In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson and Adam Rackis talk with Abdel Sghiouar, Cloud Developer Advocate at Google, Kubernetes Podcast co-host, and CNCF Ambassador. Abdel shares insights from his global tech journey, from Morocco to Google's largest data center in Belgium, and now Sweden. They discuss cloud computing trends, including WebAssembly, AI-driven serverless workloads, and the shifting lines between frontend and backend. They also explore AI’s impact on cloud development, from simplifying tooling to raising questions about job automation. Abdel offers a pragmatic take on AI’s role, emphasizing that those who learn to leverage it will thrive.

Key points from this episode:

📍 Twitter/X:@BoredAbdel

📍 LinkedIn:Abdellfetah Sghiouar

📍 Kubernetes Podcast:kubernetespodcast.com

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Mariano Cocirio, Staff Product Manager at Vercel, to discuss Fluid Compute, a new cloud computing model that blends the best of serverless scalability with traditional server efficiency. They explore the challenges of AI workloads in serverless environments, the high costs of idle time, and how Fluid Compute optimizes execution to reduce costs while maintaining performance. Mariano explains how this approach allows instances to handle multiple requests efficiently while still scaling to zero when not in use. The conversation also covers what developers need to consider when adopting this model, the impact on application architecture, and how to track efficiency gains using Vercel’s observability tools.Is Fluid Compute the next step in the evolution of serverless? Is it redefining cloud infrastructure altogether?

Keypoints

• Fluid Compute merges the best of servers and serverless – It combines the scalability of serverless with the efficiency and reusability of traditional servers, allowing instances to handle multiple requests while still scaling down to zero.
• AI workloads struggle with traditional serverless models – Serverless is optimized for quick, stateless functions, but AI models often require long processing times, leading to high costs for idle time. Fluid Compute solves this by dynamically managing resources.
• No major changes required for developers – Fluid Compute works like a standard Node or Python server, meaning developers don’t need to change their code significantly. The only consideration is handling shared global state, similar to a traditional server environment.
• Significant cost savings and efficiency improvements – Vercel’s observability tools show real-time reductions in compute costs, with some early adopters seeing up to 85% savings simply by enabling Fluid Compute.

Chapters

0:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome

1:08 – What is Fluid Compute? Overview and Key Features

2:08 – Why Serverless Compute Struggles with AI Workloads

4:00 – Fluid Compute: Combining Scalability and Efficiency

6:04 – Cost Savings and Real-world Impact of Fluid Compute

8:12 – Developer Experience and Implementation Considerations

10:26 – Managing Global State and Concurrency in Fluid Compute

13:09 – Observability Tools for Performance and Cost Monitoring

20:01 – Long-running Instances and Post-operation Execution

24:02 – Evolution of Compute Models: From Servers to Fluid Compute

29:08 – The Future of Fluid Compute and Web Development

30:15 – How to Enable Fluid Compute on Vercel

32:04 – Closing Remarks and Guest Social Media Info

Follow Mariano Cocirio on Social Media:Twitter:https://x.com/mcocirio

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcocirio/

Sponsored by This Dot:thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Rob Ocel talks with Mike Chen, Co-founder & CTO of Motivo, about the evolving world of web animations. Mike shares his enthusiasm for tools like Framer Motion (now Motion) and the View Transitions API, discussing how they make complex animations more accessible and intuitive. The conversation explores the practicality of animations in real-world applications, balancing user delight with business value, and avoiding unnecessary complexity. They also discuss the state of decentralized social media, with Mike sharing his thoughts on Blue Sky and its approach to user control. Finally, Mike talks about his Let's Get Technical Discord, a mentorship-focused space helping mid-level engineers sharpen their skills. Making Animations More Accessible – Mike Chen discusses how tools like - - Framer Motion (now Motion) and the View Transitions API simplify complex animations, making them easier to implement while maintaining performance.-Balancing Business Value and User Delight – The group explores when animations enhance UX versus when they become unnecessary, emphasizing the importance of practicality in real-world applications.- Decentralized Social Media Challenges – Mike shares his perspective on Blue Sky, its approach to user-controlled feeds, and the trade-offs between decentralization and usability.-The Power of Mentorship in Tech – Mike talks about his Let's Get Technical Discord, a space dedicated to helping mid-level engineers grow through in-depth discussions and guided learning.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:23 - Guest Introduction: Mike Chen from Motivo 01:05 - Technologies That Have Caught Mike's Attention 01:40 - Web Animations and Their Growing Accessibility 02:13 - Framer Motion and the View Transitions API 02:50 - The Evolution of Animation Tools 03:31 - The Role of Spring Animations in UI 04:07 - Framer Motion vs. Framer as a Platform 05:05 - Expanding Animation Tools Beyond React 05:41 - Practical Use Cases for Animations in Development 06:17 - Business Justifications for Implementing Animations 07:02 - Subtle UI Enhancements vs. Overuse of Animations 08:04 - Good Animation Practices in UX 09:16 - How Companies Like Vercel and Linear Use Animations 10:55 - The Importance of Thoughtful UI Design 12:02 - The Impact of Animation on Brand Perception 13:27 - Animation as a Way to Reduce Cognitive Load 14:45 - Social Media Shifts and Blue Sky’s Growth 16:09 - The Vision Behind Blue Sky’s Decentralization Model 18:14 - The Challenges of Building User-Controlled Feeds 19:35 - Limitations of Blue Sky’s Decentralization Approach 21:48 - Blue Sky vs. Mastodon: Usability and Adoption 24:05 - Scaling Challenges as Blue Sky Reaches 30M Users 26:43 - The Trade-offs Between Centralization and Convenience 28:59 - The Role of UI in Establishing Trust in Brands 30:27 - The Value of Mentorship in Engineering Growth 32:09 - The Struggles of Learning Without Proper Guidance 33:51 - Why Context Matters in Technical Decisions 35:15 - Where to Find Mike Online and Discord Community 36:02 - Closing Remarks and Sponsor MessageFollow Mike Chen on Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chenmike.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenhmike/Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Rob Ocel, along with co-hosts Adam Rackis and Danny Thompson, explores the sustainability of open source with Chad Whitacre, Head of Open Source at Sentry. Chad discusses the Open Source Pledge, an initiative encouraging companies to fund the open source projects they rely on. He breaks down the challenges maintainers face, the imbalance between corporate benefit and community support, and why businesses need to step up. The conversation touches on alternative funding models, the history of open source licensing, and the push to make sustainability a core part of the industry.

