Meet our new(ish) developer, Chris.

Ok so this is something I wrote ages ago, but we've been super busy over the last few months and it's only now seeing the light of day.

Where are you from?

I am from sunny Hastings down on the South East coast of good old Blighty (England). For those unfamiliar with the Battle of Hastings (your history teacher is very disappointed with you), Hastings is approximately 50 miles east of Brighton.

What made you get into development?

It probably goes back to the early days of the internet, when it took about a minute to connect, all the while listening to those distinct tones and beeps as your dial-up modem performed its noisy handshake! Oof makes me feel old, the things we had to put up with to get online! Back then, I was creating basic websites which included lots of vibrantly coloured text (comic sans ofc), the odd image and the classic inclusion of a text marquee. I remember thinking how incredible it was that I could make something in my bedroom and it be visible all around the world!

How did you get into development?

The next major step in my development journey was work experience at a company called Mountfield Software. They tasked me with building a little game in Visual Basic. I decided to make a slot machine along with all the graphics to go with it. I remember feeling very proud of myself and began to think this was something I could do for a living.

A few years later, I found myself talking to a couple of aspiring businessmen who were in the process of setting up a shop called Source BMX. They were looking for someone to build a website. I ended up making their first website, my payment for which was a sweet BMX! Looking back the site had quite a bit going on. It had a mini news section, product listings & basic e-commerce functionality. I'm proud to have been involved in the early days of what is now one of the biggest online BMX shops in the world & host to the world's largest underground skate park.

After completing a computing course at Brighton university, I reached out to a local web development company called Broker & How. When I turned up for the interview, I was surprised to see Ben, one of my favourite University lecturers, was working there and would be taking part in the interview process. The interview went well, they seemed impressed with the Source website I'd built, and I ultimately got the job.

Fast forward 18 years, most of which have been spent working alongside Ben, it would be fair to say I have him to thank for not just kick-starting my development career, but for shaping me into the developer I am today!

What's your favourite thing about what you do?

I guess it’s mainly the problem-solving aspect. Programming can be super challenging so you get a real sense of achievement when you solve a complex problem or when a project is delivered and begins to serve its purpose! I also take great pride in the fact that millions of people have interacted with systems I helped develop over the years. The industry moves so quickly and there is no shortage of new technologies we can learn & integrate into the solutions we provide. I also find it to be a wonderful creative outlet, we're constantly making things, they may not always be visible, but there is always a certain amount of creativity involved in everything we do.

What are your favourite things to do in your spare time?

I enjoy Cycling, Rock climbing & playing Chess and I probably spend too much time playing World of Warcraft and watching random stuff on YouTube. I try to keep up to date with as many scientific and technological breakthroughs as possible which I suppose you could call my passion.

What made you choose Pixelhop as your next step?

I was lucky enough to work with Becky before and I remember her showing me the Pixelhop website. I was super impressed with the design style, the sorts of projects they were involved in and the technology stack they utilise. I thought they did a great job infusing their website with personality and fun & it represents who they are as a company. So when I reached the point in my career where I felt I needed a change, they were my first thought.

How have you found your first month at Pixelhop?

It's been quite literally AMAZING! The Pixelhop team are all super positive & encouraging. They have made me feel welcome and instantly part of the team! It's an absolute pleasure to work with such a bunch of incredibly talented and fun individuals.

Anything else you want to add?

I want to say thanks for the opportunity! I’m looking forward to what the future holds!