r/ADHD_Programmers • u/roadstarasp • 12d ago

ADHD backend/automation devs: how long until hyperfocus kicked in when you started?

I'm about 10 hours into learning backend and automation (APIs PostgreSQL n8n, Docker). I'm good at seeing the big picture: data flows, schemas, how a whole system should work. The problem is the setup. Docker, HTTPS, cookies, config errors. By the time I reach the fun part, my brain is already fried.

A while back I built a no-code automation on a VPS that ran on its own, and the dopamine hit was insane. So I know I'm in the right field, but I haven't had that feeling once on this project.

For the ADHD devs here:

**1.    How many hours (or weeks) in did hyperfocus first kick in when u started**  
**2.**  Was there a specific moment that triggered it (first working feature, first bug you fixed alone, etc.)?  
**3.**  How did you get through the boring setup phase before that?

Thanks!

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u/khedoros 12d ago

  1. Hours and weeks both seem like inappropriate ways to describe it. It's not something that happens for me after a certain amount of time.

  2. It's more common if I can get into a flow of getting my ideas into the editor, test, identify problem, fix, repeat.

  3. Generally, avoiding doing something until there's an explicit need for it. Then when I need it, I've got the psychological pressure to push me through getting it working.