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Web apps, PWAs, and native mobile apps - how do you actually choose what to build? In this episode Matt and Mike break down the real-world tradeoffs between web apps and mobile apps, including hardware access, performance, user friction, monetization, and app store vs web distribution. From instant updates and SEO to GPU-intensive apps and background processes, we explore where each approach shines - and where it falls short. If you're building a product in 2026, this is a decision you need to get right. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/web-apps-vs-mobile-apps-choosing-the-right-path-in-2026 Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Wearables are quickly becoming the next recurring revenue stream for tech companies - but are they also becoming our next primary interface? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike break down the evolution of wearables, from smartphones to smartwatches and fitness rings, and dive deep into the emerging world of smart glasses. With devices like Meta’s Ray-Bans already offering cameras, audio, and AI integrations - and future versions potentially adding heads-up displays (HUDs) - we may be on the verge of a major shift in how we interact with technology. But where do smart glasses actually fit? Are they productivity tools, entertainment devices, or simply another niche like smartwatches? And as AI reduces our need to constantly stare at screens, could wearables become our new “always-on” interface? From digital minimalism to always-connected AI agents, this episode explores whether smart glasses are just another gadget - or the beginning of something much bigger. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/are-smart-glasses-the-next-tech-interface

2026 is shaping up to be a strange time to be an engineer. AI is evolving rapidly, competition is higher than ever, and many developers are trying to figure out how to stay relevant and valuable in an increasingly crowded field. In this episode, we break down what we think actually makes an engineer stand out today. Instead of chasing every trend or trying to learn every new framework, we focus on the skills that consistently matter: strong fundamentals, real-world problem solving, the ability to navigate messy codebases, debugging, judgment, communication, and the business side of engineering. We also talk about how AI changes the landscape - not as a replacement for engineers, but as something that requires thoughtful integration, good judgment, and practical implementation skills. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned developer trying to stay sharp, this episode is about becoming the kind of engineer teams rely on. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-engineers-stand-out-in-2026-skills-that-actually-matter-now Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.  

In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike break down the growing conversation around Project Glasswing, a new cybersecurity initiative from Anthropic. At the center of the discussion is a next-generation AI system referred to as a “Mythos-level” model - a step beyond their previous top-tier models. Instead of releasing it publicly, Anthropic is using Glasswing to test how this model interacts with real-world software systems, particularly when it comes to identifying vulnerabilities. Is Mythos too dangerous to release - or just being handled carefully? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/is-anthropics-mythos-too-dangerous-to-release

Web development isn’t just about clean code and perfect logic-it’s a deeply human process. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the creative, messy, and often unpredictable side of building websites and web apps. From client-developer back-and-forth to real-world trade-offs, shifting requirements, and the motivations behind why projects exist in the first place, this episode dives into the parts of development that aren’t written in documentation-but shape every project. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-can-write-code-but-development-is-still-human Related Episode: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/writing-code-was-never-the-bottleneck Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike dive into the surprising return of keyboard phones. With devices like the Titan 2 Elite and Clicks Communicator gaining traction, physical keyboards are suddenly back in the spotlight. But this isn’t just nostalgia. As digital minimalism grows, more people are pushing back against endless doomscrolling and touchscreen fatigue. Could keyboard phones offer a more intentional, focused mobile experience? Or is this just another short-lived trend riding on retro hype? Matt also reflects on his long-standing love of keyboard phones and whether modern smartphones have done enough to pull him away - or if the tactile typing experience still has a place in 2026. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/the-return-of-the-keyboard-phone-is-blackberry-back

Everyone online is bragging about running 50, 100, even 500 AI agents at once - but is any of that actually making the work better? In this episode Matt and Mike unpack the growing trend of “agent overload” and why more AI doesn’t always mean better results. From losing context in your codebase to creating fragile, overcomplicated systems, we explore how chasing scale with AI can quietly hurt your productivity. Instead of spinning up endless agents, the real opportunity might be slowing down and focusing - using AI to go deeper, not wider. If you’ve ever felt like your workflow is getting noisier instead of more effective, this episode is for you. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/youre-using-too-much-ai-and-its-hurting-your-work Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Microsoft says it’s listening. After years of complaints about Windows 11 - from missing features to a growing focus on AI integrations like Copilot—Microsoft has published a new blog post committing to improving the core Windows experience. But is this a real shift, or just another promise? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike break down what Microsoft actually said, what it means for developers and everyday users, and whether Windows 11 is finally getting the attention it needs. Is this the course correction Windows users have been waiting for - or is it too little, too late? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/microsoft-commits-to-fixing-windows-11

