Despair-Driven Development

An interesting post arguing that uncomfortable emotions like despair can increase productivity for software engineers if they escape those emotions by getting into flow. I think that might be true, at least in some cases, but I don’t think it’s a healthy way to approach work. It reminds me of the quasi-addicted state I found myself in when building Logwise: productive, but self-diminishing. Companies don’t need more reasons to put employee productivity over employee well-being.

“Society cares for the individual only so far as he is profitable.” - Simone de Beauvoir

Feb 8, 2025 · No comments yet