5 ms·

Ask HN: best music to code to?

6 points by AdamJBall 13y ago

Wondering what music people listen to in order to maintain focus whilst coding. Personally a fan of the TRON: Legacy soundtrack, Justice etc. Look forward to listening to your suggestions!

wturner 13y ago
I like massive attack instrumentals and hang drum solos.
johnsoga 13y ago
I can listen to almost anything. I usually end up having repeat on and can end up listening to the same songs 20-30 times before I even notice... and then the process repeats :)
vishalzone2002 13y ago
I have always wondered about this. An interesting thing to think about is if there is a correlation between programming language and type of music a programmer likes.
taprun 13y ago
There's a big thread on Reddit that suggests programming to video game music, as it's designed to be in the background. Link: http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1u4xh1/lpt_looking_for_good_music_to_work_to_try_video/ http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1u4xh1/lpt_look...
- hashtree 13y ago
  The same reason I litsen to Soma FM. Some good channels: http://somafm.com/spacestation/ http://somafm.com/spacestation/ http://somafm.com/deepspaceone/ http://somafm.com/deepspaceone/ http://somafm.com/dronezone/ http://somafm.com/dronezone/ http://somafm.com/beatblender/ http://somafm.com/beatblender/ http://somafm.com/events/ http://somafm.com/events/ (Def Con Radio)
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
user_235711 13y ago
I would recommend Boards of Canada[1] and Thievery Corporation[2] most of all. But really anything in the vein of what has been dubbed "chill" music works great for me due to the awesome atmospheres and driving beats. Here[3] is a list I made of some of the best albums IMO in that genre. [1]http://www.amazon.com/Boards-Of-Canada/e/B000APHPF8/ http://www.amazon.com/Boards-Of-Canada/e/B000APHPF8/ [2]http://www.amazon.com/Thievery-Corporation/e/B000APFP6E/ http://www.amazon.com/Thievery-Corporation/e/B000APFP6E/ [3]http://www.amazon.com/Top-10-Chill-Out-Albums/lm/R32Q5RHQR51XFO/ http://www.amazon.com/Top-10-Chill-Out-Albums/lm/R32Q5RHQR51...
- ragatskynet 13y ago
  I also listen to these when I am coding. Repetitive techno-like music can be also good, it depends on the mood.
heldrida 13y ago
I'm usually coding while listening to Drum and Bass. But for example, today I've been listening to Stax (Soul/Funk). Other days I'm listening to Punk, Ska, Reggae, Hip-Hop [...] At least twice a week I listen to roots Blue music! It's up to you, I don't think there's such thing as "music" made for programming, if so, I would say late night and silence...really...!
AnimalMuppet 13y ago
Depends on what style of music you favor. What music is best depends on who you are. It also depends on what you're coding. "Put your head down and crank" music is different from "I need to be able to think deeply for a couple of hours" music.
stevekemp 13y ago
I tend to listen to 80s goth/metal/industrial music, on the basis that that's what I used to listen to, go clubbing with, and enjoy the most. There are times when I'll listen to random things, such as Jeff Wayne's war of the worlds, opera, or piano works, but generally I'm an 80s metal-head at heart!
Karunamon 13y ago
I found a "Music for Programming" podcast a long while ago that's fairly effective. It's pretty mellow compared to the Legacy OST. http://musicforprogramming.net http://musicforprogramming.net
ceeK 13y ago
I don't particularly understand how people can code whilst listening to music. The two simply do not go hand in hand for me. I find it clouds my thought process why I'm trying to figure something out or reason about a bit of code. Even when I'm doing 'drone' programming I often think about where this bit of code fits in with the rest etc. Sometimes I can listen to music without lyrics, but it has to be fairly calm and uneventful. Coffitivity is actually a pretty good thing for me.
- andrew_gardener 13y ago
  It works differently for different people. For me it helps drown out background noise in the office and helps relax me so I can get in the zone. Its important to note that I play my music very low with headphone and with rather no lyrics or lyrics in a different language so that it doesn't distract me. With all that said though, there is nothing worse than being subjected to a coworker's music choice. Having experienced this at different jobs, I can totally understand why other people avoid music at work like the plague.
andrew_gardener 13y ago
I usually listen to whatever is on the top of the list for anime radio stations (http://www.shoutcast.com/radio/Anime http://www.shoutcast.com/radio/Anime) while at work (since its easier to just stream some music). At home I have a large collection of random music (some music from video games, anime, metal/electronic bands, parody/comedy songs, meme themed songs, etc)
thebrainkid 13y ago
when I'm coding, I like listening to classical, although I've also been liking swinghouse recently.
ablutop 13y ago
ambient and downbeat http://divbyzero.de http://divbyzero.de (also through http://divbyzeroambient.rad.io/ http://divbyzeroambient.rad.io/ )
J_Darnley 13y ago
Whatever you like. My one suggestion is you listen to things that don't have lyrics or possibly even humming or other vocal elements. I find myself distracted by those. I could list some of my favourites if anyone likes.

