From Hacking Pac-Man to Rewriting Ford’s Systems: Mark McCarthy, Code Nation Instructor’s journey as a Programmer.
Every programmer has a story about the moment they first discovered the magic of code. For me, that journey began with a Sinclair ZX80 and a few lines of BASIC, but it truly came alive when my school acquired three Commodore PETs at the start of Year 12. That was when I discovered the power of machine code programming.
I spent countless hours pushing those early machines to their limits and, admittedly, hacking Space Invaders and Pac-Man to give myself unlimited lives. Those experiences sparked a lasting sense of excitement about what software could do, and that feeling has never really left me.
The Breakthrough Project That Changed Everything
Of all the projects I’ve worked on, one stands out above the rest: rewriting Ford of Britain’s Import and Export system for the launch of the European Single Market in 1988.
The challenge was immense. The final regulations were only confirmed in October 1987, leaving just two months to completely re-engineer a system with thousands of lines of code. I worked seven days a week during that period, pushing myself to the limit, and managed to deliver just in time for the January deadline.
It was tough, one of the hardest periods of my career—but also the most rewarding. The success of that project marked the end of my “impostor syndrome” and gave me the confidence that I truly belonged in the profession.
Advice for Today’s New Programmers
If I could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in programming, it would be this: enjoy the creativity. Programming is fundamentally a creative pursuit, and few things match the satisfaction of seeing something you’ve built come to life.
Treasure those moments, because they’ll sustain you when you’re stuck for hours chasing down a single elusive bug. Remember: every moment of frustration is the gateway to the buzz you’ll feel when you finally solve it. That’s what makes programming both addictive and deeply rewarding.
The Future: Programming in the Age of AI
Throughout my career, I’ve seen many leaps in technology that boosted productivity, yet each leap only expanded the scale and ambition of the projects we could tackle. The demand for programmers has never stopped growing.
AI is a genuine game-changer, but I don’t believe it will replace developers. Instead, it will help us reach new levels of productivity and creativity, enabling us to build systems we couldn’t have even imagined before. For those who embrace it, the opportunities will be immense.
Final Thoughts
From hacking arcade games as a teenager to delivering large-scale enterprise systems under intense deadlines, programming has always been about one thing: pushing boundaries and solving problems in creative ways.
And if there’s one constant I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: the thrill of solving problems and creating something new is timeless, whether you’re working on a Commodore PET in the 1980s or harnessing the power of AI today.
That’s why I love my role at Code Nation, inspiring and teaching the next generation of programmers and tech talent. I am lucky to support a range of individuals, from those starting out to professionals upskilling and advancing their careers!
Mark McCarthy
Instructor, Data Analysis and Power BI
Code Nation
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