Rust Is Overrated w/ Naman Goel

Rust Is Overrated w/ Naman Goel

Author: Skill Issue Studios October 23, 2025 Duration: 1:10:10

This week, Robbie and Adam talk with Naman Goel about the origins and evolution of StyleX, how it integrates with React and other frameworks, and the pros and cons of different programming languages like Rust, TypeScript, and Swift. They dive into the challenges of building performant, type-safe styling systems, the surprising complexity of theme APIs, designing for developer experience, and more.

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:26) - Whiskey rating & review: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old single malt Scotch
  • (09:13) - South Park, spy thrillers & sleeper hits you missed
  • (11:20) - Flow vs TypeScript
  • (14:59) - How CSS shaped Naman’s perspective on type systems
  • (18:45) - How StyleX works—and why it’s different from Tailwind
  • (21:02) - Tailwind Merge vs StyleX props: performance smackdown
  • (22:16) - Real-world use case: when and why you’d want to merge styles
  • (25:45) - Inside the making of StyleX and its powerful theming system
  • (32:56) - Robbie and Adam wrangle Vue transitions in Astro
  • (36:09) - GIF or JIF? SPA or “spa”?
  • (40:36) - Building StarPod.dev: streaming audio across pages
  • (42:30) - Can you reduce client-side router noise?
  • (46:03) - Should you spec your idea or just blog it?
  • (47:18) - Naman’s journey into writing web specs
  • (48:44) - What is link delegation?
  • (52:39) - Hot Take: Is Rust overrated?
  • (01:02:17) - The dream language Naman wishes someone would build
  • (01:04:57) - Are AI-generated programming languages just around the corner?
  • (01:05:53) - A spicy take on CSS syntax and readability
  • (01:06:27) - Is CSS finally catching up to StyleX?
  • (01:07:43) - Plugs & where to follow Naman

Links

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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: 50

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