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JavaScript Jabber

JavaScript Jabber

By: Charles M Wood
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 Stay current on JavaScript, Node, and Front-End development. Learn from experts in programming, careers, and technology every week.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.Copyright Charles M Wood Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • Migrating a Legacy JavaScript Codebase to TypeScript - JSJ 680

    Migrating a Legacy JavaScript Codebase to TypeScript - JSJ 680
    Jun 5 2025
    In this episode, Dan and I (Steve) dove deep into what turned out to be a surprisingly complex, yet incredibly insightful topic: gradually migrating a massive legacy JavaScript project over to TypeScript. We're talking about nearly 1,000 JS files, 70,000+ lines of code, and years of developer history—all transitioning carefully to a typed, modern future.

    Dan walked us through how he started by setting up the project for success before converting even one file—getting CI/CD ready, setting up tsconfig.json, sorting out test dependencies, dealing with mock leaks, and even grappling with quirks between VS Code and WebStorm debugging.

    We talked tools (like TS-ESLint, concurrently, and ts-node), why strict typing actually uncovered real bugs (and made the code better!), and why it’s crucial not to touch any .js files until your TypeScript setup is rock solid.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Gradual migration is 100% possible—and often better—than ripping the bandaid off.
    • TypeScript can and will catch bugs hiding in your JavaScript. Be prepared!
    • Use VS Code extensions or TS-Node to support your devs’ tooling preferences.
    • Don't underestimate the setup phase—it’s the foundation of long-term success.
    • Start small: Dan's team converted just one file at first to test the whole pipeline.
    If you’re sitting on a legacy JS project and dreaming of TypeScript, this episode is your blueprint—and your warning sign.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • TypeScript, Security, and Type Juggling with Ariel Shulman & Liran Tal - JSJ 679

    TypeScript, Security, and Type Juggling with Ariel Shulman & Liran Tal - JSJ 679
    May 29 2025
    In this episode, we dove headfirst into the swirling waters of TypeScript, its real-world use cases, and where it starts to fall short—especially when it comes to security. Joining us from sunny Tel Aviv (and a slightly cooler Portland), we had the brilliant Ariel Shulman and security advocate Liran Tal bring the heat on everything from type safety to runtime vulnerabilities.


    We started off with a friendly debate: Has TypeScript really taken over the world? Our verdict? Pretty much. Whether it’s starter projects, enterprise codebases, or AI-generated snippets, TypeScript has become the de facto standard. But as we quickly found out, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.


    Key Takeaways:
    -TypeScript ≠ Security
    We tend to trust TypeScript a bit too much. It’s a build-time tool, not a runtime enforcer. As Liran pointed out, “TypeScript is not a security tool,” and treating it like one leads to dangerous assumptions.
    -Type Juggling is Real (and Sneaky)
    We explored how something as innocent as using as string on request data can open the door to vulnerabilities like HTTP parameter pollution and prototype pollution. Just because your IDE is happy doesn’t mean your runtime is.
    -Enter Zod – Runtime Type Checking to the Rescue?
    Zod got some love for bridging the dev-time/runtime gap by validating data on the fly and inferring TypeScript types. But even Zod isn’t foolproof. For example, unless you're using .strict(), extra fields can sneak past your validations, leading to mass assignment bugs.
    -Common Developer Fallacies
    We discussed the misplaced confidence developers have in things like code coverage and TypeScript alone. One of the big takeaways: defense in depth matters. Just like testing, layering your security practices (like using Zod, type guards, and proper sanitization) is key.
    -TypeScript Best Practices Are Evolving
    From discriminated unions to avoiding any, from using Maps over plain objects to prevent prototype pollution—TypeScript developers are adapting. And tools like modern Node.js now support type stripping, which makes working with .ts files at runtime a bit easier.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Building Agentic AI Workflows with Matthew Henage - JSJ 678

    Building Agentic AI Workflows with Matthew Henage - JSJ 678
    May 22 2025
    In this episode, we sat down with full-stack developer and AI innovator Matthew Henage, creator of WAOS.ai (Web App Operating System) and the incredible storytelling platform SpeakMagic.ai. This conversation took us deep into the world of agentic AI, low-code app building, and the future of intelligent workflows.

    We kicked things off with Matthew sharing how he’s been riding the AI wave since GPT-3.5 blew his mind. His platform WoWs is all about making it easy for developers to build powerful web apps with embedded AI workflows — think of it like Zapier meets ChatGPT, but with agents working together instead of API chains.

    One of the most eye-opening parts of our chat was learning about agent swarms — essentially teams of specialized AI agents that collaborate to perform complex tasks. Instead of relying on one giant AI brain to do everything, you create smaller, purpose-built AIs that handle specific steps in a workflow. It’s scalable, smarter, and kind of like assembling your dream dev team… but all made of code.

    Matthew’s Speak Magic project is a jaw-dropper. It uses a swarm of over 40 agents to turn a single story idea into a fully animated, two-minute video — complete with scenes, scripts, character animations, music, and more. It’s AI storytelling on steroids.

    We also talked a lot about:
    • Best practices for building reliable AI workflows
    • The importance of keeping context windows small (under 4,000 tokens works best!)
    • How prompt engineering is becoming the new programming
    • Using AI for vibe coding (yes, that’s a thing) and rapid prototyping
    • The tradeoffs between using traditional programming vs. letting AI handle logic
    • Ethical considerations and how to handle memory and privacy in long-running user interactions
    Check out Matthew’s work at WAOS.ai and speakmagic.ai — and as always, stay curious and keep building!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/javascript-jabber--6102064/support.
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    1 hr and 4 mins

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