Ultimate Software Developer Setup? 757
wicked coding asks: "I'm a professional software engineer and I'm planning on building my ultimate setup for longer hours coding and hacking, but I'm kinda stuck when it comes with what to choose. What hardware would you choose to use, if money was no object? Obviously there may be some constraints on space. Leave no stone unturned, I'm looking for suggestions on desks, seating, lighting, keyboard and pointing device, monitors and even the computer system itself. Ideally it needs to be as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. What software would you choose to use, if the intended targets were Java and OO PHP5? Currently I'm using Eclipse on Gentoo. Is there a more suitable IDE that works with most popular OSS (and not so OSS) languages including XML, SQL, CSS, PHP, Perl, Java, and C/C++?"
IDE (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:1, Interesting)
Most code I figure out in my head and usually while taking a shower for some reason.
And here you go. (Score:5, Interesting)
Power Generation: This Honda Generator [hondapowerequipment.com] for reliability and gas efficiency, 20hrs of code at a time. (note: after viewing the power consumption of this solution, you may require a second generation unit or higher model number)
Computers: 2 Mac Mini's - one for compile runing Gentoo, the other dual boot Red Hat / Os X... Cluttering up your beach space is simply unacceptable.
Second Computer set: some low power-drain and Form Factored PIV for testing that 'old and busted' windows crud people occasionally run
Display: 2x The DLA-QX1g [jvc.com] - Why do monitors (old and busted) when you can have the new hotness of a projection screen with 1365x1024 resolution. It's a no brainer. Remember to get a widescreen lens for the projector, and an active screen to go with as well - these things are going to need to produce a LOT of lumens to compete with the sun.
A 4 port KVM switch
Input: Microsoft Natural keyboard w/ mouse, wireless versions. Gonna have to be both, although you might want a trackball that works in midair.... MS is still pretty much the best at putting together an awesome and non-stress creating keyboard / mouse combo. Alternatively, you could combine keyboard and chair I guess. [kinesis-ergo.com] That would mean, with the screen and the KVS switching hotkeys, etc, you wouldn't NEED a desk, although you might want a second screen and projector for a computer to be used as a notepad hooked up to one of the keyboard inputs on the KVM but not the video. Note: Sand might get into your chair, I'd be down with a yoga mat or chaise lounge, and the wireless keyboard.
Re:IDE (Score:3, Interesting)
Since most of my programming is in C++ and Intel Assembly language, I can't help the "professional sofware engineer" who posed the question. I imagine if I were an XML "programmer" as he indicated (whatever that is!), I'd want something that shows XML tag mismatches. GVIM tries, but I suspect emacs would do a better job.
I'm happy with what I have.. (Score:3, Interesting)
15" G4 Powerbook. Portability is a factor for me, so I need something I can take with me
24" Dell Widescreen LCD.
Kensington Expertmouse (trackball)
Micro$oft Natural Elite Keyboard (the curved one)
This setup works for me, but I understand it's not ideal for everybody.
-s
what are you currently using? (Score:5, Interesting)
Some obvious things that come to mind:
(1) For programming, it's especially nice to be able to have at least two editing windows open side by side. The Dell 2005FP is great for this -- I've owned mine for about half a year, and still marvel at it. I have trouble using smaller monitors now.
(2) Editors are really a religious preference. Emacs isn't perfect, and there are a lot of things you can find wrong with it, but personally it's still the best editor out there. I've tried using the newer graphical editors, but in the end I always go back. The languages you suggested are probably going to be supported by most editors. However, just because the editor supports a language, doesn't mean it won't support it well. There are some very small things that many editors get wrong (especially with C++, I've found), which is one of the reasons I've stuck with emacs for so long.
(3) Mice is yet another religious preference. Personally, my favourite mice continue to be Microsoft's Explorers. I recently bought the cheaper Logitech version, and still wishing I didn't just pay more money. If only M$ could stick with the HW business...
(4) I've tried a plethora of keyboards. The flat no-nonsense keyboard ended up being my favourite. I tried one of the ergonomic weird shape keyboards for about a week, and maybe I was doing something wrong, but it started to hurt my wrists (never had that problem before). Even if I was somehow typing wrong, in the end, you really should just use what works for you. While you might find someone raving about some new product etc., it just might not work for how you operate.
Your best approach is to try to slowly fade new things in. I suspect if you take someone's advice and get a bunch of random 'highly rate' applicances, you will be unhappy in the end.
