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Ask HN: Best Genre of Music for Coding?

2 points by riyanapatel 1y ago

Let's settle the discussion. Does coding have a certain soundtrack for its best results??

jleyank 1y ago
When I’m trying to create new stuff, it has to be no-voice. Multiple genres are ok, but words are distracting. Quiet always works, too. For wtf debugging, anything with a hard edge is good. (Voice or not). I’m either idling awaiting inspiration or chasing an idea. If the latter is deep enough, the music sorta goes away.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
sexyman48 1y ago
I believe every study has shown music of any kind results in a 0x to 0.5x productivity hit.
- jasonthorsness 1y ago
  I agree silence is best for concentration; it's also reflected in the meme "turning down the radio in your car to see better".
  - taylodl 1y ago
    We've returned to loud offices now. Instrumental music takes less of a productivity hit than being surrounded by loud conversations and office noise.
    - riyanapatel 1y ago
      Sometimes music is "quieter" than the loud office and chatter around me.
codingdave 1y ago
There is nothing to settle - it is all about personal preference. You would also need to define what "best results" even means. Measuring dev productivity is a notoriously bad idea, so I just go with "That which makes me enjoy the work the most." That being said, I waffle between 90s singer/songwriter music, 80s alternative rock, and a constant soundtrack of Joan Armatrading.
4d4m 1y ago
electronic
khedoros1 1y ago
Depending on my mood, anything from death metal to elevator-music jazz. I usually settle on some kind of house/trance with a pulsing beat, though. That's mostly when I know roughly what I'm writing, and I'm just getting the code in place. And then, after working like that for a couple hours, my brain flips and I need as close to perfect silence as I can get, so I pause the music.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
bigote 1y ago
Check out: musicforprogramming.net
- riyanapatel 1y ago
  Really cool!
taylodl 1y ago
For me it's instrumental. Language distracts me. I also do well with something that has a groove. Some type of funk seems to work really well. YouTube has all kinds of instrumental funk music that works well.

2 points by riyanapatel 1y ago

Let's settle the discussion. Does coding have a certain soundtrack for its best results??

When I’m trying to create new stuff, it has to be no-voice. Multiple genres are ok, but words are distracting. Quiet always works, too. For wtf debugging, anything with a hard edge is good. (Voice or not). I’m either idling awaiting inspiration or chasing an idea. If the latter is deep enough, the music sorta goes away.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]

sexyman48 1y ago

I believe every study has shown music of any kind results in a 0x to 0.5x productivity hit.

jasonthorsness 1y ago
I agree silence is best for concentration; it's also reflected in the meme "turning down the radio in your car to see better".
- taylodl 1y ago
  We've returned to loud offices now. Instrumental music takes less of a productivity hit than being surrounded by loud conversations and office noise.
  - riyanapatel 1y ago
    Sometimes music is "quieter" than the loud office and chatter around me.

codingdave 1y ago

There is nothing to settle - it is all about personal preference. You would also need to define what "best results" even means. Measuring dev productivity is a notoriously bad idea, so I just go with "That which makes me enjoy the work the most." That being said, I waffle between 90s singer/songwriter music, 80s alternative rock, and a constant soundtrack of Joan Armatrading.

4d4m 1y ago

electronic

khedoros1 1y ago

Depending on my mood, anything from death metal to elevator-music jazz. I usually settle on some kind of house/trance with a pulsing beat, though. That's mostly when I know roughly what I'm writing, and I'm just getting the code in place. And then, after working like that for a couple hours, my brain flips and I need as close to perfect silence as I can get, so I pause the music.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]

bigote 1y ago

Check out: musicforprogramming.net

riyanapatel 1y ago
Really cool!

taylodl 1y ago

For me it's instrumental. Language distracts me. I also do well with something that has a groove. Some type of funk seems to work really well. YouTube has all kinds of instrumental funk music that works well.