July 1st, 2026 × #WebDev#AI#JavaScript#Podcast
We need to stop calling it “AI”
Wes and Scott answer Potluck questions on why Shadcn copies code into your repo, why PNPM beats NPM, how web standards actually get made, and why design systems ignore dialog and popover. Plus Stack Overflow nostalgia, the AI vs LLM debate, advice for beginners in the AI era, and a scary fake job interview scam.
Wes Bos Host
Scott Tolinski Host
Scott and Wes raid the listener mailbag to settle the pnpm vs. npm debate, decode how web standards sneak into your browser, and ask the big one: is "AI" even intelligent, or just fancy autocomplete? Plus Stack Overflow nostalgia, the Shadcn head-scratcher, and why big design systems are sleeping on modern HTML.
Show Notes
- 00:00 Intro
- 00:44 Welcome to Syntax!
- 01:51 Exploring CSS Component Approaches
- 07:30 Brought to you by Sentry
- 08:09 The Advantages of PNPM over NPM
- 12:31 Nostalgia and Growth through Stack Overflow
- Wes’ Stack Overflow
- Scott’s Stack Overflow
- 19:13 The Evolution of Podcasting and Video Content
- 23:34 Understanding the Proposal Process for Web Standards
- TC39 Process
- TC39 Active proposals
- Stage 3 examples
- CSS Working Group Issues
- CSS Specifications
- CSS Agenda+
- Chrome Platform Status
- Mozilla Standards Positions
- WebKit Standards Positions
- Web Platform Tests
- HTML Issues
- HTML pull requests
- HTML Living Standards
- TypeScript Issues
- TypeScript pull requests
- TypeScript Iteration Plans
- TypeScript blog
- Node Issues
- Node pull requests
- Node recent releases
- Node release schedule
- 28:25 Understanding AI: The Misconception of Intelligence
- 33:26 The Role of Modern Web Features in Design Systems
- 39:20 Navigating AI in Software Development: Two Camps of Engineers
- 47:05 The Importance of Fundamentals in the Age of AI
- 49:15 Scams in the Tech Industry: A Cautionary Tale
- 53:34 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs
Sick Picks
- Scott:Warhammer 40000 minitures
- Wes: Baby gate
Hit us up on Socials!
Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads
