I've got two projects I'm managing, and I often find myself struggling to remember the logic and code I've written after not looking at them for even just a couple of weeks. It's frustrating when I have to spend 30-60 minutes just to get back up to speed. I do leave comments to help remember, but is this kind of memory lapse a common experience for developers juggling multiple projects? How do you all keep track of everything?
4 Answers
Totally normal! The cost of context switching can be a real pain, especially if you’re bouncing between different projects. Even after decades in the game, I still find myself needing a refresher. It's great that you're leaving comments—they're a lifesaver for your future self!
You’re right! It’s not just you—many developers feel the same way. Keeping notes and complaints helps a ton. I find I have to explain why I did things to myself too!
It's definitely common in the data science realm, and that's why I advocate for using literate programming! Tools like Jupyter notebooks help weave narrative and code, making it easier to remember and understand your work later. They encourage you to include explanations and diagrams alongside your code, which makes revisiting it much simpler. It's not for everyone, but I think it's a fantastic way to bridge the gap between understanding and coding.
I've heard of that method! It sounds like a helpful way to keep everything organized, especially for complex projects.
I get what you mean! Notebooks are fun for documentation and I’m starting to use them more. It makes going back to older projects way more manageable.
Yes, it’s very common! It might help to keep a running document or notes file where you summarize the key points of each project. The more you practice managing context, the easier it will get. Also, it helps if you write code that's clean and understandable without needing to remember every detail. It's all part of the learning curve!
Absolutely! Clean code really reduces the mental load. Functional naming conventions can be a lifesaver!
Great point! The better organized and documented your code is, the less you have to rely on memory.
Honestly, I forget what I worked on just a day ago! You’re not alone if you need time to reorient yourself when switching between projects. It might help to write more comments and document your processes better. That's what I try to do!
Seriously! Keeping comments and notes makes a huge difference. I can't tell you how many times those have saved me.
I feel you! I also keep a log of what I did each day. It helps when I need to recall things later.
Exactly! Context switching can really kill productivity. I also write down a lot of notes to help myself out, especially if I have to pivot back to something I haven't touched in a while.