The Year in Web Dev
For me, 2023 was defined by a major professional launch, a demanding conference schedule, and one big personal milestone. The professional highlight was the release of Epic Web and the Epic Stack. Those projects required their own writeup, so the full backstory is covered in Launching Epic Web. It was a significant undertaking and a genuinely big deal.
Conference Circuit
It was a busy travel year. According to my travel map, I spoke at nine conferences across the US and Europe:
- Agent Conf in Dornbirn, Austria
- QCon London in London, England
- CityJS London in London, England
- React Miami in Miami, Florida
- Remix Conf in Salt Lake City, Utah
- JSDay Canarias in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- React Rally in Salt Lake City, Utah
- UtahJS Conf in Salt Lake City, Utah
- React Live in Amsterdam, Netherlands
It was a packed schedule, but November brought the birth of our 5th child, so I’m planning to ease up on travel for 2024. Still, there are some solid events on the horizon.
A couple of these events stood out. Agent Conf was outstanding — the organizer Guntram put together a memorable event, and the alpine skiing was a highlight, even if Utah powder remains my benchmark.
At CityJS London, I got to spend six great hours at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with friends Ruben Casas and Adrien Baron. And as per tradition, I rode my onewheel to the airport when leaving React Miami.
One role shift this year: even though I’m no longer at Remix, the team asked me to organize Remix Conf. It was a great experience to help build that event, and the Remix community makes getting together genuinely enjoyable.
I also took some time to explore the Netherlands while in Amsterdam, and it was beautiful.
Family First
The most important personal development was the birth of my fifth child. I keep my kids off the internet, but the health and happiness of my wife and new son are something I’m deeply grateful for.
Earlier in the year, we took the kids to Disneyland for the first time. My oldest daughter, who is 11, was game for nearly every ride — Guardians of the Galaxy being the one exception. It was a fantastic trip; Rise of the Resistance lives up to the hype.
Beyond the Code
When I wasn't heads-down in a project, I made a point of getting outside. Utah's record-breaking winter meant I spent a lot of time snowboarding, and I even ran into Kent on the slopes. The summer months were just as good, with plenty of miles on the Onewheel. After a couple of years off following my car accident, I decided to test myself and try a backflip again — happy to report I've still got it. And on Thanksgiving morning, I ran a 10k alongside my 9-year-old son; his pace of 11:17 per mile made me incredibly proud.
The family support didn't stop at the finish line. For my birthday, my wife made a cake themed around Epic Web — a pretty cool reminder that the people closest to me are invested in what I build.
No telling who you’ll find in the mountains @kentcdodds @[account deleted] twitter.com/chancethedev/status/1638222086991941632
My office for the afternoon
I still got it.
I ran a 10k with my 9 year old this morning. My pace was 9:41 and his was 11:17. So proud of him!
My wife made the coolest cake for my birthday! #EpicWeb 🎂🎈
Gaming the System
On the entertainment side, 2023 was the year I finally checked off both massive Zelda titles. I beat Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild in September. Like any long game, it brought mixed feelings — thinking about all those hours and what else I might have done — until I remember that gaming is how I unwind, and it's more engaging than a movie.
I wrapped up the year in December by beating Ganondorf in Tears of the Kingdom. It's bigger in every way, and the ending boss battle is far more satisfying than its predecessor. What an amazing game.
I beat Calamity Ganon (BOTW) last night. I always have mixed feelings when I finish video games. I think back on all the hours and wonder what else I could've done with that time. Then I remember that the reason I play is to relax and it's more engaging than a movie 🎮 👍
I just beat Ganondorf, the Demon King in Tears of the Kingdom. This was great! Much more satisfactory ending boss battle than Breath of the Wild. And it was so much bigger in every way. What an amazing game.
Wrapping Up
Looking back on the year, it's the time with family and friends that stands out most. As the world becomes even more digital, I find myself holding onto those real human relationships even tighter. I'm convinced that the greatest happiness comes from cultivating meaningful connections with other people.
Here's to 2024.
