This Dot Blog
This Dot provides teams with technical leaders who bring deep knowledge of the web platform. We help teams set new standards, and deliver results predictably.
The Journey To Making A New Framework: TanStack Start with Tanner Linsley
Danny Thompson, Director of Technology at This Dot Labs, talks with Tanner Linsley, Creator of TanStack, about his latest project, TanStack Start. They discuss the challenges of existing frameworks like Next.js and Remix, the development of TanStack Router, and the future of React Server Components. Tanner also explains how caching strategies and fine-grained invalidation can transform the user experience. Chapters 1. Introduction & Tanner’s Background (00:00) 2. Going Full-Time on TanStack (01:00) 3. The Birth of TanStack Router (02:21) 4. Why Build Another Framework? (04:00) 5. React Server Components: Potential & Limitations (07:05) 6. Fine-Grained Cache Invalidation & UX (09:02) 7. Parallel Data Fetching in Routing (13:39) 8. TanStack Start: Alpha & Future Plans (16:41) 9. Where to Learn More About TanStack (18:48) Find Tanner Linsley on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/tannerlinsley Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerlinsley/ Github: https://github.com/tannerlinsley TanStack: https://tanstack.com/ Sponsored by Wix Studio...
Oct 9, 2024
1 min
Exploring Angular Forms: A New Alternative with Signals
In the world of Angular, forms are essential for user interaction, whether you're crafting a simple login page or a more complex user profile interface....
Oct 4, 2024
5 mins
Why TypeScript is the Most Important Tool in Open-Source with Nick Taylor
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Nick Taylor, Senior Software Engineer at OpenSauce discusses the current state of open source, including the challenges around funding, sustainability, and contributor burnout. Nick shares insights into how open source has impacted his career and highlights the growing importance of tools like TypeScript in the open-source ecosystem. The panel also discusses the evolution of TypeScript, its widespread adoption, and its role in shaping the modern web development landscape. They explore the nuances between JavaScript and TypeScript, the friction that developers sometimes face when working with types, and how TypeScript has grown into a default tool for many projects. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Co-Host Introductions 00:47 - Guest Introduction: Nick Taylor 01:37 - The Current State of Open Source 02:50 - Funding Challenges in Open Source 03:54 - Open Source Success Stories and Funding Examples 05:35 - Open Source Burnout and Quiet Quitting in Tech 06:43 - Challenges for Open Source Maintainers 07:26 - Motivation and Incentives for Contributing to Open Source 08:35 - Career Benefits of Open Source Contributions 10:11 - Nick’s Journey into Open Source Contributions 12:38 - The Burden of Managing Popular Open Source Projects 14:27 - Hacktoberfest and Low-Quality Contributions 16:14 - Challenges for Beginners Contributing to Open Source 18:01 - The Impact of Hacktoberfest and Mitigating Spam PRs 20:12 - TypeScript's Rise in Popularity 23:16 - Why TypeScript Became Popular in Open Source 25:45 - The Debate Around Static Typing in JavaScript 27:08 - TypeScript vs. JavaScript: Future Considerations 30:21 - The Role of Build Steps in Modern Development Frameworks 33:35 - The Complexity of TypeScript for Different Developer Levels 36:12 - Enum Usage and TypeScript's Type System 38:53 - TypeScript’s Structural Typing and Its Implications 39:47 - Nick’s Contact Information and Closing Remarks Follow Nick Taylor on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/nickytonline Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickytonline/ Github: https://github.com/nickytonline...
Sep 27, 2024
2 mins
How to build an AI assistant with OpenAI, Vercel AI SDK, and Ollama with Next.js
Learn how to run Llama 3.1 locally in a Next.js app, send audio to it, and play responses back to users....
Sep 27, 2024
8 mins
The Evolution of CSS: From Early Days to Flexbox & Grid with Kevin Powell
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, CSS expert Kevin Powell discusses the evolution of CSS, from the early days of CSS3 to the rapid advancements with Flexbox, Grid, and the latest innovations. Kevin explains how CSS is making strides to integrate features that previously required JavaScript, like scroll-driven animations and popovers, simplifying development and improving performance. He also touches on the importance of understanding the fundamentals of CSS, debugging techniques, and the future of tools like Tailwind and Sass. Chapters Here are the timestamped chapters for the episode: 00:00 - Introduction and Technical Setup Issues 01:05 - Guest Introduction: Kevin Powell 02:00 - Kevin's Journey into CSS and Content Creation 03:21 - Evolution of CSS: From CSS3 to Modern Features 05:46 - The Role of JavaScript in CSS and New Features 08:08 - Popovers, Anchor Positioning, and Progressive Enhancement in CSS 10:26 - Discussion on SAS, Tailwind, and CSS Tools 12:35 - Challenges with Tailwind and Over-Componentization 14:57 - The Importance of Learning Core CSS Principles 16:56 - The "CSS is Hard" Memes and Overcoming CSS Frustration 19:12 - Formatting Contexts and Advanced CSS Concepts 21:31 - Opportunities for Junior Developers to Master CSS 23:54 - Browser Discrepancies and the Future of Web Standards 26:14 - Refactoring CSS for Performance and Best Practices 27:50 - Favorite CSS Resources and Conferences 28:26 - Imposter Syndrome and Kevin's Speaking Journey 29:55 - Closing Remarks and Where to Find Kevin Powell Online Follow Kevin Powell on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/KevinJPowell Github: https://github.com/kevin-powell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kevinpowell Sponsored by This Dot....
