AI Coding: What to do while AI writes your code?

It sounds like a joke, but it's not. AI coding agents, the ones meant to speed up your work, are creating a new problem: dead time. An average programmer finds themselves with 5-to-20-minute pauses while the AI crunches the requested code, and that's not a small amount.

This phenomenon was documented by Anchildress1, who identified 5-to-20-minute waiting blocks in developers' workflows when using AI agents. The dream of perfect automation collides with the reality of forced waiting. What do you do during these intervals? Do you just stare at the screen, hoping the AI hurries up?

Instead of staring at the ceiling, one can become productive. Anchildress1 suggests five ways to fill these breaks. You can do some code review, update documentation - yes, the stuff nobody ever wants to write - or learn a new skill.

Other ideas include planning future work or reading technical articles, perhaps just like this one. Who would've thought AI would make reading a 'free time' activity for coders? After all, the human brain isn't an algorithm; it needs diverse stimulation.

The risk is falling into the 'quick check' trap. Immediately reviewing AI-generated code might seem efficient, but it actually makes you the bottleneck of the process. Those 5 minutes for a quick check add up, turning into a greater waste of time.

The habit of checking every single AI output as soon as it's produced is a common mistake that slows down the entire team. It's better to wait and conduct a more thorough review in a dedicated time block, letting the AI work undisturbed. You didn't think AI could teach you patience too, did you?