Best of Theo - t3․gg — July 2025

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    Avatar of t3dotggTheo - t3․gg·45w

    Why I quit my job to make a startup

    A software engineer shares their journey from working at Twitch for 5 years to founding their own startup. The story covers their early career struggles, learning experiences at different teams within Twitch, the decision-making process behind quitting, failed attempts at other startups, and eventually building a creator tool called Round that led to acceptance into Y Combinator. Key themes include the importance of mentorship, talking to users, and recognizing when corporate environments no longer align with personal goals.

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    Video
    Avatar of t3dotggTheo - t3․gg·47w

    React feels insane

    A developer critiques React's complexity and design decisions, arguing that the framework feels unnecessarily complicated compared to earlier solutions like Angular and jQuery. The response demonstrates common React anti-patterns like misusing useEffect for API calls and event handling, while defending React's design choices and explaining how proper usage with libraries like React Query can address many of the cited issues. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding tool complexity relative to application requirements and using appropriate patterns for different levels of application complexity.

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    Video
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    Everyone’s mad at Cursor right now

    Cursor recently changed its pricing model from 500 requests per month for $20 to a credit-based system with $20 of API usage, causing user backlash due to poor communication. Many users experienced unexpected charges when the new pricing kicked in without clear warnings. The change reflects broader industry trends as AI coding tools move away from loss-leader pricing to more sustainable models that reflect actual API costs. While Cursor's value proposition remains strong, the lack of transparency in usage tracking and billing has created uncertainty among users about when they'll hit limits or incur additional charges.

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    Video
    Avatar of t3dotggTheo - t3․gg·48w

    Why are developers always so angry?

    Software engineers often display fragility and defensiveness due to the nature of their work requiring constant learning and feeling incompetent. The field's rapid evolution creates insecurity as developers build expertise in narrow domains, then feel threatened when those domains expand or change. The loudest critics online represent a small minority of below-average engineers who resist growth, while most developers quietly adapt and improve. AI amplifies these tensions by potentially replacing lower-skilled developers, making continuous learning more critical than ever.

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