Across the Awesomeverse

A versioned archive of posts from Bluesky, Mastodon, GitHub, npm, YouTube, Hacker News, and blogs. See the most popular posts.

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Podcast Awesome

Dave Gandy on Why Boring is Best™ in Engineering

In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.

Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.

Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.

But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.

Key Takeaways:

  • LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.
  • Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.
  • Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.
  • Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.
  • Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.

This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.

Timestamp

🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League
⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions
🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism
🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges
🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions
🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups
🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success
🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product Development

**Resources:

**Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance

Font Awesome on the Socials

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Podcast Awesome

A tiny release to the `latest` branch of `@11ty/is-land` (v4.0.1) fixes unnecessary build artifacts that rolled up with the published package:

Release is-land v4.0.1 · 11ty/is-land
This release has no production code change impact — it only corrects extra unnecessary build artifacts that were included with the published package (1.28 MB -> 20 KB) Adds npm package publishing p...

First looks: <is-land> v5.0.0 Beta 2

Broadened browser support
Passive event listeners
Rename attribute prefixes
New Import Maps examples
Supports: Petite Vue, Vue, Svelte, Solid, Lit, Preact, and Alpine.js

Release is-land v5.0.0-beta.2 · 11ty/is-land
Compressed file size: v4.0.0 at 1.61 kB to v5.0.0 at 1.79 kB Broadens browser support (thank you @vanarok in #21) and adds (cut the mustard-style) feature test: v5.0.0 supports Chrome 54, Firefox ...

Eleventy Import v1.0.10 adds the `--within` CLI option to filter imported items to those created or updated within a specified time frame.

npx @11ty/import [type] [target] --within=7d

Release Eleventy Import v1.0.10 · 11ty/eleventy-import
Adds within CLI option to filter entries to only include those created or updated with a recent time frame. Uses the same syntax as Fetch duration (e.g. "24h", "7d"). Also supported as a options pr...

🔔 Backers, we’re back in your inbox this week with another update!

Web Awesome components now use native events (at your request)! Plus, nested components now inherit some attributes, a utility to reduce FOUCE, & more.

Not a backer? Visit webawesome.com and don’t miss out!

Podcast Awesome

2024 Wrap-Up: Growth, Legends, and a Kitty Cat Saga

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.

You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.

Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.

Timestamp **Summary
**
🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans
 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue
 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success
 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components
 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome
 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro
 ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses
 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video
 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance
 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance

Font Awesome on the Socials 
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   

🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Podcast Awesome

Buckle up for a blast from the past: the DeLorean DMC-12 roared off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. Thanks to a certain time-traveling duo, the DeLorean became the unofficial mascot of the high-tech '80s, even if its engineering was stuck in second gear.
#thisdayintechhistory

Start Your Escape from WordPress Using 11ty (in 3 minutes!)

Watch Start Your Escape from WordPress Using 11ty (in 3 minutes!) on YouTube

It’s time to think about getting off of WordPress for more stable blogging pastures. In this video we’ll talk about using 11ty to do just that!

Read the docs: https://www.11ty.dev/docs/migrate/wordpress/

Eleventy Import: https://github.com/11ty/eleventy-import
Eleventy Base Blog: https://github.com/11ty/eleventy-base-blog

Poster image by Berni Wittmann: https://unsplash.com/photos/black-wooden-bench-on-green-grass-field-near-mountains-during-daytime-xEjWEkSagLg

New proposal on the issue tracker to add first-party support for TypeScript in Eleventy core (in pairing with Node’s upcoming type stripping feature)

Proposal: Add first-party core support for TypeScript configuration, data, and template files · Issue #3616 · 11ty/eleventy
In preparation for Node.js stable to ship TypeScript stripping as an unflagged feature https://nodejs.org/api/typescript.html We already provide support for TypeScript via tsx, documented here: htt...

🎨 Backers, check your inbox: For Week 3, we bring you new themes and component styles!

We have 5️⃣ new themes for you to use out-of-the-box or customize. Plus, new style options for components like badges, callouts, and inputs.

Not a backer yet? Don’t miss out: webawesome.com

Happy 2025! 🎉

Pre-release testers wanted: Eleventy Image v6

Granular control over transform failures
Keep ICC profiles by default
Transform hook for low-level sharp control (cropping!)
`sizes=auto` support
Option to swap to smallest fallback size

Release Prerelease: Eleventy Image v6.0.0-beta.1 · 11ty/eleventy-img
returnType: "html" option will return the generated HTML directly instead of the metadata object #267 htmlOptions: {} are options passed to the generateHTML function Output format filtering (opt...

You wanted all things Interop. We heard you. Become a backer of @webawesome.com today!!

💝 Backers, check your inbox: Week 2 is all about Interop!

Better compatibility with the platform, including Web Awesome styles on native elements!

And we sneaked in a couple <wa-page> improvements based on your feedback.

Not a backer yet? Get in on the action at webawesome.com!

Happy holidays! ✨

Quoted post

— Web Awesome (December 20, 2024 at 8:20:14 PM UTC)

💝 Backers, check your inbox: Week 2 is all about Interop!

Better compatibility with the platform, including Web Awesome styles on native elements!

And we sneaked in a couple <wa-page> improvements based on your feedback.

Not a backer yet? Get in on the action at webawesome.com!

Happy holidays! ✨

🎁 Backers, check your inbox! Today we begin unwrapping Web Awesome, one feature preview per week, starting from <wa-page>, our favorite new component. 🧡

Not a backer yet? Get in on the action! You can still back Web Awesome for a limited time at webawesome.com

— Web Awesome (December 11, 2024 at 4:12:32 PM UTC)

Survey Awesome ends tomorrow!

Behind every website is a story 📖— what’s yours?
We’re collecting insights in Survey Awesome 2024 to uncover the web’s biggest trends.
📊 Add your voice: survey.awesome.me?from=fa_bsky

Survey Awesome
There are dozens of web maker surveys that drill deep into a specific skill or technology, but what is the big picture? What are people using to get stuff out there, start to end? We designed this sur...