Mark Mahoney
@mark.playbackpress.com
CS professor at Carthage College
Creator of Storyteller and founder at Playback Press
https://markm208.github.io/
https://playbackpress.com/books
I love helping people learn how to read and write code.
Creator of Storyteller and founder at Playback Press
https://markm208.github.io/
https://playbackpress.com/books
I love helping people learn how to read and write code.
I added a small but valuable feature to code playbacks on Playback Press. Since the hand drawn pictures and screenshots are so important to viewers I added a way to search for comments based on the pictures.
Hit 'shift + /' on the keyboard to bring up the new media picker search dialog.
Hit 'shift + /' on the keyboard to bring up the new media picker search dialog.
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I added a small but valuable feature to code playbacks on Playback Press. Since the hand drawn pictures and screenshots are so important to viewers I added a way to search for comments based on the pictures.
Hit 'shift + /' on the keyboard to bring up the new media picker search dialog.
Hit 'shift + /' on the keyboard to bring up the new media picker search dialog.
Now is a great time to learn some non-traditional programming languages. I have two free 'books' of code playback on #Clojure and #Elixir.
playbackpress.com/books/cljbook
playbackpress.com/books/exbook
playbackpress.com/books/cljbook
playbackpress.com/books/exbook
November 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Now is a great time to learn some non-traditional programming languages. I have two free 'books' of code playback on #Clojure and #Elixir.
playbackpress.com/books/cljbook
playbackpress.com/books/exbook
playbackpress.com/books/cljbook
playbackpress.com/books/exbook
I’m looking for a little feedback. I am working on a playback describing #perceptrons for my #AI course.
Here is a link to it:
markm208.github.io/cppbook/ai/p...
Reach out to me if you have any feedback!
Here is a link to it:
markm208.github.io/cppbook/ai/p...
Reach out to me if you have any feedback!
September 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I’m looking for a little feedback. I am working on a playback describing #perceptrons for my #AI course.
Here is a link to it:
markm208.github.io/cppbook/ai/p...
Reach out to me if you have any feedback!
Here is a link to it:
markm208.github.io/cppbook/ai/p...
Reach out to me if you have any feedback!
I'm looking for experienced developers to write code playbacks for my platform. If you enjoy explaining your code and teaching others, code playbacks are a great way to share knowledge and build your reputation in the dev community.
Get the details here:
playbackpress.com/contact
Get the details here:
playbackpress.com/contact
August 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I'm looking for experienced developers to write code playbacks for my platform. If you enjoy explaining your code and teaching others, code playbacks are a great way to share knowledge and build your reputation in the dev community.
Get the details here:
playbackpress.com/contact
Get the details here:
playbackpress.com/contact
I can’t quite believe it myself but… Playback Press has just crossed a major milestone: 40,000+ playback views in a 30 day period!
July 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I can’t quite believe it myself but… Playback Press has just crossed a major milestone: 40,000+ playback views in a 30 day period!
The future of coding requires that people get better at reading and understanding code, not just writing and generating it.
Check out the new features here: playbackpress.com/books
All of the books are free but you do have to create an account in order to use the AI features.
Check out the new features here: playbackpress.com/books
All of the books are free but you do have to create an account in order to use the AI features.
July 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The future of coding requires that people get better at reading and understanding code, not just writing and generating it.
Check out the new features here: playbackpress.com/books
All of the books are free but you do have to create an account in order to use the AI features.
Check out the new features here: playbackpress.com/books
All of the books are free but you do have to create an account in order to use the AI features.
- Skill level selection (beginner/intermediate/expert)
- One click to ask common questions
- Self-grading multiple choice questions are generated in batches now instead of one at a time
- Project extension suggestions to build on the existing code
- One click to ask common questions
- Self-grading multiple choice questions are generated in batches now instead of one at a time
- Project extension suggestions to build on the existing code
July 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
- Skill level selection (beginner/intermediate/expert)
- One click to ask common questions
- Self-grading multiple choice questions are generated in batches now instead of one at a time
- Project extension suggestions to build on the existing code
- One click to ask common questions
- Self-grading multiple choice questions are generated in batches now instead of one at a time
- Project extension suggestions to build on the existing code
The new interface is cleaner with tabbed sections for questions, practice problems, and project suggestions.
What's new:
- Tabbed interface and updated UI
- Improved prompts for more specific feedback from the AI model- it really does produce better answers now
What's new:
- Tabbed interface and updated UI
- Improved prompts for more specific feedback from the AI model- it really does produce better answers now
July 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The new interface is cleaner with tabbed sections for questions, practice problems, and project suggestions.
