That moment when 270,000 users hit deploy at once...

Something I have been excited about recently (and think you should be too) is AI Agents.

AI agents are changing how our apps handle user input. Previously, users had to fill out forms exactly right, or the app would break. Agents can understand messy, natural input and still get the job done.

Here is a real example: Say you type "remind me to call Dave from the backend team about the database next Thursday." An agent is smart enough to:

Before agents, we had to write many rigid rules to handle this. We would need code to check if something should be a task or a calendar event, find the right person, and set everything up. It was like building a huge decision tree where everything had to be spelled out. Now agents can figure this stuff out on their own, making our apps much more flexible and user-friendly.

The best part? You do not need to wait to start building with agents. You can build your own multi-agent systems with tools like AutoGen, LangChain, and CrewAI today.

Trust me, you will have a blast seeing how flexible they can be.

Now after my little bit of excitement, here is the rest of the newsletter.

Your Journey to the Tech Stage: A Speakers Guide (13 min)

Something I wrote this week: A practical roadmap for developers wanting to share their knowledge through conference speaking. From crafting a compelling proposal to delivering your talk with confidence, this guide breaks down every step of becoming a tech conference speaker.

Nodes new built-in support for TypeScript (4 min)

Big news for TypeScript developers: Node.js v23.6.0 now supports TypeScript out of the box without transpilation. Learn about the experimental type-stripping feature, which extensions to use (.mts, .cts, .ts), and important limitations like no JSX support or decorators.

Rombo: Tailwind Animation Made Simple (Tool)

A game-changing toolkit that makes creating smooth UI animations with Tailwind CSS a breeze. Perfect for developers looking to add polished motion design to their projects without the complexity of custom animation code.

The State of LLMs: 2024 in Review (27 min)

A comprehensive deep dive into how Large Language Models evolved in 2024. From breakthrough architectures to surprising capabilities, this analysis covers the pivotal moments that shaped AI development.

Canvas December 2024 Outage Analysis (13 min)

A masterclass in modern system failures - see how a stale CDN rule combined with high latency created a "thundering herd" of 1.5 million requests per second.

I am hosting my first conference!

It is called AI Crush and it is in Belfast. We are looking for presenters to share their insights on May 9th, 2025. This inaugural event represents a unique opportunity to be part of something special in Northern Irelands growing tech scene.

Whether you are building AI-powered applications, exploring machine learning architectures, or implementing practical AI solutions, we want to hear your story.

Think you have got something valuable to share? Know someone who does? The CFP (Call for Presentations) is open now!

It is dual track (one stage for developers and one for leadership) so we need talks for both stages.

Here is the link: https://www.crushconf.com/cfp

Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer (Playful Thinking)

A fascinating exploration of how 2D platform games created lasting impact through seemingly simple design choices. Author Peter D. McDonald deconstructs over 40 years of gaming history to reveal how elements like character movement, level design, and even coin collection communicate deeper meaning to players.

AWS Community Builders Program (Applications Open!)

For the AWS folks in my network: the AWS Community Builders program is currently accepting applications until January 20th, 2025. This 12-month program offers developers unique access to AWS product teams, technical resources, and a global community of cloud practitioners.

Community Builders get exclusive perks like:

I have been a community builder for a few years and really enjoy having access to such a smart community!

If you have any ideas or feedback, reply to this email.

Thanks, and stay awesome,

Niall

Founder @ Codú