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Music for Programming

musicforprogramming.net

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Re: Music for Programming

#113
post #99
post #83

Does anyone know of any actual conclusive studies in this area? Like most here, I have my own rules and preferences. The main rule seems to be it must be familiar, in fact it's best if I've heard it a thousand times already. But there are only three kinds of music that work for me:- 1. Music I first got into during my teenage years when I was sitting up all night coding assembler (OK, I admit it, Pink Floyd) works we…

I love classical music, but not for coding. It's too musically interesting and it pulls me off task. I'll be fine and then it gets to that one part, and then I'll notice that I've been actively listening to the music and not coding for 10 minutes. I tend toward electronia (usually) without vocals. I'll find a suitable artist and get several of their albums and listen to all the albums on loop. For me this is enough t…

You should try something like "Baby Mozart"[1] which has with fewer dynamics. Then again you might fall asleep. :)

[1] e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEEizbmU-hU

Re: Music for Programming

#114
What seems to work best for me is ambient electronic stuff (Hol Baumann, Solar Fields etc.) with Rainy Mood (rain sounds) playing over it. Something about the mix of the music and the constant background noise kicks my brain into concentration mode.

And then I lose track of time and suddenly it's dark and I've missed a couple of meetings.

Re: Music for Programming

#116
post #83

Does anyone know of any actual conclusive studies in this area? Like most here, I have my own rules and preferences. The main rule seems to be it must be familiar, in fact it's best if I've heard it a thousand times already. But there are only three kinds of music that work for me:- 1. Music I first got into during my teenage years when I was sitting up all night coding assembler (OK, I admit it, Pink Floyd) works we…

I can only speak from the angle of memory/attention research, but a couple lines of study struck me.

1. Irrelevant speech / sounds tends to reduce memory capacity for the task at hand[a].

2. People with ADHD self-stimulate by, e.g, squirming. Music can help them with attentional tasks by providing stimulation [b].

Overall, I'm not that familiar with studies specifically on music, but I'd guess that it's a trade-off between arousal (e.g. rock music or something to pump you up) and dividing attention. Music could also set a context (e.g. put you in programming "mode"), which tends to have a small positive effect on performance on a number of cognitive tasks.

[a] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrelevant_speech_effect

[b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_arousal_theory

Re: Music for Programming

#117
Brain.fm has worked wonders for me, and in a double way:

1) Their sounds waves purport to actually flip some switches in your brain that help you focus.

2) It's an awesome trigger to get into "productive mode" if you start the habit.

The focus loop is great and you can try different ambiences and music (EDM and "cinematic").

Re: Music for Programming

#118
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also try psychill / psybient if you want a calm, ambient soundscape. Good for deep concentration.

can you share some of your favourite tracks?

Carbon Based Lifeforms - Super Seed

Carbon Based Lifeforms - Tensor

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Really most CBL is good.. :) but the best albums are

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World Of Sleepers

Interloper

Hydroponic Garden

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Theres also artist like

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Asura

Solar Fields

Koan

Aes Dana

Sync24 (side project from one of the CBL guys)

Ooze

Ott

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Other good artists but a bit different ambient genre would be

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Abakus (This dude is super productive and his shit is awesome !)

Kiasmos

Krusseldorf

Bluetech

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If you like your downtempo more pop then try

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Bonobo

Emanicpator

Catching Flies

Galimatias

Shlohmo

Tycho

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That was a short list on the top of my head :)

Re: Music for Programming

#120
post #18

The website timed out on me, but... For me, it's got to be techno - generally happy hardcore - fast, repetitive beats and uplifting but inane (and hence not distracting) lyrics. (I may be the only one. ;) )

Same, I've got the entirety of the PaulWay mixes ( http://mabula.net/mixes/ ) on shuffle. Been using them for a couple of years now, not every track is good for every day but if one's not working out I just hit 'next'.

Thanks for the recommendation - I'll check those out.

I mainly listen to the Bonkers and Hardcore Til I Die mixes (and occasionally older stuff like Dreamscape and Slammin Vinyl).

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