Office Layout For Developers
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
I rather liked working from home. I could shower whenever I wanted. Take a nap if I felt like it. And being in a room with no other people meant that things would only be smelt by those who dealt.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
The best layout I ever worked in, was a big room with desks, no walls, so people could talk and see each other, and spacious enough to have room for regular Nerf gun wars.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
I would hate to work in a totally open-plan office, even cubicle partitions allow far too much noise to percolate. When I really need to concentrate I have to have a silent or near-silent environment, even quiet music is too much of an intrusion. Having an open plan office with people talking to each other and on the phone would dent my productivity a lot.
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
I rather liked working from home. I could shower whenever I wanted. Take a nap if I felt like it. And being in a room with no other people meant that things would only be smelt by those who dealt.
AspDotNetDev wrote:
I rather liked working from home
Well that is there. But the thing I found is that developers need to interact at least a few times at least during a new product development.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
I like a lot of the basics Joel discusses, but don't like the results very much. The hidden outlets thing is going to be a nightmare. I want my outlets under my desk; the only issue I have now is that plugs barely fit between the desk and wall when running them down. I also very much like L shaped desks, especially when I have multiple computers to switch to (not to mention fitting the phone in there.) Our biggest problem is heating and cooling. Due to several factors, my cubicle and the three right next to mine are usually extremely cold, occasionally too hot and rarely anything in between. Two companies ago, I had a nice office with a closing door and big window that overlooked the mountains, but the same heating/cooling problem. While I like closed offices, I also like the way cubicles keep you in touch with what's going on. Sometimes a conversation starts and someone realizes that they are affected.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
I've never been subjected to a cube farm, nor have I ever had a private office (Though there was that last month at my old job, when I was the only one left in the office and was getting laid off at the end of the month)... In this industry, everyone works on trading desks. Long, straight desks with people spaced out along them. No privacy at all. That layout (in the link) does kinda look nice, but if I was going to move to an actual software development shop (As opposed to hedge funds), I think I'd want an open-plan office so I could take part in all of that cube warfare stuff I've only read about :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
The best layout I ever worked in, was a big room with desks, no walls, so people could talk and see each other, and spacious enough to have room for regular Nerf gun wars.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
I agree. However, many programmers don't, and in fact refuse working in an open space office.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
My current "office" is a 12'x20' cubicle with 6' glass & wood walls, a nice wrap around desk with one of those ergonomic chairs. I also have a stand up desk with a treadmill, and 2 monitors at each desk. There are plenty of windows for good light, and white noise generators are installed in the ceiling every 10' or so to cut down on distractions. The 2nd floor balcony and break room both have great views, and when it is nice I can take my laptop out and work there. Plus free coffee, soda, etc. Also, the meeting room and hallways, etc. are covered with art, which is nice to look at, but makes me nervous because I couldn't afford to pay damages if I bumped into it.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
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My current "office" is a 12'x20' cubicle with 6' glass & wood walls, a nice wrap around desk with one of those ergonomic chairs. I also have a stand up desk with a treadmill, and 2 monitors at each desk. There are plenty of windows for good light, and white noise generators are installed in the ceiling every 10' or so to cut down on distractions. The 2nd floor balcony and break room both have great views, and when it is nice I can take my laptop out and work there. Plus free coffee, soda, etc. Also, the meeting room and hallways, etc. are covered with art, which is nice to look at, but makes me nervous because I couldn't afford to pay damages if I bumped into it.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
Andy Brummer wrote:
white noise generators
Do they work? If yes what brand are you using. Some times I go to client sites and I have to work in their noisy cubicles. I wonder whether this is what I need to look at.
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My current "office" is a 12'x20' cubicle with 6' glass & wood walls, a nice wrap around desk with one of those ergonomic chairs. I also have a stand up desk with a treadmill, and 2 monitors at each desk. There are plenty of windows for good light, and white noise generators are installed in the ceiling every 10' or so to cut down on distractions. The 2nd floor balcony and break room both have great views, and when it is nice I can take my laptop out and work there. Plus free coffee, soda, etc. Also, the meeting room and hallways, etc. are covered with art, which is nice to look at, but makes me nervous because I couldn't afford to pay damages if I bumped into it.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
So, how does it feel to be 'kept'? :-D
Software Zen:
delete this; -
AspDotNetDev wrote:
I rather liked working from home
Well that is there. But the thing I found is that developers need to interact at least a few times at least during a new product development.
No reason you can't bring a few of those things to the office (like a shower and nap room). Well, no reason aside from cost. :)
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
What is the best office layout you have worked in?
Back in the late 90s - everyone had a reasonable sized cubicle whihc offered some privacy if needed but was open enough that you could chat with your neighbours. Howver, I don't really care as long as I have enough space for a keyboard and monitors; slap the earphones in and work.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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The best layout I ever worked in, was a big room with desks, no walls, so people could talk and see each other, and spacious enough to have room for regular Nerf gun wars.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone.
I fail to see a meaningful difference between large cubes with full height walls (and desks placed to avoid shoulder surfing by passers by) and offices beyond the construction costs involved.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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The best layout I ever worked in, was a big room with desks, no walls, so people could talk and see each other, and spacious enough to have room for regular Nerf gun wars.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
The lab for one of my projects was like that, the collective goof off potential made it really hard for me to keep productive. I don't think I'd ever voluntarily take a job where I had to spend most of my time in an open office. X| X| X|
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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So, how does it feel to be 'kept'? :-D
Software Zen:
delete this;Pretty damn good actually. :laugh:
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
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Andy Brummer wrote:
white noise generators
Do they work? If yes what brand are you using. Some times I go to client sites and I have to work in their noisy cubicles. I wonder whether this is what I need to look at.
It masks a regular conversation happening in the cube next to me, but I don't think it would make a difference if things were actually loud. This is a full building system with hundreds of speakers, so I don't even know where to begin with comparing it to the individual models.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone.
I fail to see a meaningful difference between large cubes with full height walls (and desks placed to avoid shoulder surfing by passers by) and offices beyond the construction costs involved.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
Dan Neely wrote:
between large cubes with full height walls
I have never seen those so I have no idea.
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I have to think about this one now. Our company purchased a foreclosed building for a bargain and now we have to layout offices and work areas. I already saw Joel's office layout:- http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/BionicOffice.html[^] Are there any better ideas? Few things I know from my experience:- 1. No cubicles - cubicles in my opinion cause big loss in productivity. 2. Quiet offices so that devs can spend some time alone. 3. An area where multiple devs and testers can work together and collaborate on a single project. What is the best office layout you have worked in? Any ideas/suggestions?
A couple of things I've come across which I really liked: Natural light. I don't process light as efficiently as the next person, and natural light seems to help as opposed to brighter overhead/desk lighting. White boards. At one job, we had an entire meeting room paneled with white boards. We could leave a few different projects' sketches up at the same time. This was nice when we needed to get away from some design for a while, we didn't have to worry about the next group wiping out our ideas. In terms of the open office thing, I'm on the fence about that. It can be very distracting, and you can get dragged into the side conversations, just because you cannot help but overhear. On the other hand, it's great (when you have receptive co-workers), to just be able to ask a question when you're hung up on one particular aspect, or you want to run an idea by someone. I think this is a topic where you really need to poll your team before setting your ideas in motion. See what they think would be helpful for them specifically, and endeavor to meet that where it's reasonable. For example, free lunch everyday -> not reasonable. Free beer on Fridays -> reasonable.