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Rob Ocel, Danny Thompson, Adam Rackis, and Brandon Mathis discuss the role of abstractions in software development. They explore frontend tools like React and SolidJS, backend abstractions like serverless platforms, and the importance of understanding patterns and learning through mistakes. The group also highlights emerging trends for 2025, including opportunities in platform plugins and developer marketplaces.

Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

In this Modern Web Podcast episode, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson chat with Bree Hall, developer advocate at HubSpot and content creator known as "Bytes of Bree." Bree shares her journey from front-end engineer to advocacy, offering insights on balancing travel, staying productive, and navigating the pressures of being "always on." They explore creating engaging content, short vs. long-form formats, and how to build trust with an audience. Bree also shares tips on learning, working, and sharing knowledge while staying authentic in the tech space.

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Pat Clarke, Director of Engineering at Lumen Learning, to explore the evolving state of web development. They discuss everything from the monotony of today’s web design and the rise of cookie-cutter sites to the resurgence of personal websites and the need for creativity in web experiences. Pat shares insights on balancing innovation with business goals, the complexities of front-end development, and why full-stack developers may not always be the solution.

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Danny Thompson sits down with David Mytton, founder and CEO of Arcjet and creator of the console.dev DevTools newsletter. They explore what makes a truly successful developer tool, the importance of great documentation, and how Arcjet is redefining "security as code" for modern applications. David shares insights into open-source strategies, balancing speed and innovation in startups, and the evolving role of AI in developer tools.

Chapters

0:00 - 1:41 Episode Introduction

1:42 - 2:55 David Mitten’s Background & Dev Tools Expertise

2:56 - 4:17 The Importance of Great Documentation

4:18 - 6:43 Challenges in Keeping Documentation Updated

6:44 - 9:20 Simplistic vs. Over-Stylized Docs

9:21 - 11:19 Why Arcjet Stands Out

11:20 - 13:01 Developer Security & Perceptions

13:02 - 15:07 Layered Security & Best Practices

15:08 - 16:46 Encouraging Developers to Prioritize Security

16:47 - 18:48 Dependency Management Challenges

18:49 - 20:30 Evolving Dev Tools Over Time

20:31 - 22:54 Modern Code Editors & Terminal Innovation

22:55 - 25:41 AI’s Role in Dev Tools

25:42 - 27:08 Benchmark Reliability in Dev Tools

27:09 - 30:57 Open Source Contributions & Strategy

30:58 - 32:54 Shipping Fast as a Small Team

32:55 - 34:06 Closing Remarks

Follow David Mytton on Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/davidmytton

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmytton/

Website: https://davidmytton.blog/

Github: https://github.com/davidmytton

Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co

Dive deep into the fascinating world of SQLite and Turso with Gláuber Costa, the founder and CEO of Turso, as he shares insights into the evolution of modern database technologies. Hosted by Danny Thompson and Adam Rakus on the Modern Web Podcast, this episode unpacks SQLite's growing popularity, Turso's innovative managed database services, and how local-first architectures are changing the database landscape. From syncing databases to leveraging SQLite for offline use, discover how these advancements empower developers to build faster, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. Tune in to learn about Turso’s unique approach, real-world use cases, and the future of databases in edge computing and mobile applications.

- SQLite’s resurgence and why it’s trending in modern architectures

In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, host Danny Thompson interviews Ryan Carniato, creator of SolidJS, about the evolving relationship between client and server technologies in web development. They explore the history of server-side rendering, single-page applications, and how SolidJS bridges these worlds with innovations like single-flight mutations, which cut down on server-client round trips for better performance. Ryan also shares his vision for the future of reactive systems, focusing on async models and proxy-based stores that enable precise state updates with minimal re-renders.

Chapters

0:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome

1:52 – Challenges of Client and Server Models in Modern Web

4:05 – Importance of Page Load Time and SEO

6:00 – Balancing Client-Server Interactions in Frameworks

9:03 – Exploring React Server Components and Astro Islands

12:00 – Single Page Apps and Data Serialization Challenges

16:02 – Understanding the Cost Triangle of Modern Frameworks

20:02 – The Router Approach in Solid and Its Benefits

27:00 – Framework Opinionation and Flexibility in Ecosystems

35:03 – Vendor Lock-in Trends and React’s Evolution

43:04 – Single Flight Mutations: Concept and Benefits

46:05 – Current Work: Reactivity and Signals in Solid

52:00 – Exploring Mutable Reactivity and Performance Gains

57:02 – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts