Lea Verou: Demystifying Regular Expressions

Regular expressions are a great way to identify patterns in text. However, the syntax of regular expressions has long mystified (or infuriated) many programmers. In this talk, Lea Verou introduces regular expressions, showing their syntax, but also how and when you would want to use regular expressions.   If regular expressions have scared you in the past, then this talk will provide you with a gentle introduction.

Martin Fowler: Introduction to NoSQL

NoSQL” is a term that is frequently used nowadays. But what does “NoSQL” mean, and what kinds of databases does this term include? How are they different (if at all) from object databases? What problems have people experienced with relational databases, which led to the development of NoSQL databases?  In this talk, Martin Fowler introduces the history and development of NoSQL databases, and describes the different types of such systems that exist, along with their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Frank Greco and Kevin Hoyt: WebSockets — Past, Present, and Future

WebSockets are one of the most interesting technologies in HTML5, making it possible for the browser to open (and then hold) connections to remote servers. In this talk, Frank Greco and Kevin Hoyt describe what WebSockets are good for and what the state of support is in various browsers. They then provide examples of WebSocket-based applications.

Aimee Maree Forsstrom: FireFoxOS and the Linux Kernel

Firefox is a well-known open-source Web browser from the Mozilla Foundation. FirefoxOS is a new open-source mobile operating system, designed to comply with Web standards and be as open as possible. In this talk, Aimee Marie Forsstrom introduces FirefoxOS, describes the different parts of this architecture, and shows how it is similar to (and different from) Android.

Douglas Crockford: Really. JavaScript.

Douglas Crockford is one of the best-known JavaScript developers and lecturers, as well as the originator of the JSON format. He is also a leading thinker on the advantages (and disadvantages) of JavaScript’s various features, and on the future of the language. In this talk from 2013, Crockford lists the many things that JavaScript does well, which have led it to be (as he describes it) the world’s most popular programming language.

Josh Owens: What I’ve learned during my year with Meteor.js

Meteor is a new type of Web framework — one that bridges the gap between client and server, uses a single language on both, and allows for real-time communication between them. In this talk, Meteor developer Josh Owens introduces Meteor, and describes what he has learned (sometimes the hard way) from using this framework.

Kevin Lack: How to Design Great APIs

APIs have long been a staple of the programming world. If you want to use a library, you need to understand its API. If you want someone to use your library, then you need to provide (and document) an API. In the modern programming world, APIs extend not only to libraries, but also to Web frameworks and (increasingly) Web APIs — which allow software to communicate across computers, networks, and languages. But what are the best practices in creating APIs? n this talk, Kevin Lack (now at Facebook, but then the CTO of Parse), describes the elements of a great API. No matter what language you’re using, you can likely learn something about how to improve your APIs from this talk.

Patrick Kua: The geek’s guide to leading teams

Many programmers eventually find themselves taking on management roles, leading other programmers. It turns out that management is a completely different skill than programming — and as a technical lead, you need to worry more about people than about technology. In this talk, Patrick Kua describes what it takes to be a good team lead, how to think about management, and things that you can do as a developer to be a positive, helpful resource for the people on your team.

Igor Minar and Tobias Bosch: Angular 2.0 Core

Angular.js is a popular open-source client-side framework, whose development is sponsored by Google. The current version of Angular.js, as of this writing, is 1.3 — but the big news is that Angular.js 2.0 will change everything, including much of the syntax. In this talk, two members of Google’s Angular.js team (Igor Minar and Tobias Bosch) discuss the differences between the versions, and what developers can expect.

It should be noted that this talk was given before the final state of Angular.js was decided. Moreover, many Angular.js developers have expressed upset with the sharp changes planned in Angular. Whether you love Angular, hate it, or are curious to see its future unfold, this talk will help you to understand where things are headed.