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# Coffee with Developers - Andrew Taylor - CODE100 Manchester

Andrew Taylor challenges bloated frameworks to advocate for the purity of zero-dependency vanilla JavaScript. Watch this full-stack developer tackle the ultimate live coding puzzle at CODE100 Manchester.

- **Speakers:** Andrew Taylor
- **Event:** Coffee With Developers
- **Published:** May 6, 2024
- **Duration:** 9:08
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/888-coffee-with-developers-andrew-taylor-code100-manchester

## Summary

Developer Andrew Taylor, a challenger for CODE100 Manchester, contrasts his enterprise full-stack experience with a deep appreciation for the "purity of the web." While his professional architecture relies heavily on AWS, Node, Express, and React, his personal projects embrace vanilla JavaScript and zero-dependency applications. Expressing frustration with the bloated ecosystems of modern tools like Create React App, he encourages developers to rediscover the simplicity of building web software without "taping a bunch of libraries together" from external registries. This foundational curiosity extends beyond software, driving hardware hacking projects like retrofitting a Roomba with a Raspberry Pi and a serial port.

Preparing for the competitive coding stage, Andrew frames algorithmic problem solving as an enjoyable puzzle rather than the stressful grind of traditional technical interviews. Unfazed by the pressure of a live audience due to his background in standup comedy, he identifies the physical execution of live coding—specifically the tendency for typing skills to degrade when being watched during remote pair programming—as his primary challenge. Ultimately, his journey underscores the importance of balancing complex modern dependencies with pure algorithmic logic, reminding developers to preserve the naive curiosity that initially draws them to the creation of technology.

**Keywords:** competitive coding challenges, vanilla javascript development, zero-dependency web applications, react ecosystem dependencies, full-stack javascript architecture, algorithmic problem solving, technical interview frustration, live coding performance, remote pair programming, hardware hacking modifications, legacy computing platforms, modern web development stacks

## Chapters

1. **Discovering programming through early computers and web development** (00:27) — Learning how to interact with hardware and web platforms using minimal code.
1. **Frustrations with the complexity of modern web development** (02:04) — The shift away from viewable source code toward massive dependency trees complicates beginners' learning process.
1. **Hardware hacking and modifying consumer electronics with microcontrollers** (02:40) — Taking apart a robot vacuum and wiring it with new microcontrollers enables custom programmed behaviors.
1. **Balancing modern technology stacks with zero-dependency vanilla JavaScript** (03:36) — Utilizing cloud and framework systems contrasts with finding satisfaction in building zero-dependency side projects.
1. **Preferring raw algorithmic logic puzzles over library configuration** (05:19) — Solving core logic problems offers more direct development satisfaction than merely assembling third-party packages.
1. **Managing performance anxiety during live competitive stage coding** (06:28) — The physical act of typing often becomes the primary bottleneck when coding directly under observation.
1. **Upgrading technology hardware and home setups with potential winnings** (07:44) — Replacing aging personal computing hardware and enhancing the working environment requires a significant financial investment.

## Related Moments

- [Performing live coding in front of a large audience](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/894-coffee-with-developers-code100-manchester-challenger-gbenga-oladipupo) (from "Coffee with Developers - CODE100 Manchester challenger Gbenga Oladipupo")
- [Embracing the competitive side of live developer coding challenges](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1909-wearedevelopers-live-back-to-code100) (from "WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Back to CODE100")
- [Drawing parallels between competitive coding and esports](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/898-coffee-with-developers-jonathan-tang) (from "Coffee with Developers - Jonathan Tang")
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- [Solving web development puzzles without artificial intelligence assistance](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1346-wearedevelopers-live-blockchain-after-the-hype-vibing-all-the-things-big-tech-and-work-best-practices-more) (from "WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Blockchain after the hype, Vibing all the Things, Big Tech and Work Best Practices & more")
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