dive into both its fundamentals and its advanced capabilities.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Astro Documentation: https://astro.build
• HTMX: https://htmx.org
• Looker (Google Cloud): https://cloud.google.com/looker
• BigQuery: https://cloud.google.com/bigquery
• Sagi Carmel on YouTube: @SagiCarmel
• Sagi Carmel on LinkedIn: Search “Sagi Carmel”

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

It feels great to finally be back on the mic after a stretch of travel, work, and general chaos, and in this episode we’re diving into a topic that’s been coming up more and more in everyday developer conversations: how to actually use AI in your JavaScript development workflow. This isn’t about adding AI features to your app — it’s about using LLMs and AI-powered tools as part of your day-to-day coding practice.

We talk through the tools we each rely on, how they’ve changed the way we write code, where they fall short, and where they can save hours of work. We also dig into the real differences between “AI-assisted coding” and “vibe coding,” the unexpected pitfalls of having AI write your tests, and the growing concerns juniors are facing in a job market that looks very different than it did just a few years ago. If you’re trying to figure out how to work with AI without losing your sanity (or your code quality), this one’s worth a listen.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

Hey everyone—it’s Steve Edwards here, and in this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I’m joined by returning guest Feross Aboukhadijeh, founder of Socket.dev, for a deep dive into the dark and fascinating world of open source supply chain security. From phishing campaigns targeting top NPM maintainers to the now-infamous Chalk library compromise, we unpack the latest wave of JavaScript package attacks and what developers can learn from them.

Feross explains how some hackers are even using AI tools like Claude and Gemini as part of their payloads—and how defenders like Socket are fighting back with AI-powered analysis of their own. We also dive into GitHub Actions vulnerabilities, the role of two-factor authentication, and the growing need for “phishing-resistant 2FA.” Whether you’re an open source maintainer or just someone who runs npm install a little too often, this episode will open your eyes to how much happens behind the scenes to keep your code safe.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Socket.dev – Protect your open source dependencies
• Feross Aboukhadijeh on X (Twitter)
• GitHub Actions Security Best Practices
• TruffleHog Blog – On secrets exposure in Git repos

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

In this solo-hosted episode, I (Steve Edwards) dive deep into the world of modern monorepos with special guest Anton Stoychev from Yotpo. Anton shares his journey from the early days of PHP and IE6 nightmares to his current work in front-end infrastructure, performance optimization, and developer tooling.

We talk about the challenges of managing dependencies, upgrading tools without breaking your codebase, and the evolution of developer experience across teams and companies. Anton also introduces Breakproof, Yotpo’s open-source monorepo template designed to make dependency management and tool upgrades painless—even when working with multiple Node.js versions, runtimes like Bun and Deno, and complex CI environments.

If you’ve ever struggled with upgrading Jest, ESLint, or TypeScript in a large monorepo, or you’re curious how to isolate dependencies to keep your codebase maintainable over time, this episode is a must-listen.

🔗 Links & Resources

• 🔧 Breakproof on GitHub: breakproof.dev
• 🧠 Yotpo LTD on GitHub: Yotpo Breakproof Base Monorepo
• 💬 Follow Anton Stoychev: stoychev.dev on BlueSky

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.