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Good music to program to, or just have as general background music?

Dream-Knife

Banned
I've recently started listening to music while I code or screw around on my PC, but it's largely been limited to vaporwave. I'm looking for other genres I should check out for this sort of task. Mostly laid back music with little to no vocals. Most of my music is shoegaze or death/black metal, and isn't good for this sort of thing.
 

Alx

Member
I second electronic music. I had a Daft Punk playlist dedicated to long coding sessions. You need something trance-inducing and that doesn’t require any conscious thinking.
Classical music works, too.
 

QSD

Member
Electronic music.

I go with electro, techno, (psy)trance.
Definitely a good idea to not want vocals, this disturbs immensely while coding.
Yeah, this is good advice, though psytrance can be quite distracting too, it depends on the style.

I'll give you some suggestions, the first thing that springs to mind is Plaid




Amon Tobin




Wagon Christ




System 7




If you like these I can give you some more
 
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Tranquil

Member
I always have this on in the background if I'm not gaming or watching a movie; it's an online radio station with soundtracks from movies. It's mostly scores with little to no vocals.

 

IDKFA

I am Become Bilbo Baggins
I like to study with either Classical or Terrorcore.

Terrorcore should be used if you want to plough through and keep your laser focus.

 
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QSD

Member
I like to study with either Classical or Terrorcore.

Terrorcore should be used if you want to plough through and keep your laser focus.


LOL 10 posts in and dude's already bringing the Terrorcore. Gotta love this site.
 

Garibaldi

Member
While I agree on the electronic stuff, I've recently been listening to some piano music and it's been a nice refreshing change. Might be worth a look. I was using the Piano in the Background playlist on Spotify
 

SJRB

Gold Member


Or download the app for a better, realtime soundscape based on your location, time of day, activity, brightness, weather:

5cf67320f5cc915ec44f6f4b_03_endel_interactive_music_experience.png
 
Bands I listen to for focus. Most do not have words.
  • This Will Destroy you
  • Godspeed You! Black Emperor
  • Long Distance Calling
  • Explosions in the Sky
  • Mogwai
  • God is an Astronaught
  • Caspian
  • The Field
  • If These Trees could talk
 
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Loope

Member
I have two extremes. Either the Paradox games playlist on spotify or the Deftones playlist.

PS: I noticed now the "to program to", i was answering as in for work.
 
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HoodWinked

Member
For me I would just have the tv on in the background at a low volume. Just background noise.

Then you'd kind of go into a zone and notice it's dark outside.
 

Anki

Banned
I always listen psy chill while programming, one of my favorites are carbon based lifeforms
 
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Rikkori

Member
Afaik listening to music while you work, even if it's purely instrumental is a net negative for your productivity. When they did studies on it they found people performed worse than when nothing was playing even though they self-reported as doing better with music on. Don't ask me to cite, don't have this shit saved up but you can look into it.
 
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Programmer here ... I listen to a lot of TooL, especially the newer albums.

I also listen to some chill wave or lo fi or lounge music.
 

Alx

Member
Afaik listening to music while you work, even if it's purely instrumental is a net negative for your productivity. When they did studies on it they found people performed worse than when nothing was playing even though they self-reported as doing better with music on. Don't ask me to cite, don't have this shit saved up but you can look into it.
Perfect silence is definitely the best working condition. But I found that when I'm in a procrastinating mood, music helps a lot by drowning out all other ideas. I may not be as focused as when I'm in "library mode", but still better than "gazing at the ceiling".
 

unlish

Neo Member
Softer/downtempo electronic stuff without vocals. Music keeps my brain from crashing due to the sedentary work style, but the lack of vocals lets me keep my focus on the work rather than the music.
 

Susurrus

Member
I use this a lot while I'm studying.



You can also pick up a lot of artists on there and find their own personal Youtube/Spotify/etc station if you like a specific one.
 
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Coding, code review, server work, file transfer shizz, requirements and docs reading/writing etc all go great to some of these (I too go for instrumental when I want to zone in on work) -

Beastie Boys Instrumental (playlist of 12 tracks) -


Daniel Deluxe (almost any of his stuff, tons available) -


Something live and more chill - Work & Jazz feed


Rap beats for your background -
 

BadBurger

Many “Whelps”! Handle It!
For whatever reason I can't program to music. I have to watch old episodes of UK Kitchen Nightmares or David Attenborough nature docs.
 

C4.lukin

Banned
I just want to add the Bram Stokers Dracula soundtrack.. It is more of an exercise soundtrack, but it is great. Crazy good!!!
 
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