Scott and Wes sit down with Jake Archibald from Mozilla to unpack how web standards actually get made at Firefox. From browser features and developer feedback to the drama around the Prompt API. They discuss Interop 2026, the future of web APIs, and what it’s really like shaping the web after a career spanning both Google and Mozilla.
Show Notes
00:00 The Importance of Sunscreen
02:29 Welcome to Syntax!
04:35 Transitioning from Google to Mozilla
06:00 Brought to you by Sentry.io
06:43 Mozilla’s Current Position and Development Priority
HTML Sanitizer API
08:35 Feature Implementation and Developer Feedback
13:12 JPEG XL and AVIF: The Future of Image Formats
18:06 Balancing User Features and Web Standards
20:56 Navigating the AI Translation Dilemma
23:03 Understanding the Prompt API Controversy
32:56 Rethinking the Future of Prompt APIs
39:00 Exploring Local Models and User Control
44:04 The State of Firefox DevTools
45:42 Browser Stability and Developer Editions
47:39 Introduction to the Heading Offset API
51:14 Interop APIs and Their Importance
Headingoffset & Headingreset attributes
54:10 Developer Feedback and Browser Features
Developer Signals
58:05 Animating Display None and Its Challenges
01:00:44 HTML and Canvas: Opportunities and Concerns
01:04:01 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs
Sick Picks
Scott:
Wes:
Jake:
Clues by Sam
Shameless Plugs
Scott:
Wes:
Jake:
Bluesky
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