Mostly Technical

Ian and Aaron are dealing with the liminal space of the holiday season, talking about their upcoming trip to San Francisco to see the Laravel AI SDK demo, and making even more predictions for 2026.Sponsored by SavvyCal Appointments & Bento.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.Links:Texas de BrazilDelucca PizzaDemolition ManRicotta Cheese'Notes from the sick ward'SF Meetup: First Look at Laravel AI SDKjetBlue Mint

Ian and Aaron are answering your questions about what's coming in 2026, covering everything from AI shrinking dev teams to Elon becoming a trillionaire and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and NusiiInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - No Rest For The Weary (03:39) - Manager of Agents (14:44) - Predictions! (30:57) - Ian's Personal Productivity System (40:17) - More Predictions! (58:02) - Vibe Code vs. Buying (01:03:17) - Even More Predictions! (01:17:15) - Christmas Presents Links:Aaron Levie's TweetParkinson's LawGroq's deal with NvidiaClaude's 2x Holiday PromotionObsidianPhilip K DickCursor migrated from SanityAir Span 2Stan Smith's

Ian and Aaron talk about Santa (obviously), do you still need an MBA (maybe not so obvious), why Ian isn't burning as many tokens as possible to get Outro out the door, what people are building with the Telegram API, and more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and NusiiInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Magically Better (08:59) - Pre-Holiday Adventures (17:17) - Burning The Midnight Tokens (25:35) - Outlasted By AI Agents (38:06) - Thinking Businessy (44:34) - Advent of SQL Update (50:39) - Telegram Bots Links:F150 LightningRivian Digital KeyVW Atlas1995 4 RunnerLos Tacos No. 1Bass Pro Shop's Santa's WonderlandCodex 5.2PHPStanAdvent of SQLJeffrey Way's post on building a Telegram BotNutgram

Ian and Aaron discuss how Aaron's orchestrating fly.io boxes for Database School, why sometimes you need to use AI to help AI, and why Costco is truly a great place.  Plus an all-time Ian resume rant and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and NusiiInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Classic Little Kid Disease (04:14) - Weekend Update (18:29) - Ian's Resume Rant (33:57) - Advent of SQL (46:50) - Using AI to Help AI Links:Google ClassroomNorthPark CenterDanbury Railway MuseumMelissa & DougThomas & FriendsAdvent of SQL on Database SchoolCodeRabbitStratechery

Ian and Aaron discuss all things AI this week - from Claude Max to pairing Gemini with Claude to why people want to code but they don't want to sell and so much more.  Plus Aaron's secret soccer past and why the game (of getting a job) isn't fair.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and NusiiInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - OD on AI (09:40) - Product vs Distribution (15:29) - Alcove (21:21) - What's Ian Building With AI? (27:18) - Using Claude With Gemini? (37:38) - Google or ChatGPT? (46:51) - Old Puritan Aaron (58:21) - The Game Is Unfair (01:03:20) - What's New With Database School? (01:07:13) - Sportsball! Links:Claude MaxAaron's tweet about a design tool he builtAlcoveLaravel Wrapped 2025Radix ColorsAmpCodeRabbitPrimeagen - 1 year, no jobHassan Nazari

Ian and Aaron discuss Claude vs. Gemini, *another* Laravel New idea, drama on Thanksgiving, and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, Ittybit, tldraw, OG Kit, Tighten, and NusiiInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Happy Cyber Monday! (01:39) - Follow Up (07:24) - AI Update: Claude vs. Gemini (24:43) - Laravel New, Again, Again? (36:30) - Ian's 🐕 Drama (43:25) - Kids & Parks (48:47) - A Childlike Server (52:50) - Even More Follow Up Links:Indie Hacker who had his wedding sponsoredMillion Dollar HomepageIntroducing Claude Opus 4.5JMac's 'child-like' $20/month DO box

