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Published on 09.02.2026
TLDR: Research suggests that developers feel more productive when using AI tools, but controlled studies show they may not actually be producing better output. The "productivity placebo" effect mirrors the false sense of progress we get during marathon debugging sessions.
Productivity placebo, hard work, and strategic quitting
TLDR: The tech industry's debate between hustle culture and work-life balance fundamentally misses the point. Motivated people in healthy environments naturally work hard, making the argument about enforcement versus restraint entirely misdirected.
Productivity placebo, hard work, and strategic quitting
TLDR: Drawing on Annie Duke's expertise in decision-making under uncertainty, strategic quitting is reframed as a rational skill rather than a character flaw. Pre-defined kill criteria and accountability partners are the practical tools to overcome our psychological resistance to quitting.