A Look Forward to 2019

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Syntax’s 2018 year-in-review highlights major gains in tooling, GraphQL/headless CMS, CSS Grid, React, and ecosystem maturity, while looking ahead to 2019 predictions around more powerful developer tooling, server-side rendering, hooks, suspense, ES modules in Node, WebAssembly, and continued growth in headless and design tools. The hosts also share personal goals, parental leave plans, and course/publishing plans.

Main Topics: Tooling became dramatically easier: Both hosts emphasized how starter tooling matured in 2018: Create React App, Vue CLI, Next.js, Gatsby, Parcel, and Webpack 4 reduced or eliminated manual config, making project setup faster and less painful. GraphQL and headless architectures went mainstream: The episode argues that GraphQL became more accessible through tools like Gatsby, Apollo, and GraphQL Playground, while headless CMS/backend services such as Hasura, Prisma, TakeShape, GraphCMS, and Contentful expanded the ecosystem. CSS Grid reached real production adoption: Grid moved from experimental/future tech to something increasingly used in production as browser support improved, with Wes noting it was central to his course and to real-world site builds. React’s ecosystem had a major year: React saw major announcements and tooling gains: hooks (approaching release), suspense (in progress), the new context API, improved devtools with profiler/flame charts, and ongoing benefits for developer experience and app performance. JavaScript framework competition evolved: Svelte gained significant attention, Vue continued to grow and attract serious developer commitment, and the broader framework landscape remained active even as React and Vue led mindshare. Platform and browser shifts reshaped the ecosystem: Microsoft’s move toward Chromium for Edge, GitHub’s continued evolution under Microsoft ownership, VS Code’s rapid improvement, and GitHub’s acquisition of Spectrum all signaled consolidation and momentum in developer tooling/platforms. Personal goals and life changes shaped 2019 plans: Both hosts discussed product goals, content plans, and major personal news: each was expecting a child in 2019, influencing plans for parental leave, workload, and production scheduling.

Key Arguments: 2018 was defined by reduced friction: developers no longer need to write Webpack/Babel configs from scratch for every project, because tools like Parcel, CRA, Gatsby, and Webpack 4 abstract that pain away. GraphQL became easier to learn and more practical to use because Gatsby and GraphQL Playground lowered the barrier to entry and let developers query data without building a full API stack themselves. Headless CMS/backend services are growing because they let teams pair modern front ends with lightweight APIs instead of traditional monolithic or server-rendered stacks. CSS Grid crossed a threshold from promising to practical, largely because browser support caught up and developers learned how to use it in production. React’s new APIs and tools are focused on both better developer experience and better apps: hooks improve code organization, suspense will simplify async UI/code splitting, and the profiler helps diagnose performance issues. The web platform is consolidating around stronger tools and standards, but competition still matters; the Edge-to-Chromium shift is good for compatibility, though less healthy for browser diversity. In 2019, the biggest wins are expected to come from making advanced capabilities—code splitting, server-side rendering, and modern module syntax—easier and more automatic for developers. The hosts believe that personal consistency and output matter: they plan to keep publishing courses/content, delegate more effectively, and use new life changes as a trigger for better planning and systems.

Data Points: React hooks release status: Not yet fully released at recording time - Hooks were approved/in the pipeline and expected to land in 2019. React suspense release outlook: Expected in March or April 2019 - Scott predicted suspense would likely arrive in early 2019. Manning discount: 40% off - Sponsor promotion for books and video courses at deals.manning.com/web-dev using Syntax40. Sentry promo: 2 months free - Coupon code tasty treat for new signups. Level Up Pro growth: 9,000–10,000 Instagram followers added - Wes described growth on Instagram over the year. YouTube target: 8 videos - Wes set a specific 2019 goal to publish eight YouTube videos. Course output: At least 12 new courses - Wes said he released at least twelve tutorials/courses in 2018. Conference speaking: 7–8 conferences - Wes estimated the number of conferences he spoke at in 2018. Workshops: 5–6 workshops - Wes estimated the number of workshops he ran in 2018. Baby due dates: Late May and late June 2019 - Both hosts announced they were expecting children close together in 2019.

Pivotal Quotes: "you don't need to write Webpack Config from scratch for every single project" — Wes Bos: On how tooling matured and reduced setup pain in 2018. "Hooks was the new API that allows you to use state... without having to use a class" — Scott Tolinski: Explaining why hooks are a major React shift. "I think this whole like headless space is so hot right now" — Wes Bos: Describing the rise of headless CMS and API-driven architecture.

Implications: Listeners should expect continued simplification of development workflows, more powerful React and tooling capabilities, and a bigger shift toward headless, API-first, and design-to-code workflows in 2019 and beyond.