Ian and Aaron talk about the launch of Database School - the branding, everything he did the morning of the launch, building the site with Gemini, and so much more.  Plus the world championship of….bagels?Sponsored by Bento, Flare, No Compromises, and Ittybit.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Every Second Mattered (08:40) - The Morning Of (15:30) - The Last Launch? (18:07) - Walking With Adam (20:01) - Pricing (28:28) - Doing It Live (36:21) - We're Talking Logos (44:14) - Closing Thoughts On The Launch (49:21) - Built With Gemini (01:06:23) - World Championship of Bagels Links:NightwatchOG KitForgeLaravel CashierJamey Gannon on TwitterAaron's Blooper ReelAdam's Morning WalkLaravel VPSNano Banana ProGemini 3FilamentStarship Bagel

Ian and Aaron are joined by John O'Nolan, creator of Ghost, to talk about double Laravel New'ing, side projects for your side projects, building an RSS reader, mastering Claude Code, and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, No Compromises, and Ittybit.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Double Laravel New'd (08:52) - Claude Code Power User (21:26) - Queues! (32:58) - Your Side Project Has A Side Project (48:37) - All About Ghost (58:12) - Advice for Laravel New Believers Links:GhostMarco ArmentOvercastChartMogulJoel Spolsky on why you shouldn't ever do a rewrite

Ian and Aaron discuss screen time for kids, the impending launch of Database School, why Ian acquired Bootstrapped.fm, and more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, No Compromises, and Ittybit.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - The Screen Time Conundrum (12:56) - Public Service Announcement (23:18) - Database School Is Launching Next Week! (32:26) - Thanksgiving Plans (38:29) - Acquiring Bootstrapped.fm Links:Wall StreetThe Secret Life of PetsClaude CodeBrowser testing in Pest 4Database SchoolJason Beggs"Rich enough not to waste time"Andrey ButovBootstrapped Episode 43: The UserScape DevelopersBootstrapped Episode 46: Jeffrey Way of LaracastsPluribusIs It Cake?

Ian and Aaron talk about 20 years of HelpSpot, Aaron's big week on Twitter, and....talk about burying the lede....Aaron's got ARR!  Subscription revenue!  It's happening!Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Ittybit.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - A Weekend Story (15:25) - Sick Kids (20:12) - Laravel New Update (22:40) - 20 Years of HelpSpot (37:27) - Ian's Hiring (43:03) - Aaron's Big Week on Twitter (53:20) - Database School Update Links:Paperless PostFuji X100VIRicoh GR IVLaravel NewIan's hiring!Aaron's tweet"Put Food On My Family"

Ian and Aaron talk about the first ever Wire:live conference, what's new in Livewire 4, the best book Aaron's ever read, and....oh no.  Oh no.  Ian decided to `laravel new`.  Again.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Ittybit.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder (01:52) - Wire:live (10:54) - Livewire 4 (27:49) - Poker Day (34:45) - Aaron MC (36:40) - We Musn't Ship (48:54) - Best Book I've Ever Read (57:07) - Update On New Videos (01:10:44) - Advent of SQL (01:14:18) - 🐴 Update Links:Wire:liveVehiklBlazeForteRainbow BridgeDigital MinimalismThe Intellectual LifeAdvent of Vibe Coding

Ian and Aaron talk about everything from leasing horses to Aaron's new studio addition to what comes next for Database School and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Laravel Forge.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Low Energy Aaron (02:01) - Downtime & Expensive Horses (19:15) - Aaron's Giant Chalkboard (31:56) - Chalk Guy (49:36) - It's Time To Eat Glass (01:06:39) - The Plan Links:"Low-energy Jeb"Behind the scenes of Aaron's new setuphttp://nyblackboard.comBlackmagic DeckLinktldrawThe DynamoDB Book@fideloper

Ian and Aaron are joined this week by Jeffrey Way, creator of Laracasts, to talk about everything from their opinions about JavaScript to the evolution of Laracasts to modeling behavior for your kids and so much more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Laravel Forge.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Optimizing Everything (07:41) - Social Media, Kids, & Modeling Behavior (21:42) - Vision Quest Deep Dive (34:46) - Switch to Subscription? (39:48) - The Evolution of Laracasts (50:03) - Opinions About JavaScript (57:00) - Deciding What To Teach (01:02:59) - Chess (01:07:47) - YouTube & AI's Impact Links:AmaranTanStackRemix3 Ninjas (1992)Suno

