Story time: I started coding in 2013

I'm thrilled to share my journey as a passionate software engineer who finds inspiration in crafting innovative solutions and fostering meaningful connections. From Luxembourg's bustling banking sector to the bustling world of e-commerce and beyond, I've been fortunate to explore diverse domains, leaving my mark on projects that resonate with real-world impact.

At the tender age of 13, I took my first steps into the world of coding, igniting a passion that would shape my life in profound ways.

A Teenager's Journey into Programming

While many of my friends were playing games and looking at their first YouTube videos, I found myself drawn to a realm that was a bit unconventional for someone my age in 2013. My coding journey was often accompanied by the backdrop of cherished memories and nostalgic moments.

I fondly remember the days when I would code while episodes of Naruto played on the GameOne French channel in the background. My first computer was the family computer where my dad would browse the web, a beautiful white plastic home computer. We had at the time ADSL so everytime someone was using the connection for something else, I would have random crashes and bugs.

My first games were Counter-Strike: Source, Minecraft, GTA San Andreas online with SA-MP. Games influenced me to develop and create as I was fascinated by how developers could make such gorgeous experiences using code.

I wrote in this article that I started coding at age of 13 but before that I started developing small sections using HTML for a project we wanted to develop with friends for a Minecraft server that they were running at the time.

One day my dad bought a laptop from Packard Bell and a brand new custom built home computer but this time with a GT630 4Gb by MSI, that's when I started to play Garry's Mod and Arma 2 with my friends. As soon as I started using the computer with my friends, we wanted to develop communities on games but didn't have any skills related to coding and scripting.

In my late 13,  I installed an IDE and started learning how to code using online resources and forums. I started with Python to understand more about logics and make my first number-guessing game ! I was so excited to develop my first piece of software that interact with a human.

I found myself captivated by the allure of creating something out of thin air—something that held the power to impact the virtual world and beyond. Armed with determination and a computer, I began my coding odyssey.

My earliest coding experiences were humble yet exhilarating. I dabbled in languages like Lua, crafting modifications and scripts for the popular game "Garry's Mod." With each line of code, I unlocked new possibilities, shaping the game environment and adding new layers of interactivity. What started as a hobby soon transformed into a deep-seated passion—one that I eagerly pursued during my free time. And that's how with a friend, who I will be naming him using his roleplay name 'Luc Campbell', we started to develop Dark RP's servers, Star Wars RP servers and building a community named Group Campbell.

Building gaming communities and innovating in Roleplay

Group Campbell was a community that we wanted to grow around our experience in Arma 3 which had at the time the bests experience for real Roleplaying.

I was playing the character of Williams Campbell, a young individual that was looking to protect the community and find the people who murdered his family back at his home country.

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/GroupeCampbell

Groupe Campbell was the place where I have build a lot of plugins and started to develop using LUA, understanding how to create servers using scripting and interacting with small apis and databases.

At the time, we were followed by a lot of players and had continuously 60 players each days, people were roleplaying and I enjoyed being a spectator of their stories, they were such incredible individuals and imaginative persons. Players were asking for modifications, new features, and for us to improve the server constantly, we used to have sessions with them on Teamspeak 3 to understand more about what they wanted and to build a better world for them to play and imagine new stories to be played.

As the years passed by, I continued with my friend to build new servers and one day we switched on a new project, building a community on GTA 5 using FiveM, which a client modification enabling people to play in custom servers. As soon as I started to go to Epitech, we've developped our last project together, Serenity RP, I was joined by others to build a rich experience for players but we stopped everything.

Thanks for all the people that believed in me for crafting meaningful experiences and for giving me the motivation to be who I am today.

From 13 to 23: what are the conclusions ?

As the years went by, my coding prowess grew alongside my fascination for its limitless potential. I found myself venturing beyond game modifications, driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore new programming languages and platforms. This newfound passion allowed me to take on more ambitious projects, including building websites and forums for gaming communities.

By immersing myself in coding at a young age, I gained a unique perspective. I realized that code wasn't just lines of text; it was a creative language that enabled me to bring ideas to life and solve real-world problems. This realization fueled my desire to delve deeper into the world of software engineering.

Today, as a Software Engineer with some experiences, I can trace back the roots of my expertise to those early days of coding curiosity. The journey from a 13-year-old with a computer to a professional who crafts innovative solutions is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the joy of learning through doing.

Through my time at Banque de Luxembourg, I've had the privilege of contributing to a team that relentlessly pursues innovation in the banking sector. The Tech Lead role for the "Com'On" project illuminated the power of visionary ideas and effective leadership. Overseeing the development of a companion app for people having disabilities, I realized that technology has the ability to shape our daily lives in profound ways. By crafting APIs, managing technical teams, and integrating functionalities, I've gained a deep appreciation for the art of transforming concepts into tangible, user-centric solutions.

My time as a Software Engineer at Decathlon Singapore, pedagogical speaker at IIM, and regional development support at Epitech further enriched my journey. Each experience added a unique thread to my tapestry, highlighting my adaptability, leadership, and commitment to fostering connections within the industry.

I invite you to journey with me as I share insights, stories, and experiences that have shaped my path from a young coding enthusiast to a seasoned Software Engineer. Through this blog, I hope to inspire fellow aspiring coders, fostering a community that celebrates the boundless potential of coding and its transformative impact on our ever-evolving digital landscape.