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:2, Interesting)
1) a really comfortable chair. Don't care what brand but something that'll be nice to sit on for an extended period of time.
2) an L-shaped table for the convenient amount of accesible room it gives.
3) a big enough LCD monitor to look at code in.
4) decent ambient lighting
5) a nearby reference bookshelf with all the o'reily stuff on whatever languages you're interested in.
6) enough desk space to doodle/plan/etc. with that paper and pencil thing you suggested.
7) isolation from any other distractions -- no gaming rigs, consoles, etc.
8) an exception to 7. You gotta make room for tunes if you're into coding with background music on.
9) enough space around the desk to walk around in. On occasion, I pace around and talk to myself when I'm thinking things through.
10) stress ball
Ok, so I'm not an everyday coder nor do I play one on TV...but if I had to build the ultimate coding rig, I would've kept those things in mind.
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:5, Interesting)
On large projects, I'd take my laptop to a classroom. Almost every important function was written in pseudocode on a chalkboard before I programmed it in C. My laptop bag was full of scratch paper with algorithm notes, ERDs, etc.
Even now at work, I don't have a chalkboard at my disposal (sigh), but my desk is an explosion of paper. I am regularly stopping by the recycle bins so I can grab some paper with a blank side, or to return some paper that is now covered on both sides.
An ounce of ink is worth a pound of keystrokes. =)
Re:Coupla Peripherals (Score:3, Interesting)
Visual Studio 2005 (Score:4, Interesting)
It also contains the best XML editor I've ever used (Earlier this year I was working on an XML-heavy project, so I tried about 10 different ones).
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:2, Interesting)
To be fair he's asking for the "ultimate setup" to further his professional career, not asking for "the ultimate code" to make him a professional.
And not all of us grew up being comfortable with the pencil and paper approach y'know.
Sometimes in functional programing and rapid prototyping a person will want to think in typed code instead of the "plan plan plan and plan and then face the buys" approach, y'know.
besides, if you're going to be helpful at least name some pencils you personally found to be helpful for writing and paper that doesn't smell or smear or get lost.
I'm anything but a hardware girl, so I will add this to parent's advice: A pen or pencil that you are comfortable with paired with a notebook where pages are all bound together is good. Get something with lines as it sometimes encourages non-slanty and non-slacky writing you can't read anymore 3 days later.
Books (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:3, Interesting)
FWIW, I care mostly about lighting and airflow. I have two blinds on my window so I can open it in the morning, close it in the early afternoon and lower shades over the blinds when the low hanging sun shines directly into the window. I have a fan positioned outside the room with a remote so I can turn it up or down without having to walk back and forth trying to get the breeze just right.
Incidently, to address Mr. Cabri's comment, I don't use a pile of paper or pencils - I use strictly black pen and journals without the ability to tear anything out. Old habits from my college days. Everything is recorded and documented. I currently use Moleskine, although my fiance, a research chemist, uses Miquelrius. I'm amused that Moleskine seems to have become quite chic of late, which does make it easier to find them.
--
Evan
Intellij Idea (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:IDE (PHP) (Score:2, Interesting)
I used to be a big fan of Notepad++, but this really helps me reduce my programming time by leveraging intellisense as well as database connectivity right in the package. They have a Beta out of their newest version that you might want to download to try.
Re:Big-ass whiteboard (Score:2, Interesting)
I actually got this idea from someone who used to take polaroids of the whiteboard sessions.
2/3 monitors, NO DESK (Score:3, Interesting)
I am planning on using a this strange setup:
2 monitor (later 3) setup mounted on a turnable pipe construction so they can "hang in front of me.
NO DESK. Instead of that one (or two) PC(s) will serve as a tiny desk next to me for gadgets (camera/pda/ipod/cellphone/etc).
The pc(s) will rest on the base that holds a retractable keyboard holder and my trackball. That's right, if you have a trackball you can save a lot of space (besides my pain in my wrist is gone since i use a trackball - I have to leave my wrist for plating paintball and riding offroad to develop my carpel tunnel while having fun.
I will be using a big TV seat with a footrest (not a lazyboy but one with a high seatback, adjustable so I can hold myself (healthier) or lay back (comfortable, when just "spacing out" or surfing/gaming.