What's new:
- Tabbed interface and updated UI
- Improved prompts for more specific feedback from the AI model- it really does produce better answers now
What's new:
- Tabbed interface and updated UI
- Improved prompts for more specific feedback from the AI model- it really does produce better answers now
It's been almost a year since I added the first AI assistant to code playbacks on Playback Press. They have been helpful to my students to fill in any gaps in their knowledge and to explore advanced concepts. Today I'm sharing a major update.
July 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's been almost a year since I added the first AI assistant to code playbacks on Playback Press. They have been helpful to my students to fill in any gaps in their knowledge and to explore advanced concepts. Today I'm sharing a major update.
Kenosha WI (a few days back)
March 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Kenosha WI (a few days back)
I'm using the wiki feature of GitHub's repos to host my updated documentation for Storyteller:
github.com/markm208/sto...
I also have this video which describes creating your own playbacks:
youtu.be/LITe23OkSm0
Let me know if you want some help getting started! My students really like them.
github.com/markm208/sto...
I also have this video which describes creating your own playbacks:
youtu.be/LITe23OkSm0
Let me know if you want some help getting started! My students really like them.
March 23, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm using the wiki feature of GitHub's repos to host my updated documentation for Storyteller:
github.com/markm208/sto...
I also have this video which describes creating your own playbacks:
youtu.be/LITe23OkSm0
Let me know if you want some help getting started! My students really like them.
github.com/markm208/sto...
I also have this video which describes creating your own playbacks:
youtu.be/LITe23OkSm0
Let me know if you want some help getting started! My students really like them.
💾 Want a quick intro to SQL?
Watch me build a database for a fictional pet adoption center and write some SQL queries:
📌 Database Design and Simple SQL
🔗 playbackpress.com/books/sqlboo...
SQL queries evolve step-by-step and playbacks show that process visually. They are a great way to learn SQL!
Watch me build a database for a fictional pet adoption center and write some SQL queries:
📌 Database Design and Simple SQL
🔗 playbackpress.com/books/sqlboo...
SQL queries evolve step-by-step and playbacks show that process visually. They are a great way to learn SQL!
March 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
💾 Want a quick intro to SQL?
Watch me build a database for a fictional pet adoption center and write some SQL queries:
📌 Database Design and Simple SQL
🔗 playbackpress.com/books/sqlboo...
SQL queries evolve step-by-step and playbacks show that process visually. They are a great way to learn SQL!
Watch me build a database for a fictional pet adoption center and write some SQL queries:
📌 Database Design and Simple SQL
🔗 playbackpress.com/books/sqlboo...
SQL queries evolve step-by-step and playbacks show that process visually. They are a great way to learn SQL!
Are you teaching a programming course this semester or learning to code? Here is my semi-annual reminder...
I’ve written a dozen or so ‘books’ of code playbacks that are available for free (#CPP, #Python, #Clojure, #DesignPatterns, #Elixir, #SQL, #WebDev) on Playback Press playbackpress.com/books.
I’ve written a dozen or so ‘books’ of code playbacks that are available for free (#CPP, #Python, #Clojure, #DesignPatterns, #Elixir, #SQL, #WebDev) on Playback Press playbackpress.com/books.
January 21, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Are you teaching a programming course this semester or learning to code? Here is my semi-annual reminder...
I’ve written a dozen or so ‘books’ of code playbacks that are available for free (#CPP, #Python, #Clojure, #DesignPatterns, #Elixir, #SQL, #WebDev) on Playback Press playbackpress.com/books.
I’ve written a dozen or so ‘books’ of code playbacks that are available for free (#CPP, #Python, #Clojure, #DesignPatterns, #Elixir, #SQL, #WebDev) on Playback Press playbackpress.com/books.
There are two ways to identify points in a playback, either with a comment number or an event number.
For example, to start a playback at the second comment:
link/to/playback?comment=2
Or, to start at the 100th file edit:
link/to/playback?event=100
For example, to start a playback at the second comment:
link/to/playback?comment=2
Or, to start at the 100th file edit:
link/to/playback?event=100
January 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
There are two ways to identify points in a playback, either with a comment number or an event number.
For example, to start a playback at the second comment:
link/to/playback?comment=2
Or, to start at the 100th file edit:
link/to/playback?event=100
For example, to start a playback at the second comment:
link/to/playback?comment=2
Or, to start at the 100th file edit:
link/to/playback?event=100
I just added the ability to share a link to an exact point in a playback using either a comment number or an event number (check out the url in the video).
This feature is perfect for students and instructors collaborating on questions, or for pro sw devs doing code reviews.
This feature is perfect for students and instructors collaborating on questions, or for pro sw devs doing code reviews.
January 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I just added the ability to share a link to an exact point in a playback using either a comment number or an event number (check out the url in the video).
This feature is perfect for students and instructors collaborating on questions, or for pro sw devs doing code reviews.
This feature is perfect for students and instructors collaborating on questions, or for pro sw devs doing code reviews.
