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Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

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Re: Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

#42

Post by redcap »

TriinT wrote: post #27
redcap wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And no other 'classical' music does it for you at all? You'll excuse me if I find that hard to believe. Probably because I haven't really listened to Bach (youtube et. al. are blocked for me so I can't go and listen right this instant).

I like violin, cello and piano. No singing. I can't work when listening to opera, for instance. Italian opera is almost OK, but German opera is too distracting. Classical composers other than Bach would probably work, but since most of the classical music CD's I have are Bach CD's, I can't say I have tried listening to many other composers, to be honest. I like Mozart, but his music is too "happy". Bach's music is mo…

My take on a lot of classical music is that they seem to be trying to hard, doing too much with the instrument (been listening to some piano pieces by Liszt, Chopin, etc recently). That and I really don't appreciate a lot of high treble sounds (it depends, but genereally flutes and violins aren't my favourite instruments).

My recently instrumental fascination has been the work of Yann Tiersen (Amelie soundtrack), which has recently inspired me to try my hand at the piano again after 20 years. Not sure if that'd float your boat though. May give Brahms a go though.

Re: Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

#44

Post by mlok »

Techno / electro. These often have the energy and rythm of machines, and it helps to keep a good pace. I especially avoid any music with lyrics in a language I understand, so it does not steal my attention. All in all, I want my surrounding to be an atmosphere of "going forward" and no distraction. I also need to regularly look away from my screen, release my brain for a minute, get up and stop being static.

Re: Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

#45

Post by Nervetattoo »

Depends on mood and problem I'm currently solving. For trivial coding I can listen to anything and would probably go for something indie. (Currently the "trivial music" has been Florence+The Machine, Dirty Projectors, Crystal Castles and Grizzly Bear).

When I'm stuck on a hard to solve bug/issue I like to go for metal as I tend to get aggressive and that helps me get the aggression out and focus on the task.

But for all other causes I prefer classical music or something akin to it and electronica, especially Niccolò Paganini. And Vivaldi, Wagner, Detektivbyrån, Slagsmålsklubben and Mozart.

I would love to be able to work in complete silence once in a while, but open office makes that impossible.

Re: Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

#47

Post by humbledrone »

gnosis wrote: post #2

If the coding is routine, I sometimes listen to my favorite music (EBM or psy/goa trance) while coding. I especially like to listen to music while coding if I'm in a noisy environment (earplugs are good too). However, when I get to a really difficult problem, I prefer total silence without any distractions. Again, earplugs are good for that. But if I need to, I'll go for a walk somewhere quiet to think about it (some…

Same here. Basically, I don't want music while I'm in the process of figuring out how to go about doing something, but there's nothing better than a good beat (Infected Mushroom for me) while actually doing it.

When I'm doing design, music just distracts me -- but when I'm hammering out code, a repetitive rhythm definitely helps to keep me focused. It is strange that music has different effects depending on what kind of thinking the brain is doing. I wonder why that is...

Re: Ask HN: What do you listen to when you code?

#48

Post by christofd »

TriinT wrote: post #12

Bach. Any other music causes me to lose focus. Total silence drives me slowly insane. Bach is just perfect.

While I play a fair bit of J.S. Bach material in my free time, I find that listening to Bach over long periods of time rather depressing. It builds a heavy darker mood.

Ambient & lighter Electronica is easier on the mood and the repetitive patterns help pacing myself (it also works for working out/ running). Jazz gets too involved; HipHop as well; Rock has dominant vocals that grab attention.

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