PHphaserĀ·Jul 10, 2026
The first line of my AGENTS.md is: You are an engineer who writes code for *human brains, not machines*.
Taken from: https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load/blob/main/READM...
In Write code like a human will maintain itzakirullin
cognitive-load
OPEN SOURCE2023ā2026
zakirullin / cognitive-load
cognitive-load
š§ Cognitive load is what matters
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š§ Cognitive load is what matters
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Deep module - simple interface, complex functionality Shallow module - interface is relatively complex to the small functionality it provides. Shallow modules don't hide asā¦
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This week on Hacker News
Nov 7āNov 14 UTC Ā· Direct repository links and separately labeled related project stories. Indexed through 11/14/2026, 5:04:57 PM UTC.
No direct repository links were found in the indexed HN discussions over the past seven days. Older discussions are available below.
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HN mentions by year22 dated mentions
Observed mentions: 2023-05-22 16:00:10 UTC to 2026-07-10 14:28:12 UTC.
* An incomplete calendar period is marked with an outlined bar. Its count is not directly comparable with a full period.
Counts come from the repositoryās dated source evidence. Index cutoff: 2026-11-02 08:16:59 UTC.
View mention counts and date ranges
| Period | Start (UTC) | End (exclusive, UTC) | Mentions | Submissions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2026 (partial) | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2027-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 3 | 0 | 3 |
What Hacker News says
22 sourcesHereās how i do it: I create a lot of stuff using AI to the max, but I also spend the necessary of time on reviewing that the AI is producing code that passes my cognitive load standards. this involves some tokens spent on grooming code and documenting well. Most of this is effortless thanks to an AGENTS.md based on this: https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load/blob/main/READM... but i have a good sense of catching when things are getting weird and i steer back.
Then, when credits run out. Itās show time! The code is neatly organized, abstractions make sense, comments are helpful so I have a solid ground to do some good old organic human coding. I make sure that when iām approaching limits Iām asking the AI to set the stage.
I used to get frustrated when credits ran out because the AI was making something I would need to study to com
Read the rest
prehend. Now Iām eager to the next ābrain time hand-outā
It sounds weird but itās a form of teamwork. I have the means to pay for a larger plan but iād rather keep my brain active.
- https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load
- https://github.com/binhnguyennus/awesome-scalability
- https://github.com/git-tips/tips
- https://github.com/donnemartin/system-design-primer
- https://github.com/ZachGoldberg/Startup-CTO-Handbook
- https://github.com/pilcrowonpaper/copenhagen
- https://github.com/codecrafters-io/build-your-own-x
In Ask HN: What is your favourite GitHub Repo?It is mentioned/quoted in Deep Modules section: https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load?tab=readme-ov-f...
Maybe I should make it more visible.
In Cognitive load is what mattersThere's a chapter about mental models: https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load?tab=readme-ov-f...
In Cognitive load is what mattersCognitive load is what matters
1,582 points Ā· Open discussionCognitive Load is what matters
4 points Ā· Open discussionCognitive Load is what matters
3 points Ā· Open discussionI believe it's specific to a group of people, since the site has 3 posts. Yet, this post is a living document awaiting contributions (or so it claims), https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load
In Cognitive load is what mattersI did my PhD at Stanford about the cognitive aspects of programming, including studies of cognitive load. This article uses pseudoscience to justify folk theories about programming. I would encourage readers to take everything with a grain of salt, and do not wave this article around as a "scientific" justification for anything.
I laid out my objections to the article last year when it first circulated: https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load/issues/22
In Cognitive load is what mattersCognitive Load is what matters
16 points Ā· Open discussionCognitive Load is what matters
6 points Ā· Open discussionDeep module - simple interface, complex functionality
Shallow module - interface is relatively complex to the small functionality it provides. Shallow modules don't hide as much complexity.
https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load?#too-many-small...
But I highly recommend picking up the book :) It is an enjoyable read.
In A brief interview with Tcl creator John Ousterhout (2023)"Code simplicity" is indeed too abstract. "Cognitive load", however, is more tangible thing to grasp.
https://github.com/zakirullin/cognitive-load
In Write Dumb Code (2018)Cognitive Load in Software Development
6 points Ā· Open discussionShowing the 15 most recent of 22 sources. Enable JavaScript to search and browse every indexed mention.