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Loïc Boset
Loïc Boset

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Why You’re Stuck as a Developer (And How to Fix It in 5 Minutes a Day)

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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