Web MCP, CraftCMS & Developer Tools - April 2026
Welcome to Hot Web Dev April 2026 featuring the latest in web development This month we focus on WebMCP (Web Models Context Protocol) as an in-browser collaboration interface, and the role of AI assistants within the browser. We have a gamified way of learning SQL and the tool of the month is an open source AI goody.
Table of contents:
- Web Devs are getting a MCP
- Learning Resources
- Coding & Web Design News & Resources
- WOW Tool Of The Month
- Must-Read Resources From April 2026
Web Devs are getting a MCP
WebMCP API is a new JavaScript interface for web developers. Web pages act as Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, using client-side scripts to provide tools instead of server-side code. This enables collaborative workflows where users and agents work together within the same web interface. This utilises existing application logic while maintaining shared context and user control.
AI assistants are improving at assisting users within the browser, but they still need a lot of guidance. They might click on the wrong thing or lose track of the conversation. They can perform amazing tasks, but only if someone guides them through the interface one step at a time. The issue isn’t that the web lacks another way to display data. It’s that assistants still need to figure out their way through software designed for humans.
Photo by Tara Winstead
That’s why WebMCP is intriguing. Not because it replaces APIs. Not because every website becomes an AI endpoint. But because it provides a live website with a way to expose structured actions to an assistant that is already assisting a user in the browser. This means fewer accidental clicks, less UI guesswork and better collaboration between the user, the assistant, and the app.
The potential impact is greater than it seems: in-browser AI help could begin to feel less like a demo and more like a genuine product experience.
Source
Learning Resources
SQL Squid Game, a free educational game inspired by the show and popular SQL games. Hide as a Data Scientist, but the role is more about Product Analytics in SQL and requires 5 days in the office. Each level presents a problem statement with tables and a schema, requiring a solution. You must write SQL queries to comply or face consequences.
While CompTIA certifications remain valuable, the certification landscape has shifted, offering alternatives from cloud providers and other organisations. The best certification depends on individual career goals. CompTIA certifications are expensive and require renewal, which frustrates some. While broad, they may not be the best choice for specific roles like network engineering or cloud architecture. Have a look at some of the CompTIA alternatives.
Coding & Web Design News & Resources
Warp terminal client is now open-source, allowing the community to contribute to its development. OpenAI is the founding sponsor, and the new workflows are powered by its GPT models. The move aims to create an open and customisable agentic development environment.
After years of development, Zed has reached version 1.0. The code editor is built from scratch using a custom UI framework and GPU acceleration, allowing for greater performance and capabilities than previous editors. Visual Studio Code’s rival, created by Atom’s developers, boasts AI and GitHub integration, extensions, Helix Mode, CLI, Rainbow Brackets, a built-in REPL, syntax-aware selections and much more.
Craft CMS has announced a switch to Laravel for version 6. The main reason is that Laravel’s popularity is far greater than Yii 2. This growth has fostered a larger developer community and a wider variety of packages, making it a more sensible choice for the ecosystem.
Craft 5 is now a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, providing support until 2031. This means there’s no immediate need to upgrade from version 5. Craft CMS was originally on my list of platforms to choose from, having recently switched from WordPress to GravCMS.
WOW Tool of the Month
OpenCode is a helpful open source tool that assists you in writing and executing code using any AI model. This model boasts free options including the MiniMax M2.5, Ling 2.6 Flash, Nemotron 3 Super and the “Big Pickle” model.
- Language server plugins load automatically (LSPs) for the LLM.
- You can run many agents simultaneously on the same project.
- Links to sessions can be shared for reference or to help debug.
- You can log in to your Copilot account using GitHub and OpenAI to use your ChatGPT Plus or Pro account.
- It supports over 75+ LLM providers through models.dev, including local models.
OpenCode is cross-platform and comes with installers and support for installation via a package manager. It can be used via a terminal, desktop application or an extension for your Integrated Development Environment (IDE).