Seth Webster on How Expo and the React Foundation Are Shaping Modern Development

Seth Webster on How Expo and the React Foundation Are Shaping Modern Development

From The MonkCast by RedMonk

May 14, 2026 · 56 min

About this episode

Seth Webster discusses the evolution of React and Expo's role in modern development.

In this conversation, Seth Webster, executive director of the newly launched React Foundation and Chief Developer Evangelist at Expo, chats with RedMonk's Kate Holterhoff. Seth explains why React has outgrown its origins at Meta and needs an independent foundation to ensure its durability for the next decade. On the Expo side, Seth makes the case that Expo's end-to-end pipeline, from idea through cloud builds to App Store submission, is uniquely positioned for the agentic development era. The conversation concludes with Webster reflecting on the rapidly evolving role of the developer and offering guidance for navigating its shifting terrain. This RedMonk video is sponsored by Expo . Show notes: https://redmonk.com/videos/seth-webster-expo-react-foundation/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Seth Webster and His Roles 05:54 History and Evolution of the React Foundation 16:51 Exploring Expo and Its Relationship with React Native 25:39 Creating a Space for Engineers 34:41 Navigating Framework Wars 42:27 Introducing Expo Agent 48:22 Adapting to Change in the Developer Landscape

People in this episode

Host: Kate Holterhoff

Guest: Seth Webster

Topics covered

  • React
  • Expo
  • developer landscape
  • independent foundation
  • modern development
  • end-to-end pipeline

Keywords

  • React
  • Expo
  • developer
  • foundation
  • pipeline
  • App Store
  • cloud builds

Sponsors

Expo

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: React Foundation, Meta

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