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.
Enhancing Your Playwright Workflow: A Guide to the VSCode Extension
An introduction to the Playwright VSCode extension - a powerful tool that can streamline your end-to-end testing workflow. From installation and setup to running tests and debugging, learn how this extension can enhance your Playwright experience....
Sep 6, 2024
5 mins
How to Invest in New Software Engineering Talent with Shashi Lo
"In this Modern Web Podcast episode, Shashi Lo, Senior UX Engineer at Microsoft, shares insights on mentoring junior developers, bridging the gap from boot camps to tech jobs, & the role of mentorship, code reviews, and onboarding in nurturing new talent."...
Sep 5, 2024
2 mins
Integrating AI Models Locally with Next.js ft. Jesus Padron
Jesus Padron from This Dot demonstrates how to integrate AI into a Next.js app with Meta's Llama 3.1, and OpenAI's Whisper and TTS models. By the end, you'll learn to build an AI voice assistant that processes and responds to voice input....
Sep 3, 2024
1 min
Challenges of Growing into a Software Leadership Role with Gant Laborde
In this episode, Rob Ocel sits down with Gant Laborde, CIO at Infinite Red, to explore Gant's journey in the tech industry, his transition into leadership, and his role as a Chief Innovation Officer. Gant shares insights into the challenges and rewards of innovation within a company, how to manage upward and downward effectively, and the importance of trust in leadership. They also discuss the evolving landscape of AI, the significance of experimentation, and the courage needed to make bold decisions. Chapters Introduction and Opening Remarks - 00:00 Gant's Background and Journey in Tech - 02:05 Transitioning to Leadership at Infinite Red - 05:08 Defining Innovation at an Agency - 07:28 The Role of AI in React Native - 09:39 Navigating the Hype and Troughs of Technology - 11:35 The Challenges of Middle Management - 15:12 Building Trust and Managing Upwards - 16:25 Empowering Teams and Passing the Torch - 19:40 Developing Courage and Taking Risks - 22:30 Why Leadership is Worth It - 30:28 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up - 31:53 Follow Gant Laborde on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/GantLaborde Github: https://github.com/GantMan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gant-laborde/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@gantlaborde...
Aug 30, 2024
1 min
D1 SQLite: Schema, migrations and seeds
Learn about Cloudflare D1, a distributed SQLite database for Cloudflare Workers, and the basics of setting up a new project without using an ORM....
Aug 30, 2024
5 mins
Gen UI, Astra DB, & Vercel’s AI SDK for User Friendly Apps: A Demo by Tejas Kumar
Join Tracy Lee and Mark Shenouda in this JS Drop episode as they discuss AI and GenUI with Tejas Kumar. Learn how to use DataStax Astra DB, Vercel AI SDK, and other cutting-edge tools to build smarter, more dynamic applications. This session covers everything from vector searches to generating interactive React components, offering practical tips and hands-on demos for developers. Chapters [00:00:00] Introduction to JS Drop [00:02:30] Tejas Kumar’s AI Presentation Overview [00:05:00] Demo: Traditional Keyword Search vs. AI Search [00:09:30] Building AI-Driven Search with DataStax Astra and Vercel AI SDK [00:16:00] Generating React Components with AI [00:24:30] Exploring Advanced AI Tools: WebSim and Beyond [00:32:00] Connecting DataStax Astra with AI Models [00:39:00] Best Practices for AI-Powered Development [00:45:00] Q&A and Final Thoughts Follow Tejas on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/TejasKumar_ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasq/ Github: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasq/ ConTejas Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEJpU2pV0Lie1VWU1unMg_7FRQ1gqFmAZ...
Aug 29, 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
Understanding Effects In SolidJS
In SolidJS, effects are a fundamental concept that helps developers manage side effects and reactive dependencies within their applications....
Aug 23, 2024
3 mins
Optimizing React Components with the React Compiler in V18
Jesse Tomchak shows viewers how to use the new React compiler to automate memoization and useCallback to optimize React components....
Aug 23, 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
Kent C. Dodds on Why he Traded Angular for React, Launching EpicWeb.dev, + What’s Next for EpicReact.dev
Kent C. Dodds joins Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel at THAT Conference-WI for a discussion about his journey from being an Angular developer to becoming a leading figure in the React community. Kent shares his motivations for making the switch, detailing how...
Aug 14, 2024
2 mins
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