TanStack, TanStack Start, and what’s coming next with Tanner Linsley

Jack Harrington sits down with Tanner Linsley to talk about the evolution of TanStack and where it’s headed next. They explore how early projects like React Query and React Table influenced the headless philosophy behind TanStack Router, why virtualized lists matter at scale, and what makes forms in React so challenging. Tanner breaks down TanStack Start and its client-first approach to SSR, routing, and data loading, and shares his perspective on React Server Components, modern authentication tradeoffs, and composable tooling. The episode wraps with a look at TanStack’s roadmap and what it takes to sustainably maintain open source at scale. We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey (https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu)! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at [e-mail] (mailto:[e-mail]), or tweet at us at PodRocketPod (https://twitter.com/PodRocketpod). Check out our newsletter (https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/)! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form (https://podrocket.logrocket.com/get-podrocket-stickers), and we’ll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr) Chapters 01:00 – What is TanStack? Contributors, projects, and mission 02:05 – React Query vs React Table: TanStack’s origins 03:10 – TanStack principles: headless, cross-platform, type safety 03:45 – TanStack Virtual and large list performance 05:00 – Forms, abandoned libraries, and lessons learned 06:00 – Why TanStack avoids building auth 07:30 – Auth complexity, SSO, and enterprise realities 08:45 – Partnerships with WorkOS, Clerk, Netlify, and Cloudflare 09:30 – Introducing TanStack Start 10:20 – Client-first architecture and React Router DNA 11:00 – Pages Router nostalgia and migration paths 12:00 – Loaders, data-only routes, and seamless navigation 13:20 – Why data-only mode is a hidden superpower 14:00 – Built-in SWR-style caching and perceived speed 15:20 – Loader footguns and server function boundaries 16:40 – Isomorphic execution model explained 18:00 – Gradual adoption: router → file routing → Start 19:10 – Learning from Remix, Next.js, and past frameworks 20:30 – Full-stack React before modern meta-frameworks 22:00 – Server functions, HTTP methods, and caching 23:30 – Simpler mental models vs server components 25:00 – Donut holes, cognitive load, and developer experience 26:30 – Staying pragmatic and close to real users 28:00 – When not to use TanStack (Shopify, WordPress, etc.) 29:30 – Marketing sites, CMS pain, and team evolution 31:30 – Scaling realities and backend tradeoffs 33:00 – Static vs dynamic apps and framework fit 35:00 – Astro + TanStack Start hybrid architectures 36:20 – Composability with Hono, tRPC, and Nitro 37:20 – Why TanStack Start is a request handler, not a platform 38:50 – TanStack AI announcement and roadmap 40:00 – TanStack DB explained 41:30 – Start 1.0 status and real-world adoption 42:40 – Devtools, Pacer, and upcoming libraries 43:50 – Sustainability, sponsorships, and supporting maintainers 45:30 – How companies and individuals can support TanStack Special Guest: Tanner Linsley.