Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#1

Post by donniefitz2 » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:22 AM UTC

I can't code while buzzed/drunk, so I avoid drinking at all if I'm going to do any work at night.

But recently I was talking to a co-worker who told me he can crank out even more code with a buzz. So, can you code after a few drinks?

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#2

Post by Animus7 » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:33 AM UTC

I actually find it makes my hacking about twice as productive. When I tune out all of the other things going on in my head, the only thing left is a brainstem that's quite optimized for the C++ pointer twiddling tedium that fills my nights.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#3

Post by donniefitz2 » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:39 AM UTC

Animus7 wrote: post #2

I actually find it makes my hacking about twice as productive. When I tune out all of the other things going on in my head, the only thing left is a brainstem that's quite optimized for the C++ pointer twiddling tedium that fills my nights.

I once worked at the Microsoft Technology Center in Mountain View for a week and they had beer. They told me I could have one whenever, so I had a few Killian's and I was useless after about 2 or 3.

Interesting how others seem to benefit from it.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#4

Post by spooneybarger » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:43 AM UTC

Yes.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#5

Post by devan » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:51 AM UTC

God yes.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#6

Post by tgriesser » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 3:55 AM UTC

I always think of this when the question is asked: http://xkcd.com/323/

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#7

Post by mmaunder » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 4:07 AM UTC

Yes. I find it harder to code with good music (i.e. distracting music) than after 2 glasses of wine. But I'll never deploy until I review the next morning and it gets tested and OK'd. I also throw away a lot of code, no matter what condition I was when I wrote it.

2 glasses of wine is my max though. After that it's hard to balance on the exercise ball and I have to transition to the lazyboy.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#8

Post by haploid » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 4:18 AM UTC

Absolutely. The effect rapidly turns to disaster after a certain BAC, though. My personal Ballmer's Peak is more like an inverse sigmoid curve.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#9

Post by FirstHopSystems » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 4:31 AM UTC

Everyone can code when buzzed/drunk. I guess the point is "can you code well?" Drunk folks can drive, except they tend to run into/kill people pretty often.

Re: Ask HN: Can You Code Under the Influence of Alcohol?

#10

Post by SamReidHughes » Wed, Mar 23, 2011, 4:57 AM UTC

FirstHopSystems wrote: post #9

Everyone can code when buzzed/drunk. I guess the point is "can you code well?" Drunk folks can drive, except they tend to run into/kill people pretty often.

I'm glad you helped out all the socially deficient people who were confused by this submission.