emotions.dev

Developer burnout is highly prevalent, with up to 80% of programmers reporting feelings of exhaustion and cynicism. While developers enjoy higher salaries and better flexibility than many jobs, the cognitive intensity, constant need to upskill, and unclear project requirements make them particularly vulnerable compared to less technically demanding or non-digital professions.

We believe part of the problem is that developers have no language for what they go through, so we created this lexicon of coined words for the emotions unique to developers — to help us name, share, and ultimately better understand our experiences.

Take what you need.

  1. absurditation

    noun | /əb-sur-dih-TAY-shun/

    A family of paradoxical emotions arising from the realization that your work is meaningless or impossible.

    absurd + -ation

    see also

    chrono-absurditation
    strato-absurditation

  2. autoridiculism

    noun | /aw-toh-rih-DIK-yuh-liz-um/

    The moment you think “what idiot wrote this code?” — only to discover it was you.

    auto- + ridicule

    see also

    scribnesia

  3. chrono-absurditation

    noun | /KROH-noh-əb-sur-dih-TAY-shun/

    A strain of absurditation brought on by an imposed, impossible timeline.

    chrono- + absurditation

    see also

    absurditation
    strato-absurditation

  4. coderaderie

    noun | /koh-də-RAH-də-ree/

    The bond formed between like-minded developers working in the same codebase.

    code + camaraderie

    see also

    codemiseration

  5. codemiseration

    noun | /kohd-miz-uh-RAY-shun/

    The trauma bond that forms between developers surviving a nightmare codebase together.

    code + commiseration

    see also

    coderaderie
    fixifragilation

  6. deja-view

    noun | /DAY-zhah-VYOO/

    The realization that the brand-new component you just wrote already exists elsewhere in the codebase.

    déjà vu + view

    see also

    nymesia
    scribnesia

  7. euflowria

    noun | /yoo-FLOR-ee-uh/

    The clarity and elation of being deep in flow, producing high-quality code rapidly and effortlessly.

    euphoria + flow

    see also

    lockinosis
    initilation

  8. errorigma

    noun | /eh-rə-RIG-muh/

    The confusion when an error message points to a line number that is empty or otherwise useless.

    error + enigma

    see also

    undocumentosis

  10. hubrifactor

    noun | /HYOO-brih-FAK-tər/

    The uneasy realization, mid-refactor of “dumb code,” that it wasn't dumb at all — and now you're in over your head.

    hubris + refactor

    see also

    ineptifactor
    impostifactor

  11. impostifactor

    noun | /im-POS-tih-FAK-tər/

    The dread of making architectural decisions you aren't qualified to make, because time or budget won't let you reach the real expert.

    impostor + factor

    see also

    hubrifactor

  12. inheirritation

    noun | /in-hair-ih-TAY-shun/

    The respectful frustration of taking over someone's code, knowing it was written under the same crunch you're in now.

    inherit + irritation

    see also

    fixifragilation

  13. ineptifactor

    noun | /in-EP-tih-FAK-tər/

    The urge to refactor code that already works fine, simply because it feels too complex for you to fully grasp.

    inept + factor

    see also

    hubrifactor
    verbotrocity

  14. initilation

    noun | /ih-nih-tih-LAY-shun/

    The rush of joy when code works on the first try — and you're sure it's because you did everything right.

    initial + elation

    see also

    initinoia
    euflowria

  15. initinoia

    noun | /ih-nih-tih-NOY-uh/

    The unnerving skepticism when code works on the first try, making you suspect something is lurking beneath the surface.

    initial + paranoia

    see also

    initilation

  16. lockinosis

    noun | /lok-in-OH-sis/

    The state of trying to “lock in” and focus, only to be thwarted by exhaustion or burnout.

    lock in + -osis

    see also

    euflowria
    popinlockinosis

  17. nymesia

    noun | /nahy-MEE-zhuh/

    The nagging certainty that the file, method, or variable you need already exists — if only you could recall its name.

    -onym + amnesia

    see also

    nymolysis
    deja-view

  18. nymolysis

    noun | /nahy-MOL-ih-sis/

    The paralysis of being unable to decide what to name a file, method, or variable.

    -onym + -lysis

    see also

    nymesia

  19. popinlockinosis

    noun | /POP-in-LOK-in-OH-sis/

    The point at which lockinosis becomes so severe that the entire dev team breaks down.

    pop-and-lock + lockinosis

    see also

    lockinosis

  20. pyrrhicompilation

    noun | /PIR-ih-kom-pih-LAY-shun/

    The hollow relief of a build finally compiling, after which you feel too worn down by repeated failures to truly celebrate.

    Pyrrhic + compilation

    see also

    sisatation

  21. scribnesia

    noun | /skrib-NEE-zhuh/

    The eerie experience of reading your own code with no recollection of having written it.

    scribe + amnesia

    see also

    autoridiculism
    deja-view

  22. sisatation

    noun | /sis-uh-TAY-shun/

    The mounting tension and anticipation built up across repeated attempts to get a build to succeed.

    Sisyphus + -ation

    see also

    pyrrhicompilation

  23. strato-absurditation

    noun | /STRAT-oh-əb-sur-dih-TAY-shun/

    A strain of absurditation caused by a stark lack of team resources.

    strato- + absurditation

    see also

    absurditation
    chrono-absurditation

  24. undocumentosis

    noun | /un-dok-yoo-men-TOH-sis/

    The unease of venturing into the undocumented parts of a library or framework.

    undocumented + -osis

    see also

    errorigma

  25. verbotrocity

    noun | /ver-BOT-rə-sih-tee/

    The condition of code growing ever more verbose and overengineered, yet too entangled to simplify without risking a break.

    verbose + atrocity

    see also

    fixifragilation
    ineptifactor