2023 Goals × Learning and Doing

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Wes and Scott kick off 2023 by outlining personal, technical, and business goals across web development, content creation, fitness, and podcasting. They emphasize CSS/container queries, Rust, machine learning, Svelte, tooling improvements, better course and checkout systems, audience growth on social platforms, and more intentional health routines, while also discussing interview quality and evolving Syntax itself.

Main Topics: 2023 coding goals and technical experimentation: Both hosts describe what they want to learn or ship this year: CSS container queries, CSS grid animation, Rust, machine learning, Svelte, VR/web 3D, and mobile app deployment via Tauri. Course platform and product development: Wes focuses on improving Level Up and related tooling: shipping features, keeping content evergreen, updating old codebases to TypeScript/ESM, and reworking checkout to support more payment methods and gifts. Health, fitness, and lifestyle goals: The hosts discuss cardio, Peloton/Tonal streaks, dry January, home gyms, and Wes’s return to dance battles; Scott shares weight-loss goals and his ADHD diagnosis and treatment effects. Social media and audience growth: They set targets for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and short-form vertical video, while noting which platforms are gaining or stagnating. Syntax podcast improvements: They want better interviews, a guest GOAT list, more interesting non-mainstream guests, transcripts, clips, shorter intros/outros, and a redesigned website. Tooling, workflow, and developer ergonomics: Wes highlights Vite plugins, improved ESLint config, NPX tooling, and the challenges of monkey-patching middleware and converting CommonJS to ESM/TypeScript. Personal reflections and media recommendations: They share a movie recommendation (The Menu) and a practical adhesive recommendation (JB Weld ClearWeld), alongside lighter conversation about skiing lessons and a cantina/workshop.

Key Arguments: Container queries should become the default responsive design approach this year because they unlock more advanced, flexible CSS patterns. Shipping a product in Rust, ML, and VR/web 3D is valuable for expanding beyond familiar web stacks and exploring emerging platforms. Wes’s breakdancing app could be a viable product if deployed natively through Tauri instead of being rewritten in React Native. Updating old codebases to TypeScript and ESM is painful in plain Node/CommonJS, but TypeScript smooths interoperability and makes migrations more manageable. The course platform should focus on features and reliability rather than rewrites; the team has a clear roadmap now, so ongoing incremental improvement is preferable. Content should be more evergreen by aligning courses to major versions and avoiding tutorials on tooling that changes too quickly. Short-form vertical video is worth continuing because it has proven effective for growth, especially on YouTube and TikTok. The podcast should improve interview craft by featuring a broader range of guests, reducing filler words, and tightening intros/outros and episode format. Maintaining systems and delegating are more valuable than repeatedly replacing broken processes when business operations degrade over time. Cardio and regular training are crucial because strength alone is not enough for dance performance and overall fitness.

Data Points: uses.tech page count: 703 pages - Wes notes the site has grown out of control, though he later clarifies it’s one page listing 708 people. uses.tech listing total: 708 people - Clarification that the site is one page with hundreds of people listed. Indoor ski lesson treadmill length: 30–40 feet - Scott describes the wide hydraulic treadmill used for indoor ski lessons. TikTok growth: 0 to 2,000 followers - Scott says his TikTok grew from zero to 2,000 in a few months. YouTube audience: 350,000 - Wes references his current YouTube size when talking about future growth being harder. YouTube audience: 150,000 - Scott says his YouTube is currently around this size. Short-form video growth: a couple thousand to 40,000 - Scott says his first 50 short-form videos helped his account grow substantially. Instagram story views: 9,000 to 2,000–3,000 - Scott observes declining Instagram story reach compared with past performance. Tonal workout streak: 60 weeks - Wes says he has a 60-week streak of using his Tonal device. Projected Tonal streak: 117 weeks - Wes aims to extend the streak through a second year. Workout count on Tonal: 300+ workouts - Wes says he has completed over 300 workouts on the device. Dry January progress: 7–9 days - They mention being about a week into January while discussing the alcohol break. Epoxy product price: $20 - Wes recommends JB Weld ClearWeld as a useful two-part epoxy. Course discount: 30% off annual subscription - Wes promotes a Syntax coupon code for Level Up Video. Coupon discount: $10 off - Wes mentions a coupon for his own courses at westboss.com/courses.

Pivotal Quotes: "I would like to make container queries my default mode of working responsively this year." — Wes: Wes explains his top CSS goal for 2023. "I want to insert myself less into interviews and to work on my interview skills." — Wes: He describes how he wants to improve Syntax interviews. "Life is noticeably easier since I've done it." — Scott: Scott reflects on how ADHD treatment has improved focus and daily functioning.

Implications: The episode shows both hosts shifting from experimentation to deliberate execution: better frameworks, evergreen content, stronger interviews, and more sustainable health/business habits. For listeners, it signals where web development and creator workflows may be heading in 2023.