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Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

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Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#61

Post by ecliptic »

Paul Erdos famously swore by their productiveness.

From Wikipedia:

His colleague Alfréd Rényi said, "a mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems",[31] and Erdős drank copious quantities. (This quotation is often attributed incorrectly to Erdős,[32] but Erdős himself ascribed it to Rényi.[33]) After 1971 he also took amphetamines, despite the concern of his friends, one of whom (Ron Graham) bet him $500 that he could not stop taking the drug for a month.[34] Erdős won the bet, but complained that during his abstinence mathematics had been set back by a month: "Before, when I looked at a piece of blank paper my mind was filled with ideas. Now all I see is a blank piece of paper." After he won the bet, he promptly resumed his amphetamine use.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#62

Post by Supreme »

redthrowaway wrote: post #14

Define drugs. I know Ritalin is an invaluable tool when it comes time for me to sit down and hack, but can also be counter-productive in limiting my creativity. I think it would be self-evidently false to suggest that no mind-altering substance could lead to a state of consciousness more conducive than the baseline for a given activity, but I would stop short of recommending any particular drug for programming. If it…

You do realise that you're doing something quite dangerous by turning to dopamine-influencing drugs to motivate you, right? This class of drugs can change brain structure, promote cancer growth and generally make you devoid of emotion. At the very least, protect yourself with anti-oxidants and NMDA antagonists. There are plenty of less serious things you can take/do if you simply lack motivation. Exercise, cut out sugar and caffeine entirely and try Noopept.

Also see:

* http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2009/nida-02.htm

* http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2006/05/ritalin_causes_cancer...

* http://www.cchrint.org/2010/11/15/adhd-ritalin-%E2%80%93-bra...

But for the love of god, think about what you are doing to your body. There are other ways, just look a little harder.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#63

Post by Wintamute »

Recreational drugs can certainly be part of a happy, functional social life when used responsibly by people with non-addictive personality types. Hallucinogenic drugs can give profound and life changing insight on your mental processes, although YMMV. Coding while actually high will not help you produce quality software.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#64

Post by rbanffy »

According to popular wisdom, "There are two major products that came from Berkeley: LSD and Unix. We don't believe this to be a coincidence." It's, of course, incorrect (http://www.lemoda.net/people/jeremy-s-anderson/index.html), but, in any case, it's a funny one.

Now, on a more serious tone, a lot of programmers these days take some kind of drug, be it to control their ADHD, Asperger and other assorted medical conditions, be it to supplement something they think their brain is burning through faster than our hunter-gatherer heritage made us budget. I have noticed, however, some friends of mine who started taking ADHD medication (Methylphenidate, the only ADHD drug approved for use in Brazil) that became, indeed, much more focused and productive (amazingly so, sometimes), but that's not a double-blind study.

It would be fun (if horrendously complicated) to design a good study for that.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#65

Post by marcos123 »

In regards to the original question, Yes. Contrary to some peoples' beliefs, experiencing new perspectives is good for learning, problem solving, living. Francis Crick supposedly discovered the DNA helix while in the alternate universe that is an LSD trip.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#66

Post by patrickk »

jobu wrote: post #35
noonespecial wrote: post #31

I scale the Ballmer Peak on a regular basis. I've semi-scientifically mapped out the exact amount required to get the desired effect. I've started trying to plot the continuous consumption rate required to spend more time at the summit. I have spreadsheets.

In case anyone is unfamiliar with the "Balmer Peak" : http://xkcd.com/323/ For extra points, I would love to see your spreadsheet data plotted as a xkcd-style graph ( http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/11350/xkcd-st... )

Does this actually seriously work? I've never tried coding while intoxicated, let alone heard of the Ballmer peak till now.

Wonder what variables you would track? Type of drink, percentage alcohol in it, how long since you last ate, how quickly you drink the alcohol, your height and weight? Should there be a variable for being Irish (high tolerance) ;-) Last one was a joke btw!

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#68

Post by marcos123 »

pchivers wrote: post #39

From what I understand there is only one study on the relationship between creativity and LSD: Psychedelic agents in creative problem-solving: a pilot study. Harman WW, McKim RH, Mogar RE, Fadiman J, Stolaroff MJ. Psychol Rep. 1966 Aug;19(1):211-27. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelics_in_problem-solving... The results suggested that LSD has a positive effect on creative problem solving. I think it is a shame th…

In my opinion, the most fascinating and progressive areas of study are the ones that aren't studied, due to a multitude of political reasons. It makes me feel quite bad for people that can't fully entertain an idea if it hasn't been through a randomized, double-blind placebo study.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#69

Post by marcos123 »

001sky wrote: post #22
PaulHoule wrote: post #18

Drugs in programming, as well as other occupations, play an emotional role as much, or more so, than a cognitive role. If Habit A helps a programmer who'd otherwise be sidelined by emotional problems stay in the chair, it may help that programmer be more productive than they would be otherwise. Of course, addictions don't help us face those problems in the long term, and often let them get worse. All sorts of drug-re…

Sobering reminder. Performance = output/time. so the timeframe is critical. its trivial to increase productivity in the "short term". in ways that are unsustainable (or: unhealthy). Exogenous modification of brain's chemistry is, however, rarely healthy, over long-time-horizons. At least given the evidence to date.

Yeah, but when you think about, everything you put in your mouth is an exogenous modification of, at least your body's chemistry, if not your brain's chemistry.

We live in a world of gray areas, not black and white.

Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?

#70

Post by bennyg »

Supreme wrote: post #62
redthrowaway wrote: post #14

Define drugs. I know Ritalin is an invaluable tool when it comes time for me to sit down and hack, but can also be counter-productive in limiting my creativity. I think it would be self-evidently false to suggest that no mind-altering substance could lead to a state of consciousness more conducive than the baseline for a given activity, but I would stop short of recommending any particular drug for programming. If it…

You do realise that you're doing something quite dangerous by turning to dopamine-influencing drugs to motivate you, right? This class of drugs can change brain structure, promote cancer growth and generally make you devoid of emotion. At the very least, protect yourself with anti-oxidants and NMDA antagonists. There are plenty of less serious things you can take/do if you simply lack motivation. Exercise, cut out su…

He may be prescribed it. I understand your sentiment, but Ritalin may make him take a shower and actually make the morning commute.
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