Now the PC setup:
One linux PC that does all the network things with one, later 2 monitors, and one windows PC for testing this and that and using some win-only gadgets (like my heart rate monitor, and whatever else)
If you need a multi OS setup I recommend using x2vnc and a vnc server to connect your UN*X setup to windoz... So 1 keyboard 1 mouse/trackball for up to +4 other machines (north south west east)
As for software: you know what you need, i use gnome, a text editor and a browser to work.. but I mostly deal with web/database so i do not need fancy IDE tools.
Notes: have the monitors hanging gives you the opportunity to see below/over (as a projection screen and a TV will be in front of me as well....
also the deskless setup gives you the chance to showe the keyboard and grab a ps2/xbox controller and in case my projector/TV is used by my wife (occupied by channel-e, fashion tv or else (sorry babe)) i can still connect the consoles/DVd player to my monitors using a chep $40 tv tuner card (anyone knows something with COMPONENT input cheap?)
Also you can use a laptop or diskless quiet PC to have net all the time and sit there in case you really need a pc when watching TV (i often have the urge to make a search on stuff i see - imdb what is that song, or url in the news/commercial/ etc)
Ok that got long so just one more thing:
that setup is to save space and not occupy a full room with pcs and desks..
we have a tiny house and i like to sit in the surround spot and in front of the screen whenever possible if i have to sit... aslo for me it is important to have a TV on when working
If a TV and music + space saving is your goal, you might have some useful thoughts... otherwise just put me in your "freaks tab"
cheers
You may know less than you think (Score:1, Interesting)
I was cursed with fairly severe carpal tunnel syndrome until I made a posting on Slashdot about it. An anonymous coward referred me to Google "doctor sarno" and "tms". After reading Dr. Sarno's book, my carpal tunnel syndrome was gone in about a week and a half, never to have returned.
Surgery will fix the symptom, but not the root problem. Now I work, live and play without a thought to ergonomic nonsense and have no fear of backpain or wrist pain.
Re:Screen, Keyboard and Arse (Score:3, Interesting)
and it really makes CLICKITICLICK sound and is undistructible
the problem comes when you have wide shoulders, then non ergo keyboards are not good
I personally work on a non-ergo but i figured that my arms are so angled to the keyboard, i have trouble blind-typing so i will try an ergo like MS (hate the software, but their hardware seems to be good quality - except the cheaply made xbox and periferials)
Ergo Desk, Keyboard, 1.5TB NAS (Score:5, Interesting)
I have two monitors these days because I'm waiting for my CRT to blow up, so I bought a Samsung 213T before it does (great 21.3" LCD, if you're looking, by the way). It's a pivotable 1600x1200, and I nearly always use it pivoted 90 degrees 1200x1600 for longer pages. About the only time I switch to landscape position is when I'm editing a horizontal photo in Photoshop.
When my CRT does go out, I think I'm going to be stuck. I'm so used to having two monitors I'll have to run out and buy another 213T (or whatever the best deal on LCDs is at the time).Of course I recommend an Aeron chair and a convertible workstation-type desk. this is the type of workstation that has a raising/lowering/tilting keyboard tray and another paddle that raises/lowers the entire desktop. This allows you to move from sitting to standing position in a second...very important for keeping those wrists, back, and neck from repetitive motion injury. Get an ergonomic keyboard and a click-wheel mouse with side buttons--this minimizes moving back and forth from keyboard to mouse.
I'd also take a look at various accessibility options. There are footpedal typing aids--why not engage those for a whole body coding experience? Gloves that behave like a keyboard and a mouse, trigger style mice, etc. I'd invest in a couple of different input options just to mix it up every now and then.
Set up the room with all windows blocking light securely and all lights inside the room should be indirect only, and places way to the side of your monitors so as to to minimize glare. Calibrate your monitors so that you don't have overly contrasty or bright images in front of your eyes all day, and take frequent breaks every 15 mins to half an hour.
Seems to me like disk space is getting to be more and more of a hassle these days--nip this in the bud since you have an unlimited budget by getting one of those 1.5TB network-attached storage modules they sell (I've seen them for digital photographers). They have internal RAID and support 1Gb Ethernet, which means you'll need a 1Gb switch and card in all the boxes on your home LAN. (Get fiber if you can, but now we're talking real money, I think.) Since I haven't played with NAS I'm not sure what you can do with them, but I have no reason to think you couldn't set up the RAIDing internally whatever way you wanted--I would personally go with RAID-6, some kind of LVM configuration on top of that, and the latest ReiserFS for my source control partition (lots of small text files). As it would be a while until I used half that space, it would be cool if I could mirror the entire setup internally--that way, when I wanted to completely restructure my disk space, I could just break the mirror, do a complete format of half of it, rejigger it around, copy stuff over from the half-mirror, destroy that and re-mirror. (0.75TB should be enough for anybody. What!?)
