Ever spent hours debugging only to realize the answer was obvious in hindsight? Or struggled to remember what you actually learned last week?
You’re not alone. Most developers focus on writing code but neglect something just as important: thinking about how they write code.
Learning, Then Forgetting
You read a great article, solve a tricky bug, or learn a new framework—but a week later, it's all a blur. Without a system to capture and reflect on what you learn, progress is slow.
The best developers don’t just code. They reflect, analyse, and track their growth.
Journaling as a Solution
Spending just 5 minutes a day writing about:
- What you learned today
- What problems you faced and how you solved them
- Ideas, experiments, and lessons from debugging
Those simple things can sharpen your thinking, improve your problem-solving skills, and will help you track your progress like nothing else.
Why Journaling Works
Debug Your Brain
Writing forces clarity. If you can’t explain an idea in your own words, you probably don’t fully understand it.
Never Lose Hard-Earned Knowledge
Every solved bug, every clever refactor, every “aha!” moment—logged and ready for future you.
Identify Patterns in Your Growth
Looking back on past entries can reveal recurring struggles and areas for improvement.
My Experience & The Tool I Built
I started journaling two months ago, and it has already helped me break down problems faster and retain knowledge better. Since existing tools didn’t quite fit what I needed, I built DevLog—a free and open-source journaling app designed specifically for developers.
It’s simple, distraction-free, and focused on helping devs think, reflect, and grow. Feel free to check it out!
Just Try
Try journaling for a week and you might be surprised how much it levels up your dev skills.
There are so many benefits, and no secret recipe. You just need to give it a go.
If you do pick it up, let me know how it worked for you! If you already journal, please share with others how it helped you grow as a developer or as a human 🙏
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