batch processing

Batch processing can be helpful.

For example, instead of reading email everytime a new one arrives, I can pick a specific time during which I'll go through a bunch of email. Fewer distractions from focused activity throughout the day, less time lost to context switching. I see no silver lining to the penalties of context switching.

Batch processing can also be, what's the opposite of helpful－unhelpful.

I can get long feedback loops. Having a long time before you get a signal from the work is most noticeable in programming. This is a legacy of early programming practices. But I also catch myself noticing extended feedback loops IRL. Ever notice when you're doing a repetitive task, and you zone out enough to not notice things? Yeah, me too. I think humans doing batch processing are susceptible to this.

But I more dislike context switching. So, back to batching.

🐭