JavaScript Jabber

Charles M Wood

Stay current on JavaScript, Node, and Front-End development. Learn from experts in programming, careers, and technology every week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

  1. Running Doom in TypeScript’s Type System with Dimitri Mitropoulos - JSJ 684

    AUG 1

    Running Doom in TypeScript’s Type System with Dimitri Mitropoulos - JSJ 684

    What if I told you someone managed to run Doom inside TypeScript’s type system? Sounds insane, right? That’s exactly what our guest Dimitri Mitropoulos did—and in this episode, we dive deep into the how, the why, and the mind-bending implications of this ambitious project. From type-level programming to the philosophical limits of Turing completeness, this is an episode that pushes the boundaries of what you thought was possible in JavaScript. We talk about how the TypeScript type system evolved to become Turing-complete, how Dimitri pulled off this seemingly impossible feat, and why “Doom-complete” might just be the new gold standard for computational capability. Along the way, we touch on functional programming, generics, recursion, and even some Lambda Calculus. It’s part computer science theory, part coding madness, and 100% geeky goodness. Episode Highlights [3:05] – Dimitri explains how a simple thought experiment turned into a year-and-a-half-long obsession [8:40] – The origins and significance of Turing completeness in type systems [14:15] – Why running Doom in TypeScript is more about proving limits than just showing off [19:55] – What it means to run programs inside the type system vs. TypeScript code itself [27:10] – ASCII art as output, functional recursion for game state, and hover-over frames in your editor [35:30] – How ignorance, determination, and obsession fueled the completion of the project [45:20] – Personal insights: balancing family, burnout, and passion while chasing an impossible dream Links & Resources Dimitri Mitropoulos Michigan TypeScript YouTube Channel – Dimitri's channel featuring the project Type Challenges by Anthony Fu – Advanced TypeScript exercises SquiggleConf – The TypeScript-focused conference Dimitri co-founded Josh Goldberg – TypeScript expert and co-organizer of SquiggleConf Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

    1h 18m
  2. Preact, Performance, and the Future of Lightweight Frontends with Ryan Christian -JSJ 683

    JUL 23

    Preact, Performance, and the Future of Lightweight Frontends with Ryan Christian -JSJ 683

    In this episode of JavaScript Jabber, we sit down with Ryan Christian, a core maintainer of Preact, to talk all things lightweight, performant, and practical in the JavaScript world. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Preact tick, why it continues to gain traction, and how it compares to the heavyweight champ React—this episode is for you. We get into the nitty-gritty of what separates Preact from React, not just in size but in philosophy. Ryan sheds light on how Preact is engineered for performance, why it's not just a “React clone,” and how its compatibility layer makes it easy to drop into existing projects. Plus, we explore signals, class components, and what the upcoming Preact v11 has in store. Episode Highlights[1:23] - Meet Ryan Christian: Preact core maintainer and open-source champion[4:10] - What is Preact, and how does it stack up against React?[10:15] - Preact’s tiny footprint and why size still matters[14:47] - Widgets, adoption, and why Preact powers ~6% of major sites[20:01] - Understanding Preact’s compatibility layer (PreactCompat)[25:40] - Hooks, signals, and modularity: build what you need, nothing more[31:10] - Why Preact won’t follow React into full-stack territory[37:22] - Server components, suspense, and what Ryan recommends instead[43:35] - Frameworks that pair well with Preact: Astro, Fresh, and Remix[47:55] - Sneak peek at Preact v11 and why it sticks with “classic” React experience🔗 Links & ResourcesPreact Official WebsiteAstroFresh by DenoRemixJason Miller’s VTalk on Signals (referenced)Google CrUX Report – for framework usage stats Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

    1h 7m
  3. How Holepunch Is Redefining Peer-to-Peer Apps with Bare.js — A New Era for JavaScript Developers -JSJ 681

    JUN 24

    How Holepunch Is Redefining Peer-to-Peer Apps with Bare.js — A New Era for JavaScript Developers -JSJ 681

    In this episode, we sit down with Mathias Madsen, CEO of Holepunch, and take a wild ride through the cutting edge of peer-to-peer JavaScript development. Mathias shares his journey from accidentally discovering JavaScript in college to becoming a prolific contributor with over 1,500 open source modules. His passion? Building decentralized, peer-to-peer systems where JavaScript isn’t just for the browser—it powers the entire stack. We dive deep into how Holepunch is reimagining application distribution with their Pear system —essentially turning peer-to-peer into a first-class citizen for distributing full applications, not just files. No hosting, no servers — just apps shared directly, BitTorrent-style. And because packaging and distributing Node-based apps can be painfully complex, they took things a step further by building a new runtime: Bare.js Bare.js is refreshingly "bare": it strips away the heavy, opinionated APIs bundled into Node or Deno, leaving just the JavaScript core and a powerful module system. What’s revolutionary here is Bare's ability to run the same codebase across desktop, mobile, and even tiny embedded devices—swapping out engines like V8, JavaScriptCore, or JerryScript depending on the platform's needs. This allows Mathias' team to write backend logic once, share it across all platforms, and iterate at lightning speed. Key takeaways: -Peer-to-peer can go far beyond media sharing — it's being used for full app distribution. -Bare.js decouples JavaScript from specific platforms, creating a universal backend that just works anywhere. -Modular design isn't just a philosophy — it's the secret to Holepunch’s rapid development pace. -The combination of React Native for UI and Bare.js for backend creates an insanely productive development pipeline, fully cross-platform. If you’re into JavaScript, peer-to-peer tech, or just love hearing about developers breaking the mold, this one’s for you. About the Guest Mathias is the CEO of Holepunch (https://holepunch.to/). He brings his passion for open-source software, and deep experience in the area, having  published more than 1000 modules to npm, the Node.js package manager, totaling billions of downloads every month. Mathias Buus is a self taught Javascript hacker from Copenhagen. He works full time on open source projects and has been working with Node.js since the 0.2 days. Mathias likes to work with P2P and distributed systems and is the author of more than 550 modules on npm, including some of the most popular ones for working with streams. In addition he has spoken about mad science projects at various conferences around the world. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

    1h 6m
3.8
out of 5
61 Ratings

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Stay current on JavaScript, Node, and Front-End development. Learn from experts in programming, careers, and technology every week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.

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