Cognitive Load Meter

A Visual Studio Code extension that shows a passive, live indicator of cognitive strain for the current file.

Not cyclomatic complexity. Not “clean code score”.

This is human load over time — what your brain is carrying while you work.

Overview

Cognitive load is real:

• Big files feel heavier.
• Deep nesting costs working memory.
• Jumping across regions increases strain.
• Rapid edits increase mental stack pressure.

This extension turns those signals into a simple status bar meter:

• 🟢 Light
• 🟡 Moderate
• 🔴 Heavy

No warnings. No nags.

Key Features

• Status Bar Load Meter — always visible, always passive
• Time-based signals — uses a rolling edit lookback window
• Nesting estimate — brace depth or indentation depth (language-aware)
• Region spread — how many areas of the file you touched recently
• Edit frequency — how intense the recent activity has been

Commands

Settings

{
  "cognitiveLoadMeter.enabled": true,
  "cognitiveLoadMeter.lookbackMinutes": 10,
  "cognitiveLoadMeter.debounceMs": 350,
  "cognitiveLoadMeter.maxLinesForNesting": 2000
}

Use Cases

Feeling “stuck”

The meter gives you a quick signal that you’re carrying too much context.

Choosing the next step

If load is heavy, you might:

• split the file
• reduce nesting
• add context notes (pair with Code Context)
• take a short break

Part of the Sona Ecosystem

Cognitive Load Meter aligns with Sona’s themes:

• cognitive programming
• attention preservation
• developer wellness

License

MIT License — see LICENSE.