Whiskey Web and Whatnot: Web Development, Neat
  • 2D AGO
  • EPISODE 216
  • 43 MIN

Why Open Source Might Be Your Best Career Move w/ Shruti Kapoor

Whiskey Web and Whatnot: Web Development, Neat

Recorded at All Things Open 2025, Robbie Wagner and guest co-host Jason Lengstorf chat with developer-turned-creator Shruti Kapoor about her leap from Slack and PayPal to YouTube, the joys and pitfalls of open source, and eternal web dev debates.

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (01:37) - Wine rating & review: Fre Sparkling Brut
  • (06:33) - Hot Take: git rebase vs. git merge
  • (09:11) - Hot Take: Is HTML a programming language?
  • (09:41) - Hot Take: Is CSS a programming language?
  • (10:20) - Hot take: classes vs. functional components
  • (11:13) - Hot Take: Remix, TanStack, or Next.js?
  • (15:02) - Hot Take: console.log vs debugger
  • (16:11) - Hot Take: Were React server components a mistake?
  • (20:42) - How open source changed Shruti’s career
  • (22:23) - The real value of contributing to open source
  • (26:05) - What is the React Foundation and why it matters
  • (28:58) - Highlights from React Conf and new features
  • (31:01) - From Slack engineer to independent creator
  • (34:34) - Choosing what content to make (and why)
  • (37:58) - Shruti’s dog, discipline, and life lessons
  • (40:01) - What would Shruti do if not in tech?
  • (40:30) - Where to find Shruti online

Links

  • Fre Sparkling Brut: https://www.frewines.com/
  • Wes Bos: https://wesbos.com/
  • Syntax: https://syntax.fm/
  • Slack: https://slack.com/
  • PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com
  • React: https://react.dev/
  • JavaScript: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
  • HTML: https://www.w3schools.com/html/
  • CSS: https://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/
  • Ember: https://emberjs.com/
  • TanStack: https://tanstack.com/
  • Next.js: https://nextjs.org/
  • Remix: https://remix.run/
  • Astro: https://astro.build/
  • VS Code: https://code.visualstudio.com/
  • All Things Open: https://allthingsopen.org/
  • GitHub: https://github.com/
  • React Conf: https://conf.react.dev/
  • React Foundation: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/07/introducing-the-react-foundation
  • Linux Foundation: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/
  • Vercel: https://vercel.com/
  • Google Home: https://home.google.com/welcome/
  • Primeagen: https://x.com/ThePrimeagen
  • ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
  • MCP: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/
  • Shruti's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@shrutikapoor08
  • 16 Common React useEffect Mistakes You’re Making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGOPO2V6MHI

Connect with Jason

  • Website: https://jason.energy/
  • X / Twitter: https://x.com/jlengstorf
  •  

Connect with Shruti

  • Website: https://shrutikapoor.dev/
  • X / Twitter: https://x.com/shrutikapoor08

Connect with the hosts

  • Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieTheWagner
  • Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/CharlesWthe3rd
  • Adam Argyle: https://x.com/argyleink

Subscribe and stay in touch

  • Website: https://whiskey.fm
  • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf
  • Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot

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