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HTML All The Things - Web Development, AI, and Developer Careers

Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan

HTML All The Things is a podcast for developers navigating the modern web industry.

Hosted by web development agency owners Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan, the show explores web development, AI-driven industry shifts, and the realities of building a sustainable career in tech.

Matt and Mike discuss foundational technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript along with modern tools and frameworks such as Svelte, Vue, WordPress, React, and Tailwind. But beyond the code, the show also dives into freelancing, running a web agency, dealing with clients, and how developers can stay competitive as the industry evolves.

If you're a developer who wants to sharpen your technical skills, understand where the industry is heading, and build long-term leverage in your career or business, this podcast is for you.

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26 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 45 min
English

Episodes 26

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#512
Yesterday · 53 min
Don't Just Vibe Code, Learn While You Code
AI coding tools can generate huge amounts of functional code in seconds, but does that mean developers no longer need to learn how to code? In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss how aspiring and junior developers can use AI coding agents as both builders and tutors - following their curiosity, learning the concepts behind generated code, and deciding how much manual coding knowledge they actually need to retain. They also explore the growing challenge of balancing traditional programming skills with agentic coding skills, especially when preparing for developer jobs and technical interviews. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/dont-just-vibe-code-learn-while-you-code Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#511
Saturday · 32 min
Does AGI Actually Matter to You?
GPT-6 Astra is here, bringing another huge jump in AI capabilities - and once again raising the question: are we approaching AGI? But defining artificial general intelligence gets messy fast. If AGI means matching or exceeding humans across virtually any cognitive task, how do you actually test that? And as new benchmarks appear, are we discovering better ways to measure intelligence or simply moving the goalposts? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss what AGI means from a regular user's perspective, why benchmark scores don't necessarily tell the whole story, and whether the label even matters if AI can already handle increasingly complex real-world work. For most of us, the question may be much simpler: does the AI actually do what we need it to do? ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/does-agi-actually-matter-to-you
#510
September 1 · 56 min
AI Agent Skills Explained: What They Are and Which Ones to Use
Most of us repeatedly teach our AI coding agents the same lessons: ask questions before coding, write a specification, break the work into tickets, test everything, and review the result. Agent skills let us package those instructions into reusable workflows that an agent can load whenever they become relevant. In this episode, Matt and Mike explain what agent skills are, how they differ from prompts, project rules, tools, MCP servers, and custom GPTs, and why they can make AI-assisted development more consistent. They also explore Matt Pocock’s engineering skills - including grill-with-docs, wayfinder, to-spec, to-tickets, implement, code-review, and handoff - and discuss why installing too many overlapping skills can make an agent worse instead of better. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-agent-skills-explained-what-they-are-and-which-ones-to-use Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#509
August 29 · 21 min
AI Lets Me Game More - and Work Better
AI agents can handle tasks independently for minutes at a time - but what should you do while you wait? Start more work, run additional agents, or finally take a break? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss how AI has unexpectedly created more opportunities for short retro-gaming sessions during the workday. They explore why playing a low-stakes Game Boy game can be more restorative than doomscrolling, how stepping away can improve your review of AI-generated work, and why running too many agents eventually turns your own brain into the bottleneck. AI may help us accomplish more, but does every minute it saves need to be filled with additional work? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-lets-me-game-more-and-work-better
#508
August 25 · 56 min
How to Design Websites for Small Businesses
A small business website doesn’t always need a fully custom design. In fact, spending too much time on bespoke visuals can waste the client’s budget without helping the business achieve its goals. In this episode, Matt and Mike explain how freelancers and agencies can choose the web design services they want to offer, determine how much design a client actually needs, and translate business requirements into an effective website. They compare fully custom designs, versatile themes, pre-made websites, and rebuilds on modern platforms. They also discuss managing client wishlists, gathering brand assets, working outside your comfort zone, and using AI to create more customized designs without reinventing everything from scratch. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-to-design-websites-for-small-businesses Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#507
August 22 · 24 min
Are Tech Leaks Real - or Just Marketing?
Leaks have become an unavoidable part of following technology and entertainment. Unreleased phones appear online months before their announcements, unfinished games are shown without context, and spoilers can surface in your feed whether you searched for them or not. In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss the recent leak of alleged GTA VI gameplay footage and whether leaking a game is ever a reasonable form of protest. They also explore why unfinished footage can create a misleading impression, how leaks take control away from the people presenting a product, and whether some suspiciously polished tech leaks might actually be intentional marketing. Have leaks made product launches less exciting - or do you enjoy seeing everything as early as possible? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/are-tech-leaks-real-or-just-marketing
