Sometimes writing code is like playing a computer game.

When you create a website there are many different components that have to work together. Scripts written in different languages php, html, css, javascript, sql. And they might all be organised in particular frameworks and be interacting with many tables of data and receiving input from users and other scripts. And they have to perform tasks in a particular way.

It can become a tangled web.

You have to find your way through that web, and get to know your way round.

There are problems, complex problems that seem intractable. But then computers are clever devices and there are lots of different ways of doing things.

You come across an obstacle and you have to try and overcome it. There is a lot going on, you have to keep that all in mind and try and not forget anything.

You try one solution, that doesn't work so you try another; all the time you have to be really focussed. That's when it becomes like a computer game, you lose track of time and you become completely absorbed. The next thing you know it's 2 hours later! But then you solve the problem and move on to the next level.

The best part is when you have had a particularly tricky problem to solve and you find a really nice elegant solution, and especially if you learn something in the process.

I suppose it's called getting in the flow, and it can be very enjoyable.

What's you job like (sometimes)?

The website design time-sheet

Today's tasks:

Total: 10 hours 14 minutes

A very good day today, made lots of progress on a new project, overcame lots of obstacles and moved on to a higher level. Was also pleased by the small amount of time I got distracted by Hootsuite and its tangiential wanderings.

Exersice: 1 hour of yoga.

Tomorrow: I hope to make more big strides in the not now so new project.