Yesterday I was summoned to investigate an issue that was escalated as high as it gets. It was the most fun I had at work in months. Meetings were canceled, messages left unread, all that mattered was solving the puzzle. There is something about having to do just one thing. A clear objective to work towards. No distractions, no interruptions, no uncertainties, no conflicts. Focus is relaxing. Like driving. There is also something special about debugging: in the end, things always make sense. If it's not making sense, you can rest assured it is simply because you haven't reached the end yet, and when you do, all will be clear. There is always logic to it, you just need to understand it. Like math. No disconnected decisions, no conflicting interests, no unclear requirements. After that day at work I felt energized, not exhausted. I was sharp, not hazy. It was the best of days.
This is not to say debugging can't be stressful, such as under time pressure. Like driving in adverse conditions. But I feel more stressed on the regular days, with the tiny issues that mount. The avoidable mistakes, the short term thinking, the constant interruption. Just like driving slowly in the city can be more stressful than on the highway in a storm. Tiny things take a toll, over time. Different companies, different sectors, different management, sometimes it all feels the same.
Public domain. Originally published on 17 May 2025.