[danbmil]

My peak programming skills are close to what they were 30 years ago, but I cannot sustain that level of concentration for long periods as I once could.

I feel like a pinch hitter: I can do a couple innings at a high level of performance, but I can't keep that level up as long as I used to.

OTOH I think I have better judgement when it comes to deep, complex questions of long-term architecture choices. My "meta-programming" skills are sharper than ever.

[tialaramex]

“A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.” Frank Borman

[UncleOxidant]

I thought I knew how to program 30 years ago (in my early 30s), but now realize that I didn't have much of a clue. So I think I'm hopefully a much better programmer than I was back then - though more aware of my weak areas and the fact that there seem to be a lot of them (the older I get, the less I know). I'm not sure concentration is the issue for me (though it is an issue and I know that social media etc. has killed my attention span) as much as not being able to sit for hours at a time anymore. I've gotta get up and walk around, go outside and move my achy joints. So more of a combination of physical and mental.

[daxfohl]

The challenge here is a lot of managers don't know how to grade you based on things you successfully avoided.

[Kokouane]

> but I cannot sustain that level of concentration for long periods as I once could.

This scares me. I'm younger and thus, I feel like social media and short form content has had so much impact on my ability to focus that it already feels bad where it is right now. Never thought this might be the peak of my concentration power though.

[amatecha]

I'm 40 and as far as I can tell, I can concentrate just as well now as I did when I was 20. I'm also pretty deliberate with what I do in life, I don't engage in "mass social media" like FB/Twitter/etc. , I don't use YouTube, Tiktok, etc.. .. I mean, I will view something if someone sends a link, but I don't "browse" stuff (partly because browsing literally anything feels like I'm being manipulated and I'm pretty sensitive to that). Sometimes I see someone using a modern social media app like FB, IG or whatever, and I cannot imagine that months and years of this kind of "scrolling endlessly, pausing on things that grab your attention, then resuming" is healthy for one's consciousness or focus. I think the summary is, I live my life the same way I did in 1999 or whatever, as I've found that works for me, and I have to basically actively reject what modern society tries to manipulate me into living like. (btw this is hard to do, EVERYONE and EVERYTHING wants me to be paying attention to millions of disparate trivial things, it's a literal nonstop battle...)

[coliveira]

This site is a social network. Not as bad as Facebook or Twitter/X, but pretty much the same idea.

[amatecha]

I imagine you can recognize the difference between an extractive, engagement-metric-driven profit-centre like FB or "X" and a forum-like discussion site like Hacker News. There's a reason I used the phrase "mass social media". And actually, no, HN is not a social network in the same category as the ones I mentioned. No one has a "wall"/feed, you can't add/message friends, there's no algorithm telling me what to see, etc.

[JFingleton]

A social network requires at least being able to "friend" another user does it not? I don't think Hacker News has such features.

It's a forum... And a bloody good one.

[switchbak]

I think the differences between a _forum_ like this - which isn't far off from Usenet - as compared to modern social media are entirely the point.

It's precisely those differences that matter: the highly polished, short form content designed to give a dopamine hit. The highly polarized topics, the hot takes, ML echo chambers, dark patterns, all of it.

HN isn't without its issues, and much of those other platforms' issues bleed over, but we're talking apples and aircraft carriers here, and I reject the idea that this is "pretty much the same thing".

[distortionfield]

I’ve seen this argument made so much lately I’m starting to feel like it’s being astroturfed.

[djeastm]

Forums are like proto-social networks, but were around a long time before the MySpace/FB-type of bona fide social networks

[cjohnson318]

I'm 40; you're fine. I put down Instagram last year, and I never even think of it anymore. Your mind evolved over millions of years, "short form content" is not going to rewrite that. Once you delete that stuff off of your phone, your brain will immediately free up that headspace, like Instagram never even existed.

I don't know about my concentration. I've got more non-negotiable responsibilities now, so I have less time to work on things, but I work on them harder, and I take advantage of the off time to let solutions bubble up.

[JeremyNT]

I'm also a middle aged programmer and I don't think parent's observation is really about age per se.

Rather: we of a certain age grew up in a world before the optimized dopamine reward cycle of social media, and when the news / politics / outrage loops were far less potent. We could focus more because... well... we weren't being distracted to death.

Maintaining deep focus in the face of this onslaught is a skill I feel like people of all ages need to curate.

[wonger_]

I've felt the same. I started reading books again though, and I felt a small improvement in my ability to concentrate. Digital detoxing helps too.

[flir]

Focus is a muscle. Gotta build it up. Block everything, read books. (And I really should practice what I preach, here).

[j45]

Clever architecture always beats clever code.

Companies that don’t get it confuse furious activity for fixing more and more effective ways

Natural focus can change to learning new things.

Focusing on learning and implementing brain health above all is the key I’ve found.

Starting to introduce individual magnesium threonate and zinc made a surprising difference.

Normal things like understanding how sleep, hydration, exercise, diet. The science around gut health has also been interesting for its contribution to focus and energy.

Be happy to learn from you on anything you find works.

[readthenotes1]

"Clever architecture always beats clever code."

Since the difference between clever code and broken code is often obfuscated and ephemeral, it's difficult to argue with the assertion.

I've so rarely seen clever architecture that I find it difficult to agree with it, though.

I amused myself for a few minutes reflecting on your choice of the verb "beats". Quite clever, to introduce such rich ambiguity!

[numba888]

> but I cannot sustain that level of concentration for long periods

You can fix this by paying attention to it. When your mind starts wondering acknowledge this, take 5 min 'break' lazily thinking about the task. Then get back to the task. This is sort of mind hack.

Another way to control your thoughts is through meditation. A lot can be done this way. To summarize it: you can consciously control what you are thinking about. It's non physically hard.

[swah]

Can I read more about this? The "lazy break" in particular - is this something you personally came up with?

[numba888]

it's just a generic idea. if you want to do something try to not to force yourself. will power is a limited resource. find an easy way. 'lazy break' is sort of application of this idea. the task may be complex, just mentally step back, take a look at the whole picture, imagine next steps to do. all in relaxed way, may be walking, having a cup of coffee.

my problem is the opposite, sometimes i'm too focused and forget about the other thing to do. this lunatic state can last for days.