866: 2025 Web Development Predictions

Key takeaways

The Temporal JavaScript API is expected to ship in Safari and Chrome, bringing significant improvements to date and time handling.
Vanilla CSS is set for a comeback with new features that enhance its practicality, including relative colors and mixins.
Web components will see increased adoption, with Web Awesome becoming a prominent library for UI components.
The integration of AI tools will shift developer focus away from specific frameworks, enhancing the accessibility and usability of various tools.
The podcast anticipates significant evolutions in popular frameworks such as React and Svelte, and new opportunities for open-source tools and applications.

Summary

Web Development Predictions for 2025

In this episode, hosts Wes Boss and Scott Talinsky dive into their predictions for the web development landscape in 2025. They share insights on the potential rise of the Temporal JavaScript API, expecting it to ship in Safari and Chrome, and discuss the growing trend of on-device AI, facilitated by new technologies such as WebGPU.

The Comeback of Vanilla CSS and Web Components

The hosts believe that vanilla CSS will make a significant comeback with the addition of new features like relative color and CSS mixins/functions. They also predict a rise in the use of web components, particularly the Web Awesome library, which they argue will gain significant traction among developers.

Frameworks and Runtime Evolution

Wes and Scott explore the fate of various frameworks like React and Svelte, predicting that React will transition away from Babel and that Svelte will incorporate new data loading features. They anticipate increased adoption of local-first applications and the evolution of server runtimes, particularly relating to Bun and Deno.

The Rise of AI in Development

Discussion around AI tools reveals that their increasing effectiveness may diminish the importance of framework choice. Predictions state that OpenAI might launch a browser to enhance the user experience, recognizing the competition brewing in the AI-driven browser space.

Industry Trends and Future Tools

The episode closes with various predictions surrounding industry tools, like VS Code achieving feature parity with Cursor and the potential rise of Laravel as it possibly ventures into CMS development. They also make speculative comments on trends in bundlers, specifically regarding Vite's continued dominance.

Show notes

Scott and Wes look into their crystal ball to predict what’s coming in web development next year. From the rise of on-device AI to the vanilla CSS comeback, Bun’s big moves, and React’s evolution, this episode is packed with bold predictions and hot takes!
Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
02:00 Brought to you by Sentry.io.
03:09 The agenda.
03:40 Temporal Javascript api will ship in Safari and Chrome. Temporal Proposal.

06:23 On device AI. WebGPU API

Dawn Native WebGPU

10:26 Models will plateau. Bolt.new, v0, Lovable.dev.

13:40 Web Awesome will become the most used web components library. Web Awesome.

15:57 We will be using more web components.
16:59 A push towards the ‘standard stack’.
19:38 We can really use relative color.
21:39 Vanilla CSS comeback.
23:35 A complete Mixins / Functions API for CSS.
24:27 Conditionals will ship in all browsers.
25:50 People will still make vertical centering jokes.
27:08 VSCode will be feature parity with Cursor.
28:22 Framework choice will matter less with AI tools.
29:12 OpenAI will launch a browser. Dupe.com.
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy.
Krazy Binz.

37:18 React will drop Babel. BabelJS.

38:05 React Server Components will pop.
39:46 Remix will relaunch as something entirely different.
41:11 React Native will have it’s time.
42:06 Svelte will get component-based islands or data loading.
44:19 Server Runtimes, Bun will continue to do non-standard, lovable things.
44:44 Bun will release a PAS to compete with NPM, Vercel, and Vite.
46:06 Laravel will release a CMS.
47:57 Vite will stay king.
48:03 Rolldown ships in the next version of Vite. Rolldown.
Statamic.

49:35 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs.
Sick Picks Scott: PHILIPS A19 Ultra Definition Dimmable Light Bulb.
Wes: Stats App.
Shameless Plugs Scott: Syntax on YouTube.
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