Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

Wes, Scott, and CJ talk about Vite+, a unified JavaScript toolchain that combines linting, formatting, task running, monorepos, and more. They break down its evolution, open-source shift, performance gains, Node version management, and whether it can realistically replace today’s fragmented dev tooling.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

00:54 What Vite+ is and what’s changed since launch

03:43 Why the ecosystem needs Vite+

06:41 What Vite+ actually does for your workflow

10:18 Built-in Node version management

12:32 Type-aware linting with tsgolint and oxc

15:27 Brought to you by Sentry.io

16:28 Should config live inside vite.config?

22:56 Monorepos and task running in Vite+

26:28 Task caching and faster builds

29:01 Final thoughts and current limitations

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

Scott and Wes dig into the latest State of JS survey results, breaking down which JavaScript libraries, frameworks, and tools are rising, falling, or holding steady in the ever-shifting JS ecosystem. From front-end frameworks and meta-framework pain points to JavaScript runtimes, hosting services, and the growing role of AI tools in developer workflows, this one’s packed with takes, tier lists, and plenty of opinions.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

01:06 JavaScript Features, not overly interesting.

02:15 JavaScript Libraries popularity and usage over time.

07:52 Library Tier List.

10:55 Library Ratios Over Time.

13:09 Other Front-End Frameworks.

15:24 Meta-framework Ratios Over Time.

19:34 Meta-Framework Pain Points.

21:57 Backend Frameworks.

npm Trends express-vs-hono.

25:14 LLM Stack Suggestions.

27:54 Brought to you by Sentry.io.

30:37 Testing Frameworks.

33:15 Libraries Other Tools.

37:20 Utilities.

npm Trends biome-vs-oxlint

40:53 JavaScript Runtimes.

45:04 Hosting Services.

51:39 AI Tools.

54:16 AI Code Generation.

55:04 Awards.

01:00:19 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs.

Sick Picks

Scott: Anker MagSafe Charger Stand

Wes: Battery-powered Heat Gun

Shameless Plugs

Scott: Syntax on YouTube

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

Wes and Scott talk with Steve Faulkner about vinext, a Vite-powered Next.js fork. They dive into AI coding workflows, agent browsers, code quality, and what modern dev tooling looks like in an AI-first world.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

02:01 Knowing how to use AI

02:31 The idea behind “slop fork”

vinext

How we rebuilt Next.js with AI in one week

06:27 How to approach a project like this

Super Whisper

07:53 Using markdown as a planning and thinking tool

12:35 Steve’s OpenCode setup

14:31 What agent browsers are and how they work

agent-browser

15:34 Where agent browsers fall short

19:02 Why agents work best with tight feedback loops

21:23 Dealing with poor code quality from AI

23:54 Brought to you by Sentry.io

24:19 Searching for a reliable AI workflow

25:54 What about security?

28:46 When it makes sense to port a framework vs switch

32:03 What an AI-first programming language might look like

33:16 TypeScript in an AI-driven workflow

35:36 Cloudflare and improving developer experience

38:10 Being excited and uneasy about where AI is heading

39:06 Which industries AI disrupts next

41:29 Sick picks + shameless plugs

Sick Picks

Steve: IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX

Shameless Plugs

Steve: vinext

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

Scott and Wes break down the world of remote coding agents — what they are, why you’d want one, and all the different ways you can run them, from Cursor Cloud and Claude Code to an old laptop sitting on your floor. They cover real-world use cases, environment setup, API key management, and the wild variety of interfaces that let agents work while you sleep.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

03:14 Introduction to Remote Coding Agents

05:32 Practical Examples of Remote Agents

05:34 Website data grunt work.

07:48 Research assistant

08:57 Travel agent… agent

09:57 Where and When Remote Agents Run

10:43 Brought to you by Sentry.io

13:31 Where Remote Agents Run

19:14 CLI and User Interfaces for Remote Agents

24:53 Remote Development Environments

31:21 DIY Agents and Custom Solutions

36:09 The environment

38:08 Managing API Keys and Access

41:02 Web search

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

In this potluck episode, Wes and Scott answer your questions about popover navigation patterns, the Vibrate API on iOS, whether code quality still matters in the AI era, Wes’s evolving Obsidian second-brain setup, where to start with modern full-stack JavaScript, and more!

Show Notes


00:00 Welcome to Syntax!


01:02 Using display none with popover and hamburger navigation


03:37 Vercel on iOS and experimenting with the Vibrate API


05:47 Does code quality still matter in the AI age?


11:08 Wes’ second brain update and Obsidian workflow

QMD


19:57 Brought to you by Sentry.io


20:21 Supporting older browsers and missing out on modern web features


23:32 iPad browsing quirks and dealing with outdated Safari


28:26 What to do when you encounter a badly built or inaccessible website


33:37 Is the Effect TypeScript library worth the learning curve?


37:04 Where to start with modern full-stack JavaScript


43:39 Are column grid frameworks still relevant with modern CSS?

Graffiti


49:54 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Scott: AVerMedia Video Capture Card

Wes: Power Bar Extension Cord

Shameless Plugs

Phases Podcast

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads