2021 Predictions

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Syntax hosts Scott and Wes outline their 2021 web development predictions, centered on ESM, remote work, Deno, tooling simplification, TypeScript growth, React ecosystem changes, WASM, CSS variables, serverless, and Jamstack/enterprise adoption. The episode frames a shift toward less-configured, more-native, faster workflows, while also predicting community-platform, AR, AI, and PWA evolution.

Main Topics: ES Modules and modern module workflows: The hosts predict ESM will become the default mental model for JavaScript, with URL-based imports, better interoperability, and tooling like Snowpack making module-based development faster and cleaner than CommonJS. Remote work and distributed hiring: They argue COVID accelerated remote work permanently, expanding talent pools globally while creating new challenges for junior developers, onboarding, and team culture. Deno and the rise of alternative runtimes: Deno is expected to grow in usage, community size, and package availability, though they acknowledge it still needs more maturity and broader ecosystem support before it can displace Node. Tooling becoming invisible and language-runtime innovations: They predict build tools will fade into the background as defaults improve, aided by Rust/Go-based tools like esbuild and zero-config experiences that make TypeScript, linting, and transpilation feel built-in. TypeScript mainstream adoption and improved editor support: TypeScript is expected to become the preferred starting point for many projects because VS Code, Deno, and better autocompletion/type hints reduce friction and increase productivity. React ecosystem pressure and future platform changes: They forecast better scoped CSS and server-side rendering/hydration in React, while also suggesting some developers may drift away from React due to unresolved ergonomics around forms, animation, and SSR. WASM, CSS variables, serverless, and Jamstack expansion: The episode predicts broader adoption of WASM for performance, CSS variables for theming, easier serverless deployment, and more enterprise acceptance of Jamstack-style architectures.

Key Arguments: ESM will dominate because built-in modules and URL-based imports make JavaScript tooling simpler and faster. Remote work is not a silver bullet, but it unlocks a much larger global hiring pool and changes office strategy. Deno will grow steadily, but ecosystem gaps and package maturity still limit immediate replacement of Node. Tooling is not disappearing; rather, it is being hidden behind better defaults and integrated workflows. Rust and Go will increasingly power JavaScript tooling because they deliver major speed gains. TypeScript adoption will accelerate because the editing experience is now good enough that it feels like the default choice. React will likely improve in SSR/hydration and CSS scoping, but frustration may push some users toward other frameworks or web components. WASM is becoming practical for real-world browser apps, especially when performance-critical code can be authored in Rust and imported like JavaScript. CSS variables are positioned as a long-term replacement for many CSS-in-JS use cases, especially theming. Serverless and Jamstack will keep moving into enterprise and mainstream workflows as deployment and local development get easier.

Data Points: Sanity free tier boost: Double the free usage tier - Sponsor mention for Sanity when listeners sign up through the Syntax link. Sanity API requests: 200,000 API requests - Included in the enhanced free plan for Sanity. Sanity CDN requests: 1 million API CDN requests - Included in the enhanced free plan for Sanity. Sanity asset storage: 10 gigs of assets - Included in the enhanced free plan for Sanity. Sanity bandwidth: 20 gigs of bandwidth - Included in the enhanced free plan for Sanity. Log Rocket trial: 14 days free - Sponsor offer for Syntax listeners. Linode credit: $100 free credit - Sponsor offer for new Linode users. Linode support: 24/7/365 human support - Described as available with no tiers or handoffs. Linode data centers: 11 global data centers - Listed as part of Linode’s infrastructure offering. Deno community package popularity: 83 stars - A Deno env package was cited as having surprisingly low adoption. WASM/AR adoption timeframe: By 2021, growth expected - Predictions throughout the episode frame adoption as increasing over the year.

Pivotal Quotes: "ES modules by default. Everything going forward should always be ES modules and everything else, CommonJS, is considered legacy." — Wes Bos: Core prediction about the future module system and the decline of CommonJS. "I think we're going to be seeing languages like Go and Rust used to great effectiveness to improve JavaScript tooling." — Wes Bos: Explaining why new tooling is becoming faster and more capable. "You have to restart the entire application in order for it to see it." — Scott Tolinski: Describing the pain point that motivates better hot-reloading and module reload behavior in Node.

Implications: The episode signals a web stack moving toward native platform features, faster tooling, and simpler developer experience. For listeners, that means ESM, TypeScript, CSS variables, serverless, and modern runtimes are likely worth prioritizing now.