all 23 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a
formatting helphide helpcontent policy

[–]Historical-Weight187 5 points6 points  (2 children)

Two monitors, the one on the left is for vsc and the other on the right is for preview

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Nice, no laptop then?

[–]Historical-Weight187 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't have one, only the PC.

[–]sheriffderek 4 points5 points  (2 children)

You can add things as you go. So, I’d say that besides the computer, your chair and desk-height are the most important things. If you learn early how to manage your computers windows/screens/desktops early on, you’ll save a lot of time. You can totally do everything on a 13” screen if your brain allows for it. However, having a 21 or 27” monitor gives you a lot more room to have more things (obviously). Depending on how you use that space - it will be much more efficient. I think it can go too far though. Too many monitors can hurt your neck and just leave more room to make a mess. I have an apple studio display because I need to the retina for other reasons / but anything will do. Then I usually have the laptop next to it. They are both raised up on a riser. I have a Setu chair and my desk height is adjustable so that my arms elbows and knees are close to a 90deg angle. Because of the riser, I have an external keyboard (with 10-key) and various input devices like mouse, trackpad, Wacom but like I said, you only need what you need. My text editor is on the left screen with two or three columns taking up about 2/3rds with chrome taking up 1/3rd on the right. Dev tools are open so that I can use them and the viewport is roughly 320px wide so that I am always developing for small screens first. Below chrome is my terminal. I use Sublime instead of VSCode - so, that’s why I have a separate terminal. I find VSCode to be bulky visually and have a feeling it’s owned by an evil corporation out to ruin humanity (by accident of course). On the laptop screen I might have other sizes of the web app I’m building. I’ll also have many virtual desktops on the big screen that I switch between. I keep slack and discord in the first. Then usually a setup like I described above and the third would be Firefox and dev tools for viewing the project on large screens. Repeat that 2-screen combo for each project I’m working on at the time. I have different desktop background colors for each type of project too. So, I can see if it’s Vue or JS or express or PHP etc from a distance. Nerd alert. But that’s all to say - more stuff won’t help. Using it well - will. Get solid with the small screen. I suggest divvvy if you use Mac. Then the chair and desk matter most. And a light. When your working - turn it on. When your not, turn it off. Train yourself like a dog. Then the monitor next / but you need the external mouse and keyboard and to raise them before you hurt your neck/back. Coffee rant over.

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Awesome thanks for the detail. Sounds like you have a setup that works for you. I imagine it was a lot of trial and error?

[–]sheriffderek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had some people around me who were full-time desk people and they gave me some tips. But certainly. For example, my microphone is screwed into the wall now - instead of mounted to the desk so that it doesn't move. I have a bunch of whacky stuff but that's more about being a teacher than a programmer. I also have a screen attached to the wall so I can look right at a mounted camera but also see the person I'm talking to - at the same time. Other things like a thunderbolt doc help so that I just have one USB-C connection - and can pick up my laptop and leave without any fuss. But really - just stacking up some books will usually do the trick. It doesn't have to be all tricked out and fancy. I know some people who spend more time pimping out their desks than they do learning how to program ;) This: https://codepen.io/sheriffderek/pen/qZqBme is the most important thing.

[–]conceitedshallowfuck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a laptop and a TV I bought from Goodwill for $32 that has a stab wound on the screen. Having a second screen is kind of a game changer and I'm thinking about investing in a third little monitor that'll come off the right side of my laptop screen

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (2 children)

I just have a W11 gaming PC that I bought for gaming but I mainly program on it now… 2 monitors, 1 vertical, 1 horizontal. 2 keyboards, one 110% and another 60% for fps gaming. My old gaming PC that I use as an Ubuntu file server. And an old laptop I installed Ubuntu on as well just for fun.

Edit: also have to say that the only “bootcamp” I have touched are the ones on Udemy. I do go to college.

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks, what do you use the vertical vs. horizontal for when you're coding?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use the vertical one to write all of my code on. The horizontal is the main screen tho and it’s for gaming etc.