Ian and Aaron talk about how Outro is shaping up, why we all need a handyman, why Ian is bullish on Sora, what's happening with Aaron's next batch of courses, and more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Laravel Forge.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.Links:MLB PostseasonBrickStratecherySoraLivewire BlazeTupleFocus Lab

Ian and Aaron talk about Aaron's recent "Vision Quest", accidentally inventing transcendental meditation, realizing he's addicted to Twitter, and the reaction he got online.  Plus Ian went to Philly to play poker & more.Sponsored by Bento, Flare, and Laravel Forge.Interested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.Links:BrickTranscendental MeditationAaron's tweet about his vision questIan's Bsky post about ice creamIan's travel pillowThule compression packing cube

Ian and Aaron recap Commit Your Code 2025, dive into the business of Aaron Francis, and wonder what we're all going to do with this AI slop.Sponsored by: Bento, Bifrost for NativePHP, and HoneybadgerInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - 36 Hour Adventure (10:46) - Commit Your Code Reacp (23:01) - Higher Rungs of This Ladder (26:12) - Ian's Getting Scooped (29:50) - Aaron's Acting Debut (37:52) - The Business of Aaron Francis (47:26) - Sweet Hang Followup (49:49) - Meta's AI Slop Links:'Survivor' bar in BostonCommit Your Code 2025Aaron's Talk at CYC'25Justin Jackson's 'The Panel' podcastAaron's CodeRabbit short filmMeta's AI slop announcement

Ian and Aaron are joined by Michele Hansen, CEO of Geocodio, for the first in a series of Sweet Hangs to talk about everything from Aaron's upcoming vision quest to beard oils to why you need to interview your customers (and potential customers) and so much more.Sponsored by: Bento, Bifrost for NativePHP, and HoneybadgerInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - The Quintessential Laravel Company (09:19) - Aaron's Vision Quest (15:41) - Dewy Fresh (19:52) - Customer Interviews for Outro (35:34) - What Makes Somebody Switch? (41:40) - The Missing Link (48:21) - What's Geocodio Up To? Links:GeocodioDeploy EmpathySoftware Social PodcastTJ Miller on XAvenue QJBTD TimelineFrontend Mentor

Ian and Aaron talk about PlanetScale, launching Aaron's new YouTube channels, traction tables that will change your life, and so much more.Sponsored by: Bento, Bifrost for NativePHP, and HoneybadgerInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Aaron Wanted It All (05:39) - YouTube Channel Launch (17:17) - Production Snafus (27:16) - Recreate The Magic (30:40) - Revamping MySQL for Developers (38:50) - Subscription Pricing (41:02) - Gotta Dream Big (50:55) - Traction Table Time Links:The future of this channel (Aaron's YouTube)Aaron's interview with PlanetScale CEO Sam LambertMySQL for DevelopersAaron's Traction Table

Ian and Aaron talk about adventures with TypeScript, huge updates re: Outro & Database School, and revisit exactly what happened with Once.com.Sponsored by: Bento, Bifrost for NativePHP, and HoneybadgerInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Follow Up (04:44) - Adventures With TypeScript (12:56) - Introduction to Postgres (15:11) - Getaway (18:31) - Update on Outro (31:08) - Precipice of a Mistake (38:51) - Railsworld Recap (50:17) - RIP Once.com (01:05:02) - This One's For The Girls Links:Jason Beggs on TwitterReka UIFocus LabRails WorldBourne FranchiseCampfireFizzy WalkthroughThis One's for the Girls

Ian and Aaron dive deep into what's cooking with Database School and discuss everything from upcoming videos to the correct business model to Aaron's wild fly.io setup and a lot more.Sponsored by: Bento, Bifrost for NativePHP, and HoneybadgerInterested in sponsoring Mostly Technical?  Head to https://mostlytechnical.com/sponsor to learn more.(00:00) - Outside of Technical (01:22) - Database School Update (37:12) - Code Editors In The Browser (45:45) - When Will This Launch? (51:38) - Pushing Uphill (53:47) - The Successful Mindset (01:07:38) - It Shouldn't Be This Difficult Links:Database SchoolFly.ioCodeMirrorSingleStoreDuckDBJesse Hanley's Tweet