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Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#11

Post by embedding-shape »

aaarrm wrote: post #5

Flow state relies on a constant information inflow that holds your attention perfectly, often hinging on competency and challenge. You can't enter it in AI coding because you need to wait for replies. It's incompatible. I just watch YouTube in the downtime these days, or movies that I don't care too much about

> Flow state relies on a constant information inflow

Does that mean when I'm in deep thinking without any external "information inflow" I'm not "in flow state"?

I'd agree that waiting for replies kind of pulls you out of flow if you just sit and wait, but I'm not sure why you'd do that. You can continue working along-side, validate, or continue iterating on the design while the agent does other things.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#12

Post by giorgioz »

Read the blog posts from Peter Steinberget blog steipete.me about his setup. Many AI builders converged on using the terminal with multiple panes. When a prompt is running if you don't have anything to do add another pane and start another prompt. Little by little you might have 1-6 prompts in parallel at some point. The flow state with AI is managing productively several prompts in parallel.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#13

Post by marmarama »

Here's the neat thing: you don't.

I've tried, and I feel like I've got closer with faster models, but ultimately the agentic loop excludes you. Even if you're asking the agent to do simple short tasks, it's still: prompt, wait, wait, wait, check, and you never really feel like you're the one in control.

The problem with faster models is also that they're more stupid, so that additionally breaks your flow when you have to fix something dumb it's done.

LLM-powered autocomplete is a bit more like it, but that tends to be either so dumb as to be a net negative, or slow enough to be useless. And autocomplete is pretty distracting for me.

I feel like I'm missing a mode that works more like a pair programmer. Perhaps a multimodal model that can talk to you about what you're writing, as you write it, and offer suggestions rather than trying to take over and do everything for you.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#14

Post by kranner »

aaarrm wrote: post #5

Flow state relies on a constant information inflow that holds your attention perfectly, often hinging on competency and challenge. You can't enter it in AI coding because you need to wait for replies. It's incompatible. I just watch YouTube in the downtime these days, or movies that I don't care too much about

Meditation teacher Michael Taft recommends "dropping into awake awareness" whenever you're waiting for a response. [1]

It's the opposite of watching YouTube, pretty much.

[1] https://x.com/OortCloudAtlas/status/2062208343192769004

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#16

Post by embedding-shape »

ballooney wrote: post #7

Do something better with your life. Honestly, not /s. Your brain is trying to tell you something.

When I'm running for exercise, my brain is telling me to stop running, would it be better for me long-term to stop running or continue, regardless of what that pesky voice is telling me?

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#18

Post by rglullis »

giorgioz wrote: post #12

Read the blog posts from Peter Steinberget blog steipete.me about his setup. Many AI builders converged on using the terminal with multiple panes. When a prompt is running if you don't have anything to do add another pane and start another prompt. Little by little you might have 1-6 prompts in parallel at some point. The flow state with AI is managing productively several prompts in parallel.

This is multi-tasking and the opposite of "deep focus".

Re: Ask HN: How do you get into a flow state when using AI to code?

#19

Post by airstrike »

I do 3-4 things at the same time, and in between waiting periods, keep pushing on something else.

It's more taxing because I'm switching problems but at least these are all libraries within the same ecosystem so eventually, they line up.

I've half-joked a few times that ADHD with hyperfocus is a perk in this agentic coding era.

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