Slop Theater and the 37,000 Lines
37,000 lines of code per day. 380,000 lines for an issue tracker. Sentry's entire Python backend is 550,000 lines. When did lines-of-code become a success metric instead of a source of shame?
Research-informed · v0.1
Is your AI workflow a productivity tool — or a slot machine?
Six behavioral mechanisms from gambling research. All six are in your IDE.
The Slot Machine in Your Terminal
01
Variable Rewards
Each prompt returns unpredictable quality. Like a slot machine, "maybe next one will hit" keeps you pulling the lever.
02
Near-Miss Effect
Code that "almost works" is psychologically more compelling than a clean failure. One failing test keeps you going for hours.
03
Dark Flow
Pleasant but maladaptive absorption. Hours vanish. You deprioritize sleep, meals, and relationships without realizing it.
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We publish research. Twice a month.
New findings on AI behavioral patterns, practical hygiene techniques, and tools to reclaim your attention.