Sometimes Dubstep. Sometimes Opeth (progressive/melodic death metal, probably not for everyone). But my real silver bullet is the Symbols album by KMFDM.
Edit: And when I need to chill out more and concentrate, Indian classical music, particularly tabla stuff since I like percussion, is fantastic. I've also recently found that Herbie Hancock had a similar effect, (an album where he sounds more like conventional jazz.)
Agreed on the classical. I really enjoy listening to Bela Fleck, and this NPR video has him (banjo), a bass fiddle player, and another playing with a Tabla. Highly recommended.
I'm a big fan of electronic music and used to DJ, so all kinds of electronica, dubstep, garage/2-step, a bit of house/electro/tech house, drum & bass, and recently a lot of techno. Pretty much anything fast with a steady beat.
I find techno to be good music for coding to because it is very subtle and has long build ups whilst maintaining a decent pace. I'm still new to techno but I'd recommend both the CLR.net and Drumcode.se podcasts, but get yourself a decent pair of headphones :)
Dubstep can be fantastic for coding but I prefer the darker more underground tunes as opposed to Skrillex and the poppy sound which gets played a lot recently. Keep an eye out for tunes by Mala, Kode9, SP:MC, Distance, Lynx, Skream, Loefah. I listen to Youngsta's shows on Rinse.FM which you can download from their site on Tuesday mornings GMT.
Also some downtempo/chilled stuff is good for more relaxed coding. I've enjoyed Emancipator's albums over the last couple of months and would recommend them to pretty much anyone.
To be honest, music often distracts me, but even distractions can be good sometimes. They get your mind off the issue at hand so you can work on things subconsciously. You might jump to a new issue and find the solution to the old one.
I listen to a large variety of music, but for programming, I normally listen to heavy metal and recently I have been listening to dubstep. It is my favorites of what I would normally listen to, though. I find it best to keep the playlist short, though. After hearing the same thing repeatedly, it becomes background noise and only pulls me out of focus periodically. Like I said, that can also be a good thing.
I actually have a pretty hard time coding without music, maybe I'm used to it. I usually listen to electronic but nothing too fast. Generally anything that is at the bob-your-head tempo. PhuturePrimitive (lately: Kinetik), Max Melvin, Eastern Sun, Sounds From The Ground. Oh, and sometimes I just _need_ to listen to Underworld, DubNobassWithMyHeadMan. If I don't want to think about putting creating a playlist or selecting an album, I'm listening to GrooveSalad on Somafm.com.
FWIW, my spotify username sanjayU. I would be interested in learning other HN spotify usernames, especially if you like downtempo/triphop/world/etc.
As silly as it sounds, dubstep and other fast-paced, energetic music. I find my pace of coding often matches my internal energy so that I start to slow down and get less done when listening to relaxing, meditative music.
The sort of Dubstep you often hear on Dubstep.fm I think is the ideal sort. It's usually not constantly blaring funny noises at you the way it is when you see it live (bro-step, you might say.) It is usually somewhat upbeat but laid back and groovy at the same time.
Even though I listen to slower/ambient music I can totally understand this. I used to crank up Way Out West and drink lots of caffeine...I would get an amazing amount of work done (at least relative to myself)
Super extreme metal. Messuggah, Vried, Vektor, stuff like that. Tech/prog death mainly. Have to start it a bit gentler in the morning, usually some old school doomer/stoner (St. Vitus, Slough Feg, Candlemass, etc)
Varies, but it's not much different that what I listen to when I'm not programming. My tastes bounce around from day to day, but I tend to classical (mostly chamber music), old metal (original Sabbath era), "classic" jazz (coltrane era), celtic, "old time" banjo, and recently dubstep (Skrillex).
Mostly though... nothing. When I listen to music, I really listen to it, so when I'm concentrating on coding, I usually have it as silent as I can make it.
Anything that I already know very well (and like, of course). What that is will depend on the day/mood.
The main thing is that I find I work better with music already known over silence or new music. My brain can kind of just go along with it without any extra work since the patterns are familiar and it seems to help thought flow.
There are times when I prefer no music though, if it's involved research or something I really need to think over or internally debate.
Dubstep, I listen to techno/dubstep/trace music because usually there are little to no words/lyrics which tend to distract me. Also I make sure to listen to LARGE playlists so that I rarely hear a repeat in the span of a few days which keeps my mind from memorizing the beats/music so I don't get caught up in the music I just let it play. Check out Rusko and Skrillex those are the top 2 I listen to when programming
I listen to pretty much anything on Pandora when I'm having trouble focusing or I'm not in a quiet place. Music with words doesn't bother me. I've been listening to holiday music lately. My favorite groups to listen to are Coldplay and The White Panda. (White Panda music is all free on their website. They make money from concerts.)