All of the code playbacks on Playback Press have these new features. Try them out!
playbackpress.com/books
playbackpress.com/books
January 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
All of the code playbacks on Playback Press have these new features. Try them out!
playbackpress.com/books
playbackpress.com/books
I love having a little time off at the end of the year to add some features to code playbacks. I have just added two new features to all playbacks on Playback Press:
- comments can be read aloud for the viewer
- search for comments based on selected code
- comments can be read aloud for the viewer
- search for comments based on selected code
January 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I love having a little time off at the end of the year to add some features to code playbacks. I have just added two new features to all playbacks on Playback Press:
- comments can be read aloud for the viewer
- search for comments based on selected code
- comments can be read aloud for the viewer
- search for comments based on selected code
I’m not familiar with the DrRacket environment but I think separating media (and most code comments too) from source code is preferable.
I’m working on an editor plugin tool to do that:
github.com/markm208/sto...
I’m working on an editor plugin tool to do that:
github.com/markm208/sto...
December 22, 2024 at 12:50 AM
I’m not familiar with the DrRacket environment but I think separating media (and most code comments too) from source code is preferable.
I’m working on an editor plugin tool to do that:
github.com/markm208/sto...
I’m working on an editor plugin tool to do that:
github.com/markm208/sto...
This last semester was the first one where I integrated an AI assistant into my code playbacks (via the #OpenAI API). The playbacks were used in my Computing Paradigms (#Clojure, #Elixir, #Ruby) and Data Structures (#C++) courses. Below are my observations from the semester.
#AI #CodePlaybacks
#AI #CodePlaybacks
December 21, 2024 at 7:49 PM
This last semester was the first one where I integrated an AI assistant into my code playbacks (via the #OpenAI API). The playbacks were used in my Computing Paradigms (#Clojure, #Elixir, #Ruby) and Data Structures (#C++) courses. Below are my observations from the semester.
#AI #CodePlaybacks
#AI #CodePlaybacks
A few of us had a discussion about the role of AI coding assistants in CS ed. My feeling is that people who learned to code before AI assistants are probably more resilient and prepared to deal with uncertainty in the sw dev process.
I could be wrong, but I thought I’d make this fake banner anyway.
I could be wrong, but I thought I’d make this fake banner anyway.
December 15, 2024 at 10:24 PM
A few of us had a discussion about the role of AI coding assistants in CS ed. My feeling is that people who learned to code before AI assistants are probably more resilient and prepared to deal with uncertainty in the sw dev process.
I could be wrong, but I thought I’d make this fake banner anyway.
I could be wrong, but I thought I’d make this fake banner anyway.
I made a little word search game, maybe they will like it:
markm208.github.io/wordZearch/
Plus, if anyone wants to see how I built it you can see that too:
playbackpress.com/books/wordze...
markm208.github.io/wordZearch/
Plus, if anyone wants to see how I built it you can see that too:
playbackpress.com/books/wordze...
December 15, 2024 at 6:24 PM
I made a little word search game, maybe they will like it:
markm208.github.io/wordZearch/
Plus, if anyone wants to see how I built it you can see that too:
playbackpress.com/books/wordze...
markm208.github.io/wordZearch/
Plus, if anyone wants to see how I built it you can see that too:
playbackpress.com/books/wordze...
A code playback is a guided code walk through of a problem and a solution.
The code below is an #Elixir program that estimates poker probabilities using the random number generator and brute force:
playbackpress.com/books/exbook...
The code below is an #Elixir program that estimates poker probabilities using the random number generator and brute force:
playbackpress.com/books/exbook...
December 7, 2024 at 10:13 PM
A code playback is a guided code walk through of a problem and a solution.
The code below is an #Elixir program that estimates poker probabilities using the random number generator and brute force:
playbackpress.com/books/exbook...
The code below is an #Elixir program that estimates poker probabilities using the random number generator and brute force:
playbackpress.com/books/exbook...
I have a feeling this will be a LinkedIn banner one day.
December 1, 2024 at 3:28 AM
I have a feeling this will be a LinkedIn banner one day.
I have a dozen or so free 'books' here:
playbackpress.com/books
If you login, you can access an AI Assistant to help answer any questions that you have while viewing a playback. It will also generate multiple choice questions to keep you engaged. It works really well!
playbackpress.com/books
If you login, you can access an AI Assistant to help answer any questions that you have while viewing a playback. It will also generate multiple choice questions to keep you engaged. It works really well!
November 26, 2024 at 6:13 PM
I have a dozen or so free 'books' here:
playbackpress.com/books
If you login, you can access an AI Assistant to help answer any questions that you have while viewing a playback. It will also generate multiple choice questions to keep you engaged. It works really well!
playbackpress.com/books
If you login, you can access an AI Assistant to help answer any questions that you have while viewing a playback. It will also generate multiple choice questions to keep you engaged. It works really well!