Broadly speaking, you should attempt to minimize the intrinsic cognitive load (through training, good choice of technologies, hiring, pair programming, etc.) an

Broadly speaking, you should attempt to minimize the intrinsic cognitive load (through training, good choice of technologies, hiring, pair programming, etc.) and eliminate extraneous cognitive load (boring or superfluous tasks or commands that add little value to retain in working memory). This will leave more space for germane cognitive load (where "value-added" thinking lies). The whole point of design is reducing cognitive load. Whenever you are looking at a given thing, you shouldn't need to keep more than about 10 things in your head to understand it completely, preferably less. Programming hardly ever blows up your brain with one fantastical concept. Instead, you're worn down with a hundred thousand cuts.