That's about all I can come up with for now...should be a pretty good start.
You need to take care of your Zen (Score:2, Interesting)
and it is good to keep your field of vision as clear as possible. You want to reduce distractions and keep the mood light and serene.
I put in laminate wood flooring (easier to clean) with a light coloured massive L-shaped laminate desk with hutch, and real wooden horizontal blinds (all similarly light woods)
The desk lets me hide a couple of workstations in it (out of sight, out of mind - and less noise too) and lets me hold a massive glass monitor (FP1370) on the desk, with an alternate flat panel monitor on the library return. The Belkin KVM, powerbar and all wiring are all hidden underneath.
The old soapbar style MS mouse (with gel pad and mouse bungee) tucks away with the keyboard under the desk on a sliding shelf/tray.
The Klipsch satellite speakers are hidden away in various spaces and an electric coffee warmer pad, a phone, a webcam and a microphone is on the desk.
The 4x6 whiteboard is on the back wall so I have to swivel my mesh backed ergonomic chair to see it. The floor is protected with a clear mat against the chair's plastic casters.
Visitors seat themselves in a drafting chair (the kibitzing seat) just high enough to have difficulty reaching for the keyboard or my mouse. After all, a computer is more personal than underwear (no touching allowed).
The source control repository, database, NAS (get a big ATA one), firewall/router, LAN switch and web servers are all hidden away downstairs in the basement at a secondary L-shaped desk. I normally leave tbe repository and database servers off, but I can remote boot and VNC into them as needed. Any other funky hardware, old software, or odd parts need to hide in the basement office/server room too.
For software, I use Subversion for a repository, ANT for build scripts (regardless of programming target), and CodeWright for an editor (no longer commercially available - get SlickEdit instead). If I have to use an IDE, I use Eclipse, but usually it is more trouble than its worth. Hopefully it will be good enough someday soon.
For hardware, see the ARS system guide.
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/system-guide-
Get the God box for your primary workstation.
The secondary workstation should have removable drives so you can boot multiple OSes (screw bootloaders) and swap drives around.
All workstations and servers should be dual CPU.
Web servers should be as low power as possible.
Repository and database servers should have RAID for their storage drives (back them up to the NAS) Database server should have SCSI drives and at least 2GB RAM. All other boxes are OK with ATA or SATA drives and at least 1GB RAM.
Make sure you have one of those DVD/CD multiformat burner thingies (to cut releases), and a jump drive (to carry demo/test software around)
If you are serious about software, you will also have plenty of books and quite a few binders. Either get a separate room for them (a study) or put bookcases in the basement, or both (I had to do both) Disk media need to be stored in binders, towers or whatever, but keep a ready rack in your primary office (it's part of my desk hutch)
Re:Paper and pencil (Score:3, Interesting)
Still remember the poor guy that dropped his card deck on the floor during finals week. Never did find out if he found all his cards and got them sorted in time.
At one job I bought my own small white board since they would not get one for me.
As to the news article question: a good chair, lots of bookcase space for your technical books, several work surfaces (desk tops), at least one large white board. As far as hardware goes you will want at least two systems. One you write your code on and one you can test it on. The test box is the one you will be able to re-image easily. The work system is where you have subversion or cvs setup along with a good backup system (DVDs are pretty good but you may need a good tape drive system depending on how much code you write.)
You can use a KVM switch for the two systems but you may want to use separate monitors so you can run the program and switch back to your work system while the code runs.
Of course the coolest system would be the one from the movie Swordfish, but you would want to be able to arrange the monitors differently.
Re:Screen, Keyboard and Arse (Score:2, Interesting)
Considering all the special symbols we programmers use, I'd want a keyboard with separate keys for all the symbols (no more using shift so much). I wouldn't mind a larger keyboard and a little learning curve.
However, I have no idea if you can work it so the '@' key sends the 'shift' and '2' signals.
Also, could we remove some of the extraneous keys?
* scroll lock (not used anymore)
* 'menu' key (looks like a cursor selecting from a menu, brings up the right-click menu in win32)
* num lock (since this thing should have separate arrow keys, numlock should always be on)
* pause/break (what's it do anyway?)
And of course, switch the position of the control keys so keyboard shortsuts are easier.
