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

As web developers, we often wear a lot of hats — designer, developer, project manager, client liaison, support desk, and more. But where’s the line between taking initiative and taking on too much?

In this episode, Matt and Mike dig into the slippery slope of overcommitting in web development — whether it’s a single project that’s way too big or an avalanche of client work that becomes unmanageable. They explore how this can affect your health, your business, and your ability to actually get things done.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/taking-on-too-much-responsibility-as-a-web-developer

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We all know what it’s like to be fired—but what about firing a client? In this week’s Web News, Matt and Mike explore what happens when a freelance relationship goes sour. Is it ever okay to walk away from a paying client? What if they’re disruptive, draining your time, or you’ve simply lost interest in their project? They break down when it’s appropriate to cut ties and how to do it professionally.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/is-it-ever-okay-to-fire-a-client

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In this episode, Matt and Mike dive deep into web app security by walking through a simple SaaS note-taking app and breaking down vulnerabilities at each layer—from frontend and backend to auth and hosting. With 16 billion credentials recently leaked and AI increasing attack complexity, even indie devs need to lock things down. They cover common security pitfalls like XSS, CSRF, IDOR, insecure cookies, and more—along with practical mitigations using tools like tRPC, Prisma, and Next.js. Whether you’re building solo or part of a team, this episode will help you build safer apps from the ground up.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/we-should-care-more-about-web-app-security

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Sometimes a customer asks you to do something that you’ve never done before - when it’s mission critical this can be nerve wracking. We’ve all Googled and researched our way to learning new skills before, however, putting them to use and into production straight away seems daunting.

- What’s your policy when it comes to implementing a critical feature for a client, when you’re brand new to the tech at hand?

- Do you disclose that you’re new at it?

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/trying-new-things-on-customer-sites

In this episode, Matt shares his “Write for Google” process — a strategic, keyword-first approach to planning SEO-friendly content. He walks through how he researches keywords, analyzes top-ranking articles, and builds heading structures that make writing feel like filling in the blanks. Matt also explains how he uses AI as a helpful second set of eyes to validate ideas and fine-tune outlines before writing begins.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/write-less-rank-more-my-fill-in-the-blank-seo-method

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In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into developer experience (DX) — what it is, why it matters, and how improving it can make you a better developer. They share personal stories of frustrating build processes, game-changing tools, and scripting away pain points. Whether it's speeding up deployments, eliminating unnecessary rebuilds, or embracing platforms like Vercel and PlanetScale, there's never been a better time to take your DX into your own hands.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-developer-experience-matters

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Most coding guides are built for beginners—but what if you're already a working developer? In this episode, Matt shares his personal struggle with upgrading his coding skills after years of using no-code and low-code tools to deliver client sites. From outdated certifications to modern dev stacks, we explore how "situational developers" can navigate learning gaps, avoid repetitive beginner content, and figure out what skills actually matter next.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/leveling-up-your-dev-skills-when-youre-not-a-beginner-but-feel-like-one

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What happens when a real developer uses AI to build something in a language and toolset they’ve never touched before? In this episode, Matt shares the story of how he created a free, custom-coded Google News sitemap generator using Node.js, GitHub Actions, and the Webflow API—with help from AI. The catch? He had no prior experience with any of those tools.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-happens-when-a-real-developer-starts-vibe-coding

Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.