Mastering the Pause: Productive Strategies for Developers Using LLM Code Generation

The advent of Large Language Models has fundamentally altered the daily workflow of many seasoned developers, transforming what was once a continuous typing marathon into a punctuated process often characterized by significant waiting periods. With LLMs handling much of the implementation after detailed prompting, developers find themselves with unexpected pockets of idle time. This shift has prompted a search for effective ways to utilize these new pauses productively, or simply enjoy them.

Optimizing LLM Workflows

A prominent strategy emerging is the parallelization of tasks. Rather than waiting for a single LLM interaction to complete, developers are adapting their setups to manage multiple LLM agents or chats simultaneously. This allows one agent to work on a new feature, while another reviews previously generated code, and yet another tackles a different section of a project. Visual pings or notifications alert the user when an agent finishes, enabling quick context switching. While this approach significantly increases token usage, the gain in overall productivity by juggling 3-4 serious tasks often outweighs the cost.

Another method involves a more granular interaction with the LLM's output. Instead of waiting for a lengthy task to fully complete, some developers use tools that allow them to check file changes incrementally after each "prompt" or "change." This reduces the waiting period to smaller chunks, allowing for immediate review, understanding, and quick bug fixes. Occasionally, even reading the LLM's "chain of thought" during its generation process can reveal misunderstandings, prompting a quick correction or clearer explanation in the next prompt.

Productive Engagement During Downtime

Beyond optimizing the LLM interaction itself, many are finding ways to fill the waiting time with other productive activities that maintain a connection to their work or personal development:

Writing Tests: A common suggestion is to use the waiting time to manually write tests for the code the LLM is expected to generate. This is particularly valuable as LLMs are still not adept at creating truly meaningful and robust tests.
Planning and Preparation: Developers often use the time to plan the next steps of the current project, outline future tasks, or even write prompts for subsequent LLM interactions on a different project. This keeps the mental gears turning and maintains a forward momentum.
Side Projects and Tooling: Engaging in side projects that don't demand the same level of deep concentration or quality as the main work is a popular choice. This could involve "vibe coding" on a personal project, developing small CLI tools, or building other knickknacks that ultimately streamline their workflow. This allows for a creative outlet without completely breaking the work context.
Skill Development: Learning a new language, whether a programming language like Go or a human language using platforms like DuoLingo complemented by LLM-driven drills, is another effective use of this time. It leverages the pauses for continuous personal growth.

Embracing the "Slow" Time

While many strive for continuous productivity, some developers also advocate for simply embracing the downtime. This can involve stepping away from the screen for a moment, tidying a desk, or even just staring out the window and allowing for reflective thought. This "doing nothing" can be a valuable mental reset, fostering creativity and preventing burnout. The evolving landscape of coding with LLMs means that the role of the developer is transforming. From being primarily code writers, many are now becoming orchestrators and reviewers, leveraging intelligent agents to accelerate development while discovering new rhythms for their own focus and productivity.