Do you use dual Monitor for Coding
-
Do you use dual monitor and how it is helping you?
Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 http://www.keencomputer.com
I use 4 monitors (1600x1200 20") and it helps quite a bit with the kind of work I do. I work with many VS solutions and often average about 7-14 open at a time depending on what I'm doing (right now I have 11), often debugging between 2 or so. I also typically devote 1 screen to a big log window or testing apps, 1 to docs / web browsing / email, and 1 to system monitors and a MindManager map with hyperlinks to quickly navigate everything (I have 20+ solutions total (each with many projects), and digging thru directory trees in Explorer got old.) The 4th helps but I have mainly have it because it was just sitting around (and because it helps my tan), but having less than 3 would slow me down in my job. When I'm coding elsewhere with only one solution at a time, working with 1 monitor is often fine, although it's nice to have a 2nd.
-
Do you use dual monitor and how it is helping you?
Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 http://www.keencomputer.com
Congrats all, this has to be one of the longest threads of this nature! It reflects my belief that, at least while you're sitting at it, as your primary channel of information, the monitor is more important than the machine. I'm a monogamous resolution junkie fortunate enough to be running 2560x1600 where looking at a page of code in portrait mode is so incredible and feels so weird that once was enough. I normally just run putty and firefox side-by-side with thunderbird an alt-tab away. I've never tried multiple monitors but it sounds like it serves a lot of folks well. I've just imagined moving the pointer across the no-mans-land that lay between would be annoying. One thing not discussed is monitor height. Before getting the 30"-er and a real mounting arm for it, I'd always placed monitor low (especially as that's where CRTs tended to end up). With the (so wonderfully sprung it feels counter-balanced) mounting arm, I find myself nudging the monitor up bit-by-bit and more comfortably able to utilize the entirety. Finally, to those depriving themselves of their dream display, no matter what it may be, it's a tool of your trade and, even if doesn't make you more productive, it's worth it to improve your quality of life and make you a little happier whilst wasting away worshiping the once phosphorus gods...
-
Do you use dual monitor and how it is helping you?
Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 http://www.keencomputer.com
I find a dual monitor configuration very useful for GUI work. With one screen GUI events often get in the way when the debugger is popping up (causing more app GUI events). Also duplicating problems from a email/web description is much easier when the app can run on one screen and the description can still be read on the other. Non_GUI API work doesn't benefit as much, but it's still useful for diffs and monitoring (servers/services).
-
Do you use dual monitor and how it is helping you?
Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 http://www.keencomputer.com
I just recently added a third monitor and I have to say that multiple monitors really does make life a lot easier. I like to run my IDE full screen on one with all of my misc windows (Solution Explorer, Team Explorer, Tool Box, Properties, etc...) on a the second and then email, browser, [...] on the third. It's sweet! I recommend it! Being smarter than you look always beats looking smarter than you are.
-
Yeah i use pc and laptop together and link the screens with free software synergy from sourceforge. I'm going to add a 3rd when i upgrade my pc. Essential for coding - source on one, help on 2nd and google on third.
-
This was discussed to *death* about 2 or 3 months ago when it was the survey question of the week, this is a summary of the other side of the argument you probably won't hear from anyone else because they are not being honest with themselves: I don't and I wouldn't allow any developer working for me to use more than one monitor without providing actual measured proof that they are more efficient because all evidence is to the contrary and the great majority of studies have shown that people are far less efficient when they have more to look at. Hell you don't need a study, everyone knows this intuitively and they are fooling themselves with a lot of talk about saving mouse clicks (too lazy to event alt-tab) meanwhile losing focus on a single task at a time which is, if not at the top, very near the top of the list of most important aspects of an efficient programming environment. In the end and after *much* discussion the first time around I think it just comes down to a coolness factor for people who will never admit it and will go to any lengths to justify and rationalize it but will never actually take the time to measure the efficiency of it for themselves. That being said about 1% or less of all developers actually need multiple monitors for real time debugging and about 10% of all developers *think* they need it for the same reason and don't but also won't admit it because it's just another justification to look and feel important / cool / like their in a sci fi movie etc etc etc.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
I use several monitors quite effectively. Many times I'll be looking at my database schema on one screen and typing out my procedures and parameters on the other. Beats the hell out of trying to remember them and alt+tabbing back and forth. I'm more efficient with remote desktop. I can look at one server I have correctly configured on the right and I can work on the new server in the middle as I port settings across. I think there are many other cases for multiple monitors and you don't even have to try that hard to justify them. I work optimally with 3 but could get by with 2. A lot of times I'll be running long processes on a remote workstation somewhere and I park it off on another monitor where I can easily see what is going on and I resume work on my primary. This makes me a hell of a lot more efficient especially when processes are running on a command line. I see the output stop and can respond immediately. In the past with one monitor I would forget about the running CLI on the remote and 20 minutes later check on it only to see it had finished 15 minutes ago. I multi-task way better. Being able to monitor progress, write code and many other tasks make multiple monitors less cool and way more functional.
