Frontend Crew Talk: When tools move faster than us

Frontend developers in 2026 are spoiled for choice. New frameworks promising freedom, AI assistants promising to handle the boring parts. But between the framework debates and the quiet burnout, what actually delivers in day-to-day work?

Join us on Tuesday, May 26, for an evening focused on the honest reality of frontend development in 2026. Four engineers from Applifting and Mews will share what's actually working—and what isn't—in framework decisions, AI workflows, and the human side of keeping up with constant change.
Let's meet in the Applifting meetup space, both in person and online. We’ll start at 18:00.

👉 Register here 👈 if you want to attend in person. Spaces are limited and our event planner Anetka would be sad if we had to turn you away at the door!

Who’s speaking?

Michal Čížek, senior frontend developer at Applifting, will open with a side-by-side comparison of Next.js and TanStack Start—two frameworks with fundamentally different philosophies—to help you pick for your next project.

Jan Marek, senior software engineer at Mews, will follow with how frustration and laziness can guide useful AI workflows, automating each “I don't want to do this manually” from Slack thread to announcement.

Tereza Šimková, also a senior frontend developer at Applifting, will offer an honest, non-technical look at the hidden psychological toll of working with AI coding assistants.

Then, they will be joined for the panel discussion by Matyas Mihálka, frontend tech lead at Applifting, bringing a grounded take on what AI coding tools actually deliver day-to-day and how to adopt them without burning out.

We look forward to meeting you!

Schedule:

17:30 – Doors open

• Get your ticket ready, say hello to others, and have a drink with us. 🥂

18:00 – Introduction by Filip Kirschner

• Our co-founder Filip will give you a short welcome and introduce our speakers.

18:15 – Two philosophies, one decision: Next.js vs TanStack Start in 2026 with Michal Čížek

• Next.js has shaped React for years. TanStack Start is the challenger with a fundamentally different philosophy. Which one should you pick for your next project?

18:30 – Boring driven development: Let your laziness and frustration guide your creativity in your AI workflows with Jan Marek

• From Slack thread to announcement: how “I don't want to do this manually” can turn each step of development into automation.

18:45 — We need to talk: Confessions of a frontend dev's AI journey with Tereza Šimková

• An honest, non-technical chat about the hidden psychological toll of our evolving relationship with AI.

19:00 — Short break

• Time to stretch, refill drinks, and chat a bit.

19:10 — Panel discussion Living with AI: Tools, anxiety & what actually works with Jan Marek, Michal Čížek, Tereza Šimková, and Matyas Mihálka

• AI coding tools are everywhere but between the hype and the fear, what actually delivers in day-to-day work?

20:00 — Q&A session

• Your turn. We’re open to any questions or comments you have.

20:30 – Networking, food & drinks 🍻

• Snacks and drinks, including draft beer, will be available for you all evening. Get ready to network with Applifters and enjoy the evening together!

22:00 – It’s a wrap!

• Some of us may move on to a pub, but the doors of Applifting are closing, and we'll look forward to seeing you next time!

For capacity reasons, please let us know if you will attend in person or participate online. The presentations will be streamed, but we would love to see you there.

We look forward to meeting you!