Just my $0.02
Whiteboard (Score:5, Interesting)
I've looked so many times for a nice computer package for doing that but I pretty much always go to the whiteboard - I can stand, I can pace, I can step back, I can use my fingers to rub out.
A digital camera is handy when working with a whiteboard - that you can take a photo, save it and print it out for later. I have seen some whiteboard type things that have markers (and eraser) that can be tracked and imported straight to the computer, but I know that when I've got thoughts happening I don't want to have to interrupt and remind myself that using my finger to rub something out isn't replicated to the 'puter.
Big sheets of paper can work, a premanent record to go back to (very handy if you suddenly realise that your new brainwave is a f$#% up), but it is hard to rub out stuff and when starting from scratch on a new sheet with some old info some thoughts can be lost.
A chalkboard/blackboard can do the same thing, but you want to keep the dust away from the insides of the monitors, system units etc.
Besides there is the added bonus that if you get the right markers you end up nice and relaxed while you are working
Also plenty of fresh air and a bit of pacing room for when you need to think things through a bit more.
Vertical screen space (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Ergo Desk, Keyboard, 1.5TB NAS (Score:5, Interesting)
Yea, well
Want to get some serious hacking done, get a nice RAIC going. Anybody that has been following my journal for any length of time knows about the RAIC - redundant array of inexpensive computers. Get four nicely configured (2.8GHz Hyperthreaded CPUs, 2G RAM, decent hard drives, GigE switch tying them all together) coming through a four port KVM to one nice 20" LCD (or better.) One of the four machines with a monster hard drive array as the file server, the rest with various development environments.
Got a compile happening that takes half an hour? Let it run and hotkey to another machine.
Doing client server or web development and you want to test it with Linux and Windows clients? Multiple machines make that happen.
Four thousand lost clusters after an improper shutdown? No problem since you back your stuff up to the file-server over GigE on a regular basis.
Debugging a full screen application and want to Google for some insight? Hot-key over and use the browser from another machine.
Need to spend 20 minutes doing virus scan or MS patching or rebooting because today is Wednesday? Now that can be productive time since you can hotkey over to another box and get back to work.
Want to experiment with Oracle 10g but you are concerned that it will cause problems with your development environment? No worries, one of the four machines is Ghosted so you can throw all sorts of crap on it, play with it and blow it away a few days later without worrying about your 'real' dev environment.
Multiple monitors is cool, yea - but the freedom you get by having multiple machines is quite a bit more powerful.
Bullshit (Score:1, Interesting)
Now, I was told I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and it turned out to just be something more like Tennis Elbow, so I'm a good example of what Dr. Sarno is saying. It's easy to think that any minor pain might be a permanent thing, worry at it, and prolong it. My problems were just a straightforward muscular injury, nothing insidious.
That doesn't mean that it isn't possible to damage your nerves by wearing through the myelin sheath or tightening the fascia around them too much. To suggest that nerves never get damaged by wear is prima facie ridiculous. It's not like they're sheathed in Kevlar.
Dr. Sarno gets a lot of respect because telling the people who are faking it that the syndromes are fake solves their problem. So does a faith preacher telling a hypochondriac that God has healed them.
Hand surgeons are not quacks. They test very carefully before they do surgery to verify the nerve damage in an objective way. The surgery helps the genuine cases. They can't *afford* to just start cutting into the hand of someone who doesn't have a well-documented nerve degradation because hand surgery is dangerous. If the surgery permanently numbs the hand, as it sometimes does, there's a malpractice suit waiting in the wings.
The hypochondriacs are generally turned down for surgery and spend the next five years complaining about how western medicine is a crock, then try acupuncture and bore everyone about how that helped. Or they find a Dr. Sarno.
Re:Ergo Desk, Keyboard, 1.5TB NAS (Score:5, Interesting)
As for several PCs, I find 3 is sufficient for me (although more isn't necessarily a bad thing):
1) main development PC: the one you do most of your work at. The fastest of all 3, enough RAM for using VMWare and heavier apps at the same time (DBs, IDEs, office suite, etc).
