4 ms·

Source: Principal Software Engineer, 25+ YOE. You are far smarter than you think. Learn to get into flow, and also figure out how to get your state back faste

by ilc 3y ago

Source: Principal Software Engineer, 25+ YOE. You are far smarter than you think. Learn to get into flow, and also figure out how to get your state back faster... Once you do, it is a super power. Simple things like leaving your editor/IDE open, create the same situation you left. I personally use music + IEMs to help me block sound and focus. -30-35 DB off the IEMs, and +70DB off my music... yeah, I don't hear anything. I learned the editor trick recently, though I'd probably done it un-intentionally for years. I stopped, and I was wondering what the inertia I was facing was. It is only 2-3m to get setup... that's 2-3m to lose my thoughts, etc. Good luck.

cookiengineer 3y ago
The reason I love vim and i3/kitty so much as a combination is exactly this. I have 4 monitors in the exact state I left them when I get back, with the last TODO comments I added and what the problem was (that I thought about deeply overnight). For me the best way to get into the flow is by directly getting back to where I left. If I take time to wake up, make breakfast or anything else I usually lost my ideas already and it takes me hours to get back to them.
- ilc 3y ago
  If you have a truly great idea. Write it down. Just writing it down, will help you remember. If not: You have the paper.
  - tyingq 3y ago
    >Just writing it down, will help you remember. This is underrated. And, specifically...writing it down, with a pen or pencil. Typing it doesn't seem to have the same effect, even with some ritual of typing it into a fresh/separate document.
    - almuhalil 3y ago
      I'll second this. And something I've discovered is that using a good pen makes so much difference in the experience of writing. I used to use whatever cheap ballpoint was around, and I had terrible handwriting. But on a friend's recommendation I tried a fine point gel pen, the Uniball Signo DX 0.38mm. It's such a joy to write with and my handwriting is orders of magnitude more legible. There's apparently a whole world of pens (and pen enthusiasts) out there: https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens
- SoftTalker 3y ago
  I use emacs for everything I write for the same reason. Code, email, notes, plans, etc. I do all in emacs. The consistency in editing text helps me focus on what I am writing. The only other software I usually have running on my work computer is a web browser.

by ilc 3y ago

cookiengineer 3y ago

The reason I love vim and i3/kitty so much as a combination is exactly this. I have 4 monitors in the exact state I left them when I get back, with the last TODO comments I added and what the problem was (that I thought about deeply overnight). For me the best way to get into the flow is by directly getting back to where I left. If I take time to wake up, make breakfast or anything else I usually lost my ideas already and it takes me hours to get back to them.

ilc 3y ago
If you have a truly great idea. Write it down. Just writing it down, will help you remember. If not: You have the paper.
- tyingq 3y ago
  >Just writing it down, will help you remember. This is underrated. And, specifically...writing it down, with a pen or pencil. Typing it doesn't seem to have the same effect, even with some ritual of typing it into a fresh/separate document.
  - almuhalil 3y ago
    I'll second this. And something I've discovered is that using a good pen makes so much difference in the experience of writing. I used to use whatever cheap ballpoint was around, and I had terrible handwriting. But on a friend's recommendation I tried a fine point gel pen, the Uniball Signo DX 0.38mm. It's such a joy to write with and my handwriting is orders of magnitude more legible. There's apparently a whole world of pens (and pen enthusiasts) out there: https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens https://www.penaddict.com/top-5-pens
SoftTalker 3y ago
I use emacs for everything I write for the same reason. Code, email, notes, plans, etc. I do all in emacs. The consistency in editing text helps me focus on what I am writing. The only other software I usually have running on my work computer is a web browser.