Listen "127: Are People Leaving Next.js for TanStack Start?"
Episode Synopsis
We’re back with our first episode of 2026, and prominent software developer and YouTuber, Theo Browne, made waves recently when he announced he’d migrated his T3 Chat app from the Next.js framework to TanStack Start. It isn’t that Next.js is bad, but that the requirements of T3 Chat were better supported by TanStack Start’s architecture, and Theo breaks down his evaluation process to reach that decision.For the 10th year in a row, the JavaScript Rising Stars report drops, and the most popular projects (by GitHub stars) for the year include n8n (a workflow automation platform), react-bits (gorgeous animated React components), shadcn/ui (more UI components), and Excalidraw (virtual whiteboard for sketching and diagramming).In less stellar news, the creator of the wildly popular CSS library Tailwind announced he’s had to lay off 75% of his engineering team because AI has killed traffic to its website (and by association, Tailwind’s commercial products that drive revenue). It was hard enough before the rise of AI for OSS to get funding, and this is just another cautionary tale that we need to support the people building the tools and products so many of us use every day in our jobs.Timestamps:1:54 - Theo moves off Next.js and resulting buzz11:32 - A look at the 2025 JS rising stars23:25 - Is AI hurting Tailwind?31:03 - Lego smart bricks35:45 - What’s making us happy News:Paige - Is AI killing OSS now? Tailwind thinks soJack - Theo moved off Next.js to TanStack Start and the internet is buzzing TJ - 2025 rising starsLightning News: Lego smart bricksWhat Makes Us Happy this Week:Paige - Flip-It! Bottle emptying capsJack - Miami Hurricanes football team TJ - New Pokemon GO featuresThanks as always to our sponsor, the Blue Collar Coder channel on YouTube. You can join us in our Discord channel, explore our website and reach us via email, or talk to us on X, Bluesky, or YouTube.Front-end Fire websiteBlue Collar Coder on YouTubeBlue Collar Coder on DiscordReach out via emailTweet at us on X @front_end_fireFollow us on Bluesky @front-end-fire.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel @Front-EndFirePodcast
More episodes of the podcast Front-End Fire
128: What the Heck is a Ralph Wiggum Loop?
19/01/2026
126: The 2025 Holiday Spectacular
22/12/2025
125: The RSC Vulnerabilities Keep Coming
15/12/2025
121: Chrome DevTools Gets AI Superpowers
10/11/2025
120: Is the AI Bubble About to Burst?
03/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.