Cognitive load in software development

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The discussion emphasizes that cognitive load heavily influences the efficiency and effectiveness of developers. Several comments highlight that rigid coding practices can hinder experienced developers, leading to unnecessary cognitive load. It’s suggested that rather than following hard rules like limiting the number of lines in a method, understanding the actual cognitive demands of the language and the environment is more critical. Poor language design, such as excessive boilerplate code and overly precise syntax requirements, contributes to cognitive load by diverting attention from problem-solving. Some commenters suggest that tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) necessitate a shift in development heuristics, as they can handle complexity in code generation but still require clarity in high-level designs. Overall, the post asserts that the focus should be on reducing cognitive burden where it matters and aligning coding practices with actual problem-solving needs.
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