Rust-based JavaScript linters have a major issue

It cannot be denied just how fast Rust-based linters for JavaScript are. The major tools available now are Biome and Oxc, both running at nearly 100x the speed of ESLint. But they have one major drawback and I don’t think they’re going to take over ESLint without it…

❌ No support for custom rules and plugins

That’s it. While Biome intends to explore (supporting) plugins, there are no concrete plans in either tool – nor are they likely to support plugins via JavaScript/TypeScript.

Why is this a problem?

While I understand that the intention for both of these projects is to be opinionated, at the same time, those opinions have been formed slowly over time by the large community of JavaScript developers. Blocking the ability to support new ideas – or even blocking behind another language barrier – will result in stagnating progress.

Furthermore, individual teams often have very sutom needs to help prevent problematic patterns and catch errors that are unique to their software. I’ve written tens of custom ESLint rules over the last decade for teams that helped us prevent real problems that otherwise could go unnoticed until they persisted in production for weeks.

I’m hopeful that these Rust-based tools succeed, because they are fast. But I can’t imagine they will without a JS-based plugin & custom rule API.

App Defaults 2023

Here’s a little trend for 2023 that’s going around: listing out the default apps (and tools!) that I’ve used in 2023. I enjoy this little go around, as I’ve been getting to discover new apps that I might want to try.
CSS box-sizing: border-box

I can’t think of any scenario when I do not want box-sizing: border-box; set on every element on my page by default. In fact, I can’t think of the last time that I wanted to use the default content-box method. However, I’ve just come across a major company’s design system that does not use border-box across all elements.
Mourning the loss of Twitter

It is odd to feel this way, I admit. But with Twitter’s new management, I feel like I’m mourning the loss of something that was near and dear to me.
Things I want to see in JavaScript and Frontend development in 2023

We’re now nearly a month into the year 2023. I’ve started a new job and have been doing a lot of research for new projects and auditing old code. This process has given me time to reflect on what is and is not working – and what I’d like to see going forward this year.
New site, who dis?

I needed an escape while stressing about my (previously) upcoming wedding. Having some personal annoyances with how difficult it would be to personalize Docusaurus, I sat down and hacked at Astro for a day and a half. I came up with a fully working static website & blog in no time.