Coffee with Developers - Martyn Kilbryde

After 16 years as a developer, do you still have what it takes? One veteran programmer enters a live coding competition to find out.

#1about 2 minutes

A developer's journey through programming languages

A 16-year career journey from early tinkering with VB6 and C++ to specializing in modern cloud development with TypeScript, Node.js, and AWS.

#2about 1 minute

Why an experienced developer joins a coding competition

The primary motivation for entering the competition is to benchmark skills against peers and validate personal growth after 16 years in the industry.

#3about 1 minute

Coping with the pressure of coding on stage

While hackathon experience helps with pressure, the biggest challenge is the psychological effect of being watched, which can make even simple tasks feel difficult.

#4about 1 minute

A strategy for pair programming with a stranger

The key to succeeding in a competitive pair programming round with an unknown partner is to communicate clearly, be honest about strengths, and prioritize collaboration over ego.

#5about 2 minutes

Post-competition plans for networking and new hardware

Winning the competition would mean investing in a new monitor for a better home setup and using the experience to network and encourage colleagues to participate.