Expo Unveils Hosting, Interop 2024 Highlights, and Automattic Cuts WP Contributions

Key takeaways

Expo's new hosting solutions aim to simplify the deployment process for React Native applications.
Interop 2024 has made significant strides in improving web technology interoperability, offering better accessibility and user experience.
Automattic's cut in contributions to WordPress raises concerns about the platform's future and governance.
The tech ecosystem is continuously evolving with exciting updates, including Vitest 3.0 and the rumored iPhone Air.
Hosting personal interests and hobbies, such as gaming and TV shows, enriches the overall tech experience.

Summary

Expo Application Service Hosting

The podcast opened with a discussion about Expo's new hosting services, termed Expo Application Services (EAS) hosting. The hosts explained how this service would allow developers to easily host and deploy web applications built with Expo and React Native, enabling features like app signing for both the Play Store and App Store, as well as pushing live updates. This integration aims to streamline the deployment process, making it comparable to what Next.js offers but tailored for React Native apps.

Interop 2024 Highlights

The conversation then shifted to the highlights from the Interop initiative, which focuses on improving browser interoperability. The hosts discussed that over the course of 2024, significant advancements were made with a focus on 17 new areas, resulting in a drop from 46% to 95% in successful test cases among major browsers. Accessibility improvements, CSS nesting, and updates to URL standards were highlighted as key wins for the web community, showcasing a collaborative effort to enhance the web experience.

WordPress and Automattic News

A major segment was dedicated to the latest developments in the WordPress ecosystem, specifically the drastic reduction in contributions from Automattic to the WordPress open-source project. The hosts detailed how Automattic plans to cut back from 4,000 hours of work per week to just 45 hours, resulting in anxiety among WordPress users regarding the platform's future. This change was attributed to ongoing legal challenges with WP Engine, leading to concerns about the governance and direction of WordPress.

CCF Updates and Bonus News

In the bonus section, the hosts shared updates on various topics, including the release of Vitest 3.0 which offers enhanced performance for testing JavaScript applications. Additionally, they discussed rumors surrounding Apple's potential introduction of an 'iPhone Air,' speculating about its thin design and implications for future device developments. The discussion on these varied tech updates highlighted ongoing innovations and trends in the tech landscape.

Fire Starters and Personal Highlights

The hosts wrapped up the podcast by sharing personal highlights for the week. They introduced the WebXR Device API, discussed Paige's favorite TV show 'Shrinking,' and Jack's new favorite command-line tool, fzf. TJ expressed excitement over the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, emphasizing how Nintendo's approach to gaming continues to bring joy to fans.

Show notes

The first topic of conversation this week is an unexpected new area the Expo team is tackling: Expo Application Service Hosting. EAS Hosting is a new service for quickly deploying web projects built using Expo and React Native apps. It makes it easy to compile and sign apps with custom native code, upload apps to the Play Store or App Store, and push live app updates directly to users.

The Interop project, which aims to improve interoperability between major browser engines, released its accomplishments from 2024 this week. The browsers took on 17 areas of focus in 2024, and went from 46% of tests passing in January, all the way to 95% of tests passing by the end of December.

WordPress makes headlines once more, as Autommatic, the WordPress hosting company owned by WP creator Matt Mullenweg cuts its contributions back on the WP open-source project from 4,000 hours per week to 45 hours per week.

News:

Paige - Interop 2024 highlights
Jack - Expo APIs (EAS Hosting)
TJ - Automattic cuts WordPress contribution hours (WordPress Drama Timeline)

Bonus News:

Fire Starters:

WebXR Device API

What Makes Us Happy this Week:

Paige - Shrinking TV show and browser-based SwaggerEditor
Jack - fzf command-line fuzzy finder
TJ - Switch 2

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