
2025 Holiday Gift Guide
The Syntax team is back with their annual 2025 Holiday Gift Guide! This festive episode is packed with recommendations for the best gadgets, tools, and accessories perfect for developers and tech enthusiasts alike. From cutting-edge devices to thoughtful kitchen essentials, there’s something for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
In addition to tech, the hosts share their favorite food and lifestyle treats, ensuring a well-rounded mix of practical and fun gift ideas. Whether you’re looking for a gift for a fellow developer or a little treat for yourself, this guide has you covered.
With their signature humor and thoughtful curation, Wes and Scott deliver a delightful and helpful episode to make your holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable. Tune in for inspiration and get ready to spread some holiday cheer!
CSS: Advanced and Obscure
In this CSS-packed episode of Syntax, Scott Tolinski and Wes Bos go head-to-head in a thrilling round of STUMP’d, testing each other’s knowledge of advanced and obscure CSS features. The duo dives into topics like shape functions, scroll snap types, and forgotten spec history, making for an engaging and informative showdown.
Listeners will discover hidden gems such as ray(), cross-fade(), and quirks like print-color adjustments, all while enjoying the rapid-fire format and entertaining banter between the hosts. Whether you’re a CSS enthusiast or just looking to expand your knowledge, this episode offers valuable insights into lesser-known aspects of CSS.
Packed with humor and technical expertise, this episode is perfect for developers wanting to explore the depths of CSS and uncover features that can bring creativity and precision to their projects.
Killer Feature of Web Components, Skills > MCP, and Streaming HTML?
In this episode of ShopTalk, Dave Rupert and Chris Coyier explore a range of intriguing topics, from the quirks of everyday life to deep technical discussions about web development trends. The episode kicks off with some lighthearted banter, including Dave's famous people blindness and a surprising cologne life hack, setting the tone for an engaging and fun conversation.
The hosts then dive into the killer feature of web components, debating their current state and potential for revolutionizing modern web development. They also discuss the relevance of Managed Cloud Providers (MCPs) and why developers should focus more on building skills rather than relying solely on platform-specific solutions. The debate extends to whether custom events should exist and their role in web development, alongside a thought-provoking discussion on the practicality and future of streaming HTML.
With their signature mix of humor and expertise, Dave and Chris provide valuable insights into the evolving world of web development while addressing both technical and philosophical questions. This episode is a must-listen for developers looking to stay informed and entertained while reflecting on the future of the web.
Should I Keep Using WordPress?
In this potluck episode of Syntax, Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski tackle listener questions on a variety of topics, offering insights and practical advice for developers. They discuss the pros and cons of paid vs. free SSL certificates, the current state of frontend development jobs, and the trade-offs of using headless WordPress for modern projects.
The hosts also dive into best practices for organizing TypeScript types, providing tips to keep your codebase clean and maintainable. Additionally, they touch on a variety of other developer concerns, making this episode a well-rounded resource for those looking to stay informed on the latest trends and challenges in web development.
Packed with actionable advice and their signature humor, this episode is a must-listen for developers navigating the evolving landscape of the tech industry, from WordPress decisions to TypeScript organization and beyond.
085 – Valdi vs React Native, Uniwind v1, WebGPU, Game Dev & AI Engineering
This week’s episode of the podcast dives into cutting-edge advancements in web and mobile development, game design, and AI engineering. The hosts compare Valdi and React Native, analyzing their performance breakthroughs and usability in modern app development. They also explore the release of Uniwind v1, a new UI tooling framework designed to simplify styling and improve developer workflows.
A key highlight of the episode is the discussion on WebGPU, a graphics innovation that’s unlocking new possibilities for building high-performance games and applications. The hosts share insights into how developers can leverage WebGPU for advanced rendering tasks and game development. Additionally, there’s a deep dive into AI-assisted game development, showcasing how AI tools are changing the landscape of game design and engineering processes.
Packed with technical insights, comparisons, and forward-looking trends, this episode is a must-listen for developers interested in performance optimization, modern UI frameworks, and the future of AI in game development. Whether you’re a web developer, game designer, or engineer, this episode provides valuable takeaways and inspiration for your next project.
SvelteKit has solved data loading
In this episode of Syntax, Scott Tolinski and Wes Bos dive into the latest advancements in SvelteKit, focusing on its new remote functions that aim to resolve the long-standing challenges of page-level data handling in Svelte applications. They explore how SvelteKit’s innovative approach to data loading streamlines common workflows, making features like queries, forms, batching, and caching more efficient and intuitive for developers.
