What's in Your Toolbox?

Embedded Geek asks: "I am a software developer with access to (conservatively) $100K worth of emulators, protocol analyzers, and debugging equipment at work. Nevertheless, as in every lab since Frankenstein's, I can never find a meter or screwdriver when I need one - and God help you if you need electrical tape! Over the years I have accumulated a personal toolkit to fill the gaps between what my employer provides and what I need to get my job done. In addition to the basics (a meter, screwdrivers, cable ties, boxcutter, extra power cables, duct tape) I have a number of oddball items that have come in handy (serial cable gender changers & converters, a dental mirror, dental picks). I'm curious what other items slashdotters doing hardware/software development have found useful that their bosses never provide. What about those in the IT/support world?"

Comments

A boxcutter?

[MarkGriz]

What are you, some kind of terrorist?

bits

[fava]

Lots and lots of bits, half 0's and half 1's.

I have no use for bytes or words, they just take up too much room in my special carryng case (my bit bucket). Besides I can assemble any byte or word that I desire with just a little work and it really cuts down on inventory.

Re:hasn't changed....

[ceejayoz]

Sssssh, don't tell them... just post the highest modded comments again and watch your karma soar! :-p

Like this:

- A screwdriver with #2 Phillips, flat and assorted Torx bits
- A small set of little-tiny screw drivers for laptops
- A penlight
- A telescoping mirror
- A telescoping magnetic pickup or grabber
- A big (40+) CD case to carry all your utility software
- A couple of blank floppies
- A '98 boot diskette (for machines that won't boot off CD-ROM for whatever reason)
- Spare IDE/FDD cables
- Spare SCSI cables and terminators
- Spare Cat-5 cables of various lengths including one short cross-over and a couple of inline couplers so you can daisy-chain them

And if you still have room: a mini-hub, spare NIC, spare video-card, HDD for imaging, laptop with PCMCIA nic and modem

Enjoy!

Re:Forceps

[Star Stealing Girl]

"I keep several pair in my box.. Great for pulling screws out of tight spots, fishing wires...

...delivering the occasional baby...

My toolbox

[flikx]

• Large box of condoms
• 2 enema kits
• 3 porno magazines
• Box of cheap cigars
• Bottle of vodka

Re:Forceps

[kableh]

...delivering the occasional baby...

... finishing off the occasional roach ...

Re:Tools

[kableh]

A lineman's handset, preferably obtained in the traditional way.

Traditional, eh? That does mean out of the back of the telephone company truck, right?

As a software engineer, ...

[joto]

I usually carry a pen, and some scrap piece of paper. It can come in very handy when you need to discuss, plan, or understand something that is too difficult to get off the computer screen.

Since I work with some embedded stuff as well, it has happened that my pocket knife have come in handy (some people actually fasten those screws at the end of the com-ports I need access to in order to speak to the equipment).. But it depends on what you do (well, I have also used a multimeter once, but only because I had no lightbulb and two pieces of wire handy).

If you need more tools than that, you can't possibly call yourself a software developer.

Besides, the ultimate toolchest has been discussed at slashdot before. But anyway, here is my suggestion (but for software developers):

• A hammer (good for solving problems with faulty compilers)
• A bat (see above, but when something else fails as well)
• A punchbag (for those situations when you finally found out, the problem was your own code)
• A pillow (when you need to take a nap to "think of your problem")
• A teddy (which you can try to explain your problem too before you pester your coworkers, most often it's the explaining that is important, not your coworkers suggestion. Besides, it's cuddly and sweet and can give you emotional support when you need it...)
• A dirty coffe-mug (that you never wash or use (there are paper cups, right?), but at least keeps your desk less tidy)
• A couple of boxes of old outdated and useless manuals for things you don't even remember what was (but sure, the next day after you throw something away, you certainly remember)
• A flier for the local pizza-delivery service...

Re:As a software engineer, ...

[aridhol]

A flier for the local pizza-delivery service...

Obviously, you're not truly dedicated, otherwise you would have memorized that flier.

Re:As a software engineer, ...

[4of12]

As a software engineer you should not have overlooked the importance of "cluestik" tools to deal with lusers of your software.

In particular, the baseball bat and the pen knife can be used to eliminate a lot of reported trouble tickets right at the source of the complaint.

In case those portable and multipurpose tools don't work, I recommend drinking a couple of pots of coffee and walking into the office that was the source of the complaint with nunchuks and whacking the desk real hard with some irritated expression like

Dammit! That was supposed to be fixed last month. Now I'm REALLY mad!

You'll substantially reduce the number of complaints and trouble tickets with not only the right tools, but also the right attitude.

Just one single tool.

[stefanlasiewski]

A hammer.

Rather then carry around one tool to solve each problem, it's much simpler to carry around a hammer and treat all problems as nails.

Anthony's Law of Force :

[bopo]

Don't force it, get a bigger hammer.

The most essential thing...

[Millennium]

The most important thing to have in your toolbox is a large, stuffed, pink bunny.

Carry it around everywhere at work. Converse with it regularly. Get its opinion on other peoples' technical problems. Make your co-workers greet the rabbit whenever they greet you.

This should keep people from calling you unless it's REALLY an emergency.