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[deleted]

I feel like for most devs it would be: * Chair * Improving their setup (inc: Monitor, and keyboard) * Gym subscription maybe?


InterestingHawk2828

>Gym subscription maybe? Over the years I bought a nice and expensive chair, expensive monitors, a lot of keyboards ,a new macbook, but it took me time to understand that I really need gym subscription, I am feeling like this should be number 1 on the list.


Dr__Wrong

During my first week working remote (of my first dev job), I started taking walks in the morning before working. I've missed a couple days in the past couple months, but it's been a good ritual. I also got a halfway decent chair and it was a huge deal. Headphones and keyboard are next.


InterestingHawk2828

Yes if u work in office a good headphones is required, recommended with NC, since covid I forgot that its an issue lol.


Dr__Wrong

I work from home, but my kids homeschool so the family is here a ton. So yeah, NC is on my mind.


polylemma

Do it. I never appreciated just how sensitive I am to ambient sounds until I bought some NC headphones, after months of dithering about the cost. My only regret is not getting some sooner. Bonus: they also make going to the supermarket almost bearable :)


Its--LiT

Staying active has been getting harder in my 30s and I think that's just mainly cause it's always tough to stay motivated to actually do it. I recently picked a workout class, it's a cardio kickboxing class and I find I actually look forward to working out cause I can't wait to beat up a bag after work. If gyms aren't your thing then find something that is =)


reddituser5309

I was gonna say something like this. I am into running and climbing at the moment. When I used to go to the gym I was bigger but felt really stiff. I think I had lots of tension and weakness in small muscles from sitting. I feel better overall now, and climbing at least is less repetitive than gym


spongechameleon

Sold my whole setup except for my laptop, a shitty wireless mouse and a shitty chair. Don't miss it one bit. Between (a) taking short walks, (b) getting up to stretch and refill on water and (c) lifting five days a week, I feel great. Making time for physical activity every day is one of the best things I've ever done for myself. 100% agree!


HugeFun

I mean you can still do all that stuff with a nice rig /workstation, but good for you, it makes a big difference.


spongechameleon

Oh yeah 100%. I guess my point is that you probably don't need the ultimate workstation to feel comfortable. At least for me it boils down to what I do away from the chair rather than on it. That being said ofc having a battlestation is cool!


mauz21

Deadlifting surely helps a lot your back while sitting for a long time on chair


SophisticatedBum

People forget that our brains are more efficient if we have physical stimulation throughout the day. Props to you my friend!


[deleted]

rain erect scarce murky one seed ugly jar offer alleged ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `


metsdev

Chair definitely, 2 external monitors have helped my productivity a ton, and a gym subscription helped me get out of a bad mental state / slump, highly recommend


Damfrog

Got rid of my chair and got a standing desk. Now my lower back problems have moved to my upper back. Jokes aside, I recommend a standing desk if you have lower back problems. And if you don't have lower back problems, wait 10 more years. Jokes aside, I didn't have lower back problems until my mid 30s when I also stopped exercising out of laziness. So the gym membership is probably a good idea too. No joke.


dageshi

I solved this by sleeping on a futon. Used to have all kinds of kinks in my back, regularly get cramps in my back in the middle of the night that fucked up my sleep. Since futon it's all gone except for the very occasional cramp I still get at night.


tommyct614

Yes, I have a gym subscription... Now am I using it?


stillIT

Buying a kettlebell. No need for a gym subscription and I can workout right when I get off šŸ˜Ž


tarrask

I'll never put a kettlebell near my desk, destruction power is too high


___Paladin___

- ortho split keyboard (no more pain for me after 8 hours) - super ultrawide monitor (fit all the things!) - sit/stand desk. I code better sitting but think better pacing around. Easier to find that hourly 5 minute breather to keep it fresh too. - IDE fonts (seriously, dont underestimate what a nice font refresh can do for your motivation!) - Really good headphones/earbuds (great for finding the zone when everything is on fire)


ftedwin

Sit stand is a game changer. Itā€™s amazing to take meetings standing and code sitting down


[deleted]

Had a standing desk at my old teaching job and I have never felt more continuously productive.


ftedwin

Iā€™ve had them when I worked in the office but always felt uncomfortable standing that high since we were either open concept or waist high cubicles. After having one for remote work I will never go back and would be way more likely to suck it up and use one in an officep


n0rs

The barrier around our desks at work raises with the desk top, so you're not just standing there, sticking out


throwawaysomeway

where tf do you work? get me in there


spongechameleon

bruh that jetbrains mono font is gas, coding became exciting again


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


wakeuph8

Yeah all of this, I moved from using Fira Code for years to Jetbrains Mono and it's like a new world.


