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Learn how to improve your code reading skills through cognitive science principles and practical techniques in this 58-minute conference talk. Discover why developers spend 58% of their time reading code yet receive little formal training in this essential skill. Explore the cognitive processes involved in code comprehension, including how short-term memory, prior knowledge, and chunking affect your ability to understand unfamiliar code. Examine different types of confusion that arise when reading code, from unclear variable names to tightly coupled systems. Master evidence-based theories and hands-on techniques for reading any piece of code more effectively, including cognitive refactoring methods and the use of flashcards for building programming knowledge. Understand how compiler culture and traditional programming education often overlook code reading skills, and learn practical strategies to overcome these gaps. Gain insights from cognitive science research on learning and memory that directly apply to programming, helping you become more efficient at understanding existing codebases and reducing the mental overhead of code comprehension.