I mostly like to listen to electronic music while I code. The BBC's essential mix has served me well over the last ten years. BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra have some decent shows with no commercials.
Like some have said sometimes I need silence. Mostly on complex sections of code or when I need to think a lot.
[+] [-] orblivion|14 years ago|reply
Edit: And when I need to chill out more and concentrate, Indian classical music, particularly tabla stuff since I like percussion, is fantastic. I've also recently found that Herbie Hancock had a similar effect, (an album where he sounds more like conventional jazz.)
[+] [-] forsaken|14 years ago|reply
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1286522...
[+] [-] benwerd|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ohashi|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] perspective|14 years ago|reply
I find techno to be good music for coding to because it is very subtle and has long build ups whilst maintaining a decent pace. I'm still new to techno but I'd recommend both the CLR.net and Drumcode.se podcasts, but get yourself a decent pair of headphones :)
Dubstep can be fantastic for coding but I prefer the darker more underground tunes as opposed to Skrillex and the poppy sound which gets played a lot recently. Keep an eye out for tunes by Mala, Kode9, SP:MC, Distance, Lynx, Skream, Loefah. I listen to Youngsta's shows on Rinse.FM which you can download from their site on Tuesday mornings GMT.
Also some downtempo/chilled stuff is good for more relaxed coding. I've enjoyed Emancipator's albums over the last couple of months and would recommend them to pretty much anyone.
[+] [-] FreebytesSector|14 years ago|reply
I listen to a large variety of music, but for programming, I normally listen to heavy metal and recently I have been listening to dubstep. It is my favorites of what I would normally listen to, though. I find it best to keep the playlist short, though. After hearing the same thing repeatedly, it becomes background noise and only pulls me out of focus periodically. Like I said, that can also be a good thing.
[+] [-] SanjayUttam|14 years ago|reply
FWIW, my spotify username sanjayU. I would be interested in learning other HN spotify usernames, especially if you like downtempo/triphop/world/etc.
edit: Added phutureprimitive.
[+] [-] wkdown|14 years ago|reply
Haven't discovered how to give myself an actual name yet
[+] [-] JS_startup|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] orblivion|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SanjayUttam|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mattvot|14 years ago|reply
Makes me feel epic and I feel like I am fighting a war with code
[+] [-] CaseyStein|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] TylerE|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] daledavies|14 years ago|reply
Edit: I have a friend who listens to podcasts while he codes, I really couldn't do that!!
[+] [-] michaelcampbell|14 years ago|reply
Mostly though... nothing. When I listen to music, I really listen to it, so when I'm concentrating on coding, I usually have it as silent as I can make it.
[+] [-] msbmsb|14 years ago|reply
The main thing is that I find I work better with music already known over silence or new music. My brain can kind of just go along with it without any extra work since the patterns are familiar and it seems to help thought flow.
There are times when I prefer no music though, if it's involved research or something I really need to think over or internally debate.
[+] [-] joshstrange|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cuu508|14 years ago|reply
A Soundtrack For Coding spotify:user:joannabutler:playlist:5DWd75wM11HGHF2rBgikAQ
Coding music spotify:user:vesanieminen:playlist:2BJneVq6neamXAi7MfYtZJ
Perfect for Coding spotify:user:tbibb:playlist:0gaXIS4Ucs3G6YNBJ8m29b
Coding Paradise spotify:user:scottix2:playlist:62oWivdtZmmTdMdUFh7ALt
For me, anything works that I'd normally listen to, but trance really gets me immersed and focused.
[+] [-] wkdown|14 years ago|reply
spotify:user:122311263:playlist:3Fh1B8D32GUrshQhuQdJVf
[+] [-] miles_matthias|14 years ago|reply
TV is too distracting for me oddly enough.
[+] [-] greenie|14 years ago|reply
Here's my Spotify playlist for coding: http://open.spotify.com/user/gr33nie/playlist/5Yamm2Pj3ZNywr...
[+] [-] sreitshamer|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wenbert|14 years ago|reply
In a noisy environment (coffeeshop, etc.), I listen to Nightwish or Tool with my cheap earphones.
Also, once in a while I pop in the Diablo II soundtracks.
[+] [-] solidgumby|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cadooo|14 years ago|reply
Like some have said sometimes I need silence. Mostly on complex sections of code or when I need to think a lot.
[+] [-] bprieto|14 years ago|reply
It's a mix of progressive rock from the seventies (Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson, Mike Oldfield) and new age (Enya, Madredeus)
I'm afraid it shows my age...