I program on the subway • Hacker News Board

Re: I program on the subway

#31

Post by hopelite » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:19 PM UTC

trinix912 wrote: post #26

komali2 wrote: post #22

> they would have to do it at a station, where they could immediately get off the train. I think, though, that this would be risky, given that subway stops generally have a lot of people getting on/off the train in the first place. I've seen a phone jacking in this exact scenario and nobody moved to stop the guy running. Nobody on the train can help cause the doors have closed, and nobody on the platform has any idea…

True, but a laptop is much more of a hassle to quickly grab and run with than a phone. What also helps is having one that's full of stickers or overall looks fairly (ab)used. A pristine MacBook is going to be much more of a target than a random ThinkPad with a sticker, greasy keyboard and 20 scratches.

There’s probably no market for it, but it might be interesting to make a MacBook case/cover and/or stickers that make it look old, cracked, scratched, and dirty.

It would be interesting to see if that would deter a thief.

Re: I program on the subway

#32

Post by bitmasher9 » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:23 PM UTC

ziofill wrote: post #11

When I was living in Paris I had a 20 min ride from home to work each day. I picked up the habit to read during those 40 total minutes and I was going through books like I had never been able to, because while 40 min is not a lot, it’s about 150h per year. One easily underestimates the power of consistency.

I read many books a year by reading for 20-30 minutes per night before sleeping. A habit with multiple benefits (winding down and reading or commuting and reading) is very powerful for getting the most value out of your time.

Re: I program on the subway

#33

Post by bitmasher9 » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:29 PM UTC

Spooky23 wrote: post #28

trinix912 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, but a laptop is much more of a hassle to quickly grab and run with than a phone. What also helps is having one that's full of stickers or overall looks fairly (ab)used. A pristine MacBook is going to be much more of a target than a random ThinkPad with a sticker, greasy keyboard and 20 scratches.

Depends on where and when you are. Some hyped up dude is fixated on the next fix and lacks the executive function to discriminate. The more professional thieves are more discriminating.

I agree that it’s just a matter of when it’s stolen, not if it’s going to be stolen.

The article suggests the laptop is about $300, and he uses it about 1hr/day.

If the laptop is stolen less than once a year he spends less than $1/hr for coding on the go, which I would consider a fair deal.

Re: I program on the subway

#34

Post by Wowfunhappy » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:29 PM UTC

I’ve done this before, but you need a relatively long subway ride without any transfers. IMO, 30 minutes is just barely at the edge of being worthwhile, and only if you can get a seat right when you get on, and only if the seat isn’t so cramped that it’s actually possible to get your laptop out of your bag. This happens rarely.

But on longer trips from e.g. upper Manhattan to deep Brooklyn, particularly at off-peak hours when I have room to spread out—yeah, I’ve had some very productive sessions.

Re: I program on the subway

#35

Post by mlhpdx » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:30 PM UTC

Not often, and not recommended, but I have coded on the cockpit table while single-handing a sailboat. Interrupting a conference call with “sorry, one moment, I have to tack out of the fleet” is its own special joy.

Re: I program on the subway

#36

Post by horizion2025 » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:30 PM UTC

I have always enjoyed it. I have even gotten comments "can you really do anything in such a short period of time" but i have found that even 20 min sessions on a commute can be effective. For a major project I did the final push on such a commute just hoping the push could complete before the train reached the tunnel without coverage, and it did

Re: I program on the subway

#37

Post by 65 » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:32 PM UTC

Eh. My preferred subway activity is to listen to music and stare at the ground. I don't know... do I really need to stare at my computer screen every waking moment?

Re: I program on the subway

#38

Post by jonlam92 » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:33 PM UTC

With some noise cancelling headphones, it may actually help with focus. I'm a fan of doing things on the subway.

Re: I program on the subway

#39

Post by neomantra » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:34 PM UTC

I love to program on my commute. When I took NJ Transit bus, when I took NY Ferry, when I took MetroNorth.

But I’ve never felt comfortable opening a laptop on the NYC subway. It wasn’t about the safety that OP describes. It was about the culture and the physical configuration (facing middle with strap hangers vs facing front/back). It just didn’t feel right in the subway.

I do miss the MetroNorth Bar Car! I could drink and code and it was jovial.

Re: I program on the subway

#40

Post by nicbou » Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:36 PM UTC

My entire stack is meant to let me work offline in random locations. Until recently it was meant to run smoothly on a 12" Macbook. The output is also made for users on spotty internet connections. This comes from years of working while travelling. I can work offline for weeks if needed.

I sometimes do "iPad work", which is essentially researching, reviewing and annotating content on my iPad Mini. I will hop on my bike and work an hour or two in different locations, over coffee or in the sun. It's a relaxing break from working on a computer at a desk.

I do think that people should work in different places. Perhaps we'd have apps that work better on slow internet.