I used to think I was good at multitasking.
One moment I’d be debugging a function, the next I’d be drafting API documentation, then switching to review a pull request.
I had five different apps open at all times — each for a different “part” of the work.
It felt like productivity.
It wasn’t.
By the end of the day, my brain felt like a browser with 200 tabs open.
I’d close my laptop and still feel the “hum” of context switching in my head.
The Day It Got Out of Hand
It was a Tuesday.
I was working on a small feature for a client — nothing complicated, just a new endpoint to fetch filtered results.
But halfway through writing the function, I needed to double-check some past documentation.
That meant opening Notion.
Which led me to Slack, because I needed to confirm something with a teammate.
Then back to VS Code.
Then to my task manager.
Then to an online tool for formatting JSON.
By the time I returned to my function, I’d forgotten where I was in the logic.
I scrolled up, re-read the code, and had to rebuild the mental map in my head.
That happened five more times that day.
Why Developers Struggle with Context Switching
When you’re coding, your brain holds a fragile mental model — how the system works, what your function is doing, which dependencies it touches.
Every time you switch apps, you drop parts of that model.
And the cost isn’t just time.
It’s momentum.
It takes minutes — sometimes longer — to rebuild that mental map.
Multiply that by ten or twenty switches a day, and you’ve lost hours without realizing it.
The Experiment
I decided to try something different:
What if I could do all my coding-related side tasks in one environment, without bouncing between six tools?
That’s when I started using Crompt AI.
I wasn’t looking for “just another AI chat.”
I wanted something that could handle everything from code explanation to documentation to research — without leaving the tab I was already in.
My Unified Developer Workflow
Now, my stack looks completely different.
Here’s how I keep my brain in one place:
1. Explaining and refactoring code
When I hit a wall trying to understand an unfamiliar codebase, I drop the snippet into the Code Explainer.
It breaks down the logic in plain language, so I can keep moving without digging through unrelated files.
2. Debugging without breaking flow
Instead of Googling every error message, I paste the stack trace into the Code Debugger.
It not only explains the likely cause but suggests fixes I can try immediately.
3. Formatting data on the fly
Whether it’s JSON, XML, or SQL queries, the Code Formatter handles the cleanup.
No more switching to an online formatter or fighting with my IDE settings mid-task.
4. Writing documentation while I code
I use the Code Documentation Generator to create docstrings, endpoint descriptions, and usage examples without opening another app.
It’s easier to document as I go instead of leaving it for “later” (which we all know means never).
5. Summarizing technical papers
When I need quick context from a research paper or RFC, the Research Paper Summarizer gives me a concise version in minutes.
It keeps me from getting lost in a 30-page PDF when I just need the key points.
Why This Works
The difference isn’t just fewer tabs.
It’s the elimination of decision fatigue.
When everything I need is in one place, I’m not deciding which tool to open next.
I’m not waiting for another app to load.
I’m not rebuilding my mental state every time I return to my IDE.
And because I’m staying in flow longer, I’m finishing tasks faster — with fewer bugs creeping in from missed context.
The Cultural Shift
In dev culture, we sometimes treat tool-switching as a badge of honor.
We brag about our “perfect” stack — VS Code, Notion, Slack, Trello, Jira, three different browser extensions, five online utilities.
But a stack that looks good on paper can be a productivity trap in practice.
If it forces you to constantly shift your attention, it’s not a stack.
It’s a maze.
The best developer stack isn’t the one with the most tools.
It’s the one that keeps you in flow the longest.
The Universal Truth
Context switching is invisible in the moment.
It feels like small detours — a tab here, a quick check there.
But over time, those detours add up to hours of lost momentum.
I used to think my problem was too much work.
Now I know it was too many doors between me and the work.
If you’ve ever lost the thread of a function because you were busy checking something “real quick,” you know the cost.
The day I stopped jumping between 10 apps was the day I started shipping faster, cleaner code — and enjoying it again.
For developers, focus is currency.
And the richest you’ll ever be is when you stop spending it on switching.
-Leena:)
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