# Why programmers need systems to manage information and complexity

DevFeed: [Why programmers need systems to manage information and complexity](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/programming-doesn-t-fit-in-your-brain-28409.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://eaf4.com/programming-doesnt-fit-in-your-brain/>)

Author: Edward Faulkner

Published: 2017-05-31T16:20:37Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Edward Faulkner](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/edward-faulkner.md>)

Topics: [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>), [Learning](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/learning.md>), [Documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/documentation.md>)

Tags: [beginners](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/beginners.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [complexity](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/complexity.md>), [documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/documentation.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that programmers should not try to keep entire programs or problems in their heads. Instead, they should become comfortable retrieving information on demand through search, code exploration, and documentation, while using well-structured code to manage complexity.

## Source excerpt

"A lot of beginners under-appreciate the degree to which googling things is part of a programmer's job," says @steveklabnik #wednesdaywisdom pic.twitter.com/FnXo3rBfPb -- Glitch (@glitch) May 31, 2017 That quote is true, and it's a specific example of a more general