Well, many of the options I would find hard to try (my current work place makes it difficult). But I would think : a highly comfortable chair, that cheque, a small amount of beer (too much would make me code with strange variable name etc.). Not sure about musioc though, I done that in my old work place and found I got really anxious and tried to code at 100 miles per hour (listening to hard rock may have something to do with that though).

Quite often I get great programming solutions to project whilst asleep. Well thay seem great solutions in my dreams anyway. But the problem is, I can never remember them.... I really need to work on this. I think I may try sleeping during the day at work, so that if I get a good idea I can apply it before I forget.... big monitors come in handy sometimes (something to hide behind while sleeping).

    Because I wear so many hats at work and I am constantly interrupted or putting out fires, I find the only way for me to really code well is in a quiet, comfortable environment with the phones and the tv off... where I can really concentrate on what I'm doing.

    Although I have to say, I'm definitely intrigued by a few of the other aforementioned options... I may have to fully test them and get back to you 😉

    -Elizabeth

      The problem with programming is that it requires a great deal of concentration. When I listen to music by the loudspeakers I often get distracted. But I have found that I don't loose not even one minute of concentration when I wear my headset. I once tried to explain this... and I suppose that my brain deals only with the music thats coming directly to my ears and cannot thing of stuff to distract my concentration...

      I cannot find any other explanation. Try it yourselves. I think it will work for you too.

        BTW... don't take anything I say really seriously because you might end up like the guy in my avatar.
        You have been warned!

          right now things are as good as they get....

          Heavy dub coming out of the speakers, nice, quiet, darkish office with some large Rothko prints on the wall, huge monitors in a multiple monitor set up, powerful pc with linux on it, Aeron chair to sit on, just got back from the gym, phone off the hook and network cable disconnected so no annoying distractions.

          Then I woke up.

          I am getting there though... just need to convince my boss one 17" monitor isnt enough and a 3GHz pc with Linux on it and a Aeron chair will make my productivty soar. I am sure it would if no one phoned or emailed me but he dosent see it that way either. And if he paid for my gym membership that would be nice too.

          MrRosary

            7 days later

            Music is a must
            Drink (Not old enough to have beer but whenever i get given one its always good)

            Otherwise a Redbull or something

            I try after sleeping like most i think most of the solutions then.
            Or after training.

              I agree that training sometimes makes you feel sooo good. But I never thought of using this sense of well-being for programming. I usually call my old girlfriends, or have fun with friends.

              I am also surprised that none of you voted the alcohol option. I just had a brain storm of the virtues of alcohol in programming... You see when you get yourself a little bit drunk you stop thinking about what you can NOT do. So if you are afraid of some code parts the fear goes away and you grasp the most unusual ideas.

                Originally posted by Elizabeth
                Because I wear so many hats at work and I am constantly interrupted or putting out fires, I find the only way for me to really code well is in a quiet, comfortable environment with the phones and the tv off... where I can really concentrate on what I'm doing.

                Although I have to say, I'm definitely intrigued by a few of the other aforementioned options... I may have to fully test them and get back to you 😉

                -Elizabeth

                Hear here! As a consultant, I may be wiring, writing a proposal, doing remote assistance, fixing hardware/software issues, recommending hardware/software purchase, acting as a purchasing agent, acting as a sysadmin, or writing HTML/JavaScript/PHP/MySQL. An empty office in some out-of-the-way corner of a forsaken building often has the right effect; also, I'm with $uper$tring on the chair thing.

                Elizabeth, be sure and post your test results! 😉

                  Originally posted by dalecosp

                  Hear here! As a consultant, I may be wiring, writing a proposal, doing remote assistance, fixing hardware/software issues, recommending hardware/software purchase, acting as a purchasing agent, acting as a sysadmin, or writing HTML/JavaScript/PHP/MySQL. ...

                  wow!... I always though that programmers do lots of things, like technocrats when they write code, artists when they design interfaces, architects whey they design a system, mentors when they lesson junior programmers, psychologists when they calm down mad clients, robots when they debug,.... but dalecosp you just gave me a whole new dimention of other things programmers are :p

                    10 days later

                    Originally posted by dalecosp

                    Elizabeth, be sure and post your test results! 😉

                    OK, here they are 😃:
                    1) a good nap - excellent results. Dreamt several solutions to logic problems.
                    2) deep meditation - excellent results. Reduced coding time by 15% and typos were minimal.
                    3) a high alcohol drink (whiskey, tequila, vodka, etc) - excellent results. Really let me think out of the box... although I don't remember much about my coding experience. I seem to recall lampshades and dancing on tables.
                    4) beer, or some good wine - excellent results. Made some new friends that may be able to get me new job when I get fired for drinking on the job.
                    5) just a coffee please - excellent results. Was able to code for 72 hours straight.
                    6) wild sex - excellent results! We'll just leave it at that 😉
                    7) jogging/swimming/any sort of exercising - excellent results. Sweat kept dripping on my printouts though.
                    8) receive a nice little check of $1000 - excellent results. Allowed me to code with a Mont Blanc pen instead of my usual Bic pen.
                    9) boost by listening to my preferable music - excellent results. Dicky Barrett (of Bosstones fame) overheard my music and decided to let me code his website.

