Being In The Zone

Coding can be exciting. Especially when you are in the flow - in the zone. That's why we like to code. The total absorption in the task, I believe, is the same as being in a state of meditation.

I should know. Why else would I be coding in my seventies?

However, as with anything that we enjoy doing we must learn to do it in a disciplined manner.

In the zone one needs the discipline to :

1. Write the Executable Specification before implementing the code that it will test.
2. Use the idioms of team's coding standard. 
3. Spend time on thinking up names that convey the intention/purpose/responsibility of the files, objects, structures, functions, and variables.
4. Commit frequently to the version control system (I advocate using Git). Do a diff of the source files with the earlier commit. Document the reason for the changes in the commit log.
5. Refactor ruthlessly.

The discipline has to be practiced when in the zone. 

Easier said than done. I should know. Six-Pack Abs need discipline 😊