Behind the code / Matthew McDaniel
Husband. Dad.
Gamer. Builder.
Matthew.
I'm a husband, a dad to two boys, and a developer based in Georgia. There's a lot more to me than what you'll find in a project README.
Away from the keyboard, I love spending time with my family, getting into a game, and enjoying the outdoors. And if there's one holiday I look forward to most, it's Halloween.
01 / Why I Chose This Path
IT STARTEDWITH CURIOSITY.
01 — The familiar
I grew up around technology. To us, it mostly meant texting, playing games, and staying connected.
What we weren't shown was how people were using those same tools to build businesses, change lives, and create something of their own.
02 — The discovery
I became interested in what I could make.
Not just what I could use.
Discovering that side of technology opened up a new world. Learning to turn an idea into something real drew me into development. It still keeps me curious today.
That curiosity changed everything.
03 — The purpose
Now, I want to pass it on.
I want to help others discover those possibilities, especially people who haven't been shown where to start. By sharing what I learn, I hope to make creating with technology more accessible, without financial strain getting in the way.
02 / A reminder for the journey
Keep going.
“Progress doesn't have to be fast to be worth making.”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
03 / The developer in me
Still learning.
Still building.
Development is part of my story, too. My education gave me the foundations, and personal projects give me room to experiment and keep learning.
- 2025
M.S. Software Engineering
University of Maryland Global Campus
Graduated December 2025
- 2023
B.A. General Studies
University of Mississippi
Graduated 2023
- 2022
Full-Stack Web Development Certificate
Michigan State University
Completed November 2022
Interfaces & interactions
React · Next.js · TypeScript · Tailwind CSS
Behind the scenes
Node.js · Express · APIs · Git