ADHD as a Software Development Superpower

Instead of fighting against our natural way of thinking, we can work with it to become amazing developers.

ADHD and the Developer’s Journey  

When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I thought it was a flaw—something that made me worse at my job. I struggled with focus, working memory, and context switching. I constantly felt like I was playing catch-up, trying to force myself into traditional productivity methods that didn’t work for my brain.

But over time, I realized something important: ADHD isn’t a flaw. it’s just a different operating system. Instead of trying to fight against it, I started experimenting with different coding techniques, workflows, and team practices that actually played to my strengths.

In this series, I’ve shared those techniques—what worked, what didn’t, and how I transformed the way I develop software. Now, I want to wrap it up by bringing everything together and reinforcing the key idea:

ADHD isn’t something to fix. It’s something to work with.

And when you use the right tools, it can actually become your greatest strength.

The Techniques That Transformed My Work  

Through trial and error, I’ve found a set of practices that help me stay focused, manage my cognitive load, and get deep, meaningful work done. If you’re an ADHD developer (or if you work with one), these might be game-changers for you, too.

Test-Driven Development (TDD): My Built-in Focus System  

One of the biggest ADHD struggles is cognitive overload: holding too many things in my head at once. Before I started using TDD, I would often get lost in my own code, debugging for hours without making meaningful progress.

TDD changed everything for me.

• It forces me to break work into the smallest possible steps, keeping me from feeling overwhelmed.
• Instead of holding an entire problem in my head, I let the tests guide my thinking step by step.
• I don’t have to waste time debugging mysterious issues because I never write untested code.
• It eliminates decision paralysis. The test tells me exactly what to do next.

TDD isn’t just a coding technique; it’s a mental scaffolding system that keeps my ADHD brain on track.

Collaborative Programming: Body Doubling for Developers  

ADHD brains thrive on external structure and accountability, which is why I fell in love with Collaborative Programming practices. These practices mimic body doubling, a well-known ADHD strategy where working alongside someone else makes it easier to focus.

When I’m mobbing or pairing:

• I stay engaged because there’s a constant social component.
• I don’t get stuck in rabbit holes because my teammates keep me moving forward.
• It reduces decision fatigue because we collaborate on solutions instead of overthinking alone.
• I actually enjoy the process instead of getting lost in procrastination or perfectionism.

For ADHD developers who struggle with isolation, distraction, or task initiation, mob and pair programming can be game-changers.

Discovery Trees: The Key to Avoid Being Overwhelmed  

One of the worst feelings for an ADHD developer? Looking at a massive, undefined task and not knowing where to start.

That’s why I use Discovery Trees, a simple but powerful visual technique for breaking tasks down into manageable steps.

• Instead of an overwhelming blob of work, I create a visual map of tasks.
• I focus on the smallest next step instead of trying to plan everything at once.
• It helps with working memory issues. I don’t have to remember where I left off.
• It prevents me from feeling stuck or scattered because I always have a clear path forward.

If you struggle with starting tasks, remembering details, or figuring out next steps, Discovery Trees can help take that burden off your brain.

Building an ADHD-Friendly Team Culture  

ADHD (and neurodiversity in general) isn’t just a personal challenge—it’s something teams need to be aware of. Too many engineering cultures operate under the assumption that everyone thinks the same way, but that’s just not true.

To create ADHD-friendly workplaces, teams can:

• Embrace flexibility – Let people work in ways that support their brains. This can include collaborative programming, Last-Responsible Moment design, and using Pomodoro timers  , etc.
• Improve communication clarity – Written documentation, clear expectations, and avoiding unnecessary meetings.
• Leverage neurodivergent strengths – ADHD developers bring creative problem-solving, pattern recognition, and hyperfocus.

When teams support different ways of thinking, everyone benefits—not just neurodivergent people.

ADHD Isn’t a Weakness: It’s a Different Way of Thinking  

If you take one thing away from this series, I hope it’s this:

ADHD isn’t a flaw, it’s a different way of operating.

Yes, it comes with challenges, but when given the right tools, techniques, and team support, ADHD developers can excel in ways others can’t. We just need to work with our brains, not against them.

For me, TDD, Collaborative Programming, Discovery Trees, and other work techniques transformed my productivity and happiness as a developer. If you struggle with focus, overwhelm, or scattered thinking, I encourage you to experiment with these techniques and find what works for you.

Want to Learn More? Let’s Connect!  

I love talking about ADHD, software development, and neurodiversity in tech. If you found this series helpful, I’d love to hear from you!

• Let’s chat on:
  • LinkedIn: paige-is-xp 
  • BlueSky: @softwareascraft.com 

Have questions? Send me a message. I’d love to hear your ADHD-friendly coding strategies!

I also give talks on this topic at conferences and meetups! If your team or event is interested, reach out!

Finally, if you’re a developer with ADHD, know this:

You are not alone, and your brain is awesome!.