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The Bionic Office

Posted by timothy on from the beats-this-motel6 dept.

hondo77 writes "Joel Spolsky has finally moved Fog Creek Software into their new digs. Read about what went into the design of "the ultimate software development environment" from your (my) cube and drool."

5 of 317 comments (clear)

  1. Summary of insights by Bikku · · Score: 5, Informative
    - Programmers work best without interruption

    - Office doors are helpful

    - It's easier to read someone's screen when sitting beside them, than when shoulder-surfing

    - Natural light is good

    - Window view is nice

    - Programmers like foosball and other dot-com era goodies

    I must have missed the "bionic" part.

  2. As long as we're dreaming here... by xanderwilson · · Score: 4, Informative

    Pixar's environment to this place.

    http://www.sltrib.com/2003/May/05302003/friday/f ri day.asp

    But it's still nicer than my old cubicle. I'm pretty thankful that I work out of my apartment now.

    Alex.

  3. Nice digs but... by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 2, Informative

    .... where's the table football, inflatable furniture and all the other dot-com era regalia?

    I have my doubts about the private office == higher productivity stuff. Everyone at my company has a private office and the temptation to skive is phenomenal. Although fear of our CEO is a good counterbalance to that..........

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
  4. NYC offices... by thung226 · · Score: 2, Informative

    We relocated to a spot in midtown last year (though, not with the budget Joel had, apparently), and let me tell you, this is even more amazing considering he did in NYC. Take any ordeal with real estate anywhere in the country and multiply it by a 1000... then you're only somewhere near the neighborhood of what it feels like to negotiate digs in the Big Apple. And don't get me started on the wiring jobs and the telecom lines in this city, cuz it's a freakin' mess. His NYC office space advice is here.

    --
    -n-
  5. Re:Nice office... but who is going to pay for this by nneb · · Score: 2, Informative

    AFAIK, there's no VC money behind Fog Creek. They do consulting work to allow them to develop shrink-wrap applications. Also, it's not a new company - they've just moved offices.

    They've been profitable (see last para) for some time, so the answer is that they can probably quite easily afford it as a natural part of the business growth.