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Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?
I want to become a better developer and ideally get more into artificial neural networks also. Looking for audiobooks mainly, as I've found most podcasts quite light on substance. Any recommendations from the HN crowd?
- jmgordon 9y agoHere is a technical podcast I listen to on my commute home: https://softwareengineeringdaily.com https://softwareengineeringdaily.com I don't listen to every episode, however I feel it's technical breadth and depth is fairly decent.
- ralmeida 9y agoI second the recommendation - not too deep to make your commute mentally tiring, but still useful enough that you learn new things (even as starting points). Covers a wide range of topics, from machine learning to infrastructure, which may also help you open your views. A similar one would be: http://www.se-radio.net/ http://www.se-radio.net/ There are also some more tech-specific ones, such as Talk Python to Me, Under the Radar (iOS dev), etc.
- wenc 9y agoI find SE Radio (IEEE) to be less captivating than Software Engineering Daily. I think it's partly because the latter has better production values, better pacing and attracts more prominent guests in the field(for instance, Martin Kleppmann, Neha Narkhede, etc.) I find myself not being able to get through an episode of SE Radio.
- smegel 9y agoI also listen to SE Radio (mainly back episodes as they don't release often). This other one look great! My contribution would be FLOSS Weekly with Randal Schwartz (most of the time).
- wenc 9y agoI third this. Software Engineering Daily tends to focus on decently technical topics (microservices, data pipeline architecture, distributed systems, deep learning), but makes it accessible to the motivated software engineer. I like the format of the interviews. The host is not an expert in all the topics that are discussed, but he does a good job asking intelligent questions and making the conversation accessible for software folks with only a casual understanding of a particular topic, say like Bitcoins, containers, etc. I feel the fact that the author is not an expert actually makes the show more interesting. It's kind of like an ELI5 podcast for practicing software engineers. I often come away from each episode feeling like I have have learned something useful.
- lzlarryli 9y agoI feel for technical subjects, you need to sit down with a pen and paper, concentrate, understand and absorb the material. You can try listen to Coursera or Edx lectures. But to be honest, if you are learning well with that, you are probably not driving safely/likely to miss your stop.
- wenc 9y agoI used to feel that way, but having listened to a few technical podcasts, I find they are a good way to get a quick but nuanced introduction to topics outside of my day-to-day. They are also a good way to learn about things that are very new and are not part of a canonical body of knowledge yet. For instance, I've read a lot of about containerization and microservices, but actually listening to interviews with prominent people who work on building these types of things helped me learn much faster about the nuances, tricks and downsides that people don't normally talk about.
- coldpizza 9y agoThis is not really audio, but when it comes to programming, I don't think any sort of listening material (by itself) is ever going to top visual material. In that department, I recommend this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wiki.algorithm.algorithms https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wiki.algorithm... https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/algorithms-explained-and-animated/id1047532631 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/algorithms-explained-and-ani...
- adamlindsay 9y agoBlinkist is worth checking out. I like using it to determine which books I am going to actually read. https://www.blinkist.com https://www.blinkist.com
- tedmiston 9y agoJust curious which membership tier you're using?
- gauravagarwalr 9y agoReminds me of http://www.2000books.com/ http://www.2000books.com/
- kozikow 9y agoI listen to python podcasts: https://talkpython.fm/ https://talkpython.fm/ and https://www.podcastinit.com/ https://www.podcastinit.com/ . Outside of purely technical subjects, I also like "talking machines" about ML: http://www.thetalkingmachines.com/ http://www.thetalkingmachines.com/ . Maybe they won't improve your "core" skills, but it's good with keeping up to date with cool recent libraries or new language developments. I use an app on android that pre-downloads podcasts on wifi and allow me to listen to them at 1.5X speed. I wouldn't recommend audiobooks, as they require more focus and context than podcasts and it's harder to find during the commute.
- pen2l 9y agoThe idea of technical podcasts intrigues me. But, I just clicked to see the content of 'Talk Python' podcasts, and it seems that a lot of it is meta-talk... smart people talking about the fact that they're going to teach someone, _not_ teaching the postcast-listener stuff (besides perhaps the knowledge that some X and Y module exists?). I think I'm just asking too much here... because creating instructional content takes _time_... to organize, think about, record, review, etc. Hm, maybe instead of complaining, I'll have a go at it...
