🧠 AGI Is Just The Beginning

and Frontend Developer Roadmap

Author

Journals GG
January 06, 2025

Hey there.

Here’s everything you need to know this week in the world of full-stack development.

Frontend Focus

👎️ React Query - The Bad Parts
React Query has become a go-to library for handling asynchronous state in React apps, powering nearly 20% of them today. Its success largely stems from simplifying data fetching and caching. However, in this talk, maintainer Dominik dives into the lesser-discussed downsides of React Query. He highlights scenarios where it might not shine and explore alternatives for those edge cases.

‼️ You don't need Next.js
ComfyDeploy swapped out Next.js for plain React, and the results are impressive. Build times dropped from 3 minutes to just 18 seconds, and hot reloads now clock in under 200ms. The team? Happier than ever.

The switch came down to two reasons: their API platform needed scalable servers beyond Vercel's limits, and their dashboard didn’t rely on Next.js's server-side perks. This blog post shares some great points on when and when not to use Next.js.

Programming

🤖 OpenAI is turning its attention to ‘superintelligence’
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes the company is on track to build artificial general intelligence (AGI) and is now setting its sights on "superintelligence." In a blog post, Altman called these advancements a gateway to a "glorious future," where superintelligent tools could accelerate scientific breakthroughs and drive unprecedented prosperity.

Altman predicts superintelligence could emerge in just a few thousand days, describing its impact as "more intense than people think." OpenAI defines AGI as systems that surpass humans in most economically valuable tasks.

➡️ Future-proofing your Software Engineering career
Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping automation, sparking debates that either overhype or undervalue their impact. While some claim they’ll end traditional programming, others dismiss them as glorified autocomplete—both extremes miss the point.

The truth lies in the middle: LLMs are tools, not replacements, and their influence on software engineering careers is nuanced. By understanding their practical uses and developing adaptive skills, engineers can future-proof their careers.

🪢 How concurrency works: A visual guide
Concurrency can be tricky to grasp, but Waqas Younas simplifies it in a fantastic blog post. He highlights how breaking down complex systems into smaller, visual models can make understanding concurrency far easier. This approach not only demystifies what's happening under the hood but also provides a clearer path for tackling challenging systems. If concurrency feels daunting, this is a must-read!

Tools

AI