#506
August 18 · 43 min
How to Become a GTM Engineer: A New Career Path for Developers
Developer job titles are changing, and GTM Engineer is one of the fastest-growing roles at the intersection of software, data, automation, AI, and revenue. Instead of building only for product or internal engineering teams, GTM Engineers help companies find, convert, retain, and expand customers through better systems and smarter workflows. In this episode, Matt and Mike explain what GTM Engineers actually do, why being closer to revenue can make an engineer's value easier to demonstrate, and how developers can move toward this work without starting their careers over. They discuss lead scoring, CRM integrations, customer-usage alerts, sales automation, portfolio projects, resume positioning, customer calls, and the importance of documenting measurable business impact. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-to-become-a-gtm-engineer-a-new-career-path-for-developers Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#505
August 15 · 32 min
Developers Are Exhausted by AI Coding
After using AI coding tools professionally and personally, Brett Codes says he is done. His viral video and blog post describe feeling detached from his work, less engaged with programming, and increasingly anxious about the future of his career. This anxious feeling is common in tech and software engineering spaces today as LLMs invade what was once a complex and manual job that required dedication and practice to learn. Matt and Mike discuss why that story resonates with exhausted developers, the pressure companies place on teams to adopt AI, whether opting out is realistic, and what happens if hand-written code becomes a niche craft. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/developers-are-exhausted-by-ai-coding Brett Codes' YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZU3j4GQ4K8 Brett Codes' Blog Post: https://brettcodes.com/im-done-using-ai/
#504
August 11 · 52 min
Small Business Websites Need to Do More Than Exist
Small-business websites used to have a straightforward job: explain who you are, what you offer, and how customers can contact you. Then search became a major source of discovery, and businesses added keyword-focused pages, blogs, technical SEO, and local listings. Now AI Overviews and zero-click search are changing the equation again. Does that mean blogs and traditional websites are dead? Matt and Mike argue that they are still essential - but they are no longer the whole strategy. In this episode, they break the modern small-business website into three layers: a trustworthy digital brochure, a discovery engine, and a useful tool. They explore how calculators, product selectors, rankings, schedules, availability checkers, and other “micro-app” pages can give real customers a reason to visit, return, and take action. They also explain why businesses should preserve existing content and link equity, measure what works, and build the new layer gradually instead of throwing everything out. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/small-business-websites-need-to-do-more-than-exist Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#503
August 8 · 18 min
Can Company Mission Compete With a $100 Million Paycheck?
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei reportedly worries that some new hires are joining the company for the paycheck rather than its AI safety mission. But with competitors offering top researchers compensation packages reportedly reaching nine figures, is choosing the money really surprising? In this edition of theWeb News, Matt and Mike discuss the escalating AI talent war, whether company culture can compete with life-changing compensation, and why years of layoffs have made workers less willing to put an employer’s mission ahead of their own financial security. The episode is based on reporting summarized by AI Weekly, which notes that researchers are also weighing compute access, technical freedom, and influence - not compensation alone. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/can-company-mission-compete-with-a-100-million-paycheck
#502
August 4 · 49 min
From Dishwasher to Engineering Manager
Before becoming an engineering manager, Mike spent nearly two years washing dishes and another five working as a line cook. The jobs may seem completely unrelated to software development, but the lessons he learned in the kitchen continue to shape how he handles pressure, leads developers, and solves problems today. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss how early jobs outside of tech can prepare you for a career in development. They explore thriving in chaotic situations, matching people with the right responsibilities, cross-training team members, paying attention to details, and finding the motivation to keep learning. They also share how factory and kitchen work taught them what they wanted from their careers - and what they never wanted to return to. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/from-dishwasher-to-engineering-manager Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#501
August 1 · 47 min
Is AI in a Bubble? History Says It's Complicated
Every major technological revolution seems to come with the same question: is this a bubble? AI is no exception. In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike explore why so many people are comparing today's AI boom to the dot-com bubble, and what history can teach us by looking back at events like Railway Mania, the dot-com crash, and the 2008 housing crisis. Along the way, they discuss the difference between revolutionary technology and speculative investment, and whether those two things can exist at the same time. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/is-ai-in-a-bubble-history-says-its-complicated
#500
July 28 · 1 hr 17 min
How to Choose the Right CMS for Your Website