- ifoundthetao 9y agoDo it, and post here.
- wuster 9y agothe Talk Python series is actually a great way for Python programmers to discover authors and libraries you wouldn't organically come across on HN or GitHub browsing. I highly recommend it to intermediate python programmers to expand their knowledge scope.
- ltaaug8 9y agoI don't think the audio-only format lends itself to programming instruction, but they can be good for exposing someone to high-level concepts, new developments in the field, or discussions and debates on programming practices.
- snowAbstraction 9y agoSometimes the O'Reilly Data Show https://www.oreilly.com/topics/oreilly-data-show-podcast https://www.oreilly.com/topics/oreilly-data-show-podcast get a bit deep. Try a few epsiodes.
- wenc 9y agoThis. Ben Lorica is not the best interviewer--he interrupts his guests way too often and way too abruptly--but he has a reputation of being one of the best networkers in Silicon Valley, so his guest list is usually comprised of the best people in the field.
- mbauman 9y agoIf you're like me, nothing. I need to sit down and find ways to break something to understand how it works. What I do find useful is listening to books on practice or management. Something like The Pragmatic Programmer, The Practice of Programming, and Clean Code. These are high on substance but (relatively) low on examples, so I feel I can still benefit from their insights without having to be in front of a screen.
- copperx 9y agoThat's cool. I didn't know there were audio versions of those books.
- aurizon 9y agohttps://www.google.ca/search?q=instructional+podcasts&oq=instructional+podcasts&aqs=chrome..69i57.10958j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 https://www.google.ca/search?q=instructional+podcasts&oq=ins...
- michaelmior 9y agoI'm not sure Google is good at surfacing quality recommendations as HN users.
- aurizon 9y agowrong for general inquiries, I agree for specific ones. I responded to him as a general wish to learn, not a special one like coding or math
- pasbesoin 9y ago(This may be someone OT with respect to the specific OP question/circumstance, but...) You are probably developing to/for a domain. (Healthcare, hardware, finance, etc...) Part of being successful is having good domain knowledge and understanding. If the technical aspects of your work don't translate well to an audio presentation, understanding of the domain(s) you are concentrating on might. Then, when you're doing something, or in a meeting about it, you have a better understanding of the "why". And of whether the tactics and strategy under consideration make good sense, or of how they might be improved. This is also a means of going past "pushing buttons" to becoming responsible for design decisions and the like.
- sz4kerto 9y agoJust sit. Silently. Give your brain a break -- that might be more helpful than keeping yourself busy.
- etplayer 9y agoTo add to this, try meditation too. It can be done while sitting and with the noise around you on a train, and you don't have to look odd by closing your eyes (though you could pretend you are sleeping). However I find it is most comfortable in a private place. I usually listen to music or try to read if it does not make me nauseous, but nothing to do with my studies.
- rokhayakebe 9y agoMaybe s/he already does this before or after the train ride.
- acrophiliac 9y ago"Why your brain needs more downtime" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mental-downtime/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mental-downtime/
- lawnchair_larry 9y agoThese replies are unhelpful and off topic. Author asked for technical resources, not a bunch of opinions about why they are wrong to want this and what they should do instead.
- mjlee 9y agoI quite enjoy https://softskills.audio https://softskills.audio It's not in any way technical, but I think it might help with the "become a better developer" goal. It's also a good bit of light relief.
- electrichead 9y agoLinear Digressions is a great podcast to add to your list. It is not as regular as some of the others but the subjects are great. The hosts are also good.
- pcarolan 9y agohttp://bikeshed.fm/ http://bikeshed.fm/
- DerfNet 9y agoHow about the audio book of Deep Work by Cal Newport?
- GregBuchholz 9y agoSeconded. I've only just started it, but it really resonates with me so far. It is about how to better use time / avoid distraction.
- ordu 9y agoClassical music. Learn it. Learn how to listen it, learn to feel it. It is really fun, when you able to understand it. And it helps to move away from current problems to return back from other side afterwards. Oh... And it will greatly increase interconnectivity of your brains, especially if you would not just listen, but play it too. It may be not just classical music, but modern styles a way simplier, they lack centuries of development by hundreds of musicians.