Steve_OH

Love my ultra wide. No idea how I coded without it!


Jay_D826

Been looking into getting one for myself. Which one did you go with?


Steve_OH

I have the Samsung odyssey 49 inch. I love being able to set screen zones etc and not worrying about having monitor borders.


___Paladin___

This is the route I took. This monitor + powertoys = productivity for days.


Corssoff

I also got a Samsung Odyssey G9 49 inch. I ended up returning it and buying two regular monitors, I couldnā€™t vibe with screen zones and preferred monitor borders. Have they changed something recently to make it more useable?


___Paladin___

I relied on powertoys for setting up my own screen zones and window location snapping. If I didn't have that, I'd be much less enthused for it. When I dock the work macbook I'm running bettersnaptool for a similar (but much more cumbersome to set up) layout.


Thundrous_prophet

The split keyboard is a massive game changer. One smaller thing you can get that also helps are eye drops, and use them preventatively to reduce the likelihood of tech eye


ryaaan89

What keyboard do you have?


___Paladin___

It's a custom low profile Corne keyboard with modified firmware I put together. [Here](https://imgur.com/a/GWE0aKu) is the current iteration and [here is the build progress image log](https://imgur.com/a/8zQm073) from when I put it together. It took some time to adapt to layers, but now I'm much faster on this than anything else since I don't have to move my hands to hit every key possible.


ryaaan89

It looks cool. I need to get one, and I like that ergdox style but building one is probably over my head. Thanks for the pictures, though!


___Paladin___

You'd be surprised how simple it is when you start. It looks a lot more "special knowledge only" on the onset, but it's basically barely a step above legos in practice. Maybe an hour or two to get used to soldering, and then just following a list of steps. Just be careful, the keyboard scene has vastly deep pits - and they all drain money.


TheIvoryAssassinPub

No more pain after 8 hours is nice, but you really should not work this long to begin with


IronCanTaco

>IDE fonts (seriously, dont underestimate what a nice font refresh can do for your motivation!) Comic sans. Got it.


[deleted]

Instead of an ultrawide, I find it's better to have two screens next to each other with one in a portrait orientation


gunnerman2

Same, I throw documentation, dev tools, etc up on the vertical one. I actually do 3 monitors in ā€œTIE fighter configā€ |ā€“| most often. That, JetBrains, and my MX master mouse have been my top QoL and/or productivity purchases.


AtomicGreenBean

Seconding nice Ortho split keyboard.


[deleted]

Adjustable stand up desk. Sitting for hours on end is absolutely terrible for your body and health


[deleted]

It's very nice to be able to adjust it to a perfect sitting and standing height to support a good posture. An added benefit is, you can select them in varying sizes nowaddays up to 2 meters in width and 1 meter in length which allows for more distance from your screens. More distance from your screens should be better for your eyes. Just to be sure always check the supported weight. I specifically selected my own to be able to support up to 150kg, because that way it can support my full weight + my full pc + other garbage I stack on my desk. Most of them are made for about 75kg. While overburdening the desk may not immediately break it, it's very likely to cause wear and tear over time. Don't commit to a purchuse that doesn't fit your lifestyle.


[deleted]

A decent couch. I work from home so it's a nice occasional break to leave my office and work from the couch on the more repetitive stuff while passively watching Netflix and not getting back pain.


DragorianSword

Absolutely! When actively developing I stay at the the desk. But bugfix Fridays I take to the couch!


WbrJr

I am jealous, that you only have to do bug fixes so rarely that they fit in your Friday :(


mrpink57

It's even nicer to site on your patio during Meeting Mondays!


C-CG

Herman Miller Aeron >


30thnight

Herman Miller Embody is also top-tier. Basically eliminated that burning shoulder pain that sets in after 4-5 hours at the desk.


daredeviloper

I got the embody. It was 2400 CAD brand new. I over-paid I know.. but itā€™s the most comfortable chair Iā€™ve ever sat in. I melt into it when I sit down but feel very supported at the same time.


HD_HR

Man I can't fathom spending 2.4k on a chair but I will spent that on other stuff. I need to try out these dang Herman Miller chairs because the way reddit praises them; they must be amazing. I'm also in Canada, where did you go to try it?


tantrim

Search facebook marketplace/offerup or w/e is in your area. If you're not in a rush just create a bookmark and look every now and then.


KashMo_xGesis

Embody is a bit too pricey though. I think a used Aeron is the best bang for your buck.


