I gave it a try for the heck of it, but this programming was way beyond my ability.
Literal
Things [topic-は] trying did try-but, this program making, I [subject-が] match-capable easy thing not-was.
物は試しに ('figuring I'd give it a try') leads into the attempt. やってはみたけれど means 'I did try, but...' — は adds emphasis to the trying, and けれど is concessive. 太刀打ちできる means 'to be able to compete with/handle' — a vivid word from swordsmanship, where matching swords was the test of skill.