The hosts break down the clever RPC (Remote Procedure Call) ergonomics introduced in SvelteKit, which simplify data-fetching patterns and improve developer experience. They also discuss how these updates give SvelteKit a significant edge over other frameworks, making it a strong contender in the modern web development landscape. With these improvements, SvelteKit has not only enhanced performance but also made it easier for developers to build scalable, responsive applications.
This episode is a must-listen for developers curious about SvelteKit’s evolution or those considering adopting it for their next project. With their usual mix of technical deep dives and relatable commentary, Scott and Wes provide valuable insights into how SvelteKit is solving some of the most frustrating pain points in web development.
Charts + Graphs, Vibe Coding an App, and Debating Affordances
In this lively episode of ShopTalk, Dave Rupert and Chris Coyier cover a mix of fun, creative, and technical topics that keep developers thinking outside the box. The conversation kicks off with a look at what Balatro streamers do after the game ends, diving into the unique ways streamers keep their communities engaged. The hosts also explore the growing trend of using randomness in CSS, discussing how it’s being applied to create dynamic, visually interesting designs.
Dave brings a bold new idea to the table for charts and graphs, proposing a revolutionary approach that could change how data visualizations are created and consumed. The episode also includes a follow-up discussion on Quiet UI, reflecting on its reception and potential improvements. On the creative side, Dave shares his experience with vibe coding a tennis app, explaining how he approached the project and managed to stay calm without channeling his inner John McEnroe.
Packed with humor, creativity, and insight, this episode is a refreshing mix of technical discussions and imaginative ideas. Whether you're into CSS experiments, UI design, or innovative coding projects, this episode offers plenty of inspiration for developers of all levels.
Fullstack TanStack! The Scoop with Tanner Linsley
In this special episode recorded live from GitHub Universe, Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski sit down with Tanner Linsley to discuss the latest innovations from TanStack, a suite of open-source tools for modern web development. Tanner dives into the exciting features of TanStack DB, highlighting its local-first syncing capabilities that enable offline-first applications and seamless data synchronization. The discussion also covers new ideas around routing and "magic" directives, offering fresh perspectives on improving performance and developer experience.
The trio explores the evolving landscape of server components and how they integrate with tools like TanStack. Tanner shares his insights into balancing simplicity and functionality, as well as the importance of empowering developers to build performant and scalable web applications. The episode also touches on TanStack's focus on flexibility, demonstrating how its tools can adapt to various use cases and frameworks.
Packed with technical insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and forward-thinking ideas, this episode is a must-listen for developers interested in modern web development trends. Whether you're curious about TanStack's ecosystem or looking for ways to optimize your projects with cutting-edge tools, this conversation provides plenty of inspiration and actionable advice.
Why v0 creator left Vercel to fix GitHub (GOAT Jared Palmer)
In this episode of Syntax, Scott Tolinski and Wes Bos chat with Jared Palmer, now at GitHub and formerly of Vercel, to break down the biggest announcements from GitHub Universe 2025. Jared shares insights into the future of developer workflows, highlighting GitHub's innovative use of AI-powered agents to streamline coding processes and automate repetitive tasks. The discussion also explores how GitHub is reimagining project interfaces, aiming to improve collaboration and efficiency for developers and teams.
Jared reflects on his journey from Vercel to GitHub, discussing his motivation to tackle larger challenges and contribute to tools that developers worldwide rely on daily. He dives into GitHub's vision for the future, including improvements to project management workflows and the integration of cutting-edge tools to enhance productivity. This episode offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how GitHub is shaping the future of software development.
Packed with insights about the latest trends in developer tools and workflows, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape. From AI-driven innovations to rethinking how developers interact with their tools, this conversation provides a glimpse into how GitHub is empowering the global developer community.
Steve Ruiz and tldraw
In this episode of ShopTalk, Steve Ruiz, the creator of tldraw, joins the conversation to discuss the story behind this innovative open-source drawing tool and its wide range of use cases. Steve explains how tldraw was built to provide a simple yet powerful tool for creating and sharing illustrations, diagrams, and more. He dives into the technical challenges of managing data across multiple devices and how the team has tackled them to deliver a seamless experience for users.
The discussion also covers the latest updates to the tldraw SDK, which make it easier for developers to integrate drawing capabilities into their own applications. Steve shares his vision for how developers can build on top of tldraw, highlighting the flexibility and potential of the platform for creating custom tools and creative solutions.
Finally, the episode explores tldraw’s business model and what the future holds for the company. Steve reflects on the journey so far and shares his aspirations for the platform as it continues to grow in popularity. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or just curious about innovative open-source tools, this episode is a must-listen for understanding the potential of tldraw and its impact on the creative and tech communities.