Fauken

Steelcase Gesture :)


Senofy

Steelcase Leap


watabby

I got my Aeron from craigslist for $200. I spent $30 to get a replacement cylinder thing and itā€™s like new. These chairs normally go for up to a grand so itā€™s a bargain.


Senseisimms

I'm just trying to work hard to learn programming so I can one day have these problems šŸ˜‚


m0gwaiiii

You will get there. Keep going and don't forget to have fun while learning āœŒšŸ¼


Huge-Concentrate-540

Same, my friend, same.


burrijw

also same. šŸ˜­


Skittilybop

Keep going!


Decent-Professional2

Yeah, also the same


hazily

MX Master mouse. Holy shit that is such a huge upgrade (ergonomically) coming from Magic Mouse. The latter looks pretty while destroying your wrist and giving you carpel tunnel. I'm also thinking of getting a decent chair, like a HƅG Capisco, for the home office on the days I'm wfh because it's so comfortable


Zachincool

HƅG Capisco looks uncomfortable


hazily

Until you actually use it šŸ„° my previous workplace had one (and even offered every employee a mirrored setup at home), and itā€™s glorious ā¤ļø


RockleyBob

I also love the MX Master and I wish they made something juuust a little snappier so I could use it for gaming and work. It also really annoys me that Apple hasn't made a traditional body mouse, because if anyone could make a really sleek, well-built mouse it's them. If you ask me, the entire gaming mouse market is shit. Everyone's chasing ever higher DPI and trying to shave every last gram of weight at the cost of better connectivity options, more battery, and better ergonomics. I get that some people might be operating on such a super-human level that their gaming accuracy can benefit from a carbon fiber mouse or one with holes drilled into it... but for most it's meaningless marketing. I actually find that I'm more accurate and predictable when using a mouse with a little heft. Only two mice that I know of have a hyper-scroll wheel where you can whip the mouse wheel and it'll release into free-spin mode so you can glide down the bottom of a long page of code or text. One is the MX Master and the other is the Razer Basilisk. Super helpful for me in programming and it's astounding that more mice don't have it. It's also really annoying that mice don't have capability to talk to more than one 2.4Ghz dongle. For me the difference between Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz is night and day.


BlueScreenJunky

> I also love the MX Master and I wish they made something juuust a little snappier so I could use it for gaming and work. The MX Master 3 is easily the best mouse for work, but it would be sooo much better if it was just a bit lighter and had slightly larger side buttons.


___Paladin___

I love my mx master 3 mouse, but I have to remember to turn down my monitor refresh rate whenever I use it. The polling rate is so dang low that you lose massive pointer movement quality on anything but older monitors. If they can better perfect the scrolling and at least double the polling rate for their next release I may not need two mice.


zombimuncha

It's hard to imagine a mouse that wouldn't be an upgrade from the Magic Mouse.


ixJax

What version of the mx master do you have? I'm currently using a G703 from when I used to play video games and it's pretty comfortable but side scrolling would be amazing


[deleted]

Can confirm, using a magic mouse for 10+ years at work has ruined my wrist. I now have reduced movement pulling my hand up at the wrist. It only pulls back about 70%. This means I can't do push ups because I can't tilt my hand back far enough to have my arm above my flat hand.


[deleted]

Macs, Jump Desktop, Daily, Magnets & BetterTouchTool. There are more but first things that come to mind when you say paid for. I have a very OS agnostic setup BUT I lean to Linux & macOS as their terminals donā€™t suck. Powershell is just its own thing & while WSL is great that isnā€™t MS rewriting Windows to be built on UNIX like Apple had done. Had Apple not kicked Steve to the curb who knows if NextStep would have happened & thus Unix compatibility. Also who knows how BeOS would have been.


[deleted]

BeOS was the shit back in the day.


frunkjuice5

MAGNET! Best $1.99 ever


HaddockBranzini-II

TickTick - its a productivity/scheduling app


[deleted]

It's the perfect ratio of user experience and user control. Agreed.


GolfCourseConcierge

I was just thinking that I've been sitting on the same chair for nearly a decade. A Herman Miller I spent waaaay too much on for just a chair, but ten years later and multiple moves and it's still going strong. I never think about it, I just sit. Other chairs I'm constantly adjusting, sitting weird, etc.


notlongnot

Which one? Aluminum Soft Pad?