6 points by AdamJBall 13y ago

Wondering what music people listen to in order to maintain focus whilst coding. Personally a fan of the TRON: Legacy soundtrack, Justice etc. Look forward to listening to your suggestions!

wturner 13y ago

I like massive attack instrumentals and hang drum solos.

johnsoga 13y ago

I can listen to almost anything. I usually end up having repeat on and can end up listening to the same songs 20-30 times before I even notice... and then the process repeats :)

vishalzone2002 13y ago

I have always wondered about this. An interesting thing to think about is if there is a correlation between programming language and type of music a programmer likes.

taprun 13y ago

There's a big thread on Reddit that suggests programming to video game music, as it's designed to be in the background. Link: http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1u4xh1/lpt_looking_for_good_music_to_work_to_try_video/ http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1u4xh1/lpt_look...

hashtree 13y ago
The same reason I litsen to Soma FM. Some good channels: http://somafm.com/spacestation/ http://somafm.com/spacestation/ http://somafm.com/deepspaceone/ http://somafm.com/deepspaceone/ http://somafm.com/dronezone/ http://somafm.com/dronezone/ http://somafm.com/beatblender/ http://somafm.com/beatblender/ http://somafm.com/events/ http://somafm.com/events/ (Def Con Radio)

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

user_235711 13y ago

I would recommend Boards of Canada[1] and Thievery Corporation[2] most of all. But really anything in the vein of what has been dubbed "chill" music works great for me due to the awesome atmospheres and driving beats. Here[3] is a list I made of some of the best albums IMO in that genre. [1]http://www.amazon.com/Boards-Of-Canada/e/B000APHPF8/ http://www.amazon.com/Boards-Of-Canada/e/B000APHPF8/ [2]http://www.amazon.com/Thievery-Corporation/e/B000APFP6E/ http://www.amazon.com/Thievery-Corporation/e/B000APFP6E/ [3]http://www.amazon.com/Top-10-Chill-Out-Albums/lm/R32Q5RHQR51XFO/ http://www.amazon.com/Top-10-Chill-Out-Albums/lm/R32Q5RHQR51...

ragatskynet 13y ago
I also listen to these when I am coding. Repetitive techno-like music can be also good, it depends on the mood.

heldrida 13y ago

I'm usually coding while listening to Drum and Bass. But for example, today I've been listening to Stax (Soul/Funk). Other days I'm listening to Punk, Ska, Reggae, Hip-Hop [...] At least twice a week I listen to roots Blue music! It's up to you, I don't think there's such thing as "music" made for programming, if so, I would say late night and silence...really...!

AnimalMuppet 13y ago

Depends on what style of music you favor. What music is best depends on who you are. It also depends on what you're coding. "Put your head down and crank" music is different from "I need to be able to think deeply for a couple of hours" music.

stevekemp 13y ago

I tend to listen to 80s goth/metal/industrial music, on the basis that that's what I used to listen to, go clubbing with, and enjoy the most. There are times when I'll listen to random things, such as Jeff Wayne's war of the worlds, opera, or piano works, but generally I'm an 80s metal-head at heart!

Karunamon 13y ago

I found a "Music for Programming" podcast a long while ago that's fairly effective. It's pretty mellow compared to the Legacy OST. http://musicforprogramming.net http://musicforprogramming.net

ceeK 13y ago

I don't particularly understand how people can code whilst listening to music. The two simply do not go hand in hand for me. I find it clouds my thought process why I'm trying to figure something out or reason about a bit of code. Even when I'm doing 'drone' programming I often think about where this bit of code fits in with the rest etc. Sometimes I can listen to music without lyrics, but it has to be fairly calm and uneventful. Coffitivity is actually a pretty good thing for me.

andrew_gardener 13y ago
It works differently for different people. For me it helps drown out background noise in the office and helps relax me so I can get in the zone. Its important to note that I play my music very low with headphone and with rather no lyrics or lyrics in a different language so that it doesn't distract me. With all that said though, there is nothing worse than being subjected to a coworker's music choice. Having experienced this at different jobs, I can totally understand why other people avoid music at work like the plague.

andrew_gardener 13y ago

I usually listen to whatever is on the top of the list for anime radio stations (http://www.shoutcast.com/radio/Anime http://www.shoutcast.com/radio/Anime) while at work (since its easier to just stream some music). At home I have a large collection of random music (some music from video games, anime, metal/electronic bands, parody/comedy songs, meme themed songs, etc)

thebrainkid 13y ago

when I'm coding, I like listening to classical, although I've also been liking swinghouse recently.

ablutop 13y ago

ambient and downbeat http://divbyzero.de http://divbyzero.de (also through http://divbyzeroambient.rad.io/ http://divbyzeroambient.rad.io/ )

J_Darnley 13y ago

Whatever you like. My one suggestion is you listen to things that don't have lyrics or possibly even humming or other vocal elements. I find myself distracted by those. I could list some of my favourites if anyone likes.