Subj : programmer concentration
To   : comp.programming
From : beliavsky
Date : Tue Jul 19 2005 03:34 pm

The recent thread "Eliminating distractions while programming" has been
interesting. I have some questions along the same lines:

(1) What is a good way for a programmer to spend his time when he must
take a break in coding while waiting for a program to compile and run?
It's fun to spend that minute or even 15 seconds browsing the web
(including Usenet), but it's too easy for the minute to become 10
minutes. Also, one's train of thought is disrupted. I think it's most
productive to continue to think about the prorgram even during coding
breaks, but WHAT should you think about?

(Side note. Does anyone play tournament chess? A similar question
arises -- what do you think about when it is your opponent's turn and
his clock is ticking? Good players still focus on the game while their
opponent is thinking, even if they get up from the board.)

(2) For how long should a good programmer be able to concentrate in one
stretch? I'm afraid that since all my computers have become connected
to the internet, my "stretches" have shrunk to 15 minutes. Maybe it's
best for some people to program on a computer without an Internet
connection?

.