Choosing the right CMS isn't about picking the most popular platform - it's about asking the right questions. In this episode, Matt and Mike break down the framework they use before recommending a content management system for a new website. From understanding who will manage the site to evaluating budget, customization, maintenance, and long-term goals, they explain how different project requirements naturally lead to different solutions. Along the way, they discuss where platforms like WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, and headless CMSs tend to shine, common mistakes developers make when choosing a CMS, and why there isn't a single "best" option for every website. Whether you're building a client website, launching your own business, or simply trying to decide which CMS to learn next, this episode will help you make more informed decisions. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-to-choose-the-right-cms-for-your-website Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#499
July 25 · 18 min
Do You Actually Own Your Digital Games?
Do you actually own the digital games you buy? An Xbox player in Brazil successfully sued Microsoft after a hacked account left him locked out of his entire digital game library - and his other Microsoft services. The court ordered Microsoft to restore his account and compensate him, raising some interesting questions about the rights consumers have over their digital purchases. In this Web News, Matt and Mike discuss digital ownership, game preservation, account bans, DRM-free alternatives like GOG, and whether buying a digital game is really ownership - or just an indefinite rental. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/do-you-actually-own-your-digital-games
#498
July 21 · 57 min
AI Coding Makes Development Easier - So Why Are We Burning Out?
AI coding tools can make developers faster, remove tedious work, and help us build things that once felt out of reach. So why can using them still leave us feeling drained? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the complicated relationship between AI coding and developer burnout. They discuss losing the satisfaction of solving difficult problems, the mental cost of managing multiple AI workflows, whether AI-generated work still feels like your own, and why reviewing code can be more exhausting than writing it. They also share ways developers can build a healthier relationship with AI - from finding meaningful personal projects to testing strategically and creating a workflow that doesn’t require reviewing every generated line. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-coding-makes-development-easier-so-why-are-we-burning-out Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#497
July 18 · 20 min
Kimi K3 Brings Frontier AI Into the Open
Kimi K3 is a massive new open AI model with 2.8 trillion parameters, native vision and a one-million-token context window. Its creator claims it can compete near the frontier of coding, reasoning and knowledge work - but its potential goes far beyond benchmark scores. In this Web News, Matt and Mike discuss what happens when companies can operate powerful AI without depending entirely on OpenAI, Anthropic or another hosted provider. Could open models lower costs and unlock better AI products, or will their customizable guardrails create new safety and regulatory concerns? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/kimi-k3-brings-frontier-ai-into-the-open
#496
July 14 · 1 hr 6 min
JavaScript Isn't Always the Answer: Native Browser Features Every Developer Should Know
Modern browsers have evolved dramatically over the past two decades, quietly absorbing many features that once required custom JavaScript or third-party libraries. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore native browser capabilities including form validation, accordions, dialogs, popovers, lazy loading, and responsive images. Along the way, they discuss why letting the browser handle more of the work can improve accessibility, performance, maintainability, and the overall developer experience - without becoming dogmatic about JavaScript. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/javascript-isnt-always-the-answer-native-browser-features-every-developer-should-know Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.
#495
July 11 · 27 min
Growing Your App: From MVP to MLP
Should you ship your app as soon as it's functional, or keep building until users love it? In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the difference between a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and a Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), and why that distinction matters more than ever in the age of AI-assisted development. We discuss feature creep, validating ideas with real users, trusting your instincts as a founder, and how to balance shipping quickly with building something people genuinely want to use. Whether you're creating an app, SaaS, game, or startup, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on building products that solve real problems and keep users coming back. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/growing-your-app-from-mvp-to-mlp
#494
July 7 · 1 hr 8 min
How to Build an Async Remote Team That Actually Works
Remote work isn't simply about working from home - it’s about building systems that let people do their best work without constant meetings or interruptions. In this episode, Mike shares nearly a decade of experience leading asynchronous engineering teams, discussing what separates successful async companies from those that struggle. We explore why trust, written communication, documentation, and intentional collaboration matter far more than online status indicators. We also discuss hiring for self-direction, onboarding remote employees, balancing autonomy with accountability, and why async work isn't the right fit for everyone. Whether you're leading a startup, managing a remote engineering team, or hoping to land your next remote job, this episode explores what successful async work actually looks like. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-to-build-an-async-remote-team-that-actually-works Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes. We hope you enjoy!
#493
July 4 · 53 min
What Happens When Physical Games Disappear?
Sony has announced that beginning in 2028, new PlayStation games will no longer be released on physical discs. While much of the discussion has focused on digital ownership and game preservation, we explore a different question: what does the loss of physical media mean for gaming culture? From collectors and preservationists to streamer backgrounds, game stores, and shelves filled with iconic box art, physical games have become symbols of gaming itself. As the industry moves toward an all-digital future, are we losing more than just discs? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/what-happens-when-physical-games-disappear

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