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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

#101

Post by gordaco »

nikster wrote: post #89
sillysaurus wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 dec…

I honestly wish I could do something like that at work. I already do it all the time at home.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#102

Post by prathyks »

Also, in some work place like mine. There are set of pseudo rules implied by managers who ask people to quote a valid reason when you work from home. Most of the times, There is no reason when I feel like working from home. Actually thats also i have come across few people who kind of misuse the option of working from home and employ it when they have some other stuff to do, in which case they would be spending lot less time working.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#103

Post by babby »

nikster wrote: post #92
benjamincburns wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think if you work a whole day in a coffee shop, you're kind of a jerk. I occasionally go to a coffee shop to work for an hour or so. Many times it's been the most focused hour I had that week. The biggest thing is to remember that you're in a place of business. If you're going to take their space, buy something, tip well, and be courteous to the people around you.

THANK YOU A netiquette for coffee shops, I wholeheartedly agree. I work at coffee shops a lot; I keep sitting there when I can see there are plenty of empty tables - that means my sitting there is a net positive for the Cafe: I might consume more, and often do. And having customers is better than having none, it attracts other people. If I see that many customers are coming and that I might actually block people from…

I realize this is awful 4chan of me; but that seems rather beta of you, in that you're essentially swayed by the flow of traffic of the establishment, in a scenario where you're supposed to be getting shit done. You make it sound like you're only privileged to be there when it's convenient for the coffee shop owners, and that seems to me like a tense place to exist.

On the other hand I can relate to the concept of doing good by those whom you rely on, a symbiotic relationship and what not. That's a very pro-society thing and I suppose that's respectable.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#104

Post by jtbrown »

I'm a huge fan of coworking spaces. Depending on your budget and needs, sometimes you can even rent a desk to call your own. It's been great for me to work around other developers, bump into people and have interesting discussions, and just get out of the house.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#105

Post by thirdtruck »

benjamincburns wrote: post #21
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.

I think if you work a whole day in a coffee shop, you're kind of a jerk. I occasionally go to a coffee shop to work for an hour or so. Many times it's been the most focused hour I had that week. The biggest thing is to remember that you're in a place of business. If you're going to take their space, buy something, tip well, and be courteous to the people around you.

Agreed. I frequent one all the time but I also buy plenty, tip well, and chat up the baristas.

In turn, they _like_ having me around. I've sold old hardware to one, gotten novel draft feedback from another, and have plans for a weekly anime get-together with another. That, and I even get plenty of free drinks!

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#106

Post by jiggy2011 »

babby wrote: post #103
nikster wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

THANK YOU A netiquette for coffee shops, I wholeheartedly agree. I work at coffee shops a lot; I keep sitting there when I can see there are plenty of empty tables - that means my sitting there is a net positive for the Cafe: I might consume more, and often do. And having customers is better than having none, it attracts other people. If I see that many customers are coming and that I might actually block people from…

I realize this is awful 4chan of me; but that seems rather beta of you, in that you're essentially swayed by the flow of traffic of the establishment, in a scenario where you're supposed to be getting shit done. You make it sound like you're only privileged to be there when it's convenient for the coffee shop owners, and that seems to me like a tense place to exist. On the other hand I can relate to the concept of do…

On private property you are always privileged to be there and the owner can ask you to leave at any point for any reason.

If you act considerately and don't cause problems (like occupying space when you are not spending) then this is less likely to happen, so there is certainly a degree of self interest.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#107

Post by dlgeek »

gordaco wrote: post #101
nikster wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 dec…

I honestly wish I could do something like that at work. I already do it all the time at home.

I do this by going to the water cooler for a refill. I use a small cup, so I go every hour or so. I usually take the slow way there, and think about my work on the way.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#108

Post by pjungwir »

dlgeek wrote: post #107
gordaco wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly wish I could do something like that at work. I already do it all the time at home.

I do this by going to the water cooler for a refill. I use a small cup, so I go every hour or so. I usually take the slow way there, and think about my work on the way.

Before I started working from home I would sometimes get up and pace. Fortunately we had an empty part of the building where I didn't disturb people. I felt a little self-conscious about it at first, but being eccentric is sort of fun. :-)

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#109

Post by codereflection »

sockgrant wrote: post #71
codereflection wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did this for two years. The key is to switch it up. I'm lucky enough that there are many different coffee shops in my area that I can go to. The general rule of thumb, if you're planning on spending multiple hours in a single place, is to buy a little something each 1 to 2 hours. I've seen many, many people buy a single tall coffee, nothing else, and then sit in the coffee shop for 4+ hours. These people are jerks.

If the coffee shop is full and they are inhibiting other paying customers, they are jerks. If they are disturbing the network, they are jerks. But what if there's plenty of seating, and they're working off of their own internet? Are they still jerks?

There's always exceptions.

Re: How to work remotely as a software developer

#110

Post by topfunky »

nikster wrote: post #91
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…

Writing code when you know you dont have a solution is a complete waste of time. You end up with bad code you have to throw away. Or worse, you dont throw it away and end up with huge tail end costs of user errors, QA time, futile attempts to fix the rotten, and eventually rewriting the whole thing anyway. Writing is apparently different in this regard.

Throwing away code should be a regular part of your workflow. The best programmers I know do it often.

Programming isn't just about generating more lines of code. It's about understanding the problem you're working on. Sometimes writing code is a good way to understand the problem.

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