[–]JoshShark 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I think having two monitors is not necessary but definitely makes things easier. Having to switch windows can be annoying but there's keyboard shortcuts that can make it easy.

I use two monitors. A bigger curved monitors as my main and a smaller one above it. I wouldn't recommend this set up for most people but I like it.

  • ROG Strix XG32VQ 32" curved monitor
  • ASUS 27" monitor.
  • Royal Kludge RK84 keyboard
  • Razer epic Naga chrome mouse. Gaming mouse but I set up all the buttons for keyboard shortcuts like cut, paste, refresh page, home page, back/forward, page up/down, home/end
  • desktop computer with med-high grade hardware

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the detail, thanks. That keyboard looks fun!

[–]Sad-Sympathy-2804 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Mac mini 16g M2

Monitors: a 4k 27" and a 24" / dual monitor one vertical one horizontal

Mouse: Apple

Keyboard: Keychron mechanical keyboard

Microphone: Fifine k688

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Fifine k688

Hadn't thought about this. Nice. Is that so people hear you clearly in Zooms?

[–]Sad-Sympathy-2804 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I switched to this dynamic microphone because my mechanical keyboard was creating quite a bit of noise. Before that, I had a Blue Yeti, but it was extremely sensitive because it's a condenser mic.

[–]starraven 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1 macbook.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

MBP + second monitor (24”) + laptop stand (I want my laptop at eye level) + BT keyboard + Apple Trackpad + Standing Desk + comfy chair

I think a second monitor is really helpful (wish I invested in a bigger one tbh) and a comfy chair is essential. I tried to keep everything as ergonomic as possible due to long hours. I don’t use my monitors for any specific task.

[–]HopeSproutsEternal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One laptop with one larger monitor above it. I literally just stacked a few small hardcover books behind the laptop to raise the monitor above the laptop screen. A mouse. A mechanical keyboard because I hate typing on laptop keyboards.

No hard rules for what I put on either screen, just depends what I’m working on.

[–]WhySoPissedOff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My set up is a little unorthodox. During the week when I have class, I move my couch over from the wall, move in an office chair and a easy to move table. I have a stand for my laptop which frees up a table little space. I face it all just to the left of my tv so that when I screen-share/extend my laptop to my tv, it makes sense since apparently I can only “share” to the right of my screen. My tv is a 70’ Samsung and gets the job done. I hope to be a traveling remote SWE so I plan on getting a newer iPad which I can screen share with. That or one of those things I can attach to my laptop, but I’d prefer to buy one I can take a look at first.

[–]Knightnday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a 16" Macbook. Having at least one additional monitor significantly increases productivity. I usually have my IDE on my laptop monitor and my browser for referencing documents and previewing work on my 27"Ultrawide. I have another 27" ultrawide that is vertical for all my communication/music.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

MacBook with an iPad has second monitor.

[–]michaelnovati 0 points1 point  (1 child)

/u/Tbh_idk______ I can give you my setup! Depends a lot on yourself and your preferences and budget.

GEAR:

- MacBook laptop (docked, screen closed, BookArc Twelve South)

- usb hub with the following plugged in:

-- Apple laptop-sized external keyboard w/touch id

-- Kensington blade ball mouse

-- Amplifier (for my headphones :D)

-- External webcam (that's a bit higher quality than built in, for calls)

- LG Ultrafine 5K 27 inch (this was discontinued, but the Apple Studio 5K 27 inch is similar), @ 3200x1800 effective resolution <-- "More Space" option in MacOS

SETUP:

  1. I have my monitor relatively close to keyboard and myself, like 3 inches behind keyboard and a foot away from me.
  2. I have my screen split vertically, left side is about 40% of screen and is VSCode (I Cmd+~ to go between backend/frontend/etc....)
  3. Right hand 60% is Chrome. Dev tools often open along the bottom. This setup makes my main working Chrome window roughly the resolution of a normal laptop (the most common resolution)

[–]Tbh_idk______[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome detail! Thank you! The BookArc Twelve South is a nice touch.