JavaScript Jabber

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Matteo Collina—chair of the Node.js project and founder of Platformatic—for a deep, no-fluff conversation about Node.js performance in the real world. We dug into what actually happens when you run Node at scale, especially with server-side rendering, Kubernetes, and modern frameworks like Next.js.

We also challenged some popular assumptions—like whether newer runtimes automatically mean better performance—and explored how benchmarking, flame graphs, and smarter scheduling can completely change the reliability of production systems. If you’re running Node in Kubernetes, doing SSR, or trying to squeeze more performance out of your backend, this episode will definitely make you rethink your stack.

Links & ResourcesPlatformatic – https://platformatic.dev
Watt Application Server (WattPM) – https://www.npmjs.com/package/wattpm
Node.js Core Web Vitals (CrUX Dataset) – https://developer.chrome.com/docs/crux
Matteo Collina on X (Twitter) – https://twitter.com/matteocollina
NodeLand Newsletter – https://nodeland.dev

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It’s great to be back behind the mic! In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I’m joined by Dan Shapir and our guest Jack Harrington from Netlify and TanStack for a wide-ranging, high-energy conversation that covers everything from modern frontend architecture to AI tooling—and a few entertaining detours along the way.

We dig into what’s new and exciting in the TanStack ecosystem, including TanStack Start and TanStack AI, and explore how these tools rethink the balance between frontend-first development and server-side capabilities. Along the way, we unpack React Server Components, AI SDKs, agentic workflows, and how developers can realistically use AI today without losing their minds—or their context windows.

Links & ResourcesTanStack – https://tanstack.com
TanStack Start – https://tanstack.com/start
TanStack AI – https://tanstack.com/ai
Netlify – https://www.netlify.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Shruti Kapoor, independent content creator and longtime React educator, to dig into what’s actually new — and worth getting excited about — in React 19.2. While it may sound like a “minor” release on paper, this update delivers some genuinely powerful improvements that can change how we build and reason about React apps.

We talked through React Compiler finally becoming stable, how the new Activity component can dramatically simplify state management and UX, what View Transitions mean for animations, and why new tooling like Performance Tracks in Chrome DevTools is such a big deal for debugging. If you care about performance, async React, or writing less code with better results, this one’s for you.

Links & Resources
Shruti Kapoor’s YouTube Channel (React, AI, Web Dev):
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@shrutikapoor08
React 19 & 19.2 Documentation:
👉 https://react.dev
CodeRabbit (AI Code Review Tool):
👉 https://coderabbit.ai

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

AI is writing more of our code than ever before—but should we actually trust it? In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, I sat down with Itamar Friedman from Qodo (formerly Quoto) to dig into one of the biggest questions developers are wrestling with right now: What happens when AI is generating code, reviewing code, and shaping how we ship software?

We explore where AI fits into modern code review, whether developers should be worried about job security, and how human responsibility still plays a critical role—even in an AI-powered workflow. From guardrails and quality standards to the future of agent-driven development, this conversation goes beyond hype and gets into what’s actually working today (and what still needs a human in the loop).

AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s changing how we build, review, and take ownership of software. If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to rate, follow, share, and review JavaScript Jabber. It really helps the show, and it helps more developers join the conversation. Thanks for listening—and we’ll see you next time!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, Steve Edwards and I kick things off by catching up on life — from winter weather and marathon training to health journeys, CrossFit, and some behind-the-scenes personal stories that shaped how we think about wellness and longevity. After warming up, we shift our focus to the state of the tech job market, something both of us have been watching closely and experiencing firsthand.

We dive into the challenges developers are facing today — especially juniors — and compare our hiring and job-hunting experiences, the impact of AI on resumes and screening, the slowdown in bootcamps, and why the industry feels different than it did even a few years ago. We also unpack economics, incentives, and business realities affecting hiring, plus what developers should be doing right now to stand out.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.