2) server (will never have enough HD space): to backup your code, documents and everything like that. Also as a CVS server (or prefered versionning system). Also used as FTP/web server to the "outside world" (for showing projects and neat things to clients, friends, etc). Everything else (remoting in) goes over a VPN (SSH/IPSec or whatever). DB server. Network shares. (mine also does NAT/FW/VPN duties)
3) "junk" PC: play music. Surf web (webmail, articles, code snippets, slashdot, etc). Burn CDs/DVDs. IM. Download odd stuff (drivers, updates, anything really). That's the one PC that gets loaded with all the extra "junk" and does all the miscellaneous tasks (non-development). No important data is kept on it, ready to be reghosted when it's too much of a mess. The whole purpose of it is keeping that mess away from your production PCs.
A good keyboard (I like buckling spring ones, maltrons seem nice) and mouse (or trackball or both) is always a worthwhile investment, especially since it will be shared across all PCs. RSI sucks.
And all the other stuff: dependable network switch (I don't need GbE, but I need something that does work - not a 20$ router). Big enough desk (place for drink and snacks, some paperwork, phone, etc) anf of proper height, a decent chair, good phone (5.8GHz wireless works well even if you got WiFi), some storage (shelving perhaps), and a bunch of odds and ends like coffee cup warmer plate and coffee machine (or water dispenser),
Anyways, that setup works quite nicely for me (and it'll get even more use now that I'm going back to university).
Flexibility (Score:3, Interesting)
I started coding hard and heavy in early 2000, giving up a life as the owner of a small computer shop to pursue the much-more-rewarding role of software engineer.
Within a few months, I ran into the dreaded carpal tunnel issue - wrists that were sore and painful by mid-day, everyday. If I carefully positioned my wrists with rests, and adjusted my chair just so, I was good, but it was very hard to sit just so everyday, all day.
I bought a Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard, and was shocked at the difference it made. Immediate pain elimination. I could sit more/less however I wanted to.
About 2 years ago, I bought a Dell Inspiron laptop, and quickly had it set up at "the desk" with the large monitor (configured to do dual screen) ergo keyboard, etc.
But, then a few strange things happened.
1) I discovered that laptops let you sit anywhere you like.
2) I discovered that laptops let you move and flex.
I program at home, as in independent. I sit in the yard, I sit on the couch, I lay on my bed, whatever suits my fancy.
Today, I put in >12 hour day, but I spent part of it on the couch, part curled up in my papason chair, and part on the back porch deck watching my children swim in the pool.
And, with all these different angles and seating positions, my wrists just don't get sore. It'd still be nice to have dual-monitors, but KDE's virtual desktop + VERY tiny fonts does well enough, that the ergo keyboard and 20" monitor almost always sit, unused.
And, my quality of life has shot out through the roof, even as my young business grows rapidly!
Re:3 monitors (Score:2, Interesting)
I've got a great couch- an overstuffed leather thing I got secondhand from a rich friend. I would love to code from it in a dark room with my code big as god on the wall. It's nice to lay however u like, but how to situate the keyboard?
I'm gonna get one of those DECK keyboards soon. They're superdurable, smooth, longlasting and have bold illuminated characters on the keys (I like to code in mood light). It looks like the greatest keyboard in the world to me.
I'm broke as a poke eternally and projectors and giant LCDs are out of my range but I'm feeling really good since I got rid of my 19 inch CRT. Those things are bad news- They're terrible on the eyes and the RAYS! I think they make ur hair fall out. Don't let anybody tell u different.
It's small but I'm feeling pretty fat with my new Likom 15 inch LCD. I dig it alot. I feel better with it.
So anyway, pricy gizmos aside, here's what I find to be of benefit:
1) Eclipse.
2) I always get my basic design straight in my head more or less before putting down alot of code and when I'm mentally noodling I occasionally like to strum a UKULELE. It's nice.
3) Marijuana can help crack u out of ur rigid perspective. It's helped me break out of some designs I got stuck on and see vastly better ways. I don't recommend actually laying down code while u are high tho- draw on something instead and code tomorrow.
4) A big white board.
5) Spiral-bound notebooks and ballpoint pens and big artists sketchbooks (unless u can afford one of those tablet computers I guess).
TextMate (OS X) is a very nice IDE (Score:3, Interesting)
If you don't mind switching to OS X (might be a good idea for an ultimate setup anyway), you should try out TextMate [macromates.com]. It's a very nice editor, that's extremely extensible and has snippets, macros and commands for almost all mainstream languages.
Have a look at this screencast [macromates.com] to see what it can do.
It is payware, but it's a measly EUR 39 and it's worth every eurocent. Plus, it may not be open-source, but it does utilise a lot of open standards.
Re:Ergo Desk, Keyboard, 1.5TB NAS (Score:3, Interesting)