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Finding the Programming Zone?
SlashDotDashDot asks: "As a developer for 20+ years, I've developed a fairly fine tuned way to find 'The Zone' for optimal programming - a combination of furniture arrangement (PC and chair), lighting
and music. I also have a pretty good sense of what time of day is best for working on a particular set of problems. But this is what works for me. My company is growing and I'm needing to mediate working conditions between my clients and consultants. This has me wondering what others have found important for finding 'The Zone' in their programming lives. How fast can you get there? How long does it last? What do you do that helps keep that state? What are the major interrupters?" We also touched on this issue in a similar article, last year. However, many of you may have ways of attaining "the zone" that don't depend on any of the factors listed above. If you have a method that works for you, please share. It may work for others.
Window please! A real window!
I personally find programming more comforting in my house. I can sit in my own chair and lean back and prop my feet up on my desk and not deal with a chair that keeps my back perfectly straight for 10 hours at a time. I have my computer setup the way I want it with no admin restrictions set forth on me. You dont have to worry when you accidentally click that goatse.cx link that everyone will look at your monitor. Also nothing beats shitting in your own toilet without worrying if your boss is in the stall next to you when you have a case of the runs.
I hate to tell you, but coding isn't like writing a novel.
You're a VB "programmer," I presume?
Bush Lies Watch
Need I say more?
What are the major interrupters?!?
Hello??
You just asked the major interrupter!!!!
I stole this Sig
Involves a comfy chair, loud mozart, a big monitor, and a bag of doritos. Oral sex when the wife is willing
Programmed for what seemed like days, started in the afternoon, then looked out the window and saw that it was dawn. Looked at my code for what seemed like the first time, and for the first time, compiled and ran.
Zarro boogs!
The code looked like kobold cobblers threw it together, but it worked.
One more thing: Add the following entry in /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 slashdot.org
-- Ken Kinder ken@_nospam_kenkinder.com http://kenkinder.com/
it could be a problem if the the windows aren't soundproofed enough and I have to listen to the conversations all the smokers have on their breaks.
Smoker 1: So, we started smoking to be cool and popular, but now all our clothes stink, our lungs are charred and black, and we're the only two dipshits standing out here feeding our addictions while everyone else is inside.
Smoker 2: Yep.
Smoker 1: (takes a puff) Is this what you expected?
Smoker 2: (takes a puff) Nope.
python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
Good social contact, this is why nerf toys are popular.
We were supposed to use NERF toys? I guess that's why "Smith&Wesson Wednesdays" didn't go over well...
You're a perl "programmer," I presume?
Heh, I'm trying to convince my boss that /. is a snazzy front end for CPAN :)
(B) + (D) + (B) + (D) = (K) + (&)
See we really just need to relax the rules about viewing porno on work machines and all those silly ideas about "public decency". A well-timed "release" can do wonders for one's focus. Good thing I work from home...
I haven't understood the geek fascination with soda. A cooler of water is all I need (I drink tons and actually get a little water high from it).
Excessive soda just makes you look like Cowboy Neal after a few years. Which makes contact with members of the opposite sex difficult.
Or easier, if your building has narrow corridors.
Simon
Coming soon - pyrogyra
Demographic study of the average slashdot reader's weight. Based on the responces to this posing, I'm buying stock in Frito Lay... Not that I am not just as guilty as anyone else on this.
Sorry, I didn't make it past "get up at 5:00am" :)
Umm.. Yeah....
Did you get the memo regarding the cover page on the new TPS reports? I'll make sure you get another copy.
Damn! You mean all this time i've been spending on designing and coding I could have just turned to the back of the book to the Answers section!?!
I'm a CS grad student, so I'm not in the workplace. Also, my suggested method of finding "the zone" probably isn't allowed in too many work spots (although I do know of a few). However, this topic was too good to pass up a post. My zone:
:D
:)
-late night
-ill breakbeats, techno, or house on the stereo
-comfortable chair
-Linux environment (key1)
-Ocean Spray Cranapple juice
and the winning "zone getter"....
-some nice, dank herb in a blunt that I can 'moke all night (key2)
Its not the only way to find the zone...the above combo minus the herb works well for me too. But two puffs on a fat el will send me straight to the zone in 2 minutes! Coding all night...concerned with the grittiest of details...like I've been doing for the past 3 days
That's a very good idea; I had thought of trying something like that, like putting up a bead curtain or some other kind of non-door cue, but objects on the desk sounds simpler.
I hope that sphere has flat spots to make stacking easier, otherwise I'm very impressed. Even more impressive would be if he could stack the cube on the sphere on the point of the pyramid!
--Jim
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