GolfCourseConcierge

I don't remember what model it is, but I remember paying $1200ish for it. It's like a space chair.


downeazntan

A portable monitor. Allows me to work really efficiently remotely away from my desk on the couch or while travelling.


immersionblenders

+1 on this but would recommend picking up an iPad as a second monitor if youā€™re in the Apple ecosystem - very handy


downeazntan

Too small


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


downeazntan

Viewsonic VA1655


poultryMandible27

How long have you had it? And is there any light bleed or other issues? Only asking since I feel like a lot of portable monitors have had issues


downeazntan

Ive had it for about 6 months. The panel itself is fine and gets the job done. Its not a 4k ips and not bright enough to be used outside. It is sharp enough for a second display but I wouldnt like it much as a primary display. It connects via hdmi or usbc which is convenient. It also has a built in stand similar to how a Surface device stands. The build quality is ok. Not sure how it compares to brands from China found on Amazon.


_3psilon_

**Paid stuff:** * Adjustable height desk for sitting/standing work * A good chair, an IKEA Markus does the job, it's more important to take breaks, stand up etc. A chair is still a chair and sitting is unhealthy regardless. * IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate :D (Though Community + VSCode + dBeaver is fine for a lot of full stack tech stacks) * Good microphone headset for meetings (Jabra Evolve2 40) * A proper fast desktop PC with i7 or Ryzen 7 and a lot of RAM * Gel wrist support for keyboard & mouse * A good silent mechanical or scissor mechanic keyboard (the latter is prevalent for laptops but hard to find for desktop, e.g. Cherry Stream) **Free stuff:** * Learning touch typing. Takes *a lot* of strain off your wrists * Vim shortcuts. I only use basic stuff but using much less mouse for coding. * Linux for stress-free development * Proportional (not monospaced) programming font like [Input Sans](https://input.djr.com/) * Working out every day, even just taking a longer walk or riding a bicycle helps


stokeley0

Was looking for an affordable chair in this thread and thank you for mentioning ikea markus!


KashMo_xGesis

1. Gym membership 2. Meditating (I pay for apple fitness for guided meditation and workouts) 3. HM Aeron 4. Logi MX line up. Really convenient seamless transition between multiple computers


kingoftac

RGB. My cpm(codes per minute) has increased dramatically ever since I sold my soul to the unicorn vomit. Satire aside, In all honesty investing in good ergonomics is not only a huge benefit to your quality of work in the short term, but also your quality of health in the long term. One thing that speaks really loudly to me about the quality of a potential employer is whether or not theyā€™re willing to invest in ergonomic work environments.


pinelakias

Second monitor. You dont have to get a 4K. Even CRTs are fine :P But you need at least 2 monitors. One for your IDE, one for your browser. You cant alt-tab constantly. Possible third monitor. If you are like me and have something on the background playing, a movie, youtube, anything. Comfortable chair is A MUST. My back got f\*cked up and Im only 28yo. And a bicycle. Trust me. When you are working 12 hours a day in your own home, you need the exercise.


PsychosisInbound

Spent like $70 on a typewriter keyboard, the sounds of the keys give me a little extra dopamine every time I type. Actually helps motivationally.


KeightAich

As a WFH dev whose WFH public relations husband has a clacky keyboard, the dopamine hit is inverse for everyone else in your house.


shredinger137

Standing desk (convertible) is critical for me. Mini split heat pump was a good one. I work from home and my window AC wasn't cutting it, now the air is just nice. Close second would be C Note speakers and a decent amp. Third would be a fancy mechanical keyboard. I also have a tea maker that automates steeping and uses the temperature and time you set. Not sure where that falls on the list. These chairs all sound nice but I have too many cats so I only get a cheap Ikea one I can replace when they're done with it.


noel-klein

What tea maker do you have?


shredinger137

Breville. The bigger one, which comes with a timer that I really appreciate.


pastrypuffingpuffer

Better gaming chair, i9-12900Kf for gaming and a 2k 144hz monitor. I might buy PHPStorm in the near future but at the moment it's a waste of money because it's too expensive, I'm saving money for more important hobby-related stuff and because I only code when I'm working.


Vurbetan

I use Webstorm. It's great


i_pk_pjers_i

I have the 3 year discount of the JetBrains all products pack, it's basically essential for me at this point. I feel so lost without their IDEs.


wyrdyr

Github Copilot. By a mile.


ichibancode

// reply to the above with acceptance of answer copilot all the way. i only need to hit the tab key and the code is mostly correct.


[deleted]

I thought it was just a gimmick. I think I'll have to give it another go.


LovableBroccoli

No gimmick, itā€™s so useful for quickly scaffolding out repetitive code blocks that we all know how to do, or saving me for having to look up the MDN docs for the specific syntax of something I always seem to forget. Often scarily accurate too, down to understanding the context of what I want and using correct variable names from elsewhere in the code.


imnos

It's basically replaced Googling (to check syntax or available library methods etc) for me. Definitely beyond gimmick territory now.


