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How to work remotely as a software developer

markcampbell.me

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Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#81

Post by mattjaynes »

simonsarris wrote: post #2

I really enjoyed this article, and I'd like to add that software developers working remotely could probably learn a lot from the wisdom of writers, which has been collected in hundreds of articles on the web. (search for "advice from best authors" or "daily routines of great writers", etc, and you're bound to find many such articles. Some are good, most are puffery, but so it goes with anything). Not all of the advic…

Excellent points.

Elizabeth Gilbert gave a great talk at TED on these topics: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html (warning: auto-play video)

Don't be put off that she's the "Eat Pray Love" author if that's not your style (it's definitely not mine). She speaks very well to the creation process - and even touches on topics like depression and suicide among creators. It's well worth the watch.

Another great talk (that isn't quite as directly relevant) is JK Rowling's Harvard Commencement speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c (also auto-play)

My favorite part of that one is her speaking against not creating and thereby failing by default.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#82

Post by dageshi »

miloshadzic wrote: post #80
dageshi wrote: post #79

I've had a bit of a revelation recently. I absolutely need some kind of human voice in the background for at least a few hours per day. If I don't get it then my mind just shuts down and refuses to work on anything. My favourite radio presenter went off the air about 8 months ago and I've not really found anything I really liked since. But since then my ability to actually get anything done has gone down drastically.…

I never felt what you're describing but I do enjoy listening to RBMA Radio Fireside Chats[0] while while I'm working. You may like it. [0]: http://www.rbmaradio.com/categories/interviews-features/form...

Thanks, I'll take a look.

I think the best way to explain it, is there's part of my mind, perhaps the really creative bit that needs to be distracted in order to actually get anything done. As in, if I've got a problem I need to solve and actually it's just a case of iterating/implementing to get it done, if that bit of my mind isn't being occupied by something I'll immediately try to "think the problem to death" which ends in procrastination and getting nothing done.

But If I have some kind of conversation going on in the background then that part of my brain is occupied and I seem quite capable of getting on with things.

I wish I could describe it better but it has really made a noticeable difference in the past few weeks.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#84

Post by rpwilcox »

porker wrote: post #59

This works when you're a remote worker, but what about when you're a freelancer with multiple clients, using time tracking software? Where do you bill the "going for a walk to clear your head", the "restroom break" or that all-too-common one, "popping on Hacker News to see if anything exciting's happened in the last 5 minutes"? Joking aside, I've reached burnout by driving myself hard to get 8 billable hours each day…

I suggest you alter your assumptions of how many hours you can get in a day. If your monthly budget depends on you billing 8 hours a day, 20 days a month you are setting yourself up to be disappointed.

I know that, by in large, I can bill a 30 hour week, assuming I have a full time project. Between not billing for restroom or mental health breaks, random trips to Fry's for a new hard drive, etc... those tasks can eat up your calendar.

When I have little client work on the radar I assume I'll be able to get 20 billable hours a week in- the rest of the week is eaten up with Buisness development, meeting with new clients, estimating projects etc.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#86

Post by gedrap »

I have found opposite regarding using email.

In 6 months, I have been using IM mainly first half, email mainly the second.

While using IM, I tended to talk more about doing than rather doing. It used to take hours to discuss things and chats which were supposed to be 15mins long happened to be an hour or more.

When switched to email, I became way more efficient. I spent more time on thinking about questions I'm asking, and questions to potential answers. This lead to 1) well thought designs 2) efficient communication 3) no distracting IM.

IM is still good for the times when you need to discuss something quickly. And I mean really quickly.

I guess it largely depends on the stakeholders/managers communication habits.

P.S. I am working solo with my boss

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#87

Post by dorian-graph »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #13

I've never tried working from a coffee shop but it seems people do. How does that work out financially? I imagine they aren't too pleased if you just buy a coffee and then occupy space for 5 hours. But I don't really want to spend a fortune on excessive caffeine consumption and $5 bagels.

As bconway said, public libraries are fantastic—and I'm speaking from Australia. Also, coworking places. There's websites like https://www.desktimeapp.com/ for finding ones.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#88

Post by dorian-graph »

dageshi wrote: post #79

I've had a bit of a revelation recently. I absolutely need some kind of human voice in the background for at least a few hours per day. If I don't get it then my mind just shuts down and refuses to work on anything. My favourite radio presenter went off the air about 8 months ago and I've not really found anything I really liked since. But since then my ability to actually get anything done has gone down drastically.…

There was somewhat recently posted a website that generated background noise which simulated an office. I can't find the link, someone else should remember.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#89

Post by nikster »

sillysaurus wrote: post #73
smutticus wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A man is a fool not to put everything he has, at any given moment, into what he is creating. You're there now doing the thing on paper. You're not killing the goose, you're just producing an egg. So I don't worry about inspiration, or anything like that. It's a matter of just sitting down and working. I have never had the problem of a writing block. I've heard about it. I've felt reluctant to write on some days, for…

Some of my best code was written after basically abandoning the problem for a day. Of course, the problem wasn't really abandoned -- I was thinking about how to solve it the whole time. But I wasn't writing any code. Forcing yourself to write isn't necessarily best.

One of the most effective things you can do is become a virtual smoker. Smokers get an urge and step out for a cigarette every hour - or every time they get stuck.

I don't smoke (never have) but I am trying to emulate that; the most effective way to solve a problem is to step out and do nothing for about 5 minutes. Take a walk. Look at the trees. Anything. Then when I come back I have either solved the problem or decided to leave it with a hacked together patch and work on something else; Ill probably still resolve the hack sometime later.

The opposite is to seek out some distraction, click around on facebook or HN or something - you solve nothing but spend lots of time....

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#90

Post by AJ007 »

From my discussions with other people working remotely and my own personal experience (not quite a decade), it is the eating-exercise-social parts that are extremely difficult.

If you already are strong in these areas and continue your current behavioral patterns you should be fine.

If you live somewhere outside a densely populated area, or if your eating-exercise-social patterns revolve around work you can be in for a very difficult time. The first weeks, months, may be fun, years in you can end up with real medical problems.

Figure those three things out, and then wrap your work patterns around that. It is much more sustainable.

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