From JavaScript to PHP: Josh Cirre’s Unexpected Dev Journey

From JavaScript to PHP: Josh Cirre’s Unexpected Dev Journey

Author: Skill Issue Studios February 20, 2025 Duration: 55:29

This week, Robbie and Chuck talk with Josh Cirre about his journey from JavaScript to PHP, working with the Laravel team, and creating content for developers. They also discuss the value of opinionated frameworks, whether React was a mistake, fast food whatnot, and a surprising hot take on Taco Bell’s quality. Plus, Josh shares insights on content creation, the power of consistency, and why the best-performing videos aren’t always the most polished.


In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:30) - Whiskey intro and rating: Crown Royal 18 Extra Rare
  • (10:50) - Is Taco Bell Mexican food?
  • (15:17) - Was React a mistake?
  • (17:13) - Tailwind vs vanilla CSS
  • (20:12) - Git Rebase vs Git Merge
  • (26:34) - Should Josh learn to do a Seth Rogen impression?
  • (29:27) - Arm wrestling winner - Guillermo Rauch or Taylor Otwell?
  • (29:57) - Challenges in Josh's transition from JS to PHP
  • (32:52) - The paradigm of server first frameworks
  • (45:34) - Josh's advice for aspiring content creators
  • (52:20) - Plugs


Links

  • Crown Royal 18: https://www.crownroyal.com/
  • Laravel: https://laravel.com/
  • Shure SM7b: https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b
  • DBX 286s: https://dbxpro.com/en-US/products/286s
  • Taco Bell: https://www.tacobell.com/
  • React: https://react.dev/
  • Vue: https://vuejs.org/
  • Tailwind CSS: https://tailwindcss.com/
  • Taylor Otwell: https://x.com/taylorotwell
  • Warp.dev: https://www.warp.dev/
  • Lamborghini: https://www.lamborghini.com/
  • Seth Rogen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Rogen
  • Guillermo Rauch: https://x.com/rauchg
  • Firebase: https://firebase.google.com/
  • Livewire Volt: https://livewire.laravel.com/docs/volt
  • PHP: https://www.php.net/
  • Lane Wagner: https://x.com/wagslane
  • Prisma: https://www.prisma.io/
  • Drizzle: https://orm.drizzle.team/
  • HTMX: https://htmx.org/


Connect with Josh

  • Website: https://www.joshcirre.com/
  • X / Twitter: https://x.com/joshcirre
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshcirre


Connect with Chuck and Robbie

  • Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieTheWagner
  • Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/CharlesWthe3rd

Subscribe and stay in touch

  • Website: https://whiskey.fm
  • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf
  • Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot

Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch

Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund.


There's a certain alchemy that happens when you combine deep technical expertise with the warmth of a good conversation, and that's exactly what you'll find in Whiskey Web and Whatnot. Hosts Robbie Wagner, Charles William Carpenter III, and Adam Argyle bring decades of collective experience to the table, but they leave the lecture format at the door. Instead, each episode feels like pulling up a chair with colleagues who are just as passionate about the craft of building for the web as they are about the nuanced flavors in a glass of whiskey. The discussion naturally flows between the concrete details of modern development-like navigating JavaScript frameworks, CSS architecture, or the practical realities of agentic AI and new coding tools-and the broader, human aspects of a software engineering career. This podcast from Skill Issue Studios is built on the idea that the tools and the people who use them are equally important. You'll come for insightful, grounded advice on developer productivity and emerging technologies, but you'll stay for the genuine camaraderie and the occasional spirited debate about which whiskey bottle truly earns a spot on the shelf. It’s a refreshing blend of substance and personality, making complex topics accessible and reminding everyone that there's always a story behind the code.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Whiskey Web and Whatnot
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