- jansho 9y agoCan you recommend any minimalist classical music (other than Arvo Part) please? Not bland, it can be sensual like Gnossienne or dramatic as... tabula rasa? My main issue with most classical music is that they feel too heavy and I feel physically sick.
- QuercusMax 9y agoNot sure what you mean by "heavy", but you might give Vivaldi a try; start with the Four Seasons. It's not minimalist, but it's much lighter than e.g. Beethoven, and not as "serious" as e.g. Bach.
- jansho 9y agoThanks for bringing up Four Seasons. I listened to Spring, it doesn't really fit what I asked about and initially I thought it was too poncey. But then it develops on like a teasing narrative (if that even makes sense, my musical vocabs is way too limited) - interesting!
- Bud 9y agoThe idea of Bach as always being "serious" is really untrue. Source: me! I make actual money singing Bach.
- inopinatus 9y agoIndeed there is a great deal of joie de vivre to be found within the music. However I find it very difficult not to listen intently to Bach. And I mean that in a good way, but disqualifies his work from being my "working background" music. My pick for programming music is the complete Mozart symphonies. They're also works of genius, but I can be in their presence without my mind being constantly drawn to them and away . I also go for the Renaissance lute works of John Dowland. In many ways the pop music of the day (and noticeably less sophisticated than the baroque that immediately followed) this somehow puts me in the right mood for UI design.
- Grustaf 9y agoHave you checked out itunes u? There you can find actual lectures from too universities recorded. Mostly they require video to get the most of them but i find that just hearing the sound can still be very informative. Specifically, stanford has some great cs material, and you could also look into andrew ng's machine learning course (i think that one was on coursera).
- cat199 9y agoPerhaps rather than audiobooks, you might look into CS lecture videos.. many of these are probably fairly 'listening friendly' and don't require too much visual focus, assuming your preference for audio is due to a driving commute.. other than that, I can only recommend more podcasts; on the systems side, bsdtalk or bsdnow are quite good (obviously bsd focused)
- torbjorn 9y agoMartin Shkreli's This Week In Investing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0dKDJeQAds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0dKDJeQAds
- davidw 9y agoFind a way to live closer to work or the other way around, then bike or walk? A bit of exercise gets my brain going way more than half listening to something while driving.
- loudouncodes 9y agoAre you actively driving? That limits what you can learn technically, because technical requires at least visual learning, if not actually hands on. Stick with audiobooks about technical _concepts_ or managerial topics. I'd suggest start with either The Phoenix Project or The Ideal Team Player. From there, follow audible recommendations.
- unpythonic 9y agoI used to commute in silence or listening to the radio for my daily Silicon Valley drive (237 Milpitas to Mountain View), and by the time I got to work, I'd be angry, frustrated, and cognitively spent. Listening to audio books has allowed me to relax, enjoy the reading, and get to work excited about the day. I treat the time as a chance to "read" those books which I wouldn't normally spend either my work hours nor my free time hours on. It's a chance to get informed on topics that are only slightly related to work, but expand your mind in ways that will make you a better thinker, and thus a better programmer. The books I've found particularly good on audio are: * Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance * Thinking, Fast and Slow * How Not to be Wrong * Ready Player One * Neuromancer
- oddlyaromatic 9y agoThinking Fast and Slow was really good, I've listened to it a couple of times. As a framework for thinking about working and learning it really clicked with me. I think I've been gently influenced by this book in many ways, including how I set my expectations about other people, and what "system" they might be employing at any moment. This has helped reduce my overall stress levels and increased my patience with myself and others. Even if the science isn't 100% perfect (is it ever?), these are usable models that approximate behavior and can be practical when taken with a grain of salt.
- j_s 9y agoAnd if you're looking for meaningful books to listen to, there was a solid discussion 2 days ago: Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models? | https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15155833 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15155833
- taejavu 9y agoDo you mind sharing where you have found an audiobook of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Doesn't look like it's available on Audible or Scribd.
- 1001101 9y agoMy local library has it via Overdrive. It's on my holds list (#6 on 5 copies - any day now :) ) YMMV.
