Recently, I decided to start recording my screen while I code. Instead of just sharing the finished destination, I wanted to document the actual journey — exposing my raw thought process, articulating my goals, and wrestling with design trade-offs in real time.
It’s a bit terrifying to show the scaffolding before the building is finished, but I’ve realized it's one of the most powerful ways to
- Sharpen technical communication,
- Stress-test my own mental models
- Explain trade-offs
- Build the exact muscle memory needed to ace tough coding interviews.
What I've Found
The biggest surprise has been how much building in public has accelerated my learning.
Once I know I’m going to explain an idea on camera or write about it afterwards, I naturally dig much deeper. I spend more time researching, questioning my own assumptions, and practicing the explanation until I truly understand it. Teaching has become part of my learning process rather than something I do after I’ve learned.
Here’s a short explanation I created :)
Recording myself has also created a feedback loop I never expected. Watching the videos back lets me notice things I would never catch in the moment—whether I’m speaking too quickly, rushing through an explanation, using too much jargon, or simply not making as much sense as I thought. Each recording becomes a small coaching session with my future self.
Looking back, I thought I was documenting my coding journey for other developers. In reality, I was building better communication skills, deeper technical understanding, and more confidence every time I pressed the record button. Those are skills that carry over into technical interviews, team discussions, and every conversation where ideas need to be explained clearly.
Here’s one I actually write the code for a search filter:
How about You?
Have you tried hitting recording on your coding sessions? How do you find it?
Top comments (4)
That’s great, but I can’t do that: if I’m talking, I’m talking; if I’m coding, I’m coding. Since I’m not a multitasker (it’s already an achievement for a man to do one thing at a time and do it well), I can’t do both simultaneously!
Haha, I think a lot of developers can relate to this! 😄 Talking and coding at the same time is definitely a different skill from doing either one separately.
It actually makes me think about technical interviews, where we’re often expected to solve a problem and explain our thinking at the same time. So perhaps a lot of perfectly capable developers are at a disadvantage simply because thinking out loud while coding doesn’t come naturally to them.
I'm seriously considering this as a next step. I already use an audio feedback loop when I'm writing fiction. TTS to read back to me while I edit. It's immensely helpful. First though I would need some sort of audience for my coding to make slowing down and talking it through worthwhile. Sadly C++ devs all seem to be lone wolves, teaching themselves, or excited juniors showing off what they've done but really just paddling at the edge of the pond. I will find my people.
This is really encouraging to hear! Especially since you’ve already experienced how helpful that feedback loop can be with fiction writing.
I hope you give it a go with C++. “I will find my people” — I think that’s a great mindset. All the best with it!