3 ms·
It's very strange that HN seems to sway so heavily against open offices. I genuinely think the reality is that opinions are split squarely down the middle, oth
by skc 10y ago
It's very strange that HN seems to sway so heavily against open offices.
I genuinely think the reality is that opinions are split squarely down the middle, otherwise hacking/working in coffee shops wouldn't be a thing for example (people seek out that specific experience)
It also implies that the likes of Google/Facebook aren't being as productive as they can be, which is hogwash in my opinion.
- dasboth 10y agoFor me the difference between an open plan office and a coffee shop is direct interruptions. I can drown out the ambient noise of a coffee shop and get into flow when coding. In an office, people walk up to you/phone you/whatever which is a direct distraction "aimed" at you specifically, which is much more jarring and difficult to ignore.
- clarry 10y agoAre 50% of developers hacking in coffee shops? More likely the people who choose to hack in coffee shops are people who are good at shutting out distractions. Or maybe the alternative is worse, e.g. working at home with wife and kids who can't seem to fully comprehend what it means to be working. Maybe they are working on some "light" tasks that don't require deep concentration?
- knorker 10y agoIf you've ever been to a Google/facebook office you'll know that it's mostly deserted. It works to some extent mostly because people aren't actually at their desks.