Programming with Foggles
Posted by Dave Minor Tue, 06 Dec 2005 15:20:47 GMT
In flight training, we use sight limiting glasses (called “foggles”) or a hood to block out the windows and force the pilot to fly by instruments simulating having flown into clouds or fog. It demands focus and attention on the task at hand.
I need foggles in my programming. It’s so hard to stay on task and complete the requirement. Not just from a “keep programming” perspective (ignoring email, phone, browser, IM, and making posts to my blog), but also from a “specific task” perspective (ie, “oh, it would be cool if it also did X. I’ll add that real quick then come back to this problem”).
Of course, this is all just discipline, something which I apparently lack unless I’m passionate about something. I’ve never thought that was really a problem for me.
It would also be great if I could have someone sitting beside me all day reminding me to check on things and pointing out my mistakes:
“Make sure you close that block.”
“Watch your tests.”
“What’s another way you could write that method?”
“OK, you just got hacked. What are you going to do now?”
Of course, what you describe at the end is Pair Programming. It is a lot like having the blinders on. All you do is focus on the task at hand.