Author, writer, and front-end developer Zell Liew's self-taught journey. Featured on numerous web development magazines including Smashing Magazine, A List Apart, and CSS Tricks, Zell uncovers the single key accident that led him down his front-end web development journey to make 6 figures passively in his sleep.
Topics covered:
- Does it still make sense to pursue web development in 2025?
- Are CSS Grid systems outdated?
- CSS framework or no? Bootstrap or Tailwind?
- Tailwind: the good, the bad, and the ugly
- The #1 tip for new front-end developers
- How to know if web development is for you
Timestamps:
- 1:00: Zell's background and how he got started in web development.
- 7:00: Zell's first web development project: Building a clone of TutsPlus in 5 hours!
- 10:00: Zell's first freelance client: Charging $50 and learning valuable lessons.
- 16:00: The impact of self-development and confronting childhood trauma.
- 22:00: Writing his first book on the Suzie Grid system and the turning point it represented.
- 35:00: The transition from teaching "how to" to understanding "how you do it" and the importance of values.
- 43:00: Zell's frustration with existing tools leads him to create Splendid Labs.
- 57:00: Splendid Labs: A deep dive into its features, philosophy, and unique approach to documentation.
- 72:00: A comparison of Astro, Eleventy, and other static site generators.
- 82:00: The challenges of building JavaScript libraries for Astro and Zell's choice to use Svelte.
- 99:00: A moving story about a teacher's kindness and its profound impact on Zell's life.
- 109:00: Battling the "entrepreneur enemy" and finding balance between different aspects of himself.
- 118:00: The importance of understanding your "why" and aligning your actions with your values.
- 124:00: Zell shares a powerful quote from the Tao Te Ching about inner stability and cultivating the self.
- 130:00: Practical advice for navigating the ever-changing world of web development and finding your place.
- 139:00: Where to find Zell online: Websites, courses, and social media.
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