'Thermonuclear ADHD Amplifier': HN Splits on Whether Coding Agents Help or Sabotage Focus

Hacker News / Simon Willison·low signal

Simon Willison surfaced David Wilson's post framing AI coding agents as a 'thermonuclear ADHD amplifier' — enabling rapid creation of instantly abandoned projects with little lasting value — sparking a divided HN thread. Some report the same unfocused project sprawl; others with ADHD say agents finally let them finish projects by supplying the stimulation and scaffolding they need. The signal for builders: agent value is as much about workflow discipline and follow-through as model quality.