Modern Web Dev Meets 2000s Flip Phone: What Could Go Wrong?

Modern Web Dev Meets 2000s Flip Phone: What Could Go Wrong?

Author: Skill Issue Studios July 31, 2025 Duration: 1:03:42

This week, Robbie and Chuck talk with Tom Barrasso about building modern web apps for $15 flip phones, and the challenges of building for ultra-low-end devices. Tom shares his journey from building a podcast app during the pandemic to working in developer relations at CloudMosa. They dive into digital minimalism, the surprisingly advanced features of today’s flip phones, and what it’s like to work remotely while traveling the globe.

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (01:07) - Meet Tom Barrasso
  • (02:54) - Whiskey rating & review: Johnny Walker Black
  • (12:07) - Hot Take: Tailwind or vanilla CSS
  • (12:26) - Hot Take: Fit rebase or merge?
  • (13:13) - Hot Take: VS Code sidebar left or right?
  • (13:33) - Hot Take: Were smartphones a mistake?
  • (16:04) - Is switching to a flip phone easier today?
  • (21:17) - Increasingly expensive fast food
  • (22:58) - A brief history of flip phones
  • (29:13) - Building for devices the modern web forgot
  • (34:17) - How AI fits into developing for feature phones
  • (39:28) - Language quirks, accents, and phonetic texting
  • (42:34) - Tips for digital nomads and Tom’s global travels
  • (50:15) - Workplace politics
  • (55:21) - What would Tom do if not in tech?
  • (59:04) - Plugs

Links

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Connect with Chuck and Robbie

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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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