2026-01-04 · 3 min read · Stephen J. Dunn
Cycling and Debugging Have the Same Patience Problem
A short note on pacing, false urgency, and why forcing the tempo usually makes technical work worse.
cyclingwritingdebugging
Observation
In both cycling and debugging, impatience feels productive. It is usually not. Chasing every surge, hypothesis, or log line burns energy without improving the line of travel.
Better Approach
The better approach is controlled effort. Hold a sustainable pace, remove noise, and wait long enough to see which signals remain.
Result
You do not eliminate uncertainty. You just stop compounding it.