933: Hackweek Overview - What Is It, What Did We Build
It’s Hackweek at Syntax! Scott, Wes, and CJ break down what Hackweek is all about - how they picked their projects, what came out of them, and why it’s the best excuse to experiment, build, and have fun before the deep-dive episodes roll in.
Show Notes
00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:04 What is Hackweek?
01:05 Hackweek projects spark motivation.
04:05 Choosing our projects.
04:34 What we chose.
05:11 CJ’s Hackweek Project.
05:51 Using SGDK C language toolkit.
07:02 Writing to an Everdrive.
08:09 What game engine did you use?
Platformer Engine.
LDtk.
12:11 What was the end result?
14:09 Wes’ Hackweek Project.
16:15 Why hardware projects?
Watch the Video Here.
19:09 Scott’s Hackweek Project.
Watch the Video Here.
21:42 Early considerations.
25:42 AI usage.
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Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
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32:05
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32:05
932: Vibe Coding’s Huge Problem
Wes and Scott talk about the dangers of vibe coding when it comes to authentication and access control. They share real-world examples of security fails, discuss how to avoid client-side-only checks, and offer practical tips for protecting sensitive user data in your apps.
Show Notes
00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
We build the world’s most painful CAPTCHAs (Kitboga scammers)
02:08 Brought to you by Sentry.io
02:33 Wes’ vibe coding experience
Wes’ app
04:38 The Tea app disaster
Tea app
07:45 Don’t vibe code access control
Better Auth with Better Auth
09:38 Let in, don’t lock down
11:23 Server vs. client-side code
13:46 Visualize access control
15:30 Automate tests
17:00 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs
Sick Picks
Scott: A City on Mars
Wes: Hotel Collection Essential Oils
Shameless Plugs
Syntax YouTube Channel
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Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
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22:57
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22:57
931: Project Init - How to Make Good Choices When Starting a New Coding Project
Scott and Wes dive into the fundamentals of project initialization and planning, from outlining ideas and choosing the right tools to making smart technology decisions. They also chat about leveraging AI and collaboration to shape better projects before rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.
Show Notes
00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
02:12 Brought to you by Sentry.io.
04:03 Make a plan.
04:06 Start with an outline and let it evolve.
05:59 Mind-Mapping software vs plain text.
08:49 Utilizing LLMs for alternative perspectives.
09:58 Utilizing humans for alternative perspectives.
11:17 Making technology choices.
13:24 Assessing the project’s actual needs.
13:30 Is this a long-term project?
15:43 Is this project Open Source?
16:09 Are you working in a team?
18:12 Are you prioritizing learning?
19:48 Pick technologies with proven compatibility.
20:17 Implementing AI.
20:44 Steering docs.
26:24 Get to work and break stuff.
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Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
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30:46
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30:46
930: Text Editor Keybindings, WASM Replacing Docker, LLM apathy and hosting mini apps
In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott answer your questions about VS Code vs Cursor, navigating promotions and job titles, database fundamentals, avoiding decision paralysis, how AI is shaping frameworks, and more!
Show Notes
00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:56 Brought to you by Sentry.io
06:24 Moving from VS Code to Cursor without losing your shortcuts
12:13 Should you bring up a senior promotion at a new job?
16:32 Relying on LLMs vs. learning database fundamentals
20:42 Overcoming decision paralysis in programming
25:00 What to do when your code gets too messy
27:39 Could Wasm replace Docker and Kubernetes?
32:14 Organizing mini-apps in Express: monorepo, micro frontends, or something else?
38:49 Will AI lock us into React and make new frameworks irrelevant?
46:57 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs
Sick Picks
Wes and Scott: Niimbot
Shameless Plugs
Subscribe to Syntax on YouTube
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Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
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55:37
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55:37
929: Cloudflare Blocks AI Crawlers × Debugging Local Data × Raising Kids with Healthy Digital Habits and More
Scott and Wes tackle listener questions on everything from local-first databases and AI-built CRMs to protecting APIs and raising kids with healthy digital habits. They also weigh in on Cloudflare’s AI crawler ban, portfolio critiques, and more hot takes from the dev world.
Show Notes
00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:49 Dreaming about web components.
02:55 Local-First Apps for Customer Support.
Brought to you by Sentry.io
08:17 AI-Built CRM: Portfolio or Problem?
Ben Vinegar’s Engineering Interview Strategy.
18:55 InstantDB vs. Other Local-First Databases.
21:46 Raising Kids with Healthy Digital Habits.
Porta Potty Prince on TikTok.
32:55 Cloudflare Blocks AI Crawlers. Good for Creators?
Cloudflare Pay Per Crawl.
Cloudflare No AI Crawl Without Compensation.
Chris Coyier’s Blog Response.
41:46 Protecting APIs and Obfuscating Source Code.
44:49 Will Portfolio Critiques Return?
46:45 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs.
Sick Picks
Scott: Wifi 7 Eero.
Wes: Plastic Welder
Shameless Plugs
Scott: Syntax on YouTube
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Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads
Full Stack Developers Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski dive deep into web development topics, explaining how they work and talking about their own experiences. They cover from JavaScript frameworks like React, to the latest advancements in CSS to simplifying web tooling.
Colombia