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
- Mastodon
- Threads
- LinkedIn
- YouTube
- X
- Insatgram
- Tiktok

Hit us up on Socials!

Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads

Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads