I work as a developer (Java full stack if it makes any difference) and live quite far from my workplace: it usually takes me one hour and a half to and from work by car. Moving closer to my workplace is not an option nor is it using other means to go back and forth (eg train/bus).
I feel like my time spent on the road is mostly wasted: I'd like to find something IT-related to do (both listen to and reason about) that can help me learn new stuff.
Since I'm passionate about Linux, I usually have a few Linux (or BSD) podcasts to listen to while driving but I found that to be not really instructive, just more enjoyable than listening to the radio or some music playlist.
I'm looking for any kind of suggestion from fellow developers who are in the same spot and have found any interesting way or resources to 'spend wisely' their travel time.
What resources would you suggest (if any exists) to learn something while driving (much like you would do with a foreign language audio course)? Is it even possible? Has anyone tried or can share an experience of 'audio learning' IT related?
Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
1–10 of 116 posts
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#2Does it have to IT-related? I find audiobooks, both fiction and non-fiction, to be a great way to pass time during commute. The Great Courses offer a bunch of interesting lectures, for instance.
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#3Meditate.
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#4I've tried listening to university lectures and varies conferences talks. But, I find them distracting on the road. I've found, consuming really technical stuff to be much easier. When I can give it my full attention.
Personally, I like to listen to podcasts that cover new and upcoming technologies in the field. They could be about high level stuff or even the nitty and gritty, like new language syntax or upcoming improvements to the GC.
Though, I prefer listening to audio books just as much. And, I find them to be a great supplement for professional growth along with podcasts. When I'm not listening to fiction or sci-fi books, which isn't much. I try and listen to books about soft-skills and anything relating to software development that doesn't involve having to read code.
I can't really give you any hard suggestions here. Because, I mostly, work with languages like Ruby & JS/ES6. But, there should be similar options available for at least the JVM, if not the Java ecosystem.
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#5It might not be possible, but could you share the ride with someone from your workplace that has the same interest?
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#6voice controlled command line? audio text book? maybe just accept you're not going to get much done when you're on the road. do you want a programming course for when you're sleeping too? give it a rest guy
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#7Here are the two things I do during my commute:
1. listen to programmers podcasts (e.g. Full Stack Radio)
2. listen to entertaining/news podcasts and audio-books.
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#8Audiobooks.
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#9I've tried listening to university lectures and varies conferences talks. But, I find them distracting on the road. I've found, consuming really technical stuff to be much easier. When I can give it my full attention. Personally, I like to listen to podcasts that cover new and upcoming technologies in the field. They could be about high level stuff or even the nitty and gritty, like new language syntax or upcoming im…
What are some of your favorite more technical podcasts?
Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?
#10commute by bike. 3 hours in the car every day is brutal.