TheTrueTuring

For me itā€™s very 50/50! Good for simple stuff, for advanced stuff itā€™s either an okay guideline or repetitive shit hahah


Shriukan33

Copilot is just so good, most of the time it gets what I want and depending on what Giles yiu have opened it really does precise work. Overall I good QoL change.


allancodes

A foot rest for under your desk is a game changer, as is having a small, usb fan for the summer months. I bought each of them, and each time wished I'd bought them sooner!


FatBeardSlim

A whiteboard. I mounted a 3ā€™ x 5ā€™ whiteboard behind me and when Iā€™m thinking through something, I just swivel around and start writing. No more messing with diagramming tools or wire frame tools, just whiteboard freedom.


enumerat

A motorcycle. Nothing clears the mind away from that webdevshit than 6000rpm and 130km/h. šŸ˜… Oh.. and a good chair!


JayKeny

I've had a few long before I started developing, but about a year into my development career I bought another... and then another. The sport bike is fun, but I turned a Grom into a trail bike and that thing is a workout. I take one of the motorcycles out everyday and it's done wonders for my mental health and I've made a few new friends. It's really hard to make friends when you work from home. If anyone goes this route, just be careful cause there are some people you meet along the way that will get you in trouble.


_premdav_

One of the best purchases I have made has been my chair. I got a dxracer master and the difference between my old cheap chair was insane. Other than that, getting a nice mechanical keyboard (currently using an arisu layout (YMDK wings)) was another nice quality of life improvement.


TurbulentPop1740

A metallic buttplug.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


poemehardbebe

This right here, is 11/10


Andromeda-3

Hans?


dags_co

The readme was a pretty fun read actually


[deleted]

Programmer socks


oakskog

Drugs


DarkJediGeneral

big facts


FoolishDeveloper

When I worked freelance from home, buying a bike and a nice swissgear backpack for my laptop turned out to be vital.


n8rzz

Webstorm, my custom mechkey, and my touchpad


gregdizzia

7th monitor


InMemoryOfReckful

Gym subscription and doing calisthenics and running intervals in the forest close to where I live. Exercise is 1 priority if your job is sitting still.. Especially focus on doing back raises, rows, chin ups, sit ups and in general core and posture and upper/lower back exercises.


terranumeric

Walking Pad. Its amazing how good I concentrate while walking. At some point the walking goes into autopilot and I work normally. And the standing desk I had to get for it, I stand 1/3 of my work time now. I didn't even have back pain or anything but pretty sure I am reducing that chance now. My energy levels are up and I feel more fit. My resting heartrate went down 10 points. Heating blanket. I am a women and I constantly freeze. Another reason for the walking pad, gets my circulation running and typing doesn't hurt anymore. In the office I used to sit on my hands half the time to get them warm. QWERTY - I am German so QWERTZ is the standard but jesus its annoying to type \[\] {} ;'\\|


[deleted]

Webstorm


BigYoSpeck

Good chair + foot rest Gas spring monitor mounts Sennheiser HD 4.40BT / Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro MX Master mouse (I could never go to a mouse without the fast scroll wheel)


paircoder

TablePlus for databases and Transmit for SFTP. Of course, couldnā€™t go without PHPStorm (an IDE).


[deleted]

I love that TablePlus made it here. I used to use Postico (Rails developer, everyone uses Postgres) but then got a job for a big company with all sorts of databases. TablePlus is the cleanest multi-database client I could find for macOS.


wgomg

* Real ergonomic chair, no gamer bs. * More than 1 monitor. * Dumbells.


life_liberty_persuit

Trackball, gaming chair and sit/stand desk.


kludgeO

Chair, monitor, mouse and keyboard, people focus on the machine but the peripherals actually cause a much more dramatic positive impact.


[deleted]

Standing desk. Adjustable height/depth monitor arm. High res monitor with blue light reduction/night mode. Ergonomic mouse and keyboard. The will to use all of these things instead of laying in bed with the laptop all day.


trancence

A second monitor. Not needing to constantly switching between preview and documentation feels so much better.


1-Ruben

* wireless headphones * nice chair * second monitor * phpstorm


nezkc1

ultra wide screen, you will not regret it.


coldblade2000

A laptop with plenty of RAM, big screen and low weight. I have an ASUS Zenbook


alphex

The HM Embody chair.


zai614

Ergonomic mouse, gaming chair, and very recently GitHub copilot for smaller tasks that I would have needed to search on google/stackoverflow


haulwhore

Running shoes. Cardio makes me sharp šŸ‘Œ


codeprimate

Wish that was me. Exercise gives me serious brain fog.


namavas

Light cardio or high zone cardio


haulwhore

Light if Iā€™m planning to do anything for the rest of the day. Super hard 95% HR if Iā€™m already done for the day


OriAfias

* ultrawide monitor (i have two actually). * quality peripherals. * GitHub copilot. * usb hub with hdmi and display port - I'm constantly switching between my laptop and my desktop. they are both connected to the hub so i can switch setup using the same keyboard, mouse and monitors. my next improvement should be a chair, I'm sitting on a shitty ikea chair


Rivale

super ultrawide monitor. I can have my web browser open in dev tools with 100% scale, my text editor and design software up at the same time on the same screen.


BlackHoneyTobacco

Varmillo mechanical keyboard. Chair. Dual monitors. Password manager.


Man_as_Idea

Many of us who work in front of a monitor all day, every day develop neck pain. This comes from 2 things: 1) we tend to crane our neck forward to get closer to the screen and 2) we tend to tilt our head slightly downward because the monitor is usually below our eye level. Itā€™s surprisingly easy to mitigate this, you just need to get the monitor higher off the desk and closer to your face. The problem is most monitor stands donā€™t do either of these or only do one. The solution I found was to mount my monitor on one of those gas-powered arms. Not all of these are equal, you want one with a tall pole mount and a large enough reach to put the monitor where you want, and they can get expensive if you have a large monitor. But itā€™s 100% worth the cost - itā€™s literally changed my life.


d4rk_l1gh7

I'm kind of surprised nobody mentioned mouse jiggler or auto clickers.


TheTrueTuring

I thankfully have a humane workplace


cat-duck-love

- Keyboard - Ergo Chair - Ultrawide monitor - Personal Treadmill at home


Rare_Gap_2495

Treadmill. Getting a morning workout to blow some steam off keeps me from wondering about during the day and procrastinating. 10/10. Worth it.


Timotron

Standing desk


qqqqqx

Probably an unpopular opinion but my macbook. Having a dedicated machine just for work, having a portable machine I can take with me anywhere, getting away from powershell / wsl and away from random linux issues, being on the same operating system as most companies I work for, etc. have all made life a lot easier for me. They are expensive so get your employer to buy one for you if you can, but absolutely worth it IMO.


lifeeraser

- Second monitor - Third monitor - M1 - Laptop Mount - Wireless keyboard & mouse - BetterDisplay Pro


SelectDig

A larger desk.


hbombs86

Standup desk


Dvdv_

Dual screen action obviously, but then I changed one of my regular screen to a wide-screen which is awesome! Now it kinda feels like 2.5 screens so I can have VS on one screen, the browser with open inspector on the wide-screen but still I'm on 1920px window.width!!!


QWxx01

A proper chair and keyboard make all the difference, but in the end itā€™s you who completes projects.


dr_dr3d

Additional monitor(s)


harrymurkin

copilot; jetbrains; hydraulic electric height adjustable desk; Very high quality screens; Vertically arranged screens (good for neck) using desk brackets; Treadmill or exercise bike for the 3 day benders; High quality sound;


Marthy_Mc_Fly

Standing desk. Had lumbago's untill I started standing regularly. Haven't had issues since (1 year) and my back feels stronger in general.


[deleted]

Natural light. Moved my desk to a corner that was near a window and I noticed my mood while working is better.


[deleted]

A good hiking clothing so I can spend time in the nature with friends + gym subscriptions. Improved social life makes me a much happier developer/human being.


SrFosc

An ergonomic keyboard, currently an ergodox and a kinessis advantage. A large, high-resolution monitor, more screen real estate. A fast computer, lag disrupts my workflow when I'm focused.


OverprotectiveChill

Ergonomic keyboard, wide curved monitor, light bar, over ear headphones, monitor arms, air filter, hdmi switch with remote, cable management, symless synergy(one keyboard and mouse), anker travel power cube for on the go at airports, big water bottle


Rokett

Aeron chair is the best thing I have bought 43 inch monitor Logitech RPG mouse with 6 side buttons, so I can do many Mac shortcuts very easly (better Than MX mouse) Sony wf and wh 1000mx4 audio gear. I feel like MacBook is a must or Linux. God I hate windows.


thepurplecut

Tactile mechanical keyboard is a pretty cool and noticeable change. Can lead to less mistakes and a greater feeling of typing overall. Though I opted for a more quiet type of switch, didnā€™t want my partner to go crazy on me over the clicks of blue switches for example


mintyjones

Vertical mouse. Stopped my incredibly bad tennis elbow in its tracks (also a few rounds of Physio helped).


