Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#1

Post by innsmouth_rain » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 9:42 AM UTC

Hi

Being outdoors in the sun makes you high. It gives you energy and vitamin D, relieves headaches and is just generally great (within limits, of course - no skin cancer, please). Most of us here use the computer to make a living and some of us work from home or have flexible work place and hours - could we be doing this outside and improve our health and productivity?

I'm not posting to argue whether it's actually better or not to code outdoors, I only want to ask: How can this be achieved technically?

Personally I only need to be able to ssh to my server and have at least 20 lines of vim to work with.

I saw this last year: http://www.raspberrypi.org/kindleberry-pi-the-second/

This set-up is very cool but kind of unwieldy and maybe unnecessarily complex?

How can this be done in an easier way?

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#2

Post by TobbenTM » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 9:56 AM UTC

I would think a tablet along with a wireless keyboard would be the best option if you are looking for something small. A tablet with a data-connection even better. The biggest problem would be a good enough screen to use in the sunlight.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#3

Post by SanderMak » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:02 AM UTC

I'm sitting in my garden doing work on a MBP right now. Only 'downside' is I have to sit in the shade. Glare/flare makes it unworkable otherwise. Otoh, sitting in the sun for prolonged periods doesn't sound too good either. I'm perfectly happy with strolling around in the sun while mulling over some problems, then returning back to my laptop.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#4

Post by iamsalman » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:03 AM UTC

TobbenTM wrote: post #2

I would think a tablet along with a wireless keyboard would be the best option if you are looking for something small. A tablet with a data-connection even better. The biggest problem would be a good enough screen to use in the sunlight.

Display is definitely challenging since better, bigger displays do improve productivity.

It would really depend on what sort of programming one's trying to do. Perhaps sitting in a serene and quiet outdoor environment would help you formulate an algorithm and maybe quickly prototype it or something along these lines which has more to do with creativity than with writing complex code.

But yes, there's a reason why the new Apple campus will have almost all offices which will have outdoor view :)

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#5

Post by bjourne » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:03 AM UTC

You need to find a screen what works in a sunny environment. Even if you sit in a shade the ambient lighting is too much for most laptops. Glossy screens are horrible, matte ones slightly more readable but not nearly enough for my eyes.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#6

Post by kromodor » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:06 AM UTC

This started into a realm I had some knowledge and ended into a realm with zero knowledge from my part.

I can't help with cracking the reader. Keep in mind, while it has a benefit of not reflecting sun light with a glare, it still is not 100% immune to it.

You can always try making some shade where you work. Bring some headphones and music, as some environments can be distracting and noisy.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#7

Post by innsmouth_rain » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:07 AM UTC

TobbenTM wrote: post #2

I would think a tablet along with a wireless keyboard would be the best option if you are looking for something small. A tablet with a data-connection even better. The biggest problem would be a good enough screen to use in the sunlight.

I did buy this phone http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z_ultra-5540.php (6.4" display)

And I paired it with an apple bluetooth keyboard. But the display is too weak for sunny days. Even in the shaded parts of the park, it's almost impossible to work. Maybe some phones/phablets/tablets are better suited for this than others?

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#8

Post by Illotus » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:09 AM UTC

Laptop with reasonably bright screen and good battery life gets you pretty far. Currenly I'm sitting in the shade outside my workplace with Lenovo X230. Its 26 degrees celsius in the shade, which is cooler than the 30 inside my office (3rd floor, no air conditioning, even ventilation is shut off for repairs).

The screen is an issue though, I'd much rather have the Lenovo W530 I had in my previous job. It was really nice when working without external displays and had very nice battery life to boot.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#9

Post by zhte415 » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:10 AM UTC

iamsalman wrote: post #4

TobbenTM wrote: post #2

I would think a tablet along with a wireless keyboard would be the best option if you are looking for something small. A tablet with a data-connection even better. The biggest problem would be a good enough screen to use in the sunlight.

Display is definitely challenging since better, bigger displays do improve productivity. It would really depend on what sort of programming one's trying to do. Perhaps sitting in a serene and quiet outdoor environment would help you formulate an algorithm and maybe quickly prototype it or something along these lines which has more to do with creativity than with writing complex code. But yes, there's a reason why the…

I recall the Microsoft campus was designed on similar lines - small rooms with an outside view. I certainly like being able to open the window, have a nice view, and smell sweet fresh air.

Re: Ask HN: Coding outdoors

#10

Post by alltakendamned » Wed, Jul 23, 2014, 10:10 AM UTC

I am currently travelling around Asia and often work outdoors. I think it's already quite easy to do, though I am not sure whether you mean working 'outside' or in 'the outdoors'. Mark that up to English being far from my native language.

Requirements for me: - shade: the sun is too harsh to be exposed to it for any considerable period of time and causes plenty of screen glare. - decent hardware: I'm using a standard laptop. XPS 13 in my case. Too small kills productivity but YMMV. - internet connection: easily found in hotels and restaurants. data card if further away or with bad signals. local if no connection is available. - reasonably quiet: I don't like headphones, but if the environment is too noisy it makes longer stretches hard/impossible.