Music for Programming • Hacker News Board

Re: Music for Programming

#161

Post by boogieknite » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 5:48 PM UTC

cyrialize wrote: post #143

I'm a fan of ambient and instrumental hip hop for programming. My personal favorites are pretty much anything by Nujabes (including the soundtracks for Samurai Champloo), Fat Jon, and DJ Okawari. I also like some classic albums in the genre like Donuts by J Dilla, Dr. No's Oxperiment by Oh No, and Endtroducing by DJ Shadow. I will sometimes go through essential charts I find to dive into new genres, and other times I…

same. combining the 10 volumes of Special Herbs makes a good 5 hour playlist too

Re: Music for Programming

#162

Post by jfvinueza » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 6:20 PM UTC

Radio Paradise has a fantastic high-rhythm, excepcionally-curated, sophisticated yet not too extravagant jazz channel called Beyond https://radioparadise.com/listen/channels/beyond

It is pretty much ideal for, as Larry Wall once said, letting music "wash over you" while coding https://youtu.be/SKqBmAHwSkg?si=_vHvP8Ij9lacwhFk

Re: Music for Programming

#163

Post by konart » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 6:21 PM UTC

Dark Synth or something like Juno Reactor for regular workload.

French hip-hop/rap to clean head while walking under rain.

Speed metal for for LLMing.

Re: Music for Programming

#164

Post by tmtvl » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 6:53 PM UTC

mihaitodor wrote: post #137

tmtvl wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Metal for me as well, though I prefer more of the screamy-scream variety (Summoning, Judas Iscariot, Darkthrone,...).

Try Agalloch :)

Thanks, I'll see if I can find them on Bandcamp or 7Digital.

Re: Music for Programming

#165

Post by winrid » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 7:45 PM UTC

JimTV on YT is great too

Re: Music for Programming

#166

Post by 8bitsrule » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 7:53 PM UTC

Impossible to recommend without knowing what works for you. For a one-stop-shop, try SOMA.FM (https://somafm.com/) for a great variety of well-vetted choons in multople genres.

After that, one can build up a list of hundreds of net radio stations in VLC and find one that works for you -today-.

Re: Music for Programming

#167

Post by stronglikedan » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 8:01 PM UTC

Currently, the best music for programming is the Artemis II live stream. It's music to my ears, and I'm over the moon!

(but usually progressive trance with no lyrics is my preference)

Re: Music for Programming

#168

Post by stronglikedan » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 8:04 PM UTC

tga wrote: post #82

For another genre suggestion: handpan music. It's rhythmic and repetitive, but warmer than electronica, and fades nicely in the background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafSm6N5bkc

I just wish the guy on the right would stop trying to take a shit while he plays. It's hella distracting. But yeah, thanks for the intro to this - me likey.

Re: Music for Programming

#169

Post by stronglikedan » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 8:06 PM UTC

bityard wrote: post #128

I like the concept but ambient as a genre doesn't really do anything for me. It makes me want to go take a nap. Haven't added anything to it in a while, but over the years I built a youtube playlist of songs that help me focus while working. Generally rules are: predominantly electronic, has some kind of beat, zero vocals. I'm up to over 500 songs at this point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dTpQwBMaBI&list=PL2A7B…

thanks for this (more than a simple upvote could say)

Re: Music for Programming

#170

Post by jdonaldson » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 8:28 PM UTC

Sharing a spotify link for one of my favorite playlists : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5jQQ19MndPFIVqsvDrvJyG?si=...