Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#21

Post by d_man » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:13 PM UTC

spoonie wrote: post #14

romanhn wrote: post #2

Does 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.

The OP is right to consider professional development during their commute, but it's not the only thing they could do. Instead driving time being professional development time, it could be hobby time. Listening to the news or audio books could free up time spent doing that at home for other things. This assumes, of course, that the OP has hobbies that they pursue at home that could be shifted to car time.

My hobbies are mountain biking and windsurfing but I'm not particularly interested in listening to news or stuff related to those. As for books, I find it far more enjoyable to read from paper rather than to listen to someone reading, although it also depends on who's reading... I really enjoyed a few audio books narrated by Stephen Fry.

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#22

Post by An0namust » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:16 PM UTC

Invest in a Tesla vehicle? Probably sounds like overkill but if you can afford it the autopilot feature could get you your hands/hours back

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#23

Post by xexers » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:16 PM UTC

jgill wrote: post #9

AkiraMichi wrote: post #4

I'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?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9207360

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#24

Post by rodhan » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:19 PM UTC

I highly recommend Clarke Ching's "Rolling Rocks Downhill" audiobook [1] which is a novel that teaches/refreshes agile software development in a really engaging way. I'd love to know if there are more novels like that out there - I haven't managed to find any.

I'm getting bored with podcasts these days because most of them have too much idle chat. Shows like "99% Invisible" that are well produced and low on chit chat are fine but I think audiobooks are the way forward.

[1] http://www.rolls.rocks/podcasts-video/2016/2/23/rolling-rock...

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#25

Post by srparish » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:23 PM UTC

jgill wrote: post #9

AkiraMichi wrote: post #4

I'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?

- Software Engineering Daily: https://softwareengineeringdaily.com/category/podcast/

- Changelog: https://changelog.com/podcast

- Functional Geekery: https://www.functionalgeekery.com/

- CppCast: http://cppcast.com/

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#26

Post by throwaway2016a » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:25 PM UTC

Audio books. But not software audio books (that sounds like torture). Listen to books on things that broaden your horizon. I listen to a lot of books on business and marketing even though my day to day job has nothing to do with that. I also listen to a lot of science fiction (old stuff and new) because it helps me appreciate where we have been and where we might strive to be as a thinking society.

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#27

Post by a3n » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:26 PM UTC

Do you ever solve problems or have other insights while not working on those things? Like when you sleep, or in the shower?

Your brain needs rest and distraction, both for professional health and general health.

If I worked, say, 8 hours a day, and then added in your three hour commute every day, that would be borderline death march.

Besides all the utilitarian suggestions, you could consider something unrelated to your work or profession, at least part of the time.

I sing. I put a couple hundred singable (by me) songs on a usb stick, and play them. When I land on one that I want to learn, I put it on repeat, and learn it.

I didn't used to be able to sing, from lack of singing at all and self-consciousness. I didn't used to even sing in the car alone, I was that self-conscious. Now I've improved (my voice has been complemented, singing and not), and I've sung songs among friends and co-workers.

Sometimes I don't sing, and think about something at work or elsewhere. It's not all or nothing.

Maybe listen to old radio shows like The Shadow Knows, The Honeymooners, Dragnet, or whatever you find that appeals.

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#28

Post by d_man » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:26 PM UTC

tommy_otzen wrote: post #5

It might not be possible, but could you share the ride with someone from your workplace that has the same interest?

Not possible, none of them living nearby. And I suspect the majority of them would rather not talk about programming or similar stuff outside of work hours. Maybe it's for the best because honestly I would not survive one hour or so drive of small talk everyday.

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#29

Post by AkiraMichi » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:32 PM UTC

jgill wrote: post #9

AkiraMichi wrote: post #4

I'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?

With technical podcasts, I don't listen to there every episode. Only, the ones that I find interesting. But, here are some of the ones, that I usually enjoy listening to.

- The Changelog https://changelog.com/podcast

- Does Not Compute https://spec.fm/podcasts/does-not-compute/

- Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots http://giantrobots.fm/

- The Bike Shed http://bikeshed.fm/

- The Hanselminutes Podcast http://hanselminutes.com/

- The Web Ahead http://5by5.tv/webahead

Re: Ask HN: As a developer, how can I take advantage of time spent driving to work?

#30

Post by mustaflex » Sun, Nov 20, 2016, 9:33 PM UTC

I have 4 hours of commute(train + tram/metro) daily..., read a dozen of novels from Isaac asimov and Arthur C. Clarke in 2 months. After work, I don't even have time to open my computer or do anything besides eating, shower.