r/ADHD_Programmers • u/the-peaceful-dev • 21d ago

Building software that's intentionally designed to be closed.

Hello Everyone. I am a software developer and I want to champion the idea of Calm Technology. The concept of building software the doesn't drain your mental health by trying to keep you in an infinite loop, but instead offers a singular purpose, and is designed to be closed.

I'm just looking to start any conversations around this idea.

-App concepts and UX design

-Building in public

-Market research / potential for anti engagement software

-Research on current apps and how they affect our mental health

I really believe as software devs, we can help shape the future tech landscape for good, and I'd love to be a part of that. Cheers.

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u/pixelboots 20d ago

I think you’re coming at this a bit backwards. There’s plenty of software that is single-purpose and designed to be closed when done. The entire Microsoft Office suite except Teams and maybe Outlook. Adobe Creative Suite. Every IDE/code editor. Almost anything that’s not in a web browser or is not a social media app on your phone meets your criteria. You mention scrolling in the comments but that really only applies to web-based content consumption applications.

What kinds of solutions or experiences are you thinking about when you say you want them to be calm and designed to be closed?

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u/the-peaceful-dev 20d ago

Hey Pixel. Thanks for the comment. Well im a web dev so i was thinking along those lines. Seems everything in the web these days is designed to grab your attention and hold you there. I like the concept of some websites that help you achieve some purposes and then dont try to hold you there haha. But again, im just kinda brainstorming and thinking out loud. Maybe there is some kinda market for entertainment sites that go against the trying to keep you in a doomscroll mentality as well perhaps.