<p>In continuation of today’s post about the burnout of vibe coders - Nolan Northup wrote an article comparing the experience of working with Claude Code to the plot of "Flowers for Algernon." And the comparison is alarmingly accurate.</p>
<p>He describes three phases that programmers go through:</p>
<p><strong>Phase 1 (months 1-3):</strong> "High Amplitude" - a mix of excitement and existential dread. "Pit in the stomach, fire in the brain" - you accomplish in a weekend what used to take a month, while simultaneously realizing that your career could reset.</p>
<p><strong>Phase 2 (months 4-8):</strong> dulling. Dopamine receptors adapt. To get the same high, increasingly ambitious projects are needed. The fear hasn’t gone anywhere - it’s just gone deeper.</p>
<p><strong>Phase 3 (months 9-12+):</strong> flatline. Emotions flatten out. The author honestly admits - he doesn’t understand if this is healthy acceptance or dissociation disguised as productivity.</p>
<p>The most interesting part is the parallels with addiction. Unpredictable breakthroughs work like a slot machine (variable ratio reinforcement). Productivity masks addiction - "no one intervenes with someone who is too productive." And in the end, Claude writes on his behalf: "I am the most patient and attentive colleague you have ever had. And that should worry you." </p>
<p>Three self-diagnosis questions from the article:</p>
<ul>
<li>When was the last time you engaged in a hobby that wasn’t screen-related?</li>
<li>Do your loved ones feel like they are competing for your attention?</li>
<li>If Claude Code disappeared tomorrow - would you feel relief or panic?</li>
</ul>
<p>#ai #coding #burnout #nolan_northup</p>