Paul Jacobson

A programmer on a psychiatrist’s therapy couch in a well-lit consulting room. There are large windows and an office plant in the corner of the room.

The 6 Stages of Code Development

I haven’t been a coder for very long, and I don’t really consider myself a “serious programmer”. I use code to make things easier in my life and at work. Having said that, I find myself going through the same 6 Stages of Code Development1 that I thought I’d share.

Stage 1 – Excitement

I had an idea, this will be awesome.

16:9 image representing excitement and ideas

Stage 2 – Wonder

Just think of the possibilities, all the things I can do.

16:9 image with the theme of wonderment, now featuring faded code integrated into the starry sky, has been created.

Stage 3 – Why Do I Do This To Myself?

I’ve hit a snag. Oh, and the the project seems to be a lot more involved than I expected the more I work on it. It wasn’t meant to be this complex!

Prompt: 16:9 image based on this sentiment: I’ve hit a snag. Oh, and the the project seems to be a lot more involved than I expected the more I work on it. It wasn’t meant to be this complex!

Stage 4 – Determination

Dammit, I have started this. I am most of the way through. I can finish this. I will finish this.

Prompt: 16:9 image based on this: Dammit, I have started this. I am most of the way through. I can finish this. I will finish this.

Stage 5 – Elation

It’s allliiiiiiivvvve!!!

Prompt: 16:9 image representing elation in a code project with this sentiment: It’s allliiiiiiivvvve!!!

Stage 6 – Meh

It works as expected, and fades into the background … until it’s time to refactor it.

Prompt: 16:9 image of a programmer sitting in front of two computer screens with lines representing code on the screens. They are in dim light, hunched over slightly.

At which point, return to Start.

Images generated by Dall-E 3

  1. Apologies to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ↩︎

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Comments

5 responses to “The 6 Stages of Code Development”

  1. Nathan Jeffery avatar
    Nathan Jeffery

    For me, it’s more like, have idea, write a brief, create a git repo, get distracted by life. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Paul avatar
      Paul

      I’m more likely to be distracted by another code project.

      Reply
  2. geschichtenundmeer avatar
    geschichtenundmeer

    Isn’t this what happens with most projects or assignments? (I do not code, but I think I know the process you describe from other areas of life or work.)

    Reply
    1. Paul avatar
      Paul

      Probably. I know I definitely experience this each time I decide to work on a code project.

      Reply

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