- tedmiston 9y agoSafari Books is great. Despite the name it's a mix of books and videos, either talks from conferences or dedicated video series. A lot of it you can grok just by listening. https://www.safaribooksonline.com/home/ https://www.safaribooksonline.com/home/
- tedmiston 9y agoI'd also like to say that meditation during a commute can be really great for setting your day. My current favorite apps for that are Simple Habit and Kevin Rose's up and coming Oak which is in public beta now.
- reactor 9y agoNot technical, but Money/Finance http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money
- ali_hussein 9y agoLearning Machines 101 is nice and technical If you're feeling spent and want something less taxing to listen to try Partially Derivative it's more of a chilled out conversation on AI. It's more of a guilty pleasure for me it does feel pretty stupid at times.
- Bud 9y agoListen to Bach! Improve the overall wealth of your mind.
- amirbehzad 9y agoProlonged exposure to sound delivered through earbuds could affect hearing. How do you listen to audiobooks without damaging your hearing?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- justonepost 9y agoI find Siri reading company wiki pages helps a lot. I only get about 50% but enough that I know what to revisit at work
- gbraad 9y agoWhite noise... But the brown note should be avoided. ;-)
- spektom 9y agoHere's the list of great technical podcasts I've been listening during commute to my previous work: * Software Engineering Daily * Software Engineering Radio * The Changelog * DevZen (in Russian) * Reversim Platforma (in Hebrew) Look for previous shows, most of the great content is there! PS: It takes about 5 minutes to drive to my new work, and I really miss them now.
- raducu 9y agoI listen to non-technical audiobooks during my walking part of my commuting - psychology, self-help, history and science fiction. I've also installed mobile apps for pluralsight(paid by my employer), udemy, udacity -- which allow me to download content and watch it in the subway; but I stil have to re-visit the course material and type things on my computer if I actually want to learn anything, otherwise its just more junk food for the brain. I don't think there are many text-only technical audiobooks, so if you actively drive that kind of sucks, because you can't watch videos, but then again, you're not missing much, I don't think there's anybody who aquired any technical skill by just listening to an audiobook.
- sgdesign 9y agoIt's probably not that relevant anymore but we did try creating a more educational podcast where we focused on a specific topic each episode, about the Meteor JS framework: http://discovermeteor.com/podcast http://discovermeteor.com/podcast
- alexcnwy 9y agoPodcasts that have helped improve my technical skills: - Talking Machines - The O'Reilly Data Show - Software Engineering Radio - Software Engineering Daily - AWS Re: Invent series Podcasts that have helped improve my general thinking: - Econtalk - Conversations with Tyler - Waking Up with Sam Harris
- AJFleming 9y agoSurprised not to have seen this aleady - https://twimlai.com/ https://twimlai.com/ keeps me sane when the metal-boxes stop moving.
- kriro 9y agoI commute about 1h each way via train. I have realized that music with lyrics distracts my brain quite a bit because it keeps trying to parse the text. Since I like to read on the train (or just do nothing and let my brain rest) I have created a playlist with no audio. It's pretty much everything from XMeetsMetal (you'll have to weed out some of the stuff that has text. It's basically a guy covering all sorts of songs/theme songs in a metal interpretation. Awesome stuff: His playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL864F807C0B279111 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL864F807C0B279111 His channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJVZjY6xsZUV-sYdcIFpZw https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJVZjY6xsZUV-sYdcIFpZw That + noise canceling headphones (I use Bose QuietComfort 20) = good commute.
- hackermailman 9y agoMy commute I grab a paper off sci-hub from a journal, print it out at a corner store and read it to and from work. If it must be a podcast one I enjoy is the Type Theory podcast http://typetheorypodcast.com/ http://typetheorypodcast.com/
- gorpomon 9y agoNot audio or even technical, but I recommend logic problems. The only downside is that they are so engrossing you might miss your stop.
- geekfactor 9y agoLooks like I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I'd like to recommend my This Week in Machine Learning and AI podcast here: https://twimlai.com https://twimlai.com I try to maintain a good mix of topics and viewpoints (industry/application vs researcher), and to keep the conversation technically interesting. Happy to answer any questions here.
- juancn 9y agoRelax, listen to music, let your mind wander. Passive learning is a overrated. You need deliberate practice to get truly better.