What Is the Morning Writing Effect? (2011)

Re:What Is the Morning Writing Effect? (2011) by enobrev on Tuesday June 30, 2020 @11:13AM (#23690876)

I generally agree that coding can take a lot more planning than writing and the more experienced I get, the more I plan. I also like to occasionally run with the "write one to throw away" method, which is very much like splitting between writing and editing. It's just that the second version is less editing of the original text and more editing the original approach / methodology / process.

I so wish I could code stoned. I've never been able to in any meaningful way. I don't code inebriated anymore, but in my twenties it was preferred. These days I think my brain basically responds to inebriation of any sort as "why are you still working while I'm trying to enjoy myself?".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:What Is the Morning Writing Effect? (2011) by Aeolos on Tuesday June 30, 2020 @12:15PM (#23691602)

One of the most complex pieces of code I have ever written, I wrote while traveling home intoxicated on the midnight train.

It was something I had been considering, analyzing, debating and discarding as impossible for several weeks prior to that. Then when it came down to it, not only was I able to implement it, but it worked perfectly for more than 6 years before anyone was able to improve on that design.

I attribute the success to two things: (a) the fact that I had done a lot of analytical work beforehand; (b) the inhibition-lessening effect of alcohol that allowed me to enter the zone and implement the solution without worrying about complexity or other external factors.

Once the core idea worked - and worked it did! - all that was left was to revisit it the next day, sober this time, and fix the remaining issues, documentation and tests.

[ Parent | on HN ]