Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
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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?
#2Posted on HN 49 minutes ago, closed as "not a real question" 48 minutes ago. Wow.
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#3Posted on HN 49 minutes ago, closed as "not a real question" 48 minutes ago. Wow.
> It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.
It seems pretty specific to me. If you have evidence, present it.
I can see an argument for it being too broad, but it saddens me that a question such as this is closed when it has the potential to be very interesting.
I suppose it also has the potential to devolve into a giant drugs flamewar, which may be why it was really closed.
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#4Posted on HN 49 minutes ago, closed as "not a real question" 48 minutes ago. Wow.
> It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ. It seems pretty specific to me. If you have evidence, present it. I can see an argument for it being too broad, but it saddens me that a question such as this is cl…
[deleted]
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#5[deleted]
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#6Posted on HN 49 minutes ago, closed as "not a real question" 48 minutes ago. Wow.
> It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ. It seems pretty specific to me. If you have evidence, present it. I can see an argument for it being too broad, but it saddens me that a question such as this is cl…
Ironically, if you posted the same question on stackoverflow you'd probably be directed (or have it moved) to programmers.stackexchange.
Frustratingly, I can't find anything in the FAQ which would indicate why the thread (and countless others) have been closed: http://programmers.stackexchange.com/faq
Questions which are similarly open ended and perhaps more subjective are still left open ( http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/99445/is-micr... ). If anyone has more insight into how/why questions get closed on programmers.stackexchange I'd love to hear it!
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ. It seems pretty specific to me. If you have evidence, present it. I can see an argument for it being too broad, but it saddens me that a question such as this is cl…
Ironically, if you posted the same question on stackoverflow you'd probably be directed (or have it moved) to programmers.stackexchange. Frustratingly, I can't find anything in the FAQ which would indicate why the thread (and countless others) have been closed: http://programmers.stackexchange.com/faq Questions which are similarly open ended and perhaps more subjective are still left open ( http://programmers.stackex…
Power trip.
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#8That reminds me of the time I was taking pot while in college. During one class I was completely zoned into the cursor and moved it back and forth 5-6 pixels across the screen.
My experience though it is anecdotal seems to rule out at least cannabinoids.
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#9You tend to use the very specific phrase "nootropic drugs" to talk about drugs which help with productivity or creativity or some other aspect of working life. Asking whether there is evidence on nootropics, is just asking whether there are any heavily-tested nootropics. Asking anything else--to lex it out, whether "drugs that have no productivity-enhancing aspect, enhance productivity" is just playing the fool to incite extremely subjective flamewars.
So, let's avoid that, and just focus on nootropics. Is there evidence that they work? Depends on the drug. We have drugs (caffeine, theanine) that are in foods we've been consuming since the beginning of civilization, so we've heavily researched those and are pretty confident in what they do.
On the other hand, new, synthetic compounds, like modafinil, are only really created and pushed through FDA approval if there can be found some sort of therapeutic, non-nootropic purpose in their use: in modafinil's case, treating narcolepsy. This means that their use as nootropics is much less well-researched, and consists mainly of anecdata (however much there is) shared over the internet.
The best you'll find, I think, in terms of data for efficacy of various drugs, is people who have set out to do double-blind studies on themselves: http://www.gwern.net/Nootropics
After reading data-points like these, you might be convinced to try some of them on your own. But be aware that people's body-chemistries can vary widely--especially where things affecting neurochemical balance are concerned--so everyone's reactions to these will still be different. Not in a sense of a "bad trip", usually; just that some things which other people swear by might not have much of an effect on your particular chemistry. So, the best thing to do, as in most situations: first research, then experiment.
Re: Is there evidence that drugs can help programmers produce “better” code?
#10Psh, anything that gives you a different perspective on life is important. LSD gives you a vastly different perspective on reality, so I guess if you relate that to life in a meaningful way, is fairly important.