Ask HN: How important is typing speed for a programmer?

2 pointspulkitsh12342 comments

Apart from the obvious advantages, are there any downsides, for example: biologically ?

Are touch typists more prone to eye strain as they constantly look on the computer screen? Or touch typing is actually beneficial because it reduces head/eye movement.

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It's irrelevant, mostly. Your productivity as a programmer comes from identifying and solving problems with minimum wasted effort, typing is just a thing you do at the end when you're done thinking about the best way to solve a problem.

More about productivity mindset: https://codewithoutrules.com/2016/08/25/the-01x-programmer/

Only times typing speed really comes in handy for me is when its almost the end of the work day and I want to finish one bit while its fresh in my mind or during programming competitions where it really adds an advantage. Most times I'm doing more contemplative coding.

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