Why You Can’t Skip the Fundamentals w/ Henri Helvetica

This week, Chuck and special guest co-host Aaron Francis talk with Henri Helvetica live from React Miami. They explore the evolving challenges of web performance, why genuine research skills still matter in an AI-driven world, and how developers can stay curious and resilient in a fast-moving industry. Henri shares insights from his React Miami talk, his passion for performance advocacy, and why literacy—both digital and physical—matters more than ever.

In this episode:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:54) - Meet Henri Helvetica
• (05:36) - Rum review and rating: Rhum Barbancourt 15
• (12:34) - Why the best JS framework is the one you like
• (14:38) - What makes a good rum?
• (19:33) - Have performance and accessibility been left behind?
• (22:32) - Where Henri’s working now—and how he’s pushing for better performance
• (26:47) - Hot Take: Why modern dev learning paths are hurting growth
• (35:43) - Henri’s advice for junior devs who want to master performance
• (39:05) - How to use AI without sabotaging your future learning
• (43:36) - Henri's passion for running and exercise
• (52:19) - Building and growing Henri's dev running community
• (54:27) - If not tech, what would Henri do instead?
• (55:26) - Plugs

Links

• Rhum Barbancourt 15: https://barbancourt.com/
• React Miami: https://www.reactmiami.com/
• Remix: https://remix.run/
• Ryan Florence: https://x.com/ryanflorence
• Buffalo Trace: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/
• Pappy Van Winkle: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/van-winkle.html
• Maker's Mark: https://www.makersmark.com/
• Weller: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/w-l-weller.html
• Ember: https://emberjs.com/
• James Earl Jones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Jones
• Appleton Estate: https://appletonestate.com/
• Zacapa 23: https://www.zacaparum.com/
• Guillermo Rauch: https://x.com/rauchg
• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
• Web.dev: https://web.dev/
• Performance.now(): https://perfnow.nl/
• Couch to 5k: https://c25k.com/

Connect with Henri

• X / Twitter: https://x.com/henrihelvetica

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

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Veteran web developers RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III host this informal, whiskey-fueled fireside chat with your favorite web devs. They discuss all things web development including JavaScript, TypeScript, EmberJS, React, Astro, SolidJS, CSS, HTML, Web3, and more. They take a unique approach and focus on getting to know the human side of developers and their hobbies outside of work, all while sampling a new whiskey that they rate on their unique tentacle scale.