Bas' Take on Tech: Is JavaScript Dead? ++ Framework for a better YOU
Hi there,
thanks for reading my tech newsletter about the recent buzz in tech.
In this issue, Chris Nowicki shares some insights into his journey to be more productive in his life as a developer.
Have a great week ahead!
🕸️ JavaScript is Dead, Long Live TypeScript
Big news for Node.js developers: as of July 2024, Node.js has introduced native support for TypeScript, signalling a shift that might eventually make JavaScript a thing of the past for many. If you've ever been frustrated by the hoops you had to jump through to configure TypeScript in Node.js, you're not alone. While still experimental, this new feature allows TypeScript to be used directly in Node.js without the usual setup hassles.
The initial implementation is simple — Node.js will strip away TypeScript's type annotations at runtime without transforming the code, similar to what Deno and Bun are already doing. This means that while you can now run TypeScript code in Node.js, some features like enums or namespaces won’t work just yet. It's an early-stage development, but it’s a step in the right direction.
This type-stripping feature is powered by the @swc/wasm-typescript module, which uses WebAssembly to handle TypeScript parsing quickly and efficiently. While there are still some limitations — such as needing to name files with a .ts extension and the lack of support for TypeScript in node modules — these are expected to be addressed in future updates.
Looking ahead, the Node.js team plans to decouple type-stripping from specific Node.js versions, allowing for more flexibility and updates independent of Node.js releases. This could eventually lead to full support for TypeScript features and better integration with tools like tsconfig.json.
While there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic, it's still early days. The Node.js team has set an ambitious roadmap, but only time will tell how quickly these features will be fully realized. For now, it’s exciting to see Node.js catching up to the likes of Deno and Bun, bringing much-needed innovation back to the platform.
🐍 Web Scraping With Python And Scrapy
I’m excited to announce today's release of my brand-new, first-of-its-kind miniguide on Web Scraping with Python and Scrapy, and guess what? It's completely free, courtesy of ScraperAPI! Whether you're new to scraping or just looking to sharpen your skills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start collecting data from the web like a pro. Think of all the possibilities—tracking prices, gathering leads, or even doing a bit of market research. And here's the best part: download the miniguide now, and you'll snag 10% off on all ScraperAPI services. Happy scraping!
🎙️ Chris’s Thoughts
Chris Nowicki, a full stack dev from Cleveland, TN, gave an inspiring talk about “A Framework to a better YOU”. I asked him to highlight the main aspects of his journey to find a productivity framework. Here’s what he shares for this newsletter:
There are 86,400 seconds, 1,440 minutes, and 24 hours in a day. How we choose to spend our time matters! Many of us are always searching for ways to be more productive and do more. We seek out new to-do apps, calendars, and productivity methods that might help us. When we think about productivity, we often overlook how self-care impacts our day-to-day ability to be productive. Here are a few areas to consider when it comes to self-care:
EAT - Stay nourished throughout the day. Eat healthy, whole food meals whenever possible.
SLEEP - Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night. If circumstances in your life make that difficult, try to get more sleep than you usually do.
HYDRATE - Make sure you're drinking enough water. Aim for at least 64 oz. of water a day. My daily goal is usually set to 128 oz. (1 gallon).
MOVE - Step outside and go for a walk. If you can’t get outside, consider a desk treadmill. Aim for 10,000 steps a day, ideally spread out over two walks.
My wife is a mental therapist, and when her clients aren’t taking care of the basics, she knows they won’t be in the mindset to do the deep work required to heal. The self-care basics above support our mental and physical health, which ultimately drives our productivity in the long run. If you don’t have habits in these areas, don’t dive in all at once. Start with small daily goals (think Atomic Habits, 1% improvement a day) to build up gradually.
🚀 What else?
I have changed this newsletter from “occasional” to at least once every two weeks. The new format not only contains curated news and insights from the tech world but also sets the stage for fellow developers.
I will ask people about their journeys in the tech world and also in life. I’m pretty sure there is much to learn from listening to other people’s experiences, and I am excited to share that with you!
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