HTML All The Things - Web Development, AI, and Developer Careers

In this edition of Web News, Matt and Mike debate whether AI coding agents are starting to reverse the no-code revolution. Inspired by a recent article about a company abandoning its no-code website and returning to code, the conversation explores how tools like OpenAI Sites, Cursor, and other agentic workflows are changing the way websites are built. Are platforms like Webflow, Wix, and Squarespace facing a new challenge, or will they evolve alongside AI? From agency workflows and client expectations to the future of frameworks like React and Next.js, this episode dives into one of the biggest shifts currently happening in web development.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-vs-no-code

When you launch a website, how long should you expect it to last? Two years? Five years? Ten?

The answer depends on what you mean by "last." A website can remain online and technically functional for years while quietly becoming harder to maintain, slower to evolve, less effective at generating leads, or increasingly out of touch with a company's brand and customers.

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the real lifespan of modern websites. They break down the difference between replacing a website because you want to versus because you have to, discuss how technical debt, security, performance, SEO, and changing business needs can force a rebuild, and examine whether modern architectures like headless CMSs, design systems, and component-based development are helping websites stay relevant longer than ever before.

Whether you're a developer maintaining client projects or a business owner wondering if your website is due for an upgrade, this episode will help you understand the signs that a website is reaching the end of its useful life - and what to do about it.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/how-long-do-websites-last-and-when-should-you-replace-them

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For years, technology kept adding new categories to our lives. First it was the desktop computer, then the laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, wireless earbuds, game consoles, and now smart glasses and AI-powered wearables. The problem is that every new category comes with its own price tag, upgrade cycle, and growing expectation that we'll keep up. In this edition of the Web News we're discussing the rising cost of consumer technology, whether the average person can realistically afford this expanding portfolio of devices, and how consumers should think about spending in an era where tech feels more expensive than ever.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/the-middle-class-cant-keep-up-with-tech-anymore

AI skepticism might be one of the most valuable developer skills right now - but only if it doesn’t turn into stubbornness. In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss the growing divide between developers who reject AI entirely and those who trust it far too much. They explore why blindly accepting AI-generated code can create serious problems in production, why refusing to adapt can hurt your career, and where experienced developers still provide the most value. From architecture and security to maintainability and product-specific context, this episode breaks down the increasingly important role of human judgment in AI-assisted development.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-coding-hype-is-starting-to-crack

Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Modern web design is everywhere right now - gradients, floating cards, oversized hero sections, glassmorphism, micro animations, dark mode… and increasingly, every site is starting to feel the same. Even AI-generated websites seem to default to the same handful of design trends and layouts. But is that actually a problem? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss whether “modern” automatically means “better,” why so many websites are converging toward the same aesthetic, and whether usability, branding, and originality are starting to get lost in the process.

Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/why-does-every-website-look-like-a-saas-app