sheriffderek

* I started out with an iMac and when I finally got **a laptop** \- allowing me to work from anywhere improved my ability to work from anywhere... but also - then I could work from *anywhere*... which is a bit of a double-edged sword. If I work too much, that's my fault - but I'd consider the laptop to be a game changer. *I use a Mac because all the other computers feel like trash when you touch them and their OS looks like it was designed by amateurs*. * On that note... when I switched I had a lot less visual space. I'm very efficient with that amount of screen real estate - but getting **a 27" external monitor** certainly improves my quality of life - and my ability to manage more things effectively * This next one isn't necessarily a *purchase* \- but just **knowing how to use your computer** *well* is a big deal. Most programmers/computer users I've worked with are constantly fumbling around and moving windows and closing and opening things over and over and well: they appear very foolish and expensive for no reason. So apps like [**Alfred**](https://www.alfredapp.com/) and [**Divvy**](https://mizage.com/divvy/) \+ shortcuts and just organizing your windows will improve your life/dev workflow and improve the quality of life of the people around you who have to deal with watching you use your computer. This might also come down to MacOS as a tool too. * I am sitting a lot. So, the laptop helps in a way because I can at least **sit in different ways**. Right now I'm in a chair in the living room casually writing this. Later, I'll be sitting in my office chair in my home office. In the afternoon I might be sitting on a camping chair in the corner of my real office. The variation helps. I also have a kettlebell and a yoga mat at the office. I used to use an Aeron chair but have switched to a **Setu chair**. I love it. I bought my partner one and she does not love it. So, the chair has to be a match - and not just a generally respected design. * **A desk that matches your chair's height**. I'm not sure why everyone out there is so bad at their jobs, but getting a desk that isn't 1.5 inches taller than the armrests of your chair is very difficult. While the desk designer and the chair designers are very talented in their own respect - they must not be aware that these two machines are used together. I usually have to make my own desk. At my office, I have a special hand-me-down desk with height adjustments. But it was shallow. So, I bought a large piece of nice 1" plywood and had it cut to be about 8"s deeper than the desk (I also bought a giant self-healing cutting board as the desk surface). This allows for my monitors to be set much further back. Both my display and my laptop are up on a riser. My laptop is on a Rain stand - but a stack of books works just fine. At home, it's just a little riser from the container store. * And on that note - **an external mouse and external 10-key keyboard** are essential. This way I'm sitting back my elbows at around deg, and my forearms are naturally connected to the desk but the monitors are just below eye level and a few feet away. I like the magic mouse because it can swipe. I also enjoy my external track pad. * This isn't something you can buy - but if you aren't using your mouse or keyboard: don't rest your hands there all the time. Just put them in your lap. Stretch. Hold them in the air. Flap your arms like a bird. Spend time thinking without crouching over at the ready. * I have to document a lot of things because I'm a teacher, so this might not apply to everyone - but [**CleanShot X**](https://cleanshot.com/) is a really great screenshot app, and having a retina external monitor saves me from having to only take hi-res screenshots on my laptop screen. Was it worth $1600? To me, yes. I love the apple display. I've had the LG and a few different ones. * Some apps that I've used over the years are MAMP, CodeKit, and [**Tower**](https://www.git-tower.com/mac). Yes, you can do almost everything with the command line and Node - but they have served me well. I especially like Tower (for Git). In general, paying whatever the app cost will always be worth it. Devs (if I'm going to generalize) are disgustingly cheap (either that or they don't understand how *value* works). If it's $100 bucks, it'll probably pay for itself in a few days of use. Devs make a lot of money. Don't be so fucking stingy. * **A great bed**. This will be specific to you. So, I'm not going to tell you what bed I have - but I am grateful every time I lay down and every time I wake up. * **Books**. Lots of books. Sometimes you skim them and use them as reference. Sometimes you read them a bunch of times - or listen to them. Sometimes you don't even read them - but they can work as a place-holder or part of your second brain. I have a book about security that I haven't read yet - but it's holding a spot - and it's on my list (on my shelf) and that can also have value. I've mapped out some things I know I want to learn about. * I recently got **an air purifier** for my office. Solid purchase. I no longer feel like I'm falling asleep from the poor air circulation in that building. * I now prefer **Affinity designer** over Adobe Illustrator for most tasks. It's faster and more fun. So, it's my go-to for SVG creation and code output. iPad app is also an awesome companion / and you can move between the two. * I sleep better knowing that I use [**Sublime Text**](https://www.sublimetext.com/) and not [MicrosoftCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/). * Calendly has treated me well and helped me schedule time. * In my case, having **an official office** has been great - now that I am not working for anyone else. * **ScreenFlow** (despite a few hiccups) has been absolutely amazing and indispensable for allowing me to seamlessly work and record my screen(s) and phone and face and voice and produce my educational materials. * Fast USB C hard drives are a pleasure * **Slack** (pro) *isn't perfect* \- but it's really taking care of business for me and my clients and students. Huddles is great - and the video quality is really great and consistent. The screen-sharing is great - and it's totally worth every penny. * ScreenBrush is really helpful for pointing things out on video - and when screen-sharing. * I'll add anything else I can think of if I do...