AI coding tools are evolving incredibly fast - but the user experience may not be keeping up. In this episode, Matt shares his first experience trying Codex on Windows and how a simple attempt to generate a classic Snake game quickly turned into a confusing experience filled with permission prompts, unclear setup steps, and rapidly draining usage credits. This sparks a larger discussion about whether AI development tools are moving so quickly that UX is being left behind. In this episode Matt and Mike discuss the gap between tools like ChatGPT and more advanced coding environments like Codex, why developer tools can still feel intimidating even with AI doing the coding, and how today’s AI ecosystem feels a lot like the early days of crypto - powerful but sometimes chaotic. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/trying-codex-for-the-first-time-was-confusing Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike take a look at a rare piece of good news in the tech industry - software engineering job postings are on the rise. After years of layoffs, hiring freezes, and constant speculation about AI replacing developers, this shift feels like a breath of fresh air. But how meaningful is it? Are companies actually hiring again, or are more job postings simply creating the illusion of recovery? Matt and Mike break down what this data really tells us, why job postings don’t always equal job offers, and how AI may be reshaping hiring expectations rather than eliminating roles altogether. They also discuss economic uncertainties, shrinkage in specific dev areas (ie game development), and draw comparisons to pre-pandemic job posting numbers. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/dev-job-postings-are-rising-but-is-it-enough Mentioned good news episode: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/some-good-news-for-web-developers

Are websites dead? Is SEO even worth it anymore? With AI-generated answers, Google’s AI overviews, and tools that can build entire sites in seconds, it’s easy to think the traditional web is on its way out. But is that actually what’s happening? In this episode, Matt sits down with agency owner Nat Miletic to talk about what they’re seeing firsthand in the world of web development and client work. From niche sites to WordPress to the future of organic traffic, they break down what’s changing - and what’s not. If you’re a developer, freelancer, or agency owner wondering where things are headed, this is a grounded, real-world look at the impact of AI on websites and SEO. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/are-websites-dead-agency-owner

AI tools can now write code, scaffold entire apps, and even manage parts of the development process - but if building software is easier than ever, why aren’t we seeing a flood of wildly successful new products? In this episode Matt and Mike explore the idea that writing code was never actually the biggest bottleneck in building software. Instead, the real challenges lie in figuring out what to build, who to build it for, and how to get people to actually use it. They discuss the hidden work behind successful products - including product management, marketing, stakeholder alignment, and navigating real-world complexity like infrastructure, edge cases, and legacy integrations. If AI can help us write code faster than ever, what does that mean for developers, founders, and the future of building software? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/writing-code-was-never-the-bottleneck Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

AI coding tools are evolving quickly - and the latest generation of “agentic” development tools are changing how developers interact with their codebases. In this edition of the Web News, Mike introduces Matt to Claude Code for the first time. While Matt already uses tools like ChatGPT to assist with coding, he hasn’t yet adopted the newer workflow where AI agents can plan, generate, and modify entire projects directly from the terminal. During the episode, Mike walks through a live demo of Claude Code by attempting to generate a brand-new website for the HTML All The Things podcast and blog. Along the way, they explore features like plan mode, discuss how agent-based tools approach software development, and examine how these tools compare to more familiar AI assistants. Throughout the demo, Matt reacts in real time - asking questions, challenging assumptions, and trying to understand how these modern AI development workflows actually fit into a real developer’s process. If you’ve been hearing about tools like Claude Code, Codex, or AI coding agents and wondering how they actually work in practice, this episode offers a firsthand look at the experience of using them live. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/trying-claude-code-for-the-first-time  

A lot of developers say you should learn a framework from its official documentation - but is that actually a good way to learn React when you’re still a beginner? In this episode, Matt breaks down his experience working through the official React docs, including the Quick Start guide, the Tic-Tac-Toe tutorial, and the “Thinking in React” section. Along the way, he talks about where React starts to click, where the docs shine for beginners, and why understanding project structure, state, and component hierarchy matters so much when you’re trying to move beyond vanilla JavaScript. In this episode Matt and Mike discuss whether the official React documentation is enough for beginners, how React’s learning materials compare to more guided tutorials, and what parts of the docs are especially helpful when you’re trying to build real understanding instead of just copying code. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/can-i-learn-react-using-the-official-documentation Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Working with clients is a normal part of running a web development agency - but every once in a while you encounter a client who refuses to budge, even when their approach is actively hurting their own project. In this edition of the Web News, Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan discuss one of the most frustrating realities of agency life: stubborn clients who become convinced they’ve already diagnosed the problem. Whether it’s a client insisting their website traffic issues are caused by technical SEO instead of weak content, or pushing for changes that won’t actually improve results, these situations can quickly derail projects. Matt and Mike break down why these situations happen, how developers can redirect the conversation without damaging the client relationship, and practical strategies for dealing with clients who won’t listen. If you work with clients - whether as a freelancer, agency owner, or developer inside a company - you’ve likely run into this scenario before. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/when-clients-ignore-your-advice