Top 7 Featured DEV Posts of the Week

Welcome to this week's Top 7, where the DEV editorial team handpicks their favorite posts from the previous week.

Congrats to all the authors that made it onto the list 👏

There's something off in the "dev with AI or die" narrative

Etienne Burdet ・ Aug 19

#ai #hype #career

@etienneburdet challenges the "dev with AI or die" narrative, arguing that the hype around AI replacing developers is driven more by financial interests and power dynamics than actual productivity gains.

Gating entrances with Stripe and NFC passes

Joshua Nussbaum ・ Aug 21

#stripe #javascript #typescript #raspberrypi

@joshnuss demonstrates how to create a fully digital access control system using Stripe subscriptions and NFC-enabled digital wallet passes, eliminating the need for physical keys or cards. The comprehensive tutorial walks through hardware setup with Raspberry Pi, payment integration, and door access logic.

Why is CSS ::first-letter not working?

Salma Alam-Naylor ・ Aug 20

#css #webdev #html

@whitep4nth3r explains why CSS ::first-letter fails to work in certain contexts, and clarifies the rules around this pseudo-element.

Constant Refactoring: Refactoring my refactored Website

Ingo Steinke, web developer ・ Aug 20

#webdev #programming #productivity

@ingosteinke shares his ongoing journey of maintaining and upgrading a personal portfolio website built with Eleventy, exploring the challenges of constant software deprecation and technical debt.

Vibe Coding — The Fast Food of Coding

Murtuzaali Surti for This is Learning ・ Aug 20

#ai #programming #coding #vibecoding

@murtuzaalisurti compares excessive reliance on AI coding tools to fast food consumption, highlighting how "vibe coding" can provide instant gratification while lacking long-term value.

How I Snagged `patron.com` and Why You Should Just Ship It 🚀

Nick K ・ Aug 18

#webdev #programming #startup #marketing

@skeptrune recounts their successful acquisition of the premium domain patron.com through direct outreach and relationship building, rather than just throwing money at the problem.

Ghost 6 IS Really Something Else!

Ali Farhat ・ Aug 21

#ghost6 #cms #node #webdev

@alifar explores the major features in Ghost 6.0, particularly ActivityPub integration that allows Ghost sites to publish directly to the federated social web.

And that's a wrap for this week's Top 7 roundup! 🎬 We hope you enjoyed this eclectic mix of insights, stories, and tips from our talented authors. Keep coding, keep learning, and stay tuned to DEV for more captivating content and make sure you’re opted in to our Weekly Newsletter 📩 for all the best articles, discussions, and updates.