While I've changed gears... I've managed to find my web development tribe - 2026
(link)Summary
This talk traces the speaker's decades-long journey through web development, starting with early embedded systems programming and evolving through various web technologies. The narrative emphasizes the shift from complex, proprietary systems to modern, open-source, and developer-friendly approaches, culminating in the use of static site generators (SSGs) and AI tools for building community resources.
Key Takeaways
- The speaker's career spans multiple technological eras, from 8-bit assembly language to modern JavaScript frameworks.
- The talk highlights the evolution of web development, moving from proprietary systems (like early CMSs) to unopinionated static site generators (SSGs) like 11D.
- The speaker demonstrates how modern AI tools (like Claude) can be used as powerful collaborators for research, content generation, and building complex, data-driven web applications.
- The core philosophy is not becoming a developer, but becoming a resource for helping communities and individuals establish a digital presence.
Sections
Early Career & Industry Shifts (1970s - 1990s)
The speaker details his early career, starting with 8-bit assembly language programming for embedded devices. He then spent 17 years at a company (Stac) involved in developing embedded systems and data compression technology. This led to patenting a compression format (related to RFC 2395) and later pivoting the company's focus from tape backup to retail software, eventually leading to the development of the widely impactful Stacker compression technology.
The Web Pioneer Era (2000s)
After periods of burnout and consulting, the speaker returned to web development, initially building sites for personal and community projects using tools like Movable Type. He emphasizes the importance of open standards and the collaborative nature of the web standards movement, citing interactions with pioneers like Jeffrey Zeldman. He showcases building sites for various clients, including a New York Times food critic and a local homeless services organization, demonstrating adaptability across different technologies (Google Sites, Movable Type, Squarespace).
Modern Web Development with 11D and AI
The speaker's focus shifts to modern, developer-centric tools, particularly the static site generator (SSG) 11D. He details building multiple complex sites—including a personal portfolio, a tennis video site, and a site for a painter—using 11D. He then introduces the '11D Bundle,' a comprehensive resource site built to aggregate and share knowledge about the SSG community. Finally, he demonstrates the integration of AI (Claude) as a collaborator, building advanced, data-intensive sites like a comprehensive voter ID guide and a political news tracker, showcasing how AI can manage complex data structures and research tasks.
Keywords: static site generators, 11d, web development history, embedded systems, data compression, javascript, python, ai collaboration, cms, web standards