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Can anyone share their experience programming for extended periods using the Vision Pro headset? Based on a few YouTube clips, it seems we're not quite there ye

Can anyone share their experience programming for extended periods using the Vision Pro headset? Based on a few YouTube clips, it seems we're not quite there yet, but perhaps in a few iterations. I crave ample screen space and the clarity of my Studio Display, but buying multiple displays isn't practical. Ideally, I'd like unlimited virtual screens or a resizable screen, freeing me from the limitations of physical monitors. Is this close to achieving that? Would love to hear from programmers who have used the headset extensively.

qdot76367 3y ago
I've done some programming on the AVP. It... feels weird, 'cause you're basically just working on a big screen while still in the mouse/keyboard monitor paradigm. Just so happens your monitor is a little easier to move around and adjust, but that's not really something I feel like I've needed. AFAIK (and would love input if people know more about this), there hasn't been much concentration on programming in these kind of 3d immersive environments, outside of languages like ProtoFlux in the Resonite virtual world (which is an update of Logix from Neos). Even that is really just a dataflow language where your spaghetti can work on 3 axes instead of 2. It feels like we need some considerations of how these immersive environments could benefit an IDE. Possibly some input from what projects like Dynamicland have learned?
- euroderf 3y ago
  If there is unlimited visual real estate for placement of an unlimited number of windows, then how 'bout throwing up ALL the source code for your app.. and then rendering fine threads from function callers to function callees ? That would give you many strings to pluck at.
  - layer8 3y ago
    This still leaves the issue of navigation unsolved. Since the structure of code has no particular connection to 2D or 3D layout, it’s unclear how laying it out that way would help. If you ever looked at the call graph or the class diagram of any nontrivial application, it should be clear that it isn’t very practical.
    - euroderf 3y ago
      window arrangement delegated to graphviz ?
  - penjelly 3y ago
    i think youd find your senses thouroughly overwhelmed by such an "unlimited window" space, instead youd find "go to definition" and reading a 1 (or 2) pages of code at at a time far more useful in the end....
dagmx 3y ago
I’ve been coding on my couch instead of my home office with it. Especially with my small laptop, it makes for a relatively portable experience around the house. Gives me a few advantages: 1. Can spend time with the family/pets easier even if I am working. They’ve gotten over the mild disconnect and the eyes are good enough for them to hold discussions. 2. Even with a small laptop I get a massive screen to work on now and it can be lifted up to a more ergonomic point of view. 3. It’s just better for viewing linear media. So I tend to have a movie or something in the background when family isn’t around. 4. Unlike other headsets I’ve had (Vive, quests, etc) I don’t have to take this off to do most things. Most of my phone apps just work, passthrough is good enough for the first time to get up and walk around the house. I can even just use my phone while wearing it (though I wish there was a FaceID override when wearing it) Honestly, while I still prefer my dual monitors in my home office space, this is a really great solution for portability. I go on enough work trips where I only take my small laptop, that this is a big game changer for how well I can work while not in my home office.
- xwowsersx 3y ago
  Thanks for your response, it was really helpful. So it seems like when your desk is convenient/available, the AVP is not your preference. I'm hopeful that it will reach a point where it becomes preferable, even with your desk setup right there. I know that I'm mostly approaching this from a perspective somewhat outside the realm the AVP operates in directly, as I'm intrigued by its potential to replace monitors and provide unlimited screen real estate. While I don't always require a vast amount of screen space, there are days when I feel like having 6+ monitors would be incredibly beneficial. I'll be closely monitoring these products with that perspective in mind.
  - dagmx 3y ago
    I guess the question is a bit difficult to answer. It’s not my preference compared to my main desk setup currently because I already have my desk setup how I want with multiple high end monitors. I don’t really need more real estate because I like to reduce head motion. So in that sense, at my desk, I have no benefit to using it for my regular work. But the more interesting question could be: would I have bought the monitors if I had the Vision Pro first? Maybe not. The single display mirroring is fine for my work. Most of the rest of my real estate goes to apps that have native versions , and universal control/clipboard works well enough for me.

qdot76367 3y ago

I've done some programming on the AVP. It... feels weird, 'cause you're basically just working on a big screen while still in the mouse/keyboard monitor paradigm. Just so happens your monitor is a little easier to move around and adjust, but that's not really something I feel like I've needed. AFAIK (and would love input if people know more about this), there hasn't been much concentration on programming in these kind of 3d immersive environments, outside of languages like ProtoFlux in the Resonite virtual world (which is an update of Logix from Neos). Even that is really just a dataflow language where your spaghetti can work on 3 axes instead of 2. It feels like we need some considerations of how these immersive environments could benefit an IDE. Possibly some input from what projects like Dynamicland have learned?

euroderf 3y ago
If there is unlimited visual real estate for placement of an unlimited number of windows, then how 'bout throwing up ALL the source code for your app.. and then rendering fine threads from function callers to function callees ? That would give you many strings to pluck at.
- layer8 3y ago
  This still leaves the issue of navigation unsolved. Since the structure of code has no particular connection to 2D or 3D layout, it’s unclear how laying it out that way would help. If you ever looked at the call graph or the class diagram of any nontrivial application, it should be clear that it isn’t very practical.
  - euroderf 3y ago
    window arrangement delegated to graphviz ?
- penjelly 3y ago
  i think youd find your senses thouroughly overwhelmed by such an "unlimited window" space, instead youd find "go to definition" and reading a 1 (or 2) pages of code at at a time far more useful in the end....

dagmx 3y ago

I’ve been coding on my couch instead of my home office with it. Especially with my small laptop, it makes for a relatively portable experience around the house. Gives me a few advantages: 1. Can spend time with the family/pets easier even if I am working. They’ve gotten over the mild disconnect and the eyes are good enough for them to hold discussions. 2. Even with a small laptop I get a massive screen to work on now and it can be lifted up to a more ergonomic point of view. 3. It’s just better for viewing linear media. So I tend to have a movie or something in the background when family isn’t around. 4. Unlike other headsets I’ve had (Vive, quests, etc) I don’t have to take this off to do most things. Most of my phone apps just work, passthrough is good enough for the first time to get up and walk around the house. I can even just use my phone while wearing it (though I wish there was a FaceID override when wearing it) Honestly, while I still prefer my dual monitors in my home office space, this is a really great solution for portability. I go on enough work trips where I only take my small laptop, that this is a big game changer for how well I can work while not in my home office.

xwowsersx 3y ago
Thanks for your response, it was really helpful. So it seems like when your desk is convenient/available, the AVP is not your preference. I'm hopeful that it will reach a point where it becomes preferable, even with your desk setup right there. I know that I'm mostly approaching this from a perspective somewhat outside the realm the AVP operates in directly, as I'm intrigued by its potential to replace monitors and provide unlimited screen real estate. While I don't always require a vast amount of screen space, there are days when I feel like having 6+ monitors would be incredibly beneficial. I'll be closely monitoring these products with that perspective in mind.
- dagmx 3y ago
  I guess the question is a bit difficult to answer. It’s not my preference compared to my main desk setup currently because I already have my desk setup how I want with multiple high end monitors. I don’t really need more real estate because I like to reduce head motion. So in that sense, at my desk, I have no benefit to using it for my regular work. But the more interesting question could be: would I have bought the monitors if I had the Vision Pro first? Maybe not. The single display mirroring is fine for my work. Most of the rest of my real estate goes to apps that have native versions , and universal control/clipboard works well enough for me.