Coding hacks that actually save you time
Want to ship faster without leaving a trail of bugs? Small, focused changes to your tools and habits give the biggest wins. These coding hacks are hands-on, tested by working devs, and easy to apply right now.
Editor & workflow hacks
Pick one editor and make it sing. Learn its multi-cursor, command palette, and file search. In VS Code, for example, use Ctrl+P to open files, Alt+Click for multi-cursor edits, and snippets for repeated code chunks. Save time by creating language snippets for common patterns—no more copy-paste boilerplate.
Automate formatting and linting. Add Prettier or Black and a linter to your pre-commit hook so code is consistent before it hits the repo. Use simple git aliases for long commands (git co for checkout, git st for status). A tiny .gitconfig change can remove 10 keystrokes per day.
Use templates for new projects. A lightweight repo template with CI, tests, and a README removes setup friction. Start coding, not configuring.
Debugging & code quality hacks
Replace frantic print debugging with targeted tools. Set breakpoints and inspect variables—IDE debuggers or browser devtools save time. When you do need logs, add structured, searchable logs (timestamp, request id) so you can grep issues quickly.
Write tiny tests that run fast. A 30-second unit test suite catches regressions without slowing you down. Use pytest -k to run only related tests while you iterate. When a bug appears, use git bisect to find the exact commit—it's faster than guessing which change broke things.
Profile hotspots instead of guessing. Use cProfile or a sampling tool like py-spy to find slow code paths. Optimize the bottleneck, not what looks slow on paper.
Keep commits small and focused. One feature, one pull request. Clear commit messages make reviews faster and rollbacks simple. During reviews, use a short checklist: readability, tests, edge cases, and performance notes.
Use feature flags for risky changes. Deploy behind a flag, test with a subset of users, then flip it on. Rollback becomes a toggle, not a sprint to revert the whole release.
Reduce context switching. Group like tasks—code, review, and meetings in separate blocks. Use a timer (25–50 minutes) and treat interruptions as costly. You’ll finish the same work in less real time.
Start with one hack this week. Add logging standards, set up pre-commit hooks, or learn two editor shortcuts. Track how much time those changes save—small wins compound fast. If you want, tell me your stack and I’ll suggest three quick hacks you can apply this afternoon.