Sep 24, 2024
2 mins
Docker: The Secret Weapon for Cloud Efficiency with Kyle Tryon
Rob Ocel, Tracy Lee, Adam Rackis, and Danny Thompson sit down with Kyle Tryon, Senior Developer Advocate at Depot, to talk all things Docker, dev containers, and modern build systems. They break down how Docker simplifies development by solving those "it works on my machine" problems, how cloud-based caching speeds up builds, and why tools like Kubernetes are becoming essential for scaling modern apps. Kyle also shares his journey from fixing laptops in retail to becoming a leading voice in the dev space, plus some great insights into how Docker and Depot are changing the game for developers everywhere. Chapters 1: Introductions (00:00 – 02:40) 2: What is Docker and Why It Matters (02:41 – 06:30) 3: Docker Files and Containers 101 (06:31 – 11:00) 4: Challenges of Environment Setup & Dev Containers (11:01 – 15:00) 5: The Power of Layer Caching in Docker (15:01 – 20:30) 6: Introduction to Depot and Cloud-Based Builds (20:31 – 25:00) 7: Optimizing Docker Builds with Depot (25:01 – 30:00) 8: Docker in the Modern Web Stack (30:01 – 35:00) 9: The Future of Cloud Builds and CI/CD Pipelines (35:01 – 40:00) 10: Final Thoughts and Where to Find More (40:01 – End) Follow Kyle Tryon on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/TechSquidTV Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-tryon/ Github: https://github.com/techsquidtv Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Sep 17, 2024
1 min
Color Theory For Software Engineers + Color Accessibility & Performance with Sarah Shook
In this Modern Web podcast episode, Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel chat with Sarah Shook, a UI/UX engineer at Hunter Industries, about her THAT Conference talk on color theory, covering RGB, HSL, hex models, & the impact of color accessibility on page performance....
Aug 27, 2024
1 min
"Do What Matters with Who Matters While It Matters" Mark Techson on Leadership
Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel sit down with Mark Thompson, aka "Mark Techson", to explore key themes around personal branding, workplace culture, and leadership. Mark shares his journey of building a strong personal brand, discussing how consistent online...
Aug 20, 2024
2 mins
Acing the Interview for Software Engineers with Anthony D. Mays
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Anthony D. Mays discusses code exercises, landing your first job, and how to succeed in interviews. He shares his personal journey to becoming a software engineer and career coach, and emphasizes the importance of not only having technical knowledge but also a strong problem-solving process. The conversation also touches on the role of senior engineers in guiding and empowering junior engineers, the interview processes at different companies, and tips for success in interviews. In this conversation, Anthony covers the interview process and how candidates can best prepare for technical interviews. emphasizing the importance of collaborative problem-solving and being authentic in interviews. They also explore the idea of secret questions and whether or not they are effective in assessing a candidate's skills. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 03:24 The Importance of Problem-Solving Process in Interviews 06:32 Guiding and Empowering Junior Engineers 10:20 Understanding Different Interview Processes 19:51 Tips for Success in Interviews 24:57 Collaborative Problem-Solving in Technical Interviews 26:26 The Effectiveness of Secret Questions 29:42 Defining the Interview Process 30:37 The Importance of Authenticity 32:30 Interviewer Training and Feedback 35:18 Selecting the Right Opportunity Follow Anthony D. Mays Social Media Twitter Linkedin Github Bluesky Download this episode here....
Aug 16, 2024
1 min
Making Seamless Page Transitions with the View Transitions API
Traditionally web applications have always had a less polished experience both functionally and visually speaking compared to native applications on mobile and other platforms....
Aug 2, 2024
4 mins
These JavaScript Tools Make Collaboration and Deployment Easier with Jack Herrington
Join Jack Herrington and Tracy Lee at CascadiaJS 2024 as they talk about content creation, experimenting with new tools, and continuous learning. They cover some of the latest in what’s going on in the Vercel, Next.js, and Deno Deploy ecosystems, and what these teams are doing to enable easy deployment and better community collaboration. Tracy and Jack's discussion highlights the lack of educational resources on advanced web development topics. This scarcity poses an opportunity for developers who want to showcase their expertise in areas like app router and React server components. By actively engaging in knowledge sharing, developers can demonstrate their deep understanding of these complex concepts and set themselves apart from the competition. Jack emphasized Vercel's role in simplifying deployment with its easy commands and Next.js integration for seamless collaboration and performance. Next.js was highlighted for its advanced features and simplified development process, including efficient routing and SEO benefits. Deno Deploy, built on Deno, offers serverless deployment without traditional infrastructure management, focusing on code writing and scalability. Throughout, the importance of community and knowledge sharing in platforms like Vercel, Next.js, and Deno Deploy was underscored, enabling developers to share, receive feedback, and stay updated with advancements. Download this episode here....
Jul 18, 2024
1 min
The History of DivOps: The Tools that Led Us to Today
In this JS Drop, Jonathan Creamer, Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, shares key insights on the history of DivOPs tooling, starting in the days before advancements like Webpack bundles. Jonathan discusses the emergence of bundlers like Webpack and the role of Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) in modern web development. Bundlers have revolutionized code organization by allowing developers to modularize their code, enhancing maintainability and scalability. ASTs enable bundlers to efficiently analyze and transform code, optimizing the development process. In the early days of web development, developers had to manually order their scripts to ensure proper dependencies. However, the introduction of tools like AMD and RequireJS transformed the landscape by enabling modular code organization. This shift empowered developers to focus on writing modular code, making their projects more manageable and adaptable to changes. Efficient code management and build automation are vital aspects of modern web development. The podcast highlights the continuous innovation in build tools such as Grunt, Gulp, Vite, and Parcel. These tools automate repetitive tasks, optimize code, and streamline the development workflow, allowing developers to save valuable time and effort....
Jul 10, 2024
1 min
Let's innovate together!
We're ready to be your trusted technical partners in your digital innovation journey.
Whether it's modernization or custom software solutions, our team of experts can guide you through best practices and how to build scalable, performant software that lasts.