5 ms·

Reminds me of Paul Erdős, who used amphetamines (think Adderall) for a similar purpose. After 1971 Erdős also took amphetamines, despite the concern of his fri

Reminds me of Paul Erdős, who used amphetamines (think Adderall) for a similar purpose. After 1971 Erdős also took amphetamines, despite the concern of his friends, one of whom (Ron Graham) bet him $500 that he could not stop taking the drug for a month. Erdős won the bet, but complained that during his abstinence mathematics had been set back by a month: "Before, when I looked at a piece of blank paper my mind was filled with ideas. Now all I see is a blank piece of paper." After he won the bet, he promptly resumed his amphetamine use.

vidiviciveni 16y ago
Amphetamines did help him become arguable the most productive mathematician (in terms of papers) of all time. Although I think LSD is completely different and more of a creativity unleashing type drug. Either way the potential for psychedelics are incredible and it's a shame the drug war (thanks to Reagan in particular) have draconian laws that inhibit its responsible use. LSD is one of those in particular that can turn people into a healthier and more peaceful mental state if used correctly, even just through one use (think enlightenment through ego death).
nandemo 16y ago
The difference is that amphetamines, though potentially addictive and dangerous, can actually help you do math or programming. I'm skeptical that people can code better (if at all) while on LSD.
- bherms 16y ago
  It's not that you code better or write math equations better... It's a temporary change in the state of your mind which helps you see things from a different perspective. Think of a time when you were stuck on a really hard problem and then went away from it for a while only to have the solution pop in your head... It's kinda like that, but on an entirely different level.
- vidiviciveni 16y ago
  The problem with your line of thinking (and many others that condemn the use of psychedelics) is that you clearly have never tried LSD. Your absolute bias is one of the many reasons its potential is hindered.
- magoghm 16y ago
  You can manage to code while on LSD but it is very hard. After trying it a couple of times I decided it just takes out the fun from both LSD and coding.
- leoc 16y ago
  > I'm skeptical that people can code better (if at all) while on LSD. Here's another reported success: "Use of LSD-25 for Computer Programming" by Dennis R. Wier http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/v18n1-MAPS_24.pdf http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/v18n1-MAPS_24.pdf (Previously on HN: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=654168 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=654168 )
- dwiel 16y ago
  I've taken small doses of LSD (half a hit) with great success while coding or creating more traditional art. I find that the small dose makes it easier for me to imagine where bugs might be, visualize and compare algorithms, and consider both high level architecture ideas as well as low level details simultaneously. That said, I've only tried it a few times back in college, so I don't have many data points. Larger doses work differently, and less directly for me. They tend to help me gain greater perspective on my life and my work. It can give me a renewed energy and excitement for what I am doing, or, conversely it can help me realize that I am on the wrong track, and will motivate me to make changes that help me live a more fulfilling life. I often end a strong experience with so much energy that I can't wait for the next day to begin so I can put into action everything I had been thinking about. I code vastly better when I have a deep understanding about why I am coding. As with anything, these experiences have diminishing returns, so spacing them out over years has helped me keep them 'productive'.
- tomlin 16y ago
  I have ADD and am a coder. I am on Concerta (methylphenidate, a derivative of methamphetamine) and find that my interest in math, as well as programming, has increased significantly.
  - daeken 16y ago
    Note: Methylphenidate is not actually an amphetamine derivative, although it's similar in structure and function.
    - tomlin 16y ago
      Yes, it is a derivative of methamphetamine. Adderall (amphetamine) and Concerta both are used to treat ADD.
      - ghotli 16y ago
        If we're getting technical it's merely in the same family as methamphetamine. Meth causes a _much_ larger dopamine response which among other reasons is why people find it awesome and addictive.
      - daeken 16y ago
        Err, no. Methamphetamine is significantly different from methylphenidate. Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, etc) is more closely related to amphetamine, but still not a derivative. It's like saying that thebaine is a derivative of codeine due to them being similar in structure.
  - BasDirks 16y ago
    I can confirm this. Concerta increases my performance, but I actually need it to function day-to-day. My ADD was only noticed at age 20 because despite suffering badly from it, I kicked ass in school. When I first took Concerta it was one giant ball of what the f*ck: was this vast quiet possible?
  - blankslate 16y ago
    Me too, though I prefer dexamphetamine. I've given dex to other programmers on occasion; they're often amazed at how much it helps them concentrate and get things done. It's kind of like coffee that WORKS. Hence my favourite programming beverage: grind your beans, sprinkle finely powdered amphetamine on the top of the basket, and make yourself a nice motherfuckiato.
- 5l 16y ago
  The only reason why you wouldn't is because you can't always choose what draws you in. If you can keep your focus pretty much anything is possible; you're not handicapped in the same way as you would be on alcohol for instance. For some interesting reading, see this [0] about a SF bike courier who works while tripping. [0] http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=84954 http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=84954
- danenania 16y ago
  It's not so much coding that can benefit, but conceptualizing the architecture of the system as a whole, which is where the greatest gains in efficiency and elegance are to be found.
- blankslate 16y ago
  I've played chess under the influence of psilocybin with a sober friend. I was massacred. There are creative aspects to programming, and you might gain some insights that are applicable, but I'd save the implementation till you come down unless the dose was rather small.