                    Thanks for all the suggestions- I'll be a pro in no time 😃

                    -Elizabeth

                      Originally posted by Elizabeth

                      OK, here they are 😃:
                      3) a high alcohol drink (whiskey, tequila, vodka, etc) - excellent results. Really let me think out of the box... although I don't remember much about my coding experience. I seem to recall lampshades and dancing on tables.
                      4) beer, or some good wine - excellent results. Made some new friends that may be able to get me new job when I get fired for drinking on the job.

                      Funny!! As to dancing on tables, continue reading....


                      5) just a coffee please - excellent results. Was able to code for 72 hours straight.
                      6) wild sex - excellent results! We'll just leave it at that 😉

                      I like you and can respect that...just a thought, try having coffee before sex <?>


                      7) jogging/swimming/any sort of exercising - excellent results. Sweat kept dripping on my printouts though.
                      8) receive a nice little check of $1000 - excellent results. Allowed me to code with a Mont Blanc pen instead of my usual Bic pen.

                      OK, now this may be a sticking point. Printouts? Coding with a pen? I was beginning to be under the impression that the vast majority of folks here used a "terminal," I.E. a computer, keyboard, etc...albeit, if you write me a nice note with a Mont Blanc, I'll excuse anything, even your dusty footprints on my desk (you were wearing your shoes, right? Or did you experiment with 3,4, and 6 all at once, hm?)


                      9) boost by listening to my preferable music - excellent results. Dicky Barrett (of Bosstones fame) overheard my music and decided to let me code his website.

                      Hey, now that is wonderful... just as a favor, can you link the copyright notice to my home page?


                      Thanks for all the suggestions- I'll be a pro in no time 😃

                      -Elizabeth

                      You already are!! 😉

                        Originally posted by dalecosp
                        I was beginning to be under the impression that the vast majority of folks here used a "terminal," I.E. a computer, keyboard, etc...

                        LOL.. yes, I'm sure of that, but as a visual person, I write a lot of the logic out by hand through flow charting or whatever... and when I get really stuck, I print the code out so I can make notes on it. I guess I'm not like most people; must be the blonde thing again, eh? 😃

                        Or did you experiment with 3,4, and 6 all at once, hm?

                        Hey, who told you?! 😃
                        I must confess, however, that combining the aforementioned methods increases coding quality exponentially, so it may be something that you all may want to consider. Which methods you decide to combine are completely up to you. 😃
                        (I was really hoping to combine #3,4 & 6 with #9 and Mr. Barrett, but I think my husband might have a little problem with that.)

                        -Elizabeth

                          Lol, wild sex, what are we coming to. Just a warm coffee, a comfortable chair, and maybe a log fire are all the prerequisites I need 🙂.

                          Luke

                            Originally posted by Elizabeth
                            Hey, who told you?! 😃
                            -Elizabeth

                            http://www.x10.com/products/x10_vk45a.htm

                            I made the mistake of installing it near the monitor. But I bought one for Dicky B., and he put his on the clipboard and sez he gets great views...maybe you should move it off the table next time? 😉

                            /me arrests self for harassment 😃

                              I can see this topic has gone WAY OVER THE EDGE here... can someone please help get us back on track?! 😃

                              (and why do these threads start to take an inappropriate turn as soon as I post?... hmm... is it me? 😃 )

                              -Elizabeth

                                Originally posted by Elizabeth

                                3) a high alcohol drink (whiskey, tequila, vodka, etc) - excellent results. Really let me think out of the box... although I don't remember much about my coding experience. I seem to recall lampshades and dancing on tables.

                                HHeeeeeeyy...... II aamm ssttiillll ssttuucckk aatt nnoo.33. YYoouu gguuyyzz aarree ttoooo ffaasstt!! EErrmmmm, tthhiiss ooppttiioonn iiss ffiinnaallllyy nnoott ssoo pprroodduuccttiivvee bbeeccaauussee yyoouu sseeee eevveerryytthhiinngg ddoouubbllee!! EEvveenn tthhee vvoolluummee ooff tthhee pprroojjecctt. TThhee ggoooodd ppaarrtt iiss tthhaatt tthhee ddeeaaddlliinnee ddoouubblleess aass wweellll!!

                                  21 days later

                                  I must agree with music. Specifically, anything with lots of loud guitar,

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