-
I use a dual-monitor setup at my office, and I like it. I find myself opening a Visual Studio project full-screen on one monitor, and my e-mail etc. in the other, for example, or another Visual Studio project in the other even sometimes. I like having the extra screen real-estate. I suppose a wide-screen monitor would be about the same.
WE ARE DYSLEXIC OF BORG. Refutance is systile. Your a$$ will be laminated.
Dual monitors are really great. I just wish they were bigger, like 60 inches each. But, for me, I run Visual Studio across both monitors. I split the screens such that I get one file on the left and one on the right, and still have room to open my solutions files.
-
Do you use dual monitor and how it is helping you?
Tapas Shome System Software Engineer Keen Computer Solutions 1408 Erin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3E 2S8 http://www.keencomputer.com
Yes, I like my dual 19" monitors. I've also used a 26" monitor and that worked just about as well. More screen space is great for debugging. I'd highly recommend using WinSplit Revolution to move your windows around if you want to make the best use of all that display real estate.
-
This was discussed to *death* about 2 or 3 months ago when it was the survey question of the week, this is a summary of the other side of the argument you probably won't hear from anyone else because they are not being honest with themselves: I don't and I wouldn't allow any developer working for me to use more than one monitor without providing actual measured proof that they are more efficient because all evidence is to the contrary and the great majority of studies have shown that people are far less efficient when they have more to look at. Hell you don't need a study, everyone knows this intuitively and they are fooling themselves with a lot of talk about saving mouse clicks (too lazy to event alt-tab) meanwhile losing focus on a single task at a time which is, if not at the top, very near the top of the list of most important aspects of an efficient programming environment. In the end and after *much* discussion the first time around I think it just comes down to a coolness factor for people who will never admit it and will go to any lengths to justify and rationalize it but will never actually take the time to measure the efficiency of it for themselves. That being said about 1% or less of all developers actually need multiple monitors for real time debugging and about 10% of all developers *think* they need it for the same reason and don't but also won't admit it because it's just another justification to look and feel important / cool / like their in a sci fi movie etc etc etc.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
Well, it depends. I worked somewhere, were the second monitors played south park all day. I have three, and I'll accept I use one most of the time. But, sometimes the others are quite convenient, and other times, they are vital.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
-
This was discussed to *death* about 2 or 3 months ago when it was the survey question of the week, this is a summary of the other side of the argument you probably won't hear from anyone else because they are not being honest with themselves: I don't and I wouldn't allow any developer working for me to use more than one monitor without providing actual measured proof that they are more efficient because all evidence is to the contrary and the great majority of studies have shown that people are far less efficient when they have more to look at. Hell you don't need a study, everyone knows this intuitively and they are fooling themselves with a lot of talk about saving mouse clicks (too lazy to event alt-tab) meanwhile losing focus on a single task at a time which is, if not at the top, very near the top of the list of most important aspects of an efficient programming environment. In the end and after *much* discussion the first time around I think it just comes down to a coolness factor for people who will never admit it and will go to any lengths to justify and rationalize it but will never actually take the time to measure the efficiency of it for themselves. That being said about 1% or less of all developers actually need multiple monitors for real time debugging and about 10% of all developers *think* they need it for the same reason and don't but also won't admit it because it's just another justification to look and feel important / cool / like their in a sci fi movie etc etc etc.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
John C wrote:
I don't and I wouldn't allow any developer working for me to use more than one monitor without providing actual measured proof that they are more efficient because all evidence is to the contrary and the great majority of studies have shown that people are far less efficient when they have more to look at.
:laugh: Back at it, eh?
John C wrote:
too lazy to event alt-tab
You know, if you were disciplined enough to keep only one window open at a time, you would have no need to alt-tab and wouldn't have all those extra visuals driving down your efficiency... ;)
Citizen 20.1.01
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'