Mar 7
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What does a robotics graduate, a Microsoft MVP, and a Vercel DX Engineer have in common? They're all Aurora Scharff, and she's on a mission to change how developers think about React. In this episode, Aurora takes us through her unconventional path from studying Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the University of Oslo to becoming one of the most active voices in the React community. From her early days building Angular frontends at a fintech startup to leading a major public sector frontend rebuild with Next.js at Crayon Consulting, Aurora has seen it all. Now at Vercel, she's focused on developer experience, and as React Certification Lead at certificates.dev, she's shaping how the industry validates React skills. We go deep on React Server Components, what they actually change about how you build apps, why the mental model shift trips up even experienced developers, and how Next.js App Router fits into the picture. Aurora also shares real stories from rebuilding legacy systems for the Norwegian government, her honest take on Vercel vs Azure deployments, and why she thinks certifications matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. 🔸 Topics Covered: - Transitioning from robotics and Angular to the React ecosystem - React Server Components: how they simplify data fetching and improve performance - The mental model shift developers need to make with async server components - Next.js App Router vs Page Router and why the migration is worth it - Deploying Next.js on Vercel vs Azure: trade-offs and gotchas - Handling vulnerabilities and upgrades in production Next.js apps - Rebuilding legacy public sector systems with modern web tech - Creating the React certification at certificates.dev - Common React mistakes: deriving state and other pitfalls - New React features: view transitions, suspense, and what's coming next - Public speaking tips and building a content creation workflow - Becoming a Microsoft MVP and contributing to the developer community 📌 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aurora Scharff 01:56 Transition from Robotics to Web Development 03:22 Journey from Angular to React 06:40 Understanding React Server Components 09:23 Mental Model Shifts with Server Components 10:41 Exploring Next.js and Its Features 11:33 Deployment Strategies: Vercel vs Azure 14:43 Handling Vulnerabilities in Next.js 15:47 Next.js App Router vs Page Router 16:54 New Features in React Ecosystem 18:46 Rebuilding Legacy Systems 20:45 Testing Practices in Next.js 22:23 Creating React Certifications 29:07 The Importance of Certifications 29:52 Common Mistakes in React Development 31:36 Aurora's Speaking Journey 36:14 Content Creation Process for Talks 37:33 Balancing Work and Side Projects 40:23 Advice for Aspiring Speakers 42:24 Becoming a Microsoft MVP 43:47 Excitement in the React Ecosystem 44:59 Future Plans and Upcoming Projects 45:33 Recommended Movies and Closing Thoughts 🔗 Connect with Aurora: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurora-scharff-a86b88188/ - Website: https://aurorascharff.no 🎙️ FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev 🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale 📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/señors-scale/ #ReactJS #NextJS #ReactServerComponents #WebDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #Vercel #DeveloperExperience #TechPodcast #SeniorsAtScale #JavaScript #FrontendDevelopment #Microsoft MVP #ReactCertification #AppRouter #TechLeadership