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# Coffee with Developers - Martyn Kilbryde

Ever forgotten how to write a for-loop while someone watches? Martyn Kilbryde reveals how to survive the intense pressure of live competitive coding. Master his blind pair programming strategies.

- **Speakers:** Martyn Kilbryde
- **Event:** Coffee With Developers
- **Published:** May 10, 2024
- **Duration:** 7:21
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/896-coffee-with-developers-martyn-kilbryde

## Summary

Martyn Kilbryde, a developer with 16 years of professional experience, shares his journey from early explorations in VB6 and ASP to his current focus on Node.js, JavaScript, and TypeScript. In this interview, he discusses his motivation for entering the Code 100 competition, framing it as a unique opportunity to benchmark his skills against industry peers and test whether his abilities hold up outside of his daily work environment.

A central theme of the conversation is navigating the intense pressure of live competitive coding. Kilbryde highlights the psychological challenge of coding in front of a live audience, noting the common fear of "forgetting how to type" or failing to recall basic syntax like a for-loop when observed. He also addresses the curveball of blind pair programming with a stranger, emphasizing that open communication, rapid skill assessment, and leaving egos at the door are critical strategies for success in high-stakes, collaborative scenarios.

Ultimately, Kilbryde views the competition as a valuable avenue for developer networking and community building. Should he win the €10,000 grand prize in Berlin, he plans to invest in a practical home office upgrade—a new monitor—rather than a lavish purchase. Beyond the prize, he hopes the experience will allow him to connect with like-minded professionals and inspire his colleagues to push their own boundaries in future coding hackathons.

**Keywords:** code 100 competition, live coding challenge, javascript, typescript, node.js, blind pair programming, competitive programming, peer benchmarking, developer networking, coding under pressure, developer skill assessment, hackathon collaboration, home office setup, AWS game days

## Chapters

1. **Beginnings in software development and early web technologies** (00:28) — Experimenting with game editing and basic early web technologies provides foundational problem-solving skills for long-term career growth.
1. **Shifting to lightweight cloud development with modern JavaScript** (01:40) — Transitioning from compiled languages to lightweight cloud solutions streamlines the software development process.
1. **Benchmarking technical skills against peers through competitive coding** (02:19) — Competing against peers provides a tangible benchmark to measure software engineering capabilities and combat career stagnation.
1. **Managing performance anxiety during live coding and hackathons** (03:04) — Working under pressure and being observed can induce anxiety and cause temporary lapses in basic technical skills.
1. **Navigating pair programming with unknown partners under tight deadlines** (04:16) — Clear communication and leaving egos behind ensure effective collaboration during high-pressure pair programming sessions.
1. **Upgrading home office setups to enhance developer productivity** (05:11) — Investing in better hardware highlights the common developer desire to improve remote working environments.
1. **Building professional networks and encouraging peers through tech events** (06:15) — Participating in tech events expands professional networks and inspires colleagues to take on new technical challenges.

## Related Moments

- [Drawing parallels between competitive coding and esports](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/898-coffee-with-developers-jonathan-tang) (from "Coffee with Developers - Jonathan Tang")
- [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")
- [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")
- [Translating competitive coding experience to live audience environments](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/895-coffee-with-developers-shritesh-jamulkar) (from "Coffee with Developers - Shritesh Jamulkar")
- [Networking and upcoming live coding event announcements](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/597-refactoring-the-web) (from "Refactoring the Web")
- [Preparing for live competitive coding and pair programming](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/897-coffee-with-developers-silvio-barbieri) (from "Coffee with Developers - Silvio Barbieri")

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