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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When a client needs a mission-critical feature built with tech you’ve never touched before—what do you do? In this Web News, we talk about the pressure of learning on the fly, whether or not to disclose your inexperience, and how to navigate these high-stakes situations without losing your cool.
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.
In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into developer experience (DX) — what it is, why it matters, and how improving it can make you a better developer. They share personal stories of frustrating build processes, game-changing tools, and scripting away pain points. Whether it's speeding up deployments, eliminating unnecessary rebuilds, or embracing platforms like Vercel and PlanetScale, there's never been a better time to take your DX into your own hands.
Most coding guides are built for beginners—but what if you're already a working developer? In this episode, Matt shares his personal struggle with upgrading his coding skills after years of using no-code and low-code tools to deliver client sites. From outdated certifications to modern dev stacks, we explore how "situational developers" can navigate learning gaps, avoid repetitive beginner content, and figure out what skills actually matter next.
What happens when a real developer uses AI to build something in a language and toolset they’ve never touched before? In this episode, Matt shares the story of how he created a free, custom-coded Google News sitemap generator using Node.js, GitHub Actions, and the Webflow API—with help from AI. The catch? He had no prior experience with any of those tools.
Ever wonder what a developer really does at a tech startup? In this episode, we break down a full week—from scattered meetings and deep work to deployments, sprint planning, and handling the chaos of outages and DDoS attacks. Get a behind-the-scenes look at balancing coding, team support, and product planning in a fast-moving environment.
In this episode, Mike sits down with Anthony Shew from Turborepo to talk all things monorepos. They explore the pros and cons of monorepos versus traditional multi-repo setups, and how Turborepo compares to other tools like pnpm workspaces and Nx. Anthony shares tips on getting the most out of your monorepo, common pitfalls to avoid, and where monorepos might not be the right fit. They also dive into how AI tools like Cursor and Windsurf benefit from having full codebase context—and whether that context can become a downside. To wrap things up, Anthony gives a look at what’s next for Turborepo.
In this edition of Web News, we dive into our personal coding companions — from chill playlists and brain-boosting podcasts to TV shows that keep us motivated (or distracted 😅). Whether you're team lo-fi, true crime, or total silence, we've got takes. Plus, we explore how background content affects productivity and creativity.
In this episode, Matt and Mike explore what it takes to transition from being a developer employee to becoming a tech founder or business owner. They break down how your personal situation—time, money, dependents, and hobbies—can impact your readiness to make the leap. This isn't just about technical skill. You’ll need to think strategically, handle business admin, understand local laws, and price your services or products properly. Plus, they ask a critical question: do you actually want to own a business, or would a different job be a better fit?
Are you constantly bombarded by notifications? In this episode of Web News, Matt and Mike dive into the growing problem of digital overwhelm — from buzzing phones to nonstop pings — and how minimal phones might be the answer.
We explore distraction-free devices like the Minimal Phone and Light Phone 3, how they work, and whether switching to one could help you focus, reduce anxiety, and reclaim your time.
📱 Is it time to ditch your smartphone?
In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the 80/20 rule and how developers can use it to boost productivity, reduce burnout, and prioritize what matters—plus how AI is reshaping the rule itself.
Endless ideas, abandoned projects, and a pile of unused domain names—sound familiar? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore how developers can avoid false starts and take meaningful first steps when launching new projects. They dig into why buying a domain name might feel productive (but often isn’t), when it's actually the right move, and how jumping into real problem-solving helps build momentum and deeper focus.
In this edition of Web News, Matt and Mike discuss the rapidly evolving world of AI, and AI tooling. As web developers, the guys are no stranger to online tools that promise to do everything under the sun - but lately it feels like an infinite amount of new ones are coming out all the time due, powered by AI. Is it possible to keep up with everything that's coming out? Should you even bother trying?
In this episode, Matt and Mike talk about the current state of the dev world—layoffs, AI tools, and the unstable job market—while highlighting the real opportunities that still exist. They share actionable ways to stand out, build useful projects, network, and niche down to land work in a tough economy.
In this episode of HTML All The Things, Mike chats with William Madden, Developer Advocate at Prisma, to uncover what makes modern ORMs essential in today's development workflows. They break down what an ORM is, why developers should care, and how Prisma sets itself apart in the crowded ORM space. William also dives into the technical challenges of building an ORM, the reasoning behind Prisma’s shift from Rust binaries to TypeScript, and what’s on the horizon for the platform. Whether you’re deep in backend development or just getting started with databases, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss.
As developers and business owners, it’s easy to get stuck in the daily grind — coding, responding to emails, handling support — and forget to actually build the business. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into what it really means to work on your business instead of just in it. The guys explore strategies to avoid becoming your own overworked employee, how to delegate or automate low-leverage tasks, and the mindset shifts that help you move from operator to true owner. Inspiration for this episode came from the guys' own experience regarding their business for the past few years, where the workload from clients has overwhelmed their day-to-day, leaving strategy and business development completely stagnant.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Tom Barrasso from Cloud Phone to explore why flip phones are still relevant in 2025. They discuss the rise of digital detox, who’s using feature phones today, and how developers can still build apps for low-spec devices. From KaiOS and Cloud Phone to nostalgia and screen-time reduction—this is a deep dive into the flip phone revival and the tech powering it.
Even if you’re not "doing DevOps," understanding it can seriously level up your development career. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into why every web developer should care about DevOps practices, even at a basic level. They explore how deployment pipelines work, how Git supports safe code changes, and how you can prevent and fix production issues faster. You'll hear real-world examples showing how small habits—like writing good commit messages, checking build logs, and knowing when to rollback—can make you a better teammate and a more reliable developer. Whether you're working with GitHub Actions, Vercel, Jenkins, or another CI/CD system, this episode will help you work smarter, troubleshoot faster, and stay calm under pressure.
In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the temptation to always chase the latest and greatest in tech—whether it's new frameworks, tools, or workflows that dominate developer discourse. While the buzz can be exciting, blindly adopting bleeding-edge technology can lead to serious downsides like poor documentation, tiny communities, and unstable tools. The guys discuss how these risks affect both personal and client projects, when it's actually worth going cutting-edge, and why it's perfectly okay (and often smarter) to use tried-and-true tech. If you've ever felt FOMO seeing everyone jump to the next hot thing, this one's for you.
