On “AH-HAH” Moments
Staring at website code day in and day out can do some wacky things to a person. Like any line of work that is repetitive at times, an outlet is necessary. Many web developers turn to video games or music. A select few (myself included) follow a sports team or two. A very select few (myself not included) opt for exceptionally tight pants. Anyway, what I’m getting at is that taking a short break from coding has been extremely valuable to me. An approaching deadline and plenty of caffeine also have proven their worth.
It’s amazing what great things have come from determination and a little sleep deprivation. For me it’s always the smallest thing that will keep me up until it’s fixed. A page that is a single pixel off in Internet Explorer 6, a jQuery animation that isn’t as smooth as it should be, or any other garden variety of things most annoying to developers. Did I mention Internet Explorer 6? (Cough) Is this mic even on?
The more annoying or outlandish the glitch, the better it feels when the perfect bit of code is written. Or maybe not just written, but tested and verified to actually be working. That is my ah-hah moment, when the pixels align and Firefox and Internet Explorer agree on my code. It’s the best feeling in the world to get those issues solved, to have conquered the summit, so to speak. Everything after is like running down the side of the mountain. Still have to be cautious and watch the footing, but the momentum is there.
All in a day’s (or night’s) work.