vidiviciveni 16y ago

Amphetamines did help him become arguable the most productive mathematician (in terms of papers) of all time. Although I think LSD is completely different and more of a creativity unleashing type drug. Either way the potential for psychedelics are incredible and it's a shame the drug war (thanks to Reagan in particular) have draconian laws that inhibit its responsible use. LSD is one of those in particular that can turn people into a healthier and more peaceful mental state if used correctly, even just through one use (think enlightenment through ego death).

nandemo 16y ago

The difference is that amphetamines, though potentially addictive and dangerous, can actually help you do math or programming. I'm skeptical that people can code better (if at all) while on LSD.

bherms 16y ago
It's not that you code better or write math equations better... It's a temporary change in the state of your mind which helps you see things from a different perspective. Think of a time when you were stuck on a really hard problem and then went away from it for a while only to have the solution pop in your head... It's kinda like that, but on an entirely different level.
vidiviciveni 16y ago
The problem with your line of thinking (and many others that condemn the use of psychedelics) is that you clearly have never tried LSD. Your absolute bias is one of the many reasons its potential is hindered.
magoghm 16y ago
You can manage to code while on LSD but it is very hard. After trying it a couple of times I decided it just takes out the fun from both LSD and coding.
leoc 16y ago
> I'm skeptical that people can code better (if at all) while on LSD. Here's another reported success: "Use of LSD-25 for Computer Programming" by Dennis R. Wier http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/v18n1-MAPS_24.pdf http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/v18n1-MAPS_24.pdf (Previously on HN: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=654168 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=654168 )
dwiel 16y ago
I've taken small doses of LSD (half a hit) with great success while coding or creating more traditional art. I find that the small dose makes it easier for me to imagine where bugs might be, visualize and compare algorithms, and consider both high level architecture ideas as well as low level details simultaneously. That said, I've only tried it a few times back in college, so I don't have many data points. Larger doses work differently, and less directly for me. They tend to help me gain greater perspective on my life and my work. It can give me a renewed energy and excitement for what I am doing, or, conversely it can help me realize that I am on the wrong track, and will motivate me to make changes that help me live a more fulfilling life. I often end a strong experience with so much energy that I can't wait for the next day to begin so I can put into action everything I had been thinking about. I code vastly better when I have a deep understanding about why I am coding. As with anything, these experiences have diminishing returns, so spacing them out over years has helped me keep them 'productive'.
tomlin 16y ago
I have ADD and am a coder. I am on Concerta (methylphenidate, a derivative of methamphetamine) and find that my interest in math, as well as programming, has increased significantly.
- daeken 16y ago
  Note: Methylphenidate is not actually an amphetamine derivative, although it's similar in structure and function.
  - tomlin 16y ago
    Yes, it is a derivative of methamphetamine. Adderall (amphetamine) and Concerta both are used to treat ADD.
    - ghotli 16y ago
      If we're getting technical it's merely in the same family as methamphetamine. Meth causes a _much_ larger dopamine response which among other reasons is why people find it awesome and addictive.
    - daeken 16y ago
      Err, no. Methamphetamine is significantly different from methylphenidate. Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, etc) is more closely related to amphetamine, but still not a derivative. It's like saying that thebaine is a derivative of codeine due to them being similar in structure.
- BasDirks 16y ago
  I can confirm this. Concerta increases my performance, but I actually need it to function day-to-day. My ADD was only noticed at age 20 because despite suffering badly from it, I kicked ass in school. When I first took Concerta it was one giant ball of what the f*ck: was this vast quiet possible?
- blankslate 16y ago
  Me too, though I prefer dexamphetamine. I've given dex to other programmers on occasion; they're often amazed at how much it helps them concentrate and get things done. It's kind of like coffee that WORKS. Hence my favourite programming beverage: grind your beans, sprinkle finely powdered amphetamine on the top of the basket, and make yourself a nice motherfuckiato.
5l 16y ago
The only reason why you wouldn't is because you can't always choose what draws you in. If you can keep your focus pretty much anything is possible; you're not handicapped in the same way as you would be on alcohol for instance. For some interesting reading, see this [0] about a SF bike courier who works while tripping. [0] http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=84954 http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=84954
danenania 16y ago
It's not so much coding that can benefit, but conceptualizing the architecture of the system as a whole, which is where the greatest gains in efficiency and elegance are to be found.
blankslate 16y ago
I've played chess under the influence of psilocybin with a sober friend. I was massacred. There are creative aspects to programming, and you might gain some insights that are applicable, but I'd save the implementation till you come down unless the dose was rather small.