Goodbye, forever, probably.
Why I’m leaving developer relations, and why I’m not telling you what’s next.
Salma Alam-Naylor's RSS Feed
I'm Salma. Web developer. International speaker. Tech educator. Musician. Has a weird newsletter. Makes stuff on The Internet.
Latest posts
How I made a 45-video course without wanting to die
Tips and tricks from me to you.
I released a song for the first time in 15 years
Everyone should make music in some shape or form. You don’t even have to be very good at it.
I am in an abusive relationship with the technology industry
I am writing to you in a moment of intense grief-induced burnout.
How to make your first contribution to an open source project
Getting involved in open source doesn't have to be scary! Understand how to find a great project and make your first contribution in this guide.
I built a website for drummers
How am I meant to enjoy this, without any SAUCE?
I tracked everything I wore in 2025. Was it worth it?
Habit-tracking can feel useful and insightful. But how does it help us, really?
I redesigned my website (again)
The Shirt is at the heart of what this website redesign became.
This is not a 2025 wrap up post
I won't be talking about anything that happened.
All good things must come to an end
I guess this time the game really does stop, when the stream ends.
Is the BenQ coding monitor any good?
The BenQ coding monitor does come with one major downside, but it (surprisingly) became my primary monitor as soon as I unboxed it.
We all have a choice
There is hope if we do it together.
I am 40
Letters from The Internet.
An Introduction to the World Wide Web for Very Senior Programmers
As we witness the much-anticipated release of HTML 2.0, there is no better time to surf the World Wide Web.
How to delete all squash-merged local git branches with one terminal command
I wrote a new bash script. And you probably shouldn't use it.
Why is CSS ::first-letter not working?
I had some misconceptions about this sneaky pseudo element.
Your Twitch live stream graphics don’t really matter, but they can help
Create a professional-looking stream brand with just a few key graphics.
How I set up my Dygma Defy keyboard layers
Gotta love those Superkeys.
Put your phone down
Is this how we're living our lives now?
Why Women in Tech isn't enough
Real progress needs systemic change and active involvement from men in positions of power.
The promise that wasn’t kept
This isn't progress.
The experience is enough
I found my tribe at a conference.
It wasn’t the idea that failed: it was the execution
And we still can't get it right in 2025.
Thrive
p.s. coffee is not breakfast
Does AI really make you more productive?
Oh no! My metrics!
Is this the next step in the evolution of front end dev?
Tired of endless admin in web dev?
You are more than the tools you use: tell your story
And your people will find you.
3 reasons you should tour a conference talk
After putting in the work, you owe it to yourself.
A case for getting dressed every day
On rediscovering the importance of getting dressed daily after finding the perfect pair of jeans.
How I created a newsletter I actually enjoy writing
Send what you like to receive, make it easy for yourself, and do it for the love.
How I learned to code with my voice
Struggling with severe hand pain, I learned to code by voice.
How to build a copy code snippet button and why it matters
It is impossible to highlight and copy code blocks when you are unable to use your hands.
A reluctant roundup of 2024
In the spirit of self-love and positivity, I will now force myself to list all of the things I did on the internet (and beyond) in 2024.
It’s OK to have a slow day
Sometimes, our bodies speak louder than our minds.
Your live coding stream does not need a bigger audience
Less is more.
The 4 types of DevRel content
Discover how to classify DevRel content to understand what works for your team. Learn about 4 content types, their goals, and leading themes.
A story about a coat
A coat cannot make you truly happy.
How I reduced an API call from >5 seconds to under 100ms
I wrote more terrible code. Here's how I fixed it.
Paths to business value in Developer Relations
This post is not about measuring success in DevRel, but about making an impact in a way *only* DevRel can do, and *should* be doing.
How I show Bluesky likes on my blog posts
Learn how to use the Bluesky API to show likes and Bluesky user avatars on your blog posts when you share them on Bluesky.
Entertainment as Code: Finale
Imagine if we could blur the lines between a streamer being live and offline on Twitch.
Sentry can’t fix React hydration errors, but it can really help you debug them
Hydration failed because the initial ui does not match what was rendered on the server. Great.
Work is meaningless, and it almost killed my husband
Work is an exchange of time for money.
How to make your web page faster before it even loads
Perhaps you could use your new-found knowledge on DNS to wow people at all the cool parties you probably attend.
I conducted a community survey and here’s what I learned
Oh sweet, delicious, data. Get in my mouth.
Your bad LCP score might be a backend issue
This is the best way to debug slow web pages.
How To Hack Your Google Lighthouse Scores In 2024
I put on my lab coat and science googles to investigate.
One does not simply delete cookies
Sometimes, even the most "intuitive" framework APIs can create misunderstandings in the minds of seasoned web developers (ahem, me).
5 easy tips to improve your personal website performance
TL;DR: Add less.
How to prevent Prettier putting a full stop on a new line after a link
Ugh, what a minefield.