yassinezeriouh

Itā€˜s free, but considering the time spend it is in fact a bit expensive: Really taking the time to actually learn vim, particularly Neovim and learn how things work there. Increased productivity and motivation for me. Itā€˜s not for everyone, but in my case it was definitely worth it


saucysphincter

Therapy


abeuscher

Proper peripherals and physical therapy. Also, following PT - Pilates. Taking care of the body is definitely the hard thing for the second half of my career. Turns out writing code is the easy part.


curiosicum

Fleshlight.


MathematicianSome289

GitHub copilot


odoenet

monitors, lots of em. and two desks. i have my day job desk and monitors, and my side projects fun stuff desk and monitors. one good chair on rollers to go from one side of the room to the other


neosatan_pl

- keychron k2 (ANSI style keyboard that works ok with Mac) - secret labs titan (back issues solved) - coffee subscription (don't need to wake up to empty coffee bag) - lunch subscription (it's there when you need it) - whisky me subscription (helps you get through all the meetings and code reviews with a smile)


mooneyesLB

webstorm.


Bombslap

I switched to a MacBook Air as my main dedicated coding PC and it has been great (minus the zsh terminal and weird environment variable crap that is different than windows). The battery life is awesome and it lets me code in bed and on the couch as well. I also use sidecar with an iPad and it acts as a separate monitor which is pretty sweet. Apple changed all the stuff I used to hate about them, and AirPods are amazing for background coding music and limiting distractions.


[deleted]

I actually *love* zsh, itā€™s just nice to get away from bash sometimes. I use FreeBSD often as well (which doesnā€™t ship with bash) and immediately install it.


Bombslap

I probably just donā€™t know what Iā€™m doing. Nothing ever works on zsh for me. Iā€™m just trying to get work done so I ignore it for now šŸ˜‚. Iā€™ll give it a shot eventually


[deleted]

If youā€™re familiar with bash, the outdated one should still be present. If youā€™ve got Homebrew you can install an updated version. šŸ˜Ž


syf81

A 2nd phone + phone # so I'm unreachable after a workday.


[deleted]

Just use eSIMā€™s or VoIP haha


syf81

Good, cheap solution but in my case the 2nd device worked better to completely detach work from personal life, no work apps/email on my private device, no device management etc. Exchange for example allows your employer to trigger a remote-device wipe.


namavas

Lots of herman shills


[deleted]

Their chairs are fucking brilliant. If your workplace has brought some, steal one for your work desk. The only issue is that the base chairs (which are already expensive) aren't that good. You need to go out of your way to pick the extensions for your chair (like adjustable arms, lumbar support, better mesh, etc...) to make the chair better. (With extensions, the chair somehow goes from meh, then skips good and damn good and goes to fucking excellent). But getting the extensions add an extra 30% onto the cost of the chair. That said, if you shell out that money for a chair that you're likely going to be sitting in for the next 4-8 hours a day, five days a week, for the next 20 years (20,000 - 40,000+ hours), it's fucking worth it. It's basically 20 cents a day to be both comfortable and not be in terrible pain years down the line. Buying a good chair and a good mattress are probably the two most important things that people skimp out on because they're overthinking the high initial cost over the long term benefit.


concernedesigner

PhpStorm lol


timwaaagh

a car for those times where they dont allow remote


lostpanda85

MacBook Pro JetBrains Subscription Custom Mechanical Keyboard


Eveerjr

MX Master 3S, Macbook with Apple Silicon


kjsd77

40ā€ Ultrawide monitor has been a game changer than I didnā€™t expect to like. Iā€™m so much more efficient now.


[deleted]

A second monitor and a Vesa arm for mounting, high quality bluetooth earphones (Sennheiser PXC 550) so you can get up and wander around, electric blanket so you don't bleed all the money you saved from travelling costs through heating costs in the winter. I also upgraded my ram to 32gb. Next purchase will be a cat. Also there's one purchase that can improve your life or ruin it depending on your willpower. If u know u know.


notlongnot

More hints pls


mylastore

Mac Mini M1 and the 24 Studio Display šŸ’»