As a developer, my most important tools are a pen and a notebook

Re:As a developer, my most important tools are a pen and a n... by coldblues on Wednesday May 28, 2025 @04:05AM (#44113728)

Finally someone had the guts to say it. I see the same arguments again and again that writing in a notebook makes you remember things better and think more thoroughly, but who exactly was tested here? Were people with an extensive and deeply personal Zettelkasten note taking system added as participants in the studies? What was their note taking process? Most people severely underutilize or even misuse their digital tools. Just take a look at people who use Notion ;)

I iterate faster, have more freedom and information is displayed and manipulated in a more ergonomic way to me on a computer, in such a way that it creates a symbiotic relationship. I severely doubt physical notetaking and brainstorming could ever compare

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Re:As a developer, my most important tools are a pen and a n... by anonzzzies on Wednesday May 28, 2025 @07:29AM (#44114823)

> Finally someone had the guts to say it.

? It's the (mostly anonymous) internet and not linkedin. People call these things out all the time?

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Re:As a developer, my most important tools are a pen and a n... by ptero on Wednesday May 28, 2025 @10:07AM (#44116193)

Different people learn and work in different ways. To become comfortable with a new complex topic I personally have to work things out, with a pencil and an eraser, on a piece of paper.

And even writing software I often make toss-away paper sketches; they help me see things in a way that make sense to me. Not replacing a computer, but complementing it. I would not push my method on everyone but it works for me. I also think similar techniques are fairly common. People discuss ideas verbally. They take walks to let brain take a different view, etc. My 2c.

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Re:As a developer, my most important tools are a pen and a n... by reaperducer on Wednesday May 28, 2025 @05:26PM (#44120815)

I see the same arguments again and again that writing in a notebook makes you remember things better and think more thoroughly, but who exactly was tested here?

Plenty of the research is online for you to answer your own question.

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