Coding with ADHD

Software development requires deep, sustained focus—a state that can feel incredibly elusive when you have ADHD. While hyperfocus is a real superpower, controlling when it happens is the real challenge.

Here are the strategies and workflows that help me, as a solo developer with AuDHD, consistently ship projects without burning out.

1. Embrace the "Brain Dump"

Before opening an IDE, I use a plain text file to brain dump every single task, bug, and random thought. The ADHD brain has limited working memory; trying to hold the architecture of a feature in your head while remembering to fix a typo elsewhere is exhausting. Write it down to get it out.

2. Micro-Commits

Large pull requests are daunting. I break my work into absurdly small, atomic commits. For example, "Updated button color." This provides immediate dopamine hits and creates a safe "save point" if my attention shifts suddenly.

3. Visual Separation of Concerns

I rely heavily on syntax highlighting themes designed for low contrast and low sensory strain. I also physically separate my environments: one monitor is strictly for code, the other is strictly for documentation. Never the twain shall meet.

4. Forgiving Tooling

I use automated formatting and strict linters. I don't want to spend my limited executive function worrying about indentation or missing semicolons. Let the machine do the boring work so the brain can do the creative work.

The key to coding with ADHD isn't forcing yourself to work like a neurotypical developer; it's building a scaffold that supports how your brain naturally operates.