Would You Pay More for Hand-Coded Software?

Are you wasting money and usage limits by choosing the most powerful AI model for every task? Or are you wasting even more time fighting with a cheaper model that isn't up to the job? In this episode, Matt and Mike discuss when to use smaller, faster AI models and when it's worth reaching for more powerful reasoning models. From simple website fixes and document processing to complicated debugging, architecture decisions, and long-running AI agents, choosing the right model can make a huge difference in both cost and productivity. They also explore how your prompting strategy should change depending on the model you're using, why Mike has started giving more autonomy to powerful AI models, and the risks of trusting AI-generated code when you don't fully understand the results. Plus, they discuss the hidden costs of AI workflows, including repeated prompts, human verification, and time spent correcting mistakes. ‍Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/choosing-the-right-ai-model-for-the-job Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Is software development becoming a code factory - and what could that mean for developer salaries? Two Toronto job postings spark a conversation about pay, AI, outsourcing, and the future of tech careers. In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss the salary figures shared for AI roles at Canadian Tire and OpenTable, then explore whether cheaper code production could mean smaller teams and less bargaining power for developers. They debate whether AI could make offshoring easier, how competition for jobs affects pay, and why trust, communication, and tailored solutions still matter when hiring developers. Plus, they discuss how Toronto’s cost of living and commuting demands complicate the salary conversation. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/are-software-engineers-going-to-get-paid-less

Does your small business website really need a slider, testimonials, a blog, pricing tables, and every other feature you've seen on successful websites? Not necessarily. Websites are a lot like LEGO. They're made up of individual building blocks that can be arranged in countless ways. But just because another business uses a particular feature doesn't mean it's right for yours. In this episode, Matt and Mike break down the anatomy of a small business website, exploring what different pages and components actually do, when they're useful, and when you might be better off leaving them out. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/what-does-your-small-business-website-actually-need Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Anthropic's IPO filing has revealed some eye-opening numbers about the economics of artificial intelligence. Revenue is growing dramatically faster than computing expenses, suggesting that running AI models might finally be becoming a sustainable business. But does that mean the AI bubble is safe? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss Anthropic's financials, the massive investments fueling the AI industry, whether cheaper computing will mean lower prices for consumers, and how competition from open-source and locally hosted AI models could change everything. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/are-anthropics-ai-economics-finally-working

What skills will stay in demand as AI changes how we work? For developers, preparing for the future might mean looking beyond the next framework and building skills that open doors across different roles. Matt and Mike discuss five areas worth developing: ideation and prioritization, user empathy, sales, evaluating the quality of work, and owning the outcome. Drawing on their experience in software development and running a web agency, they explore when to push back on a client’s request, why understanding users matters beyond finishing a ticket, and how to tell whether AI workflows are actually helping. Nobody knows exactly where the industry is heading. This conversation is about building more options - whether you want to strengthen your current role, move into product or technical sales, or eventually run your own business. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/what-skills-will-stay-in-demand-as-ai-improves Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

AI is finding security holes in old code - but is that making the internet safer or giving attackers more opportunities? After a week spent patching websites, Matt and Mike discuss PHP vulnerabilities, reports of exposed credentials, and the pressure on developers to respond. Matt argues that uncovering existing flaws could lead to a more secure internet, while Mike questions what happens when exploiting those flaws becomes easier and neglected websites remain unpatched. The conversation also explores the hidden maintenance burden of running a side project, why keeping years of customer data “just in case” can create unnecessary risk, and the value - and limitations - of managed hosting. Are we heading toward better security, or an arms race developers can’t keep up with? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/online-security-are-we-f-cked

Improving your website's SEO doesn't always mean writing more blog posts, investing in expensive tools, or launching a massive content strategy. Sometimes the biggest opportunities are hiding in the pages you've already published. In this episode, Matt and Mike explore 10 low-hanging SEO opportunities that small businesses and web developers can use to improve their existing websites. From finding pages that are close to ranking higher to identifying missed keywords, improving click-through rates, and fixing common technical problems, it's all about making smarter decisions with the data you already have. We also discuss why Google Search Console should be one of your first stops, how to learn from competitors and Google's AI Overviews, and why improving existing content can deliver more value than constantly creating something new. Whether you're managing your own small business website or helping clients with theirs, this episode is about finding evidence before investing more effort. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/10-easy-seo-wins-youre-probably-overlooking Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.  

As AI becomes capable of writing more software, could hand-coded apps eventually become the digital equivalent of handmade furniture or artisan jewelry? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike debate whether people will ever pay a premium for software written by humans, whether users actually care how an app was built, and why the outcome may matter far more than the tools developers use. They also discuss AI backlash in gaming, open-source software, the “software is dead” conversation, and why staying close to what users actually value could matter more than ever. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/would-you-pay-more-for-hand-coded-software

AI coding tools are getting more capable, but learning to use them well is about more than chasing the newest model. In this episode, Matt and Mike break down the fundamentals developers need to work effectively with AI, from models, agents, and harnesses to tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex. We also walk through a practical six-stage progression for building trust in AI-assisted development - starting with small tasks you verify yourself and gradually moving toward agents that can plan, build, review, and test work inside a reliable verification loop. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/ai-basics-for-developers Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Is the AI bubble finally starting to pop? In this edition of the Web News, Matt and Mike discuss OpenAI reducing usage on its $200 Pro plan, the enormous cost of AI infrastructure, and growing questions around whether businesses are actually seeing enough financial return from their AI investments. They also look at the other side of the argument: AI usage and revenue are still growing rapidly, companies continue pouring money into the technology, and the industry may simply be moving out of an era of heavily subsidized compute. Is this the beginning of an AI correction, or just the next stage of the AI boom? Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/is-the-ai-bubble-starting-to-pop Use our Scrimba affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.